“Miss, Miss, it’s time to wake up.”
In her sleep, Bai Fei Wan heard Zi Zhu calling her. “Zi Zhu, let me sleep a little longer.” She turned over to face the inside of the bed and continued to sleep.
“You can’t, Miss. We have to go pay our respects to the Wangfei soon. If we don’t get up now, we’ll be late. We can sleep again after we come back from the Qing An.”
Hearing that she had to pay respects to the Wangfei, Bai Fei Wan was instantly wide awake and sat up immediately.
“Hiss, that hurts,” Bai Fei Wan winced.
Hearing her lady’s groan, Zi Zhu hurried forward to support her. “Miss, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Help me up.”
Bai Fei Wan slowly got dressed. Without even having time to eat, she took Zi Zhu and left to pay her respects to the Wangfei.
Jin Wang had been too beastly last night, taking her three times. She felt like her legs weren’t even her own anymore.
When they arrived at the Wangfei’s courtyard, a momo had her wait in a side hall, explaining that the Wangfei was currently accompanying the Little Princess for her meal.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, the Wangfei finally arrived.
Seeing the Wangfei, Bai Fei Wan quickly rose to her feet to greet her. “This servant pays her respects to the Wangfei.”
The Wangfei sat in the main seat. “Rise. Sister Bai must have been anxious from the long wait. Xi Er was being naughty and would only eat properly if I accompanied her, so I was delayed for a while.”
Bai Fei Wan said respectfully, “The Little Princess’s deep affection for the Wangfei is only natural. This servant had the rare opportunity to savor such fine tea, so I did not feel the wait was long at all.”
“If Sister Bai likes this tea, then take some back with you later.”
“Wangfei, there is no need. For this servant to have a taste of such fine tea is already a blessing from you. How could I possibly take any away?”
The Wangfei lifted her teacup, took a gentle sip, and said, “You are a shiqie now. From now on, serve the Prince well. If you need anything, you can tell me. Get along well with the sisters in the mansion, and you must not stir up trouble in the rear courtyard out of jealousy.”
“Yes, this servant will remember the Wangfei’s teachings.”
“I heard that the stewards of the mansion have been cutting back on the food for your courtyard. I have been busy recently, and the affairs of the Prince’s mansion are many and complicated, so my management of them has been lax. Thus, I failed to discover their actions in time, allowing them to commit such an act of deceiving their master.
“Rest assured, I have already driven the stewards involved out of the mansion. If such a thing happens again, you must tell me. You absolutely cannot suffer such grievances again.
“As for setting up a small kitchen in your courtyard, the Prince has already spoken to me about it. I have already instructed the mansion’s stewards. They will go to your courtyard shortly. You can just tell the stewards whatever you require.”
Bai Fei Wan’s face was full of gratitude. “Very well. This servant thanks the Wangfei.”
“Mm, if there’s nothing else, you must have been exhausted last night. You should go back and rest early.”
“Yes, this servant will take her leave.” Bai Fei Wan stood up, curtsied, and departed.
Watching Bai Fei Wan leave, the Wangfei said, “This Bai Shiqie is truly a beauty. Even I can’t take my eyes off her. Do you think the Prince will like her?”
Zhang Momo, who was beside her, comforted her, “Wangfei, the Prince is not a man who covets beauty. No matter how beautiful Bai Shiqie is, she can never surpass you.”
The Wangfei’s tone was somewhat sarcastic. “Not covet beauty? Heh, last night the Prince called for water three times. How long has it been since the Prince last touched me?
“I may appear to have it all, with the Prince coming to my quarters on the first and fifteenth of every month, giving me ample face. But how many times has he actually touched me? In all these years, I can count them on one hand.”
Hearing the Wangfei’s words, the momo’s heart ached for her. She was the Wangfei’s wet nurse and had watched her grow up since she was a child. Seeing the Wangfei like this pained her as well. “Perhaps the Prince is just seeking novelty. He might forget about her in a few days.”
“Momo, have someone leak the news that the Prince called for water three times last night and that Qingya Courtyard is getting a small kitchen. Tell the other women in the mansion. Let them fight amongst themselves.”
“Yes, this servant will go at once.” With that, she turned and went out.
Meanwhile, Consort Dong had also heard that the Prince had called for water three times last night. She angrily swept the teacups from the table onto the floor. “Truly a vixen who bewitches her master, seducing the Prince so he can’t even get out of bed.”
“It’s been so long, yet I have never even seen what she looks like. Come, let’s go see how she bewitches her master.” After speaking, she stood up and walked out.
Back in Qingya Courtyard, Bai Fei Wan was slowly eating her breakfast, still unaware that trouble was on its way. Looking at the breakfast today, she finally understood the difference between being favored and not.
Just as she finished her breakfast, Consort Dong arrived. Without waiting for Bai Fei Wan’s permission, she walked straight into the courtyard.
Looking at the person sitting in the courtyard, Consort Dong wore a superior air. “Oh, so this is Bai Shiqie. Your looks are just average.”
Seeing this person who had clearly come with ill intentions, Bai Fei Wan guessed that someone so brazen was likely Consort Dong.
She rose and stepped forward. “This servant pays her respects to Elder Sister Consort.”
Zi Zhu and the others followed suit. “This servant pays her respects to the Consort.”
Consort Dong did not tell Bai Fei Wan to rise, but walked right past her and sat down at the stone table.
Bai Fei Wan’s slightly bent legs were trembling, and she felt as if she would collapse at any moment. The tearing pain, especially at the top of her inner thighs, was unbearable.
Consort Dong surveyed the courtyard before her gaze fell back on Bai Fei Wan. Truly a vixen. “I heard you attended to the Prince last night. I came especially to congratulate you. It really wasn’t easy, was it? To finally attend to him after all this time.”
“Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister Consort,” Bai Fei Wan said, enduring her discomfort.
Consort Dong took a box from the maid beside her. “Look, I brought you a Zhi Jin Bu Yao. I figured you came from a small county and are probably tight on money, so I brought you a Zhi Jin Bu Yao as a congratulatory gift. This way, if you run out of money, you can exchange it for some cash in an emergency.”
Zi Zhu and Ziyu watched Bai Fei Wan’s teetering form from the side, extremely worried.
“Oh my, Bai Shiqie is still curtsying. I was so busy talking that I forgot to tell you all to rise. You may all rise now.”
“This servant thanks Elder Sister Consort.” As she spoke, her body swayed to the side. Zi Zhu and Ziyu rushed forward to support their mistress.
At that moment, Nan Cai also arrived at Qingya Courtyard. She had just heard that the Prince had called for water three times yesterday and had come to Qingya Courtyard in a fury with her maids in tow.
Seeing Nan Cai arrive, Bai Fei Wan felt a headache coming on. She hadn’t even dealt with the first one, and now another had come.
As soon as Nan Cai entered the courtyard and saw Consort Dong was also there, she quickly curtsied. “This servant pays her respects to Elder Sister Dong.”
Seeing Nan Shiqie’s furious expression as she entered, Consort Dong knew she had also heard about last night and had come to make trouble for Bai Fei Wan. “Rise.”
“Since Sister Nan has arrived, I shall take my leave.”
Bai Fei Wan and Nan Cai said in unison, “We respectfully see off the Consort.”
Watching Consort Dong leave, Nan Cai turned to face Bai Fei Wan, twisting her handkerchief until it was nearly shredded. “I heard that Sister Bai attended to the Prince yesterday. Sister has some truly impressive methods. Why don’t you teach us how to bewitch the Prince? You even seduced the Prince into setting up a small kitchen for you.”
“Elder Sister, what is the meaning of this? How could I possibly bewitch the Prince? In your heart, is the Prince such a muddle-headed person who cannot distinguish right from wrong?”
“Nonsense! I never said the Prince was muddle-headed. I said you are a vixen who specializes in seducing the Prince.”
“The Prince is righteous and awe-inspiring. How could he be so easily swayed by others? Elder Sister, do not speak so recklessly and ruin the Prince’s reputation.”
“Hmph, we’ll see about that.” With that, she left in a huff.
“They’re finally gone. Quick, help me over to sit down.” She was truly exhausted, and her whole body ached. She had to wait until her tasks were done before lying down, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to get up again.
A short while later, the Wangfei sent someone to deliver rewards to Bai Fei Wan. It was a custom in the mansion for the Wangfei to make a gesture the first time a newcomer attended to the Prince.
The Wangfei’s people had just left when the rear courtyard’s steward also arrived. He approached respectfully and said, “This servant greets Bai Zhuzi. A few days ago, a maiden from Qingya Courtyard said that Bai Zhuzi wanted a swing set up here. The servants below did not inform me in time, causing a delay. The moment I heard, I rushed right over.”
Bai Fei Wan said nothing, merely having Ziyu show them where to build the swing.
“Zi Zhu, someone will be here soon to renovate the small kitchen for us. Just have them modify it according to the style of our old kitchen. I’m going to take a nap.” After speaking, Bai Fei Wan stood up and walked towards her room.
“Very well, Zhuzi,” Zi Zhu said, stepping forward to help Bai Fei Wan back to her room.