“Here he comes, here he comes. I knew he’d say that. Is he peeing to mark his territory like a little dog? How childish.”
After muttering a curse at Pang, she pitifully raised her head and kowtowed to Duan Fusheng in front of her: “Your Highness, with my current identity, how could I possibly face you? I’ve truly brought shame upon you, Your Highness!”
Her voice was filled with sorrow, as if she were a loyal servant deeply concerned about her master’s reputation.
“Alright, alright. We all know you’re my master now. Stop your peeing behavior already! By the way, Pang, don’t you think this plot is a bit unreasonable? Duan Fusheng, a concubine, is openly meeting with a man from outside the palace. Isn’t anyone going to do something about it?”
Song Weiqing hid his twitching mouth behind a cup of tea, his eyes brimming with amusement.
Duan Fusheng, oh Duan Fusheng, even someone as calculating as you wouldn’t have expected that the seemingly loyal maidservant in front of you harbors such thoughts about you, would you?
Duan Fusheng let out a cold laugh.
But in Jiang Zhiyu’s eyes, that laugh was nothing but blatant ridicule!
“Even though I’m just a concubine’s daughter, there’s no need to laugh at me like that!”
As a person of high status, Duan Fusheng’s dignity did not tolerate being offended. He was just about to order someone to drag her out and behead her.
Then, the words on the tip of his tongue paused.
If this woman died, it seemed like the world would collapse.
“How dare you! Insulting the noble Consort openly! Come, drag her out and behead her!” Sheng Lan’s furious voice came from behind Duan Fusheng.
“Wait!” Seeing that Duan Fusheng had no intention of stopping it, Zhou Shengsheng immediately spoke up.
When all eyes turned to her, Zhou Shengsheng pretended to shrink back and lowered her head, speaking in a soft, delicate voice: “Your Highness, this young lady is my savior. If not for her, I would have been...”
As she spoke, it seemed as if she recalled something terrifying, and tears streamed down her face. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably, looking utterly pitiful.
The wet nurse, seeing her shift the blame onto herself, was furious but dared not speak out.
Song Weiqing had never seen such a skilled actress before. Earlier, in the pavilion, he and Duan Fusheng had watched everything this maidservant had done from start to finish.
If he hadn’t known the truth, he might have really been fooled by this woman’s acting, believing her to be a poor victim.
He had always thought the women in his father’s palace were the epitome of hypocrisy, but it seemed there were always more talented people out there. The Zhu Kingdom has its drama queens.
Just as Duan Fusheng was about to speak, Sheng Lan seized the opportunity from behind him.
“Who do you think you are! A slave from the Xinzhe Repository, what face do you have to ask the Consort to show you favor!”
Upon hearing her scolding, Zhou Shengsheng’s shoulders trembled even more.
“Ah, you’re done for. You dared to speak before Duan Fusheng. Didn’t you see he’s already angry? Oh, right, from your position, you can’t see it, haha.”
Indeed, Duan Fusheng was angry, but suddenly he didn’t want to fulfill her wish.
Although he didn’t want to admit it, she really did understand him quite well.
“Sheng Lan, shut up,” Duan Fusheng’s voice was flat, without a trace of emotion, yet it made Sheng Lan behind him shudder.
“You saved Shengsheng’s life, so consider that offsetting your earlier rudeness,” he said, leisurely picking up a grape. “Go back and tell Jiang Dehuai that he’s raised a fine daughter.”
This was meant to be sarcastic, but in Jiang Zhiyu’s ears, it sounded like high praise.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Just moments ago, the thought of being dragged out had left a psychological shadow on Jiang Zhiyu, but she also felt a bit wronged.
This isn’t what Mother said would happen. Didn’t she say men’s eyes would be drawn to her?
Why, compared to herself, it seemed he cared more about that maidservant.
She sneakily glanced at Song Weiqing, who was seated above, and her face slowly turned red.
If this man were to fall for her, she wouldn’t mind giving him a chance to pursue her.
Seeing that Duan Fusheng’s matter was settled, Song Weiqing raised his arm and pointed at Zhou Shengsheng, who was standing quietly, as if she didn’t exist: “I’m in need of a servant by my side. I find her quite pleasing to the eye. Why not let the Consort give her to me? I can see she’s not doing well here, isn’t she?”
Zhou Shengsheng’s expression froze. In her mind, she thought: “Are you okay? Are you okay?”
How did the conversation suddenly shift to her?
And ‘pleasing to the eye’?
Do you like what crawled out of the water?
Zhou Shengsheng decisively crawled to Duan Fusheng’s feet, looking up at him with her small, pitiful face: “Your Highness, I don’t want to leave. I only want to follow you!”
“Song Weiqing, you heartless one. I heard that in private, you enjoy drinking the heart’s blood of your enemies while dining! If he takes a liking to me, I wouldn’t know how I’d die! Be grateful, Your Highness. Compared to him, I’d rather serve you!”
Duan Fusheng, who should have been grateful, deepened the smile at the corner of his mouth. So, the Crown Prince of Zhen has such a peculiar habit. I wonder how much this piece of information could fetch.
Song Weiqing’s fingers moved faster on his prayer beads.
“I wonder how much sincerity the Crown Prince can offer?” Duan Fusheng gently pushed Zhou Shengsheng away with the tip of his foot.
Song Weiqing decided to stick to his ruthless approach: “The Zhu Kingdom is hot in the summer. Why don’t I gift Jing Province to the Consort as a place to cool off?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire pavilion fell into an instant silence.
“Am I really worth so much…”
Only Zhou Shengsheng’s murmured thoughts echoed in the minds of the two men.
Duan Fusheng couldn’t bear to look. After following him for so many years, why is she still acting so cheap?
When Jing Province was mentioned, Duan Fusheng suddenly remembered another matter.
“Isn’t Jing Province recently planned to be the fiefdom of the Shen Prince? The Crown Prince’s actions might not be in accordance with propriety.”
Song Weiqing smiled faintly: “To be honest, my elder brother recently lost his memory, so this matter has been temporarily put on hold. However, the Consort seems to know a great deal about our kingdom’s affairs.”
The implication being that he knew too much.
Duan Fusheng didn’t respond, but the keywords like “prince” and “amnesia” made him immediately think of what Zhou Shengsheng had said when he first heard her thoughts.
“Although Jing Province is good, the Crown Prince should keep it for himself. Shengsheng has been with me for many years; the bond between master and servant is not something that can be exchanged for material goods,” he said, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
Song Weiqing wouldn’t believe him if he did.
If it really couldn’t be exchanged for material goods, then what about that word “sincerity” earlier? Did he imagine it?
“Your Highness, the special-supply plums are very sweet. Please try one,” Zhou Shengsheng said eagerly but not obsequiously, quickly getting up and bringing the plate of plums that Duan Fusheng had never touched to him.
Song Weiqing glanced at her with a smile, wondering if she had changed her mind.
Duan Fusheng’s originally casual expression tightened, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at Zhou Shengsheng.
Zhou Shengsheng watched as he picked up a plum with his jade-like fingers and ate it, then she set the plate down and stepped back.
In her mind, she added: “If you have nothing to do, eat a plum~”
….
At this moment, those who didn’t understand and those who understood half of it all fell silent.
Song Weiqing quietly spat out the pit, which was caught by a maidservant beside him. Seeing that he seemed to like it, he picked up another one, blushing as he handed it to his mouth.
“Zhang Jian, I seem to have mentioned that I dislike the maids wearing bright-colored dresses.” He half-closed his eyes, gently rubbing the Kylin Eye Bodhi in his hand.
The man behind him, aptly named and sharp yet restrained, quickly grabbed the maid’s neck and dragged her away.
Zhou Shengsheng’s hair stood on end as she watched, silently vowing never to fall into Song Weiqing’s hands.
As the time grew late, Song Weiqing stood up to leave.
Before leaving, he couldn’t help but say to Zhou Shengsheng: “Little Shengsheng, I’m quite interested in you. If things don’t work out with the Consort, remember to come find me.” After saying that, he took off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to her.
Having been in the palace for so many years, Zhou Shengsheng could tell at a glance that it was a valuable item.
But before she reached out, she first pretended to be unsure and glanced at Duan Fusheng’s expression.
Seeing that she still knew to seek his opinion, Duan Fusheng waved his hand indifferently, letting her do as she pleased.
“How could a servant like me accept such a precious item? Thank you, Your Highness.” As she spoke, Zhou Shengsheng quickly took it and stuffed it into her sleeve.
Being scared and accepting a gift were two different things.
Song Weiqing silently retracted his hand, expecting her to refuse his offer.
