He Ying’s attention was instead drawn by a blue robe being left to dry on the golden bamboo pole. Upon careful contemplation, she suddenly recalled that these were Prince Hao’s clothes!
Don’t tell me that Su Xi-er has become Prince Hao’s personal imperial laundry palace maid? He Ying’s complexion became even more ghastly when this thought crossed her mind.
“When you are done washing, hang the Empress Dowager’s clothes over there to dry.” He Ying pointed to the front. “Beside Prince Hao’s robe.”
“This servant understands.” Su Xi-er replied calmly before lowering her head to continue washing.
He Ying glanced at her. “Wash meticulously. Otherwise, I’ll skin you.” She then turned around and left the Laundry Service Bureau. Prince Hao’s robes are to be washed only by Su Xi-er. I must report this matter to the Empress Dowager.
Su Xi-er paused what she was doing. He Ying is targeting me for the sake of the Empress Dowager, while the Empress Dowager is targeting me because of Pei Qianhao. Pei Qianhao is also making things difficult for me, and all of these have stemmed from me knocking him out.
If I hadn’t knocked him out that night, I could have very well lost my purity to him. If that had really happened, I’m afraid that I would have ended up like the women in the Beauty Palace, pitiful and lamentable.
At this point, she redoubled her strength to rub the clothes. Since the clothes are valuable, the material is definitely sublime. It won’t be damaged no matter how I rub.
~~~
He Ying sped up after she disappeared from everyone’s sight, entering the Compassionate Peace Palace where Pei Yaran was drinking plum soup.
When she heard the sound of hasty footsteps, Pei Yaran knitted her eyebrows. “What’s the matter? Why are you so flustered? Has the sky collapsed?”
“Empress Dowager…” He Ying immediately lowered her voice. “This servant went to the Laundry Service Bureau and discovered that Su Xi-er was washing Prince Hao’s clothes again, almost as if she was Prince Hao’s personal imperial laundry palace maid. In the past, Prince Hao’s clothes wouldn’t have been sent into the Laundry Service Bureau.”
Pei Yaran placed the spoon in her hand down before she looked into the distance and sneered. “He often told this Empress Dowager in the past that his clothes would be washed by the errand imperial guards at his Prince Residence. How great that he knows how to have a woman wash his clothes for him now.”
“Empress Dowager, do you still want to transfer Su Xi-er to the Beauty Palace? Why don’t you wait for Prince Hao to head for Nanzhao and directly sentence her to death?”
Pei Yaran glared at He Ying. “You are usually clever and quick-witted; why are you being so foolish now? Prince Hao is currently interested in Su Xi-er. If I sentence her to death at this critical juncture, he would have a falling out with this Empress Dowager. I know his temper best.”
He Ying pondered about it for a moment. What the Empress Dowager said made sense. Prince Hao’s thoughts are unfathomable. If we lay a hand on something he’s interested in, the consequences are inconceivable. Don’t tell me that I have to watch on helplessly as Su Xi-er continues to be arrogant?
“This Empress Dowager and Prince Hao have gotten along for so many years. There is only one thing which sustains his interest protractedly…” The corners of Pei Yaran’s mouth were raised to form a smile. That thing is power. No one understands that better than me.
She had been very young when her father had brought Pei Qianhao to the Pei Residence. With the young boy lacking a father, Pei Yaran’s father had raised him like his own son. This was the reason that Pei Yaran knew enough about him to believe that he would definitely abandon Su Xi-er if she threatened his power. Power is the most important thing in his eyes.
She had previously been tempted to immediately sentence Su Xi-er to death, that was no longer possible. Even though I don’t kill Su Xi-er, I can make it such that the latter suffers many hardships.
“Empress Dowager, do you mean that you are going to think of a way to send Su Xi-er into the Beauty Palace and let those women deal with her?” He Ying speculated in a low voice.
“Empress Dowager, that is really a brilliant idea. This servant will definitely capture Su Xi-er this time with your brilliant idea. However, Prince Hao’s clothes will also be collected at night. If by any chance I get discovered…” He Ying still felt lingering fear over how she had almost had her eyeballs gouged out that night.
Pei Yaran immediately shot her a mocking look. “Don’t you know how to wait until Prince Hao’s clothes are taken away before collecting this Empress Dowager’s clothes?”
He Ying suddenly saw the light. “This servant is slow-witted and has just realised.”
“You have been terrified until your reasoning left you. What is there to be scared of?! With this Empress Dowager here, no one will dare to touch you. As for Flower, this Empress Dowager will definitely not let things slide.” Pei Yaran flung her sleeves and looked towards the courtyard of the repose palace.
~~~
In the meantime, Su Xi-er was returning to her room after washing the Empress Dowager’s clothes. Lunch was already long gone by the time she had finished; something that left the other palace maids whispering among themselves once again. All of them knew that Miss He was intentionally making things difficult for Su Xi-er by delivering the clothes right before lunch, aiming to prevent the latter from being able to eat.
Su Xi-er rested in her room for the whole afternoon before eating dinner afterwards. When night was about to descend, Wu Ling entered the Laundry Service Bureau and took Prince Hao’s clothes away.
“You washed it pretty well. The black robes that you previously washed were also very clean.” Wu Ling glanced at the blue robe and praised.
Afterwards, he looked at the Empress Dowager’s clothes. “Miss He sent the Empress Dowager’s clothes over for you to wash?”
Su Xi-er nodded. “Yes.”
Wu Ling’s expression changed. She can only wash for Prince Hao. Why is she washing other people’s clothes?
“In the future, you are not to wash others’ clothes without Prince Hao’s instructions. Washing Prince Hao’s clothes after your hands are stained with the smell of other people’s clothes, do you think Prince Hao would be pleased?” Wu Ling felt that his words were rock solid this time, leaving no room for backtalk.
However, Su Xi-er next words caused him to be completely stupefied.
“This servant was scrubbing the chamber pots previously. According to what you said Imperial Bodyguard Wu, the smell of chamber pots would stain Prince Hao’s clothes. In that sense, Prince Hao would also not be pleased right? Hence, this servant can’t wash Prince Hao’s clothes henceforth.”
Wu Ling’s eyes instantly widened, his expression only returning to normal after a while. “You definitely wash your hands until they are spotless. How would there still be the smell of chamber pots? Besides, weren’t you given the medicinal powder? It was specially manufactured to make your body fragrant.”
Speaking of the medicinal powder, a person with extensive research into fragrance had worked with Imperial Pharmaceutical Bureau to develop it. To put it bluntly, even if someone were to drop into a manure pit, the stench could be rapidly removed after applying the medicinal powder.
Su Xi-er looked at Wu Ling. “If that is the case, it sounds like Prince Hao was indirectly telling this servant stinks after scrubbing the chamber pots and that I should get rid of the stench with the medicinal powder.”
With his words misunderstood and realising anything he explained would only be turned against him, Wu Ling simply waved his hand and spoke rapidly. “Remember, only wash Prince Hao’s clothes. I will inform Old Maidservant Li about this matter later. As for the Empress Dowager’s side, she won’t make things difficult for you once vocal edict is passed on. Prince Hao will be heading for Nanzhao tomorrow and will be away for at least half a month. During this period of time, you won’t have clothes to wash. Treat it as a vacation.”
Wu Ling hastily left after he relayed his instructions, not noticing the change in Su Xi-er’s eyes..
Nanzhao…Nanzhao’s state banquet…
Time really flies. I still remember last year’s state banquet. I was performing a sword dance on the elevated stage and had everyone’s attention focused on me. At that time, I wouldn’t have expected that I would be reduced to such a state in the end.
This year, I neither want nor have the ability to see it. That’s because I’m currently too weak, incapable of contending against Yun Ruofeng.
However, there will finally be a day where I will stand on the elevated stage and overlook Yun
Ruofeng condescendingly!
