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They soon arrived at the Queen’s Manor. She was astonished to see the manor where the Queen lived. It was not only lavish but also the most beautiful manor she had seen until now.

She halted behind Eunuch Lishi upon reaching the outside of a chamber. He tilted his head a little and said, “Be respectful towards the Queen and greet her properly. Also, don’t lift your head unless you are told to.” Liu Jin Yu nodded her head to his instructions.

However, she didn’t know how to greet a Queen. Before she could ask, the doors opened and they walked in. Liu Jin Yu’s heart thumped loudly against her chest. It was okay to see the Crown Prince, but seeing the other regal people terrified her. She kept her head down and halted as Eunuch Lishi ahead of her also stopped.

“Your Majesty, Liu Jin Yu is here,” Eunuch Lishi informed the Queen. Liu Jin Yu tried to steal the glances of the Queen despite Eunuch Lishi’s warning to her.

Her eyes fell on the golden embroidery of Zhu Liling’s dress, and finally on her face. She was stunned to see the Queen. Wasn’t she the mother of two children? How could she look so beautiful and youthful even at this age!? She had lowered her gaze before the Queen could see that she was looking at her out of curiosity.

Eunuch Lishi stood aside while Liu Jin Yu got on her knees. She outstretched her hands above her head and laid her palms flat on the floor. “Greetings, Your Majesty,” Liu Jin Yu said, and wondered if she should get up or stay in that position.

She decided to stay that way. Eunuch Lishi widened her eyes while a few maidservants started to giggle at the way Liu Jin Yu greeted the Queen.

Even the Queen could not stop smiling. Eunuch Lianying and others also smiled to see her.

.....

Liu Jin Yu heard the faint giggles and thought to move her head to look at what was going on. But she stiffened in her place when she heard the voice of the King.

“My Queen!”

Qiu Zedong’s eyes fell on Liu Jin Yu. Zhu Liling promptly got up from her seat and greeted the King. “His Majesty came unannounced,” Zhu Liling said as she slowly lifted her head. The giggles had already died while Liu Jin Yu remained in that position.

‘Should I greet the King? It seems he’s standing near me, but where?’ Liu Jin Yu thought in her mind.

“Yes. I thought about having a conversation with My Queen. It has been a long time since we-” he paused when he heard a loud thump on the floor. His eyes again fell on Liu Jin Yu, who had turned to her right.

“Greetings to the Great King of the Qiu Kingdom,” Liu Jin Yu said in a loud and firm tone. Eunuch Lishi scolded Liu Jin Yu for cutting the words of the King in the middle. Liu Jin Yu bit her tongue as she realised that she had made a mistake.

Would they kill her? No! This could not happen.

“Who are you? And why are you greeting this way?” Qiu Zedong’s heavy voice fell in her ears.

“I-I...” Liu Jin Yu found herself stuttering for the first time. She was in front of the King, so it was evident that she would not be able to speak clearly.

“I am Liu Jin Yu, Your Majesty.” She finally introduced herself.

Qiu Zedong smiled the way she greeted her and went towards the Queen. He sat on the broad mahogany chair along with Zhu Liling.

“Is this a new servant in the Queen’s Manor?” Qiu Zedong asked curiously.

“She is from the Crown Prince’s manor,” Zhu Liling replied in her soft voice.

Liu Jin Yu was surprised to hear the Queen’s voice. She had heard from the people that the Queen was the rarest of the beauties present in the kingdom. She had now seen her and heard her voice, and she could surely say that the regal family women were rare charms in the kingdom.

“Get up!” Liu Jin Yu heard Qiu Zedong’s voice. She sat up first and then stood on her knees. “It seems you do not know how to greet the royalty. How did you even enter the Crown Prince’s Manor?” Qiu Zedong asked.

“Your Majesty, His Royal Highness brought...” She could not complete her words as another voice echoed in the chamber.

“Royal Father, I selected her.” Xiaoming appeared out of the blue. Liu Jin Yu tilted her head to look at him, who narrowly gazed at her. “She is good at washing the washroom and bathhouse. Among the female servants, she’s good at strength, and can even do manly chores easily,” Xiaoming explained to his father.

Liu Jin Yu wondered if he was praising her or humiliating her.

Zhu Liling thought to tell Xiaoming not to attract unwanted attention anymore.

“The Crown Prince does not need to select any particular female servant for him, especially when the people are ready to take inappropriate meanings,” Zhu Liling stated.

“What is the Queen trying to say?” Qiu Zedong asked her.

“Your Majesty, last time because of Li Hua, the Crown Prince had to hear some insolent words about him. I don’t want such rumors to spread anymore,” Zhu Liling stated.

Liu Jin Yu knitted her brows and wondered if the Queen thought that she would try to seduce the Crown Prince. One thing she hated the most was when people tried to make their own assumptions about her. She could not stop herself and interjected in that conversation.

“Your Majesty, I would like to say something here,” Liu Jin Yu said. She, without waiting for the King’s or Queen’s permission, started to speak, “Why would people adjoin my name with the Crown Prince? I am a mere servant, who works in His Royal Highness’s manor to pay off my debt. I haven’t come to the palace to associate my name with the Crown Prince.”

Xiaoming was stunned to hear her. She spoke without even thinking that she was in front of the King and the Queen. Xiaoming thought to apologize before things could go worse.

“Did the Crown Prince give you money?” Qiu Zedong asked her.

Liu Jin Yu found herself stuck. She came up with an excuse. “Yes, Your Majesty. His Royal Highness helped me when I asked for his help. I needed money to pay the loan shark from whom my father took a huge debt. His Royal Highness helped me, so I agreed to repay his kindness by working in his manor.” She didn’t want the King and the Queen or anyone else to find out that she was professionally a robber.

Xiaoming could not believe that she formulated such a big lie.

“Where did you find the Crown Prince? He hardly goes out, and it’s not like anyone can recognize him.” Qiu Zedong asked another question.

“I asked for His Royal Highness’s help yesterday at the event. I had heard about his kindness, so I thought if he could help me. I was also a part of the dance in yesterday’s event,” Liu Jin Yu asserted.

“Why didn’t you ask me?” Qiu Zedong queried her.

“I tried, but the security was so tight that I was unable to come to His Majesty for help. The Crown Prince was standing with less security, so I thought to ask for His Royal Highness’s help,” Liu Jin Yu stated. She made a perfect lie that would never be caught. She would then be safe from all sides.

Eunuch Lishi knew the truth, but he stayed quiet because of the Crown Prince.

“The Crown Prince is good to his people. I am proud of him,” Qiu Zedong said, looking at the Queen. “My Queen does not need to see everything as negative. Li Hua’s case was very different. Also, no such incident will be repeated. I believe in the Crown Prince,” Qiu Zedong said, and glanced at Xiaoming.

“Yes, Royal Father,” Xiaoming said. “We will depart,” he bowed before them and returned to his manor with Liu Jin Yu and Eunuch Lishi.

“That woman is amusing,” Qiu Zedong said, and he looked at Zhu Liling, who agreed with her husband’s words.