Chapter One: A Fortune Seeker Enters the Court, Where Perils Lurk Everywhere

"Three days! If I don’t find something valuable within three days, I might as well starve to death!" I kicked a fallen leaf in frustration. Even the trees in this dilapidated courtyard were worth more than me.

I am Wan’er Lu, a promising young woman from the twenty-first century, but after transmigrating, I’ve become a lowly palace maid with a humble status!

What’s worse, the original owner of this body was a naive, sweet girl who was tricked out of everything she had.

This godforsaken cold palace is my new “home” for now.

Today, that old witch, Granny Li, gave me yet another “impossible mission”—to finish cleaning this palace, bigger than a football field, before sunset.

Fail to complete it?

Then I might as well wait to go hungry!

I’m truly bitter inside.

I, Wan’er Lu, once a renowned treasure appraiser, have now sunk to the level of sweeping floors.

The palace hierarchy is strict; palace maids tread on thin ice, and the concubines scheme against each other—none are to be underestimated.

But who am I, Wan’er Lu?

I am the woman destined to become the richest in the palace!

That old prude Granny Li must think I’d beg and cry—huff, she’s got another thing coming!

I pretended to clean seriously while my eyes darted around, searching. Maybe this broken place was hiding some treasure!

Sure enough, after a long while of no movement from me, Granny Li walked over with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, little filly, quite the actor, huh? Think you can shirk work and avoid punishment?”

I kept my expression calm and continued rummaging in a corner, pretending to hunt for some precious item.

---

“Granny Li, look at this corner—so dusty, it really needs a thorough cleaning.”

Granny Li looked at my serious demeanor, even more surprised.

A faint smile tugged at my lips; I was secretly delighted.

Suddenly, I caught a strange scent…

“That smell is…”

…

That smell is…

Gold!

I held my breath, my heart pounding.

With my years of treasure appraisal experience, there had to be something good beneath.

Pretending not to notice, I shifted a loose floor tile aside. Sure enough, a glittering golden hairpin lay quietly there, shining brightly.

The craftsmanship was exquisite; it was clearly no ordinary piece—a genuine antique!

I was going to make a fortune!

I hurried to find Aunt Lin, an elder in the palace with rich experience—maybe she could tell me more.

Aunt Lin took the hairpin and examined it carefully, her expression suddenly turning grave.

“This… isn’t this the phoenix-headed gold hairpin Lady Li once lost?”

Lady Li?

Wasn’t she the emperor’s most favored consort once?

---

Later, for some unknown reason, she fell out of favor, was sent to the cold palace, and soon passed away.

If this hairpin fell into the wrong hands, I’d be in deep trouble.

Luckily, I’m clever!

I looked sincere and told Aunt Lin, “Auntie, I found this hairpin while cleaning. I thought it must belong to some lady who lost it, so I wanted to return it right away.”

Aunt Lin nodded approvingly. “Wan’er, you did well. This hairpin meant a lot to Lady Li. Your honesty deserves praise.”

She rewarded me with some silver coins and transferred me to the Imperial Garden to tend the flowers.

What a cushy job!

Not only was it easy, I could enjoy the beautiful scenery. Most importantly, I was closer to the emperor!

Heh, maybe one day I’d run into the emperor by chance and start living the high life!

When Granny Li heard I was transferred, she turned green with envy.

She blocked my way to the garden, pointed at my nose, and scolded, “You little brat! Stealing Lady Li’s golden hairpin and daring to claim you found it? Guards! Take her to the Court of Justice!”

My heart skipped a beat. That old hag just wouldn’t let me be!

Just as I was at a loss, Aunt Lin appeared.

“Granny Li, Wan’er did find this hairpin, I can vouch for her.”

Seeing Aunt Lin intervene, Granny Li slunk away in defeat.

It seemed that in this ruthless palace, I needed a strong ally.

I was secretly relieved—my quick thinking had saved me.

I pruned the flowers in the Imperial Garden with a happy heart, humming a little tune…

Suddenly, I felt someone behind me…