Princess Yong'an Punishing People.

　　Several senior palace maids in the inner court knelt in a row, while the princess whipped them one by one on the face.

　　"Even a bird can't serve me well, why do I keep you useless people?!" In a cage not far in front of the maids, a lark hung its wings, barely alive.

　　This bird was a gift from a small country in the northern frontier, with an exceptionally beautiful and melodious voice.

　　The emperor gave it to the princess.

　　She cherished it and kept it in the princess's residence, with her personal maidservants serving it diligently.

　　However, after half a month, the bird gradually stopped eating, drinking, and singing, and it seemed to be dying.

　　The princess was filled with anger.

　　"This is a gift from my brother, and if it dies, all of you will be buried with it!" The maids looked at each other with despair in their eyes.

　　It was not that they didn't serve it attentively.

　　It's just that they didn't know the habits of this bird.

　　It wouldn't eat the finest rice or the captured insects, seemingly determined to starve itself to death.

　　At this moment, I, who was in charge of sweeping nearby, suddenly put down the broom.

　　The little eunuch next to me tried to stop me but failed, and watched me walk between Princess Yong'an and the senior palace maids.

　　"Chirp chirp-" I made chirping sounds towards the lark in the cage, using a technique similar to ventriloquism.

　　The lark suddenly looked up and chirped in response.

　　Its clear and pleasant voice instantly lifted people's spirits.

　　I bent down and rubbed the ground, and when I stood up again, I had a few grass seeds in my hand, which I fed to the lark.

　　The lark happily ate them.

　　Princess Yong'an looked at me.

　　She asked, "Are you new? What's your name?" I was startled like a little maid who couldn't remember the palace rules, and then knelt down in panic.

　　"I'm Lanqiu, Your Highness." Princess Yong'an looked at me with interest.

　　"You can tame animals.

　　Who taught you?" I shook my head blankly and said fearfully, "Before entering the palace, I lived with my family in the mountains, and it seems that I was born with this skill." The princess seemed to be in a good mood.

　　"Lanqiu, that's a nice name.

　　Since that's the case, you will stay by my side." In this way, after two months in the palace, I went from being the lowest-ranking maid in the outer court to being by the princess's side.

　　Princess Yong'an probably never expected that I, a seemingly timid and honest newcomer, would have the courage to deceive her.

　　My name is not Lanqiu, and I no longer have any family.

　　My skill in animal taming is not innate, but taught by my father.