The Chief Palace Maid, Lady Yefei, came to the room allotted to Chuntao with her two assistants. Chuntao, who was tidying her clothes, left the work and stood straight in front of Lady Yefei. She had lowered her eyes as she heard Lady Yefei speaking to her.
"You will not work for the Fourth Prince. You are transferred to work in the Empress's manor," Lady Yefei informed her. Chuntao lifted her eyes, but then immediately lowered them.
"Lady Yefei, I am brought to the Palace by the Fourth Prince and was told to work for him for a year," Chuntao skeptically enquired.
"This is the Palace. Since the accession of the new Empress, several things have changed in the Palace upon her orders. Are you raising question on the decision taken by her majesty?" Lady Yefei's expressions were stern, and it appeared that as the Chief Palace Maid, she was also not happy seeing Chuntao working for the Fourth Prince.
"I do not dare to question the decision of her majesty. Forgive me for my behavior, Lady Yefei," Chuntao asserted.
"The Empress wants to meet you. Come with me," Lady Yefei stated, and turned to go. Chuntao quickly wore her shoes and followed her. After some time, they reached outside the manor of the Empress. Chuntao was mesmerized to see the place. She had only heard from Mo Jie, but she never knew that the Empress's manor was no less than a place in heaven.
"What are you staring at?" Lady Yefei scolded Chuntao.
"Nothing," Chuntao replied.
"Be respectful and graceful in front of the Empress," Lady Yefei stated and walked in, followed by Chuntao. Empress Deng Hui was seated on the chaise, eating grapes. She saw Lady Yefei and a petite girl walking behind her.
"Your Majesty, this is Chuntao," Lady Yefei introduced her. Chuntao stepped forward and bowed. She was on her knees while her head was touching the ground. "Greetings to the Empress. I am Chuntao." She was respectful and graceful as she was told to.
Deng Hui commanded the maidservants to leave except Lady Yefei and Chuntao. After they left, Deng Hui told her to stand up. "I have been informed that my son has taken you to the Palace," Deng Hui asserted.
"Yes, your majesty."
"The real reason for your transfer to my manor is some strange rumors I heard about you with the Fourth Prince. Prince Nianzu is getting married soon and I do not want a servant girl to tail him. It's a disgrace to his reputation," Deng Hui forwarded her views. Chuntao was dejected to learn about that.
"Your Majesty, on the day she was in the music room with the Prince. The Prince never allowed anyone to enter there. I want you to punish the girl for forgetting her place," Lady Yefei requested Empress Hui. Chuntao clutched her dress. Why was it happening? She did not know.
"Your Majesty, his highness had injured his fingers, so I only applied the ointment. I did not enter the room until his highness permitted me," Chuntao defended herself. She had heard how badly the Palace servants were punished for their mistakes. But she did not make any mistake then why was she asked to be punished?
"Injured his fingers! Why?" Deng Hui was bewildered and at the same time worried.
"His highness was playing the zither, and the strings broke," Chuntao immediately answered.
"How can a servant touch his highness? What kind of medicine did you apply? Why did you not call the Royal Physician?" Lady Yefei inquired from her. Chuntao felt as if she had committed a crime by doing that. She did not know that going to the music room and doing all this would bring doom to her.
"Answer," Deng Hui ordered Chuntao, who was lost in her thoughts.
"Your Majesty, his highness does not like to call the Royal Physician. So, I did the dressing. Forgive me, your majesty. I did not know that I could not do this," Chuntao humbly said.
Deng Hui knew about this, so she forgave Chuntao. "Since you will not work there anymore, I forgive you. This is the last time I am hearing complain about you. If you make a mistake, you will be punished without any second chance. You are not allowed to go to the Eastern Palace from now on," Deng Hui passed her order. Chuntao nodded and thanked the Empress for forgiving her mistake.
Chuntao had a doubt, so she gathered her courage and said, "May I ask a question, your majesty?"
"Yes," Deng Hui permitted her.
"Can I leave the Palace after one year?" Chuntao stated.
"Servants cannot leave the Palace! And you have to pay the debts which the Prince paid for you," Deng Hui replied. Chuntao was disheartened to learn about that. She was told by the Fourth Prince that she could leave after a year, then why?
"Mother, you cannot decide for her," they heard a familiar voice. Both Deng Hui and Lady Yefei glanced towards the third door where Nianzu was standing. Chuntao was still on her knees and her head was lowered. Nianzu came inside and greeted his mother first before speaking to her.
"Do not abuse your powers over my people," Nianzu proclaimed and glared at Lady Yefei. "I brought Miss Chuntao for my work so, only I have the right to make decisions regarding her." Nianzu was furious at his mother, but he could not be disrespectful to her.
"Prince Nianzu, intervening in the Inner Palace-"
"I am not intervening," Nianzu cut the words of Lady Yefei. "Leave everyone. I need to talk to my mother," Nianzu commanded in a loud voice. Chuntao stood up and turned to leave when she heard Nianzu, "Wait for me in my chamber."
Deng Hui narrowly gazed at Chuntao who had gone out.
Nianzu glared at his mother as soon as Lady Yefei and Chuntao left the chamber. "I did not know that you are no less than the late Empress Wei. At least, she did not intervene in my life the way you do. Do you know what I hate about the Late Empress Wei?" Deng Hui waited for him to answer. "Because she abused her powers. I could not do anything because I was called a son of the concubine, but not anymore. If I caught you doing something wrong, I would be the first one who would raise his voice against you," Nianzu warned Deng Hui.
