Chapter 64: Chapter 63: Love Me, Love My Dog
The person who came from the palace was Ms Sun, who was by the side of the Dowager Concubine. She was accompanied by a spirited palace maid, holding two boxes, and with a smile on her face, she looked at Yu Nianzhao.
"Greetings to Princess Consort Su, this is the silver sent by the Dowager Concubine, and the old servant has come to collect the Beauty Talisman," Ms Sun personally handed the box over to Yu Nianzhao and then took the Beauty Talisman from Yu Nianzhao’s hand.
But even after obtaining the Beauty Talisman, she didn’t seem in a hurry to leave, "This palace maid is named Ye Qing, selected from the General’s mansion and brought into the palace. She knows a bit of martial arts. The Dowager Concubine feels sorry that Princess Consort Su doesn’t have even a maid by her side, so she asked the old servant to bring Ye Qing over to serve you as a maid. Her birth chart is considered the hardest among all the palace maids, and she has been healthy since childhood due to her martial arts training, so there shouldn’t be any issue with her staying at Prince Su Mansion."
Pity?
Yu Nianzhao felt goosebumps all over; she remembered that the Dowager Concubine had always had some slight criticisms about her background. Even though she hadn’t been driven away like a wicked mother-in-law, her words were always barbed. Why had her attitude suddenly changed to be sympathetic?
With eyes full of questions, Yu Nianzhao looked at Xie Jiuxiao, who was having breakfast, as if asking, ’What is your mother up to? Could it be a tactic of first politeness, then attack?’
Xie Jiuxiao’s lips curled slightly, and with distinct features, he scooped a bowl of porridge for her, "Zhaozhao, come and have breakfast."
"No way! Xie Jiuxiao, is this palace maid really not for you? How come she’s for me?" Yu Nianzhao couldn’t help but ask directly.
Could it be jealousy?
Ms Sun quickly smiled and said, "The Dowager Concubine initially wanted Ye Qing to stay at the Prince Su Mansion to take care of the Prince, but she was rejected by the Prince. Princess, please feel relieved. The Dowager Concubine genuinely wants Ye Qing to stay by your side to take care of you. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be convenient for Ms Jiang alone to assist you. This is really a kind intention from the Dowager Concubine. Please don’t refuse, or she would certainly be saddened."
Just imagining the Dowager Concubine with a wailing face made Yu Nianzhao shiver in discomfort.
Xie Jiuxiao said, "Once my mother accepts you as her daughter-in-law, she will love you dearly as one of her own. You can accept it without worry. Ms Sun is right, Prince Su Mansion mostly consists of men, and it’s not sufficient to rely solely on Ms Jiang to care for you. Without the heavy presence of Evil Qi in the mansion, you’d certainly need several maids around you."
"Alright, but I also want to know clearly, is she given to me, or do I just have usage rights?"
Yu Nianzhao’s beautiful eyes glanced over, and Ye Qing appeared to be a charmingly heroic ice beauty, with eyes that were transparent, seemingly a person without ulterior motives.
Of course, she didn’t want to have anyone with ulterior motives beside her.
She’s busy making money, with no time for intrigue.
"The Dowager Concubine has already given the deed of sale to me, and I will only be loyal to Princess Consort Su in the future!"
Ye Qing’s voice was crisp and cold, yet her mind was active. She understood the Dowager Concubine’s intention and promptly knelt down, presenting the deed with both hands.
Ms Jiang quickly added, "Zhaozhao, you should accept it. The Dowager Concubine summoned me to the palace to find out what grievance you had suffered earlier. When asked, I naturally spoke up and told her about the grievances you endured in Tomb Guard City and the true nature of those scoundrels at the Marquis Wu’an’s mansion. She was deeply moved by what she heard, saying you had such a hard life before, being the true-born daughter yet wronged by the actions of villains. She even remarked that the Marquis Wu’an’s mansion failed in their maternal duties, neglecting their own flesh and blood for an impostor, which is simply heartless."
Ms Jiang had always felt for Yu Nianzhao, and when asked by the Dowager Concubine, she exaggerated Yu Nianzhao’s grievances even more.
Ms Jiang has accompanied the Dowager Concubine, the Emperor, and Prince Su in the Cold Palace for many years, so naturally, the Dowager Concubine trusts her words.
Listening to Ms Jiang vividly recount Yu Nianzhao’s ordeal after returning to the Marquis’s house, the Dowager Concubine cried her heart out, finally understanding why Xie Jiuxiao said he felt more for Yu Nianzhao after hearing her childhood story.
Yu Nianzhao helplessly held her forehead, finally understanding why the Dowager Concubine acted this way; it was all thanks to Ms Jiang’s ’effort’.
Xie Jiuxiao softly said, "My mother does not have a bad heart. When she was still in the General’s mansion, she had three older brothers and was the only daughter, having been spoiled in the household all the time. Now her affection for you is genuine; you can accept it as an extension of her love."
Yu Nianzhao spread her hands, "I never said I wouldn’t accept it."
She took Ye Qing’s deed of sale, "Then stay, and have Ms Jiang find a room for you to settle down."
"Yes, thank you, Princess." Ye Qing let out a sigh of relief and demurely stepped aside.
Only then did Ms Sun, smiling brightly, return to the palace with the Beauty Talisman to report back.
Yu Nianzhao took a bite of her porridge, glanced at Ye Qing, and reminded her, "However, if you’re going to stay by my side, you must be bolder. Don’t get scared witless now, okay?"
Ye Qing gently bit her red lip, her eyes puzzled, and cautiously asked, "Is the Princess talking about... seeing ghosts?"
When she was about to leave the palace, Ms Sun had already warned her about some things.
She said Princess Consort Su studied metaphysics and could catch ghosts. Although she was somewhat prepared mentally, hearing Yu Nianzhao mention it directly still made her a bit nervous.
Yu Nianzhao, eating her porridge, muttered unclearly, "Ghosts are certain, perhaps all kinds of strange things, you’ll see."
Ye Qing gritted her teeth and said, "I’m not afraid. Sometimes, ghosts and monsters are not as terrifying as the human heart."
Hearing her say this, Yu Nianzhao glanced at her again, noticing the gloom in Ye Qing’s eyes, "Your parents’ palace is dim, with a bit of Evil Qi, surrounded by the siblings’ palace, leaning towards favoring males over females."
Ye Qing looked at her in surprise, quickly lowered her eyes, and said, "The Princess indeed is insightful and knows everything. I am the fourth in my family, after my sisters, and I have a younger sister and a brother. When the family couldn’t make ends meet, my parents sold me. Originally, I was to be sold as a maid to a brothel, but thankfully, the General’s Mansion saved me, buying me instead. Due to my robust health and tough skin, I accidentally learned a set of martial arts."
Dongfang Chenyuan, listening beside them, felt compassion and said, "No wonder your siblings’ palace clings to your parents’ palace like leeches, squeezing you all out. What happened to your sisters?"
Ye Qing’s eyes dimmed, "Most of them died from illness, with no money for treatment, leaving only one way out. As for the healthy ones, they were sold. They even said that while they are not yet dead from illness, it’s better to sell and get it over with to earn some meal money."
"How dreadful, for such parents to exist!" Dongfang Chenyuan’s eyes widened in indignation, seeking justice on her behalf.