The head imperial guard was a robust man. The expression in his eyes carried disdain as he scanned through the crowd palace maids. In a rough voice, he announced, “The previous Old-Maidservant-In-Charge of the Palace Side Quarters disregarded the palace rules and meted out private punishment. She was unable to endure thirty planks and has just recently stopped breathing. After repeated considerations, the Imperial Household Department* has decided to send Old Maidservant Liu to manage the Palace Side Quarters.”
Old Maidservant Liu? The expression in the palace maids’ eyes was inscrutable. Which Old Maidservant Liu? There are many old maidservants with the surname ‘Liu’ in the palace.
Su Xi-er remained unruffled and silently observed the reactions of the palace maids around her.
“Among the old maidservants, Old Maidservant Liu is the most senior. She is the reigning emperor’s wet nurse,” the imperial guard informed them loudly.
Su Xi-er found this matter to be unfathomable. A veteran old maidservant won’t be assigned to the Palace Side Quarters. Besides, Old Maidservant Liu is even His Majesty’s wet nurse.
Even if His Majesty’s biological mother isn’t the Empress Dowager, he still has to nominally call her ‘Mother Empress’. Regardless of how small His Majesty’s power is, he can still protect his wet nurse, right?
“Old Maidservant Liu will come later. All of you better stand deferentially!” The imperial guard’s tone turned stern as he spoke forcefully.
The palace maids trembled in fear. After all, it is His Majesty’s wet nurse!
Everyone lowered their heads and stood in the middle of the courtyard as they waited silently. It wasn’t long before an hour had already passed, with many of the palace maids losing strength in their legs.
When the imperial guard wasn’t paying attention, Su Xi-er took the opportunity to look at the palace gate. She immediately spotted someone wearing a dark purple old maidservant’s palace attire.
The old maidservants in the Palace Side Quarters were required to wear a dark yellow old maidservant’s attire but Old Maidservant Liu came donned in a purple palace attire.
As Old Maidservant Liu slowly approached, Su Xi-er saw her face clearly.
She wasn’t as tall as Old Maidservant Zhao, and her chin was sharp. She didn’t have a stern demeanour, and her whole body was exuding with benevolence.
Although Old Maidservant Liu’s was hobbling with a bad leg, there were no palace maids beside her to support her.
“Audacious palace maid! You dare to look straight at Old Maidservant Liu!” The imperial guard immediately walked to Su Xi-er and lambasted her loudly. He raised his hand and was about to deliver a slap when a gentle voice sounded out.
“Hold on.” There was a smile at the corner of Old Maidservant Liu’s mouth. “It’s just a palace maid. There’s no need to hit her. Furthermore, it’s normal for her to be curious about the newly-appointed old maidservant.”
The imperial guard glared at Su Xi-er fiercely before he paid his greetings to Old Maidservant Liu respectfully. “Old Maidservant Liu, in the future, we will have to request you to supervise the Palace Side Quarters.”
“Eunuch Zhang from the Imperial Household Department has instructed me with the task. I will definitely do my utmost.”
“That would be great then. This subordinate will go back and report to Eunuch Zhang.” Right afterwards, the imperial guard left with his few subordinates.
Su Xi-er raised her head again to glance at Old Maidservant Liu. As it turned out, Old Maidservant Liu was also looking at her.
“You are…?” Old Maidservant Liu stopped in front of her and asked gently.
“This servant is Su Xi-er.”
“So you are Su Xi-er. What do you do in the Palace Side Quarters?” Old Maidservant Liu didn’t put on the airs of an old-maidservant-in-charge at all.
Su Xi-er furrowed her brow slightly before her expression immediately turned back to normal. Since she knows my name, she should also know what I do in the Palace Side Quarters. Why is she still asking me?
Standing beside Su Xi-er was Hong Li. She felt that Old Maidservant Liu was someone who was very easy to get along. Thus, she raised her head boldly and answered on Su Xi-er’s behalf.
“Reporting to Old Maidservant, she scrubs the chamber pots.”
“Oh?” Old Maidservant Liu raised her eyebrow and laughed. “To have such a beautiful woman scrubbing the chamber pots all day is a pity.”
Afterwards, she reached out her hand and raised Su Xi-er’s chin, sizing her up meticulously, “Future beauty, how old are you?”
Her question had inadvertently jabbed Su Xi-er’s weakness. I don’t know the real age of this body.
Su Xi-er looked at her. She didn’t speak and simply nodded.
“At fifteen years old, this figure of yours is too skinny and weak. Has your period come?” Old Maidservant Liu continued to ask.
Her question was very bizarre. She was asking Su Xi-er about her period in front of everyone.
Hong Li realised that Su Xi-er felt awkward and immediately helped her out of her predicament. “Her body is delicate, but her period is still very regular. There was one time when her period came, yet she was still whipped.”
Old Maidservant Liu put her hand down and looked at Su Xi-er before speaking, enunciating every single word, “A beautiful woman encounters many disputes.”
Su Xi-er felt that Old Maidservant Liu appeared to be benevolent on the surface, but kept many thoughts securely hidden under her facade.
“You should still scrub the chamber pots,” Old Maidservant Liu slowly told her.
Su Xi-er bowed and asked, “This servant always scrubs the chamber pots at night. Would that be the case in the future as well?”
“Mhm, at night. Just stay in your room in the day. In the future, you will be living alone in this room. The other palace maids are to move to another empty room.” With that, Su Xi-er now had an exclusive room to herself in the Palace Side Quarters.
Su Xi-er suddenly remembered Prince Hao’s words. “It’s too cramped for four people. It’s still acceptable if you’re staying in it alone.” Old Maidservant Liu is Prince Hao’s subordinate?
Some of the palace maids felt indignant. Why is the new old maidservant so biased towards Su Xi-er? She asked her so many questions, and even let her enjoy a whole room to herself!
It’s too unfair! The palace maid who scrubs the chamber pots has the lowest status!
Despite the complaints in their hearts, they didn’t dare to voice them out.
“Everyone may be dismissed. Carry out your respective work. You will be doing the same work that you always have. I won’t care about these small matters, but if you don’t do your work well, my punishment will be more severe than Old Maidservant Zhao’s. Mull over this on your own.” Old Maidservant Liu had addressed them cordially, but the effect was already better than Old Maidservant Zhao’s stern voice and punishment.
All the palace maids scattered and immediately went to work.
It was currently daytime and thus, Su Xi-er’s resting time. Just as she was about to walk towards her room, Old Maidservant Liu called her, “Su Xi-er, take me to the place Old Maidservant Zhao previously stayed at.”
Su Xi-er turned around and responded respectfully, “This servant will take you there now, Old Maidservant.”
“You don’t have to be so courteous to me. As long as you haven’t done anything wrong, I won’t reprimand you.” Old Maidservant Liu replied with a benevolent expression.
Su Xi-er nodded but didn’t speak any further. She directly walked in the direction of Old Maidservant Zhao’s room.
When the door was opened, they realised that the room had been tidied up orderly and was suffused with the scent of medicinal herbs.
There was a restriction to the amount of medicinal herbs every old maidservant could possess, but Old Maidservant Zhao’s room was saturated with the smell of medicinal herbs.
“It looks like Old Maidservant Zhao had coveted and obtained many medicinal herbs. Su Xi-er, look through and check if there’s any medicinal herb that you can use,” Old Maidservant Liu sat down on a wooden stool and spoke indifferently.
Su Xi-er felt that Old Maidservant Liu was very strange. From an outsiders’ perspective, they would definitely think that Old Maidservant Liu treats me very well.
When Old Maidservant Liu saw Su Xi-er’s cautious look, she couldn’t help but smile. “You find it strange that I’m nice to you?”
“After suffering from so many whips, this servant has understood a principle. In this world, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
Old Maidservant Liu’s eyes were filled with appreciation. No wonder Prince Hao pesters her and doesn’t let go.
However, he is taking a long time in accepting her into the Beauty Palace. This causes people to be suspicious instead.
“You don’t have to think too much. When I look at you, I am reminded of my master in the past.”
Su Xi-er looked at her. Isn’t Old Maidservant Liu’s master His Majesty’s biological mum?
“She was very beautiful, but her position was only that of a Lady of Talent**. It was an accident that she became pregnant with an imperial child. On the day she gave birth to His Majesty, she passed away. Although I am the wet nurse, I only looked after His Majesty and didn’t feed him with milk.” Old Maidservant Liu recounted faintly. In the end, she waved her hand. “They’re all matters in the past. I shall not mention them anymore.”
Old Maidservant Liu’s gaze landed on Su Xi-er. Her tone was mild, but probing. “Prince Hao is very interested in you.”
(* It basically manages the internal affairs within the palace.)
(** One of the lowest ranks of an imperial consort.)
