[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-cultivation-simulator-starting-from-the-empress-":3,"chapter-cultivation-simulator-starting-from-the-empress--cultivation-simulator-starting-from-the-empress--chapter-415":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1526641,1980,"Chapter 415 - 413 Encounter Consort Yu","cultivation-simulator-starting-from-the-empress--chapter-415",415,"\u003Cp>\"Rice Ball, did you upset Xiao Jiu?\" While comforting Rice Ball, Ye Wanqiu also playfully ruffled its chubby head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it likes to steal food, it understands boundaries, knowing where it can and cannot sneak snacks. It absolutely avoids the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact Rice Ball has grown so plump clearly shows Ye Wanqiu’s affection for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending several years together, Ye Wanqiu has considered it a member of her family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why she jumped out so panicked to protect it when it encountered danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a timid demeanor, how could it dare to provoke Xiao Jiu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Wanqiu immediately looked towards Xiao Jiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Jiu gestured with its paw, indicating it just wanted to scare it a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obviously, Xiao Jiu merely saw this as a source of entertainment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Wanqiu didn’t quite grasp the meaning of Xiao Jiu’s gestures, softly saying, \"This can’t happen again next time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she lectured Rice Ball again: \"Don’t run around carelessly anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a little episode; Ye Wanqiu didn’t take it too seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Xiao Jiu shook its head, then gestured with its paws while chirping twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does it mean?\" Zhao Jiangning hadn’t interacted much with Xiao Jiu, so she didn’t understand what it was expressing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhen and Xu Miaozhen shook their heads as well; they hadn’t spent much time together either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t want Chen Mo to worry about her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She already felt she couldn’t help Chen Mo much, and if she dragged him down further, it would truly be her fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiangning also looked a bit listless, saying, \"I initially wanted to buy some gifts for the master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without expert protection, taking the army out for a stroll would inevitably cause too much attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, upon hearing Zhao Jiangning’s words, Xiao Jiu’s eyes lit up, and it started excitedly gesturing at Zhao Jiangning, making noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Luo Zhen and the others finally understood that Xiao Jiu wanted to buy gifts for the master as well...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the four and a fox left the Chen Mansion with four guards, heading toward the busiest street in Bianliang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four guards were mainly for show, to inform others they were from the Chen Mansion and not to disturb them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Xiao Jiu was quite a spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xiao Jiu join, Rice Ball leapt out of Ye Wanqiu’s embrace, frightened, and stayed back at the mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiangning bought Chen Mo a set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From boots to wrist guards, the hairpin worn, even the waist protector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other benefit of having guards became apparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, they could carry things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiangning bought clothing for Chen Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Miaozhen bought food, including cooked dishes, pastries, snacks, and hard liquor—just about anything she thought tasted good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Zhen chose a Jade Pendant, noticing Chen Mo usually didn’t favor wearing jade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wouldn’t do, considering Chen Mo’s current status; he ought to use the appropriate items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the jade at the mansion was better than outside, they were gifts from others, carrying different meanings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what puzzled the four women was Xiao Jiu asking them to spend money on a few strange stones it liked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stones appeared very ordinary, with nothing remarkable about them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vendor boasted these stones could reveal Beautiful Jade when cut open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women didn’t believe him and had the guards use the Celestial Eye to check—they were just ordinary stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, however...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yu...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consort Yu and Ye Wanqiu locked eyes in surprise, their words halting in unison with some tacit understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wanqiu, do you know each other?\" Luo Zhen asked in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Wanqiu was extremely flustered, never expecting to encounter Consort Yu on the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t she in the palace? How did she end up outside?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Ye Wanqiu was at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consort Yu wasn’t much better; as far as she was concerned, wasn’t Ye Wanqiu dead? How could she appear here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was she seeing a ghost?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with the broad daylight and the glaring sun, clearly not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, Consort Yu didn’t say a word either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Luo Zhen and the others all bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Wanqiu... was a friend of mine before, I... just arrived in Bianliang these past two days,\" Consort Yu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then... when we have time, shall we meet up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure... sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I’ll... be off now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After ending their awkward conversation, Consort Yu didn’t dare linger and left immediately with her maid and guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That seemed like people from the Imperial City Department?\" Luo Zhen observed the token on Consort Yu’s guard’s waist before her departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes... yes indeed.\" Ye Wanqiu no longer had a smile on her face, her eyes shifting evasively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, let’s go.\" Ye Wanqiu took the lead, walking ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness, hurry up, what’s the matter?\" Luo Zhen called out to Zhao Jiangning, who was standing still, absorbed in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Zhao Jiangning suddenly remembered everything upon seeing Consort Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ps: Fell asleep...\u003C\u002Fp>",1181,"2026-06-06T05:54:36.386Z",1,"novelbin.me","c05f0083fd6441c667ffab9d26ad4debb115f85b837831bc1cfb05080b10321d","cultivation-simulator-starting-from-the-empress--chapter-416","cultivation-simulator-starting-from-the-empress--chapter-414",571,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcultivation-simulator-starting-from-the-empress--cover.jpg"]