From cute to empress

After Cui'er left, my heart felt like it was being weighed down by a huge rock, heavy and suffocating. I knew that with Cui'er's vindictive nature, she would never let this matter go. I had to find a way to protect myself, and also protect Chuntao and Xiahe.

"What should we do, Miss? Miss Cui'er is a favorite of the Queen Mother. If we offend her, how will we live in the future?" Chuntao's tears fell like pearls from a broken string, and Xia He was also wiping her tears.

I feigned composure and tried to comfort them, "Don't be afraid. We have nothing to fear from our own shame. No matter how powerful Cui'er is, she can't bully others for no reason!"

Although I said this, I had no idea what to do. Cui'er had been in the palace longer than I had, and she was deeply trusted by the Empress. It would be easy for her to deal with me.

For the next few days, I lived in constant fear, afraid that Cui'er would suddenly appear and catch me off guard. I began to deliberately avoid crowded places, and even when I went to pay my respects to the Empress, I chose to go when there were fewer people.

That day, during my lunch break, I wanted to take a walk in the Imperial Garden to relax. As soon as I reached the rockery, I heard a burst of whispers coming from behind it.

I stopped curiously and hid behind a big tree, wanting to listen to who was talking.

"Eunuch Zhao, you must help me get this done. After it's done, you will definitely get benefits!" A charming voice came into my ears, and I knew it was Concubine Wang who was speaking.

Another shrill voice replied, "Don't worry, Lady Wang, I'll take care of this matter. I guarantee it will be foolproof!" I was very familiar with this voice. It was Eunuch Zhao, the Queen's favorite!

What were they plotting? I was filled with doubts. Curiosity drove me to continue listening.

"That little bitch, relying on her looks, dares to compete with me for favor, without even considering her own status! This time, I will definitely make her lose her reputation and she will never be able to turn things around!" Lady Wang's voice was filled with resentment.

"Little bitch?" Was she talking about me? I was startled, and suddenly realized that Concubine Wang and Eunuch Zhao were plotting to harm me!

I held my breath and dared not move, for fear of being discovered by them.

"Don't worry, Concubine Wang, I have already made arrangements. I will find an opportunity in a few days..." Before Eunuch Zhao could finish his words, he was interrupted by a burst of hurried footsteps.

I was startled and realized someone was coming, so I quickly and quietly left the rockery.

I returned to my room, my heart pounding. Concubine Wang and Eunuch Zhao's words kept echoing in my mind. What were they plotting? Why were they trying to harm me?

The more I thought about it, the more scared I became. I knew I had to find a way to save myself, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous!

I stumbled back to my room, my heart pounding, cold sweat trickling down my temples. Concubine Wang was going to kill me! This thought, like a bolt of lightning, shattered my previously peaceful life. I hid in a corner of the room, desperately trying to recall Concubine Wang's words, trying to find any clues, but nothing came to mind except fear.

I can't just sit there and wait for death! The kind face of Li Ma flashed through my mind. She is an old lady in the palace and has a lot of experience. Maybe she can help me!

I felt like I had grabbed a life-saving straw. I stumbled to Li Ma's residence, ignored etiquette, grabbed her hand, and told her the conversation I had just heard incoherently.

"Mammy, please, help me! I know Concubine Wang wants to harm me, what should I do?" I looked at her with tears in my eyes, hoping to get a glimmer of hope from her.

However, Nanny Li's reaction was unexpected. She calmly withdrew her hand, her face replaced by a cold expression. She said calmly, "Young lady, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say anything you want. Concubine Wang is such a noble person, how could she do such a thing? You must have heard wrongly."

"I didn't hear it wrongly, I really heard it! Aunt, you must believe me!" I explained eagerly, hoping she could understand my situation.

Nanny Li avoided my gaze and said coldly, "Young lady, I am only a servant. I cannot control what happens in the palace, nor do I want to know. You can take care of yourself."

After saying that, she turned and went into the house, closing the door mercilessly.

I stood there blankly, staring at the closed door, my last hope shattered. Nanny Li's attitude clearly showed that she knew something but was unwilling to help me. She might even be in cahoots with Concubine Wang!

Despair drowned me like icy water. In this vast palace, I couldn't find anyone I could trust, anyone I could turn to for help! I felt like a small animal straying into a trap, helplessly watching myself drift towards the abyss.

Night fell, and there was no light in my room. In the darkness, my fear was magnified infinitely. I curled up in the corner of the bed, listening to the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window. It seemed like the cold laughter of Concubine Wang, echoing in my ears again and again.

What should I do? Is there still a future for me?

I don't know how I managed to get through the long night. Fear and despair, like two invisible hands, gripped my throat tightly, choking me. At the first light of dawn, I struggled to my feet and hurriedly washed myself, wanting nothing more than to escape this suffocating place.

I stumbled along the empty palace road, my mind blank, not knowing where to go or what to do. I only knew that I couldn't just sit there and wait for death, I had to find someone who could help me, someone I could trust!

"Miss Niu, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so unhappy?"

The familiar voice made me look up suddenly, and I saw the concerned look of Doctor Sun. Ever since I accidentally helped him with a small favor last time, he has been taking extra care of me.

I felt like I had grabbed a lifeline. My nose felt sore and tears welled up in my eyes. "Doctor Sun, I..." I wanted to tell him what happened last night, but I was afraid he wouldn't believe me, afraid he would avoid me like Aunt Li.

Doctor Sun saw that I was hesitant to speak, and he became even more worried. He asked softly, "Miss Niu, is there any difficulty? Feel free to tell me. Although my influence is insignificant, I am willing to do my best to help."

His sincere look gave me a little courage. I took a deep breath and lowered my voice to tell him everything about the conversation I heard last night and Madam Li's reaction.

Doctor Sun, after listening to my story, frowned and fell into deep thought. After a long moment, he slowly spoke, "Miss Niu, this is a serious matter. Are you sure you heard correctly?"

"I'm sure!" I said firmly, "Doctor Sun, you must believe me! Lady Wang really wants to harm me!"

Doctor Sun looked at my anxious expression, paused for a moment, and said, "Miss Niu, don't panic. I will investigate this matter secretly. During this period, try not to leave your room and don't trust anyone easily, including Nanny Li."

"Doctor Sun, do you want to help me?" A glimmer of hope ignited in my eyes.

"Don't worry, Miss Niu. Although I am just a medical officer, I will never sit idly by." Doctor Sun said in a firm tone, and there was a reassuring power in his eyes.

For the next few days, I was like a frightened bird, hiding in my room all day, not daring to go anywhere. Doctor Sun came to check my pulse every day, seemingly ordinary pulse checking, but in fact he was secretly conveying information.

"Lady Wang has been visiting the Imperial Kitchen quite a lot lately..."

"I noticed that the maid in Noble Lady Wang's palace looked strange..."

The information collected by Doctor Sun, like pieces of a puzzle, gradually pieced together the outline of Lady Wang's conspiracy. However, this information was not enough to bring Lady Wang down, and I was still in danger.

That day, Imperial Physician Sun came to take my pulse as usual, but his expression was much more serious than usual. "Miss Niu," he said, his voice low and heavy, "I just left the palace to get some medicine, and I overheard the maidservant accompanying Concubine Wang say that she seems to have noticed we're investigating her, and seems... to be planning to take action beforehand!"

My heart sank suddenly and a chill ran from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

My heart sank, a chill running from my feet to my head. Taking action beforehand? What was she planning? I instinctively grasped the dagger hidden in my sleeve. It was secretly given to me by Imperial Physician Sun, for emergency use.

"Doctor Sun, what should I do?" My voice trembled, and fear wrapped around my heart like vines, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.

Doctor Sun frowned and paced back and forth in the room, seemingly racking his brains for a solution. "Miss Niu, calm down first," he paused, looking at me firmly. "Do you trust me?"

I nodded without hesitation, "I believe you, Doctor Sun." In this deep palace, he is my only support.

"Alright," Doctor Sun said, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. "Since Concubine Wang is planning to break up with us, we can't just sit there and wait for death. Miss Niu, come with me."

He took me to the corner of the room and gently moved aside a screen embroidered with peonies, revealing a secret door behind it. I covered my mouth in surprise. There was actually a secret door here!

"This is……"

"This is a secret passage leading out of the palace. It was built when the late emperor was still alive as a precaution," Imperial Physician Sun explained. "There's no time to lose, Miss Niu. You must leave the palace immediately. The farther away, the better!"

Leaving the palace? I was both afraid and reluctant. Where could a weak woman like me go if I left? But if I stayed, I feared death would be the only thing waiting for me.

"Doctor Sun, what about you? Won't you come with me?"

"As the imperial physician, I cannot leave my post without permission. Moreover..." He paused, a gleam in his eyes, "I have more important things to do."

Something more important? Before I could ask, Doctor Sun had already pushed me to the secret door and urged, "Miss Niu, hurry up! Remember, you must protect yourself. I will find a way to notify your family to pick you up."

I bit my lip, gave him a long look, and finally turned and stepped into the dark, unknown secret passage. The secret door slowly closed behind me, blocking out the last ray of light and my final connection with Doctor Sun.

I groped the wall and walked forward step by step. In the darkness, fear followed me like a shadow. I seemed to hear the cold laughter of Concubine Wang echoing in my ears. That laughter was like a death warrant, which made me shudder.

I walked for an unknown amount of time before a faint glimmer of light finally appeared ahead. A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart, and I quickened my pace. However, as I emerged from the secret passage and took in the scene before me, the flame of hope instantly extinguished, replaced by endless despair...