To Be a Mighty Empress, Or Not to Be - C105

When the song came to its end, just as Shi Anran was about to continue cleaning, she saw someone behind him. Looking up, he realized it was the emperor himself, she immediately bowed and said, “Anran greets your majesty, long live the emperor!”

“Rise.” The emperor seemed to still be reminiscing about the tune as he smiled warmly. “A song made by someone of such a young age yet has such a desolate taste. Girl, you’re rather special.”

Upon seeing the broom in her hand, she was slightly surprised. “What are you doing here, not staying in the storage palace late at night?”

Shi Anran lowered her eyes and said in a low voice: “Reporting to your majesty, it was Anran’s mistake that had displeased Imperial Noble Consort Lan, so she deserved to be punished!”

Imperial Noble Consort Lan? It seems that I have spoiled her too much over this long, what kind of mistake can a little Consort Candidate do for her to clean up late at night? As she thought, the Emperor took a deep breath, seeming to have thought of something, and said, “If I were to give you a chance to go against the current, would you be willing?”

Hearing that, Shi Anran immediately replied: “I, Anran would never dare to ….”

“I am very satisfied with your tea. I happen to lack a maid by my side. From tomorrow onwards, you will come to the Palace to serve me.” The emperor didn’t give her the chance to refuse. How could such a ruler give her the chance to reject him?

However, this also perfectly responded to Shi Anran’s feelings. With a bow, she lightly said, “Anran thanks the Emperor for his grace!”

“Alright, go back and rest. We will explain everything to the Imperial Noble Consort Lan.” The emperor’s voice was filled with gentleness. This was the first time she spoke in such a manner to a girl aside from her concubine.

When Shi Anran returned, all the Consort Candidate s were washing their faces and preparing to rest. Seeing that she had returned, Li Ruoxue frowned, there were so many places that needed cleaning, and even if she was given three days time, she might not be able to finish cleaning. She threw down the water basin and walked over with her chin raised: “Shi Anran, you actually dare to not listen to Imperial Noble Consort Lan’s words? “Believe it or not, I …”

“Young master Li, the emperor asked my master to come back!” On the way, Xiu Er heard about this matter from Shi Anran. She was first surprised, then she was full of joy, as she would not need to be bullied by Li Ruoxue anymore.

Your majesty? Since when has this woman seen the emperor’s face? Li Ruoxue wanted to say something but she kept it in her throat, forcing herself to swallow her anger. Sooner or later, she would take revenge.

Early morning the next day, Eunuch Zhao and his palace maid arrived. He looked at Shi Anran with appreciation, “We came to congratulate Little Master Anran.

“What?” Li Ruoxue was the most surprised, and was unable to react for a long time.

Xiu Er asked joyously, “Eunuch Zhao, will Master still be staying in the Palace?”

Eunuch Zhao raised his eyebrows and said in a high-pitched voice, “Of course the emperor’s maids live in the palace. The benefits of staying with the emperor must be great.”

Shi Anran blessed her body: “Anran thanks Eunuch Zhao first.”

After Shi Anran changed into the palace clothes that the palace maids brought to the house, she dressed her up before following Elder Zhao out. Shi Anran wore a plum red dress. Although she was only a maid, all of the jewelry she wore was much higher than the others from the Consort Candidate. There was a personal plate of the Emperor hanging on her waist.

The Consort Candidate s looked at her with different expressions as she walked past them. They could not avoid being envious and jealous, and’s eyes seemed to spew out fire. Hong Ling reluctantly said a few words to Shi Anran, and then the two separated.

It had to be said that the palace was very large. The room given to her by the emperor was at least five to six times larger than the one they had been given, and the furnishings and decorations were all several times better. Two more palace maids appeared in the room, both serving Shi Anran together. Several guards were stationed at the entrance as well.

“Servant Cui Yun, servant Cui Yu greets Aunt!” The two palace maids said politely.

Shi Anran nodded her head, and smiled: “All of you, get up. This house is too big, it’s been a long time since I last saw anyone staying here.

“Auntie, please rest. Let the servants come.” Xiu Er supported her.

It was also true that she was now one of the emperor’s maids. Even the selected Consort Candidate s, as well as the palace maids and eunuchs, would have to respectfully call her aunt after seeing her. The real show would begin from here.

After settling everything in the house, Shi Anran was about to go see the emperor at the Carnage Hall. In this life, she was no exception as she met Imperial Noble Consort Lan, who was purposely here.

Li Ruoxue had already sent someone to deliver the news, but after seeing her dressed, Li Ruolan’s heart was stifled. She suppressed it and said gently: “Quickly get up, I am here to congratulate you.”

Shi Anran, this woman, was indeed outstanding enough among the Consort Candidate, but now that the emperor had promoted her to a maid, it meant that she had no chance of being her concubine. Thinking about it, the anger in Li Ruolan’s heart dissipated a bit.

“I did punish you a bit too harshly yesterday, but the way things are in this palace is like this. If you occasionally suffer some losses, just treat it as your memory.”

“Anran will remember the teachings of the Imperial Noble Consort Lan.” She still did not intend to offend this woman.

The two of them went into the Heart Nurturing Palace one after the other. Seeing that the emperor was busy dealing with the papers, Shi Anran did not disturb him, but quietly brewed a cup of tea and set aside an exquisite plate of dim sum and stood quietly at the side.

Li Ruolan slowly walked over and whispered, “Your Majesty, you promised chenqie that you would accompany her for lunch.”

Hearing this, the emperor put down the paper in his hand, but noticed Shi Anran. After glancing at him, she asked, “Is it customary for the Palace to live here?”

“The Emperor has bestowed a favor to Anran.” Shi Anran lowered her eyes and said softly.

Li Ruolan looked suspiciously at Shi Anran, before turning back to look at him. “Your majesty, it’s already noon, you should rest first, it’s so tiring to look at so many debts in a moment, your concubine will accompany you to have lunch, then go for a walk, is that alright?”

Only then did the emperor give Li Ruolan a bland reply, “That’s good too.”

Before he left, the Emperor did not forget to tell Shi Anran to organize the papers.

Shi Anran tidied up the messy reports on the table and put those that had been read on the side and those that had not, on the side. Only then did she exit the room.

Actually, what she did every day was to wait by the side during the emperor’s morning assembly. She was only waiting to receive orders from the emperor, so she could be considered a simple and leisurely position.

“Mistress, are you used to it?” Xiu Er asked with a light smile.

Shi Anran slightly nodded, and said gently: “If you can’t even do such a small thing, it’ll be my fault.”

“This servant only thought that Master was originally a young miss at home and was taken care of by others. Now that I’m doing this service, it would be difficult for me to do.”

“It’s alright, but you’re right. In the future, I still have a lot of things to learn from you.”

In the morning court, no one really paid attention to the new maids around the emperor, only Xiang Rongcheng was secretly happy in his heart. Since Anran was now the emperor’s maid, then he would no longer be the imperial concubine.

The emperor put down the paper in his hand. “There was a flood in the south, and countless commoners were killed or injured, yet none of them came to inform me. If it wasn’t for the government officials secretly sending a letter, I’m afraid that I wouldn’t even know about this matter.