Main story/15

## Chapter 15: Waves

Rewards  15
Rewards  30
File:Water Shoes.png Water Shoes
File:Water Robe.png Water Robe
Rewards  45
 Recruit Paper 8

## 15-16 Hot Potato

Then you were getting very busy. You needed to prepare the longevity banquet with the empress and Lady Jiang during the day and make the birthday gift at night.

Empress
We almost get everything ready. You have helped a lot.
Deep down in your heart, you felt relieved. It was easy to make mistakes in preparation. Now you finally get it done smoothly. Lady Jiang came to hold your arm suddenly.

Lady Jiang
Though everything is ready, we still need to be careful, as there will be many guests tomorrow. We need someone to be responsible for the food. I think you are the best choice. What do you say?
Player
I don't know much about food, so I am afraid that I can't shoulder the task.
Lady Jiang
I think you are able, so I give you this task. I can't trust others with such a job! I have seen your capability with my own eyes these days. You don't have to be humble.
Player
But...
Empress
Enough, no more declining words. I agree with Lady Jiang. You will be responsible for food tomorrow.
Choose an option
Accept reluctantly
Decline firmly
### Option A (15-16)

*Sweet +5*

From the empress's tone, you knew you had to take it anyway. So you didn't say anything and kept quiet.

Player
(The preparation went smoothly. They must have some plans since they managed to get me involved. Maybe they wanna do something with the food to set me up?)
In this palace, there were so many things they can do with food. At the thought of it, you felt creepy. It was a hot potato. But you had no choice.

Empress
Why do you give me that look? Are you blaming me for giving you too many tasks?
Player
I dare not. I didn't sleep well last night, so I was in a trance.
Empress
You should take care of yourself, I still need your help tomorrow.
### Option B (15-16)

*Cool +5*
Player
Your Majesty, food matters a lot. Though I have learned a lot from you and Lady Jiang these days, I am too young to shoulder such an important task.
In this palace, there were so many things they can do with food. At the thought of it, you felt creepy. It was a hot potato, so you didn't wanna get trouble.

Empress
(With a serious face) Are you saying that I am wrong about you and fail to assign tasks properly?
The empress's hand holding a teacup paused, and her voice was cold.

Player
That's not what I meant.
Empress
Then that's settled. I believe you can do it. Try your best.

## 15-19 Lost Gift

You were given a task you didn't want, but you couldn't say no. Yaner had some guesses at the sight of your dark face when you stepped out of her bedroom.

Yaner
My lady, I will ask Honglian to prepare some dessert for you when we go back. You will be lit up if you have some food you like.
Probably she knew that she couldn't give you any good suggestions, so she didn't ask you what happened. She just tried to make you happy.

Player
Thank you, Yaner.
You knew she was trying to help and appreciated that she didn't ask you what happened. You were chatting about something that could light you up on your way back to Lingqi Palace. As soon as you stepped into your room, a noise came to your ears. You didn't know what happened.

Player
(Frowned) What happened?
Weiyang
Because of my negligence, the gift has been stolen.
Player
What?!
Tomorrow was his Qianqiu Banquet (Longevity). They stole the gift now. Did they think they could bully you to their heart's content? You glanced at Chunxiang and found that she was nervous. You sneered.

Choose an option
Search every corner
Keep it a secret
### Option A (15-19)

*Foxy +5*
Player
The gift was well and sound before I left, and now it's gone. There are not many servants in my chamber. Lock the gate and search every corner!
You were assigned a tough task by the empress just now, so you were pissed off when hearing the incident. You didn't wanna keep quiet anymore.

Player
Weiyang, you go to search their rooms one by one with Yaner. Only a few servants could get into the inner room who had served you since the very beginning. You waited there while they were searching. Soon, they found something.
Weiyang
My lady, I didn't find the gift. But I find the lost kite in the closet of Honglian's bedroom.
Player
(Honglian? How come?)
You raised your head and happened to catch the complacency on Chunxiang's face. You realized that she not only betrayed you but also tried to set Honglian up.

Honglian
It's impossible! I didn't take it! Mylady, it's not me! I didn't steal anything!
Chunxiang
It's you who tried to frame our lady last time! How dare you steal the gift our lady has prepared for His Majesty? Mylady, you should punish her!
### Option B (15-19)

Player
We all know who the traitor is. You shall keep it a secret for now. After the banquet, we can lure her out!
At the banquet, the empress ordered all concubines to open their gifts one after another before sending them to the emperor.

Your gift was replaced with joss paper while you had no evidence to prove your innocence. The empress was very angry and tortured you. With hands tied, you saw a man put wet papers on your face, one after another, and gradually you couldn't breathe. Soon, you died.

Death
Weeds will grow back if they are not uprooted.