nycdaug Chapter 99 Years in the Palace (Part 7)
Chapter 99 Years in the Palace (Part 7)
Jing Yanzhi only held her for a short while before letting go, then took her hand and led her to sit down in front of a chair, saying gently:
"What good deed did you do outside the palace, Yi'er? I heard from Prince Qi that your personal maid saved his life."
"Oh? Is that so? Chu Chun, why didn't you tell me?" Liu Xingxing glanced indifferently at Chu Chun, who was waiting in the distance.
Chu Chun hurriedly knelt down and replied, "Your Majesty, it was this servant who took it upon herself to do so. Two days ago, when Your Majesty instructed me to go to the countryside to buy some wild delicacies, I happened to save a man. I never expected that he would be His Highness Prince Qi."
"This servant was terrified. After all, when I discovered His Highness Prince Qi, there were still corpses all over the ground. I was afraid that this would bring any bad things to Your Majesty, so I concealed the matter. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Chu Chun trembled and kowtowed several more times, as if she was still terrified when she recounted that scene.
Upon hearing this, Liu Xingxing feigned anger: "You maid, how could you conceal such a serious matter? Moreover, it concerns the life of Prince Qi! I have truly spoiled you too much! Guards!"
"Yi'er, wait a moment."
"Your Majesty, why would you still protect such a servant who deceives her master?" You must protect her!
Jing Yanzhi glanced at the trembling girl on the ground and said, "The Prince of Qi specifically asked for this maid. If Yi'er injures or kills her, how can I explain it to A Yi? Don't get angry over a mere maid. It's not worth ruining your health."
"Does the King of Qi want her?"
Isn't this method of guarantor a bit too hardcore?
Wait a minute, the King of Qi said he was coming to visit her, could it be about this?!
Holy crap! Could it be that the King of Qi fell in love at first sight with his savior, and that's why he came to rescue her from this infamous and wicked woman?!
What a melodramatic plot!
Liu Xingxing was completely bewildered. She must be overthinking things. Yes! That must be it!
Jing Yanzhi calmly took a sip of the freshly served tea: "Prince Qi should have already informed you, right? He came here this time to ask Yi'er for this maid."
"Is that so? Then this maid is really lucky to have caught the eye of Prince Qi, and he even came here in person to ask for her. Well then, you may leave now, I won't punish you."
Liu Xingxing didn't even know what tone she used when she said that, but she was already planning what reason to use to refuse.
Jing Yanzhi didn't stay long and left before lunchtime because a palace servant came to find him to discuss matters. Before leaving, he had to act as if he was very reluctant to part.
Seeing that the person had finally left, Liu Xingxing quickly called back Chu Chun to discuss her matter.
"Your Majesty, Chu Chun doesn't want to leave you!"
In early spring, he knelt down and kowtowed again with a snap.
"Alright, alright, get up first. I came here to discuss this with you."
Liu Xingxing quickly helped the person up: "I was thinking that if you really liked that Prince Qi, I would do you a favor and give you to him. If you don't want to, I'll think of a way to return you to him."
"After all... being a member of the royal family isn't easy, and it's even more difficult for someone of your status. It would be better for you to wait until you're old enough to leave the palace and marry into a well-off ordinary family."
Moreover, she didn't know what kind of person this Prince Qi was, so how could she trust him enough to send Chu Chun over there?
In early spring, she knelt down again, tears streaming down her face: "This servant will not go anywhere. This servant only wants to stay by Your Majesty's side and serve you for the rest of my life!"
"Alright, alright, you're not going anywhere. Just stay by my side and serve me. Honestly, you can't even say a few words."
Chu Chun wiped her face with her sleeve and burst into laughter through her tears: "Your Majesty, you must promise me you won't abandon me. I will always follow you and serve you."
"Very well, as my head maid, how can I be all crying and fussing all day long? Go, I'm hungry, quickly bring me my meal."
"Yes, this servant will go right away."
Watching Chu Chun happily run out to serve the meal, the smile in Liu Xingxing's eyes slowly faded.
Honestly, can't she have a few days of peace and quiet? She's always busy with this and that, and she has to act all lovey-dovey with some idiot every day, and this kind of life is going to continue for several years!
Liu Xingxing collapsed onto the couch, utterly devoid of any zest for life.
Another day passed in a hurry. Liu Xingxing had already thought of several reasons to refuse, and was just waiting for that Prince Qi to come to her door.
Ran goose ...
Liu Xingxing waited anxiously for most of the day, but no one came. She began to wonder if the Prince of Qi had stood her up.
That's perfect, it's best if she doesn't come, so she doesn't have to make up excuses to lie to him.
"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner. Shall we serve the meal first? His Majesty hasn't come today either. Shall we wait for him?"
A young palace maid who was waiting below stepped forward and respectfully inquired.
Today, Liu Xingxing specially gave her a day off in early spring and didn't let her serve her. Naturally, the people below seized the opportunity to serve her.
Although serving the Imperial Concubine was a tough job, and one wrong move could result in being punished with a beating, if one got the favor, one could have whatever one wanted. After all, they had all witnessed the treatment the Imperial Concubine received.
Moreover, the Imperial Concubine seems to be in a pretty good mood lately, and she hasn't been punishing anyone for no reason.
Sure enough, as soon as the banquet was over in early spring, they rushed over to curry favor with him.
"Yes, please serve the meal. I'm really hungry."
The young palace maid immediately beamed and ordered, "Hey, Granny Liu, Her Highness is ready to eat. Go and serve the meal."
"Alright, this old servant will go right away."
The old woman, called Granny Liu, immediately led several palace maids to serve the meal.
They had all worked in Lanshu Palace for two or three years, so they were considered veterans. Their eyesight was good, and they were very efficient. Before long, they brought the food and laid it out.
There were a full eighteen dishes, and each day was different. Whether it was a cold dish or a hot dish, every dish was exquisite and delicious. Only her palace could be so extravagant.
Liu Xingxing accepted it openly and without any burden. After all, she was the most favored imperial concubine, so if she didn't enjoy it, who would?
This world is inherently unfair; she sat and enjoyed the delicious food, while the palace servants and maids could only stand and serve her.
"Your Majesty, this is a new stewed pufferfish soup prepared by Chef Yang of the Imperial Kitchen. It smells wonderful, please try it. And this stir-fried asparagus is a seasonal delicacy from Jiangnan..."
The maidservant served Liu Baiyi attentively, constantly serving her food.
"Mmm, it's crisp and delicious, really tasty, and the fish soup is also very fresh."
Liu Xingxing glanced at the unusually attentive maidservant and chuckled, "By the way, what's your name again?"
The young maidservant hurriedly put down the chopsticks she was using to serve her food, bowed, and replied, "Your Majesty, my name is Qiao'er. I have been working in Lanshu Palace for half a year now, and I have always helped Sister Chuchun with her tasks."
"Oh~ then you can be considered half a disciple of Chu Chun. No wonder you are the one serving me today."
"It's all a servant's duty."
Qiao Liao has a clever smile and acts steadily, but she's a bit too impatient.
I just don't know what she's so anxious about...
"That's true. I only have Chuchun as my head maid all year round. It must be hard on her. From now on, you will serve me closely, just like her."
Liu Xingxing calmly picked up another bite of food and ate it, as if she were deciding on a trivial matter, which it truly was.
Qiao'er was first startled, then overjoyed and knelt down to kowtow and express her gratitude: "Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty!"
"Alright, get up and continue serving me food."
"It's the lady."
In just a few words, a person's position can be decided; that is power.
No wonder everyone wants to climb to a higher position.
"Is this what you wanted... Liu Baiyi!"
……
After a satisfying meal, and seeing the setting sun swaying precariously, Liu Xingxing figured that Prince Qi wouldn't be coming, so she leisurely strolled into the Imperial Garden to digest her food.
The Imperial Garden at dusk has a unique charm under the setting sun. Flowers can be seen blooming here all year round, but it takes a lot of manpower and resources to maintain it. After all, the royal family always enjoys the best.
Liu Xingxing was enjoying her shopping when she ran into the man she had been waiting for all day.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the man-made river and lake, reflecting a warm glow. He stood with his hands behind his back by the lake, gazing into the distance. The reflection on the lake was so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes, and one could not clearly see the person by the lake.
Liu Xingxing only glanced at it before looking away, afraid that if she looked any longer, she would go blind.
Seriously, yet another show-off who's even more pretentious than her makes her entrance.
However, he still politely approached and performed a courtly salute, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qi."
Jing Yizhi withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and glanced at her indifferently, but said as if he were not surprised at all: "Your Highness, I have been waiting for you here for a long time."