“Once a servant for a day, a servant for a lifetime. Even if I’m not the princess, I can still control you,” Zhao Jing said, releasing the hand she had used to grab the maid’s chin. She stood up and wiped her fingers with a handkerchief, as if they were tainted with filth, all the while sneering. “You may serve me, but don’t forget your place.”
The venomous look in Zhao Jing’s eyes made the maid panic. She forgot to cover her swollen cheek and crawled to her knees in front of Zhao Jing. “I’m sorry, I know my mistakes. Please, spare me, Miss.”
“Is Jing’er awake?” Following some footsteps, Qin Shi’s gentle voice resonated outside the door. Zhao Jing immediately changed her expression. She removed the pearl hairpin from her head, letting her dark hair fall, and tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
The door swung open.
“Jing’er, are you awake?” Qin Shi approached with joy, but her expression shifted when she saw the kneeling maid and the fallen pearl hairpin on the floor. “What’s going on? Is the maid not serving you properly?”
Zhao Jing, still facing away, trembled slightly as if enduring a great humiliation. “I thank the Madam for sheltering me. Since I am no longer a member of this household, I should not disturb it further.”
“Jing’er!” Qin Shi was deeply saddened. Her expression changed, and coldness flashed in her eyes. She realized the situation—someone had been spreading rumors. This child, with her proud temperament and the recent revelation about her identity, couldn’t bear to hear any more gossip. It was no wonder she was upset, even to the point of not calling her mother.
Qin Shi thought of all this and, with a heart full of tenderness, went behind Zhao Jing. She gently held Zhao Jing’s arm and turned her body around.
“Jing’er, please turn around and look at your mother.”
After a slight resistance, Zhao Jing finally turned around following the gentle guidance of Qin Shi’s hand.
Tears adorned her bright face, and Zhao Jing sniffled. Qin Shi’s heart ached deeply. “Tell me, what happened? Who has caused you this grievance?”
Zhao Jing remained silent, tears streaming down her face. Qin Shi looked at her wet eyes and then at her nanny, Wang Shi, who stood nearby. Wang Shi’s face grew stern as she turned her gaze toward another maid and demanded, “What happened exactly? Tell the truth.”
The maid on her knees sought help in her eyes from the standing maid, who also kneeled and, slightly tilting her head, pretended not to notice her gaze. She then recounted the words spoken by Zhao Jing.
“The situation is like this. Please forgive me, Your Highness. I advised Cui Zhu, but she wouldn’t listen to me.” This maid portrayed herself as innocent, ignoring Cui Zhu’s resentful glances.
“How dare you!” Wang Shi exclaimed in anger. “Even if the young lady isn’t the princess, she is still the daughter whom Her Highness cherishes as her own. How can you, a lowly servant, dare to criticize her?”
Qin Shi’s face became icy with a profound coldness. She embraced Zhao Jing tightly. “Silly child. Mother has said it before. Regardless of whether you are my biological daughter or not, you are my precious daughter.”
This time, Zhao Jing’s body softened, and she buried herself in Qin Shi’s embrace, her voice filled with grievances. “Mother, I got angry and slapped her. She dared to fight back and knocked off the pearl hairpin on my head.”
Qin Shi patted her back gently. “Don’t cry. It makes Mother sad for no reason. Mother knows Jing’er has been wronged.”
“Madam, how should these two be dealt with?” Nanny Wang Shi pointed at the two maids on the ground. Qin Shi glanced at them coldly and said, “Since they have so much to say, have their tongues removed, their hands severed, and then sell them as slaves.”
“Wang Shi!” one of the maids exclaimed, eyes widened in disbelief. She protested, “I didn’t say anything. It was all Cui Zhu who spoke, Wang Shi, you can bear witness.”
Cui Zhu, consumed by hatred, wanted to speak up for herself but was silenced by the maids who had entered and grabbed her.
“Mother,” Zhao Jing suddenly spoke up. She glanced at the two maids and appeared reluctant as she continued, “These two are indeed at fault, but it doesn’t warrant severe punishment.”
Qin Shi was puzzled, but Nanny Wang Shi understood. She said, “The young lady is still kind-hearted. Madam, you’re venting on behalf of the young lady.”
Zhao Jing lowered her gaze. “Father never liked me to begin with. I heard that the princess is gentle and kind-hearted, so I…”
She paused, and Qin Shi immediately understood. She said, “Mother knows you’re trying to please your father.”
She looked at the two maids and, seeing the hope in their eyes, said coldly, “Since Jing’er wants to spare you, there will be no tongue-cutting or hand-severing. Instead, you will be taken to the front and given twenty lashes in public for all the servants in the mansion to witness the consequences of speaking ill of their master.”
The other maids quickly dragged the two maids away. Zhao Jing had achieved her goal, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. Wasn’t Qi Yuyao supposed to be gentle and kind-hearted? When she returned and saw the two maids being punished, she wanted to see if Qi Yuyao dared to intervene.
Zhao Jing’s plan seemed excellent. If Qi Yuyao rescued them, Qin Shi would surely be angered. If she didn’t, then the Crown Prince would also see through her so-called gentleness.
However, things didn’t always go as planned. Rewards from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager arrived at the mansion. Along with that, there was news that Qi Yuyao had gained the Empress Dowager’s favor and was temporarily staying in the palace for a period.
Upon hearing this news, Zhao Jing immediately smashed two vases. She had only stayed in the palace for two or three nights in her entire life.
“Why does she get this privilege?”
After attending the court session, Qi Heng had initially intended to go to Shoukang Palace to pick up Qi Yuyao, but he met the messengers sent by the Empress Dowager halfway.
The Empress Dowager had learned about his plan to go to the border.
“The Empress Dowager is actually concerned about Your Highness…” The palace maid delivering the message spoke with a lowered head, trembling.
“I understand the Empress Dowager’s intentions,” Qi Heng replied indifferently. He knew the Empress Dowager’s heart. Even if she was angry or threatened not to see him, she hadn’t explicitly told him to give up his mission on the border. This indicated that she had some understanding of the situation.
She knew that if he, as the holder of the Tiger Seal, didn’t go to the border, he would have to hand it over. Losing the support of the influential Prince Chen, she didn’t want to gamble on the so-called blood ties.
Hence, her anger was also a way to find an excuse to keep Qi Yuyao in the palace to look after him and relieve his concerns.
Qi Heng naturally trusted Qi Yuyao’s safety in the palace. Emperor Jin Yuan wouldn’t dare to harm her, and with the Empress Dowager looking after her, it was much better than returning to the Prince Mansion where she might face mistreatment.
Feeling that Qi Heng might be upset, Prince Chen helped explain, “Don’t overthink it. Mother is definitely worried about you leaving the Prince Mansion and Yuyao being mistreated by Qin Shi.”
As the palace maids withdrew, Qi Heng waited until they were out of earshot before casting a sardonic glance at Prince Chen. “Even you can see through it. Who else wouldn’t understand?”
“Wait for me,” Prince Chen blinked, feeling that there was something odd about his words. But when he looked back, Qi Heng had already walked away. He hurriedly caught up.
…
Back at the Prince Mansion, Zheng Er was waiting at the gate.
“Your Highness.”
A palace maid crouched in front of Qi Heng, straightening out his slightly wrinkled attire from the carriage ride. Qi Heng nodded indifferently and gestured for Zheng Er to speak.
“Your Highness, your previous instructions have been carried out,” Zheng Er said in a hushed tone. “The person is already in the dungeon. Would you like to visit now?”
“Let’s go now,” Qi Heng nodded again. He signaled to the attendants and maids accompanying him to stay behind.
…
In the dungeon…
Yan’er struggled to climb up from the cold and damp ground. The back of her neck throbbed with pain as if she had been struck with a stick.
“Ugh… Where am I…?” Sitting up from the ground, Yan’er rubbed the back of her neck. She vaguely remembered eating a meal, and then suddenly losing consciousness.
Connecting the pain in the back of her neck, her eyes widened. Could she have been knocked out?
Her gaze unintentionally landed on the iron gate of the enclosure, and her suspicions grew stronger. “Could I have been kidnapped?”
Panicking, Yan’er rushed to the iron gate and found it locked. She tugged at it forcefully, making a loud clanging noise, but even with such commotion, no one appeared.
“Is there anyone here?” Yan’er shouted loudly, kicking the iron gate a few times. “Is anyone there? Come out!”
However, no matter how loudly she shouted, no one came out. Yan’er’s throat became hoarse.
“Is… there… anyone… here…” She weakly shook the gate a few times, not holding out much hope. She had been locked in here all day with no one showing up and no food being delivered. It seemed like her kidnappers intended to starve her to death.
To her surprise, two heavily armored men with stern faces appeared in front of her. One of them spoke in an irritated tone, “Quiet down.”
Yan’er became agitated and threw herself against the iron gate. “Let me out! Who are you, and why did you bring me here?”
“What’s all this noise? Keep her quiet. The master will be here shortly,” one of the armored men said. He appeared out of nowhere, his gaze as cold and sharp as an eagle’s. When Yan’er met his eyes, she fell silent, terrified.
That gaze was inhuman, more like a cold-blooded snake fixated on its prey.
After a brief appearance, the two men hurriedly left, leaving Yan’er exhausted from her previous shouting. Combined with her hunger and fatigue, she couldn’t muster the energy to continue.
She leaned against the iron gate in the dimly lit room, unsure of how much time had passed. Finally, she heard a procession of heavy footsteps outside.
“Master, the person is inside,” a dim yellow lantern appeared not far away. Yan’er immediately stood up, pressing herself against the iron gate to get a better look outside.
Amidst the heavy footsteps, a figure in a black prince’s robe came into Yan’er’s view. She couldn’t believe her eyes as she looked up and saw the cold, emotionless face of Prince Chen.
“How could it be…”
“Open the gate,” he commanded.
“Yes,” Zheng Yi took out a key and approached. He looked at Yan’er with disbelief in his eyes but quietly unlocked the gate.
“The master wishes to ask you some questions. Just answer honestly,” he whispered. However, Yan’er pursed her lips and ignored him.
The door was opened, and Yan’er immediately rushed out of the cell.
“Bold!” Zheng Er, who was guarding beside Qi Heng, drew his sword with a silvery gleam in the lantern light.
Terrified by the sight of the sharp sword tip so close, Yan’er’s face turned pale. Qi Heng waved his hand to signal Zheng Er to step back. His eyes, as deep and icy as a frigid abyss, locked onto Yan’er. “I have a question I’d like Miss Zhao to answer.”
“What does ‘original’ mean?”
The blood in Yan’er’s body turned cold as if she were in an icy wilderness.
