When one mentions Prince Hao, what would be their first reaction?
She started. The Beauty Palace. Everyone in the whole world knows… Even when I was still Ning Rulan, I already knew that.
As she looked at his eyes that were overflowing with probing queries, she finally replied, “I have always heard other palace maids talk about the Beauty Palace, and that there are many beauties in there. Does Prince Hao love this the most?”
He immediately raised the corners of his mouth and raised his hand to feel her face. The tactile sensation was superb, leaving him very satisfied.
Su Xi-er didn’t resist and allowed him to touch. If I resist, I’ll definitely elicit an even more intense action from him.
At the same time, she was also sounding him out. Is he really as the rumours say? That he can’t restrain himself whenever he sees a beauty?
Pei Qianhao’s hand that was stroking her face stopped. The expression in his eyes changed. It was no longer joking, but solemn like an abyss suffused with cold rays. “This prince loves beauties the most. Your appearance could be considered first in the Beauty Palace. Are you scared that this prince has seen you?”
Su Xi-er’s heart shuddered when she heard his words. I absolutely can’t enter the Beauty Palace.
There are two reasons. First of all, in this nation of Beimin, misogyny is rampant and men are regarded as superior to women. After entering the Beauty Palace, I reckon that I’ll be completely sealed off from the outside world, unable to hear of any news from Nanzhao.
Perhaps more importantly, I don’t want to be involved with this man. His whole body reeks of danger.
She looked at him and slowly asked, “Prince Hao, beauties will eventually age. If they become old and their beautiful appearances fade, will they still be your favourite?”
Prince Hao looked at her serious expression and involuntarily removed his hand from her face.
No one has ever asked me this question nor have I ever thought about it before.
Su Xi-er saw that he didn’t answer so she continued, “This servant wants to lead my whole life peacefully, and not to be raised to extreme heights by others and then dropped down just as hard.”
She then pushed him away and knelt down with a thud, pretending to be extremely weak and delicate. “Prince Hao, you definitely suspect that this servant is the person who attacked you in the woods. But that night, this servant really was sweeping in the Palace Side Quarters. I returned to my room right after I was done.”
Pei Qianhao lowered his head to look at her. He didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt irritated.
Every word that she has said, no one has ever dared to speak them to me before. She knelt down and said so much just to implore me not to take her into the Beauty Palace.
It was as if the air instantly congealed. It was unclear how much time had passed when Pei Qianhao’s deep and low voice rang from above her head.
“Things that have no benefits to this prince at all, this prince will toss them away without any mercy. Of course, if someone has provoked this prince, this prince will definitely not let that person off no matter who they are.”
His voice was chilly. As soon as he was done speaking, Su Xi-er saw the lower hem of the purple clothes swish.
Creak. The room door was opened and Pei Qianhao instantly vanished from the room.
Before he left, his gaze turned rapidly towards the small groove in the wall. She still hasn’t discovered that pearl.
Su Xi-er stood up. Learning from her lesson after two instances where she was caught by surprise, she would always check if there was anyone in the room every time she entered and sprinkle white ash in front of the door every time she left. Today, she had sprinkled the white ash once, not expecting that Pei Qianhao would come again.
The room door was opened so Su Xi-er moved forward to close the door before returning to the bedside and picking up the white porcelain bottle. Opening it, she began to feel refreshed as she carefully took a sniff of the green medicinal powder inside.
She had studied medicinal herbs in the past. Although she wasn’t an expert, she had at least managed to pick up the basics.
The smell of this medicinal powder is different from normal medicinal powders. That is why its effect is so great.
Suddenly, Su Xi-er’s eyes lit up. Perhaps this was taken from Xiliu Nation? Regardless of gender, all of their people like to appear beautiful, favouring this kind of medicine that is made with flowers and plants.
At the same time, she even poured a little on the fragrance sachet at her waist. The material of the fragrance sachet was contaminated with the smell of safflower and the medicinal powder could remove the smell, saving her the trouble of having to go out of her way to clean it.
After she had properly closed it, Su Xi-er carefully placed the white porcelain bottle and medicinal herbs in the cupboard.
She had just closed the cupboard door when she heard knocking on her room door. Hong Li’s voice sounded, “Old Maidservant Zhao has indeed died. Her body has been covered by a white cloth and sent out of the imperial palace. I heard that it’s going to be thrown into the unmarked mass grave.”
Su Xi-er understood in her heart. “Come in first before you talk.”
If Old Maidservant Zhao has died just like that, then what about Liu Ye-er? Where exactly is Old Maidservant Zhao keeping her?”
Hong Li swiftly entered the room and gingerly closed the door. Her face was full of lingering fear as she recalled the event. “Old Maidservant Zhao has stayed in the imperial palace for so many years. In the past, she had even served the Pure Consort*. It was only after the Pure Consort committed a crime and was sentenced to death that Old Maidservant Zhao was assigned to the Palace Side Quarters.”
A few simple sentences had summarised the whole of Old Maidservant Zhao’s life. Su Xi-er hadn’t known that Old Maidservant Zhao had even served the Pure Consort before.
“Hong Li, which Pure Consort are you referring to?”
When she saw Su Xi-er’s earnest expression, Hong Li was bemused. Old Maidservant Zhao is already dead, but Su Xi-er still wants to ask?
But since she has asked, I have to answer. Su Xi-er is my hope now!
“I entered the palace earlier than you by year. That year happened to be when the Pure Consort committed a crime and Old Maidservant Zhao was sent to the Palace Side Quarters. It’s normal that you’re not aware of this matter. As for Pure Consort herself, I only know that her surname is Liu and that she’s a woman with a literary reputation. After Pure Consort met with a calamity, the Liu Family also declined.”
Su Xi-er immediately caught the main point. “Her surname is Liu?”
Could it be related to Liu Ye-er?
Hong Li nodded. “That’s right. Her surname is Liu, the same surname as Liu Ye-er.”
When she mentioned Liu Ye-er, the expression in Hong Li’s eyes immediately changed as she quickly shut her mouth.
Su Xi-er scrunched up her slender eyebrows a little and began ruminating.
When Hong Li saw her looking pensive, she made fun of her. “You’re only fifteen years old. Using Old Maidservant Liu’s words, you are right in the prime of your youth. You will look older if you always furrow your brow.”
Su Xi-er raised her head to look at her and muttered to herself, “Who could Liu Ye-er have offended? Her surname is Liu, and Pure Consort’s surname is also Liu.”
“It’s just a coincidence ‘Liu’ is such a common surname that there are many people with it! Don’t mention Liu Ye-er anymore. Whenever she is brought up, I will quail in my heart.” Hong Li waved her hand as she told her.
Su Xi-er was puzzled. They have the same surname. Is it really just a coincidence?
Just as she was pondering, Hong Li patted her shoulders and looked excited. “Prince Hao really cares about you. When Old Maidservant Zhao secretly meted out punishment to you, he immediately retaliated against her so harshly. With her old body, there was no way she would survive the thirty planks she was sentenced to. Tsk tsk, I reckon that all the women in the Beauty Palace don’t have such a treatment.”
“Whenever Prince Hao sees a beauty, he will keep her for himself. What kind of person do you think he is?” Su Xi-er pretended to ask casually.
This question frightened Hong Li. Her entire expression changed and she became very cautious. “How would I dare to fabricate shortcomings about Prince Hao?! Besides, in Beimin, even those with slight wealth would marry a few concubines. Prince Hao has massive power, so it’s natural that he has many women!”
As long as one has immense power, one can possess numerous women. This notion was already deep-seated in Beimin.
Su Xi-er thought of Nanzhao. Although the rules aren’t as stringent as in Beimin, it is also misogynistic, and regards men as superior to women. In the previous era, when it came to the most elegant and talented Princess Zhao Hua, her husband still took two concubines.
All of a sudden, she recalled what she had once told Yun Ruofeng. “You’re only allowed to have me in this lifetime.”
How did Yun Ruofeng reply me back then? “In this lifetime, I will only love you.”
Hehe, now that I think about it, how mocking and ridiculous it had been!
(* Considered to be one of the higher ranks of imperial consorts in the imperial harem)
