An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

As she climbed over the wall, Jing Chunxi's skirt scraped a light gray mark on the blue bricks of the palace wall. She landed lightly on the soft mud outside the wall, and her embroidered shoes sank into the soil.

The vermilion lacquered railings of the corridor shone dimly in the moonlight. She pretended to admire the moon by gathering her hair, but her fingertips tucked the scattered hair behind her ears. The bun that had been caught by the branches when she climbed over the wall just now now had a strand of black hair hanging down. With her seemingly leisurely but actually hurried steps, she walked forward.

As he turned the corner of the Taihu Lake stone at the corner of Jingren Palace, he was struck by a chest as hard as an iron wall. Jing Chunxi stumbled backwards, his lower back about to hit the stone steps under the eaves.

In a split second, she dodged to the side, her right hand clasping against the mottled column. When she regained her balance, she realized her palm was burning with pain.

"Who is it?" The thunderous shout shook the tiles on the veranda. The hand that clamped her wrist was covered with calluses, and the centipede-like scar could be felt at the base of the palm.

Jing Chunxi lowered his head and stared at the grass debris stuck on the other person's black boots - they were the blue satin cloud-patterned boots unique to the imperial guards.

Her knees softened and she knelt down, her forehead almost touching the other person's boots: "I deserve to die, I deserve to die." The trembling ending of her voice was like a spider silk blown away by the wind.

The guard reeked faintly of alcohol; he must have just finished his night shift. He tightened his fingers suspiciously, and Jing Chunxi's wrist bones cracked under the strain. "Which palace are you from?"

As he bent down to interrogate, his waist badge slipped out from his lapel, and the edge of the bronze badge flashed coldly in the moonlight - it was the waist badge of the second-class sword-bearing guard of Qianqing Gate.

Jing Chunxi knelt even lower, her forehead resting against the cold blue bricks. "I am from Jingren Palace. Concubine Hua asked me to see the Empress Dowager's nanny. I heard she was dying..."

Before he could finish his words, he heard the iron rings on the other person's sword scabbard jingle. The guard suddenly realized: "A dead person needs to be looked at in the middle of the night?"

The moment he reached out to grab her, Jing Chunxi had already slid three steps away like a loach, and her embroidered shoes made a harsh friction sound on the brick floor.

"Assassins!" The explosive shout startled birds from their perches. As Jing Chunxi ran, he heard the clanging of armor behind him like a tide, at least five or six people.

She deliberately kicked over the copper-enamel incense burner at the corner, and the rising incense ash blinded the eyes of the guard who was chasing her first.

Looking up, the vermilion-lacquered gate of Jingren Palace was still open, a few strands of dim light shone through the crack. A thin palace servant was leaning against the door frame, nodding his head, obviously not expecting someone to break into the palace so late at night.

She pushed the eunuch guarding the door with all her strength, and the back of his head hit the door frame with a bang.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jing Chunxi slipped past him like a nimble cat, and the hem of her skirt created a breeze as it brushed the threshold.

The moment he rushed into the hall, Jing Chunxi caught a glimpse of the pursuer's unsheathed sword at his waist, reflecting the palace lantern and casting a cold light like a snake's tongue on the window paper.

She dodged and hid in the shadows behind Duobao Pavilion, then entered the space.

The angry curses of the guards outside and the sharp rebukes of the eunuchs mixed together: "Are you looking for death? This is Concubine Hua's bedroom, you..." Before he finished speaking, there was a flurry of footsteps. Someone kicked over the blue and white porcelain step stool at the door, and the sound of broken porcelain splashing was like silver beads scattered all over the ground.

"Who are you? Are you trying to kill yourself? How dare you break into Jingren Palace?" A palace servant's sharp curses could be heard from outside. The one who had been hit had apparently gotten up and was rubbing the back of his head and jumping up and down. His voice was filled with fear, yet he was trying to sound powerful.

"Get out of the way! There's an assassin."

There was a dull thud, followed by the sound of chaotic footsteps. The unfortunate palace attendant had barely regained his balance when the incoming guards knocked him to the ground again. His hat tilted to one side, revealing a few strands of graying hair.

"Oh my! You blind men..." the palace attendant yelled, but his voice dropped sharply when he saw the visitor's attire. He recognized the attire of the imperial guards and was immediately silenced.

"We saw the assassin break in with our own eyes. If you don't want to die, block the way," the leading guard shouted sternly. The iron ring of the sword on his waist jingled, sounding particularly harsh in the silent night.

As they were talking, four or five people entered Jingren Palace and rushed in different directions.

Heavy boots thudded against the polished gold brick floor. Some rushed straight into the inner chambers, others searched the side halls, and still others vigilantly checked every corner where someone might be hiding.

The lanterns in their hands cast swaying shadows on the exquisitely carved window frames, like ghosts with bared fangs and claws.

Jing Chunxi slowly rummaged through the space and found a pink dress. She carefully tied each ribbon of the pink dress and adjusted the pearl buttons on the collar.

I specially changed my shoes into a pair of pink embroidered shoes of the same color, which were brand new and spotless.

Through the gap in space, she saw the unfortunate palace servant rubbing his waist, muttering to himself, and turning around to check what was happening outside the palace.

Jing Chunxi flicked his fingertips, and a dusty cloud of powder drifted down silently. The palace maid suddenly sneezed, then her body went limp, sliding to the ground like a pile of mud.

She leaped lightly over the sleeping palace maids, her embroidered shoes tapping almost silently on the gold bricks. The night breeze brushed her cheek, bringing with it the faint sound of stringed instruments in the distance.

After leaving the space, she rushed towards the outer court where the palace banquet was held.

After turning a corner, several palace maids holding lanterns suddenly appeared in front of us. They were walking and chatting, holding various fruit plates in their hands.

Jing Chunxi slowed down, and she immediately adjusted her breathing, turning her hurried steps into an elegant and calm one. She raised her hand to smooth her hair, making sure she didn't show any sign of panic.

She pretended that she had just come back from the toilet and said, "Hello, sister." She also took the initiative to greet the palace maid who was walking towards her, her voice soft and appropriate.

On either side of the outer entrance were several side rooms neatly arranged, each with a curtain of a different color hung on the door to distinguish them.

The room closest to the palace gate was filled with the aroma of tea, as several maids were busy boiling water to make tea. In the adjacent room, hung with a beaded curtain, several ladies could be vaguely seen inside, arranging their attire.

The other two rooms are where the maids and servants who followed their masters into the palace stayed.

Inside, the room was much simpler, furnished only with a few benches and low tables. A green cloth curtain hung at the door, swaying gently in the night breeze.

Occasionally, maids and old women would come in and out of the room. A small, round-faced maid emerged from the room, clutching a half-eaten cake. An older old woman followed behind her, mumbling instructions.

Jing Chunxi lifted the curtain and went in. Most of the people inside were whispering to each other.

Three or five maids huddled in a corner, occasionally letting out muffled laughter. One in a green shirt was gesturing mysteriously, while the others listened intently.

Several elderly maids leaned against the wall, eyes closed, resting. One of them was snoring softly, her handkerchief nearly falling to the floor.

The little girls, like little mice, pushed and shoved each other to grab the few snacks left on the plates. One brave one even secretly hid two pieces in her sleeve.

Jing Chunxi's entrance did not attract much attention. She tiptoed to the corner, sat down, and began to sit there.

The hot air blurred her face and concealed her breathing that had just calmed down.