Chapter 2.2 She and the Crown Prince were worlds apart.

After crying, Yuezhi and Pei Heng became even closer, and she would privately tell him about her godmother's recent situation, which she had heard from her fellow villagers.

The godmother has no biological children, but she has an adopted son she recognized in her early years who lives in the capital. He is the godbrother that Yuezhi has never met. With the godbrother taking care of her, her injuries have gradually healed, and she was able to get out of bed a couple of days ago.

The two were relieved to learn that Zhang Mama was alright.

Pei Heng studied with the Grand Tutor every day, went to the martial arts field to learn horseback riding and archery, and paid his respects to the Emperor and Empress in the morning and evening. When he was not around, Yue Zhi would recite the newly learned articles and poems and embroider small things.

It was morning, and Yuezhi had finished tidying up the Crown Prince's bedroom. She was about to go back to continue embroidering when she saw Xiuyu and Caiying smiling as they entered from outside the East Palace Gate.

The two men stepped aside, revealing the distinguished guests who were about to arrive.

Upon seeing that they were strangers, Yuezhi instinctively tried to hide, but the people had already stepped inside, and there was no time to escape. She could only stand under the eaves, bow her head, and wait for the nobles to enter the hall, praying that they would not notice her.

The newcomer was an elegantly dressed lady, no more than thirty years old, holding the hand of a girl who looked eight or nine.

Caiying chatted warmly with the woman, saying, "I had long heard that the young lady was exquisite and lovely. Now that I have seen her, I realize that Madam's face is as beautiful as a lotus, and the young lady is even more blessed."

Not to be outdone, Xiu Yu flattered, "It is said that a blessed woman brings prosperity to three generations. Our Empress has managed the harem so well. Who but a daughter of the Changsun family could shoulder the responsibility of managing the Eastern Palace in the future?"

The woman was so pleased with herself that she picked up the girl and coaxed her, "Qing'er, this is the residence of your cousin, the Crown Prince, and the place where you will marry into the family."

The little girl, though small, was quite precocious. She looked up at the majestic palace, then down at the neat, thick floor tiles and the spacious courtyard, and laughed happily.

Yuezhi overheard their conversation and realized that the guests were from the Empress's family, namely the Crown Prince's maternal aunt, Cui Wenzhu, and the Crown Prince's cousin, Changsun Huaqing.

She thought to herself: These two people have an extraordinary relationship with the Empress, and I must not provoke them.

To save her life, she stood silently under the eaves.

The Crown Prince was still with the Grand Tutor, so Xiuyu and Caiying took it upon themselves to invite the distinguished guest into the main hall.

Cui Wenzhu politely declined, saying, "Since the Crown Prince is not here, it is not appropriate for me to enter the main hall. I will just sit in the side hall."

Caiying said in a low voice, "There's nothing to see in the side hall. The Crown Prince's favorite items are all displayed in the main hall. If Madam doesn't take the young lady in to have a look, how can we set up this marriage?"

The arrangement of betrothing Changsun Huaqing to Pei Heng as his principal wife was already a private agreement between Cui Wenzhu and the Empress. They were just waiting for an opportunity to let Pei Heng know so they could request an imperial decree to grant the marriage.

The marriage was settled, but the feelings between the couple were hard to define. Cui Wenzhu brought her daughter here because she wanted to let the two children grow up together while they were still young.

After a moment's thought, Cui Wenzhu released her daughter and told Xiuyu and Caiying to take her daughter to the main hall for a tour.

He didn't forget to remind his daughter, "Qing'er, you must look carefully and see what your cousin, the Crown Prince, likes so that you can play with him in the future."

"I know!" Changsun Huaqing proudly raised his head. "My mother has told me many times that I will try to please my cousin."

Cui Wenzhu entered the side hall alone, while the three of them entered the main hall.

Yuezhi didn't dare look at them, but when she lowered her head, she saw a pair of embroidered shoes appear in her field of vision.

Xiuyu: "You'd better behave yourself and ask as few questions as possible."

Yuezhi gritted her teeth, "I didn't see anything."

"You're smart enough to know your place. The young lady inside will be the future Crown Princess. If you want to live a long life, I advise you to resign from the Crown Prince's palace as soon as possible and get out of the Eastern Palace."

Xiu Yu gave a disdainful snort and went into the hall to flatter Changsun Huaqing.

Yuezhi was ostracized and felt angry but dared not be. She wanted to sneak back to the West Annex, but she was worried that if she walked through the side gate, Cui Wenzhu in the side hall would see her.

Compared to her fellow servants Xiuyu and Caiying, she feared more those masters who could kill someone with a single word.

Yuezhi dared not move, only staring at the shadows at her feet, hoping they would leave quickly.

The shadows cast on the eaves grew shorter and shorter. After an unknown amount of time, the sound of rustling and rummaging came from the bedroom. Changsun Huaqing led two people out in a hurry.

The girl glanced at the palace maids filling the courtyard, then walked straight up to Yuezhi and questioned her with an unfriendly expression.

"His Majesty bestowed a bag of pearls upon my cousin, the Crown Prince. My aunt, the Empress, said she would use them to grind into pearl powder for me to use as a face mask. But where are the pearls? There's not a single one left!"

Yuezhi knew perfectly well that Xiuyu and Caiying had said something to Changsun Huaqing, deliberately causing her trouble.

The pearl is naturally with her. If she tells the truth, Changsun Huaqing will definitely take it back—the pearl has been sewn into her belt and cannot be taken out in a short time. If they find out that she has hidden valuables, she will really be dead.

She could only lie: "This servant doesn't know..."

"How could you not know?" Changsun Huaqing stood with his hands on his hips, looking up at her intently. "Aren't you my cousin's closest palace maid?"

"This servant dares not."

"It's all because of you crude and stupid servants that my cousin has been implicated. You dared to steal imperial gifts. If it weren't for the Empress sending people to keep you in check, who knows what kind of trouble you would have caused."

Although Changsun Huaqing was not tall, her manner of scolding people had the air of an empress in her early years. When Yuezhi listened to her being lectured, she did not feel wronged, but rather envied her head full of pearls and jade and her brocade clothes.

How could I dare to cause trouble? I just want to live peacefully until I'm twenty, save up some money, and leave the palace to find my godmother.

But now is not the time to explain.

This young lady is clearly one of the Empress's people. Just like how they dealt with her godmother, they've already convicted you and are waiting for you to "explain" so they can punish you for multiple offenses and get rid of this thorn in their side completely.

Yuezhi stood still and listened to the reprimand without uttering a single word in rebuttal.

Changsun Huaqing was still young, and after talking for a long time, he was almost out of things to say. The other party didn't respond at all, and it was like hitting cotton with all his energy, which was quite boring.

Hearing that her daughter's cooking wasn't quite right, Cui Wenzhu, who was in the side hall, silently got up and walked over.

"What's your name, you palace maid who committed this offense?"

Yuezhi felt she hadn't done anything wrong and knew that the other woman was deliberately setting a trap for her, so she stubbornly refused to respond.

After a long silence, Cui Wenzhu chuckled, "Your name is Yuezhi, right? I've heard your name from the Empress. The Crown Prince personally went to the embroidery room to request you. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

"This servant dares not accept such praise." Yuezhi dared not breathe, kneeling on the ground, almost sweating from the suffocation.

"With the Crown Prince backing you up, what is there to be afraid of?"

"The Crown Prince is the master of the Eastern Palace. This servant is merely serving his master and dares not presume to be arrogant. Madam, you are too kind to this servant."

"You're quite clever." Cui Wenzhu, with her dignified demeanor, reached out and pinched Yuezhi's chin, forcing her to raise her face so that everyone could see the fear and unease on her face.

Yuezhi glanced nervously behind Cui Wenzhu. All three of them had an air of watching a show. After a quick glance, she lowered her gaze, unsure of what they were going to do, feeling both surprised and afraid.

With a "smack," a hand struck his face, and his cheek immediately burned with pain.

Yuezhi stood there, rooted to the spot.

“As a close palace maid, she can’t even take good care of the Crown Prince’s things. Now that the Crown Prince is not here, as an elder, I should teach this incompetent palace maid a lesson.”

Cui Wenzhu raised her eyes disdainfully, released Yuezhi, and took out a handkerchief to wipe her fair hands.

"This slap is a reminder to be careful with your words and actions. A servant is a servant. Don't lose your sense of propriety just because you have the Crown Prince's favor. In the end, it is our Empress Changsun who calls the shots in this palace."

Yuezhi didn't understand: she was just taking care of the Crown Prince and doing her duty, so how did she offend them?

Although the Crown Prince bestowed many gifts upon her, they had no worries about food and clothing and did not rely on these gifts to live. Why would they quarrel with a mere palace maid over a few dozen taels of silver?

She knelt on the ground, covering her slapped cheek with a wronged expression, wanting to cry but not daring to.

The smug sounds of Xiuyu and Caiying were so grating. Cui Wenzhu and her daughter were arrogant in front of her, while seven or eight palace maids below the steps watched this scene indifferently.

Thinking of the gold and silver hidden in her room and remembering her godmother's words of advice, Yuezhi didn't shed a single tear.

As long as I can live, I can swallow any grievances.

"Aunt, what are you doing!"

A shout came from the doorway, startling everyone. They all looked over and saw that it was the Crown Prince who had returned.

"Why isn't the Crown Prince studying with the Grand Tutor? Did you come back early to slack off?" Cui Wenzhu teased him.

"I ask you what you are doing, why you have trespassed into the East Palace and even beat and scolded my palace maids without permission!"

Pei Heng gritted his teeth in anger, walked up to Yue Zhi, and pulled her up. "Don't kneel here. Go back to the West Annex. I will have the imperial physician apply medicine for you."

Without asking why, the Crown Prince dismissed Yuezhi, his concern evident. Cui Wenzhu's smile froze on her face.

Changsun Huaqing came to his mother's rescue, "Cousin Crown Prince, that palace maid is not a good person. Didn't you notice that the pearls His Majesty bestowed upon you are missing?"

"It's just a bag of pearls, I'll eat the whole bag of pearl powder."

"You ate it? My aunt, the Empress, said you were saving the pearls to give to me." Changsun Huaqing pouted, looking displeased.

Cui Wenzhu glared at her daughter, "Qing'er, you must not be rude to His Highness the Crown Prince."

In a secluded corner where no one paid attention, Yuezhi quietly closed the side door and returned to her room.

Not long after, Cui Wenzhu and her daughter were asked to leave the East Palace. When Su Jingyun came to apply medicine to her, she learned that Xiuyu and Caiying had been fined a month's salary for bringing people into the East Palace without permission.

Although the Crown Prince held a prestigious position, he had no trusted confidants by his side. Even his guards were people placed in by the Changsun family. He had the power to punish others, but he could not touch the Empress's people.

“They have powerful backers, so a small punishment won’t teach them a lesson. I’m afraid they’ll hold a grudge against you and will try to trip you up in the future.”

Su Jingyun sighed and looked at her with heartache.

He was from the same hometown as Yuezhi, two years older than her, and worked at the Imperial Hospital. He often helped her smuggle things out of the palace to sell for money.

"Yuezhi, if you listen to my advice, leave the East Palace as soon as possible. Don't risk your life for a little reward."

Su Jingyun's earnest persuasion eventually swayed Yuezhi.

"But what will happen to the Crown Prince if I leave?"

"We are servants, and it's good enough if we don't get beaten or scolded by our masters. The Crown Prince is the master, and he has the Empress and the Emperor protecting him. Who would dare to bully him? You're worried about him being wronged, but aren't you worried about losing your own life?"

The cool temperature of the wound made Yuezhi much more awake—she was worlds apart from the Crown Prince, how could they be compared?

The Crown Prince was displeased that his godmother was driven away by the Empress, but he couldn't say anything. If she were forced into hard labor or falsely accused and killed one day, would the Crown Prince turn against the Empress for her sake?

Even if he could, he's so young and constrained in every way, so he ultimately can't do anything.

Yuezhi lowered her head. "I'd better leave. I don't want to be an eyesore here and cause trouble for the Crown Prince."

Seeing that she had finally come to her senses, Su Jingyun was overjoyed. "Don't worry, once you leave the East Palace, I will use my connections to help you find a good place."

He had many contacts with palace servants and had established numerous connections to bestow favors and benefits upon them. With his approval, Yuezhi felt much more at ease.

*

After a night, Yuezhi came up with many excuses, waiting for the Crown Prince to return for lunch so she could ask him for mercy and let her leave the East Palace and return to her embroidery room.

But she waited and waited, and the Crown Prince never returned. Frustrated, she leaned against the door, frowning and sighing incessantly.

She was flustered, fearing that he had been punished by the Grand Tutor and that was why he had returned late; she was also afraid that he would return immediately and that she would hurt his feelings by resigning before he was prepared.

"Look at her seductive look, who is she trying to seduce? Why didn't Madam Cui slap her a couple more times?"

Xiuyu stood under the corridor of the main hall, chirping softly.

Caiying rolled her eyes at her, "How old is the Crown Prince? How could he think about such things? You should say less, as if you're afraid others won't know what you're thinking."

Xiu Yu felt guilty and glared back at her, "At least I'm three points prettier than you, what's wrong with vying for the position of concubine? As for you, aren't you supposed to be sweet-talking and good at talking? How come you can't win over the Crown Prince?"

"Hmph, short-sighted." Caiying didn't bother arguing with her and turned away.

The two made comments, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which Yuezhi was already used to. She had no mind to think about it at the moment and just stared at the gate of the East Palace, hoping that the Crown Prince would return before the food got cold.

Suddenly, she heard heavy, orderly footsteps approaching from afar and stopping outside the East Palace Gate.

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree came from outside the door, and the guards and palace maids in the courtyard all knelt down to receive the decree. Yuezhi also went down the steps and knelt in the courtyard.

"By imperial decree, from this day forth, the Eastern Palace shall be closed and locked. All those within the Eastern Palace shall not leave, but await further orders. Anyone who disobeys shall be beheaded immediately. So be it—"