Night!
Inside the servants' quarters.
"The Empress is becoming more and more unhinged."
"Shhh! Quiet! If someone reports you, your life will be forfeit."
"It's alright, we're all sisters here, there are no outsiders. No one will tell."
The other servants lay in their beds without speaking.
However, the sixteen or seventeen-year-old servant chattered on.
"The Princess is so pitiful. The Empress is too cruel, she'd even harm her own daughter."
The next day!
Morning!
The servants woke up early and rose to greet the new day, but when they opened the door, they discovered a body hanging from the rafters near the exit.
A closer look.
It was the servant who had gossiped about the Empress the night before.
Their faces paled. They knew someone had informed on her. But they were long accustomed to such things; it was a common occurrence. In the deep palace, scheming and backstabbing happened every day.
You might think someone is your friend, but you never know how they might betray you behind your back.
Those close to her saw this scene, their eyes red-rimmed. They had told her not to gossip about their masters, but she wouldn't listen. Now it was too late for regrets.
They knew this was a lesson from the Empress.
A warning to them that discussing their masters in private would result in the same fate.
Half a month later!
Every day was a happy one for Lin Fan. Although he didn't see many people, he didn't mind. Seeing strangers didn't hold much meaning for him, and even a crowd wouldn't have any connection to him.
"Today I'm going to make a sumptuous lunch." Lin Fan looked at the vegetables in front of him, smiling brightly. Even Old Zhang hadn't tasted his cooking yet. When he had time, he would cook for Old Zhang and Little Bao, letting them experience his culinary skills.
Simple vegetables, in Lin Fan's eyes, were exquisite dishes.
Chopping vegetables, lighting the fire, heating the wok.
The smoke from the cooking rose, adding a touch of life to the deserted courtyard.
"So fragrant."
The food he cooked himself always tasted the best.
He moved the table outside. A simple meal of a few dishes and a soup, eating while gazing at the sky, was a beautiful experience.
"Huh!"
Just as Lin Fan was about to pick up his chopsticks, he saw a figure at the doorway.
"Come and eat together?"
Lin Fan waved to the figure at the door. It was the little girl he had met when he fell into the well, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.
The little girl stood at the door, motionless.
Her eyes stared straight at him.
"Is there something wrong with me?" Lin Fan looked down at himself, but found nothing amiss. He pondered, had he done something wrong? Or had he frightened her, causing her to不敢 approach him?
He figured it out.
He got up, took a bowl, and filled it with rice. He realized he hadn't served the girl any food, making her think he was joking, so she hadn't dared to come over.
A bowl of steaming white rice was placed on the table.
"Come, don't be shy. My cooking is quite good, you might like it." Lin Fan waved with a smile. There was nothing to be afraid of, really nothing to be nervous about.
Thinking about their first meeting, a little nervousness was understandable.
Not long after.
"Good girl."
Lin Fan trusted his cooking. He didn't believe anyone could resist the food he made.
Even Qing Lian had said his cooking was delicious.
His skills had been passed down from her.
So he was very confident.
The little girl ate as if she hadn't eaten in a long time. At first, she was reserved, but then she began to wolf down the food.
Lin Fan rested his chin in his hand, watching with a smile.
Seeing someone enjoy the food he made was truly a delightful experience.
"Eat slowly, no need to rush, there's plenty more." Lin Fan said with a smile.
He noticed that the little girl seemed to have some inner turmoil.
How to put it…
Darkness, distortion.
Hmm…impossible.
How could a little girl have such a mentality? It must be his misperception.
"What's your name?" Lin Fan asked.
Then he remembered he hadn't introduced himself.
"My name is Lin Fan. I live here."
"What about you?"
The little girl shoveled the food into her mouth, her eyes rolling upwards, constantly watching Lin Fan, like an animal alert to its surroundings while eating.
Lacking a safe environment made the animal uneasy.
That's right.
This was the little girl's current situation.
Lin Fan pondered. He wanted the little girl to let go of her vigilance, relax, and happily accept everything around her.
He looked directly into the little girl's eyes, smiling with genuine warmth, opening his heart to tell her, I mean you no harm, I am a good person.
Lin Fan's smile made adults uneasy.
But it gave children a sense of warmth.
"Zhen Le."
"My name is Zhen Le."
Zhen Le told Lin Fan her name.
Lin Fan extended his hand towards Zhen Le, smiling, "My name is Lin Fan. This is our second meeting. Hello."
Zhen Le stared at Lin Fan blankly. When Lin Fan extended his hand, for some reason, she instinctively recoiled, as if afraid of danger. But soon, she realized there was no threat.
"Let's shake hands and be friends. I don't know anyone here. You're the first person I've seen." Lin Fan said.
Click!
Looking at Lin Fan's sincere and warm smile, Zhen Le slowly extended her hand and grasped Lin Fan's.
"Good friends." Lin Fan smiled.
Zhen Le, who never smiled, felt the warmth of Lin Fan's palm and showed a hint of a smile.
"Huh! What happened to your wrist?" Lin Fan noticed bruises and burn scars on Zhen Le's wrist and asked with concern.
"It's nothing." Zhen Le withdrew her hand and lowered her head to eat.
Lin Fan said, "We are friends. If someone bullies you, tell me, and I will help you."
"No one bullies me." Zhen Le said.
The first time she came here, she knew what this place was, the most miserable place in the deep palace, neglected and forgotten. From the moment she stepped in here, her fate was sealed.
She would never leave this place alive.
The matters of the palace were too dangerous. She didn't want the only person who was kind to her to lose his life for nothing.
Inside the house.
Zhen Le stood in front of the bookshelf, casually browsing. The house was dilapidated, even more so than the place she lived, cold, desolate, and lonely, just like her.
She suddenly felt a sense of kinship.
"These books are very interesting. I read them regularly, although I don't understand some of them." Lin Fan said with a smile.
He didn't have much entertainment here.
The only interesting things were the books on the shelves.
Zhen Le looked at the bookshelf. Suddenly, she noticed a book emitting a thick black mist, which was quite strange.
She picked up the book.
Nine Nether Divine Canon.
"Can you give this to me?"
Lin Fan smiled, "Of course, if you like it, you can have any of the books here."
"Do you like drawing?"
Zhen Le didn't understand what Lin Fan meant.
Drawing?
I didn't say I liked drawing.
Lin Fan liked children who enjoyed reading and drawing.
If only Little Bao also loved reading, that would be great. But come to think of it, Little Bao seemed quite focused when he studied. As long as he told Little Bao to go to school, Little Bao would obey.
From this, it could be seen…
Little Bao was a child who liked to study.
"Here, this is for you." Zhen Le pulled a woven grass grasshopper from her pocket.
"Thank you, it's beautifully made." Lin Fan smiled and accepted it. Then, remembering that someone had given him a gift, and he hadn't given one in return, he took out the golden leaf. "This is for you."
Zhen Le had never seen a golden leaf before. She was very curious, and finally accepted it.
"Thank you."
"Good girl."
Lin Fan habitually stroked Zhen Le's head, just like he stroked Little Bao's head.
It was the first time Zhen Le had been so gently stroked on the head, not like the rough way her head was pushed to the ground. Her heart felt peaceful, a tranquility she couldn't describe.
The leaf of the Dao Tree was thus given away by Lin Fan.
A treasure to others, in Lin Fan's eyes, was no different from ordinary things.
Lin Fan was quite talkative, while Zhen Le was quiet, occasionally only uttering an "uh-huh". Of course, Lin Fan didn't mind this at all.
Everything takes time.
Night.
Lin Fan lay in bed, a bright smile on his face.
"That's great, I finally made a new friend. She's a bit quiet, but I believe that as long as she spends more time with me, she'll become more lively."
He was confident he could make her more lively.
West Palace Courtyard.
Inside a small room.
Zhen Le played with the golden leaf in her hand.
"So magical, I've never seen a golden leaf before."
She played with it for a long time.
The first gift she received made her especially happy.
Then, she took out the book, looked at the words on the cover, and muttered to herself.
"Nine Nether Divine Canon…"
She knew it was a secret manual, but she was puzzled as to why it emitted a black mist. This was what confused her the most.
She opened the book.
Inside were many drawings of small figures. After reading until late into the night, she carefully hid the book and the golden leaf, afraid of being discovered, especially by Consort Xian.
The next day!
Lin Fan got up early, took a deep breath of fresh air, his energy at its peak. He then made breakfast and started his new day. Farming was essential, even if there were no weeds in the field.
He still used a hoe to turn the soil.
To let the vegetables breathe.
His life here, although not full of great changes, felt quite rich and colorful. Farming, looking at the trees, breathing fresh air, looking up at the sky and thinking about the past.
It felt very good.
At noon.
While Lin Fan was cooking, he noticed a small head peeking nervously from outside the door. He waved.
"Come in, sit there and wait, it will be ready soon."
Hearing Lin Fan's voice, Zhen Le ran to the table and sat there obediently.
Here…
She could finally have a decent meal.
And…also a little warmth.