Shanguan Zhu Jin's POV
Pei Qin and Li Jin were standing in front of my quarters. I know they are worried because tonight will be the first time I will serve the empress in her quarters.
"I can't believe she managed to survive; now we have to follow her and suffer in humiliation!" Pei Qin exclaimed.
Li Jin sighed and looked at the two of us. "Have you noticed something? I don't know, but this has been troubling me. She's different from the empress we used to know."
"What makes you think, Pei Qin? She's still that cunning and tyrannical woman! We are nothing but her pawns!"
I look at him. "What are you trying to say, Li Jin?" I ask.
He placed his hands behind him and walked back and forth. "Her eyes—they're not lifeless, fierce, and scary. They're softer, livelier, but brave, and there's a fire in them that confuses me," Li Jin halts.
"Also, have you remembered that she speaks words that we haven't heard from her? Also, her voice was softer, and the way she apologized either," he added.
I held my chin and recalled everything Li Jin said. I already noticed that and I thought it was just me.
The court was shocked at how she wanted to investigate some problems that she had never cared about before.
Also, she suddenly declares a total reform of her court, about which she never cares. All she does is live lavishly and kill people out of frustration and her mood.
"Come to think of it, she is determined that time in annihilate the family of the women we adore after she learned of that, but now... They're working in her court again," Li Jin halts.
"I learned from We Pei Rou that her father receives a letter from the empress. She apologizes for what she did and asks him to visit the palace two days from now."
"Yang Hua told me the same way as well," Pei Qin says.
Zhang Yihua sends me a letter and tells me that Her Majesty apologizes and asks her father to have tea with her two days from now as well.
What is she planning to do? We suddenly heard some of my servants walking around the garden. They're talking about the empress.
"Have you heard the rumors? The empress cut off her food intake? She only eats a single dish for the main course and one side dish at every meal. I heard from her servants in her residence," she says. They stopped and didn't realize that the three of us were there, standing.
"That's true! My aunt was serving at the empress's residence. Also, she told me that the empress suddenly built garden beds on the vacant lots around her residence!" she paused and signed her friends to move closer to her.
"She said that the queen wants to plant vegetables and herbs! I sneak out, and she is really plucking garden beds!" she added.
The three of us were surprised because of what she said. Is this some kind of joke?! Li Jin and Pei Qin look at me with serious faces.
"Here's another thing. She also asked the royal tailor to stop making clothes for her and just make adjustments for the clothes she had," she continued.
"Either they changed the embroidery or the color. She's cutting her expenses and selling her properties that can be used as funds for the things she wants to do," she added. They were taken aback when they saw us standing behind them.
They bow their heads. "Greetings, our lords!" they all said. I raise my hand. "Go back to your quarters and sleep."
They all nodded and walked as fast as they could. "Farming? What is happening to our empress?!" Pei Qin exclaims. I look at them.
"I have to go now. I don't want Eunuch Liu to come here and fetch me. Just do as she told you to. Let's see how much time she will act."
They both sighed and bowed their heads. "Take care of your stay at the empress's residence. You have to be careful, your majesty," Li Jin says.
I deeply sigh and walk away. I know something is wrong with that woman, and I will expose her myself!
I will make her suffer this time! I arrived at her residence by just walking without any servants with me.
I told my confidant to observe the situation in secret. Eunuch Liu and the other servants bowed their heads when they saw me.
"Greetings , emperor consort," he stated.
They raise their heads. The door suddenly opened, and the queen came out wearing such clothes. She walks faster on the stairs and passes through me. She smells like citrus.
"I said I didn't want to drink that! Don't take a step further, Da Xi!" she roars.
I look at her personal servant. "What is that, Da Xi?" I ask.
She walks back and stands behind me. "Stop her. She wants me to drink an aphrodisiac. We don't need that, right?" she stated.
"Give it to me. I will drink it myself," I commanded.
Da Xi got down, and when I was about to drink it, she grabbed the bowl and drank it all at once.
"I drink it now. All of you leave at these quarters. The emperor consort and I will have a long talk. Come on, everyone is dismissed."
They all bow their heads and withdraw themselves. She sighs and turns me around to face her.
"Are you out of your mind, A'Zu? This is clearly an aphrodisiac because they want us to have sex!" she roars. I look at her.
"Sex? What is that, your Highness?" I ask.
She sighs and waves the bowl in my face. "Let's get inside. I will make a bed for you. I hope this is not a real-deal aphrodisiac. What kind of dynasty am I living in? My goodness," she whispers.
Her accent was a little different as well, as was the way she constructed her sentences. It's making me confused.
She shakes her head and hands. "Just forget what I said. Let's go to bed and sleep. I'm already tired from reading a complicated text. It's really hard to be reborn in this strange era," she mumbles.
I heard the last sentence she said, no matter how low the tone she used. I followed her inside. I blink when I see her lying on the floor. That should be me.
"Use my bed. I know noble people hate sleeping on the floor. I'm used to this, so I'll be fine."
She covers herself and closes her eyes. Is she serious about this? What kind of game is she trying to pull this time?
I think I have to be careful because this empress is different from what she used to be. I went to bed and ignored her decision. I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep.
…
I opened my eyes. I was awakened by a strange noise. I turned my head around and got up. The empress was jumping fast and clapping her hands above her head. What is she doing?!
"What are you doing?" I ask.