Yu Zan was dressed in a purple maid's uniform, but there were a few delicate magnolias embroidered on the lapel.
After all, she was the maid who had replaced Du Gu Luanyue to serve the emperor in bed. Du Gu Luanyue treated her with some leniency.
Yu Zan's eyes were red-rimmed. "How is Your Highness feeling now? That day really scared this servant half to death."
Du Gu Luanyue looked at her calmly.
"Yu Zan, before we set off for the Northern Yan, I went to the prison myself to ask you if you were willing to step forward in exchange for your family's lives. What did you say then?"
Yu Zan's eyebrows sank, and she replied in a low voice. "This servant said at that time that this servant was willing. This servant is willing to dedicate everything for the Southern Chu and Your Highness."
Du Gu Luanyue reached out her hand and patted Yu Zan's arm, smiling.
"Not only are you making sacrifices, but I am too, and so is Aunt Mei Jiang. The three of us came to the Northern Yan. We rise and fall together.
If one of us is damaged, we all are; if one of us prospers, we all do. I hope you can understand this truth."
Yu Zan's scalp began to tingle slightly, and her eyes flickered. Had she discovered something?
Why was she talking to her like this? If she had discovered something, Du Gu Luanyue's methods were well-known to her.
Yu Zan immediately knelt on the ground and cried.
"Your Majesty, this servant will pledge loyalty to Your Majesty until death! If Your Majesty has something to say, please tell this servant directly. This servant is stupid and can't guess."
Du Gu Luanyue sized her up carefully. There was no sign of joy or anger on her pale face.
"Yu Zan, I don't like to speak bluntly. If you really don't want to do this, I can replace you.
If you feel aggrieved about this kind of thing, you'll never be able to do it well. I won't make things difficult for you."
Mu Rong Min was an emperor who ascended the throne at a young age. A man who had been in a high position for a long time was deeply suspicious and sparing of words. He wouldn't change his attitude without cause.
Du Gu Luanyue sized her up carefully. There was no sign of joy or anger on her pale face.
"Yu Zan, I don't like to speak bluntly. If you really don't want to do this, I can replace you.
If you feel aggrieved about this kind of thing, you'll never be able to do it well. I won't make things difficult for you."
Mu Rong Min was an emperor who ascended the throne at a young age. A man who had been in a high position for a long time was deeply suspicious and sparing of words. He wouldn't change his attitude without cause.
Yu Zan knelt on the ground and buried her head deeply. "This servant is not aggrieved. Really not!"
Du Gu Luanyue covered her chest, and with her other hand, she lifted the brocade quilt and sat up.
She straddled her legs and hunched her back. Looking at Yu Zan gloomily, she said,
"The Emperor has only come once since I was injured. After you served him in bed last time, the Emperor asked me some strange questions, as if he was testing me.
Yu Zan, may I ask why a person who has a good relationship with you would suddenly test you? The reason is very simple. That is, you did something that made the Emperor feel uneasy when I wasn't paying attention."
Yu Zan swallowed hard. "This servant... really doesn't know what this servant said wrong. This servant will be more careful next time."
Du Gu Luanyue curled the corner of her lips. She took out a letter from under the jade pillow and handed it to her. "This was sent by the Phoenix Feather Guards. It's a letter from your family in the Southern Chu."
Yu Zan quickly took the letter and opened it. It turned out that her clansmen had begun to be gradually released.
The Empress of the Southern Chu had also privately given money to settle her clansmen. Only a few of her close relatives were still in prison, and the rest could live out the rest of their lives in peace.
Yu Zan's original surname was Song. The Song family in the Southern Chu was once a prominent family. A few years ago, they had committed a serious crime by forming cliques for selfish ends and were raided by the Emperor of the Southern Chu. The whole family had been prisoners.
If Yu Zan hadn't been selected by Du Gu Luanyue to come to the Northern Yan, the Song family would still be in prison.
Du Gu Luanyue observed her carefully and said again,
"I'll also ask Father Emperor to find some reasons to release your close relatives later. After you've completed your task, I can ask Father Emperor to issue an edict to let your father return to the court.
However, he won't be able to get a high-ranking official position. He can only get an ordinary official position."
Tears streamed down Yu Zan's face. She kept kowtowing on the ground. "This servant thanks Your Highness for your generosity and for giving the Song family a way out!"
Actually, Mu Rong Min's change hadn't happened just once or twice. She could imitate Du Gu Luanyue's voice.
At first, she was very enthusiastic towards Mu Rong Min. But later, she didn't want to deal with him anymore and started to be perfunctory.
Mu Rong Min was an emperor. His mind was sensitive. During the day, Du Gu Luanyue was extremely enthusiastic towards him, but at night, she was extremely perfunctory. After many times, he began to feel secretly unhappy.
She thought that she was just a substitute anyway, and Mu Rong Min would never know it was her. Why bother so much?
She never thought that Du Gu Luanyue had already noticed something.
But she was also a bit worried in her heart. Judging from the Emperor's reaction, it seemed that things were not that simple.
Du Gu Luanyue's face was still a bit pale. She got up and walked slowly in the palace to exercise.
Yu Zan immediately got up and greeted her. She attentively supported her. "Your Majesty, be careful. Don't tear your wound."
Du Gu Luanyue smiled at her.
"Yu Zan, I like the days when we work together. You can rest assured and hand the Song family over to me. I'll also hand my safety over to you with confidence.
In the future in the Northern Yan, as long as I have a good day, you won't be left out."
Her leniency towards the Song family was to show kindness, and having the Song family under the control of her mother was to show power. Only by using both kindness and power could she make her subordinates obedient and in awe of her.
Yu Zan said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. This servant will know what to do in the future."
She dispelled those thoughts of hers. Except for this time when Du Gu Luanyue talked to her seriously, Du Gu Luanyue had actually treated her quite well at other times.
Now her food, clothing, and daily necessities were all better than those of ordinary maids. The only bad thing was the vengeful Mei Jiang, who wouldn't let go of her past mistakes.
Du Gu Luanyue stopped walking. "You can go. I want to be alone."
She turned her head and watched Yu Zan's retreating figure. Her long eyes were deep, and she couldn't help but think of some past events.
She only thought for a moment and then abruptly stopped this memory. Compared with the present, the past was the most insignificant.
The current situation seemed to be really unfavorable to her. Mu Rong Min had suddenly cold-shouldered her, and Huo Wei had also started to keep a distance from her. All her previous plans seemed to have changed overnight.
She looked at her somewhat haggard self in the mirror and secretly thought of ways in her heart to reverse this situation as soon as possible. At least, she had to figure out what was really going on in Mu Rong Min's mind.
A few days later, with the careful care of Mei Jiang and the imperial physician, Du Gu Luanyue's wound had recovered quite quickly.
More importantly, because Huo Wei had sewn up her wound that day, the wound had healed faster. Now she could get out of bed and walk slightly without any problem.
Du Gu Luanyue asked, "Aunt, is there any new record in the Tong Shi?"
The Tong Shi was a booklet in the harem that recorded the Emperor's favor towards concubines. There were special people in the Inner Palace Office responsible for recording this booklet. Only the Empress could read this booklet, and it was extremely private.
Mei Jiang retrieved the Tong Shi from the Inner Palace Office and opened it to look.