“...”

Listening to Sili’s words, Xiao Mo could not help rubbing his chin.

As for this personal maid of his, Xiao Mo naturally knew she was either Empress Dowager Yan’s eyes, or Yan Shanao’s eyes.

As a puppet emperor, Xiao Mo could only accept it and keep one eye open and one eye shut.

Otherwise, Empress Dowager Yan and Yan Shanao would come at him with, “Why is Your Majesty rebelling?”

But what Xiao Mo did not expect was—

This maid had actually taken the initiative to say it out loud.

That was beyond Xiao Mo’s expectations.

As Sili’s words fell—

A stretch of silence sank over the sleeping palace.

Xiao Mo poured himself a cup of tea, took a light sip, and seriously thought about what the other party truly meant.

Could it be that this was some new trick Empress Dowager Yan or Yan Shanao had come up with?

Setting the cup down, Xiao Mo looked at the woman called “Si Li” and slowly spoke. “You are telling me this matter now—what do you mean by it? What do you mean by the Empress Dowager keeping watch over me? Though I am not the Empress Dowager’s biological son, our relationship is closer than blood. How could Mother possibly have someone keep watch over me?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, everything this servant girl says is the truth. The Empress Dowager truly did order this servant girl to keep watch over Your Majesty.”

Sili knew Xiao Mo was pretending, but she treated it as though she knew nothing and responded with sincere earnestness.

“Even if Mother did act this way, so what? Leaving aside whether I would kill you or not, if my Empress Dowager learns of this, do you know what your end would be?” Xiao Mo frowned.

“Si Li naturally knows!” Sili said with a tense expression. “But Your Majesty, this servant girl still cannot keep watch over Your Majesty for the Empress Dowager!”

“A reason.” Xiao Mo looked at the palace maid with interest.

“This servant girl’s father passed away early, and this servant girl was raised from childhood by Grandfather.

“And this servant girl’s grandfather was the county magistrate of Jinjiang County, loyal to Great Zhou, loyal to the late emperor.

“Even though this servant girl’s household has fallen into decline, Grandfather always told this servant girl that the current Emperor is, in truth, a wise sovereign with great ambition, only that Great Zhou is now ruled by treacherous ministers, and Your Majesty has no hands and feet with which to unfold Your Majesty’s aspirations!

“Grandfather also sighed several times that this servant girl was not born a man, unable to devote herself to the court and assist Your Majesty, and in the end, Grandfather died with resentment still in the heart.

“But women too have what women can do.

“Fortunately, this servant girl was able to enter the palace.

“Even if only as a palace maid, this servant girl also dreamed that one day this servant girl could see Your Majesty and do things for Your Majesty.

“By the blessing of Grandfather’s spirit in heaven, this servant girl never expected that this servant girl would be chosen as Your Majesty’s personal maid.

“The Empress Dowager once told this servant girl that if this servant girl could keep watch over Your Majesty for the Empress Dowager, in the future this servant girl would surely gain a foothold in the rear palace—at the very least, as a Talented Lady.

“In order to remain at Your Majesty’s side, this servant girl pretended to agree to the Empress Dowager.

“But no matter what, what this servant girl has done is the crime of deceiving the sovereign. This servant girl begs Your Majesty to grant death!

“Yet this servant girl’s heart toward Your Majesty—Heaven and earth can bear witness—there is not the slightest other intent!”

Sili’s voice echoed through the sleeping palace, sounding sincere to the extreme.

Xiao Mo looked at the woman kneeling on the ground and fell into thought.

Toward what she said, Xiao Mo half believed it and half doubted it.

But if everything she said was true, if she truly was utterly loyal to him—

Then he could turn things around and have her serve as his eyes within Empress Dowager Yan’s side. For his future plans to seize power, that would be of great benefit.

“You being able to speak of this matter on your own initiative does not count as deceiving the sovereign.” Xiao Mo set the teacup down and spoke slowly. “I spare you from death. Get up.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy.”

Sili stood, wiped the corners of her eyes, and with her head lowered, she looked extremely uneasy.

“What you just said, I must think on it carefully. But these days, at my side, do what you should do. Go down first.” Xiao Mo waved his hand.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sili offered a curtsey and withdrew from the sleeping palace.

Closing the door, standing at the entrance to the sleeping palace, Sili’s lips curved faintly, with none of the earlier unease.

“No hurry. Slowly. Slowly is fine.”

Looking at the tightly shut door, Sili pressed her thin lips together, forced down the impulse in her heart, and murmured softly.

Sili reached a hand into her skirt and untied the chest-binding cloth that had been wrapped around her chest the entire time.

Back when Sili had been selected as a palace maid, although she had bribed the lady-official and passed, she had also followed that lady-official’s demand and wrapped these strips of cloth around herself.

It was for fear that her figure would be too outstanding, and if the Empress Dowager noticed, she would be driven out of the palace.

But now—

There was no need anymore.

“Master...”

Sili’s small hand pressed tightly to the heaving rise of her chest as she looked at the door and called softly.

Her trembling eyes seemed as though they could drip water.

The next day, at the hour of Chen.

Not long after Xiao Mo woke, he heard a knock at the door.

“Your Majesty, this servant girl has brought hot water, to serve Your Majesty in washing up.”

Sili called from outside the door.

“Come in.” Xiao Mo yawned and got down from the bed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After Sili entered, she quickly set the hot water on the table, then first served Xiao Mo in putting on his clothes.

Only, as she dressed him, Xiao Mo faintly felt something was off.

He kept feeling that two soft, snowy mounds were either brushing his arm, [N O V E L I G H T] or brushing his back.

Xiao Mo turned his head and glanced at Sili, and surprise rose in his heart.

Even though she was dressed the same as yesterday, compared to yesterday, how had her figure changed so much?

Had she used some kind of secret art? How could she become so outrageous overnight?

Noticing Xiao Mo’s gaze, Sili lowered her head. A faint blush spread over her cheeks, and she said shyly, “This servant girl previously heard that the Empress Dowager requires newly entered palace maids to not have figures and looks that are too good, so this servant girl has always used a chest band to bind herself.

“But over time, it truly became too stifling, and this servant girl also wishes to face Your Majesty openly, so...”

The more she spoke, the lower Sili’s voice became. Her expression carried a teasing, alluring charm. “So this servant girl... removed that band. If Your Majesty feels it is improper, this servant girl will bind it again.”

“No need.” Xiao Mo withdrew his gaze. “For such a small matter, decide for yourself.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sili nodded lightly and continued helping Xiao Mo dress.

“Go prepare the carriage. I am going to a place. You will follow me there.” After changing, Xiao Mo said blandly.

“Yes.” Sili did not ask more and hurried to prepare the imperial palanquin.

After two incense sticks’ time, the imperial palanquin stopped.

Sili followed Xiao Mo down and arrived before the gate of a residence.

Lifting her head, Sili saw three large characters: National Preceptor’s Residence.

Xiao Mo knocked on the door. “Is Lady Jiang within?”

No one answered inside the National Preceptor’s Residence, but the gate opened on its own.

Xiao Mo led Sili inside.

Sili looked left and right, sizing up the residence.

Before long, a veiled woman walked out from a room.

The moment Sili saw that woman, Sili’s eyes tightened.

“Zhou’s National Preceptor—It was her?!”

Sili could not help clenching her small hand, her heart facing the enemy as though before a great foe.

Jiang Qingyi’s gaze also fell on Sili, and her willow brows could not help but knit.