Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 523: Who are you, is it your turn to speak?

Chapter 523: Chapter 523: Who are you, is it your turn to speak?

Suddenly, Zhan Lan stopped in her tracks. She pointed at the square brick on the ground and looked at Qiuyue, "Qiuyue, have someone replace this square brick here and make it a bit smoother."

"Yes, Mistress!" Qiuyue nodded in agreement.

The eunuch instantly panicked, his voice high and sharp, "Report to the Empress, this brick was specially placed here by Emperor Xuanwu. It’s not to be moved!"

Zhan Lan spoke coldly, her question knowing yet probing, "Why?"

"Responding to Mistress, this is a brick brought back by his Majesty from the Lingyu Taoist Temple. It’s said to contain the essence of the universe and can protect the dynasty for generations!"

As an old-timer in the palace, the eunuch believed he was well-versed in palace rules and tried to explain to Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan shot a cold glance at the confident eunuch, "This obstacle stone is an eyesore to me. If I say replace it, it will be replaced. Are you trying to make decisions for me?"

Her voice was not loud, yet carried the weight of Empress authority.

Upon hearing Zhan Lan’s words, the eunuch and ladies-in-waiting all knelt on the ground. They didn’t understand why they feared Zhan Lan so much.

However, upon hearing her words, they felt a peculiar sensation. Though the Empress was on her first day in the position, the tone and aura she embodied, like someone who has been on the throne for years, imposed an inherent authority that made them, the servants, instinctively weak and want to kneel.

The eunuch felt Zhan Lan’s words were like a knife at his throat. He answered tremblingly, "Empress, this servant realizes the mistake, this servant spoke out of turn!"

Zhan Lan ignored him and continued towards the Direct Room.

The eunuch realized Zhan Lan wasn’t someone to be trifled with and cautiously followed her, no longer speaking.

Along the way, although Zhan Lan had no guide, she quickly reached the vicinity of the Direct Room.

The eunuch was surprised; their Empress seemed incredibly familiar with the palace layout.

Outside the Direct Room, the eunuch basking in the sun at the door saw a woman dressed in an imperial robe coming with a group of ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs.

The eunuch who had been following behind Zhan Lan shouted loudly, "The Empress has arrived!"

Zhan Lan glanced lightly at the eunuch behind her. She became even more certain something was happening inside the Direct Room; this loud announcement was to alert those inside.

Several eunuchs saw Zhan Lan coming and jumped up from their chairs in fright.

"Quick, quick, quick, quick, quickly go inform the Manager that the Empress has arrived!" one of the eunuchs stammered as he whispered a reminder to the little eunuch behind him.

The little eunuch was just about to run inside to report when he heard Zhan Lan’s cold voice, "Stop!"

The little eunuch turned back with his head lowered and knelt down with a thump.

The other small eunuchs also all knelt down one after another.

"Servant greets the Empress!"

Zhan Lan ignored the eunuchs kneeling at the entrance and walked straight inside; several eunuchs immediately made way for her.

A group of eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting followed her.

The eunuch behind Zhan Lan ran ahead to the Manager’s door and shouted again, "The Empress has arrived!"

Zhan Lan laughed coldly; notifying secretly but in vain!

She was determined to see what tricks these people were up to!

Xiao Tao was naive, but Qiuyue was insightful. As the Empress’s personal maid, she knew what to say, what to do.

Qiuyue looked at the eunuch who was secretly informing and scolded, "Did the Empress permit you to report? Slap your face!"

The eunuch looked timidly at Zhan Lan; Zhan Lan looked at the door expressionlessly as if she had tacitly agreed to him slapping his own face.

After several slaps, the eunuch’s face was swollen, and the Chief Eunuch came out of the room with a smiling face, respectfully kowtowing to Zhan Lan.

He said in a sharp voice, "Servant greets the Empress. How come the Empress visits our dwelling, it’s filthy here, afraid to stain your eyes? How about I accompany you to the Imperial Garden? The Plum Blossoms there are blooming beautifully, very lovely!"

Zhan Lan lightly spoke, "Manager Liu, the Plum Blossoms are very beautiful, but I think the inside of the Direct Room is even more lovely."

Manager Liu didn’t know how Zhan Lan knew his surname, but it’s said that when the Empress was a General, she could call out most of the soldiers’ names. It seems this Empress is well-prepared with palace affairs. He obsequiously smiled, "You’re teasing, Master."

Zhan Lan raised her eyes, her expression cold and stern, "I don’t have time to joke with you, servant, open the door!"

The eunuchs in the yard were terrified by Zhan Lan’s words. They all had heard or seen Zhan Lan’s style; she wouldn’t come to the Direct Room for no reason.

Manager Liu begrudgingly opened the door and Zhan Lan walked in.

Zhan Lan saw on the wooden bed inside lay a young eunuch with very delicate features, about fifteen or sixteen years old, looking exceedingly weak.

The young eunuch saw Zhan Lan and pushed away the covers, forcing himself to get out of bed, but when he moved, his arms trembled and he lay back down.

His face was pale as he valiantly supported himself on the bed and spoke shakily, "Little Xianzi greets the Empress."

Though he hadn’t seen Zhan Lan, today was His Majesty’s enthronement, such a grand occasion known throughout the palace.

Along with Manager Liu having called Zhan Lan the Empress, the lady before him had an imposing demeanor. Although he hadn’t seen her, she must surely be the Empress!

Little Xianzi’s eyes surged with admiration; so this was the famous General Zhan Huang!

The common people all called her Zhan Huang; he had heard of it in the palace too.

Zhan Lan stared at Little Xianzi’s pale face. How had he been tortured to such a state?

Manager Liu saw Zhan Lan’s displeasured expression and immediately explained, "Report to the Empress, Little Xianzi is a new eunuch, not long in the palace. Unexpectedly, he fell ill upon arrival, his body is overly weak. Today is His Majesty’s enthronement day, fearing he’d offend His Majesty, this servant let him rest at this servant’s place. It’s all this servant’s self-decision, please punish the mistress!"

Zhan Lan coldly looked at Manager Liu, "Indeed you need a good punishment, go to the Internal Affairs Office and ask Chief Li to give you fifty lashes!"

Manager Liu thought Zhan Lan was joking. Having been in the palace for years, he understood the master’s intentions. Since he explained it was for His Majesty, fearing Little Xianzi’s sick body would offend His Majesty, even the last Empress would reward him.

Even if not rewarded, at least not punished!

But the Empress in front of him seemed different from all those other empresses.

Manager Liu knelt before Zhan Lan, pleading pitifully, "Empress, it was my own decision, my fault, I beg you to spare me, seeing my devotion!"

The eunuchs outside hearing Manager Liu’s plea also knelt down together.

Manager Liu’s trusted eunuch even cried, "Report to the Mistress, Manager Liu bathed, dressed, burned incense, and prayed for national prosperity since early morning; he truly did it all for His Majesty!"

Zhan Lan glanced at him lightly, "Who are you, do you have the turn to speak?"

Her voice carrying empress authority made the eunuchs outside tremble all over and prostrate on the ground, Manager Liu’s trusted eunuch wobbled and knelt down too.