When Ping'er saw Fucha come out, she felt more confident. Ignoring Hongqiao's obstruction, she ran to Fucha's side and said, "Master, this Zhou Mama not only refused to give you water, but also talked nonsense, saying that you guarded for nothing last night."
Empress Fucha was already angry, and when Ping'er suddenly revealed her embarrassing situation in front of so many people, she flew into a rage and roared, "You're just fetching water, how dare you discuss your master's affairs! Slap yourself!"
Ping'er was shocked that not only did Lady Fucha not defend her, but she was also immediately stunned and stood there in shock.
When Madam Zhou saw that Ping'er's complaint not only failed to gain her mistress's protection but was also punished, she immediately clapped her hands and said, "Princess Fucha, your maidservant really deserves a beating! She likes to use her mistress's name to intimidate people all the time. Today, this old servant was just going to fetch water, but she insisted on arguing with me. She truly deserves a beating!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? How dare a servant speak to me like that? What did you just say? Slap yourself ten times and I won't hold it against you." As the legitimate daughter of the family, Lady Fucha always treated her servants with the utmost respect. She couldn't tolerate any servants showing favoritism towards her. She had long harbored resentment towards this Zhou Mama and was taking this opportunity to vent her frustrations, which suited Lady Fucha perfectly.
Madam Zhou's face immediately darkened. She froze, unsure of what to do. She absolutely refused to slap herself. However, she was merely a servant, while Lady Fucha was a princess and had the right to punish her.
“Sister, she’s just an old woman, why bother arguing with her? Actually, I’ve heard that Master went to the South Courtyard last night. Didn’t you go to the front courtyard yesterday?” Seeing Zhou Mama looking at her for help, Liu Shi went up to Fucha Shi and said.
Fucha was seething with anger at Liu's blatant exposure. Staring at Liu's slightly mocking smile, she forced out a sentence through gritted teeth: "This princess is disciplining this servant. My sister is pregnant; she should go back and rest."
Seeing Fucha's unyielding attitude, Liu felt a little embarrassed and said sarcastically, "Sister, if you're angry, you don't need to take it out on others. Mama Zhou, didn't I ask you for water? What are you standing here for? Go quickly!"
"Yes, this old servant will go fetch water right away." With Liu's protection, Zhou Mama became even more arrogant. She curtsied to Fucha and then turned to leave.
"You~" Fucha naturally understood Zhou Mama's contempt and angrily clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
"Niohuru, I have been humiliated by you, and I will repay you tenfold in the future!" Now that Fucha knew where the Fourth Prince had gone last night, she hated Lanqin even more.
"Cuizhu, the baby in my belly is restless. He started to fuss after I stood for a while. Help me back to rest." Liu pretended to be tired, sticking out her not-so-protruding belly and acting weary.
“Yes, Princess, be careful. Master really likes her and has given her a lot of tonics and rewards.” Cuizhu said in a deliberately loud voice.
Lady Fucha looked at Lady Liu with a gloomy expression as she gloated in front of her. After the two women went inside, she said, "Why don't you help this princess back?"
"Watch your skin!" Fucha Shi turned around, supporting Hongqiao's hand, and immediately saw Ping'er, who had caused so much trouble, and threw out these words.
Ping'er shuddered; she was terrified of Lady Fucha. She had witnessed firsthand this princess's ability to torment people. Once, because she and Qing'er hadn't properly dressed her, she was punished by being made to kneel in the room with a basin of water on their heads for an hour, a punishment that had made the two maids never dare to be careless again.
"Bang!"
As soon as Lady Fucha entered her bedroom, she smashed a vase on a flower stand by the door to the ground.
"You shameless woman! Just because you're pregnant, you're already acting all high and mighty in front of me. I'd like to see if you can even give birth!" Lady Fucha cursed. From the day they entered the manor together, she had never taken Lady Liu seriously. In terms of appearance and family background, she was clearly superior to the other woman. Why would the Fourth Prince favor her while ignoring her?
“Master, please don’t be angry. She’s just a petty person who’s gotten her way,” Hongqiao said.
"But I was still outmaneuvered!" Lady Fucha said through gritted teeth. She naturally didn't know that the Fourth Prince had gone to the South Courtyard on his own; she assumed Lanqin had used some kind of magic to lure him there!
“Princess, she is a concubine, while you are a princess. In terms of status, she already surpasses your mistress!” Hongqiao said. Her meaning was that Fucha should not oppose Lanqin; how could a princess possibly fight against a concubine?
"Hmph, although she's a concubine, I'm much younger and more beautiful than her, and with the Fucha family as my backing, who knows who'll be paying respects to whom in the future!" said Lady Fucha. She knew the Fourth Prince was going to be emperor, so she firmly believed he would need the Fucha family's help. Although the Niohuru clan was also a prominent family, it had declined and couldn't compare to the Fucha clan's influence in court!
"Princess, let me help you get some rest." Hongqiao noticed the dark circles under Fucha's eyes and knew he hadn't slept much last night.
"I'm not going to sleep anymore, Hongqiao. I'll write a letter, and you find a way to smuggle it out. Give it to my father," said Lady Fucha.
"Yes. As long as Master gives me a waist token, I can go out," Hongqiao said.
Fucha nodded and immediately had Hongqiao bring her pen and ink, and began to write a letter to her father.
Across from her, Lady Liu was sitting on the couch eating bird's nest. Seeing Lady Fucha's face contorted with rage at her actions, she was secretly delighted. Lady Liu's family background was inferior to Lady Fucha's, so she had been inferior to Lady Fucha from the moment she entered. Now, their situations were completely different.
“Princess, that Lady Fucha was furious today. Master, you no longer need to bow your head when you see her,” Cuizhu said.
“From now on, she’ll be the only one who will bow her head when she sees me,” Liu said with a smile.
“But Princess, now that Nan Xiaoyuan has regained favor so quickly, it won’t be so easy for you to see the master. I didn’t expect Nan Xiaoyuan to regain favor so soon,” Cuizhu said.
"Hehe, the one in my belly is the Jade Token Gold Medal. As long as the little life in my belly is the Prince's, the Prince will come," Liu said.
“Yes, how could I forget that? The little prince in your belly is the best way to attract the prince,” Cuizhu said.
"Cuizhu, I won't take these anymore. They're too peaceful, which isn't very appealing to the Prince. I'm afraid something might happen, making him worry all the time," said Madam Liu.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
