Chapter 44: Substitute
I haven’t even picked up my clothes yet, what else do I need?
Qiao Zhenzhen had a hunch that something was wrong.
In addition, Feng Qingsui had just reminded her not to leave the banquet hall, so how could she dare to follow this maid?
"Wait a moment!"
She tried to shake off the maid's hand.
"I haven't got my clothes yet."
The maidservant held her arm tightly and said, "I will ask your maid to bring some clothes over later. You are in such a mess now that it really disturbs the appearance."
Qiao Zhenzhen had never seen such a domineering maid, and she didn't believe a word of what he said.
She grabbed the door frame with one hand and shouted, "Let go! If you don't, I'll call for help."
The maid actually reached out to cover her mouth.
She quickly let go to stop him, but the maid took the opportunity to grab her other hand, holding both hands together, and stuffed a cloth into her mouth before she could scream.
"It's an honor for you that the prince has taken a fancy to you. Don't refuse a toast and then drink a penalty."
The maid sneered.
"You've already come to me, why are you pretending to be a chaste woman? If you can serve the prince well and stay in the mansion, isn't that better than performing outside? How many people can't wait for you."
After saying that, he tied Qiao Zhenzhen's hands and was about to drag her away.
Qiao Zhenzhen regretted it.
She shouldn't be greedy for the three thousand taels of silver.
So what if the house is full of noble ladies? They can't defend against Han Ruixuan at all. She is too naive!
Help!
Who come to save her!
She struggled desperately, but was no match for the maid's strength. In desperation, Feng Qingsui appeared in front of them with Miss Han San.
"What are you doing?"
Feng Qingsui said in surprise.
"Is this maid the Third Young Lady's? Why did they tie up Miss Qiao and drag her away? Miss Qiao didn't do anything wrong, did she?"
When Han Ruixiang saw that it was the maidservant of her eldest brother, she guessed what was going on.
I almost exploded with anger.
It's ok that guy behaves badly on a daily basis, but how could he choose to attack the singer she invited during her party!
He didn't even do it secretly, but let Madam Ji see it!
When Madam Ji tells Madam Ji or Ji Changqing about this, they don’t know how they will misunderstand her!
"This is not my maid."
Han Ruixiang said coldly.
"Maybe it's a bad guy who got in from outside. The mansion is so big, it's inevitable that some people will slip through the net. He even dared to touch my people. He really doesn't know how to live or die."
After saying that, he ordered a few maids to step forward to stop them, rescue Qiao Zhenzhen, and take the kidnapped maid away.
"I'm sorry, Miss Qiao, I scared you. I'll give you another two thousand taels of silver to calm you down."
After having the restraints on Qiao Zhenzhen's hands untied, Han Ruixiang solemnly apologized.
Qiao Zhenzhen knew that it was useless to argue, so she bowed and said, "Thank you, Third Miss, and thank you, Madam Ji. I will always remember your kindness."
After saying that, he went to change clothes.
"I'll go with you."
Feng Qingsui smiled.
She just wanted to help Wuhua escape so that she could disguise herself as a kitchen maid in Rongchang Marquis's mansion and go to the guest house to investigate.
Qiao Zhenzhen gave her a grateful look.
She was so frightened that she didn't dare to take the maid to the dressing room by herself.
"Then I'll trouble you, Madam Ji."
After changing her clothes, she thanked Feng Qingsui again: "Thank you, Madam, for bringing Miss Three to help me out. Otherwise, I really don't know what would have happened to me."
"You're welcome." Feng Qingsui chuckled, "But I still need to find a way to solve your problem."
Qiao Zhenzhen sighed.
"I thought so too, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do."
She was just a lowly singer, but Han Ruixuan was the eldest son of a marquisate, the nephew of the queen, the cousin of the prince, and one of the most powerful people in the capital.
How can she deal with Han Ruixuan?
"Let's take it one step at a time."
She sighed.
Feng Qingsui knew her difficulties and stopped talking about it.
The two walked towards the banquet hall. Qiao Zhenzhen found that Feng Qingsui's maid had disappeared. Just as she was about to ask, she saw a charming woman leading a maid walking towards them.
"Madam Ji, I was just looking for you."
The maid was the first to greet.
Qiao Zhenzhen felt very strange. When she heard Feng Qingsui reply, "The prince's wife wants to see me for something?", she realized that the maidservant belonged to the wife of the prince of Rongchang.
But he didn't know who this woman was - Han Ruixuan had mentioned it when he came to Fanlou to listen to music. His wife had a blessed face, which was obviously different from the woman in front of him.
"That's right," the maid replied, handing an invitation to Feng Qingsui. "Our Second Master is getting married at the end of the month. Madam is responsible for sending invitations to all the mansions. Knowing that you're coming today, she asked this servant to give it to you directly."
"Congratulations."
Feng Qingsui took the invitation and asked the enchanting woman who was looking at her and Qiao Zhenzhen, "Who is this?"
"This is Aunt Cui," the maid replied. "I ran into Aunt Cui when I was leaving the hospital. She heard that Miss Qiao was singing at the mansion and wanted to meet her."
Concubine Cui smiled and said, "I have heard of Miss Qiao's name for a long time, but I have never seen her in person. Now I finally know what she looks like."
Qiao Zhenzhen could hear the sourness in her words and only smiled slightly: "It's just two eyes and a mouth, nothing special."
"The facial features are not unusual, but the voice is very unusual."
Aunt Cui said with a smile.
"After hearing this, even I would like to book Fanlou for myself so that I can listen to Miss Qiao sing every day."
Qiao Zhenzhen just smiled and said nothing.
Aunt Cui said a few more sarcastic words and then went back with Wei's maid.
Qiao Zhenzhen leaned close to Feng Qingsui's ear and whispered, "How many Concubines does Prince Han have in his backyard? Why does this Concubine Cui look different from the one he brought to my place to listen to music a few months ago?"
"Do you know how Paiyunlou went bankrupt?"
Feng Qingsui asked.
Qiao Zhenzhen nodded: "The privately-built Colosseum was shut down by the government."
"Prince Han was a frequent visitor to the Colosseum," Feng Qingsui whispered. "On the day Paiyun Tower was sealed off, he happened to take Concubine Cui there, but he escaped on his own. When interrogated later, he denied ever having been to Paiyun Tower, nor did he admit that the person mauled to death by fighting dogs at the Colosseum was Concubine Cui. He claimed that Concubine Cui was in the mansion."
After hearing this, Qiao Zhenzhen's face turned pale.
"So this is a substitute. His concubines really don't live long."
I immediately started to worry about myself.
If she could not withstand Han Ruixuan's coercion and became one of his concubines in the future, would she also die a miserable death like the former Concubine Cui?
She shuddered and suddenly grabbed Feng Qingsui's arm: "Madam, do you have any medicine that can repair a person's disfigurement if they want to?"
Feng Qingsui knew what she was planning and said with a smile, "Do you think he'll let it go if I ruin his appearance?"
Qiao Zhenzhen's eyes darkened.
Disfigurement is certainly not enough.
And it would ruin your voice as well.
But how could she bear to do that?
Is she destined to be a beautiful but tragic woman in this life?
Feng Qingsui glanced down at the invitation in her hand, and an idea slowly emerged in her mind. After pondering for a moment, she said to Qiao Zhenzhen, "I have a plan, but I don't know if you're willing to go through with it."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
