Chapter 9: The Heart of a Maid
Pei Yan comforted Jiang Shuyi and coaxed her back to sleep before leaving the bedroom.
In less than half an hour, Cheng Shouzhong had already found out everything that Concubine Jiang had done today, and reported every detail to His Majesty.
Including every conversation with the other concubines in Kunning Palace.
When Pei Yan heard Jiang Shuyi tell the Queen that after reading the Buddhist scriptures, her six senses were pure and she didn't want to live with anyone except the Queen, he couldn't help but laugh with joy.
Cheng Shouzhong was very good at observing people's expressions. He immediately smiled and praised, "Madam Jiang Fei is really smart and clever. Just this one sentence has left the other concubines speechless!"
Pei Yan shook his head with a smile: "I don't know why he is so naughty."
Cheng Shouzhong thought to himself, wasn't it you who condoned it?
Of course, he did not dare to agree with His Majesty and say that the Queen was naughty. He praised her a few more words before continuing to report.
In fact, it was nothing. It was just that the concubines refused to let Concubine Jiang live in their own palaces. Finally, Concubine Shu took the initiative to ask for her. Then the newlywed came in for the audience. The Empress made innuendos when she lectured her, which angered Concubine Jiang, so she just turned her face away and left.
Knowing that His Majesty did not care whether Concubine Jiang had offended a high-ranking official, but only wanted to know whether Concubine Jiang had been wronged, Cheng Shouzhong was very measured in his report, trying to downplay Concubine Jiang's arrogance and highlight the deliberate provocations of the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, and others.
Unexpectedly, His Majesty was still a little unhappy after hearing this.
"She said she would come to me to complain, but she didn't."
Pei Yan glanced in the direction of the bedroom, and his brows relaxed slightly: "But she hugged me and cried."
Cheng Shouzhong didn't understand what the connection was between the two, and didn't dare to ask. Anyway, as long as His Majesty was happy, it was fine.
Pei Yan asked the palace servants of Chaoyang Palace to take good care of Concubine Jiang, and then prepared to return to Qianqing Palace to handle government affairs. At this time, Jinzhu hurriedly blocked the door and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, aren't you going to see the little prince? The little prince was just frightened by the queen, and he is still crying now!"
Cheng Shouzhong had never seen such a tactless person. When he saw His Majesty giving him a cold look, he immediately understood. He walked up to Jinzhu and slapped her in the face.
"How dare you! How dare you block His Majesty's way? Get out of here!"
Although the steward did not use his full strength in this slap, it still made Jinzhu's hair disheveled and a red and swollen mark of five fingers appeared on her cheek.
Jinzhu felt both pain and shock. When she saw that His Majesty did not even glance at her, she realized almost immediately that His Majesty was His Majesty, the true dragon emperor, not an ordinary son-in-law. If she continued to say anything more, she might be ordered to be dragged away and executed.
She immediately knelt down and moved to the side, her body trembling as she said, "I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!"
Fortunately, His Majesty had no intention of arguing with her and walked past her. Jinzhu only had time to see the hem of his robe embroidered with a golden dragon.
She looked up at the majestic and heroic figure with a look of dragon and phoenix, and her eyes flashed with longing and reluctance.
*
Jiang Shuyi woke up in the evening and saw that Jinzhu's left face was red and swollen.
Jin Zhu said with red eyes, aggrieved, "It's none of your Majesty's business. I was too arrogant. I just wanted to remind your Majesty to go and see the little prince, but I accidentally blocked the door. Your Majesty only asked Eunuch Cheng to slap me, which is already a light punishment."
Jiang Shuyi found it funny.
She is particularly sensible in front of other masters except herself.
Jiang Shuyi avoided her hand that was trying to support her and said coldly, "Kneel down."
Jinzhu froze in confusion: "What?"
Jiang Shuyi was too lazy to pay attention to her and shouted to call other palace servants outside.
Of the two maids she brought into the palace, Jinzhu had a bad temper and was prone to quarreling, so she served her closely and was always with her wherever she went; Yuzhu was careful and cautious, so she was mostly responsible for the palace affairs in Zhaoyang Palace and was not often by her side.
However, Jiang Shuyi was so busy today that she even invited the imperial physician. Yuzhu was worried, so she put aside other things and stayed outside.
At this moment, he came in with other palace servants.
Jiang Shuyi ordered the other palace maids to pull Jinzhu away and force him to kneel on the ground.
Jinzhu shouted anxiously: "My lady, what's wrong with you?"
Jiang Shuyi stretched out her hand, motioning Yuzhu to come over and help her. She stood up, walked to Jinzhu, and looked at her coldly: "I heard everything you said to His Majesty in the outer hall today."
Jinzhu paused, looking confused: "So, what's the matter, I didn't say anything?"
Jiang Shuyi didn't care whether she was really stupid or just pretending to be stupid. She was furious and scolded, "What's wrong? His Majesty asked you if I was wronged today, but you complained to His Majesty about me and even urged His Majesty to abandon me and go see Pei Yu. How can you say you didn't say anything?!"
A trace of guilt flashed across Jinzhu's face, but she quickly became confident and said, "Your Majesty, I really didn't think that much. I just told you the truth. Besides, your Majesty is so good to you, why would he care about what I said? As for the little prince, he is your flesh and blood, so you should let your Majesty love him more now. This is also for your future!"
Jiang Shuyi was so angry that she laughed.
How could her previous generation be so blind as to reuse this evil spirit!
Yuzhu spoke up at this moment: "Jinzhu, don't forget that we are the dowry of the queen first, and then the palace servants of this imperial city. Unless the queen has an order, we should not put any master before the queen."
Jinzhu immediately glared at her.
Jiang Shuyi took a deep breath. If it were in her previous life, she might not have quite understood Yuzhu's words, but now she understood them deeply.
Jin Zhu's loyalty to Jiang Wanqing, Pei Yu, and even Pei Yan surpassed her own.
It just so happened that in his previous life, he really regarded his sister and son as more important than himself, so he did not think that what Jin Zhu did was excessive. Occasionally, when he wanted to get angry, Jiang Wanqing would comfort him with reason, and then he would think that Jin Zhu was doing it for his own good.
It is true that the past cannot be retrieved.
Jiang Shuyi turned around and coldly ordered Yuzhu: "From now on, you will serve me personally, and let Dicui and the others take care of the palace affairs."
Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, and then immediately responded: "Yes!"
"What about the servant?"
Jinzhu was anxious and looked at Yuzhu angrily. If she hadn't been held down, she would have grabbed her face: "Little bitch! Did you say something bad about me in front of the queen?!"
Yuzhu's face darkened and she said nothing.
"How dare you!" Jiang Shuyi scolded, pointing at Jinzhu and ordering, "Kneel down for two hours and think carefully about what Yuzhu said. If you still refuse to change your ways, don't blame me for not considering the friendship we grew up with!"
Jinzhu had never been punished like this before. She cried out in injustice and did not forget to insult Yuzhu.
Jiang Shuyi was so annoyed by the noise that she ordered the palace servants to drag Yuzhu away.
Yuzhu glanced at Jinzhu, who was being held by the palace servants and still struggling, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly knelt down in front of Jiang Shuyi.
"Your Highness, I have something to say. If I tell you something, you may think that I am seeking revenge, but for your sake, I still want to say it."
Jiang Shuyi was surprised.
In her previous life, Yuzhu was gentle and kind until she left the palace to get married. She didn't say a word or take a step more than usual.
She asked curiously, "Just tell me, as long as you are truly doing this for my own good, I won't blame you."
"Jinzhu is reckless and narrow-minded. If you punish her like this today, she will definitely bear a grudge. In order to prevent it from harming the queen, it is better to get rid of her as soon as possible."
Although Yuzhu didn't know why the empress changed her mind overnight and started to stay away from the second young lady and Jinzhu, she had become a slave and her life was dependent on her master. As long as there was hope, she still wanted to do her best to persuade the empress to live a peaceful and worry-free life.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
