After the story ended and the guests dispersed, the female storyteller picked up her now lukewarm tea, taking a few sips to soothe her throat. She looked up to see that the female guest who had paid her to tell the story had not yet left.
"Madam," Jiuzhu said, pulling a stool over to sit in front of the storyteller.
"Do you wish to hear another story, miss?" the storyteller quickly gulped down more of the cold tea. She was just an ordinary person struggling to make a living, after all, and the small amount of silver she earned was meant to support her family.
"I don't want to hear a story," Jiuzhu replied, noticing that although the storyteller's sleeves were clean, they were patched with fabric of the same color, the stitches neat and meticulous, showing great care in the mending.
Holding back her sympathy, Jiuzhu took out another piece of silver. "I want to know, where did the story about the Handsome Prince come from?"
"So that's what you're curious about. It's a small matter," the storyteller said, though her hands moved quickly to take the silver. "A few days ago, a young lady gave me a script, saying she had written it in her spare time. She offered me twenty taels of silver to tell the story."
"Twenty taels?" Jiuzhu was astonished. "She spent that much just to have you tell a story?"
"Miss, this is the Capital City. You can find all sorts of strange people here," the storyteller said, glancing at Jiuzhu. After all, wasn't Jiuzhu herself spending money to have the story altered?
"We storytellers aim to please our guests and earn a bit of luck," the storyteller added.
Zhou Xiao, standing behind Jiuzhu, looked at the storyteller with pity, wondering who had devised such a cruel scheme to involve an innocent woman like her.
If the story spread further and the palace caught wind of it, the first to suffer would be this storyteller.
"Mother," a little girl in a flower-patterned coat ran out from a side door. She looked up timidly at Jiuzhu and Zhou Xiao before hiding behind the storyteller.
"Forgive her, she's young and doesn't know better. Please don't mind her," the storyteller said, handing the girl a few copper coins. "Go buy some pastries from the shopkeeper. I'll be there soon."
The little girl ran off, coins in hand. Jiuzhu rummaged through her purse and pulled out her last piece of silver. "If you trust me, don't tell the story of the Handsome Prince and the Wicked Prince together anymore. Stories are just stories, but people are prone to suspicion and may twist the meaning, causing trouble."
The storyteller's expression changed slightly as she looked at the silver on the table. "Thank you for the warning, miss, but I can't accept this money."
"Please don't misunderstand," Jiuzhu smiled. "I enjoyed your story. I particularly liked the tale of the Wicked Prince, and I'll come again."
"You can rest assured, miss. Tomorrow I'll tell the story of the Fierce-Looking but Kind-Hearted Prince. You're welcome to come and listen," the storyteller said cheerfully as she accepted the silver.
"Thank you," Jiuzhu said, clutching her empty purse. As she left the teahouse, she sighed softly. No wonder people said talent was priceless. Even getting a storyteller to change a story was expensive. The silver she had saved for a month, reluctant to spend, was now completely gone.
"Sister Xiao," Zhou Xiao, who had lived in the Capital City for a long time and was familiar with all sorts of schemes, spoke with a grave expression. "It seems today wasn't a good day for storytelling. Why don't we go visit a cosmetics shop instead?"
Jiuzhu pinched her empty purse, her brows furrowed as she shook her head at Zhou Xiao's suggestion. "I've spent all my silver."
Zhou Xiao couldn't help but laugh. She had thought Jiuzhu was so generous because the Ming family doted on their daughter, but it turned out she had spent all the money she had.
"It's fine, just looking doesn't cost anything," Zhou Xiao said, taking Jiuzhu's arm. "Come on, keep me company."
Zhou Xiao was soft and fragrant, and Jiuzhu found herself nodding in agreement, only to later find herself gifted a box of rouge by her companion.
When she returned home, Jiuzhu held the rouge in her hands, murmuring thoughtfully, "No wonder my master always said beauty could bewitch people. It's true."
But really, who could resist a beautiful, gentle, and considerate older sister?
At the Zhou residence, Zhou Xiao entered the main courtyard where her parents lived.
"Father, Mother," Zhou Xiao served tea to her parents. "Today, I went to the teahouse with Sister Ming and encountered something unusual."
"What happened?" Zhou Rui and Madame Zhou exchanged knowing smiles. The marriage between their daughter and the sixth son of the Ming family had already been agreed upon by both families. Once Ming Jinghai returned to the Capital City, they would arrange for the betrothal gifts to be sent.
It was good that their daughter got along well with the Ming family's daughter. It would make it easier for her to adjust to her new family after marriage.
Zhou Xiao recounted everything that had happened at the teahouse.
How could a mere storyteller know about the affairs between Prince Qi and Prince Chen? If Jiuzhu hadn't noticed something amiss today, the storyteller might have lost her life because of this story.
Thinking of the timid little girl behind the storyteller, Zhou Xiao couldn't help but say, "Many people say Prince Qi is virtuous and talented, a true gem. But after today, I can't help but wonder if such a perfect person truly exists."
Zhou Rui remained silent, but Madame Zhou smiled and said, "That Ming girl is quite interesting."
She was naive in character, yet she had a natural sensitivity to hidden dangers.
"At first, even you didn't notice anything wrong with the story. But after just a few sentences, she interrupted it. She didn't reveal her identity or use her status to bully others. Instead, she spent money to convince the storyteller to change the story willingly," Madame Zhou remarked with admiration. "She truly is a Ming. Even though she was raised outside the family, she still has the decisiveness and courage of a Ming."
No wonder Consort Su, who usually didn't get along well with civil officials, liked this future daughter-in-law so much.
"Is that so?" Zhou Xiao suspected her mother might have some misconceptions about Jiuzhu. Was Sister Ming really decisive?
Remembering how Jiuzhu had clutched her empty purse, looking pitifully heartbroken over the spent silver, Zhou Xiao fell silent.
Well, if her mother was happy with her assumptions, it was better not to correct her.
At Bright Moon Palace, Consort Su was admiring herself in the mirror when Xiangjuan hurried in, her expression odd. "Your Highness, there are some rumors circulating outside the palace... about His Highness."
"Is it about my son being arrogant and domineering, or indulging in luxury?" Consort Su asked calmly as she picked up an eyebrow pencil to touch up her brows.
"Neither."
"Is it about him oppressing the poor or abusing his power?"
"Not that either," Xiangjuan coughed lightly. "The rumors say that His Highness only appears fierce on the surface, but in reality, he's a kind-hearted soul who cries when he sees injured animals and feels deeply for the suffering of others."
"What?!" Consort Su's hand trembled, nearly poking herself in the nose with the eyebrow pencil. "Are you sure you're talking about my son, and not Prince Qi?"
"It's definitely about His Highness," Xiangjuan confirmed. "The rumors also say that Prince Chen's residence employs many chefs, but they are actually soldiers who were severely injured. His Highness couldn't bear to see them lose their livelihoods, so he gave them work in his household."
"And that time when His Highness fiercely bought an old man's radishes? It turns out he noticed the man's family was struggling and used that as an excuse to give him money."
Though Xiangjuan didn't understand why a prince would personally buy radishes, she knew that folk tales often had their share of exaggerations, like "the emperor uses a golden hoe" or "the empress uses a lot of oil when making pancakes."
After listening to more bizarre stories about "escorting an old man home," "fiercely giving money to a beggar," and "resisting the temptation of a beautiful woman," Consort Su fell silent for a long time. Was this really her son they were talking about? It sounded more like a saint.
Rubbing the goosebumps on her arm, Consort Su interrupted Xiangjuan. "Enough, enough. It's too strange to listen to."
Consort Su was puzzled. "Where did such ridiculous rumors come from?"
Xiangjuan replied, "I don't know where they started, but they've been spreading like wildfire these past few days."
"Could it be... another plot against my son?" Consort Su pondered, but no matter how she thought about it, she couldn't make sense of it. "But spreading such rumors only benefits my son. What could the mastermind possibly gain?"
The mother and son had always been the target of envy in the palace. Others secretly wished for their downfall, praying daily for their misfortune. It was impossible that someone would go to such lengths to enhance her son's reputation.
Was this an act of kindness, or some form of charity?
A good reputation was fine, but the stories were so exaggerated that even she, as his mother, felt a bit embarrassed.
"Is this what you call taking care of things?!" Consort Ning, after hearing her servant's report, summoned the maid who had been tasked with the matter. "With my silver, were you working for me, or for Prince Chen?!"
Five hundred taels, a full five hundred taels, and this is the result I get?!
"This servant doesn't know what happened either. Everything was fine just a few days ago, but then the female patrons at the teahouse suddenly started favoring stories about a prince who appears domineering on the outside but is gentle at heart..." The maid's voice grew softer and softer. "The storyteller lady said that storytellers should tell the stories the audience likes, and she refused to continue with the scripts we provided."
"If she doesn't want to, then offer her more money," Consort Ning suppressed her anger. "If she still refuses even with more money, then find someone else. Do I really need to teach you this?"
"Your Highness..." The maid hesitated. "Nowadays, the women in the Capital City no longer enjoy stories about gentle and virtuous scholars. They prefer tales of domineering princes or arrogant marquises."
Ever since the story of the "Domineering but Kind-hearted Prince" became popular, countless storytellers have been fabricating similar tales. The old clichés about scholars and young ladies, or fox spirits and generals, are no longer in demand.
"Are these people out of their minds?" Consort Ning couldn't help but retort. "What exactly is there to like about a prince like Yun Duqing?"
Seeing Consort Ning's fury, the maid quickly tried to comfort her. "Your Highness, it's not Prince Chen they like, but the fictional character in the stories."
However, for some reason, many women had already started equating Prince Chen with the domineering prince in the stories. The maid didn't dare to tell Consort Ning this, fearing her wrath.
"Get out!" Consort Ning kicked her in the stomach. "Useless thing!"
The maid clutched her stomach. "Please calm your anger, Your Highness. This servant will take her leave."
Staggering out of the inner chamber, a young maid rushed to support her. "Aunt Bai Shao, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Bai Shao said, enduring the sharp pain in her abdomen. She pushed the young maid's hand away, sweat dripping from her forehead. "Her Highness is in a bad mood today. Be careful when serving her."
The young maid's face paled. She looked at Bai Shao with concern, but Bai Shao only clutched her stomach, step by step making her way to the door. As she crossed the threshold, she collapsed to the ground.
"Auntie," the young girl whispered, not daring to raise her voice. She ran to Bai Shao's side. "Let me help you back."
"Don't be foolish," Bai Shao said weakly. "Do you want to lose your life?"
"Her Highness is in a foul mood. How could she allow you to leave without permission?" Bai Shao leaned against the doorframe and stood up. "I'm fine. Go back."
Everyone in Lanyu Palace knew that Consort Ning despised any sign of disrespect from her servants. It was rumored that before she entered the Emperor's household, her mother had been of low status, and as a concubine's daughter, she had often been mistreated by the servants. After the Emperor ascended the throne, she developed a deep dislike for disobedient servants.
However, this was just a rumor whispered among the servants of Lanyu Palace. No one dared to verify its truth. Moreover, in recent years, Consort Ning had grown close to the Pingyuan Marquis's family, which didn't align with the idea that she had been mistreated.
"Aunt Bai Shao," a young eunuch hurried out. "Her Highness wants you to go to the Palace Administration and ask when the new tea will be delivered. The prince's wedding is approaching, and Her Highness said all the palace items need to be replaced."
"Understood," Bai Shao released her hand from her stomach. "I'll go to the Palace Administration right away."
The young eunuch looked at Bai Shao's pale face, wanting to say something but not daring to speak. Finally, he whispered, "Auntie, please take care of yourself."
"Miss Jiuzhu, that building over there is the Inner Court Administration, which handles the daily expenses and supplies for the imperial concubines," Xiangjuan pointed to a small building not far away. "It was established by His Majesty after he ascended the throne, to ensure that the eunuchs wouldn't withhold supplies from the concubines."
During the reign of the previous emperor, concubines who were out of favor often had to eat leftovers, drink cold water, and live worse than servants.
Xiangjuan glanced at Jiuzhu and noticed that the young lady seemed curious about everything, as if there was nothing in the world that couldn't spark her interest. These days, Her Highness had been summoning Jiuzhu to the palace frequently, and the two of them would spend time together appreciating paintings, chatting, and occasionally offering small suggestions on the scriptures copied by the concubines. They got along very well.
The only ones who might not be so happy were the concubines who had "devotedly" copied the scriptures.
Her Highness had invited the young lady to the palace but was worried she might get bored, so she asked Xiangjuan to take Jiuzhu around. By now, they had almost explored every corner of the palace, except for the Emperor's and the concubines' private chambers.
"Aunt Xiangjuan," Jiuzhu tugged on Xiangjuan's sleeve. "I'm going to take a look over there."
"What is it?" Xiangjuan looked at Jiuzhu in confusion, only to see her walking toward a plum tree.
Bai Shao was curled up against the tree trunk, her back soaked in cold sweat. She weakly opened her eyes, looking up at the gray sky. The sharp pain in her abdomen reminded her that she was still alive.
The pain seemed to spread throughout her body, and her brain felt like it was about to explode from the endless agony.
"Are you alright?"
She struggled to open her eyes wider, seeing a young girl appear before her.
The girl was wearing a red cloak, and the hairpin at her temple sparkled, brightening even the gloomy sky.
"Aunt Xiangjuan, she looks like she's about to faint."
Before Bai Shao lost consciousness, she saw the girl take off her cloak and drape it over her.
...
"Your Majesty," Liu Zhongbao handed a secret letter to Emperor Longfeng. "We've identified the person behind the attempt to present the embroidered painting to Consort Su during her birthday banquet."
Emperor Longfeng opened the letter, read the name, and gently placed it on the table. "Liu Zhongbao, how many years have I been on the throne?"
"Your Majesty, this is the thirteenth year of the Longfeng era."
"I remember when Duqing stood in front of me, he wasn't even eight years old," the Emperor sighed. "So much time has passed."
"Prepare the carriage. I'm going to Qingfeng Pavilion."
Qingfeng Pavilion was filled with the pungent smell of medicine. A woman lay on the bed, tightly wrapped in a brocade quilt, coughing violently.
Footsteps approached outside the curtain. She struggled to lift the curtain, first showing joy, then panic.
She tried to sit up but ultimately fell back onto the bed.
"Just lie down," Emperor Longfeng didn't approach the bed. He looked at the haggard woman, his expression neither happy nor angry.
"Your Majesty, have you come to see me, or to seek justice for that woman, Su Meidai?" She coughed violently. "I've known you since we were young, yet in the end, I couldn't compare to a merchant's daughter. How laughable."
"Your Majesty!" She looked at Emperor Longfeng with resentment. "Are Su Meidai and Yun Duqing the only ones who matter in this harem? Are the other women and children not human?"
"Since the founding of this dynasty, no emperor has treated his concubines as generously as I have," Emperor Longfeng sighed. "Lady Yang, you shouldn't have targeted my beloved consort."
"Beloved consort? Hahaha, beloved consort?" Lady Yang laughed bitterly. "Is Su Meidai the only woman who matters to you?"
Seeing the hatred in Lady Yang's eyes, Emperor Longfeng spoke. "I've known about what happened in the 30th year of Xiande."
Lady Yang froze. After a long while, she let out a sound that was both a laugh and a cry. "So that's how it is... So that's how it is..."
The room fell silent. After a long time, she struggled to sit up, looking at the empty room. Tears streamed down her face as she murmured, "Your Majesty is right. You truly are a generous emperor."
That year, the Emperor had been imprisoned in his own mansion. The women in the inner court, for the sake of their families' futures and glory, chose to betray their husband.
When the plan failed and the prince ascended the throne, she thought this secret would never be known by the Emperor.
She was wrong. In this imperial city, there were no secrets that could remain hidden forever.
"Hahaha..."
Lady Yang laughed until tears streamed down her face. The other women in the harem, who usually looked down on her, had no idea that their past actions had long been seen by the Emperor.
How laughable. They were all so laughable.
When Jiuzhu woke up in the morning, she noticed that all the red lanterns in the hallway had been taken down.
"Sister Chunfen, why have all the lanterns been replaced?" Jiuzhu looked up at the blue lanterns, feeling a bit uneasy.
"Consort Yang has passed away. Since your father is a third-rank official in the Ministry of Rites, it's inappropriate to hang red lanterns for nine days," Chunfen draped a plain cloak over Jiuzhu. "Later, Madame Zhou might take you to the palace to pay your respects. Just stay close to her."
Jiuzhu suddenly understood why Chunfen had picked out a plain outfit for her today, even her hairpin was made of plain silver.
"Who is Consort Yang?"
Chunfen lowered her voice: "She is the daughter of a disgraced official. Her father and brother conspired with a rebel prince to force their way into the palace over a decade ago. After His Majesty ascended the throne, he took pity on her, knowing she was unaware of the plot, and did not hold her accountable..."
"Jiuzhu," Lady Shen called out as she entered the courtyard, beckoning Jiuzhu over.
Jiuzhu hurried to her mother's side: "Mother, are we going to the palace now?"
"Has Chunfen already told you?"
Jiuzhu nodded.
Lady Shen inspected her daughter from head to toe, ensuring nothing was out of place, and then led her out the door.
Prince Chen, dressed in plain robes, walked along the palace path when he noticed some palace maids giving him peculiar looks.
As one of the maids nearly stumbled and fell into his arms, he sidestepped to avoid her and asked Fugui in confusion, "What's wrong with this maid? If she can't even walk steadily, how did she get a position in the palace?"
Fugui glanced at the maid, who was now sprawled on the ground, and thought to himself that perhaps she, too, had heard the bizarre tale of *The Domineering Prince and the Charming Maid*.
Prince Chen didn't even glance at the young maid kneeling on the ground, tears about to fall. Impatiently, he said to two eunuchs, "Take her back quickly. If anyone sees this, they might think I pushed her."
Just as he finished speaking, Jiuzhu's voice called out from behind him.
"Your Highness!"
Jiuzhu ran up to Prince Chen. She glanced at the maid kneeling on the ground, then at Prince Chen, her face full of confusion. "Your Highness?"
