read rumors outside Are you out of your mind!"Gu Qian's expression turned natural. She and Li Erniu were both acting just now, so with no 'outsiders' present, there was no need to put on a show anymor...Gu Asan returned to the East Palace and saw An Qing, who had been keeping watch for her, dozing off in the corridor. Gu Asan's footsteps faltered, and she turned to walk beside An Qing.

"Is this how you serve your Empress"

An Qing, with a start, woke up. Seeing Gu Qian readily shift from sitting to kneeling, she whispered, "This servant deserves death, this servant...this servant accidentally fell asleep, Your Highness, please forgive me."

She mouthed apologies but cursed inwardly.

Since she spoke a few good words for Young Master Wang last time, the princess has been targeting her.

She could be made to kneel for an hour on any given pretext, and before it was a matter of taking turns watching the night, now it is only her who does so alone.

After several months, she had grown gaunt. Let alone the attentions of Lord Wang, not even those little eunuchs who had been courting her were to be seen anymore.

At this time, she didn't even want to think about marrying a prince or becoming a phoenix soaring high. She just wanted to perform well and please the princess, so that the princess wouldn't see her as useless and cause her endless suffering.

Since you know you were wrong, then... kneel down.

Yes, Your Highness.

An Qing didn't dare to refute, watching Gu Qian walk into the room before she let out a breath of relief.

For some reason, she's become increasingly afraid of the young lady recently. Before, she wouldn't have hesitated to ask what the young lady was doing out so late, let alone kneeling as punishment...

Gu Qianshui didn't go to sleep right away after returning to her room. She lay in bed, pondering Li Chengyuan's words.

Next month will be the once-in-three-years Mountain Worship Ceremony of this place.

The Empress is to bring along all the civil and military officials, as well as the ladies of the court and her children, to Mount Sheng for a sacrificial ceremony.

Although Yang Mingzhu might not be as well-traveled and worldly as she, they ended up on the same path.

She wants to create auspicious signs, while Yang Mingzhu intends to bring misfortune.

Let me know if you'd like to translate anything else!

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