His Head Was Shoved Back into the Dye Vat...

Aunt Li's embroidery skills were unparalleled; she had mastered the craft to an exceptional degree.

She once studied under a top embroidery master in Jiangnan, and her unique needlework skills are unmatched.

No one knows why, but the Zhao Family family was suddenly accused of a fabricated crime.

Without a word, the government came to their door to confiscate their property. Their savings, houses, and fields were all taken away, and their peaceful and prosperous life was completely shattered.

The elders in the family could not bear the blow and fell ill one after another and passed away, while the male members of the family were either exiled to the border.

They either get into trouble for no reason and lose their lives, their clansmen scatter and wander, and a once happy family is destroyed.

Having no other way to make a living, Aunt Li had no choice but to abandon all her pride and enter the palace alone as a maid.

Her two sons also died far from home while they were exiled to the border.

Only their only daughter remained, and they didn't know where she had gone.

She had always thought Zhao Nian'an was dead. Aunt Li held Zhao Nian'an's hand and wept bitterly, saying, "Nian'an, I really didn't expect you to be alive. I don't know why our family is so unlucky, sob sob..."

Zhao Nian'an said:

"Mother, do you believe me? Our Zhao Family was actually harmed by Noble Consort Ning."

Noble Consort Ning has taken a liking to your embroidery skills and wishes to bring you into the palace...

Aunt Li said in disbelief, "I am Noble Consort Ning's person, which is why I am unwilling to help you. Are you saying that our family was harmed by Noble Consort Ning?"

Zhao Nian'an nodded and said:

"I know this is hard to believe, but it's true."

What Noble Consort Ning desires is your embroidery skills. You must have trained many apprentices here, right?

Those disciples are numerous; they must all be Noble Consort Ning's people.

Aunt Li looked at her apprentices behind her and said, "These are all people that Noble Consort Ning sent over."

All of them knelt down in the tunnel:

"Although we were sent here by Noble Consort Ning, we are all loyal to you!"

Auntie, we consider you our teacher, please don't send us away.

"Yes, we'll do whatever you say. Whoever you tell us to work for, we'll do it for them."

Aunt Li looked at them and said:

"In that case, remember what you said."

From now on, I belong to Zhou Wanwan, and you must all put Zhou Wanwan first in everything.

All the apprentices knelt down and kowtowed.

Having taken over the Embroidery Bureau, only the dyeing workshop remained.

The auntie in the Laundry Bureau looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "That eunuch in charge of the dye house is no good. He's cunning, shrewd, and insatiably greedy. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle him!"

Zhou Wanwan raised an eyebrow and said, "I just love dealing with old foxes like this."

She went straight to the dye shop and saw the old fox lounging in a deck chair, sunbathing.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and asked, "Are you the manager of this dye shop?"

The old fox squinted and said, "Where did this little brat come from? Does she think this palace is her private property? Get out of here!"

Zhou Wanwan said casually, "This Weaving and Dyeing Bureau is managed quite well!"

The old fox sneered and said, "I'll say it again, get out of here!"

He had barely finished speaking when he felt a strong force pull him up and forcefully shove his head into the dye vat.

When the old fox was dragged out, he coughed several times and said, "You little beast, believe it or not, I...!"

His head was pushed back into the dye vat...

Glug glug glug glug glug...

The old fox drank several mouthfuls of water, and when he was pulled out, his face was full of fear. "Who exactly are you? What do you want?"

Now he knows fear.

Zhou Wanwan took a sip of water and said, "What do I want to do? You eunuchs are all-powerful, don't you know what I want to do?"

The old fox knelt down, looked at her, and said, "Our Dyeing Bureau has no intention of getting involved in this matter."

"Don't you want to get involved in anything?"

The old fox looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"I know you're capable, and I also know about what's going on in the Cold Palace, but no matter how well it's hidden there, the truth will eventually come out."

No matter how capable you are, do you really think you can fight against those people in the palace?

If I were on your side, my head would be chopped off tomorrow.

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said:

"If you don't stand with me, you'll lose your head right now. Besides, what's wrong with following me?"

I'll treat you all to the best of everything.

The old fox was silent for a moment before saying, "I'm just afraid that if things come to light and the Emperor blames me, I won't be able to bear the consequences."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him with a half-smile and said, "So, do you think you can take responsibility for this with me?"

The old fox wasn't sure; that force just now was incredibly strong. If Zhou Wanwan hadn't spared his life, he would have been dead long ago.

The old fox sighed and said, "Miss Zhou, tell me, what benefits would we get if our Dyeing Bureau listened to you?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

I am never stingy with my subordinates.

"You take the palace's money, and you can take mine too. What's wrong with that?"

The old fox was silent for a moment before saying, "Alright, I'll do as you say. I'll do whatever you tell me to do."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Don't just pay lip service to me. This harem is all my subordinates!"

Zhou Wanwan's face was full of warning. As soon as she left, the old fox snorted coldly:

"How dare a mere young girl scare me? Let's hurry up and leave. I need to report to Noble Consort Ning."

That brat, she's got some nerve! Doesn't she know I'm Noble Consort Ning's woman?

I work for Noble Consort Ning, hmph!

He had just stepped outside when he was suddenly entangled by several trees. He struggled desperately, shouting, "Let me go! What is this? What the hell is this thing? Ah!!"

With a "crack," his neck snapped.

The trees quickly dragged his body into the woods.

Not only this eunuch, but several other people also wanted to find Noble Consort Ning, but they all disappeared halfway there.

Zhou Wanwan lay in bed, listening to the Old Scholar Tree's report, "The Embroidery Bureau has 3 people, the Dyeing Bureau has 3 dead, the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau has none, and the Textile Bureau has the most, with 7 dead."

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said:

"We had already given them a way out, but I don't know what they're after."

"They must all be working for Noble Consort Ning, right?"

Noble Consort Ning trained these people in the palace very well.

These people were all carefully selected. To put it bluntly, the people from the Textile Bureau, Imperial Wardrobe Bureau, Embroidery Bureau, and Dyeing Bureau were all highly skilled individuals that Noble Consort Ning had gathered from the common people.

Those who remained all possessed a unique skill.

Some who were unwilling to enter the palace were brought in by Noble Consort Ning through various means.

Therefore, no cultivation is required; it can be used directly.

Noble Consort Ning used to make a fortune by relying on these people; her shops outside were all supported by them.

Once these people stopped working for her, her shops collapsed.