“You want this servant to consummate the marriage with the Crown Prince[1]The Crown Prince is the emperor’s designated heir to the throne. The story does not specify a particular historical dynasty. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736388_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736388_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); in your place?”
You Xiaofu stared in disbelief at the woman before her. Wearing a phoenix coronet and bridal robes[2]Known in Chinese as fengguan xiapei, this traditional ceremonial wedding ensemble features an ornate phoenix headdress and formal embroidered attire. Its design and use varied across historical … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736388_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736388_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, the woman sat on the edge of the wedding bed. She had a lovely, sweet-looking face that would flush with shy embarrassment at the slightest excitement. Yet she was making such an outrageous, unbelievable demand—not because she was afraid to share a bed with her newlywed husband, but because…
“Xiaofu, you know Brother Ling[3]In Chinese, addressing a familiar or older male as “Brother” can express affection or closeness without implying a biological sibling relationship. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736388_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736388_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); found out I was getting married. He insisted on having me all night last night. If I consummate the marriage with the Crown Prince tonight, he’ll definitely find out!”
You Xiaofu: “…”
The woman lowered her head, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, looking both bashful and troubled. “Brother Ling is so overbearing. He never cares what I want. If Crown Prince Brother finds out I’m no longer a virgin, my whole family will be implicated.”
As she spoke, she looked up, eyes brimming with tears, and gazed pitifully at You Xiaofu. “Xiaofu, please help me!”
You Xiaofu thought it was utterly ridiculous.
After dying a horrible death, she had found herself inside a historical erotic novel[4]Entering the world of a novel is a form of transmigration, a common premise in Chinese web fiction in which a character finds themselves living in another world or fictional setting. The cause of her … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736388_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736388_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); she’d read a few chapters of before she died—a novel in which every high-quality man fell for the heroine. She had become a maid serving the heroine, Shen Qianqian, the legitimate daughter[5]In traditional Chinese family hierarchies, a legitimate daughter was born to a man’s principal wife, distinguishing her from daughters born to concubines. This distinction could affect … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736388_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736388_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); of Minister Shen’s household. And she had witnessed with her own eyes how this young lady secretly met and slept with other men in her secluded chambers.
The book was outrageously steamy. Yet any woman who even dreamed of competing with the heroine for a man met a truly tragic end.
And all You Xiaofu wanted was to stay alive!
In this era, a lowly maid often wasn’t even considered a person. She had been so careful, yet she’d never imagined that on her very first day accompanying her mistress to her new home as a dowry maid[6]A dowry maid was a female servant who accompanied a bride from her family home into her husband’s household upon marriage. Such attendants generally continued serving their mistress in her new … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736388_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736388_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, she’d be expected to consummate the marriage for her.
The Crown Prince was one of the male leads. She’d be lucky if she didn’t die too soon!
“Miss, this servant will get you some tea.”
A little tea might clear her head.
You Xiaofu turned to leave.
“Stop!”
Shen Qianqian rose and came to stand in front of You Xiaofu. Her expression, usually so meek and gentle, had turned cold. “Xiaofu, think carefully. Crown Prince Brother likes me. If he finds out I’m no longer a virgin, he might not do anything to me—but you know the truth, so you’ll definitely be silenced!”
You Xiaofu felt her breath catch in her chest.
She pressed her lips tightly together. She wanted to curse, but didn’t dare.
Shen Qianqian’s expression softened again. She took You Xiaofu’s hand and swung it coaxingly. “Xiaofu, you know how good I’ve been to you. If I hadn’t protected you, Brother Ling would have killed you long ago. Now I’m only asking you to do me this tiny favor. You can’t even do that?”
“Tiny favor?” You Xiaofu couldn’t help murmuring the words.
“It’s not as if you’ll lose anything,” Shen Qianqian said, as though it were only natural. “He’s the Crown Prince! If it weren’t for me, would you ever get the chance to serve the Crown Prince, let alone get into his bed?”
So a maid’s first time didn’t matter, then?
You Xiaofu’s hands were trembling.
She was fighting the urge to slap Shen Qianqian across the face.
“And,” Shen Qianqian said, tightening her grip on You Xiaofu’s hand, “don’t forget—your parents are still at Shen Residence.”
You Xiaofu shuddered.
Her parents in this life… looked exactly like the parents who had died prematurely in an accident in her previous life.
Slowly, You Xiaofu relaxed her hand, as if all the strength had drained from her body.
She thought bitterly that even if she disregarded her family ties, she probably still couldn’t leave this bedchamber.
Shen Qianqian smiled. “I knew Xiaofu was the best.” An innocent, guileless smile spread across her face. “Don’t worry. If you help me keep this from Crown Prince Brother, I won’t treat you unfairly. I’ll be very, very good to you.”
You Xiaofu forced the corners of her mouth upward and bowed. “Thank you, Miss… for your kindness.”
The ceremony of drinking the nuptial wine[7]In traditional Chinese weddings, the newlyweds shared ceremonial wine in a ritual often called hejin, symbolizing their marital union. The vessels and procedures varied across historical periods. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736388_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736388_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); and the other rites had already been completed when they were brought to the bridal chamber. The Crown Prince had then gone out to entertain the guests. When he returned, the newlyweds would have their time alone.
“Xiaofu, hide behind the bed curtains. I’ll blow out the candles in a moment. When Crown Prince Brother comes in, I’ll tell him I’m shy and don’t want the candles lit. He’ll understand. And he’s been drinking, so he won’t realize you aren’t me.”
You Xiaofu showed no expression. She changed into the thin undergarments the young mistress was supposed to wear, then lay down on the bed.
She was actually very nervous. She’d only read a few chapters of the novel; it hadn’t even reached Shen Qianqian’s wedding yet, and You Xiaofu hadn’t appeared in the story at all. She had no idea what would happen to her.
Whatever happened, she had to survive first—
Shen Qianqian was still giving instructions. “And in a moment…”
She had not finished speaking when footsteps sounded outside.
Shen Qianqian hurried to blow out the candles.
In the darkness, You Xiaofu lay rigidly still. Soon, she heard the door open—
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