Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

”Rice Ball, did you upset Xiao Jiu?” While comforting Rice Ball, Ye Wanqiu also playfully ruffled its chubby head.

Rice Ball was Ye Wanqiu’s spiritual support while she was in the Imperial Palace. In the deep palace courtyard, as someone unloved, she experienced endless loneliness.

To outsiders, the Emperor’s consorts appear to lead glamorous lives, but in reality, some consorts never even get to see the Emperor, growing old in solitude within the harem.

Although it likes to steal food, it understands boundaries, knowing where it can and cannot sneak snacks. It absolutely avoids the latter.

Moreover, it is inherently lazy, only sneaking to eat when it craves a treat; otherwise, it lazily naps, being very well-behaved, which brought Ye Wanqiu much joy.

The fact Rice Ball has grown so plump clearly shows Ye Wanqiu’s affection for it.

After spending several years together, Ye Wanqiu has considered it a member of her family.

That’s why she jumped out so panicked to protect it when it encountered danger.

Having been together for years, Rice Ball understands a bit of what Ye Wanqiu says. Immediately its neck shrunk back, trying to snuggle further into Ye Wanqiu’s embrace.

With such a timid demeanor, how could it dare to provoke Xiao Jiu?

Ye Wanqiu immediately looked towards Xiao Jiu.

Xiao Jiu gestured with its paw, indicating it just wanted to scare it a little.

Obviously, Xiao Jiu merely saw this as a source of entertainment.

Ye Wanqiu didn’t quite grasp the meaning of Xiao Jiu’s gestures, softly saying, ”This can’t happen again next time.”

Then she lectured Rice Ball again: ”Don’t run around carelessly anymore.”

It was just a little episode; Ye Wanqiu didn’t take it too seriously.

Luo Zhen quickly said, ”Xiao Jiu, we’re going out to the street for a stroll; would you like to join us? I’ll buy you some treats.”

Although Xiao Jiu is very spirited and smart, Luo Zhen still regarded it as a pet like Rice Ball, thinking buying it some food and toys would win its favor.

However, Xiao Jiu shook its head, then gestured with its paws while chirping twice.

”What does it mean?” Zhao Jiangning hadn’t interacted much with Xiao Jiu, so she didn’t understand what it was expressing.

Luo Zhen and Xu Miaozhen shook their heads as well; they hadn’t spent much time together either.

”Then forget it; if Xiao Jiu isn’t going, venturing out ourselves would worry the adults.” Luo Zhen sighed, abandoning the idea of going out.

She didn’t want Chen Mo to worry about her.

She already felt she couldn’t help Chen Mo much, and if she dragged him down further, it would truly be her fault.

Zhao Jiangning also looked a bit listless, saying, ”I initially wanted to buy some gifts for the master.”

Without expert protection, taking the army out for a stroll would inevitably cause too much attention.

However, upon hearing Zhao Jiangning’s words, Xiao Jiu’s eyes lit up, and it started excitedly gesturing at Zhao Jiangning, making noise.

After a while, Luo Zhen and the others finally understood that Xiao Jiu wanted to buy gifts for the master as well...

Thus, the four and a fox left the Chen Mansion with four guards, heading toward the busiest street in Bianliang.

The four guards were mainly for show, to inform others they were from the Chen Mansion and not to disturb them.

After all, Xiao Jiu was quite a spectacle.

Seeing Xiao Jiu join, Rice Ball leapt out of Ye Wanqiu’s embrace, frightened, and stayed back at the mansion.

...

Zhao Jiangning bought Chen Mo a set.

From boots to wrist guards, the hairpin worn, even the waist protector.

The other benefit of having guards became apparent.

That is, they could carry things.

Zhao Jiangning bought clothing for Chen Mo.

Xu Miaozhen bought food, including cooked dishes, pastries, snacks, and hard liquor—just about anything she thought tasted good.

Luo Zhen chose a Jade Pendant, noticing Chen Mo usually didn’t favor wearing jade.

This wouldn’t do, considering Chen Mo’s current status; he ought to use the appropriate items.

Even though the jade at the mansion was better than outside, they were gifts from others, carrying different meanings.

Ye Wanqiu bought some spices, carefully selecting fragrant yet not overpowering ones, wanting them to differ from the perfumes women typically wore, then placed them into sachets she made herself.

But what puzzled the four women was Xiao Jiu asking them to spend money on a few strange stones it liked.

The stones appeared very ordinary, with nothing remarkable about them.

The vendor boasted these stones could reveal Beautiful Jade when cut open.

The women didn’t believe him and had the guards use the Celestial Eye to check—they were just ordinary stones.

Since Ye Wanqiu wanted to return and finish sewing her uncompleted sachets, after purchasing what they wanted, the women wandered a bit before preparing to head back.

On the way, however...

”Yu...”

”Jing...”

Consort Yu and Ye Wanqiu locked eyes in surprise, their words halting in unison with some tacit understanding.

”Wanqiu, do you know each other?” Luo Zhen asked in confusion.

Ye Wanqiu was extremely flustered, never expecting to encounter Consort Yu on the street.

Wasn’t she in the palace? How did she end up outside?

For a moment, Ye Wanqiu was at a loss for words.

Consort Yu wasn’t much better; as far as she was concerned, wasn’t Ye Wanqiu dead? How could she appear here?

Was she seeing a ghost?

But with the broad daylight and the glaring sun, clearly not.

So, Consort Yu didn’t say a word either.

Leaving Luo Zhen and the others all bewildered.

”This is... a former... friend of mine... I didn’t expect her to come to Bianliang...” Ye Wanqiu took a deep breath, nervously saying, seeing that Consort Yu wasn’t following palace protocol, not wanting to be exposed, she signaled with her eyes to Consort Yu.

”Yes, Wanqiu... was a friend of mine before, I... just arrived in Bianliang these past two days,” Consort Yu said.

”Then... when we have time, shall we meet up?”

”Sure... sure.”

”Then I’ll... be off now.”

”Alright.”

After ending their awkward conversation, Consort Yu didn’t dare linger and left immediately with her maid and guard.

”That seemed like people from the Imperial City Department?” Luo Zhen observed the token on Consort Yu’s guard’s waist before her departure.

”Wanqiu, I didn’t know you knew people from the Imperial City Department?” Luo Zhen had never heard Ye Wanqiu talk about her background, so she was curious about this scene.

”Yes... yes indeed.” Ye Wanqiu no longer had a smile on her face, her eyes shifting evasively.

Though Luo Zhen found it odd, seeing Ye Wanqiu’s ’don’t overthink it’ demeanor, she refrained from pressing further. With a gentle smile, she said, ”Let’s go then.”

”Alright, let’s go.” Ye Wanqiu took the lead, walking ahead.

”Your Highness, hurry up, what’s the matter?” Luo Zhen called out to Zhao Jiangning, who was standing still, absorbed in thought.

At that moment, Zhao Jiangning suddenly remembered everything upon seeing Consort Yu.

ps: Fell asleep...