Ruby was led back to the courtyard, barely aware of all the heated stares that were thrown her way.

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t come up with a solid plan on how to find out what the empress was plotting.

The woman’s role hadn’t been anything major in the book.

Three days. That was all she had.

She was about to enter the courtyard when she bumped into something soft but firm. She fell, landing on the hard ground with a thud.

"Are you blind?" Some one spoke from above her, anger laced in their voice like venom.

Ruby could tell from the embroidered silk boots in front of her that she had bumped into a lady from the royal palace. If she was lucky enough it wouldn’t be any of the triplets.

She looked up.

No!

It was indeed one of the triplets. The very people she needed to avoid at all cost.

Ruby immediately put her head to the ground. "I’m sorry, your highness. I should’ve watched where I was going."

There wasn’t a response.

Ruby looked up in fear, her heart dropping into her stomach when she saw the anger that radiated off the princess.

She wailed and put her head back on the ground. "I deserve to be killed your highness, I have made a great mistake."

It was a line and gesture she’d seen so many times in historical drama. She didn’t mean it in any way.

Shen Lieyin, the second triplet, watched quietly as the smaller woman groveled on the floor. She’d only seen her a couple times with the other maids, and even then nothing about her had been outstanding.

Why did the crown prince fall in love with a plain girl like her?

"Look up," Shen Lieyin ordered and Ruby obeyed.

Her eyes traced Ruby’s face, taking in her slightly curly dark hair and her small oval face. Big brown eyes were framed by long lashes, a small nose and pouty lips.

All ordinary.

"Where are you coming from—"

"Shen Lieyin!" The third triplet called out from somewhere behind the courtyard, cutting her off.

"I’m coming," Shen Lieyin muttered, hating that the maid already took up her time.

Something close to rage always burned inside Shen Lieyin whenever she saw the maid.

Unable to hold herself back, she raised her boot and brought it down hard on Ruby’s hands that were still on the ground.

Ruby yelled in pain, bringing her hands to her chest.

Shen Lieyin couldn’t help the satisfied smile that bloomed on her face when she saw the tears glistening in Ruby’s eyes.

"I’ll spare your life this once," Shen Lieyin said. "Let’s never cross paths again."

Ruby nodded, only letting a sob out when the triplet walked away.

"You’re lucky," the maid that had escorted her out of the inner palace said.

"Why?" Ruby asked, tears streaking down her cheeks. She tried to flex her fingers but they hurt like hell.

"Lets just say the last girl that bumped into her lost more than her hands." She helped Ruby up. "Among the wolves of the eastern palace, Princess Shen Lieyin, is the most ruthless."

A shiver ran down Ruby’s spine.

Of course she had known that when she read the book, she just never thought she’d experience it herself.

"During the last Festival of Falling Blossoms, her personal maid broke her Royal mask by mistake. She had the poor girl executed the next day."

Blood drained from Ruby’s face. She must never come in contact with the triplets again. And for that to happen, she had to leave the palace.

She went back to the maid’s quarters and into Ru Yi’s tiny room.

There was only a tiny mat on the floor that Ruby eyed with distaste. She sat down on it anyway.

Ru Yi had come from a very poor background. It didn’t help that she had been born with shattered meridians.

"A useless child," her father had always said. "She cannot cultivate, cannot bring honor to our family. Keeping her is a complete waste of effort."

They’d sold her to a merchant and somehow she’d ended up as a maid in the palace.

That day she hadn’t begged, only stood there quietly with her small fingers clutching the edge of her sleeve.

Which was why Ru Yi hadn’t expected to be loved.

Not truly.

Not by anyone who mattered.

She was not special, not worth anything more than what she could offer. So when the crown prince noticed her—

At first she thought he had confused her with someone else. A noble girl. A lady. Anyone but her.

It wasn’t long before Ru Yi’s heart betrayed her. Because no one had ever cared about her like that before.

Ruby understood completely why she had let the crown prince sweep her off her feet even though it had led to her untimely death.

Hadn’t she fallen in love with Jenny too when she’d gotten the slightest bit of attention from her?

Only now she wouldn’t let the poor character die again. She’ll get information for the princess and leave the palace. Then she can live happily with all the beautiful women outside the palace walls.

With that thought Ruby fell asleep, only to be woken the next morning with a stick. The chief maid stood above her when she forced her eyes open.

"Ru Yi! How irresponsible of you to still be sleeping this late in the morning!" The older woman sneered before leaning in, so close that Ruby could smell food on her breath.

"You must be tired from sneaking around with a man that’s not even yours. Shameless girl!"

Ruby wanted to remind her that she wasn’t even attracted to men until she recalled that she was still in the book.

"As your punishment, you’ll join the other maids to serve the empress tea this afternoon. You better not mess up."

With that she stormed out, leaving Ruby to worry about how she was going to freshen up and feed her raging stomach.

By the time she’d joined the other maids, her stomach was continuously growling and she was dizzy.

At least she’ll be able to get information for princess Lin Yuexin.

"Stand upright!"

Ruby tried to, but everywhere was spinning.

Still, she took the tray filled with herbs and walked behind the other maids. This would be the most chore she had ever done in her life after leaving the orphanage.

It didn’t help that her fingers could potentially be broken.

Her adoptive parents had welcomed her into their family with love and doted on her. Especially Jenny.

She felt a sting in her chest.

No.

She wasn’t going to think about her.

Empress Shen Lihua resided in the central palace, which was where she ruled the inner court. It was larger and more formal compared to the other residences.

Ruby and the other maids headed to the main hall, where the tea was to be served. The Empress was hosting another official, but Ruby couldn’t see who it was.

There was a screen separating the empress and her guest from the maids.

In the book the Empress hadn’t been mentioned until the triplets had forcefully taken the throne after the emperor died.

It was hard to tell what kind of person she was.

Still, she had to know who the empress was meeting.

"Keep the herbs on the table," The head maid told Ruby.

This was her only chance.

The table was right beside the screen that separated them from the empress. Ruby tried to get a good look as she was putting down the tray.

"I want you to station new guards around the emperor. I don’t trust General Han Zheng. He’s been seeking court—"

Ruby leaned in so she could hear what the empress was saying. But a wave of dizziness hit her and she found herself falling into the screen.

Uh-Oh!