Chapter 34: Venting
Pei Tingyue brought the person back to Changle Palace.
Several new palace maids worked together to give her a bath. Yun Shu took a look and quickly returned to the back hall to report the situation.
She looked reluctant and said, "You don't know, she has old wounds piled up on top of new ones, there's not a single piece of healthy skin on her body, it's really pitiful."
Pei Tingyue came back to her senses from her thoughts and ordered, "Don't let her wear that old dress. You have a similar figure to hers, so go find her a new one. Also, open a new bottle of the ointment that the Empress sent a few days ago and apply it to her."
Yun Shu agreed, found some ointment, and then went to the back room to look for clothes.
About one stick of incense later.
Several people entered the hall and knelt together in the center.
Pei Tingyue said some words of admonition and gave names to the four second-class palace maids.
It is still used in spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Simple and easy to remember.
The twin sisters are named Zhichun and Zhixia. The remaining two are Zhiqiu, a beautiful and tall one, and Zhidong, a young one with a tender face.
As the saying goes, use both kindness and severity.
If you have power, you also need grace.
The emperor's reward had not arrived yet, and Pei Tingyue now had no money. She took off a set of red gold jewelry that she seldom wore, gave two bracelets to Zhichun and Zhixia, and two gold hairpins inlaid with gems to Zhiqiu and Zhidong.
In terms of weight, the gold bracelet is heavier, but it cannot compare to the gold hairpin with a ruby as big as a thumb. Compared with the two, they are about the same.
The young palace maids had never seen such exquisite hairpins and rings before, and they were overjoyed and expressed their gratitude with great joy.
After listening to their expressions of gratitude and loyalty, Pei Tingyue let them rest.
After everyone left, the hall suddenly became empty.
Pei Tingyue looked at the kneeling figure in the hall and asked in a serious tone, "Your name is Liu Zheng?"
After the blood stains on Liu Zheng's face were washed off, a dignified and elegant face was revealed, but her face was pale. Although her eyes were bright, there was a gray air between her eyebrows, making her look a little gloomy.
"yes."
Pei Tingyue leaned over and asked her, "Why did they beat you?"
Liu Zheng lowered her head and said self-deprecatingly, "If I say there's no reason, then they're deliberately targeting me. Master, do you believe me?"
Pei Tingyue sat up straight and asked, "Why don't you believe it?"
Liu Zheng was stunned. She didn't expect her to give this answer.
When she was in the Imperial Household Department, she had complained to the palace maids who beat her. But every time, the head aunt would reply impatiently, saying that she was also at fault, otherwise why would they only bully her?
Then he gently reprimanded the group of people and let the matter go without any further ado.
After that, she never filed a complaint again.
Because filing a complaint is not only useless, it will also lead to even more severe retaliation.
To this day, this is the first time someone has said they believe her.
Liu Zheng's silent heart began to stir. Her eyes felt a little sore as she softly explained, "I wasn't chosen from an ordinary family, but rather from the family of a criminal. After they learned of my background, they bullied me in every possible way, not only verbally but also by beating and scolding me."
Pei Tingyue was not surprised at all.
That’s how it is in the palace, they are very good at judging people by their appearance.
Liu Zheng was alone and the descendant of a criminal, so it was normal for the group of palace maids to be self-righteous and collude with each other to bully others.
Pei Tingyue didn't ask Liu Zheng why she didn't find someone to support her. She knew in her heart that for a palace maid like Liu Zheng with no background, no one would be willing to stand up for her.
She sighed and handed over the handkerchief.
"All that is in the past."
Liu Zheng took the handkerchief tremblingly. She had never cried even when she was beaten and scolded, but when she heard these words, she was completely broken. The deepest grievance in her heart burst out completely, and she lay on the ground crying bitterly.
It was getting late, so Pei Tingyue didn't ask her about her life in detail. When she felt better, he let her go to bed.
Anyway, there are many days to come, she can understand it slowly, there is no need to rush.
Yun Shu generously offered her room to others. "We, the first-class palace maids, will live in the back rooms, one for each. You can clear out a room tomorrow and stay at my place tonight. I'll be on night watch tonight."
Liu Zheng heard the first-class maid's eyes widen. She originally thought she would only get the position of a second-class maid, but she didn't expect to be given the status of a first-class maid. She hesitated and looked towards the main seat: "Master, this..."
Pei Tingyue smiled slightly and did not refute: "Go."
After she left, Yun Shu brought some warm water to help Pei Tingyue remove her makeup.
Pei Tingyue closed his eyes to rest, and did not forget to instruct: "These days, you will supervise the newcomers and explain my habits to them. Also, as before, they are not allowed to enter the bedroom to serve."
"As for Liu Zheng, let her recover from her injuries first. We'll slowly get to know her. If she's useful, we'll invest in training her."
She admired Liu Zheng's tenacious character. After learning more about her, if she was satisfied, she would not have to ask Concubine Song for her trusted palace maid. She could just use Liu Zheng.
Yun Shu agreed.
She hesitated for a while before blushing and acting coquettishly: "Talented Master, please love me the most..."
Pei Tingyue glanced in the mirror and saw Yun Shu pouting, fearing that her position would be taken away by someone else.
Her look made Pei Tingyue laugh: "Okay, okay, I love you the most! I'll give you something good later."
Yun Shu smiled broadly: "I knew it, this talented person treats me the best!"
The two chatted and laughed for a while, and Pei Tingyue hurried to rest. She had to get up early tomorrow to pay her respects.
Pei Tingyue injured her leg while kneeling two days ago, so the Queen specially exempted her from paying her respects. Originally, Pei Tingyue didn't need to go in such a hurry, but she went out for a long walk tonight, and if she didn't pay her respects tomorrow, it would be a contempt for the Queen.
*
The next morning.
After Pei Tingyue washed up, he took Yunshu out of the palace.
When passing the front hall, Bai Shuang called out to the master and servant.
"I heard that the talented lady was going to pay her respects. Our queen got up early this morning and also went to pay her respects."
Pei Tingyue was surprised: "The Imperial Concubine is going to pay her respects?"
She has to go too when she goes to pay her respects to Concubine Song?
Why is this?
Not pretending to be sick anymore?
Or did something big happen?
For a moment, all kinds of thoughts came to my mind.
Seeing her worried look, Bai Shuang smiled and said, "Our queen said that she was very unhappy about the palace being searched and wanted to go out and vent her anger."
Pei Tingyue: “…”
Oh, so that's why.
She was no longer worried, but she became curious again.
How would Concubine Song vent her anger? Would she cause a scene in Fenghe Palace? But the emperor had allowed the palace search, so was she supposed to carry out the scene in Chengming Palace?
Pei Tingyue asked tentatively, "How...how did you vent your anger?"
Bai Shuang had a proper smile on his face: "Talent will see it soon."
Concubine Song came out soon.
Seeing her dress, the palace people around were stunned, and Pei Tingyue's eyes lit up.
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