After drinking bitter tea for three days in a row, Song Xibai's throat finally recovered.
Another day passed, and Wei Hong brought back the information she had found about Fang Qi.
"Eunuch Jin personally led a team to investigate, and Granny Fangqi's background is fine. She entered the palace at the age of five, starting as a junior maid. Initially, she did odd jobs in the Imperial Clothing Bureau, where she learned some needlework skills and was quite good. However, she offended a aunt in the Imperial Clothing Bureau and was sent to the Laundry Bureau. She stayed in the Laundry Bureau for three years. When she was fifteen, an old eunuch from the Imperial Clothing Bureau took a liking to her and wanted to become her lover. Fangqi refused and was sent to the bathing room by the old eunuch."
Wei Hong paused here and explained in a low voice.
"The washroom is where you take out the night soil..."
Song Xibai was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but shake his head and sigh: "A fifteen-year-old girl, sent to empty the chamber pot? That old eunuch is too cruel."
Therefore, the lower-level people in the palace had no human rights. The junior palace maids were bullied by the senior palace maids and the old eunuchs. If they could not stand up for themselves, they would most likely die.
No wonder so many people in the palace are fighting and vying for power.
“Isn’t that right?” Wei Hong was also very angry. “Fangqi made a mistake on her first day of work and was punished by the head eunuch to kneel. She knelt all day and her knees were almost ruined. Fortunately, she was saved by the Empress who happened to be passing by. After the Empress found out what happened, she punished the head eunuch and expelled the old eunuch from the laundry department from the palace.”
"The late Empress was quite kind-hearted."
Song Xibai always felt sorry for this mother-in-law she had never met.
On one hand, it was a pity that she died so young; on the other hand, it was also a pity for the crown prince, who was only twelve or thirteen years old at the time. It is said that with a stepmother comes a stepfather, and judging from the old emperor's attitude, isn't that true? Although he seemed to care about the crown prince on the surface, he was actually very wary of him.
"Her Majesty the Empress left Fangqi in Kunning Palace. However, because Fangqi had worked in the washroom, the old nannies wouldn't let her do any close-serving work, only letting her work in the courtyard. Fangqi was very grateful to Her Majesty the Empress. After Her Majesty the Empress left, everyone in Kunning Palace was transferred to other places, but she insisted on staying."
Then Wei Hong recounted a few more incidents that happened when Fang Qi was looking after the warehouse.
Generally speaking, Fangqi is a capable person with a strong personality. Come to think of it, if she were weak, she would have been devoured long ago, leaving not even bones.
Thinking of this, Song Xibai waved his hand at Wei Hong: "I'll mention it to His Highness later and see if we can transfer her over. If she refuses, we'll look for someone else!"
Wei Hong smiled and withdrew.
That evening, when Song Xibai mentioned Fang Qi to the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince was surprised.
How did you come up with the idea of her?
"I only had someone investigate her because I overheard Du Chenghui mentioning her aunt. What does Your Highness think of her?"
The Crown Prince stroked his chin: "I had wanted Aunt Fangqi to come over before, but she refused, saying that she wanted to watch over Kunning Palace for the Empress Dowager."
After a pause, the Crown Prince seemed to remember something and took the opportunity to explain Du Chenghui's matter.
“When Father was choosing a palace maid, I knew that Du Chenghui was Fangqi’s niece, so I chose her. I just wanted her to have an easy life, not because I was interested in her. During the years she was in the Eastern Palace, I basically never touched her.”
Song Xibai was surprised to hear this, and her expression showed slight astonishment.
The Crown Prince grabbed Song Xibai's hand: "I have never been moved by any other woman. You are the first."
Seeing his anxious expression, Song Xibai felt like teasing him and pretended to be unhappy, suppressing the corners of her mouth.
"Alright, I'm the first one. Does Your Highness want a second, a third, or a fourth?"
The Crown Prince thought to himself, "Oh no!"
"That's not what I meant, my love, you have to believe me..."
The Crown Prince hurriedly tried to explain, but before he could finish, Song Xibai burst out laughing.
How could he not understand?
"Fine! Qingqing, you dare to tease me! Let's see how I punish you!"
The Crown Prince put on a stern face, grabbed Song Xibai's wrists with one hand, pulled her arm over his head, and reached under her armpit with his other hand.
"No! Don't tickle me!"
Song Xibai twisted her body, trying to avoid his hand, but how could she be as strong as the Crown Prince?
Soon, the crown prince succeeded.
Song Xibai lay half-on him, laughing until tears streamed down her face, and kept begging for mercy.
"I was wrong, I won't do it again, Your Highness, please forgive me! It itches... hahaha... it itches... ouch! Don't touch there..."
After a while of playful tussling and physical contact, sparks quickly flew between them.
The crown prince withdrew his hand, and Song Xibai was finally able to catch her breath.
She sensed the prince's restlessness, her eyes darted around, and suddenly she gave him an extremely bright and alluring smile.
"Your Highness, may I serve you today?"
As she spoke, she reached out and pressed the prince down onto the bed, then sat on his waist.
The prince's face was flushed, and a series of blood-pumping images were already flashing through his mind, his eyes beginning to glaze over.
Song Xibai pulled off the prince's belt with one hand, leaned down, and showered him with kisses on the face. Then, taking him by surprise, she pulled the prince's hands over his head and tied them with the belt.
Then, she quickly ripped off the prince's shirt.
The prince's breathing became rapid, and his whole body began to burn.
But just then, Song Xibai suddenly turned around and got out of bed.
"Oh dear, I just remembered I have something very important to do! Your Highness, wait a moment, I'll be right back."
After saying these words, Song Xibai quickly put on her shoes, grabbed her coat, and ran out as fast as she could.
The prince's eyes widened as he tried to get up, but his hands were tied to the headboard. He stood up abruptly and almost hit his head.
Thus, the Crown Prince could only watch helplessly as Song Xibai ran away, leaving behind a string of smug laughter.
The crown prince was both angry and annoyed. He wanted to curse, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He wanted to call someone in to untie her, but he was worried that someone would see what Qingqing was doing.
After much internal struggle, he could only let out a long sigh.
never mind……
Song Xibai didn't dare to run away for too long. Half an hour later, thinking that the Crown Prince's anger should have subsided, she quietly returned.
The room was pitch black, and the bed was quiet; there wasn't a sound.
Song Xibai tiptoed to the bedside and carefully felt along the headboard, eventually finding her belt.
She breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to untie the knot in her belt.
But with a little force, the belt was ripped off.
Song Xibai was stunned.
Where is the knot I tied?
The next moment, a pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled her onto the bed.
Song Xibai exclaimed in surprise, and then, the world spun around her as she was pinned down.
"You dare to tease me? You'd better wait for my punishment!"
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