He suddenly shifted his gaze and looked at Ruo Yuan who was leaning against the tree trunk and sleeping. He slowly posed a question, “If it were this palace maid, would Prince Hao be this concerned?”
He was using another method to remind her. “Prince Hao is treating you like that because you are beautiful.”
“This servant understands what you’re saying, Third Imperial Prince. Prince Hao is too eminent and beyond my reach. This servant’s close sister was taken into the Beauty Palace and has experienced ups and downs. I reckon that it isn’t too pleasant.”
Many people’s impression towards Pei Qianhao is that he has a noble identity and likes beauties. But is he really like that? Perhaps his real nature is like that or perhaps he actually hides himself deeper than any other person.
Situ Li immediately chuckled instead. There was finally an almost undetectable fluctuation in his voice. “His noble identity is temporary. How many people have been noble for all their life? Even if it is Prince Hao, he also has ignominious moments.”
A handsome face emerged in Su Xi-er’s mind. Ignominious moments? Is he referring to Pei Qianhao’s past?
As the Pei Family’s foster son, the fact that the details about his biological parents aren’t clear is probably a blot on his life, right?
Right at this moment, Situ Li suddenly walked closer to her and swept his gaze lightly over the chamber pots. “Although you’re currently the palace maid scrubbing the chamber pots, no one can be sure about what would happen in the future.”
Su Xi-er felt that Situ Li was contradicting himself. He previously told me that beautiful women don’t live long. But now he’s saying that I may never know if I will be able to free myself and bring about a change in fortune.
From his words, she could deduce that he was aloof and antisocial, but was extremely bewildered in his heart. He probably only experiences that kind of pain profoundly at midnight.
However, I won’t tell him this. I can’t say it and there’s no need for me to say it.
“Until when are you going to scrub these chamber pots?” Situ Li changed the topic and his gaze kept moving back and forth between the chamber pots and Su Xi-er.
“If there are many, I won’t be able to finish scrubbing even after an entire night. If there are fewer like tonight, I’ll be able to finish in a little more than six hours.” Su Xi-er lowered her head and started scrubbing.
She had never done this kind of work in her previous lifetime. Now, she was getting more and more skilled in it.
Situ Li stood at the side and watched her silently scrub under the moonlight. Her face was completely serious with no sign of unwillingness.
Is there really this kind of person in this world? Willing to be in a low position with no complaints, only wishing to lead a smooth and steady life forever.
“Third Imperial Prince, you should go back early to rest,” Su Xi-er raised her head and respectfully said.
“You’re chasing me back?” Situ Li asked back. He slowly paced back and forth, clearly not intending to leave at all.
“This servant doesn’t have the right to chase you away. However, this is the Palace Side Quarters. It wouldn’t be good if someone gets the goods on you.”
“Becoming a subject for gossip? Do I have to be afraid of that? By giving you medicinal powder, Prince Hao is also leaving behind a pretext for gossip,” Situ Li replied softly. “However, someone will settle Prince Hao’s matters. Pei Yaran pays meticulous attention to every single matter of Prince Hao.”
Su Xi-er didn’t speak. The Third Imperial Prince always intentionally or unintentionally targets Prince Hao with his words. If there’s an entanglement between the two of them, they should just settle it on their own. Why do they have to drag me in?
They don’t care about becoming a subject for gossip, but for someone like me who has a low status, any random rumour can bring endless troubles.
“You’re afraid of becoming a subject for gossip? You feel that this is a scandal?” Situ Li continued asking her.
Su Xi-er didn’t answer. It’s not easy to answer this question. She pretended to be ignorant and didn’t utter a single word.
At this point, Situ Li changed the topic again. “Conversely, if you don’t forge connections, how would things turn out for you in the imperial palace when you have such an appearance?”
Su Xi-er stopped what she was doing. “This servant heard that the Third Imperial Prince is aloof and doesn’t like talking to people even if they are men, let alone women. Why are you telling this servant so much, Third Imperial Prince?”
Situ Li’s eyebrows were slightly creased. There was finally a change in his expression.
Why am I saying so much? Can I say that I don’t know either?
If I really have to give a reason, perhaps it’s because there were no old maidservants or palace maids to serve Mother Empress after she was deposed and moved to the desolate palace. There was also no one who came to collect the chamber pots. Thus, Mother Empress had no choice but to scrub them herself.
He had watched on helplessly as his Mother Empress scrubbed the chamber pots under the moonlight. Back then, there was no new empress in the palace.
There was also no new empress many years after his Mother Empress passed away.
This went on until that year when Pei Yaran entered the palace. Within merely a year, she had seized sole control over the imperial harem.
“Third Imperial Prince, it is already late at night. You should go back.” When Su Xi-er saw that he was lost in his thoughts, she called out to remind him.
She had just finished speaking when a woman’s shout could be heard from afar.
The voice was very loud and sounded very fearful. Even the sleeping Ruo Yuan was startled awake.
Her plump face trembled and her round eyes widened. “What happened?! Who yelled so miserably?”
Right after Ruo Yuan squeaked her question, she saw a handsome man clad in robes whiter than snow. His hair was put up and he appeared to float in the air like an immortal.
Puzzlement was reflected in Ruo Yuan’s eyes. Although his imposing manner can’t be compared to Prince Hao, he is handsome in another way.
For a short while, Ruo Yuan forgot about that plaintive voice from just now and looked at Situ Li foolishly.
Only when the woman’s shrill voice sounded again did Ruo Yuan wake up with a start.
“I’ll go and take a look,” Situ Li told Su Xi-er before heading towards the source of the voice.
Su Xi-er only took a moment before recognising the voice, leaving her dumbstruck. It’s Liu Ye-er!
She immediately stood up and followed Situ Li.
Ruo Yuan was getting anxious. Don’t leave me all alone here! I’m scared! Hence, she immediately caught up with Su Xi-er.
No one spoke. Everyone walked towards the source of the woman’s voice.
When they arrived at a grove, the voice had stopped again and they could only hear the sound of the wind.
“Third Imperial Prince, the woman who shouted is Liu Ye-er,” Su Xi-er informed him slowly.
As soon as Ruo Yuan heard that, her mouth became agape as her face filled with terror.
Third Imperial Prince! The elegant gentleman standing in front of me is the Third Imperial Prince! Also, Liu Ye-er? Isn’t she dead? Why…
Situ Li nodded. “She escaped. Go back to the well and carry out your work. Don’t follow.” He then continued forward with even larger strides without another word. Su Xi-er didn’t follow him.
Ruo Yuan watched Situ Li as he gradually faded into the distance. Eventually, her quivering voice sounded out. “He is the Third Imperial Prince…”
“Mhm.”
“Su Xi-er, why did you suddenly get acquainted with so many personages? Prince Hao had just left, and it’s the Third Imperial Prince tonight.” Ruo Yuan’s eyes were wide open. There was no envy in them, only astonishment.
“These personages can go wherever they want to go. I am unable to interfere.” At this moment, she suddenly heard a movement and immediately became alert.
Scratch, scratch, scratch. It sounds like iron chains being dragged against the floor.
She had been tethered by iron chains before, so she was especially familiar with this type of sound.
Ruo Yuan’s body trembled. This voice is so frightening. Is it really Liu Ye-er? She isn’t dead?
