"Hiss—"
"Damn it, they don't even bother to send hot water for laundry! This well water is absolutely freezing!"
Liang Chuchu squatted by the well, scrubbing a thin shirt.
She scrubbed half-heartedly, muttering curses rhythmically.
Liang Chuchu had been washing for most of the day, yet she was still scrubbing that one thin shirt, completely ignoring the mountains of clothes piled up behind her from several days' worth of laundry.
These were the tasks she had left over from yesterday, the day before yesterday, and even the day before that.
To be precise, Liang Chuchu was currently working overtime to catch up on previous days' work.
At her current speed, the Royal Concubines of Yan Qu Hall would soon run out of clothes and be forced to sing and dance naked.
To avoid such an unseemly situation, the palace maid responsible for assigning tasks to Liang Chuchu had to stop giving her new work, telling her to clear her backlog first.
Lianguchu wasn't deliberately slacking off.
She was pampered and had never washed clothes before.
In fact, to avoid troubling others, she had specifically started by practicing with her own gauze robe.
Yet, after several days, she was still washing that same one.
Secondly, she hadn't eaten a single full meal these past few days and still had to work during the day, which left her famished, seeing stars, and with weak limbs.
"That accursed Wang Suyue! I've already conceded, yet she still steals my food every day! It's too much!"
"Next time my father comes to see me, I'm definitely going to report her."
Although hungry and tired, Liang Chuchu's mouth never stopped. When she got thirsty, she'd drink some well water from nearby, looking quite miserable.
Just then, Eunuch Yin stormed over with his people, and upon seeing Liang Chuchu leisurely washing clothes and muttering to herself, he was furious.
This unlucky-looking child instantly infuriated Eunuch Yin.
"Guards, seize her and throw her into the well!"
"Huh?"
Before Liang Chuchu could react, she felt her body lighten.
Still holding her gauze robe, she was bewildered as two eunuchs lifted her, one on each side, and pushed her head towards the well opening.
Even if Liang Chuchu was slow-witted, she sensed something was wrong. She immediately dropped the wet gauze robe and struggled frantically with all her might.
The poor gauze robe, which had just gotten a little cleaner after days of washing, fell to the ground and was covered in dirt.
"Help! What are you doing?!"
"I am Liang Chuchu, the daughter of the Grand Secretary, a Talent highly favored by His Majesty!"
"Treating me like this will cost you your heads!"
Liang Chuchu, who had been half-dead moments ago, suddenly became energetic, screaming and shouting, as strong as an old ox.
But even so, how could a weak woman stand against two strong, young eunuchs? Half of her head was already inside the well opening.
"Liang Chuchu, still daring to be noisy!"
Eunuch Yin leaned close to her and questioned with a frown, "I ask you, did you spread the rumors about ghosts?"
"Rumors? Not rumors, I saw it with my own eyes."
Liang Chuchu, foolishly honest, replied truthfully even at this moment.
"Alright." Eunuch Yin sneered, nodded, and commanded, "Keep pushing her in!"
"Ah!!!"
"No, help, help…"
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you! It's a rumor, it's a rumor, I made it all up!"
Half of Liang Chuchu's body was already in the well, scaring her into screaming wildly.
These two eunuchs knew how to apply pressure without causing real harm.
As long as Eunuch Yin didn't give a clear command at the last moment, they wouldn't easily cause a death.
Serving in the palace, if one didn't even understand this basic rule and carelessly caused trouble for superiors, one wouldn't last long.
Seeing Liang Chuchu change her tune, Eunuch Yin gave a signal, and the two eunuchs easily pulled her out of the well.
Liang Chuchu was held upside down, her face alternating between pale and red.
Pale from fright, and red from the blood rushing to her head.
"Do you still dare to spout nonsense?"
Eunuch Yin, with a delicate hand gesture, angrily pointed at the inverted Liang Chuchu and asked.
Liang Chuchu immediately shook her head like a rattle drum.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare, have mercy, the Eunuch!"
"Ugh…"
Liang Chuchu was already famished, and being held upside down and tossed around made her feel nauseous, but there was nothing in her stomach but well water.
A few clear streams of saliva trickled from the corners of her mouth, flowing steadily and dripping into the well.
Eunuch Yin's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He quickly ordered, "Quick, put her down."
This well water would still be used for boiling and cooking later. With Liang Chuchu polluting it like this, Eunuch Yin was utterly disgusted.
Liang Chuchu's backside finally touched the ground, and she felt a little better, but the well water gushing from her mouth wouldn't stop for a while.
"Liang Chuchu, you listen closely. This palace does not tolerate your wild talk. If there's a next time, not even your father can protect you."
"The palace is different from outside; no matter how noble one is, they can still die silently here."
Eunuch Yin threatened her viciously.
"Gurgle~"
"But the Eunuch, I really saw something outside the window last night…"
Liang Chuchu had been woken by hunger last night and believed herself to be very clear-headed, with no reason to have been mistaken.
"Still talking!"
Eunuch Yin was about to die of anger. Where did such a stubborn girl come from?
"Liang Zhao, you cursed man, if you can't have children, don't have them! What kind of stubborn girl did you give birth to?!"
"And you dare to send her to the palace? Are you expecting me to clean up your mess?!"
Eunuch Yin had given up on Liang Chuchu and began to curse the instigator of it all.
If it weren't for that Grand Secretary Liang Zhao giving birth to such a nuisance, would he be so vexed right now?
Liang Chuchu's ears seemed to be plugged; she wouldn't listen to anything.
Eunuch Yin was too lazy to continue arguing with her and immediately commanded, "Lock her in her room. She is not allowed to step out without my order, not allowed to communicate with anyone, and she must take care of all her eating, drinking, and bodily needs inside the room."
Upon hearing this, Liang Chuchu suddenly looked up, her eyes bright, and asked, "Eunuch, are you putting me in solitary confinement?"
"Hmph, what if I am?"
Eunuch Yin flicked his sleeve, answering with disdain.
"How long will you confine me?"
Liang Chuchu lowered her head deeply, as if asking very dejectedly.
"Until you behave."
"What if I never behave?"
Liang Chuchu's hair was disheveled, covering her face, making her expression unclear at this moment.
"Then you'll be confined until you die!"
Eunuch Yin was so angry that his chest felt tight. He quickly waved his hand, signaling them to take Liang Chuchu away.
"You're about to be confined, yet you still have such an arrogant attitude."
"You infuriate me, you infuriate me…"
Eunuch Yin held onto the edge of the well, panting heavily, trying to calm himself.
"If I don't extort a thousand taels from your father, I'll change my surname to Liang!"
He watched Liang Chuchu being led away, secretly vowing in his heart.
Having gone to such lengths, he had done his utmost. If Liang Chuchu dared to cause trouble again, no one would care anymore.
Eunuch Yin didn't notice that as Liang Chuchu was led away, a hint of triumphant smile flashed behind her disheveled long hair.
"Wang Suyue, this time I'd like to see how you'll steal my food!"
"Hahahahahahaha…"
The two eunuchs holding Liang Chuchu trembled, startled by her sudden wild laughter, barely managing to keep hold of her.
And Eunuch Yin, listening to the increasingly distant, rampant laughter, couldn't help but show a solemn expression.
"Could it really be haunted…"
...Li Xuan watched the entire scene from the side, utterly speechless.
He hadn't expected things to develop this way.
That Liang Chuchu would get involved was something no one had anticipated.
Li Xuan thought for a moment, then simply shrugged indifferently, jumped off the wall, and disappeared.
"It has nothing to do with me, I'm out of here."