novelraw Chapter 1077: Turning the Tables (2)
Chapter 1077: Turning the Tables (2)
Concubine Lan glared at her."What do you understand?"
The maid was even more perplexed and muttered softly.
"Isn’t it just a deal with Princess Hai Feng!"
"She helped you become a consort, and you helped her bring up Miss Xia!"
"Even this servant knows!"
"But miss, this is not how you bring someone up!"
"We can’t get ourselves involved too!"
The maid was very aggrieved.
This kind of bringing up, the master would fall out of favor!
Concubine Lan scolded her again.
"Shut up!"
"The walls have ears, do you want me dead?"
The maid fell silent.
Concubine Lan looked worriedly out the window.
She was somewhat anxious, yet continued to think pridefully.
’Even if out of favor, she is still a consort.’
A consort is different from a concubine, a concubine has no status, a consort does!
In the rear courtyard of the Prince’s Mansion, her status is second only to the Princess Consort.
Whether favored or not, she has a comfortable life.
So no matter what happens, she absolutely must maintain her status.
And this status...
was obtained from the preferences of Empress Dowager Zhen revealed by Princess Hai Feng, then personally taught to manipulate and pass through.
Otherwise, based on what can the legitimate daughter of a seventh-rank official, achieve the coveted position of Prince’s Side Consort?
Such a big leverage is in someone else’s hands.
Can she afford not to obey?!
The maid beside her saw persuasion was fruitless and dared not speak further.
Concubine Lan leaned against the soft couch for a brief nap.
Then got up to practice culinary skills and tea arts.
Though she entered the mansion on the pretense of being skilled in these, she actually knew nothing and had to learn to avoid looking too shameful!
...
Over there.
Finally, Xia Ruyi received favor, and for the following days.
She continuously accompanied the Prince, charming the Sixth Prince so much he was utterly captivated.
With favor.
Her posture naturally straightened.
Early this morning.
She tearfully ran to the Prince to lodge a complaint.
Saying her maid bullied her and stole her belongings.
The Sixth Prince was furious upon hearing.
"This won’t do!"
"Which maid has the audacity to bully my beauty!"
From childhood, the Sixth Prince was pampered by Empress Dowager Zhen.
Violent by nature, derelict, indolent, lascivious, and indulgent.
Though lacking ability, he loved pretending to be a hero.
In front of his favored concubine, he certainly couldn’t lose face.
Therefore, he angrily ordered those to bring the maid up.
"Is it her?"
Xia Ruyi, aggrieved.
"Yes! There is only this person serving me, who else could it be!"
She finished speaking and continued heartbreakingly.
"Pan Zhu, we grew up together, I never thought you would treat me this way!"
"Not only do you bully me, but also steal my things! You truly... disappoint me so!"
Pan Zhu appeared in disbelief, trembling in fear.
"Miss, please don’t speak wildly, what did I steal??"
Xia Ruyi cried in grievance.
"Prince, see, she’s still not admitting it!"
"I personally saw her take my Pear Blossom Hairpin to the Princess Consort’s courtyard!"
"She still won’t admit it!"
"I dare not utter frivolously, have someone search and you’ll know!"
Had the Sixth Prince any sense, he’d know this reason was absurd.
Would the Princess Consort lack anything, to covet a concubine’s items?!
Unfortunately...
He had not a shred of sense, his mind filled with righteous anger for his beauty.
Thus he waved his hand.
"You there!"
"Go search the Princess Consort’s courtyard, search thoroughly, and carefully!"
The servants below looked puzzled.
"Search... the Princess Consort’s courtyard?!"
Sending a group of male servants to search the female head’s courtyard was improper!
The Sixth Prince remained indifferent.
"Indeed! Go search! Hurry back!"
Having spoken, he soothed Xia Ruyi with squinted eyes.
"Beauty, what kind of hairpin is it?"
"Tell them so these idiots can look properly for you!"
Xia Ruyi, with a face full of satisfaction, described the hairpin’s appearance in detail.
Finally, smiled charmingly.
"Prince, wise and valiant, this humble concubine is most admiring!"
Listening to the beauty’s praise, the Sixth Prince was entirely content.
Happily, he moved closer, sprawling onto the bed for indescribable things.
The servants below hurriedly retreated.
In the courtyard were several steward sisters.
Seeing this scene, they all frowned, thinking: It’s still broad daylight!
’How has the Prince become increasingly improper!’
...
Now to Lady Zhu’s place.
Having just finished breakfast early on, a group of servant boys approached aggressively.
She was startled.
"What are you all... in here for?"
The leading steward clasped his hands in reply.
"To report to Princess Consort, we servants dispatched on the Prince’s orders, have come to search your courtyard!"
"Search my courtyard?"
Lady Zhu widened her eyes in disbelief.
"For what reason? On what grounds?"
"What wrong has this Consort committed?"
After all, she is the female head of the Prince’s Mansion.
A considerable blunder must have been committed to warrant a public search?
If truly searched.
How will she face people afterward, how can she manage the mansion?
The steward appeared troubled but continued.
"Concubine Xia claimed a white hairpin was seen being stolen to you by a maid!"
"The Prince was furious, instructing us to search!"
Lady Zhu heard and stood stunned for quite a while before coming to herself.
"Lady Xia?"
"Lost a hairpin?"
The steward lowered his head in silence.
He, too, considered the Prince’s actions excessive.
However... ultimately this mansion had to heed the Prince, they had no choice.
After thinking, he gritted his teeth.
"Princess Consort, my apologies!"
"You there, search!"
"Understood!"
The servants soon scattered, rummaging through every corner of the Princess Consort’s residence.
Lady Zhu, frightened to the point of paleness, couldn’t remain standing.
"You all... you all..."
She shivered all over, yet before finishing speaking, fainted with eyes rolled upward.
The maids screamed in alarm.
Frantically shuffled her to the bed, clumsily seeking a physician.
The entire main courtyard turned chaotic, confused.
After a carpet-like search lasting half a Shi Chen.
The white Pear Blossom Hairpin was finally found.
The steward servant boys were all in disbelief.
"Could it be the Princess Consort truly stole it? Hurry to report to the Prince!"
Said so and left with people.
Leaving behind a mess.
...
To the Sixth Prince.
Having seen the ’evidence’ hairpin, with word from Xia Ruyi, with a bit of embellishment.
Even if Lady Zhu jumped into the Yellow River, she couldn’t clear her name.
The Sixth Prince intended to punish the Princess Consort; Xia Ruyi pleaded dozens of times.
"Prince!"
"Princess Consort sister must have just been momentarily confused!"
"Let it go!"
"Over something so minor, it’s not worth it!"
After lengthy persuasion, the Sixth Prince gave up the idea of punishing the Princess Consort.
However, Pan Zhu certainly couldn’t escape.
The Sixth Prince waved a broad hand.
"Sell off this wretched maidservant!"
Xia Ruyi feigned reluctance.
The Sixth Prince comforted her.
"No worries, I’ll find you someone good!"
Xia Ruyi blushed and smiled.
"Then thank you, Prince..."
She looked at Pan Zhu with triumph, eyes filled with victorious delight!