After Qi Chenxuan left, two maids immediately rushed up, holding my hand with concern, “Madam, are you alright after being gone all night?”
“I’m fine now!” Even if something had happened, it was already over, “Well, I’m a bit hungry. Could you prepare something for me to eat? Oh, I want bird’s nest porridge!”
“Madam, what are you thinking about?” Shui’er suddenly raised her voice beside me.
“Wh-what?” I was startled and turned to look at her.
Shui’er smiled, “Nothing. Zui’er has gone to the kitchen to prepare food. Let’s go back to the room and rest for a bit!”
Oh my, that broken copper mirror, no matter how I look, I can barely make out a silhouette. I might as well just wash my face in a basin of water!
Immediately rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but say: “I want a mirror I can see clearly! Preferably made of glass with a mercury base, one that can clearly show my own appearance!”
The young girl blinked, bewildered, and shook her head: “But, what are the glass and mercury that madam is talking about? I’ve never heard of them before.”
I was speechless; I can only cover my forehead and groan…
My god! What kind of bizarre society is this? As a woman, I can go without food or drink, but how can I live without a mirror?
Seeing me looking like I was about to faint, the girl immediately supported me: “Madam, are you alright? Why don’t you tell me what those two things look like, and I’ll go ask around for you?”
That’s right, every era has different names for things. Maybe they do exist, just called something else!
Suddenly remembering the crystal bead bracelet on my hand, I immediately took it out: “It’s similar to this kind of transparent material. Just put a silver layer behind it, and it’s the mirror I was talking about, one that can reflect clearly!”
This bracelet has a bit of history.
At the time, I felt a mysterious power attracting me. The moment I saw this bracelet, I liked it at first sight and bought it without hesitation.
I originally planned to give it to my previous boyfriend as a birthday gift. Who knew, before I could give the gift, I discovered that he was cheating with another woman. I had planned to throw the bracelet from the top of the Ferris wheel, hoping to hit him!
Who would have thought, before I could throw it, I was struck by lightning, and when I woke up, I had become another person. Yet this bracelet was still on my wrist. How strange…
“Madam, madam?”
I don’t know how many times I’ve zoned out today. When the girl called Shui’er brought me back to my senses, my expression was no longer as surprised. The girl asked: “Madam, what are you thinking about?”
I smiled and shook my head: “Nothing, just remembering some unhappy things from the past.”
The girl, hearing it was about unhappy things, wisely stopped asking and instead smiled: “Shui’er suddenly remembers seeing something similar to what madam described!”
“Really?” I grabbed her hand excitedly: “Where? Quick, take me to find it!”
Shui’er frowned worriedly: “But, Shui’er can’t remember exactly where I saw it. What should I do?”
“Ah?” My heart was full of joy, but in the next second, it was empty. I stomped my foot anxiously: “Then quickly try to remember, where exactly did you see it?”
Seeing my state, Shui’er couldn’t help but become anxious too, trying hard to remember while comforting me: “Madam, don’t be anxious. Let Shui’er think carefully. I definitely saw it somewhere!”
“But where? It’s clearly in my memory. Where is it? Let me think carefully…”
“Ah, I remember!”
The girl suddenly shouted, her expression somewhat excited: “I remember three years ago, the Crown Prince spent a lot of money to have someone specially make a mirror similar to what madam just described!”
“Really?” I immediately asked joyfully: “Do you know where that mirror is now?”
Shui’er touched her forehead, thinking carefully: “I remember, the Crown Prince originally planned to give this mirror to Miss Han, but before he could give it to her, she had already left, so…”
I subconsciously continued: “So, that mirror should still be in that guy’s room?”
Shui’er nodded: “That should be correct!”
But isn’t that guy’s room where I’m living now?
I carefully recalled the room’s furnishings and found no glass-like mirror, so I asked Shui’er: “Does your Crown Prince have any other rooms?”
Shui’er thought for a moment: “Besides the bedroom, the Crown Prince sometimes stays in the study, which has a small rest room. Could it be there?”
I immediately suggested: “Let’s go to the study and take a look?”
“Ah?” Shui’er let out a soft cry, her face full of concern: “Is this okay?
The Crown Prince has always disliked others entering his study.
I immediately patted my chest and guaranteed: “What are you afraid of with me here? If we’re discovered, I’ll just say I forced you to go. I’m the mistress of this prince’s residence. What place can I not go?”
I’ve been to the Cherry Blossom Garden, so what’s his study?
Besides, he didn’t pursue such a big matter as me running away from home, so I don’t believe he would do anything to me just for entering his study.
Shui’er had no choice but to follow me.
Fortunately, that guy wasn’t around. I had Shui’er keep watch outside while I sneaked in alone! Just looking for something, yet acting like a thief – how frustrating…
The Secret Hidden in the Study
Strangely, there was nothing special about his study, just some books and decorations. I couldn’t understand why he was so nervous and wouldn’t let anyone enter.
The study was divided into two rooms, with the outer room containing desks and bookshelves. The inner room was probably the temporary resting place Shui’er mentioned.
Entering the outer room and seeing everything at a glance, I didn’t find what I was looking for. I rushed into the inner room, and the moment I lifted the curtain, I was stunned by the scene before me and finally understood the real reason he didn’t want anyone to enter!
The inner room was much larger than the outer one. Though there were no windows, it was surprisingly bright due to night pearls embedded in each wall. However, what truly shocked me were the numerous portraits covering the walls, all depicting the same woman.
I knew immediately this was Han, the woman who once lived in the Ying Garden. No wonder she had haunted him so deeply that he even overlooked attempting to kill me.
As I examined the paintings, I noticed they all shared one expression: a bewildered upward gaze, filled with expectation and a hint of despair.
This power made me unconsciously interested in the person in the paintings, with an urgent desire to understand her. I believed that someone with such an expression must have an extraordinary story behind her.
I curled my lips, unconvinced: “I’m a noble prince’s concubine, and I’m only served by two maids. Isn’t that a bit embarrassing? Anyway, I still want another person. You can’t be that stingy, right?”
That guy directly answered impatiently: “Aren’t the affairs of the mansion now under your management? Maid allocation is a small matter that you should be responsible for. There’s no need to ask me!”
Oh right! How could I forget such an important thing! Now all the big and small affairs in the prince’s mansion, including all the maids, servants, and even the steward, are under my management. Wow, being second only to one person, but above dozens – the feeling is quite something…
“Well, I’ll take my leave first!” I plastered a smile on my face, taking the opportunity to slip away before he could pursue the matter of me rashly entering his study!
Outside the study, I saw Shui’er standing anxiously at the door. Seeing me walk out unharmed, she let out a huge sigh of relief: “Madam, are you alright?”
