“If you rub it often, your body will become fragrant. Try it.” She continued to hear Pei Qianhao’s deep and low voice.
Su Xi-er glanced at him and firmly believed that his perverted illness was acting up again. Finally, she left without saying a word.
Looking in the direction she vanished, the expression in Pei Qianhao’s eyes darkened. He had deliberately informed her of the other effect of the medicinal powder to check if she would actually use it.
He simply didn’t believe that she didn’t pay any attention to her own body at all. It’s very normal for women to value their appearances and skin.
Su Xi-er traced her steps to return to the Palace Side Quarters. When she entered the palace gate, she saw Old Maidservant Liu standing there waiting for her.
“Why have you only come back now? Don’t you know that you can’t leave the Palace Side Quarters for too long?”
“Eunuch Zhang instructed me to take care of some matters that caused my delay in returning. I have made you worry, Old Maidservant Liu.”
Old Maidservant Liu stared at Su Xi-er and ruminated. “Prince Hao didn’t pass on a verbal edict to punish me. This time, you have won. In the future, feel free to instruct me if there is anything you need. However, I have a condition.”
Su Xi-er smiled. “Is this condition related to His Majesty?”
“You are very intelligent, being able to read between the lines without needing me to prompt you. His Majesty is young and can only be controlled by others. Even if he grows to adulthood, I’m afraid that he still wouldn’t be able to reclaim the imperial authority. I hope that…” Old Maidservant Liu surveyed Su Xi-er closely. This task is too heavy. Can she bear it? She’s just a palace maid from the Palace Side Quarters. Am I being too careless?
“I am unable to care about what happens to the imperial authority. As long as His Majesty isn’t bullied and leads a healthy life, isn’t that also very good?”
Old Maidservant Liu was stunned. Not caring about the imperial authority and only wanting to live blissfully and healthily. This is exactly the same as what Master said in the past. In an instant, Old Maidservant Liu looked at Su Xi-er in a different light.
“Old Maidservant Liu, you have a condition, but I also have a condition. In the future, you have to listen to my instructions for everything. As for His Majesty, it’s alright as long as he grows up healthily and safely. If you don’t approve of that, I have nothing to say.” Su Xi-er began to walk away.
For some things, less is more. It would be better to just give a sufficient hint.
She had only taken a few steps when Old Maidservant Liu called out to her.
“Alright, I’ll promise you that I’ll listen to you in the future. I hope that His Majesty can be healthy and safe. This was also Master’s wish before she died.”
Su Xi-er tilted her head back to reveal a small smile at the corner of her mouth. “It’s settled then.”
She then walked ahead, leaving Old Maidservant Liu alone as she stood there in a daze.
Su Xi-er’s unintentional smile just now had stunned Old Maidservant Liu. That kind of smile was magnanimous, yet charming at the same time. At the same time, her eyes seemed to exhibit a lustrous radiance that would draw people.
Prince Hao didn’t punish me. Old Maidservant Liu didn’t believe that Prince Hao didn’t know about the matter of her skipping out on the punishment. However, Su Xi-er had come back late. Did she meet Prince Hao?
To Old Maidservant Liu, everything was a puzzle. Right now, her only path was to believe Su Xi-er.
~~~
Su Xi-er changed her clothes upon returning to her room, her gaze inadvertently landing on the bottle of medicinal powder given to her by Pei Qianhao as she prepared to go to the bathhouse. After contemplating for a while, she decided to take the white porcelain bottle with her.
Afterwards, she entered the bathhouse, opened the white porcelain bottle, and proceeded to smear medicinal powder on the scars on her arms. These were marks left behind by being whipped in the past. Su Xi-er herself had suffered too many hardships.
Since I am now the one in this body, I won’t let others bully me anymore.
The medicinal powder had a faint fragrance, prompting Su Xi-er to suddenly remembered Pei Qianhao’s words. Unexpectedly, as if it was the work of ghosts and gods, she sprinkled a little of the powder on her neck.
Soon, the refreshing and faint fragrance wafted into her nose. The medicinal powder was rapidly absorbed into her skin. The effect is indeed not bad.
“Su Xi-er, is that you?” At this moment, Hong Li’s voice could be heard from behind the door.
Su Xi-er immediately hid the white porcelain bottle in her sleeve and replied, “It’s me. You can come in now.”
Hong Li pushed the door lightly and entered. “Old Maidservant Liu instructed Lian Qiao to scrub the chamber pots in your stead. The girl didn’t even wash herself after she finished.”
“Mhm.” Su Xi-er then asked, “It’s so late already. Why aren’t you going to sleep yet?”
Hong Li’s face was immediately scrunched up. “I don’t know what I was infected with while I was plucking grass today, but right now my whole body is unbearably itchy. I originally didn’t think it would be this bad, but now I’ve come to wash myself off in hopes of getting rid of it.”
“Your whole body is itchy? Let me have a look.”
Hong Li immediately loosened her upper outer garment and presented her back to Su Xi-er. “Take a look. Are there a lot of red spots on my back? It’s getting increasingly itchier.”
Su Xi-er did indeed find many red spots on her back. “You probably brushed up against some sort of plant that is now causing your itchiness. Here, I boiled a little more water today. Wash yourself properly.”
“Alright, I’ll wash right away.” Hong Li immediately prepared to pour the water.
“I’ll help you pour. Bring your clean clothes here first.”
Her words reminded Hong Li as the latter smacked her head. “I am really absent-minded. I came to wash myself without bringing my clothes.” She then ran out to retrieve her clothes.
Su Xi-er poured the remaining hot water into the wooden barrel before adding a bit of cold water as well. Finally, she took out the white porcelain bottle and poured a bit of the medicinal powder into the mixture.
If she just depended on washing her body, there’s no way she’ll be able to completely relieve herself of the itch. Since the effect of this medicinal powder is so superb, it ought to be able to cure itchiness.
This kind of grass that makes people itchy exists in the Palace Side Quarters. Su Xi-er let a small smile appear on her lips. I know how to transfer Ruo Yuan out of the Laundry Service Bureau now. It won’t even involve anyone else’s help. The only downside is that there’s a small risk, and the resulting commotion may be very large.
Hong Li ran over with her clothes. When she saw that the temperature of the water in the tub was already perfect, she was so touched that tears almost fell from her eyes. “Su Xi-er, you are really so good to me. In the past, my attitude towards you was one of collaboration. Right now…it’s fine even if I work like a slave for you!”
Even if it was a tiny favour, as long as it sincerely touched someone’s heart, it would be enough to earn their loyalty.
But Su Xi-er shook her head. “You have your own life. No one is born to work like a slave.”
Hong Li was touched once again. She recalled how she had talked maliciously about Su Xi-er in the past and really wanted to give herself a few slaps!
“Hong Li, where were you plucking the grass?”
“The woods beside the Palace Side Quarters. I was suddenly called to go there. That place isn’t normally managed by the Palace Side Quarters, but it has now been allocated to us. The palace maids from the Palace Side Quarters are to sweep the palace paths at the side and clear the weeds in the woods.”
The woods beside the Palace Side Quarters. It’s actually that place again! The place where I met Pei Qianhao for the first time, and where I was forcefully kissed by him…
“Going there to work is in high demand! Since it was where Prince Hao was ambushed in the past, many palace maids think that they have a chance of meeting him if they work there. If they dress themselves up more refreshingly and beautifully, maybe they will be able to go to the Beauty Palace.” Hong Li stated indifferently. Finally, she shook her head.
“However, Su Xi-er, what you said is very correct. If we rely on men, there’s the danger of falling down. We might as well count on ourselves. Besides, those palace maids aren’t as beautiful as He Xiangyu, let alone you. How would Prince Hao take a fancy to them? But come to think of it, you and Prince Hao…”
As soon as Hong Li mentioned that subject, she saw Su Xi-er’s eyes shoot cold daggers at her and no longer dared to continue.
