The concubine is a man, and the illegitimate son of a divine physician has a spatial ability.

Yin Zijing carefully moved her bound feet, which were wrapped up to the size of three inches, and walked slowly and gracefully along the seemingly endless palace path. The further she walked, the more uneasy and nervous she became.

Along the way, numerous palace maids and eunuchs were busy sweeping and cleaning. When they saw Yin Zijing approaching, they all stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads slightly as a sign of respect. However, Yin Zijing was somewhat nervous at the moment and did not notice their actions. His gaze remained fixed on the magnificent Chengqian Palace not far ahead.

Finally, after a long journey, Yin Zijin arrived at Chengqian Palace. The vermilion gates were wide open, the plaque bearing the three large characters "Chengqian Gate," resembling the gaping maw of a beast waiting to devour everything. Upon seeing this, the eunuch guarding the gate hurriedly ran over, respectfully kowtowing and saying, "Greetings to Eunuch Li!"

Eunuch Li nodded expressionlessly, then turned to the gatekeeper, a eunuch named Xiao Dezi, and instructed, "Xiao Dezi, quickly go and inform Her Majesty the Empress. Tell her that Miss Yin Liu has been brought here, and ask Her Majesty if she wishes to summon her now." Xiao Dezi acknowledged and hurriedly turned to walk into the palace.

A moment later, Xiao Dezi quickly came out and politely invited, "Eunuch Li, please take Miss Yin inside!"

Directly opposite the main gate is a vermilion screen wall, adorned with colorful auspicious clouds, and topped with golden glazed tiles.

Yin Zijing followed Eunuch Li past the screen wall. As soon as they entered, the view opened up, with an ancient pear tree on each side of the courtyard. Not far from the pear trees were two large, green water vats.

Chengqian Palace is a two-courtyard complex. The front courtyard has five bays, with east and west side halls on the left and right. The east side hall is Zhenshunzhai, and the west side hall is Mingdetang.

Next to the front hall is a small red door. Inside the small red door is a rear hall with five main rooms and many side rooms, which should be the living quarters of the personal maids and eunuchs or the maids and eunuchs on night duty.

Eunuch Li led Yin Zijin slowly into the inner room. As soon as they stepped inside, they felt a wave of heat wash over them. Upon closer inspection, they saw that the huge fire dragon in the center of the inner room was burning brightly, with raging flames licking the furnace walls and turning the entire room a crimson red.

Inside the room, palace maids and eunuchs were busy coming and going. Some carried exquisite silver platters filled with various rare fruits and pastries; others carefully arranged the writing implements on the table, ensuring everything was neat and orderly; still others gently waved whisks to sweep away any dust that might be in the air.

Looking inside the Chengqian Hall, the floor was covered with a thick red carpet, resembling a vibrant sea of ​​blood. Yin Zijin's delicate, three-inch lotus feet gently stepped onto it, feeling a soft and comfortable sensation under her feet, as if walking on clouds, without any discomfort whatsoever.

Just then, Yin Zijing's gaze was drawn to the person seated on the phoenix throne in front of her. She wore an incomparably magnificent golden phoenix robe and a dazzling phoenix crown, her face dignified and beautiful yet exuding a touch of majesty. This person was none other than the current Empress.

Yin Zijin was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, his tiny, delicate bound feet hidden beneath the skirt. Every step he took was as light and graceful as a lotus flower gently blooming. His figure was graceful and charming, and every gesture exuded a noble and elegant temperament and good upbringing.

Yin Zijin walked forward with a composed gait, his head slightly lowered, his gaze gentle and respectful, daring not to overstep his bounds in the slightest. When he reached a distance from the Empress, he stopped and quickly knelt down, his movements practiced and precise.

Immediately afterwards, he prostrated himself on the ground with both hands and kowtowed heavily to the ground: "Your subject Yin Zijin pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress, may Your Majesty live a thousand years!" His voice was soft and gentle, full of reverence.

The Empress's voice was authoritative yet gentle, and with a slight upturn at the corners of her lips, she said kindly, "Rise!"

Yin Zijin quickly stood up and stood properly to the side.

Seeing that Yin Zijin was a little reserved, the Empress quickly instructed, "Take down the gauze curtain! Zijin, don't be afraid. Once you're in the palace, just treat it like your own home."

As a servant, Granny Zhou had never even had the slightest chance to receive the honor of meeting the Empress. At this moment, in the vast palace, Yin Zijing stood alone, as if everything in the world was no longer relevant to him.

He gently raised his arm, which was as smooth and warm as mutton fat jade, and his fair, delicate, slender hand, like a flower petal in a breeze, softly unveiled the snow-white veil.

Everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to his eyes, which were filled with tenderness and brimming with tears. Those eyes were like a bottomless pool, or like stars twinkling with tears in the night sky, seemingly filled with endless tenderness and unspeakable grievances.

The Empress narrowed her eyes slightly, gazing intently at the person before her, a surge of astonishment welling up within her. Her usually dignified and noble face froze involuntarily, as if time itself had stood still.

Having been the empress of a nation, she had weathered many storms within the deep palace walls. During that time, countless beauties had come and gone before her, yet none had ever been as breathtaking as Yin Zijin before her. Even those hailed as peerless beauties capable of captivating a nation, compared to Yin Zijin, could hardly match even a fraction of her allure.

The Empress beckoned and quickly called out, "Come here, let me take a good look at you."

Yin Zijing carefully moved her tiny, bound feet to the Empress. The Empress smiled and kindly extended a hand to gently take Yin Zijing's delicate hand.

The Empress first looked Yin Zijing up and down, her eyes showing satisfaction, before she smiled and said, "Truly, she has been raised in seclusion! Look at this child, carefully nurtured as she grows up, even her manners and etiquette are impeccable." As she spoke, the Empress even pulled Yin Zijing's hand to her eyes and examined it closely.

"Look at these little hands, so delicate and fair, like they've been carved from mutton-fat jade. They must have been pampered and carefully nurtured every day." As the Empress spoke, she gently stroked the back of Yin Zijing's hand, her tender movements as if she were handling a rare treasure.

The Empress then asked, "Have you read any books?"