Thinking about it, she was right. As the prince’s concubine, appearing bare-faced would indeed invite gossip. I casually glanced in the jewelry box, not finding anything I particularly liked, and instructed the person behind me, “Just pick one randomly and put it in my hair.”
“Yes!” The maid, given permission, smiled and happily selected what she thought was suitable and tried them one by one on my head.
“Okay, one is enough, no need for too many!” If I hadn’t stopped her in time, I’m sure the maid would have stuck all the hairpins in my hair at once!
The maid stuck out her tongue playfully, “My lady is naturally beautiful, any hairpin will look good!”
“Cheeky!” I rolled my eyes, laughing and asking, “What, not afraid of me anymore?”
The maid shrunk her neck, looking innocent, “This servant isn’t afraid of you; I’m just afraid the prince will send us away.”
I took their hands, smiling reassuringly, “Don’t worry! Now that you’re with me, you’re mine. Except for me, no one can decide your fate!”
” The two immediately exclaimed in joy.
I smiled and promised, “Of course. From this moment, you must learn to trust me!”
“Yes!” The two maids responded simultaneously, “We definitely trust my lady!”
I nodded satisfactorily, “Good! Since you trust me, does that mean you’ll listen to me?”
“Of course!” The maids blinked their big eyes, “No matter what my lady says, we’ll listen!”
I stood up, pulling the two side by side in front of me, speaking sincerely, “Then, the first thing I want you to do is to stop calling yourselves ‘servants’ from now on. Understood?”
The two looked at each other, turning to me in confusion, “Then, what should we call ourselves?”
I answered concisely, “Your names! Just call yourselves by your names from now on!”
“How can we do that?” The two shook their heads vigorously, looking terrified, “If the prince finds out, he’ll definitely say we’re improper and send us away!”
I rolled my eyes directly at them, “Didn’t we just say to trust me? How come you’ve forgotten so quickly? Or do you think I’m just a small concubine whose words don’t count?”
“We don’t mean that!” The two maids hurriedly knelt beside me.
Three black lines crossed my forehead. I grimaced, glaring at the two figures on the ground, “What are you doing? Get up quickly!”
“
Upon hearing this, they not only didn’t get up but lowered their heads even more, looking terrified, “Sorry, sorry… we know we were wrong. Please don’t be angry, my lady!”
I felt utterly speechless. Were these two not understanding human language?
Helplessly shaking my head, I patiently said, “I’m not angry. Please, can you two get up?”
Zhui’er lowered her head, innocently muttering, “But my lady clearly looks very angry!”
Gritting my teeth, I threatened them, “If you don’t get up now, I’ll go tell the prince to send you out of the mansion!”
The two cried out, finally scrambling to their feet…
I then breathed a sigh of relief, smiling at them, “I don’t know how you served your previous masters, but now that you’re with me, you’ll do things my way, following my habits. Understood?”
“This servant obeys my lady’s instructions!” Both responded in unison.
“Hmm?” I raised an eyebrow, and they immediately understood, quickly correcting, “Yes, Zhui’er (Shui’er) understands!”
“That’s more like it!” I nodded satisfactorily, continuing, “The second thing you’ll change is to stop kneeling at every turn. People are all the same, there’s no distinction of noble or lowly, at least not in my eyes…”
The perks of being a concubine are indeed numerous.
After dressing and grooming, I arrived at the flower hall.
Qi Chenxuan was long gone, leaving only the steward waiting respectfully. Seeing me, he said, “The prince has instructed that he will go to the palace to pay respects alone. My lady should stay and rest at home.
The old steward’s face was serious, and he answered expressionlessly: “Please be at ease, madam! If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince says it’s fine, then it is fine!”
“Really?” I immediately exclaimed happily. To be honest, I was really afraid of entering the palace to pay respects. There are so many rules, and if I accidentally do something improper, they might mock me behind my back. It seems being a concubine does have its advantages!
The old steward respectfully nodded: “Madam can walk freely in the mansion, but there is a cherry blossom forest in the West Courtyard that is a forbidden area of the royal residence. If madam has nothing urgent, please do not go there!”
The steward’s expression turned cold, and he answered sternly: “This servant does not know. In any case, His Royal Highness does not like people casually entering. Lightly, one’s salary will be suspended for a year; seriously, thirty strokes of punishment and being expelled from the Crown Prince’s residence. Madam should not inquire too much!”
“Thank you for the reminder, I understand!”
I smiled and nodded, then left the flower hall with the two maids, Shui’er and Zui’er.
The cherry blossom forest in the West Courtyard? What kind of place is that…
I curled my mouth, secretly pleased. They don’t want me to go? Then I’ll definitely go and see what they can do to me!
“What are you thinking about, madam?” Shui’er asked.
“Nothing! Just found you two very cute!” I brushed it off, deliberately stretching my lips.
Shui’er’s mouth twitched: “Madam, please stop smiling!”
“Why?” I queried.
Shui’er said: “Because every time you smile, it feels like you’re plotting something, and it gives us goosebumps!”
I stopped smiling and gave her a fierce look: “Has anyone told you that you’re not cute at all?”
“…” Shui’er’s mouth opened into an O shape, unable to speak!
“Pfft—” Zui’er covered her mouth but still laughed, then looked up at the sky, pretending she heard nothing!
I curled my mouth and said: “Stop pretending. I know you’re laughing. Let’s go!”
“Oh!” Zui’er awkwardly withdrew her gaze.
Seeing me walking towards the west, she couldn’t help but ask: “Madam, where are you taking us?”
I threw out two words decisively, “West Courtyard!”
The two maids immediately grabbed me from left and right, nervously asking: “Madam, you’re not thinking of going to that cherry blossom garden the steward mentioned, are you?”
“Yes!” I nodded very seriously, not feeling anything was wrong!
“No!” They immediately stopped me in horror.
“Why not?” I blinked, feigning misunderstanding.
Shui’er hurriedly said: “Didn’t madam just hear the steward say that this is a forbidden area of the Crown Prince’s residence? If the Crown Prince finds out, he will definitely severely punish us!”
I shrugged indifferently, saying casually: “I’m not afraid!”
“But we are afraid!” The two maids said in unison.
I disdainfully glanced at them: “Cowards! If you’re afraid, don’t follow me. I’ll explore on my own and won’t implicate you!”
“No!” They held onto me tightly, shaking their heads continuously: “We’ve been in the residence for three years and have seen several servants punished by the Crown Prince for mistakenly entering forbidden areas. Today, we absolutely won’t let you take this risk!”
What is the secret of this forbidden place?
Shui’er nodded, saying with concern: “Hmm, you should also be careful. I heard that there are some unclean things in the forest of the West Courtyard…”
“Shh, don’t talk nonsense!
Before Shui’er could finish speaking, Zui’er covered her mouth, carefully checking the surroundings before releasing her and saying: “These things are very strange. Don’t talk nonsense. If you accidentally scare the madam, neither of us will have a good outcome!”
