The words, ‘this young miss’ allowed Su Xi-er to understand the woman’s identity. She’s the sole daughter of the Zhi County Magistrate.
“Beauty, where did you come from? Did you descend from the sky or…?”
Faced with the woman innocent naivete, Su Xi-er didn’t know how she should answer. She actually suggested that I descended from the sky…
“All you need to know is that this servant isn’t a maidservant in the County Government Office. There’s no need for you to know any more, so please don’t ask. Even if you ask, I won’t tell you..” Su Xi-er no longer paid attention to her and picked up the chips on her own.
The woman didn’t plan on letting her off easily, continuing to pester her. “Since you’re unwilling to tell me, I’ll just presume that you descended from the sky. Tell me, how do I become as beautiful as you?”
Su Xi-er glanced at her. “You are already very beautiful, there’s no need to become even more beautiful.”
The woman cupped her face with her hands and grumbled with grievances, “Originally, I thought that I was beautiful, but he still rejected me. I couldn’t understand why at the beginning, but now I understand after seeing you. I am still not the most beautiful.”
Su Xi-er asked her back, “He[1]?”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “Beimin’s Prince Hao! He’s the most handsome and charming man! The women who want to marry him are innumerable. Prince Hao loves beauties, and the women in the Beauty Palace are unparalleled beauties.”
At this point, the women became dispirited again. “You are beautiful beyond words, but even you didn’t enter the Beauty Palace. Based on that, how beautiful must the women in the Beauty Palace be?”
Su Xi-er didn’t respond. This woman fell in love with him just by catching a glimpse of him… Pei Qianhao’s charisma has reached an inconceivable stage.
With just one glimpse, he can cause women to fall helplessly in love with him.
The woman didn’t mind that Su Xi-er paid no heed to her, beginning to think out loud. “Apart from changing my appearance, how else can I attract him? He loves beauties, but what about their personality? What kind of character, how much talent, and how proficient in needlework must one be?”
Su Xi-er placed the teacup fragments on the cleaning rag, preparing to discard them into the lumber room. The woman was still mumbling to herself when Su Xi-er left. Sigh, it’s hopeless for her. Are all the women in the Beauty Palace mulling over these questions every day?
Su Xi-er had yet to walk out of the hall when she spotted His Excellency County Magistrate rushing over. Upon noticing his daughter muttering to herself, he immediately became solemn. “My silly daughter, don’t think about these unrealistic things. From today onwards, you are not permitted to leave the room by half a step.”
“Dad, you can’t lock your daughter up just for liking Prince Hao! Does he disdain me for looking ugly?”
“You are the number one beauty in Zhi County. You’re not ugly at all! It’s just that our status doesn’t match up to Prince Hao’s. My daughter, don’t think too much. Listen to your dad.” The County Magistrate was also getting anxious. If he let his daughter continue being muddled, the entire County Government office would be implicated.
Su Xi-er sighed to herself before walking out of the hall’s door and leaving the County Magistrate to wrangle with his daughter in the room
~~~
After Su Xi-er was done with handling the teacup shards, Wu Ling appeared again and led her to the room she was going to stay in.
“ This room is split into the inner chamber and side chamber. You will be staying in the side chamber until we continue with our journey tomorrow”
Su Xi-er understood the structure of the inner chamber and side chamber was to make it convenient for the servants to take care of their master. For example, a young miss and her head maidservant, or a young master and his room concubine servant.
“Prince Hao stays in the inner chamber, and will likely prefer to stick to the same living arrangement for the entire journey. Su Xi-er, take care.” Wu Ling advised her again. I will be rushing to the capital later, so nothing must go wrong in my absence.
“Imperial Bodyguard Wu, does Prince Hao not have maidservants serving at his side? Are there none in the Prince Hao Residence?”
Su Xi-er nodded and unhurriedly repeated, “This servant understands now. Everyone in the Prince Hao Residence is a man.”
Wu Ling didn’t know what to reply. What she said is clearly the truth, but why does it make me feel so uncomfortable when I hear it?
When he wanted to chide her, he caught sight of her innocent face. Perhaps this is the reason Prince Hao doesn’t just punish her despite her provoking him time after time?
“Imperial Bodyguard Wu, this servant will now enter and tidy up the place.”
Wu Ling nodded and watched her as she went in. She finally said something right.
Done with briefing Su Xi-er, it was now time for him to carry out the assignment Prince Hao had entrusted him with.
~~~
Su Xi-er first went to the side chamber to grab a broom and dustpan before sweeping out both chambers. She then proceeded to wipe the place down with a cleaning rag.
These tasks are nothing when compared to scrubbing the chamber pots and washing the clothes.
Under Su Xi-er’s attention, the room was soon spotless.
Su Xi-er was gently massaging her waist with her right hand when she heard a sound similar to someone taking off clothes.
She abruptly turned around, and happened to see Pei Qianhao undressing!
The only clothing on his upper body had already been pulled down to his waist.
Su Xi-er immediately turned around. At the same time, a piece of clothing was thrown at her head.
The clothes covered her head, assailing her nostrils with his scent.
“Wash this piece of clothing.” His tone was calm and even.
Su Xi-er took the clothes down before lowering her head and turning around. “This servant will wash it right away.” She then directly headed outside without sparing him a single glance.
Just as she was about to step out of the room, ice-cold words streamed into her ears.
“You don’t dare to look? Even if you did look, this prince wouldn’t dig your eyeballs out.”
Su Xi-er didn’t know how to reply. In other words, he is saying, “quickly turn around, raise your head and look at this prince”?
It’s tricky to answer, so it’s better if I change the topic.
Hence, she immediately replied, “This servant will go and wash the clothes.”
Pei Qianhao didn’t continue to make things difficult for her. “Go out.”
Su Xi-er heaved a sigh of relief. Being averse to men in the first place, Su Xi-er was unable to bear the thought of having to see one naked.
As Pei Qianhao watched her back hastily leaving, the expression in his eyes became deep. She’s a palace maid from the Palace Side Quarters, and has never been hurt by men before. What on earth caused her to find men repulsive?
~~~
Su Xi-er carried Pei Qianhao’s clothes as she walked to the backyard of the County Government Office. She asked someone for a well bucket, but there was no golden basin. His clothes must be washed in a golden basin.
“Call your lord to come over.”
The maidservants looked at each other in bewilderment. She’s just washing clothes. Why does she want to call Lord County Magistrate?
Su Xi-er repeated, “This clothing belongs to Prince Hao. It must be washed in a golden basin.”
The maidservants understood as soon as the words, ‘Prince Hao’ were spoken. One of them quickly ran towards the forecourt.
However, it wasn’t the County Magistrate who came, but his daughter, the Eldest Young Miss.
All the maidservants lowered their heads, not daring to take a peak. The Eldest Young Miss is already infatuated with Prince Hao to a mad extent.
The Eldest Young Miss spotted the clothes in Su Xi-er’s hands with just a glimpse. “Why do you have Prince Hao’s clothes? Did he tell you to wash them? Who exactly are you?”
