“Master hasn’t set foot in the inner courtyard for several months. He hasn’t gone anywhere except for Luoxue Pavilion. Now that Consort is pregnant, I suppose she can’t keep him here anymore, right? There are only a few people in this inner courtyard. Apart from Consort and me, the others are either confined or have gone mad. This is my only chance, Xiao Ju.” Niohuru said, holding the hand of her trusted confidante Xiao Ju.
"Princess, I understand, but how can we get Master to come to our room?" Xiao Ju asked in a low voice.
"There will be a chance." Niohuru said softly after her eyes flickered slightly. No matter what, even if the chance was small, she would try. She just wanted a child. Li had two children, the concubine had three, and she was currently pregnant with two more. Although Song didn't have any children, she was the master's first woman, and the master had never mistreated her. Apart from the two who displeased the seventh master and met with bad ends, she was the only one among the remaining women who had no favor or children. She wasn't the master's first woman either, so she wasn't anything special. She had to have a child of her own to secure her position in the inner court.
Xiao Ju looked at her princess with confusion. She wasn't very smart, but she understood one thing: she would do whatever her princess said. That's why she was valued by her princess and became her personal maid. Now, although she didn't understand what her princess meant by saying this, she didn't ask. She just knew that she would do whatever her princess asked her to do.
Niohuru was attracted to Xiao Ju for this very reason. Looking at Xiao Ju, who was keeping her head down and not speaking, Niohuru's eyes flickered. Although obedience was a major reason for her choosing Xiao Ju, the main reason was that Xiao Ju had a pair of fox-like eyes just like that of the concubine! If these eyes were used well, they could definitely bring her benefits.
The opportunity for Niohuru and others soon arrived. Yinzhen's promotion to Prince would definitely require a banquet for guests, which could only be held before the New Year. And there were only a few days left before the New Year. On this day, Niohuru left Xiaoju alone in the room.
"Princess, what are you doing? I can just stand here." Xiao Ju was flustered as Niohuru pressed her in front of the dressing mirror.
"Little Orange, I'm counting on you, so you'll help me, right?" Niohuru squatted down and looked into Little Orange's eyes, pleading in them.
"Xiao Ju is your servant. I will do whatever you ask me to do. Princess, please get up. I am not worthy of your kindness." Xiao Ju tried to help Niu Hulu up, but her small body was no match for Niu Hulu's large frame. She couldn't lift her up at all, and Xiao Ju was so anxious that she was about to cry.
"Then Xiao Ju, just do your job. Don't ask me anything after this. Just cooperate with me, okay?" Niu Hulu had been waiting for Xiao Ju to say this, and immediately replied.
"Alright, alright, this servant agrees." Little Orange had no idea what consequences this agreement would bring her. At this moment, Little Orange was still naively thinking how wonderful the princess was.
"Good little orange, I knew you were the best. Now you're all set. I'll do your makeup." Niohuru smiled through her tears, helped little orange up, and began to dress her up, making her look like the image she had seen before.
Xiao Ju was astonished to see her reflection in the mirror becoming so different that she no longer recognized herself. But she was very beautiful. The princess truly had skillful hands. It was a pity that the master couldn't see the princess's goodness. Xiao Ju had never met Yin Qingyi, so she naturally didn't know that her reflection in the mirror was becoming more and more like Yin Qingyi. In the end, they even had a seven or eight-tenths resemblance. If she wore a veil, and only her eyes were visible, she would almost look like Yin Qingyi.
"Alright." Niu Hulu stopped and nodded in satisfaction at his work. Although there was still some difference, it would be hard to see anything in the dark anyway, so this was good enough.
"Princess, may I go out now? I still have things to do." Xiao Ju wanted to get up and leave.
"No, Xiao Ju, you don't need to do anything today. You just stay in the house and wait until I tell you to leave before you go out, understand?" Niohuru said, holding down Xiao Ju who was trying to leave.
"Ah, what about my situation..." Xiao Ju was a little confused, pointing outside.
“Others can do those things; you have more important things to do,” Niohuru interrupted Xiaoju.
"...Well, alright then, what exactly should I do, Princess? Tell me, so I don't make a mistake in my panic." Xiao Ju nodded blankly and then asked.
"I can only rely on you for this, Xiao Ju. Today, the master is hosting a banquet and will definitely be drinking. Just wait for him on his usual route and then bring him to our Yuhua Pavilion." Niohuru thought about it and decided that she still had to ask this silly girl for help. Otherwise, if the silly girl was taken back by the master, her plan would be ruined.
"Ah? But, but, how could this servant possibly bring Master here?" Although Xiao Ju was silly, she still had some self-awareness. She was dumbfounded when she heard her princess's words.
"If I say you can, you definitely can, Xiao Ju. You're all I have left. You won't let me down, will you?" Niohuru held Xiao Ju's hand, her eyes filled with tears.
"Princess, please don't cry. I'll try." Xiao Ju panicked when she saw Niohuru like this. The princess was good to her, so she wanted to be good to the princess in return.
"I knew you were the best, Xiao Ju, so it's up to you now." Niohuru was just acting, and the tears in her eyes disappeared immediately after hearing Xiao Ju's words.
Little Orange was unaware that she had been used. She was sold to a servant boy because she wasn't very bright, but she was pretty, and the person who bought her was kind-hearted and didn't sell her to a brothel but instead brought her into this household. But perhaps her good luck had run out, otherwise how could she have met a master like Niohuru?
That evening, Niu Hulu, having calculated the time, waited with Xiao Ju at the place that Yinzhen would inevitably pass on his way to Luoxue Pavilion. Then, she placed Xiao Ju alone in the most conspicuous spot and hid herself in the ground. She waited for half an hour. Xiao Ju wasn't dressed very warmly to begin with, and the December weather was frighteningly cold. Xiao Ju was shivering in the wind. If she hadn't remembered her princess's instructions, she would have really wanted to find a place to warm herself up.
Fortunately, faint lights appeared ahead after a short while. Xiao Ju perked up and put the veil on her face while waiting.
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