Counterattack of the Cannon Fodder Chambermaid

by Usui Takumii

not mine, Princess Capture Plan. Total: 177 chapters and 12 epilogue so 189 chapters .

5. 41 to 50

41

August 15th1 marked the arrival of the mid-Autumn festival, but the Jing Prince Estate didn't seem to be making preparations for festivities.

Of course, this was merely based on Xiao Hua's observations. She never left the Hall of Splendor and naturally wasn't aware that the palace maids in other areas were rather busy. The Jing Prince had to host a banquet in the Hall of Ascension for the various officials in his vassal state.

Apart from a few factors, being a vassal prince in the Grand Xi Dynasty was actually quite nice.

The imperial court gave vassal princes a lot of freedom. Apart from a few necessary defensive measures, the vassal state was basically the prince's own little country.

Since the Jing Prince ruled over them, the officials under his jurisdiction definitely took the chance to curry some favor during the various annual holidays and festivals. After all, everyone had some ambition in their hearts. No matter how much the prince was averse to such festivities, he still had to host them occasionally. It was necessary to tell those under him "Right, you guys are excellent. This humble prince is very satisfied with you all. This banquet is held in your honor as a reward for everyone".

Therefore, such occasions had become occasions for the Jing Prince to interact with his subordinates.

All of the officials within the Jing Provinces borders were well aware of their lord's personality.

He had no habits and never spoke. Of course he also wasn't mute. When the Jing Prince first arrived, many had heard the rumors from the capital that the fifth prince was mute. But after serving under him for a while they realized he wasn't actually mute, he just didn't enjoy speaking.

Just like now, where the Jing Prince sat on the main seat in the Hall of Ascension, drinking by himself as though the celebrations below had nothing to do with him. The Jing Prince wore a traditional prince's crown and outfit today, looking very regal and striking. Unfortunately his apathetic aura was too strong, making others notice his indifference instead of his handsome appearance.

Even though everyone noticed this inharmonious contrast, they pretended not to see it and even dialed up their celebrations.

This was a benefit hosted by their lord. Even if they weren't interested, the subordinates had an obligation to create a festive atmosphere to avoid provoking their lord's anger. What? This humble prince hosted a feast for you all. What is the meaning of your sorrowful faces and unhappiness?

Therefore, the lively feast proceeded under this type of strange atmosphere. If one didn't look at the prince's apathetic face and ignored the fact that he hadn't spoken a word since the start, it was actually a pretty good time.

Halfway through the feast, an official around forty years old paid respects.

"Your highness Jing Prince, this lower official Zhu Da Jian, Governor of the Lucheng District has specially prepared an offering for your highness during this mid-Autumn Festival."

After speaking, a fifteen or sixteen year old girl in the prime of her life walked through the doors of the hall. She wore an emerald green sleeveless blouse and a pale bluish white skirt embroidered with branches and grass patterns. A jade hazy satin veil was draped over her, her shoulders sharp, her waist narrow, her muscles toned, and her eyes contained promises of flowing spring waters. She was a beauty!

The others at the feast were extremely dumbfounded. Offering a beauty!?

Everyone looked at the district governor Zhu Da Jian with weird expressions, as though they were getting ready to watch a good show.

"I present my humble daughter Bi Yan to his highness the Jing Prince. She can sing and dance, play instruments and is fifteen years old this year."

It had to be said that this Zhu Da Jian was a wily old fox. Not only did he offer up his own daughter, it was also in front of so many people yet there was no awkwardness or embarrassment in his expression. In fact, his face even held a smile as he kept a casual expression.

The girl called Bi Yan knelt beside her father. Although her face was not visible, her lithe figure left little to the imagination as she supplicated herself on the floor. Especially when the lights in the palace hall shone upon her body, the skin on her neck looked even more pure and lustrous, as though it were almost translucent.

Unfortunately these charms were shown to a blind man. The Jing Prince's gaze was faint, yet seemed as if it never focused on this girl's figure.

If it were someone normal, they would accept by saying "Hahaha, this humble prince shall accept governor Zhu's kind intentions". If they wanted to refuse, well, normally when a subordinate offered up a beauty, most of them would be accepted. After all, offering beauties at feasts was quite common, and rejections in this situation were rare.

Unfortunately they had encountered a weirdo this time. There were no words, no gestures, and even barely a glance spared towards those kneeling.

The hall was extremely silent. The kneeling father and daughter pair couldn't help but start feeling nervous. The instruments within the hall had stopped playing at some point in time. The nervous Zhu Da Jian seemed to hear the sounds of suppressed laughter from the side.

In theory there should have been someone stepping forward at this time to smooth things over. This job was most appropriate for the Adjutant's Office's Left Adjutant Guan Zheng.

Unfortunately Guan Zheng hadn't been in the Jing Province for long, and wasn't familiar with the subordinate officials. The Jing Prince also didn't really respond to him, and since he had his own pride as a scholar, he didn't want to get snubbed.

Guan Zheng had worked in the Adjutant's Office of the Jing Prince Estate for some time, and faintly felt that his colleagues seemed to shun him a little. However, he intended to muddle along until his time was up anyway, so he didn't take things too seriously. Seeing the awkward silence at this moment, he had some hidden grievances in his heart and naturally wouldn't step up as a mediator.

"Governor Zhu is being too polite. Our highness isn't such a strict person, hurry and take your seat at the banquet." Eunuch Fu walked out at a fast pace with a face full of smiles. He politely lifted him up.

He then called a low-ranked eunuch over, "Why don't you quickly take Miss Zhu to get some rest."

Right as he finished speaking, the instruments in the all started playing again. The others at the feast all started toasting and drinking again, as though the awkward episode had never happened.

Zhu Da Jian sat there still quite alarmed when an official next to him said: "This is probably your first time in the Jing Prince Estate, right? This lord of ours isn't interested in such things. Also he's naturally taciturn. Today Eunuch Fu helped you smooth things over. Normally there isn't someone there to do so, and you aren't the first one to get embarrassed to death."

"But my daughter, isn't my daughter being sent to get some rest?" Zhu Da Jian was still concerned about this matter.

The officials gaze turned strange, "Just wait and you'll see." After speaking, he went off to drink with others.

After the feast ended, Zhu Da Jian walked back to his carriage still thinking of the words "just wait and you'll see". Only when he reached his carriage did one of the servants who followed him over tell him that the young miss had indeed been resting. She had been resting in the carriage for a very long time.

Within the estate, the palace maids and eunuchs also had extra dishes with their dinner that evening. They even handed out two mooncakes to each servant.

The Grand Xi Dynasty celebrated the mid-Autumn Festival, and although they couldn't have a family reunion, the atmosphere was still filled with a festive mood.

The Hall of Splendor was even more so. His highness had gone to the front to host the banquet so the small kitchen specially made a few tables' worth of festive dishes. The eunuchs and palace maids all gathered together in a lively manner to celebrate.

Xiao Hua and Chun Cao helped the older palace maids and nanas in the small kitchen. The people working there all had unique personalities, but were still rather fond of the two little lasses.

Once they were full, Nana He saw that Xiao Hua liked to eat mooncakes and stuffed her another two.

Xiao Hua had eaten mooncakes before in the Jinyang Marquis Estate, but those in the Jing Prince Estate clearly tasted better by far. The mooncakes were filled with either red or green bean paste. They were sweet but you wouldn't get sick of it. Xiao Hua liked eating them, but unfortunately Nana He said these kinds of things shouldn't be eaten excessively to avoid indigestion.

Xiao Hua took the two cakes given to her by Nana He back to the room, and gave one to Chun Cao. Although she didn't get sick of them while eating, there was unavoidably some cloying sensation afterwards.

Xiao Hua ran over and felt her pot of water, but realized it had gotten cold. She didn't feel like drinking cold water. After eating something too cloyingly sweet, it was more comfortable to drink warm water. Realizing that the small kitchen wouldn't have any heated water at this moment, she thought about the tea room inside the hall.

There was a small stove in the tea room which would always have heated water in case his highness needed tea.

After staying in the Hall of Splendor for a period of time, Xiao Hua had gotten quite a bit more daring. Thinking that his highness wouldn't return tonight since he was hosting the banquet, Xiao Hua grabbed her small teapot and went to the hall.

After entering the tea room, she saw that the low-ranked eunuch responsible for the room wasn't present, most likely out celebrating. As expected, there was a copper kettle filled with water. Xiao Hua had boiled water on this stove before, and knew what to do.

After a moment, the water started boiling. Xiao Hua poured the water into her teapot, and refilled the copper kettle. After reducing the fire on the stove, she grabbed her small teapot and headed out.

As she reached the doors of the hall, she saw the prince return followed by Eunuch Fu.

At this moment there wasn't anywhere to hide her teapot. Xiao Hua forced a smile and knelt down to pay respects.

As expected, the two didn't say anything about it. After the Jing Prince entered the hall, Eunuch Fu turned towards her and said, "Go steep some tea for his highness."

"Yes."

Xiao Hua stuffed her own teapot away randomly and went back to the tea room to steep tea.

After serving the tea, no one spoke and she didn't dare leave, standing to the side as a pillar.

The room was very silent. The Jing Prince had seemingly drunk a little too much alcohol and lay there rubbing his head. The Jing Prince's outfit was quite different from his usual, his set of royal prince's garb was very imposing. Also since he was drunk, his eyes were not as indifferent as normal, looking rather hazy instead. His normally dull lips seemed extremely vivid and filled with an alluring color.

Xiao Hua had always known the prince to be good looking, but at this moment she turned a little sluggish from staring, hurriedly lowering her head.

Eunuch Fu served attentively on the side, "You highness, drink some tea to clear your mind. Is your head in a lot of pain?"

The Jing Prince didn't have much tolerance for alcohol, and every time he hosted a banquet he would return drunk. However he held his alcohol well. When he was drunk he would only have a headache, and wouldn't fly into a drunken rage.

"How about I help you to your bed?"

The Jing Prince drank his tea and sat for another while before standing up. From his stride and appearance he seemed completely sober.

Eunuch Fu lifted his foot to follow, and noticed Xiao Hua by the side.

"You follow along as well and help out."

The low-ranked eunuchs in the hall had all gone off to who knows where, so Xiao Hua could only follow behind Eunuch Fu and enter the rear hall.

This was her first time in the rear hall of the Hall of Splendor. The decorations and layout of the hall were luxurious, yet still appeared low key and imposing. Having been swept along to the inner hall, she saw an extremely large bed surrounded by purple curtains embroidered with dragon motifs.

The Jing Prince stood in front of the bed and raised his arms. Eunuch Fu stood to the side and helped the prince remove his crown. During this time he signaled for Xiao Hua to help the prince take off his clothes.

This was Xiao Hua's first time serving the prince so closely. As for helping a man take off his clothing, she was not unfamiliar with it. In her last life, she had helped the 4th young master do so many times. But for some reason, as she put her hand on the Jing Prince's belt, she actually felt a hint of unease. Her nose was filled with the scent of alcohol and a faint masculine smell, making her nervous for no apparent reason.

Xiao Hua's movements were extremely careful, and undressed him until he was in his undergarments. The Jing Prince then sat on the bed, waiting for someone to take off his shoes. Xiao Hua carefully knelt and removed them.

The moment she put the shoes down, An Chen appeared from somewhere and placed a copper basin of water next to the prince's feet and immediately stood to the side.

What was the meaning of this?

Xiao Hua turned her head and looked back. Eunuch Fu stood smiling far away, and although An Chen stood close by, his attitude clearly showed he wasn't going to get involved.

Xiao Hua's eyes flashed, and she could only obediently remove the prince's socks, place his feet in the basin and start washing them.

The Jing Prince's feet were very large, and Xiao Hua's hands seemed very small in comparison. At most they seemed to be half the size. The prince's feet were also very white. Xiao Hua briefly compared and saw they were whiter than her hands by a shade.

How could a servant not have experience with feet washing? Xiao Hua placed her hands in the water and delicately rubbed the prince's feet. In any case, the master's feet would be better smelling than the servant's hands, so there wasn't any need for Xiao Hua to feel disgusted. Furthermore, the prince's feet didn't have any unpleasant odor, and was very clean.

After washing, the low ranked eunuch on the side brought over a towel. Xiao Hua grabbed it and dried the water off.

After everything was done, Xiao Hua was panting due not to tiredness but nervousness instead.

Initially she thought she was done and could return to her room to properly nurse her startled heart. Who would have expected the drunk person to suddenly speak?

"Back massage."

A sudden clap of thunder struck Xiao Hua on her head, making her dumb as a wooden chicken.

The Jing Prince already lay prone on the bed, waiting for Xiao Hua to approach.

Eunuch Fu softly coughed a couple of times by the side, and Xiao Hua immediately walked over as though she received an electric shock.

She still wanted to struggle, and with a difficult expression said to Eunuch Fu: "Manager Fu, this servant still needs to clean her hands."

She had touched the Jing Prince's feet just now after all. Touching his back after touching his feet, even if the Jing Prince didn't knock her to death Eunuch Fu would do so.

At Eunuch Fu's hand gesture, two more low-ranked eunuchs appeared carrying another basin of water, with a hand towel on the side. They even prepared some lotion.

Xiao Hua could only smile bitterly to herself. She had the feeling of a duck being driven onto a perch2, washed her hands clean, applied some lotion, took a deep breath and approached the bed.

She didn't dare look at the prince's current appearance. She warmed her hands up, bent over beside the bed and started massaging.

Don't be scared, don't be scared, it wasn't her first time doing this. She was just nervous because of the change in location. There wasn't any need to be nervous.

Comforting herself like this, Xiao Hua was no longer nervous and started to massage the prince seriously.

When Xiao Hua was serious she would be extremely focused. After finishing a set of massage techniques on his back, she realized the surroundings had grown extremely quiet. She turned her head slightly and realized that Eunuch Fu and the rest of the eunuchs had actually disappeared at some point. The curtains surrounding the bed had also been lowered.

1-This is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and actually translates to late September early October depending on the year.

2-Idiom meaning to be pushed to do something beyond someone's ability. I guess because ducks can't perch on things the way birds do.

42

The heavy curtains surrounded the bed in its own little space. Under these circumstances, Xiao Hua inexplicably felt very panicked in her heart.

Focusing on her worries made her hands stop moving.

A muffled and somewhat hoarse voice sounded, "Don't stop."

Only then did Xiao Hua realize the prince was actually still awake. She could only continue massaging the Jing Prince. Due to the chaos in her heart, her hands were no longer as focused.

The air was filled with an indescribable scent. It wasn't incense, but Xiao Hua could small a rich fragrance. Under her hands was a firm back. The clothes were very thin, as though they weren't there.

Badump badump badump badump…..

Whose heartbeat was this? Was it hers? Or was it the Jing Prince's?

At this moment, her mind actually went completely blank.

Suddenly the heavens and earth overturned, and when Xiao Hua came back to her senses she was already lying on the bed.

Above her were the pair of long and slender apathetic eyes. A sudden misstep and one would be sucked into them as though falling into a whirlpool, unable to free oneself. When Xiao Hua came back to herself once again, a pair of hands were unbuttoning her clothes.

What should she do? What should she do? What should she do?

Although she had known in her heart Eunuch Fu's intentions, after such a long time and seeing the Jing Prince's apathy and disinterest in women, Xiao Hua had already forgotten the implications.

This sudden turn of events however instantly threw her mind into chaos.

To refuse, she definitely didn't dare refuse, and didn't dare think of the consequences of such a refusal. He was the master, and she was the servant. She was already scared of Eunuch Fu, let alone Eunuch Fu's master his highness the Jing Prince.

The hands unbuttoning her clothes continued to do so.

She should reach out and grab his hands, preventing him from doing so. But she was shaking all over and didn't dare resist.

In that instant Xiao Hua thought about many things. She thought about all the implications in Eunuch Fu's actions, including his favorable treatment and his taking advantage of the situation. She also thought of Xiu Yun who was beaten to death, and thought of her past life.

So be it, so be it. She was a servant after all, no matter how she tried she couldn't escape from her lot in life…a servant never had any so-called innocence to speak of, why still care about her body?

At this moment, Xiao Hua even remembered her initial suspicions regarding whether the Jing Prince was a man or not, and inexplicably found it to be rather amusing….

The silhouettes of two evil spirits slowly retreated outside the inner hall's doors.

A voice quiet as a mosquito sounded out, "Master, did we succeed?"

Eunuch Fu's heart was almost happy to the point of blooming, but didn't know how to express the joy in his heart. He could only rub his fingers vigorously while maintaining a profound appearance on the outside.

He didn't know that this appearance was vulgar no matter how one looked. An Chen just didn't dare to say so.

"You sure have a lot to say you brat." Right after speaking, Eunuch Fu started laughing mischievously while suppressing his voice, and along with the pitch black night, he gave off an incomparably weird feeling.

"You keep watch over here, your master is going to go rest. Listen closely to the happenings inside, make sure you hear everything. Thoroughly report back to me tomorrow." After speaking, Eunuch Fu smiled mysteriously, patted An Chen's shoulder and walked away with large strides.

An Chen made a bitter face, shrunk his neck down and stood outside the door.

Master was really inhumane. Running off by himself and forcing him to remain and eavesdrop. He definitely planned to ask a bunch of vulgar questions afterwards as well. But as a subordinate, since his master had spoken he might as well stand obediently.

An Chen thought bitterly in his heart, but still perked up his ears and listened in on the movements inside. Although he complained, he didn't dare ignore his master's orders.

Xiao Hua carefully moved a little, looking at the Jing Prince who was next to her.

Seeing him fast asleep, she grabbed her clothes and carefully got off the bed. Unfortunately her legs didn't have any strength left to stand and her body was sore all over, falling all at once to sit on the soft carpet.

The fall made the grievance in her heart spill out, and she couldn't stop herself from hugging her clothes and crying.

She had already tried her best to control her movements, but underestimated the alertness of the man on the bed.

Actually the Jing Prince had awoken when Xiao Hua got off the bed. Just as he was wondering what she was up to, he saw her fall clumsily onto the floor and, perhaps due to the pain of the fall, actually started crying while hugging her clothes.

He half-squinted his eyes and lay on the bed, looking at the delicate silhouette on the floor. Compared to his normal appearance, the alcohol gave him a hint of unbridled demonic charm.

Xiao Hua's heart was in disorder and she cried for a spell on the floor. When she was finally done crying, she planned on putting on her clothes and leaving, but the moment she raised her head she met the pitch-black apathetic eyes and tranquil expression of the Jing Prince.

At this moment she was a mess of tears, her eyes and nose were both red, her eyes damp. In contrast, the Jing Prince lying on the bed somehow looked a little reprehensible.

Xiao Hua dared to be angry but didn't dare speak.

The surroundings were extremely quiet and she didn't know what to say. She wanted to put on her clothes, but since there was someone else present she could only blankly sit there hugging her clothes, her face extremely red.

It was the Jing Prince's voice that broke the silence.

"Why cry?"

Xiao Hua gave him a look of disbelief. The prince's expression was as calm and unmoved as ever, and there were no fluctuations in his gaze.

He actually asked what she was crying about. She had just lost her innocence in such a baffling manner, how could she not be crying?

But on second thoughts, when masters slept with their servants that's how it usually happens. Thinking further about the Jing Prince's status, Xiao Hua became silent.

"It, it hurts." She could only put it this way.

He saw the marks on the low-ranked palace maid's shoulders. Were those made by him? Unlike his usual self, the prince knitted his brows. After some thought, he spoke: "Prepare water."

His voice wasn't loud, but a voice sounded quickly from outside the curtains.

"Yes."

Xiao Hua was afraid someone would come in and see her sorry appearance, and wanted to drape the clothes over herself, but they ended up falling off again due to her trembling. She felt very pitiful, there simply wasn't anyone more tragic than her.

Luckily the person outside didn't enter. She only heard footsteps outside the curtain and after a moment heard the voice once more: "Your highness, the water is prepared. Is this servant's service needed?"

"No need."

Hearing the footsteps leave, Xiao Hua turned her back and swiftly put on her blouse. Unfortunately it was too short to cover her lower half. She struggled to put on her skirt without revealing anything. Her body was curled up like a meatball, and would occasionally roll over here and there. The Jing Prince watched with a sort of very incredulous feeling. He didn't understand what this low-ranked palace maid was doing.

Could it be that she was shy? But, what was there to be shy about?

The Jing Prince put on his underwear and got off the bed, walking barefoot towards the bathroom.

"Follow."

Xiao Hua had a face full of astonishment. Was this person even human? She was hurting all over and he still wanted her to bathe him?

Despite thinking this, she still stood up silently, randomly tying her dress on her body and followed him with shaking legs.

After entering the bathroom, Xiao Hua saw that it was lavishly arranged. There wasn't a bathtub like those she had seen in the past. Instead there was a pool made of white marble.

The pool was around two square zhang, with steps on either side leading into the water. There was a copper beast-head fountain in the middle where warm water flowed out slowly. Streams of steam filled the room, making it seem like the island of immortals.

The Jing Prince entered the pool and sat down against the side. Xiao Hua held the rest of her clothes in hand and stood there foolishly.

The Jing Prince glanced at her expressionlessly, "Bathe."

Xiao Hua hesitantly looked at the water in the pool, and then at herself. After thinking for a while, she still put her clothes to the side and entered the pool.

The water temperature was just right, not too cold and not too warm. Xiao Hua had felt numb, stiff and a little cold, and immediately felt many times more comfortable and warm. But she didn't dare delay and hurriedly walked over.

She had never served a man in the bath before. Her only experience was when serving the 4th young master in her past life, so she did her best to remember what she had done then. She saw a tray by the pool containing soap and towel, and quickly grabbed it over to help the prince scrub his back.

The Jing Prince lay spread out against the side, watching the busy low-ranked palace maid next to him.

What was her name again? Xiao Hua.

This was what Eunuch Fu had told him last time. The name was really unsophisticated.

The steam brought out the delicate colors under her fair skin. Her clothes were already soaked by the water, and like a lotus flower blooming on the water surface, she seemed even more tender and beautiful.

Eunuch Fu really knew how to pick people, the Jing Prince thought silently.

Because Xiao Hua was inexperienced, the bath naturally took a long time. However, the Jing Prince didn't hurry her so she took it slowly. There was to some extent some resentment in her heart. She even thought that it would be best if he got angry and threw her far away. That way, there wouldn't be anything else in the future.

But unexpectedly the Jing Prince didn't say anything, only sweeping his gaze over her body, making the hairs on her body inexplicably stand up.

Looking at the slender waist beneath the surface of the water, the limbs and the faintly discernible scene, the Jing Prince started to heat up again.

He felt a little jittery in his heart since he never felt this way before. He was never someone who focused on such things. But thinking of this low palace maid who was crying and begging underneath him earlier, his body actually started to have a reaction again.

The Jing Prince was a simple person. Although he was now sober, the alcohol still stimulated his brain, making his actions rather unbridled. Therefore he listened to his desires, and with a grab of his large hands, pulled her over. Although she pleaded for mercy with her red rimmed eyes, he still went for another round.

Afterwards, perhaps because the Jing Prince was feeling comfortable, he opened his mouth in a rare occasion and spoke quite a few words.

"This humble prince shall have Eunuch Fu arrange a pavilion in the back for you to live in." The western three pavilions1 were located behind the Hall of Splendor, and this was what he meant by "in the back".

This was Xiao Hua's first time hearing the prince say so many words, but he ended up saying this.

"No, no need," She reflexively shook her hand, saying quietly: "This servant is doing quite well working here."

Xiao Hua had an extremely bad impression towards the words "rear court". The places that held harems made her think of some experiences in her past life.

The Jing Prince's expression didn't change. He stood up and walked out of the pool.

Xiao Hua thought her words had angered him so she shrunk her neck and didn't dare raise her head though her heart was extremely disordered.

After an unknown amount of time passed, a voice suddenly rang out by her ear.

"Big sis Xiao Hua."

Xiao Hua raised her head and saw Chun Cao standing by the pool. She hurriedly wiped away her tears and asked: "Chun Cao, why are you here?"

"Eunuch An had me come bathe you." After speaking, Chun Cao crouched down and slowly helped Xiao Hua scrub her body. As though not noticing the irregularities on her body, her face didn't show any strange expressions.

This made Xiao Hua feel a lot better in her heart, though she knew it was just an act.

Chun Cao had even brought over a set of Xiao Hua's clothing. After finishing up, she carefully helped the shaky Xiao Hua put them on, and supported her out of the hall.

On the way back to the palace maids' room, Xiao Hua felt uncomfortably stuffy in her heart, wanting to cry but unable to do so.

Back at the room, she lay in bed and covered herself with her blankets. It was already very late at night.

The lights were blown out and the room was plunged into darkness.

Xiao Hua wanted to have a good cry but was afraid Chun Cao would hear and think she was unreasonable.

She knew many palace maids would think this way. The moment one ascended to the skies, there was no need to worry about riches and status anymore. But she truly had never wanted this.

She had wanted to be released at twenty-five, but this seems to be a little difficult now. It wasn't known if a palace maid who had served the Jing Prince without any status would still be released once they reached the age.

She didn't regret refusing a pavilion in the western three pavilions. She knew her vision wasn't broad enough. She wasn't even able to win against the bunch of girls in the Jingyang Marquis Estate. If she went to the Jing Prince's rear court, there most likely wouldn't be anything left of her.

Most importantly, she hated that sort of life. The life of having to struggle against others every waking moment.

She spent the night wide awake, her mind full of various thoughts. Only when the sky started getting bright did she fall deeply asleep.

Translator's notes part 2:

This wasn't quite the order of progression I had expected and seemed a little out of character for the prince. I hope you guys aren't too disappointed. However, considering the difference in their status, his inexperience in interacting with women, his unfortunate ending in his past life, and what was common in ancient times, perhaps this was the fastest and most realistic way for things to progress. I viewed bed scenes as the final goal of their relationship, but it seems that it's actually just a means for their relationship to begin. I think this novel will be focusing on the blockhead prince's transformation into someone caring.

1-Not eastern three, where the consort and concubines are, but the empty ones in the west.

43

She slept until noon the next day. When Xiao Hua awoke, Chun Cao was keeping watch next to her.

"Big sis Xiao Hua, you're awake."

Xiao Hua's mouth was extremely dry. "What time is it?" Her voice was very hoarse.

Chun Cao went and poured her some water, "It's already noon. Don't worry, it's fine. Eunuch Fu sent someone over. Big sis Xiao Hua you don't have to work today. You can go back tomorrow."

Hearing this Xiao Hua let out a sigh of relief, and flopped back onto her bed.

Thinking of Eunuch Fu's "consideration", her heart was very upset.

Chun Cao saw that Xiao Hua's expression wasn't too good, and said while smiling: "Big sis Xiao Hua, don't sleep anymore for now. I will bring lunch over from the small kitchen. Sleep after eating."

A moment later, Chun Cao carried lunch back.

Lunch was very bountiful, with three dishes and a soup. Seeing the familiar little black soup container, Xiao Hua knew that it was definitely prepared for her by Nana He.

Xiao Hua got off the bed and sat at the round table in the room.

Chun Cao set out the meal while saying: "Nana He is really nice. She said since there were only the two of us, she made both of our lunches together. This container of soup was brewed for you, Nana He said you must drink it all."

Xiao Hua forced a smile, grabbed her chopsticks and started eating.

Chun Cao spoke while eating: "Big sis Xiao Hua, don't be unhappy. Although Chun Cao is young, she knows quite a lot. If this matter was spread outside the Hall of Splendor, others would be beside themselves with jealousy. If you serve his highness properly, he will give you a status in the future."

Turns out Chun Cao thought the reason she was upset was because the prince didn't give her a status. Xiao Hua didn't explain that she was the one who refused it. Only the Jing Prince's wives and concubines could live in the western three pavilions. The prince wanting to arrange a pavilion for her there was him wanting to confer her status.

Chun Cao didn't understand Xiao Hua's thoughts, but Xiao Hua was clear about Chun Cao's thoughts.

In this enormous estate, being able to able to tumble from a low palace maid to his highness's concubine was to ascend to the skies. But Xiao Hua actually hated the life of struggling with others she experienced in the past. She was afraid, and rejected it from the depths of her heart.

Actually, what was there to be unhappy about? Her days would continue to pass the same way!

At least, at least with this, as long as she was cautious, her days wouldn't be too hard in the future. Even if she couldn't be released, such a large estate wouldn't be lacking in food and drink for her.

Thinking like this, Xiao Hua's heart was a lot more comfortable.

People have to be good at comforting themselves. How could one's life be unchanging and unhindered? When you couldn't refuse the trials ordained by fate, you could only face it calmly and try to find some happiness for yourself while you do so….

For some reason, Xiao Hua recalled these words spoken to her by that girl called Qing Wan.1

She also understood these concepts, and had always told herself the same thing. She was ultimately just stubborn….

After thinking things through, Xiao Hua started to eat with gusto.

The rice was fragrant, the dishes were delicious and Nana He's brewed soup was also tasty.

No starvations and no beatings, no need to worry about food or clothes, and no annoyances. What was there to be unhappy about? At least his highness had silently agreed to her remaining in the hall. This was a sort of implicit sheltering, right?

She felt even more comfortable after thinking this.

After eating, Chun Cao cleared the dishes and didn't let Xiao Hua help, allowing her to rest.

Xiao Hua's body was indeed still sore, especially that area, so she didn't insist and returned to her bed.

After a while, Chun Cao returned and gave Xiao Hua a bottle of medicine.

"This was given by Eunuch Fu. He said his highness bestowed it to treat your wounds."

Presumably thinking about where Xiao Hua would have been injured, Chun Cao's little face flushed red.

Xiao Hua's face also turned extremely red. While Chun Cao was out in the afternoon, she carefully applied the medicine on her body. It was a cool soothing sensation that seemed to be very helpful. She then carefully applied some to her lower half. As expected, she was no longer as sore afterwards.

After applying the medicine, Xiao Hua pulled up her blankets and prepared to sleep well.

She decided to rest up properly and put on her best appearance for work tomorrow, as though, as though nothing had ever happened.

Eunuch Fu tucked his neck in, and racked his brains all day trying to figure out the situation.

Theoretically speaking, his highness should be showing some signs of activity, but he hadn't said anything, as though nothing had happened the day before. If it wasn't for the medicinal ointment his highness had him send to Xiao Hua, he would really think nothing had happened.

Something was wrong no matter how he thought about it. Today the little An brat came early in the morning to tell him everything he overheard, saying his highness didn't do it just once, but also a second time in the bath.

For Eunuch Fu, this news was like nectar bestowed by the heavens. Of course it wasn't bestowed upon himself, it was just an analogy. He was very clear about his highness's indifferent attitude towards such matters. To have been able to keep going until late into the night was a rare display of incredible might. It was clear that Xiao Hua was quite liked by his highness, but why did his face look like nothing had happened?

If the Jing Prince knew what Eunuch Fu was thinking, he definitely would have spat a mouthful of blood onto his face.

What does this humble prince's intimate affairs have to do with this damn eunuch? Not only did he send someone to eavesdrop, he even asked for details. Was there a eunuch such as this?

Unfortunately the prince didn't know, and Eunuch Fu couldn't figure it out. He could only sneak glances at the apathetic looking man who was looking through various records.

The Jing Prince also gave Eunuch Fu a blank stare without saying anything.

He knew what this old thing was thinking about. He was probably thinking why he hadn't arranged a position for that low-ranked palace maid.

He, Jing Prince Luo Jing, wasn't someone who wouldn't take responsibility. It was just that Xiao Hua had actually refused to go to the rear court, and wanted to remain a low-ranked palace maid. What could he say about it? Regardless, it was up to her. If she was willing to be a low-ranked palace maid then let her. If she wanted to be conferred a status he wouldn't mind giving her one.

After all, he was quite satisfied last night….

Thinking of this, and remembering those sensations, the Jing Prince's pupils became several times deeper.

The two acting nonchalant, one sitting one standing, remained within the hall in silence.

That night while the Jing Prince ate his meal, Eunuch Fu found some time to go find Auntie Qi, and told her the situation.

Auntie Qi finished listening and spoke while laughing, "You really like to worry about unnecessary things. We servants don't need to overthink things. Wasn't his highness always so silent and stuffy?"

Eunuch Fu's expression was strange, feeling vexed and rebuking Auntie Qi: "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on."

"I'm calling you a worrywart and you're still not listening? Don't you think the situation is pretty good? Our highness was always such an apathetic character. Don't you think if he conferred her a status and stuffed her into the western three pavilions, he wouldn't have the time or will to go see her anymore? That's without even considering what the consort's reaction would be. Keeping the person by his side is pretty good. Much more convenient." Looks like Auntie Qi could see more of the game as a spectator.

This "much more convenient" made Eunuch Fu started giggling vulgarly, thinking that Auntie Qi made a lot of sense.

"Much more convenient, much more convenient." He stood up and headed out, "I'm still very busy, gotta go."

Auntie Qi only smiled a little, and didn't say anything more.

Xiao Hua started working again.

At first she was a little nervous, but seeing both the Jing Prince and Eunuch Fu act as though nothing happened, she gradually relaxed and focused on her work.

The Hall of Splendor was well regulated, and she didn't hear any rumors flying around. Everyone acted as they did in the past. Xiao Hua stuck her head in the sand and pretended nothing had happened.

However, seeing the Jing Prince's normal apathetic and silent manner, she inexplicably felt some coldness in her heart.

This person actually acted like nothing had happened. However, thinking of his status, she could understand everything.

That's right. As a prince, sleeping with a palace maid wasn't some rare occasion. Why would he treat it as a big deal?

This was also fine. She could pretend nothing had happened. Perhaps once she came of age, the estate would release her.

Another two days passed. The Jing Prince made an excursion to inspect his vassal state, and Xiao Hua felt even more at ease.

In the past, Xiao Hua used to take out the few pieces of silver she earned to admire, and dream a little about her life after leaving the estate. After the event, her heart had become disordered and she didn't take them out again.

Recently she recovered her old habit, and started digging them out during her free time again to count over and over.

Chun Cao watched Xiao Hua count her silver until she blanked out.

"Big sis Xiao Hua, was there something you wanted to buy?" Chun Cao thought Xiao Hua wanted to buy something, and continued speaking: "Although our estate forbids servants from casually going out, it's still quite convenient to buy things. There are those who are responsible for this, and as long as you give them the money you can tell them what it is you want to buy. However, it might take some time because they have to accumulate enough requests before buying everything in one go."

Xiao Hua snapped out of it and smiled: "There isn't anything I want to buy. The estate gives us everything, what need is there for us to buy things ourselves?"

"I see you always counting your silver so I thought you wanted to buy something." Chun Cao explained.

Xiao Hua's face was a little embarrassed. "No, not at all. I'm just thinking of how much I could save by collecting my salary until I get released. I don't have any relatives outside, so if I save enough I wouldn't be stuck without anywhere to go."

Chun Cao fell silent.

As an orphan, Chun Cao was also someone without any relatives outside, having been sold to the Jing Prince Estate from a young age.

Because she didn't know how to flatter mid-ranked palace maids, the chores she received were those extremely bad ones. She knew that being able to relocate to the Hall of Splendor this time around was all due to Xiao Hua. Life here was really good and no one bullied her. These were the best days she had ever spent as far as she could remember.

According to the estate's rules, palace maids would be released at twenty-five, but girls at that age had already passed the ideal age for marriage. At that time, whether they could find someone to marry was hard to say, and if they had no relatives outside it was even more tragic.

But how could servants raise any objections? Especially servants like them who were sold into the estate by traffickers. Although the age of release was a little old, they didn't have to buy themselves out, and the estate would even arrange housing and erase their registry record. For a servant, these were all huge blessings.

Things were rarely perfect. Having all this was already very good.

Within the estate, all those palace maids with lonely pasts would often be at a loss when thinking about their future. Chun Cao was the same way. It was just that she still had many years left before being released, and so didn't think that far ahead.

Chun Cao also knew about Xiao Hua's recent situation. She used her pure body to serve his highness, but he didn't express anything and didn't ask her to service him again.

Based on Chun Cao's understanding, big sis Xiao Hua hadn't gained his favor before losing his favor, and lost her innocence for nothing. She also didn't manage to ascend to the sky, and was still a low-ranked palace maid.

But as servants, what could they say? However, Chun Cao was endlessly sympathetic in her heart.

Seeing Xiao Hua plan her future life at this moment, she felt even more heartache.

"Big sis Xiao Hua, you've suffered." Saying thus, Chun Cao's eyes turned red.

Xiao Hua froze a little before figuring out why Chun Cao was acting this way. She was a little moved but also felt it a little amusing, "Silly lass, what suffering are you talking about. Isn't this expected for us servants? As long as we can live, not have to starve or get beaten, and our days are smooth, then everything is fine."

Xiao Hua half lowered her head and rubbed the silver in her hands.

"But, but how are you going to marry someone in the future?"

Mentioning this, Xiao Hua was also a little upset in her heart.

She could only smile and say: "You're being silly again. It's not that easy to find someone to marry at twenty-five. It would have been difficult regardless so it's no big deal. I'm not thinking about it now, just trying to do my job properly. I'll save up my silver so I'll have some means of living in the future."

Chun Cao thought about it and realized she was right, and forced a smile to interrupt her and say: "I've always spent as fast as I earned in the past. I need to learn from big sis Xiao Hua in the future and save some more of my silver. Then I wouldn't starve to death when I leave the estate in the future."

Xiao Hua was also aware of Chun Cao's personal situation, and knew that she had no relatives outside. Thinking that this little lass was pretty good, she listed out her future plans in details, such as her plan for a small pavilion, pretending to be a widow and start a business, or buy some land to collect rent.

Although the laws of the Grand Xi Dynasty were strict, they were extremely lenient towards widows and encouraged them to remarry. Besides, when widows went out they wouldn't attract attention.

Xiao Hua had considered too many things, even preparing an identity for herself. Hearing this, Chun Cao thought her plans were really well thought out. Perhaps she herself could do the same.

Therefore, the two of them sat and discussed in detail. As they spoke, their futures seemed to have become bright.

After a while, both of their moods had improved significantly.

That's right, servants should be able to comfort each other. Otherwise, going about things by themselves day after day, there wouldn't be much point in living.

Author's notes:

This is in line with the Jing Prince's personality. If he was suddenly warm and affectionate, then things would collapse. However, this author will let them become affectionate, you guys understand, hehe.

1-the cameo character on the carriage.

44

While the Jing Prince was gone these few days, Xiao Hua often went to the small kitchen to chat with Nana He and pass the time while also helping out with some chores.

Xiao Hua thought that Nana He didn't know about what happened to her, but she actually knew early on.

Eunuch Fu that old thing didn't refrain from strutting around in front of her, but since his highness didn't show any signs after that time, Nana He felt endless pity for Xiao Hua.

This old Nana was only able to follow the prince to the Jing Province to work due to sympathy. The so called "work" was actually retirement, and as a servant herself, there wasn't much she could do to help Xiao Hua.

She could only give her rich soups to drink daily, hoping to raise the lass to become a little more spirited. Perhaps that way she would obtain his highness's favor and get conferred a status.

Every time Xiao Hua came to the small kitchen, Nana He would bring her all sorts of things to drink. Xiao Hua was reluctant about it, feeling like she was inconveniencing her too much. Nana He said she was too skinny and wanted to fill her up a bit.

But Xiao Hua really didn't feel that she was still skinny. Having been filled up this entire time, she was even bigger than she was as a concubine in the past. Although it wasn't really clear in other places, her chest had gotten a lot fuller. But Xiao Hua didn't think too much about it, assuming it was due to the food from the estate.

Of course, Nana He's kindness was noticed by her and taken deeply to heart.

As a matter of fact, once she got better at needlework she made Nana He a pair of socks as a gift.

Her skills had improved to the point where she could make such small objects, though she wasn't able to make anything else.

"You lass, you're busy working every day and still made something for Nana."

Although the finished product couldn't be said to be excellent, Nana He seemed to really like it.

"Nana has treated me so well all this time, of course I have to express my gratitude. It's just my skills aren't that good, I hope Nana doesn't mind."

Mentioning her poor skills, Xiao Hua was a little embarrassed again since the socks truly weren't anything special, but at least it expressed her intentions.

"Who said your skills weren't good. They seem pretty good to me. You're just starting out, being able to make this is already quite impressive. Nana has to thank Xiao Hua." Nana He spoke while patting Xiao Hua's head. She suddenly remembered something, and brought out a bowl of medicinal soup for her.

Xiao Hua looked at the murky soup filled with medicinal aroma, "Nana, is this also nourishing soup? Why does it look like medicine?"

"Didn't you say your stomach would hurt during that time of the month? After drinking this a few times, it should be a lot better."

When her time of the month was mentioned, Xiao Hua's face darkened.

Her periods had never been smooth. It was this way in her past life, and in this life as well. After coming to the Hall of Splendor, it had come again several times. Each time it hurt so much she wasn't able to work. Unexpectedly, Nana He had remembered.

"Thank you Nana. You treat Xiao Hua so well."

"Drink quickly while it's warm."

Although Nana He acted nonchalant about it, Xiao Hua's eyes still turned wet. However, the steam rising from the medicinal soup covered it from view.

Two days later, Xiao Hua's always irregular period came.

In her past life her period had never come at a fixed interval. Sometimes it would be once a month, other times it could be once every few months. When it was serious, she'd be in too much pain to get off the bed. When it was less serious, it would still hurt enough to make her ghostly pale.

Therefore she had prepared herself to be paralyzed in bed for several days. Unexpectedly, though it still hurt, it was not as extreme.

Looks like Nana He's medicine was quite useful?

During this time, Nana He had again given her several medicinal soups. Xiao Hua didn't refuse, knowing these were good for her and drank it one after the other.

Xiao Hua's period this time was exceptionally smooth. Apart from some pain the first day, it was pretty relaxing the rest of the time. She was overjoyed at this unexpected turn of events, and thanked Nana He over and over. She didn't have much other thoughts. As long as she didn't have to suffer, she would feel it was something to celebrate.

Xiao Hua didn't know that normally in rich households, those of no status like her who were taken by the master had to drink pregnancy prevention medicine.

In her past life at the Jinyang Marquis Estate, the estate madam had seen that the 4th young master and Qiao-Shi weren't amicable and knew it would be hard to have an heir. Therefore she didn't forbid the others in the young master's room from having children. Unfortunately by the time Xiao Hua died, Ruan Siyi still had no son or daughter, so Xiao Hua didn't know about "pregnancy prevention medicine".

In this life, Eunuch Fu also knew about this concept, but he was already burning incense daily for the prince to have offspring so naturally pretended to be deaf and mute to this. The Jing Prince had never concerned himself with such things, and so didn't order this to be carried out.

Nana He planned on using Xiao Hua's period as an excuse to adjust her body and optimize her conditions. Although she herself had never raised children, she had served many masters in the palace and naturally understood that since Xiao Hua was still young and her periods were not regular, it wouldn't be easy for her to get pregnant.

Although she knew this, when she heard Xiao Hua had gotten her period a few days later, Nana He was still a little sad.

But she soon put it in the back of her mind, focusing on helping Xiao Hua adjust her body. Even if not for the sake of pregnancy, she still liked the lass and if she could help her become healthier she would happily do so.

Of course, these were all unspoken things that Xiao Hua didn't know about.

The Jing Province certainly lived up to its name as a bitterly cold place. As September approached, the days started to get colder.

Xiao Hua felt that winter had arrived before she could even enjoy the summer. These days everyone changed to their fall outfits, but in the blink of an eye it seemed that these fall outfits wasn't enough anymore.

However, the estate was quite kind to the servants and started handing out the winter outfits one by one.

Chun Cao already received her winter outfit but Xiao Hua's was nowhere to be seen.

Only after another day passed did Eunuch Chang have Xiao Xia Zi deliver her several winter outfits. Without mentioning the quality of the material, just looking at the colors one could tell they were custom made. It wasn't known who had given the orders to do so.

However Xiao Hua didn't argue. Since they provided it she would wear it. If she wanted to make things difficult, it was her that would end up freezing in the cold. After all, she didn't have any other winter clothing.

A few more days passed peacefully. The Jing Prince finally finished his inspection of the vassal state and returned to the estate.

The Jing Prince returned at night, right as the sky turned dark. Someone came and announced his return in advance.

Having not had to work these days, freeloading and playing around, Xiao Hua was still quite self-aware. Seeing everyone busily preparing, she knew that she couldn't remain uninvolved and ended up helping some of the low-ranked eunuchs within the hall. Unfortunately they didn't let her lend a hand, so she could only stand there as a pillar.

Moments later, the Jing Prince returned to the Hall of Splendor.

The Jing Prince wore his matte black robes embroidered with golden lines, and was wrapped in a cloak of the same color. He looked travel worn but his face still had the same apathetic expression. Seeing the Jing Prince's appearance, Xiao Hua who was standing in the corner suddenly felt a little absent-minded, and hurriedly lowered her head.

The Jing Prince entered the hall and went first to the inner hall to bath. He came out after changing to his leisure outfit, and at the same time dinner was delivered from the small kitchen. Some low-ranked eunuchs helped set the table, and Xiao Hua also stepped forward to help.

The Jing Prince first sat in the hall for a while drinking his tea before sitting upright in front of the table.

The situation before her eyes was both familiar yet foreign, but Xiao Hua did not forget her own responsibilities. She lowered her head and started serving the meal.

The Jing Prince's meal was still as simple: five dishes and a soup.

Only after getting familiar with Nana He did Xiao Hua realize that these dishes were mostly made by her. Nana He's cooking skills have been personally experienced by Xiao Hua. Even simple dishes could be extremely flavorful.

After the meal, the prince sat quietly for a while before going to the rear hall. Xiao Hua thought she was done and prepared to leave, but was stopped by Eunuch Fu.

First she was led by An Chen to a place to bath and change clothes before being led to the rear hall. She entered the familiar purple curtains.

During this time Xiao Hua was like a wooden puppet, allowing them to do whatever they wanted. Her heart was very nervous. At this point in time, this location and this situation, if she still didn't know what was about to happen then she would have lived her two lives in vain.

When Xiao Hua entered, the Jing Prince didn't say anything so she stood there at a loss.

Xiao Hua wore a soft green muslin robe with pale bluish white undergarments on the inside. The soft green of the robes stood out against her fair and tender shoulders, her youth containing a hint of alluring freshness.

These clothes were brought over by a low-ranked eunuch. Xiao Hua had received it at the time and put them on without saying anything. Now she stood with her head lowered, both nervous and at a loss due to embarrassment.

"Come."

Hearing this voice, Xiao Hua was frantic in her heart for a second.

Wasn't it not a big deal? Why was she now acting this way?

But since the master had given his orders, what could the servant say about it. Xiao Hua could only take a few steps towards the person leaning against the bed.

Before she could stand steady, he grabbed her wrist and she fell into his embrace.

Xiao Hua was a little dazed and bewildered during what happened next, but the only thing that didn't change was the initial pain.

Xiao Hua was no stranger to what happens in bed. In her last life she was someone who intimately served her master, how could she not know these kinds of things. It was just that things happened too fast and she didn't have a chance to mentally prepare herself. Even her body hadn't been ready and she could only move up and down accordingly.

Overall speaking, it didn't feel very good.

During her first time, the Jing Prince had clearly only focused on himself, so how good could that possibly feel for her? But even if it was uncomfortable she could only suffer through it. Xiao Hua tried to relax her body as best she could to make things a little more bearable for herself.

The Jing Prince was indeed a master who minded his own business. It was to the extent that his movements were a little rough and a little clumsy, but nothing could withstand the length of time.

At first Xiao Hua still felt a little uncomfortable, but she slowly also felt a few hints of the accompanying sensations. In her muddle-headedness, she circled her slender arms around the other person's shoulders.

Xiao Hua bit down on her lower lips and didn't dare to carelessly make any sounds. She also didn't dare look at the expression of the person above her. She suddenly noticed her hand positioning and had just intended to withdraw them when another movement suddenly caused her to become muddled again.

She wasn't sure how long this session lasted. All she knew was by the end she had once again lost face by crying and begging, and then passed out.

When she awoke, Xiao Hua realized she was in her own bed. Her body had been washed clean and her clothes changed. Chun Cao kept watch over her.

Seeing Xiao Hua wake up, Chun Cao didn't say anything and went to fetch her some food.

Xiao Hua had yet to eat dinner at this time and had also been heavily worked out. Receiving the food Chun Cao brought over, she didn't say anything before starting to eat. Actually she was a little embarrassed. Not only did she do it until she passed out, she didn't even know how she made it back. Chun Cao's considerate actions especially gave her the shameful thought that "Chun Cao definitely thinks I'm really hungry after all that physical activity".

After Xiao Hua finished eating and Chun Cao cleared the dishes, she again asked if Xiao Hua needed any water. Only after making sure that there wasn't anything else needed did she blow out the lights and return to her bed to sleep.

Xiao Hua was burying her head in the said a little, and also was embarrassed to ask Chun Cao how she got back. She was sure Chun Cao knew, but since Chun Cao also didn't ask anything, Xiao Hua acted as if she didn't know.

While Xiao Hua's thoughts were all tangled together, Eunuch Fu was joyous with all sorts of cheers in his heart.

Seeing his highness not have any reactions after that night, he had been a little discouraged. Who knew that after getting back this time, his highness actually took the initiative to ask for Xiao Hua that low-ranked palace maid to serve him.

Although his highness had put it very ambiguously, it couldn't prevent Eunuch Fu from filling in the gaps with his own brain cells. The situation turned out to be exactly as he thought, hehe, exactly as he thought.

This time Eunuch Fu didn't order anyone to eavesdrop, and instead did it himself the entire time. He wasn't eavesdropping, Eunuch Fu could never do something like that. He was openly listening in a "fair and aboveboard" manner.

He was very satisfied with the results, and couldn't help but think that this Xiao Hua actually had some potential. In the future he would make sure to develop her potential even more. Best would be if she could bring about a royal grandson. That would be best.

Author's notes:

Speaking on the topic of the Jing Prince's bitterly forceful nature, he's currently unable to understand the point. Honestly speaking, he's just a clumsy and awkward man, and there's a lot he doesn't understand (especially the relationship between man and woman). Because he was mute in his past life, his relationships with his wives and concubines weren't good, and there weren't many interactions between man and woman. Having learned a harsh lesson in his past life, he had stopped interacting with women all together, including his consort. That's why Xiao Hua needs to take it slow, and that's why the way he expresses things is different from other people. However, he's going to slowly learn it all, mwahahaha…..

45

The next day, Xiao Hua hesitated a long time but still toughened up her skin and went to work.

Based on recent events, she didn't know what the best thing to do was. Although she wanted to remain as a low-ranked palace maid, she had already done things beyond the scope of her job. Furthermore, by this point it wasn't a question of whether she was willing or not, but rather that she had no way to resist.

After thinking about it for so long, she might as well just forget it and not think about it at all. After all, she never had hopes to become favored, so there was no need to consider losing favor. The worst case scenario would be a lifetime of loneliness, but since she had already made preparations to be a "widow" when she gets released, what was there to be afraid of?

Was this what was meant by fearlessness?

Actually since things had developed to this extent, Xiao Hua had also thought things through a little. She couldn't figure out why the Jing Prince had called for her once again. The first time could attributed to the alcohol. The second time could only be attributed to the novelty.

Fine, a newly dug latrine would still smell good for the first three days1. She could only self-mockingly think like this.

The Jing Prince's face still remained the same as before, not even looking directly at her. Every time she saw the prince's unperturbed expression Xiao Hua would feel distress bottled up in her heart.

Eunuch Fu on the other hand piled up smiles on his face as he saw her. Although he would restrain his smiles when in front of the prince, Xiao Hua could clearly tell his face was silently radiating happiness.

Xiao Hua definitely couldn't give Eunuch Fu any attitude, even though she knew that a large part of her current awkward situation was due to this bastard fanning the flames.

But she remembered that this old bastard wasn't just any simple bastard. Not only was he the estate's general manager, he was also an old man from the palace who had watched the Jing Prince grow up.

Although his face smiled and his mouth was sweet, he was never lenient when needing to teach his subordinates a lesson.

Just based on this, Xiao Hua didn't dare offend him in the slightest.

How could Eunuch Fu not realize that under Xiao Hua's calm expression, she was actually angry? But he was a little perplexed. Normally if a low-ranked palace maid could climb into his highness's bed they would be extremely ecstatic and praise their ancestors for their blessings. What was this low-ranked palace maid called Xiao Hua angry about?

He wasn't in the mood to analyze a low-ranked palace maid's attitude, and wasn't willing to spare any thought for it. Because to him, those were all beside the point. The point was his highness's intimate affairs. As for this palace maid, she couldn't possibly be unwilling, or rather, her willingness wasn't important to Eunuch Fu.

Furthermore, based on Eunuch Fu's observations, although this Xiao Hua's reaction was different from normal people, she was overall still a very steady and practical person.

She was a little too practical!

If anyone else received this favor, they would all without fail be eager for more, using all sorts of means to invite further pampering. There would also be no lack of bragging in front of the other servants to make themselves seem different. Only Xiao Hua acted as if nothing happened, and didn't reveal anything.

Eunuch Fu glanced at Xiao Hua who stood there as a well behaved pillar, and then glanced at the Jing Prince behind the desk whose face was calm and unperturbed. His heart was filled with roaring waves.

Perhaps…..this was his highness's type?

Eunuch Fu didn't dare to make assumptions on things he didn't have a grasp on. He could only wait and see how things developed without doing anything else.

….

Thus, Xiao Hua stayed by the prince's side under such strange circumstances.

She could be called a servant, who stood stiffly on a daily basis, steeped tea, served meals and didn't have anything else to do. She could also be called not just a servant, since the weird Jing Prince would call her over for "special service" once in a while.

It wasn't that frequent, a total of three times in over a month.

Even with a mere three times, Eunuch Fu's old face almost bloomed from smiling. When his back was to the prince, his eyes would always be roaming around Xiao Hua's belly, eager for a little royal grandson to burst forth.

His gaze made Xiao Hua's hairs stand on end, but she didn't get angry or say anything about it.

She had always been an adaptable person. She wouldn't try to resist things that couldn't be resisted. Since she couldn't do anything about Eunuch Fu's behavior, she decided to ignore it and pretend he didn't exist.

As for the weird Jing Prince, Xiao Hua hadn't been able to see through him.

He spoke very little and his thoughts were always a mystery. After "serving" him these few times, he still barely spoke with her. However, Xiao Hua could tell that the Jing Prince in bed was a little different from before. Although his face was still expressionless, she could feel that during this time he would reveal hints of passion.

Sometimes Xiao Hua would also feel dejected, feeling like she was just a tool for him to vent his desires. But she would soon stop thinking about it. Why think about it if it only makes her heart feel uncomfortable?

During this time, Doctor Hu had suddenly stopped by to take Xiao Hua's pulse.

He said it was to check on the recovery progress of last time's poisoning. At that time, both the Jing Prince and Eunuch Fu were absent, and it was Xiao Xia Zi who brought him in.

Seeing this, Xiao Hua naturally wouldn't refuse.

After Doctor Hu took her pulse, he said everything was fine and left.

Xiao Hua assumed this was the norm for a health checkup, and didn't take it to heart.

It grew colder day by day. Snow had started to fall the day before, and lasted for several days without stopping. The weather was extremely cold, but the Hall of Splendor had heated vents 2 so it didn't feel too frigid.

The sky had already turned dark. The Jing Prince finished his dinner and went to read in the study. He held a book in his hand to read behind the desk while Eunuch Fu stood beside him and Xiao Hua stood in the corner with her head half lowered.

With the faint sound of pages turning, the book was gradually nearing its end. Eunuch Fu had extremely sharp insight, and right before the prince finished the book he had grabbed a new volume from the shelf and placed it on the desk.

The Jing Prince didn't think too much about it. He was just leisure reading tonight, and was ok with reading anything. Normally Eunuch Fu would randomly pick and he would randomly read.

After Eunuch Fu placed the book down he returned to his original spot. Although he was standing, his pair of old eyes were fixed on the book he had picked out. He kept looking until the Jing Prince placed the finished book down and picked the new book up.

After opening it and casually flipping through a couple pages, he noticed there were actually no words and only pictures. He flipped through a few more pages and suddenly put the book down. He raised his eyes filled with deep meaning and happened to meet Eunuch Fu's own sparkling pair of eyes.

"Does your highness want some tea?" Eunuch Fu forced a smile and asked.

Hearing this, Xiao Hua hurried off to the tea room.

The Jing Prince's gaze made it a little hard for Eunuch Fu to remain standing there, but his skin had always been thick so he hardened his scalp and stood there for a while. He awkwardly opened his mouth and said: "Xiao Hua that lass is a little too slow. This old servant will go hurry her up a little." Thus he fled.

Xiao Hua returned right after Eunuch Fu left. She didn't think too much about Eunuch Fu's absence, and carefully placed the teacup down below the table's upper right corner. It was placed in a spot convenient for the prince to grab, but not where it would easily be knocked over.

Her gaze casually swept over the book on the table and she froze. She looked once again and her face instantly flushed red.

"Ah?" Only after her surprised exclamation did she snap out of it and hurriedly lower her eyes. Right as she was about to step back, an additional hand appeared on her slender waist.

"Your highness?"

The current Xiao Hua's delicate little face was flushed, and she didn't know where to look. She didn't dare look at the prince, and also didn't dare look at the desk, her gaze flickering wildly.

Her heart was beating hard. She wasn't unfamiliar with that sort of book.

In her past life the 4th young master had become frivolous in nature and like those useless young masters, he would collect several volumes of flame-warding paintings3, and claimed they were valuable collector's items within the scholar circles.

Who would have thought despite the prince's upright appearance, he would also look at this stuff!

She didn't have time to think further before she was pulled into his embrace. A large hand slipped into her blouse and the underwear under her skirt was also clumsily removed.

Heavens!

Xiao Hua was completely stunned, and she looked upwards. Her eyes met the Jing Prince's calm and unperturbed expression, as well as his apathetic look.

How could he do this!?

By the time she reacted, she was already pulled onto his lap.

"Your highness, we can't do it here, ah…."

Before she could finish her words they were jolted back inside.

The Jing Prince was actually not that easily aroused. When he saw the book, he had thought Eunuch Fu that old thing really had nothing better to do. But the bashful appearance of the low-ranked palace maid when she had accidentally caught a glimpse made him unwittingly think of the taste from a few days ago. Recalling that the painting was of scenes that took place inside a study, he couldn't help but become agitated and wanted to try it out.

Who knew that after trying it he would get addicted?

He looked at the tender and alluring low-ranked palace maid on top of him, those eyes that he loved were glistening as though drops of water would spill out.

In his two lifetimes he had always been very indifferent towards such things. Especially in his later years where he converted to Buddhism and became even more apathetic.

It wasn't that he didn't think about it, but he always felt it wasn't convenient at the time. Making his way over to the rear court was too much hassle, and along with the rejection in his heart towards the place, he had put these thoughts to rest.

The situation with this low-ranked palace maid was a complete coincidence. That day he had been drunk and his thoughts had been stirred by her massage. He only wanted her because he didn't want to endure any longer. The few times after that was because she had been close by when he had the inkling. Since he wanted it, the prince didn't plan on restricting himself.

The Jing Prince felt he restricted himself quite well, but still always ended up unleashing himself upon her. Especially at this moment, having seen the painting and having never done it in this location before, he was unusually aroused.

It wasn't clear if the Jing Prince had done it on purpose, but Xiao Hua's position was switched so that that open book was right in front of her eyes. Looking at the paintings in the book, thinking of her own position and feeling the movements from behind, Xiao Hua's mind directly blanked out.

…

In the end, Xiao Hua wasn't sure how she left the study. She only knew that she gathered her clothes, pushed him away and ran off.

She completely didn't stop to think who it was that she dared to push. The Jing Prince seeing her run off didn't say anything, and just silently tidied up his clothing.

After Xiao Hua left, Eunuch Fu appeared after a while from who knows where.

"Xiao Hua that lass must have ran off somewhere. This old servant looked all over but didn't see her, how undisciplined….." Eunuch Fu had his head lowered and muttered with his mouth.

He didn't feel his explanation was laughable in the slightest. Disappearing for over half an hour to find a palace maid, who are you trying to fool?

The Jing Prince gave him a glance, his jade white face still containing a hint of pleasant flush, though it was expressionless as always. "Stop pretending."

Eunuch Fu laughed foolishly, blinking innocently, muttering about the pleasant weather a couple times, and idly mentioned how bright the moon was outside. He spoke a bunch of nonsense before getting to the main topic.

He coughed a couple times and cleared his throat, "This old servant feels that palace maid Xiao Hua is pretty good and also dutiful. Since your highness isn't planning on putting her in the rear court, how about arranging a room for her inside our hall? Ai, the weather is getting colder and colder outside. There isn't a heated vent in the palace maids' room. Let's not freeze this low-ranked palace maid. It's fine if she doesn't get conferred a status, but if we let her remain in the crude and simple palace maids' room others would say our Jing Prince wasn't taking responsibility…."

The Jing Prince didn't listen any further, giving Eunuch Fu a rarely seen glare. He directly stood up and walked out.

After a while, a voice came from afar.

"Up to you."

Eunuch Fu who was left behind let out an evil laugh.

The rest was indeed left up to Eunuch Fu. He arranged Xiao Hua's room to be a small one within the hall close by to the inner hall where the prince slept. It was practically adjacent, in fact just around the corner.

The room wasn't large, but was exquisitely decorated. Everything was laid out extremely ornately.

When she heard Eunuch Fu had arranged a room for her inside the hall, Xiao Hua was still a little at a loss. At first she wanted to refuse, but who knew Eunuch Fu would give her a look with his old face and ignore her after telling her about his arrangements.

Xiao Hua could only gather up her things and move in.

After Xiao Hua moved out, only Chun Cao was left in their room.

Unexpectedly, Chun Cao had an extremely overjoyed appearance. She didn't say anything, but her eyes were filled with encouragement. All that was missing was for her to directly tell Xiao Hua "big sis Xiao Hua, do your best. I believe in you".

Xiao Hua thus moved into the Hall of Splendor. At first she wasn't quite used to it, but after realizing that apart from relocating nothing else had changed, she gradually got accustomed.

During the day she worked when she was supposed to work, and left when she was supposed to leave. All that changed was her sleeping spot.

But there were still a few differences. Because sometimes at night as she prepared for bed, there would suddenly be an extra person in the room. That person never seemed to feel like this was her room, and would casually enter. Of course it wasn't every day, perhaps once every seven or eight days. Whenever he showed up, he would spend the night there and wouldn't leave.

Sometimes Xiao Hua couldn't help but wonder what she currently counted as. She felt there was only one way to put it: chambermaid.

Unexpectedly having been a chambermaid in her past life, after muddling about here and there, she became one in this life as well. The only thing better by a bit was that the Hall of Splendor was very quiet. There were no struggles, and no people to struggle against her.

1-New things could remain interesting for a little while.

2-Earth dragon in Chinese, something like this.

3-Apparently the fire goddess is a maiden who would cause fires when angered. The tradition was to put racy pictures within their book collections so she would avoid getting close due to shyness, and thus help prevent the books from catching fire. Examples (slightly NSFW)

46

Xi'er had watched with her own eyes as Xiu Yun was beaten to death. She had never thought the smiling Eunuch Fu would be so ruthless.

Furthermore, it was carried out in front of all the uniformed palace maids and eunuchs in the Hall of Splendor. There had been another palace maid who was beaten alongside Xiu Yun who Xi'er didn't recognize.

It was only due to this that she realized both times Xiao Hua had gotten sick was due to Xiu Yun poisoning her.

Xi'er had been scared to tears on the spot. She had never known someone could die so tragically. Directly getting beaten to death by the plank, bleeding from all seven orifices1 and the body clearly beaten to a pulp.

They were dragged out after they died. Xi'er and the rest of the low-ranked palace maids cleaned the courtyard bit by bit with water.

No one dared to cry at the time, and merely cleaned with trembling hands and dulled eyes….Xi'er would never forget what she had seen for her entire life. That kind of thudding sound, Xiu Yun and that unfamiliar palace maid's gagged mouths and fierce faces, and the acrid smell of blood….

After they were taken out of the Hall of Splendor and into other areas to work, Xi'er had nightmares multiple nights in a row for over half a month before slowly recovering.

Xi'er was assigned to the estate's needlework area after leaving the Hall of Splendor, and was responsible for the estate's handicraft.

Although it couldn't compare to what she initially did in the Hall of Splendor, it was better than the sweeper area by far.

The current Xi'er seemed to be a completely different person if one didn't look at her face. She became taciturn and didn't like interacting with others.

She never revealed to anyone the fact that she had served in the Hall of Splendor before. Before she left, one of Eunuch Fu's subordinates had warned them not to reveal anything regarding the hall.

Thinking of Xiu Yun being beaten to death, Xi'er kept this warning solidly in her mind.

When she woke up in the middle of the night, she would also think of Xiao Hua.

Out of the six of them, only Xiao Hua was not expelled, and she wondered how she was doing.

But she merely thought about it a little, since the happenings at the Hall of Splendor had very little to do with her anymore.

Only now did Xi'er realize the good fortune she had stumbled into previously, to actually be able to serve in the Hall of Splendor. Unfortunately she did not seize the opportunity properly and now, she wasn't even able to touch its doors.

Her previously noisy self had matured quite a bit after this experience. Only now did she realize this grand, imposing, majestic estate also had a different face.

Just as the elderly palace maids she interacted with said, only with suffering comes growth, and only those who have been beaten know the meaning of pain. Before she hadn't taken their words to heart, and only now did she truly experience what they meant.

…..

"Xi'er, you've been working for so long. Rest your eyes. It's lunch time, let's go eat." A fourteen or fifteen year old low-ranked palace maid ran up to Xi'er and said with a smile.

Xi'er lightly smiled in response and put down the needle in her hand.

This low-ranked palace maid was called Cheng'er, and was also a low-ranked palace maid in the needlework area. She was around Xi'er's age and was very cute and lively.

Every time she saw Cheng'er smiling, Xi'er would be reminded of her past self. Although only a few months had passed, she felt like she aged quite a lot, and was unable to smile as freely as she did in the past.

Because of this, after coming to the needlework area Cheng'er was the only one who could be counted as her friend. Their relationship was very good, and they were also assigned to the same room. They did everything together so they naturally grew closer.

….

Xi'er thought that perhaps after a period of recovery, she could smile unhindered like Cheng'er once again….

Because the Jing Prince Estate was the vassal state's governing residence, the rules were very complicated. The estate was divided into different parts for internal affairs and external affairs.

For example, things that had to do with official business were external affairs, and were taken care of by the tribute center's management eunuchs and the adjutant's office. Internal affairs were managed by the same eunuchs and Auntie Qi.

As the Jing Consort, Xiao-Shi didn't actually have to manage anything within the estate.

However, although she wasn't able to interfere in external affairs or the Hall of Splendor, as the consort she had a grasp over the other areas.

The moment the low-ranked palace maids arranged by Eunuch Fu were expelled, Xiao-Shi had her eyes on them.

At first she was just casually gathering information, and it wasn't as though she hadn't encountered the palace maids who were expelled in the previous batches before. However, this time seemed to be out of the ordinary.

These few low palace maids all had very tight lips. All attempts by her underlings to worm information out of them ended in failure. Only Chun Xiang who had bribed a low-ranked palace maid quite close with one of them had gotten a trickle of information.

They only found out that the Hall of Splendor had beaten two palace maids to death. They couldn't get anything else out of that low-ranked palace maid.

This abnormality naturally made its way to Xiao-Shi's ears, making her extremely curious.

Because Auntie Qi had always been strict with the rules, those trying to dig up information didn't dare act too overtly. Seeing the lack of results, Xiao-Shi became a little desperate and her methods became rougher.

That day, Xi'er was taken to the Changchun Pavilion. She was the low-ranked palace maid who had leaked a little information.

Although she was quick witted and had some insight, it was hard for her to fully change her nature. Her big mouth had gotten her into trouble.

Xi'er knelt below. Rumor has it this was where the consort lived, and she was the one who wanted to see her, making her thoroughly frightened. She couldn't help but wonder how they found out about her time at the Hall of Splendor, and she thought of Cheng'er as her thoughts grew disordered…..

A few words from Nana Li and Chun Xiang on the side and Xi'er spilled everything.

Including why people were beaten to death and also including the fact that Xiao Hua still remained in the hall.

Xi'er couldn't figure out the reasoning behind the consort's questions, but she instinctively recalled the madam of the previous estate she worked at asking similar questions and thus pushed everything onto Xiao Hua.

She exaggerated the story, saying how his highness had especially been captivated by that low-ranked palace maid called Xiao Hua, how even Eunuch Fu treated her differently, and how Xiu Yun had poisoned Xiao Hua out of jealousy.

Actually Xi'er wasn't sure what the current situation was at the Hall of Splendor. She just combined her imagination with a few of the things she had witnessed and spun some conjectures. Although she hadn't made up any details and merely spoke based on her opinions, it would still cause others to start speculating. Xiao-Shi's face grew more and more heavy.

Seeing Xiao-Shi about to start raging, Nana Li hurriedly waved her hand for someone to see Xi'er out.

"Consort, I think this low-ranked palace maid called Xi'er isn't being entirely honest." Chun Xiang spoke from the side.

Naturally as Xiao-Shi's trusted aide, she wasn't simple. Her judge of character alone was formidable. Low-ranked palace maids like Xi'er weren't even worthy of carrying Chun Xiang's shoes, and her little tricks could not fool anyone.

Xiao-Shi furrowed her brows and waved her hands in a jittery manner, "Even if there was some dishonesty, parts of it were definitely based on fact. Just based on the situation with the poisoning and the beatings we can infer many things."

The surroundings suddenly became very quiet. Everyone was aware in their hearts the implications of this.

"Eunuch Fu that old thing! And the bitch surnamed Qi, they are all cheap hypocrites!"

Xiao-Shi waved her hand and smashed the teacup by her side2, her face red from anger.

"Stuffing women under his highness's mouth, I have no idea how they managed to come up with this! Are all the women in his harem dead? Why do they need to send those cheap hypocrites over?"

Nana Li, Chun Xiang and the rest didn't dare say a word.

Basically, Xiao-Shi was currently trapped in an impossible situation.

Having ruined the relationship when she first married in, the Jing Prince never spends the night at the Chang Chun Pavilion. Luckily he rarely spent it anywhere else either, making jealousy, resentment and struggling for favor unnecessary.

The saying "not being afraid of scarcity but being afraid of unequal distribution" could be applied here. It was fine if no one was favored. If someone suddenly appeared, it was no surprise Xiao-Shi would be enraged.

"Nana, what should we do? If a royal grandson is really born, then there would be no place for me in this estate!"

"That won't happen, that won't happen. This is merely our own conjectures. After all, we aren't sure what the situation really is like in the hall. No one is sure. It's not like you aren't aware of his highness's apathetic character. If he would really put his hands on palace maids, then Eunuch Fu's several attempts wouldn't have ended in them all getting expelled."

"But this one is different. In the past everyone had been expelled within half a month. This batch has also all been expelled save for one, there has to be a reason for that."

Nana Li also understood what she meant, but still comforted with her mouth: "Consort, don't overthink things. Let's continue investigating."

"How do we investigate? The Hall of Splendor is impregnable."

That's right, if it was possible to get in, she wouldn't have been stuck like this over the years.

Even the estate had been made watertight by his highness's subordinates. While the one responsible for the rear court, Auntie Qi, was always respectful and deferential to the consort, since the consort wasn't responsible for anything in the estate her power was actually less than that of Auntie Qi.

Normally she didn't think that was a big deal, but when she needed to investigate or do something, everything became restrictive.

Dong Xiang hesitantly spoke on the side: "How about we let that Xi'er give it a try? Wasn't she always together with that Xiao Hua since they entered the estate? According to her their relationship seems to be pretty good."

Xi'er could be said to have dug herself into a pit this time. Because she wanted to push everything onto Xiao Hua and to make her case more convincing, she had especially emphasized how good their relationship was as the reason she knew so many secret details.

Everyone's eyes lit up at Dong Xiang's words.

Who cares if it worked or not, at least it was worth a try?

Xi'er slowly walked back to the needlework area. Although she felt her legs were weak, she still made it back.

Entering her room, she saw Cheng'er who smiled sweetly at her.

"You, how could you tell others about it? Didn't I tell you not to say anything?" Xi'er finally let out her tears of terror and her hands trembled violently.

Although she had been able to handle herself quite well in front of the consort, she was still scared.

She was scared of death!

The scene of Xiu Yun being beaten to death appeared before her eyes again….

Cheng'er's smile didn't even waver. She pulled Xi'er to the bed to sit and said nonchalantly: "It wasn't just telling someone random, it was the consort."

"But Eunuch Fu had ordered before not to reveal anything about the Hall of Splendor. People could end up dead you know!" Xi'er was a little hysterical and her hands continued to tremble.

Cheng'er waved the matter away, and continued to placate Xi'er in a low voice: "You're overthinking things. Is Eunuch Fu higher up or is the consort? The consort's status is only second to his highness within this estate. Working for her, would Eunuch Fu dare do anything to us?!"

"But, but….."

"It's fine Xi'er, you should stop thinking about it. The consort merely asked a few questions about the situation. You said you used to work for some rich household as a maid before. Wasn't everything in the pavilion the madam's responsibility? Eunuch Fu's status is without a doubt significant, but the consort is still higher ranked."

Xi'er's heart slightly calmed down. Perhaps Cheng'er was right?!

That's right, that's right. The consort was only second to the prince.3 She shouldn't continue thinking too much.

But looking at Cheng'er's smiling face, her heart still felt extremely complicated.

1-All seven on the face. Just to clarify.

2-Many teacups were harmed in the making of this story….

3-Yeah but who's the prince more likely to listen to….

47

.

Because the Jing Prince had spent the night twice in Xiao Hua's room, the layout had been rearranged a couple of times.

Initially it was decorated according to standards one level lower than a concubine. Unexpectedly the Jing Prince had spent two nights there. The first time might have been because he was too tired and didn't want to move, but once he stayed a second night the situation didn't seem quite as ordinary anymore.

Eunuch Fu had always been meticulous, so he rearranged Xiao Hua's room after the fact. Not only were the things on the bed upgraded to something more ornate and exquisite, the decorations in the room had also been switched. Originally her bed was already a palanquin bed1, but perhaps Eunuch Fu had thought it too small and switched it for a wider, more magnificent and sturdier palanquin bed.

The room was divided by a patterned agarwood screen into an inner and outer area. The outer area was used as a living room and the inner area was for sleeping. The decorations on the cabinet had been switched as well, and one could clearly tell they were considerably valuable at a glance.

Seeing her room undergo vast changes until it became similar to a treasure vault made Xiao Hua space out a little.

She had seen such situations before. If the master favors a concubine, he would naturally not be stingy and bestow various objects to show his appreciation. However in her past life she had to use many schemes to please the 4th young master before he would be willing to give such things. Unexpectedly in this life, someone had already prepared everything without her having to do anything.

How considerate. Of course, Xiao Hua lamented that this consideration was from Eunuch Fu, and not the Jing Prince. Although she still wasn't able to see through the prince, she was aware that he wouldn't be mindful of such things. Although she didn't want to admit it, Xiao Hua clearly understood that she was just a plaything to the Jing Prince, a plaything that warmed the bed.

Since someone was handing her things, she might as well accept them. Just treat it as something in exchange for her suffering.

Eunuch Fu didn't say anything regarding Xiao Hua's work, so she continued to honestly work her shift every day. Apart from living in a nicer place and wearing slightly nicer clothes compared to other palace maids, Xiao Hua's situation was still the same as before. The way other people looked at her had changed, but Xiao Hua didn't care about these things and turned a deaf ear to it.

This day the Jing Prince wasn't present. Seeing the sky turn dark, Xiao Hua finished her meal and returned to her room.

Perhaps since she had to serve the prince every once in a while, she received another benefit that others didn't. Every night she would be given water to take a bath. After returning to her room, two low-ranked eunuchs would prepare water and carry it over for her to use.

At first Xiao Hua didn't understand what was going on. Seeing people bring over water, she had honestly received it. After several times, she had pretty much figured out the meaning behind this situation.

Undoubtedly this was Eunuch Fu's intentions. It had to be said this Eunuch Fu was quite considerate. Apart from laughing about it, Xiao Hua didn't know how else to react.

And therefore, when the low-ranked eunuchs again showed up, this time to present her with so called "clothes to wear at night while sleeping", she had received them without saying a word.

There were two pieces to the clothing, and the appearance was something she had never seen before. But holding the clothes in her hand, she knew what they were for. In her past life, she didn't lack for these types of clothing.

Xiao Hua's biggest strength was that she was discreet and tactful. When she couldn't afford to offend anyone, she would be well behaved.

Even if that set of clothing appeared to be extremely indecent, after her bath she always put them on when she went to bed. Who knows when the lord might show up? Eunuch Fu that old bastard probably thought the same way.

She couldn't figure it out. Whether or not the Jing Prince slept with women, what did it have to do with the eunuch? His being so concerned with everything made her fearful and unavoidably jittery.

Xiao Hua finished bathing, changed into those clothes and casually wore another layer over them before calling the low ranked eunuchs waiting behind the screen to clean up the bathwater. She entered her bed and pulled down the canopy curtains.

The eunuchs worked very fast. After they finished, they took their leave and closed the door.

Verdant green curtains embroidered with flowery vines hung over the carved and lacquered palanquin bed. There was a red satin mattress upon which lay an agarwood colored cotton filled silk blanket embroidered with golden lines around twin lotus flowers.

Xiao Hua took off her outer layer and lowered her head to examine the nightgown on her body.

A pea green little negligee and matching pair of thin muslin trousers. The negligee narrowed at the waist and slanted upwards, making her appear slender and full-chested with a slim waist. The muslin trousers were very thin, and the waistline was also very low, barely hanging onto the hips. Xiao Hua would often be worried it was about to fall off.

Looking at her surroundings, Xiao Hua kept feeling like it was a dream.

But this sort of feeling usually didn't last long, because Xiao Hua knew clearly the moment she stepped out the door she was still the same low-ranked palace maid who was careful with her words and actions.

The bed looked soft and warm, making Xiao Hua unable to stop herself from yawning.

After getting in bed and burrowing under the blankets, she subconsciously rolled and rubbed against it a little. How comfortable. High quality stuff really had a different feel.

The light in the room wasn't bright but wasn't dark. There was only one light burning on the counter of the inner room. The faint yellow light shone through the thin gauze canopy, making it possible to clearly see the situation outside without being blinding.

Xiao Hua half closed her eyes and felt herself falling asleep. As she lay half asleep, the room's light suddenly lit up brightly. It seemed like a dream to her so she exhaustedly rubbed her eyes, rolled over to hide from the light and continued sleeping.

The Jing Prince who had half lifted the curtains saw the whole thing—

Her black hair was like a waterfall that draped over her slender shoulders and back. The silk blankets bunched up messily covered her body with half her leg sticking out. Under the glow of the light, her snow white calves seemed even more fresh and alluring.

The Jing Prince had never seen such a shockingly beautiful scene in both his lifetimes. He felt his breath stop at that moment.

He instinctively put the canopy back down as he had the low-ranked eunuchs on the side help him out of his outer clothes and then waved his hand for them to leave. Only wearing his undergarments, he walked into the curtained bed.

Xiao Hua was half awake and half asleep, and kept feeling someone rubbing her body. Perhaps it was due to the heated vents, but she felt her body was limp and extremely lethargic.

Only until there was a sudden stabbing pain did she regain her consciousness a little, but was once again muddle-headed immediately afterwards.

She felt the prince's presence, but also felt like she was dreaming. In her confusion, she did not suppress herself as she did in the past. When it hurt she would groan softly, and when it felt good she would breathe out. The moans and cries resulted in her being taken even more vigorously. She subconsciously started to sob. She seemed to be crying but not crying. Although it was said it wasn't crying, it still seemed like it.

The Jing Prince hadn't expect to show up at this time and see the scene of the low-ranked palace maid in such an appearance. The past few times he could tell she was very tensed up. Only after moving vigorously for some time would she in her muddle-headedness reveal such an appearance.

It was the so called rapture and ecstasy. This was the first time in both his lives that the Jing Prince felt it.

He was a little unsatisfied in his heart. It seems like this low-ranked palace maid had still been acting reserved with him the past few times?

Thinking of her normal appearance and looking at the charming person underneath him, he inexplicable intensified his movements. The fiercer he went at it the more he felt the delicious taste, and the more he was reluctant for it to end.

It wasn't known how much time had passed. After having tangled for so long, he could not endure any longer.

Afterwards, he could still feel the mind numbing pleasure lingering and subconsciously hugged her close to his chest, his hands idly stroking the low-ranked palace maid's long hair.

Xiao Hua was wide awake at this moment. She was extremely not used to this type of intimacy. In the past after doing the deed, he wouldn't pay her any further attention. Unexpectedly, this time was different.

Her nerves were on edge for a while, but she didn't last long before falling back asleep. She didn't notice the Jing Prince watching her with his ink black pupils.

Xiao Hua was unable to sleep peacefully. When she was finally about to fall deeply asleep, she was woken once again. Her head was fuzzy and her eyelids were heavy.

In a blur, she heard the Jing Prince seemingly ask, "You're afraid of this prince?"

She thought she was dreaming and didn't respond.

Xiao Hua wasn't sure when the Jing Prince left this time. When she awoke, it was already noon.

She heard movement by the curtains, and Chun Cao walked inside. She brushed aside the canopy, saw Xiao Hua and said: "Miss Xiao Hua, please lay back. I will have them bring some water for you to bathe."

Chun Cao would be called to serve her every time after the prince left. After a couple times, Xiao Hua had also gotten used to it.

After the hot water was brought over, Chun Cao assisted her over behind the screen.

Only after soaking in the tub for a while did she feel herself come alive. She dried herself and put her clothes on while Chun Cao helped brush her hair.

At this time, someone brought over lunch and Chun Cao went to carry it over. Placing it on the table and setting each dish out, she spoke: "Eunuch Fu said to let you rest properly. There's no need to rush to work."

Xiao Hua couldn't help her face from turning red.

Every time she finished serving the prince, Eunuch Fu would say something like this. The cause of this was one occasion when she had served the prince but didn't feel tired the next day, and showed up to work on time. Since then, someone would be sent over to remind her to rest every time.

Lunch was very simple: three dishes and a portion of soup. It was plenty of food for one person. Xiao Hua didn't have much appetite, casually eating a few bites, drinking the soup and returning to curl up in bed.

Since the dishes were mostly untouched, Xiao Hua let Chun Cao eat the rest. Ever since she had moved into the hall, Chun Cao hadn't eaten with her anymore, and Xiao Hua also didn't force her to. However, whenever Chun Cao was present, Xiao Hua would split a portion of her food with her since she wouldn't be able to finish it all by herself.

After Chun Cao finished eating, she cleared the table and set the dishes by the door. She then sat at the foot of the bed doing needlework while idly chatting with Xiao Hua.

"Miss Xiao Hua, I feel like you actually don't have to continue working, why continue to make things hard on yourself. From what I see, his highness likes you quite a bit. Just ask him to confer you a status."

Chun Cao had wanted to say this for a long time, but was never sure how to approach the subject. Big sis Xiao Hua seemed like a quiet person, but was actually very opinionated. There were times when Chun Cao had no idea what she was thinking.

It was fine in the past, but now that she moved into the hall it was clear this was treatment only reserved for concubines. And not any ordinary concubine at that. Yet she still continued to do the chores of a low-ranked palace maid.

Xiao Hua also didn't know how she should explain it to Chun Cao, and could only ambiguously say, "I feel that this is pretty good."

Chun Cao secretly gave her a glance, and seeing her not really want to discuss this topic she no longer brought it up. She changed the subject to something lighter.

Perhaps Miss Xiao Hua had her own plans? Chun Cao could only think this way for now.

There was a knock on the door. Chun Cao went to open it and saw one of the eunuchs serving in the hall, Xiao Qin Zi.

"Eunuch Qin, is something the matter?"

Xiao Qin Zi followed Chun Cao in, standing in front of the screen to speak in a quiet voice: "Miss Xiao Hua, the eunuch guarding the door reports that someone is here to see you from the outside. It's the low-ranked palace maid who used to work here, Xi'er."

Hearing this, Xiao Hua spaced out a little.

Chun Cao knew Xi'er since she was there while Xiao Hua was sick. She also knew that the relationship between Miss Xiao Hua and Xi'er was not that good.

When Chun Cao first arrived, Eunuch Fu's underling had given her instructions, and she knew a little bit of the details regarding why they didn't ask one of Xiao Hua's roommates to look after her at the time.

Xiao Qin Zi continued speaking, "The rules of our hall state that no outsiders are allowed inside. Of course, if Miss Xiao Hua wants to see her, then you are free to do so by stepping outside the hall."

Ever since Xiao Hua moved into the hall, everyone in the Hall of Splendor started addressing her as "Miss Xiao Hua". Xiao Hua didn't know that they had struggled over the decision of what title to address her by until someone finally asked An Chen to confirm with Eunuch Fu.

Xiao Hua's status wasn't clear. Everyone clearly knew she wasn't merely a low-ranked palace maid, but those above had also never specified what status was granted to her.

Eunuch Fu also had a headache when asked by An Chen, and randomly said to call her "Miss". Nowadays, even Eunuch Fu followed along and called her "Miss".

Although it was just a form of address, it clearly showed the difference in treatment. At least, Xiao Hua felt the servants within the hall treated her much more respectfully. This included both Eunuch Fu and Eunuch Chang. During her interactions with them, she could clearly feel their attitudes were friendlier than before.

How should she put it? In the past, they had viewed her from up high, and didn't really take her seriously. Now they treated her as equals. Before she was an object, now she had become a person.

Sometimes Xiao Hua couldn't help but lament. Is this the so called "fox borrowing the tiger's might"2? Although this analogy might not be quite fitting, it really was due to the Jing Prince that others had started viewing her in a new light.

Back to the topic at hand, Xiao Hua also couldn't figure out why Xi'er suddenly wanted to see her. Ever since the others were expelled, she hadn't received any news regarding them.

Of course this was because she never left the Hall of Splendor, and also because those people never had a place in her heart. Especially when they had ignored her the first time she got sick. Their scornful behavior naturally resulted in a lack of relationship.

Chun Cao could tell that Xiao Hua didn't really want to see that Xi'er, and in a sudden flash of inspiration said: "Miss Xiao Hua was just about to rest. This Xi'er really knows to pick her timing. Could Eunuch Qin please ask the eunuch by the door to turn her away?"

Her voice was raised in question towards Xiao Hua, as though consulting her opinion. Since this was Chun Cao's first time encountering such a situation, she naturally didn't decide things for Xiao Hua.

Xiao Hua heard Chun Cao's words and nodded.

Chun Cao smiled on the spot and said: "Then we'll have to trouble Eunuch Qin!"

"Alright." Xiao Qin Zi understood their meaning and left the room.

Xiao Hua leaned back on her pillow wondering why Xi'er would suddenly come look for her. The two of them never really interacted, so this situation was really confusing.

"I supposed it might be because she was expelled from the hall. The work outside is definitely not as good as in here." Chun Cao said.

No one understood this better than her. What were her days like back at the laundry area? Having to wash clothing before the sky was bright, the food was scarce and her clothes had been lacking. It was still acceptable in the summer but winter was awful.

Compared to her days in the Hall of Splendor now, the difference was clear.

This was also why Eunuch Fu had never explicitly told Chun Cao to serve Xiao Hua before she moved into the hall. On the surface, Chun Cao was to help out in the courtyard, but in reality it was essentially serving Xiao Hua.

Especially after Xiao Hua had started "serving" the prince. The little needlework Chun Cao was responsible for was all for Xiao Hua. As for the nominal sweeper position in the courtyard, Chun Cao could tell these few days someone would take care of that if she was busy with Xiao Hua. There was clearly no need for her to do it.

There were no foolish people who were able to stay in the estate for several years. Even though the higher ups didn't explicitly say it, those underneath them were smart enough to read between the lines and thereby improve their own standing. The palace maids and eunuchs in the Hall of Splendors were all examples, and Xiao Hua herself was one too.

The correct timing, the correct place or the correct person. These were all the relevant aspects.

Xiao Hua felt what Chun Cao was saying made sense, but what did that have to do with her? She was just a low-ranked palace maid, how would she be able to help Xi'er? Regardless, their relationship wasn't to that extent.

She therefore put Xi'er's visit to the back of her mind, adjusted her pillow and lay back under her blanket.

Chun Cao saw that Xiao Hua was about to sleep and got up quietly, lowering the curtains of her bed. She continued sitting at the foot of the bed, but no longer spoke.

1-Translated based on its appearance, not sure if there's a proper English term. It's an ancient bed often used for marriage, see here for pics.

2-Probably able to guess, but it means using powerful connections to intimidate others.

48

Outside the Hall of Splendor, the low-ranked eunuch guarding the door said "Miss Xiao Hua is resting" to Xi'er and then stopped paying attention to her.

Xi'er still wanted to say something but the eunuch gave her a look and spoke again: "You should hurry and leave. If you hadn't served here in the past and if you weren't indeed familiar with Miss Xiao Hua, I would've long since driven you away. Is this somewhere that can be approached by random workers?"

Xi'er was a little annoyed at his snobbish behavior, but didn't dare express anything and could only stamp her feet and leave.

Xi'er's heart was a complete mess the whole way back. She couldn't help but recall what happened a few days ago—

"Xi'er, this is something ordered by the consort. You have to do it well." Cheng'er said.

"But—"

"No buts. Unless you don't want to help the consort out?"

These days Xi'er had been completely brainwashed by Cheng'er, and even gradually started feeling honored to be able to help the consort.

As for her fear of Eunuch Fu, it had faded quite a bit until there was almost nothing left. Just as Cheng'er had said, was the consort bigger or was Eunuch Fu? The consort was the prince's main imperial concubine, she was definitely the bigger one. If the consort protected her, Xi'er truly didn't have to fear Eunuch Fu.

Therefore, when Cheng'er had told her the consort's assignment was to find an excuse to meet Xiao Hua, Xi'er had agreed after some hesitation.

But Xi'er still felt faintly concerned, because she clearly knew in her heart that her relationship with Xiao Hua wasn't as good as she made it out to be.

But since she had gotten onto the tiger's back, it was hard to get off. She also didn't dare refuse the consort's commands, and could only gather her courage and hope Xiao Hua would be willing to meet her once based on their "decent relationship" in the past.

As for what she was supposed to do when they met, Cheng'er hadn't said. She only said to bring her out for a meeting and try to find out some things from her if possible. Who knew that after coming to the Hall of Splendor she wasn't even able to see the person in question?

Xi'er returned to the needlework area. Cheng'er saw her return and found an excuse to leave. After an hour or so, Xi'er was once again taken to the Changchun Pavilion.

This was her second time there. The first time she was too busy being scared that she didn't pay attention to anything else.

This time her situation was different, and she was able to notice that the Changchun Pavilion was indeed grand, deserving of being the consort's residence. The "big sis Chun Xiang" that Cheng'er often brought up was also very imposing. All the palace maids in the pavilion had treated her with respect and deference on the way there.

How good would it be if she could become like big sis Chun Xiang at some point? Everyone would have to obey her.

As Xi'er was lost in her own thoughts, she was brought into a room in the eastern building.

This time Xi'er didn't get to see the Jing Consort, and rather it was an old nana who served by her side that asked Xi'er a few questions.

After hearing her say she hadn't been able to meet the person, that old nana couldn't help but furrow her brows, and asked about the situation in detail.

Xi'er answered while feeling apprehensive at the same time. Could it be that the consort was avoiding her out of disgust at her failure?

She didn't realize that she had truly overthought things. The Jing Consort only met her the first time due to her panic and impatience. How could she be someone that a low-ranked palace maid like her could meet whenever she wanted?

Nana Li finished her questioning and left.

Chun Xiang came over with a smile on her face.

"Xi'er, right? This is bestowed upon you by the consort. Receive it well."

Xi'er squeezed the embroidered pouch in her hands. She felt a little overwhelmed by this favor and didn't know how she should react.

"I'll have someone send you out."

Chun Xiao finished speaking and called a low-ranked palace maid over to send Xi'er out.

Within Chang Chun Pavilion, in the main residence's western room.

After listening to Nana Li's report, Xiao-Shi's hands clenched her handkerchief tightly. On the side, Qiu Xiang and the rest were silent.

Xi'er was still young and hadn't grasped the significance of many details during her encounter. Those in the room were all experienced characters. Just based on the phrase "Miss Xiao Hua is resting", they could see many problems.

Why was she resting in the middle of the day? Could she have been tired out the night before?

Xiao-Shi sourly thought in her heart.

Although this wasn't exactly the case, it wasn't far from the truth either.

Xiao-Shi's handkerchief had been ripped into shreds, but it still hadn't been able to relieve the hate in her heart. The people on the side saw her appearance and all shrunk their heads, not daring to make a sound.

"Have her go again and carry out the plan!"

Xiao Hua took a nap in the afternoon, and woke up at night for a satisfying meal. She felt awake and energetic.

She wouldn't be able to fall back asleep this early so she grabbed Chun Cao to chat and do some needlework.

Speaking of needlework, Xiao Hua had recently been idly learning. She still wasn't able to make anything that required embroidering, and her larger pieces were limited to socks and underwear. She wasn't able to make anything else.

Having put it on the back burner these past few days, she picked it back up since she had more free time.

Since her clothes were all prepared for her by others, she didn't have anything to work with. Therefore she grabbed a few pieces of cloth and practiced her embroidery on them.

The embroidery was learned from Chun Cao. Although she was young, she knew quite a bit. Of course she only knew the basics, and could only embroider some grass and flowers. She was still a beginner.

Xiao Hua normally didn't have anyone else around her who she was close to. Despite knowing Chun Cao's skills were limited, she still learned from her and viewed it as practice. She would sometimes learn from Nana He as well, but due to her age, Xiao Hua felt bad asking her to strain her eyes to teach her.

Only when Eunuch Fu's voice sounded by the door did the two stop their hands.

They raised their heads and saw the Jing Prince at the door. Chun Cao immediately knelt down, and Xiao Hua knelt along in a daze.

Eunuch Fu waved his hand. Chun Cao left and he himself followed as well, closing the door behind him.

Seeing that person and thinking of the events the night before, Xiao Hua couldn't help but turn red.

Because she wasn't asked to rise, she didn't dare stand up. Her half lowered eyelids saw the Jing Prince take two steps into the room, and then turn around and pull her up.

Xiao Hua didn't dare raise her head this whole time and naturally didn't see the Jing Prince's eyes sweep over her body several times.

She followed him to the inner part of the room behind the screen. The Jing Prince raised his arms, and she dutifully began to undress him to his underwear. The Jing Prince's eyes circled around the room and he sat down before the dressing table.

"Crown."

Xiao Hua froze at first before hurriedly approaching and carefully removing the white jade crown from his head. She brushed out his hair, first using a comb to carefully smooth it out before tying it with a headband underneath his neck.

After tying his hair, she wasn't sure what to do next.

Was she supposed to pull him to the bed?

Although she knew that the Jing Prince could only be here for that, she had never made such a forward move with him before. She didn't know what the matter was. In her past life she was very familiar with such actions, but for some reason wasn't able to do so in this life. Perhaps because her mentality hadn't adjusted yet?

Xiao Hua sometimes still felt that she was quite scared of the Jing Prince.

The reason was no other than his lack of conversation with her. When he occasionally spoke, it would only be those few words.

This feeling was very weird, making Xiao Hua often feel at a loss. She wasn't able to imagine how someone who became more and more passionate while doing that could return to being apathetic afterwards.

Their bodies had become more compatible but their hearts had never gotten close. She couldn't figure out what he was thinking, and he most likely never considered her thoughts either.

Sometimes it was hard not to feel aggrieved, but Xiao Hua would toss such emotions out right away.

As she was feeling ill at ease, a phrase rang out by her ear, "Change clothes."

Xiao Hua froze once again, not knowing what the Jing Prince meant. She looked at his body which only had one layer of underwear remaining. Was he asking her to help him take everything off?

Thinking of the result, Xiao Hua was extremely embarrassed.

But since the prince said it, she definitely had to act accordingly. The pressure this man gave off was too great, especially when there were only the two of them. It made her feel inexplicably nervous.

Xiao Hua's trembling fingers approached the Jing Prince's chest and took off his undershirt, revealing his fair yet sturdy chest.

She didn't dare look at his face, and could only lower her eyes. However, what she saw instead was the prince's jade-like chest along with his sturdy abdominal muscles. She didn't dare stare, and could only lower her head even further. However, this time her eyes met with the little tent in that area.

Boom!

Not only her face was red, even her entire neck had turned red.

"Go, change clothes."

Hearing this, her trembling fingers approached his underpants as her mind turned blank.

"You, go change clothes."

Xiao Hua raised her head and blinked her eyes in confusion. Just what did he mean? Was it necessary to be so stingy with his words?

"Change to yesterday's outfit." The Jing Prince paused and spoke again: "You."

This time Xiao Hua understood. Thinking of the foolish things she just did, she lowered her head, grabbed the clothes and fled into the palanquin bed's curtains.

She changed her clothes with trembling hands and tried to muster up her courage to go out again but was too embarrassed. She hesitantly stuck her head outside the curtains and said with a low voice, "Highness, this servant is, is ready."

The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself to death. What does she mean by "ready"? Ready for what? She was very afraid he would interpret it inappropriately. Actually the situation was already inappropriate. It was just that Xiao Hua hadn't managed to react to it yet.

The Jing Prince sat there and looked at her for a long while before he approached with an obscure expression.

Xiao Hua instinctively shrank her head back inside at seeing his actions.

The Jing Prince entered and sat on the side of the bed. Xiao Hua stared blankly for a while before half kneeling and helping him remove his socks and shoes.

From the Jing Prince's angle, he could clearly see the lines carved out by her snow white back, her slender neck and the lightly fastened string that could easily be pulled open.

Thinking of the night before, his eyes became deeper by a few shades.

Yesterday was due to Eunuch Fu's implicit and explicit hints. He hadn't intended to come and was going to go to the inner hall to rest. However, through some divine intervention his feet had taken him in the other direction.

He didn't have the chance to think clearly yesterday, but thinking of that set of clothing today he knew it was definitely prepared by that old thing Eunuch Fu. He knew what Eunuch Fu planned to do, but still fell into the trap. During the day his thoughts were filled with the image of her in those clothes.

Today he had kept the urges in his heart hidden until now it had reached the breaking point. He didn't understand where these urges came from, whether it was due to the person, or due to the clothes, or due to the ecstasy he felt last night.

He pulled her into his arms and felt her tense up. In the past he hadn't realized it every time, but after last night it was especially clear.

"This humble prince scares you?"

This was the Jing Prince's first time earnestly speaking to Xiao Hua. Normally he either said nothing, or directly gave orders. This sudden question left Xiao Hua at a loss.

"No, no….."

After a moment of silence, she quietly spoke again: "A little, little bit."

The Jing Prince had a hard time understanding fear.

He knew some people feared him, such as those in the estate, those whose lives were in his hands. However, others didn't fear him, such as those who looked down on him, held him in contempt or treated him as inconsequential to begin with. Those who looked down on him or despised him all did so behind his back unless they had backers that allowed them to do so openly. Those who treated him as inconsequential did so based on their own status.

The Jing Prince never knew how to comfort others. No one had taught him this and he had never learned it.

He could only speak plainly. He said woodenly with his rigid face: "Don't be scared, this humble prince cherishes you."

This "cherishes you" made Xiao Hua instinctively twitch.

Damn, was this an imposter? How was he able to say such teasing words?

To go as far as to say "cherish" was going too far.

The Jing Prince had spent the day thinking of how the low-ranked palace maid seemed to fear him. He didn't like that she was afraid. He had just found out last night that she had been afraid this whole time.

He couldn't figure it out, and so unwillingly spoke a sentence to Eunuch Fu beside him.

"Low-ranked palace maid fears me."

Eunuch Fu was extremely familiar with the Jing Prince's speech patterns. He thought about it in his mind, and as the expert interpreter who was good at understanding others, Eunuch Fu replied, "Your highness, if you cherished her she wouldn't fear you anymore."

This was accompanied by a poorly concealed smirk. Of course, the Jing Prince didn't understand the meaning of this smirk, and what he didn't understand he would put to the back of his mind.

Thus he took Eunuch Fu's words to heart and spoke them out loud at this moment, stunning Xiao Hua into oblivion.

Different effects somehow led to the same outcome. At least, Xiao Hua was no longer as tense and nervous.

The low-ranked palace maid no longer feared him. The Jing Prince felt very satisfied.

Author's notes:

Jing Prince: Don't be scared, this humble prince cherishes you.

Xiao Hua: Cherish your mom's head!1

1-Similar to how in English you add "my ass" to express disbelief. Chinese likes using various family members, with mother being the most common. Body parts also are commonly used, with head and butt being common.

49

The days passed one by one as the weather grew colder.

As November arrived, the skies seemed to be covered by endless snow. Xiao Hua felt that the snow outside hadn't stopped once these past few days. However, since she never left the hall the cold didn't really affect her, and she also didn't have time to check whether the snow had stopped falling.

During this time the Jing Prince had left the estate once again. Only after he departed did Xiao Hua find out from two low-ranked eunuchs that one of his counties had been snowed in1 and the situation seemed quite serious. Therefore he personally made a trip to check it out.

Xiao Hua had come to the conclusion that the Jing Prince was a good vassal prince.

Xiao Hua hadn't seen a snow-in before.

After she was sold off as a child, she stayed in several rich households as a maid and no longer experienced any natural disasters. When she was young she did witness flooding, but she couldn't remember much of it. All that remained in her memories were her parent's and brothers' faces, and crying everywhere.

As Xiao Hua concluded the Jing Prince was a good vassal prince, the person in question was riding on horseback through the snow. The estate's guards had recommended him to take the carriage, but he felt it would be too slow and thus chose to continue on horseback.

The Jing Province was always a bitter and cold place. The bitter part comes from the difficulty of growing crops which caused its people to live in poverty, and the cold part because it was located in the north which made the weather cold and snow fall heavily come winter.

Because the land was barren, the emperor was extremely generous. The Jing Province was the largest vassal state in terms of area.

The so called vast, distant plains referred to this place.

Actually the prince didn't have to go. There was no reason for the prince to personally head out for a small county that was snowed in. But the Jing Prince had always been serious in handling his affairs. In his past life he wasn't as diligent in operating his vassal state, and the place had always been impoverished. In this life, he decided to put more effort into his land.

Since crops were hard to grow, he had specially gathered some talented farmers who grew crops suitable for the Jing Province's climate. For example, high yielding crops from foreign lands such as potatoes and yams. These two years under his rule, there had almost been no cases of people starving to death.

Since business was hard to develop, he had his own people go to estates of prosperous provinces to conduct business. He even had the specialty products under his jurisdiction, good stuff such as fur clothing and ginseng, sold outside in order to attract business.

The Jing Prince's way of thinking was simple. If he couldn't even govern his vassal state properly, then he had no business trying to change his destiny.

The effect was pretty good over these few years. Not only did the amount of taxes they received increase, the Jing Prince's own coffers were sufficiently filled as well.

The reason for his trip this time around was also a show of force, warning the various governors not to mistreat the people under his eyes. He didn't need to do anything else. He just had to spend a few days and make a round trip for all his subordinates to take him seriously, and there would be no one starving or freezing to death. The Jing Prince thought this was a pretty good deal.

Although the prince's way of thinking was different from others, the commoners under his rule lived pretty good lives. In recent years, they had all praised him as a good vassal prince.

When he set off it hadn't been snowing hard, but on the way it had grown steadily heavier. The winds had picked up as well, and combined with the snow it had become hard to see the road conditions up ahead.

A guard wearing the honor guard's armor and a black cape with crimson lining on the inside approached the Jing Prince's mount with his own.

"Highness, there is a village nearby. Let us go there first to take shelter from the snow. It's snowing too heavily." The moment the guard opened his mouth he caught a mouthful of snowflakes.

The Jing Prince didn't take his time in responding and instead nodded his head right away.

The guard was very familiar with the prince's character, and with a wave of his hand had another guard ride forward to lead the way.

The group galloped for another while before seeing a village far off into the distance.

From afar, the village didn't seem too big. The houses were small and crude, but in this weather the sight made everyone joyous and eager.

After riding closer but before entering the village, the wind carried over faint sounds of screaming and weeping.

The Jing Prince was in the lead and pulled on his reins. His steed came to a halt and the guards behind him mimicked his actions.

The Jing Prince wasn't the only one who heard the abnormal sounds. The guards behind him had all heard it too. One of them waved his hand and a few broke off from the formation to enter the village first. The Jing Prince and the rest followed after.

The moment they entered the village, a tragic scene greeted their eyes.

There was a lot of blood on the snow covered ground. A few corpses lay strewn on the narrow streets of the village, clearly villagers based on their appearance.

Seeing that there were dead people, the group all froze in shock. The prince opened his mouth: "Go take a look."

The Jing Prince brought with him dozens of guards this time. No matter what had happened there wasn't anything to fear. Hearing the prince's order, a group of people broke off in a clearly disciplined manner and split up, galloping towards the cries.

The prince and the remaining ten or so guards stopped at the crossroads of the village, and an armored officer spoke: "Highness, this subordinate will look for an empty room. Take shelter from the snow first."

The Jing Prince nodded his head and got off his horse. They found an empty house nearby and entered.

Actually they didn't have to look around for one They had long since seen many wide opened doors. The guards' eyes were sharp and naturally saw that there were also corpses inside those houses.

Just who had the guts to massacre a village? Just from what they saw alone they could tell many had died.

By the time the Jing Prince entered the room, the guards who had entered first were already clearing it out. Two had found a space for them to sit and the other two were dragging corpses to a different building.

There was an old and young corpse, and also one of a missus. There was also a child's corpse who was only a few years old. They were clearly a family of four, but had all lost their lives at the strokes of a blade. Unexpectedly the random house the Jing Prince chose to enter would have such a tragic scene.

These guards were all unafraid of blood and death, but seeing someone treat innocent villagers this way they were also angered and found it hard to look at.

"Son of a bitch, which bastard was so ruthless?" There was no lack of coarse men amongst the guards, and as their tempers flared they naturally were unable to control their curses.

Yet the Jing Prince acted as if he hadn't heard it and remained seated, though his normally apathetic eyes were extremely cold.

After around fifteen minutes, the guards who were sent out gradually returned.

The Jing Prince Estate Guards' vice commander Lin Qing Ting, Vice Commander Lin, went to ask about the situation. After a moment, he came back to report to the prince.

It was indeed a massacre.

When the arrived, there were several men holding sabers who were hacking away to their heart's content. They were split into several groups and were combing through the houses one by one, killing people.

"Highness, there were around forty perpetrators. As we approached to stop them, several resisted and were killed. The rest have all been captured and thrown outside."

"Were there any survivors?"

"Yes." Vice Commander Lin paused, and continued with a lowered voice, "There are less than twenty people remaining. We came too late. When they saw us come to stop their actions, they actually weren't scared and didn't run. Instead, their blades fell even faster. The guards only managed to save a little over ten people."

Everyone remaining in the village seemed to have gathered outside the house. All sorts of noises intermingled as the sounds of cursing and crying rang out.

When the Jing Prince went out, he saw several people dressed as villagers who were kicking and beating the tied up perpetrators.

"You heartless things, what have we ever done to you…." An elderly woman seemed to feel the kicking and beating wasn't sufficient. She picked up a rock from the side and smashed it upon one of the people's bodies. "Give my son back to me, and my grandson…."

Similar situations were happening with the other sorry looking villagers. They all picked up various objects and used them on the criminals. The guards outside didn't prevent them from doing so, because many of them had witnessed the devastation that had occurred, and naturally allowed them to vent their anger. Only when they saw the Jing Prince and Vice Commander Lin approach did they pull the villagers away.

"Who here can explain what happened? Who here knows why this group of people came over and started killing people in this village?"

The survivors all blankly shook their heads. They also didn't know what the reason was. They weren't even aware when the killing first started, and only when they heard the sounds did they realize something was wrong, running outside to take a look.

Some of those who ran out were directly cut down. Seeing people getting killed, everyone panicked and ran all over. But there were too many evildoers and the villagers all lacked the strength to even truss up a chicken. They had no weapons and no way to defend themselves.

The group of people went from house to house killing people. They killed one as they saw one, not even sparing the elderly and the young. The elderly woman who was crying had watched her grandson, who was still swaddled in his cradle, get smashed to death by these people. It was truly extremely tragic.

The villagers spoke here and there, piecing together what they knew. Although they seemed to have said a lot, most of it was useless words. The Jing Prince made a gesture and Vice Commander Lin had his subordinates split up the perpetrators for interrogation.

"If you guys know anything, such as if there were any unusual circumstances in the village before this happened, please speak up. This would help us figure out who the real culprit was." A guard told the villagers.

One of the survivors was a fourteen or fifteen year old teenager who cried and said: "It doesn't even matter, none of those officials have any humanity in them; they're all beasts! You guys can't help much either, no one can help."

The guards in the area all looked at the teen with extremely weird expressions, as though they wanted to laugh but couldn't. But seeing that the village was indeed in a tragic state, they didn't dare reveal any other expressions.

Vice Commander Lin opened his mouth and said: "Young man, if you know something you can speak up. This is his highness the Jing Prince. You are in the Jing Prince's vassal state. Do you think there is something he can't help you with?"

The teenager looked at the person being addressed as the Jing Prince in bewilderment, "You are his highness the Jing Prince?"

The Jing Prince had left wearing his informal clothes this time, but the guards were all wearing the Jing Prince Estate's honor guard outfit. It was just that the teenager didn't have much experience and naturally couldn't recognize it. If it were any official under the Jing Province's jurisdiction, they would be able to tell by the guards that even if it weren't the Jing Prince in person, the people would be out on his orders.

The Jing Prince looked into the teenager's eyes and nodded his head.

That teenager muttered: "My dad said his highness the Jing Prince is a good person. How can you prove that you are his highness?"

A guard on the side scolded: "This brat really has eyes but fails to recognize Mt. Tai2. Does his highness need to deceive a hairless brat like yourself? Can you recognize the uniform on my body? This is something only the prince's honor guard can wear."

The teen looked around at the large group of guards and recalled their incredible display of skill earlier. They had taken care of those murderers without breaking a sweat. Seeing again the Jing Prince's apathetic yet imposing expression, he felt it almost certainly true.

But his expression was still hesitant. "This is very important. I'm also unsure if this was the reason a calamity descended upon our village. At the time my dad had hesitated for several days before finally leaving, but he never returned."

The Jing Prince gave Vice Commander Lin a glance and walked back into the house. Vice Commander Lin took the teen and followed behind him.

"Speak."

The teen recounted what he knew about the situation.

It turned out that the father of this teen was the village's mayor. The village was called Sangshan3 Village, and it was a small village with only several dozen families.

The village was located against Mt. Dahei4. It was very remote and used to be extremely impoverished. Only when the Jing Prince took over and spread high yielding crops such as potatoes and yams were they able to fill their stomachs.

Within the village, the men plowed the fields while the women sewed. They spent the days doing hard but honest labor, yet it was much better than before. Having a kind vassal prince who would reduce taxes every time there was a snow in, everyone's days gradually improved.

Everything was peaceful until one day a villager was picking rocks from the mountain for his pigsty.

As mentioned earlier, the village was next to Mt. Dahei, which had very few trees but a lot of rocks. Many villagers would use these rocks for their houses or enclosures for pigs and sheep. The appropriate rocks were all directly taken from the mountain.

For pigsties, if the rocks were too big it would be hard to carry, and if they were too small it would be hard to use. Therefore, the villager had spent a lot of thought and picked out a bucketful of rocks back.

After getting back he realized one of the rocks had a different color. It was hard to describe, silver yet not silver all the way. Rather it was filled with silver on the inside.

The reason Mt. Dahei was called Mt. Dahei was because all the rocks on it were black in color. The sudden appearance of a silver colored rock was very surprising.

Many of the villagers had come over to join the excitement. The teen's father the mayor had also come to take a look.

He felt things weren't quite right and took the rock back for closer examination.

After returning home, he had polished the rock, wondering why the black rock would contain silver colors that shone under the candlelight. Polishing it was insufficient, so he used the most basic method and smashed the rock apart.

Unexpectedly, after the rock was smashed it turned out that it wasn't silver in color. Instead, the black rock contained many silver particles.

As the mayor, he naturally had a certain amount of knowledge. This mayor hesitated for a very long time, but still took the rock over to the Heishan County office that oversaw Shangsan Village….

Having spoken up to this point, things had basically become clear. Clearly an honest village mayor had discovered something unusual and reported it to the county office.

The county magistrate had listened to the administrator's explanations and saw the shattered piece of rock. He had then secretly sent people into the mountain to investigate. The place they went to was where the rock was found. The magistrate was a knowledgeable person, and naturally brought along those who understood the subject. The investigation unearthed a major revelation. When the magistrate heard about it, he knew it wouldn't be easy to sweep under the rug. However, humans were greedy in nature, and thus the thought of massacring the village to silence everyone was born.

Wealth moves hearts. Wealth destroys lives.

The teen summarized the situation on this side and the guards on the other side finished their interrogations as well. The situation was pretty much as the Jing Prince surmised. Those culprits weren't nobodies, but rather the county office magistrate's own steward and men from his household.

But what the teen knew was only one side of the story, and the interrogated prisoners also didn't know much. Although they had a solid theory in their minds, the Jing Prince didn't treat this case casually and took his guards to the Heishan County.

…

Many things occur as a result of fate and coincidence. Due to fate and coincidence, that villager brought back the piece of rock. Because of the piece of rock, the following situation occurred.

Even more coincidentally was that the snow-in report received by the prince actually came from the mastermind behind the massacre, the Heishan County's magistrate.

The magistrate was probably planning on using the heavy snow to his benefit. The Jing Province often saw snow-ins, and in order to explain away the large amount of deaths that suddenly occurred under his administration, he was planning to blame it on the snow. He first reported the snow-in to the higher ups, and then sent people to massacre the village. If the Jing Prince hadn't made a trip this time, after the snow had stopped, the evidence may have very well been covered up and he would have gotten away with it. Who knew that the prince would actually come?

As one might imagine, the magistrate suffered a tragic ending.

After a number of years passed, the Jing Prince would think back to this situation. The only beneficiary had actually turned out to be himself. Of course, this was all in the future.

1-The words used here is like flood but with snow. Is there an English equivalent? There's drought, and flood, but not one for snow? Snowstorm?

2-Saying that often shows up in Chinese novels. Means failing to recognize someone important, talented etc.

3-Uphill, up the mountain.

4-I'm translating it as the name of the mountain, though not sure if author is just saying it's a "big black mountain".

50

Xi'er had come looking for Xiao Hua two more times.

Once was unfortunately in the morning while the Jing Prince was inside her room. Xiao Qin Zi didn't dare report it and had the door guarding eunuch send her away. The second time the door guarding eunuch went to report and was cursed at by Xiao Qin Zi, and directly drove her away.

Today Xi'er had come again.

That door guarding eunuch frowned the moment he saw her, "Why are you back again? The last time I announced your arrival I got scolded for it. Quickly leave, and don't come back anymore."

Xi'er's face froze but she quickly forced a smile.

"This big bro, I really have some business with Miss Xiao Hua. Could you please help announce my arrival? My relationship with Miss Xiao Hua was pretty good in the past. If she knew I came to find her she would definitely come see me. Could I trouble you to help me out?"

The low-ranked eunuch's face looked troubled, and seeing this Xi'er continued speaking: "At that time I will tell Miss Xiao Hua about it, and she will also be very grateful to you."

This low ranked eunuch was someone from the Hall of Splendor. Although he was just the door guard, he still knew that Miss Xiao Hua was his highness's newly favored. Even though she temporarily didn't have any status, it seemed she would get one quite easily in the future. Furthermore, she was someone under Eunuch Fu's wing. If it weren't for these considerations, he wouldn't have repeatedly announced Xi'er's arrival for her previously.

Everyone had ambitions, and this eunuch was no different. Therefore, he hesitated when he heard the last part.

Xi'er saw that he was slightly convinced and put forth a little more effort. She stuffed something into his hands and said: "This big bro, I've really inconvenienced you. Don't worry, I will definitely not let you lose out in helping me."

The low-ranked eunuch hesitated half a second before saying: "You wait here, I'll go ask." He told another low ranked eunuch to keep watch.

After a while, the eunuch returned.

"Wait a moment. Miss Xiao Hua will be here shortly."

Xiao Hua was also aware that Xi'er had come several times saying she wanted to see here. The last two times it hadn't been announced, and she had only found out after the fact.

Today she was quite idle, and unexpectedly Xi'er had come again.

Could it be that she really had some business with her? They had been roommates in the past. Although there were some conflicts during that time, Xi'er hadn't really done anything. Since she came so many times, Xiao Hua decided to meet her once to see if there really was something.

As she reached the doors of the Hall of Splendor, she saw Xi'er from afar dressed in her low-ranked palace maid's outfit.

She looked thinner than before, and her temperament seemed to have changed as well. The innocent and unaffected spirit of the past seemed to have disappeared.

"Xi'er, why are you looking for me?"

Xi'er saw Xiao Hua who was walking over and her eyes flashed.

Today Xiao Hua was wearing a pale bluish white layered jacket embroidered with camellia flowers. Her satin skirt was orange yellow embroidered with bamboo green clouds. This new winter outfit was better quality than the previous ones Eunuch Fu had prepared by a lot. It was apparent just based on the material.

Recently Xiao Hua's complexion was very good, and she had just come out of the heated hall. Her pale face contained a hint of reddish glow and her skin was well moisturized, as though water would come out if it were squeezed. She appeared joyful, and her figure was much fuller than in the past. Her chest bulged outwards, completely different from her past beansprout self.

"I, um, I haven't seen you in a while and wanted to come see if you were doing well nowadays."

In comparison, Xi'er was thinner than in the past. Her previously small and round face had thinned quite a bit, making her eyes appear even bigger. Her pale skin contained a hint of yellow pallor, making her seem without much energy.

Doing well? This question was a little too profound.

Xiao Hua didn't think too much before replying in her old manner: "What is there to be well about, just the same as before."

"I heard everyone else calling you Miss Xiao Hua."

Xiao Hua paused, and said with the same attitude: "This is merely them not looking down on me. After all, I'm serving his highness in the hall. In the past, even the maids in rich households would be respected if they served by the master's side."

"You seem to have changed drastically. Did Eunuch Fu have you service his highness?"

Xiao Hua raised her eyes and glanced at Xi'er. She saw her inexplicably gloomy expression and flashing eyes, and felt fed up in her heart. She also felt a little regretful for deciding to come see her. Turns out Xi'er was just here to inquire about this.

She laughed and blinked her eyes innocently, "What do you mean? Haven't I always been serving his highness inside the hall? My chores are indeed arranged by Eunuch Fu."

Xi'er still wanted to speak further but was interrupted by Xiao Hua, "Did you come find me to talk about this? I had actually thought you might have some business with me."

Xiao Hua's tone was very cold, and was full of intent to see the visitor out. Xi'er could naturally tell.

"Nothing, nothing much. I just thought to check on you since we used to be roommates."

"Oh, in that case, thanks for your concern. If there is nothing else, I'll be going back in. As a low-ranked palace maid yourself, you also know that we don't have much free time to chat. The weather outside is also cold, you should hurry and go back."

"Yes, yes, then I'll be leaving."

Xiao Hua turned and went back inside, and Xi'er also left quickly.

Some distance away, someone dressed in palace maid attire was waiting for her.

That palace maid had been watching the doors from afar, and asked about her conversation. She then had Xi'er hurry and return to the needlework area and left quickly herself.

In the Changchun Pavilion.

Chun Xiang waited for the person to return, and after asking in detail she went to the main residence's inner room.

She reported in detail everything that was told to her by the servant, and then stood quietly to the side.

Having gotten to this point, everything was extremely clear, and it was indeed as they had guessed.

Although they couldn't see the situation on the inside, based the reactions from the servants on the side as well as what their subordinate witnessed they judged that the low-ranked palace maid called Xiao Hua had indeed serviced the Jing Prince.

The Jing Consort wasn't sure how things would develop from this point on. After all, the Hall of Splendor hadn't revealed any plans to add anyone to the rear court. The Jing Consort estimated the timing, and was fidgety in her heart. Because she didn't know the actual situation on the inside, she was even more bottled up with anger.

The teacup was shattered on the floor. These days the frequency of broken teacups in the Changchun Pavilion had sharply increased. The sets had been replaced over and over, but it still wasn't able to keep up with the Jing Consort's smashing.

"This won't do. We must think of something regarding this situation. We must think of something." The Jing Consort stood up and walked back and forth neurotically. She suddenly spoke again, "Nana, we cannot let her give birth to a child first. We definitely cannot."

"Alright, alright. Nana will think of something. We have so many people. If we put our minds together we can definitely think of something."

…

Xiao Hua was about to enter the hall when she stopped to think and turned back around.

She found the low-ranked eunuch that was guarding the door earlier, "Greetings to this eunuch."

"Greetings Miss Xiao Hua." The eunuch who helped announce Xi'er was full of smiles, with the air of being overwhelmed by favor from a superior.

Could it be that Miss Xiao Hua was about to promote him?

"I would like your help."

"Miss Xiao Hua, please speak. If there's something I can help with I will do it without hesitation."

"It's like this. If that low-ranked palace maid who came earlier comes back in the future, could you help reject her for me?" Xiao Hua's expression had some hesitation.

The low-ranked eunuch was quick witted, and realized right away that Xi'er and Miss Xiao Hua didn't have such a good relationship. After being enlightened, he scolded himself for his foolishness.

It should have been obvious. One was expelled while the other remained serving his highness. How could their relationship be good?

"It's this lowly one's fault for listening to her nonsense. I only announced her because she kept saying how good her relationship was with you and that she had some business with you. If I had known earlier, this lowly one definitely wouldn't have allowed her this convenience."

Xiao Hua tried to figure out Xi'er's intentions but couldn't think of anything. Seeing the low ranked eunuch's nervous appearance, she said comfortingly: "It's fine, she was just my roommate in the past. If she comes again, just help me reject her. No need to come report it."

"Yes yes yes."

Seeing Xiao Hua's departing back, the eunuch wiped the cold sweat off his brow while cursing that cheat Xi'er. He decided that if she came again he would not only drive her away, but give her a good scolding as well.

Eunuch Fu did not leave with the Jing Prince this time.

The weather was cold and snowing outside, and Eunuch Fu was old. The Jing Prince left him within the Jing Prince Estate.

After the prince departed the estate, Eunuch Fu became quite idle. He grew bored during his idleness, and thus started fussing over things that didn't concern him.

"The number of times isn't low anymore, why hasn't anything happened with the lass?"

This Eunuch Fu stuck himself in the small kitchen since the morning discussing this with Nana He. Because he felt this topic was classified, he had cleared everyone else out.

Nana He's face turned rigid, "You know his highness is apathetic in nature, how can it be that quick?"

"I feel it's abnormal. I've counted you know? In October it happened seven or eight times. There had also been once in November already."

Nana He sighed in her heart and spoke with a normal expression: "That lass is still young, and her period had only recently started. It wouldn't be that fast."

"There's such a thing?"

This question was answered by Nana He rolling her eyes, "Do you understand this topic better than I do?"

Eunuch Fu scratched his chin and forced a smile, "Of course Nana understands it better." This old woman had served the palace's imperial concubines in the past, she was naturally very clear on the affairs of women.

"Enough, that little lass Xiao Hua's period was a little irregular so I'm helping her adjust her body. You don't have to be impatient, there will be good news soon. This matter can't be rushed."

Nana He downplayed the situation but still revealed a few things. However, she didn't tell Eunuch Fu the truth.

Xiao Hua's period was more than just a little irregular. It was extremely unsmooth. Even though Nana He couldn't be counted as a doctor, just based on what she knew from their conversations about Xiao Hua's past she was aware that Xiao Hua must have suffered a lot in her childhood, resulting in her womb being slightly cold.

As for this issue she did have the means to cure it, but it would require some time.

She was also aware of Eunuch Fu's thoughts, which was why she didn't tell him the truth but merely talked around it vaguely.

Having spent some time with that lass, she had gotten to like her quite a bit, and would inevitably want to protect her a little. She was afraid that if the truth was known, Eunuch Fu would feel Xiao Hua wasn't of use anymore or that he wouldn't be able to wait and abandon her. After all, his highness hadn't shown any indication of conferring her a status.

During her time in the palace, she had seen too many women get abandoned for all sorts of reasons. She really didn't want to see that lass end up the same way.

However, Eunuch Fu was a smart man. Nana He knew this as well.

Therefore, she didn't dare tell him the truth, but also didn't dare conceal everything, and could only vaguely describe the problem on the surface. This way, even if he found it in the future, he could only assume she had underestimated the problem. After all, Nana He was just a palace maid and not a doctor.

It would be best if he never found out. That way she could be said to have bought Xiao Hua some time.

This Nana He was really considerate.

"Then you have to adjust her condition properly. It's true that the lass is only fourteen, it shouldn't happen so quickly. If you need medical ingredients or anything like that, tell Eunuch Chang directly. We aren't lacking for any of those."

Nana He smiled and mocked, "Do I need you to tell me that?"

"I don't have any other requests, I just want to see his highness have an heir. Ai, who knows what his highness is thinking." Eunuch Fu sighed, his face full of lament, and mocked himself: "This is truly a case where his highness isn't desperate but his eunuch is."

Nana He didn't speak, but her gaze was slightly complicated.