The Crown Prince?
Nianyao’s words instantly drained the color from Yunrou’s face.
Her lips trembled, but her body moved faster than her mind, turning to stand alongside Nianyao.
“This humble maid pays respects to the Crown Prince.”
Her voice was sharp yet soft. Though she kept her head lowered, she made every effort to display her slender waist, her cheeks flushed, presenting a delicate and charming appearance.
However, after crouching like this for a long while, she still hadn’t heard anyone call for her to rise.
A tremor of fear crept into Yunrou’s heart. Could it be that His Highness had already witnessed her bullying this little wretch earlier?
A chill ran through her, making her forget that she hadn’t actually managed to do anything yet.
With a coy, pleading look in her eyes, Yunrou bit her lip, her face a picture of pitiful beauty, and cautiously glanced up.
Her expression froze instantly.
Only a cold wind swept by the riverbank, with no sign of anyone in sight.
Let alone the noble and peerless Crown Prince?
Yunrou’s face was filled with shock and disbelief.
She had been tricked by that little bitch!
A surge of rage welled up in Yunrou’s chest, twisting her once-beautiful face into a hideous mask of fury.
Gritting her teeth, she hissed, “Nianyao, you little wretch, just you wait! I’ll make sure you pay for this!”
Meanwhile, the very object of her hatred, Nianyao, sneezed.
She wiped the tip of her nose, a wave of relief washing over her.
Thankfully, her mind worked quickly. Otherwise, in that deserted place, who knew what the venomous Yunrou might have done to her.
The palace pathways in winter were desolate and cold. Even during the day, seven-cornered palace lanterns hung on both sides.
The ice that had formed in the middle of the path had been cleared to the edges.
Walking along the chilly palace path, Nianyao hugged her arms and shivered, trying her best to ignore the discomfort in her body.
Currently, she and Yunrou were both third-rank maids, with no distinction of who was superior to whom.
But if…
A thought crossed Nianyao’s mind. If she were truly favored by the Crown Prince and became a mistress, who knew how vicious Yunrou would become.
Nianyao shook her head.
That wasn’t something a lowly palace maid like her could decide. It was better to just focus on taking care of herself.
Quickening her pace, she turned a corner and entered the small side rooms where the maids lived, in the rear courtyard of Shouning Palace.
Third-rank maids shared rooms, four to a room.
Fortunately, the maids sharing a room with Nianyao were all well-behaved and law-abiding, not the type to bully others like Yunrou.
Nianyao glanced around. Seeing that the room was currently empty, she lifted her bedding and fumbled around until she found a small, dusty pouch so plain it would go unnoticed even if left on the ground.
She opened the small pouch.
Inside were thirteen copper coins, two golden peanuts, a few silver beads, and three or four crumpled, wrinkled silver notes.
Nianyao carefully counted them, then paused. Gently and quietly, she pulled a small Jade Ring from her sleeve.
Hastily, she placed the Jade Ring together with the other items back into the pouch and pressed it firmly beneath her bedding.
Staring at her neat bed, Nianyao inexplicably felt a twinge of guilt.
This small Jade Ring was something she had secretly taken from that room earlier.
When she had taken it out, she had wondered whether it belonged to the Crown Prince or…
However, after turning the Jade Ring over and examining it several times, she found no markings or patterns on it.
The jade was fine and translucent. If she could sell it, her younger brother and sister could finally live a better life, no longer relying solely on the occasional items she managed to send them.
After all, such absurdities as last night would not happen again. She might as well consider herself bitten by a dog. And this—she could treat it as the interest the dog brought her.
Her family was already gone, so why bother clinging to so-called purity?
Thinking of her adorable younger brother and sister, Nianyao gripped the Jade Ring, a smile even appearing on her face.
She had just turned sixteen. If she could endure until she left the palace at twenty-four, eight years would be enough for her to save enough silver for her brother to study and learn to read.
Although the Jiang family had been confiscated, the Emperor had not issued an edict forbidding Jiang sons from serving as officials.
If the Jiang family could produce another official, there would at least be a possibility of clearing her father’s name.
Thinking of her father, with his noble and distinguished bearing, Nianyao felt a sting in her nose.
However, before she could dwell on it further, the creaking sound of a door opening came from outside.
Nianyao looked up, casually wiping the tears from the corner of her eye.
When she raised her head, she saw a panicked face.
“Nianyao, something terrible has happened!”
The visitor was Nianyao’s fellow villager, named Qīng’ér. She had some connections in the palace, and previously, when Nianyao sent things out of the palace to her younger brother and sister back home, it was through Qīng’ér’s help that she found a way.
Nianyao’s heart tightened, and she quickly ushered her in.
She brushed the dust off Qīng’ér’s clothes, handed her a small teacup, and waited for her to drink some water before asking.
“What’s the rush? What happened?”
Qīng’ér set the teacup aside and grasped Nianyao’s hand.
Her eyes held a faint trace of pity. “I heard that your younger sister has fallen seriously ill, and when your Brother Zhang went to find a doctor, he accidentally broke his leg. Now your aunt and the others are threatening to throw your brother and sister out!”
Hearing Qīng’ér’s words, Nianyao felt a chill in her heart.
“How could they treat Brother Zhang and Zhaozhao like this!”
Nianyao felt as if there was a taste of rust in her throat. “Back then, I gave them all the remaining money from the Jiang family, just so they could provide a place to stay and food to eat. Besides, when my father and mother were alive, they supported them so much! I never expected them to be such ungrateful people!”
Turning to Qīng’ér, Nianyao’s eyes were red.
“Qīng’ér, I still have some money. Please, I beg you, make sure it reaches Brother Zhang’s hands personally.”
After saying this, Nianyao took out the pouch she had hidden earlier and stuffed it directly into Qīng’ér’s hands.
Perhaps Nianyao’s plight was too heartbreaking for her. When Qīng’ér looked at Nianyao, she couldn’t help but sigh.
Once such a noble young lady of Zhaojing, yet fate had brought her to this state.
Even as a woman, Qīng’ér felt deeply for her.
But she would never voice these thoughts.
After a moment of contemplation, she said, “I will definitely deliver this silver for you. However, you should also think about your own future. The Palace of Longevity and Tranquility is not a good place for you now.”
Qīng’ér looked up, her gaze sweeping over Nianyao’s delicate features.
“If you’re willing, I can help you gain the favor of Prince Chen.”
Nianyao’s eyelids twitched.
Prince Chen was the eldest son of the current Emperor. His mother was not particularly prominent, holding only the rank of a fourth-grade concubine, but Prince Chen was known for his refinement and gentle demeanor.
Moreover, he is not yet married. If she were to enter the Prince of Chen’s residence, it would truly be a good prospect for Nianyao.
However…
Nianyao couldn’t help but recall the absurdity of last night.
A pang of bitterness flashed through Nianyao’s heart as she looked at Qīng’ér and shook her head.
Her voice softened: “I’m afraid I don’t have such fortune.”
Qīng’ér hesitated, but seeing Nianyao’s expression, she swallowed the words she wanted to say.
Yet, she couldn’t help but feel that Nianyao’s destiny extended far beyond this.
After all, with that lotus-like face—in her opinion—Nianyao was far more beautiful than even the currently favored Consort Zhou.
Nianyao lifted her gaze to meet Qīng’ér’s eyes: “Qīng’ér, I entrust my younger brother and sister to you.”
Qīng’ér immediately thought of Nianyao’s background and sighed inwardly. With such a status, no matter how beautiful she was, she could easily fall into the hands of ill-intentioned people and suffer greatly.
Qīng’ér composed her expression slightly but still said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.”
A faint smile touched Nianyao’s lips, her eyes filled with sincerity: “If not for you, I truly wouldn’t know what to do.”
Just as Qīng’ér was about to offer more comforting words, they heard an unpleasant voice from outside.
“Nianyao, hurry to the front! Are you itching for a beating?”
A flicker of resentment flashed in Qīng’ér’s eyes as she whispered to Nianyao, “That old hag is deliberately making things difficult for you!”
Nianyao straightened her clothes and, before the old matron outside could speak again, said, “The front courtyard is short-handed. If you don’t hurry there and instead linger here watching me, others might think you’re slacking off.”
As soon as her words fell, cursing could be heard from outside the room.
But soon after, footsteps gradually faded away.
A hint of delight appeared on Qīng’ér’s face, but the next moment, she remembered something else: “I heard the Crown Prince has arrived at the front. You must be sharp.”
The Crown Prince’s ruthless reputation was known throughout the palace. A military man by background, he had achieved illustrious military feats before even turning twenty, his hands stained with blood.
Yet when Nianyao heard “Crown Prince,” even her soft, long eyelashes trembled involuntarily.
But now, having just passed one night, why did she have to see him again?