Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In the Great Xia Dynasty, princesses studied alongside the princes.

Aunt An tried to wake the Sixth Princess, only to be kicked squarely in the chest.

The Sixth Princess’s eyes were bloodshot, her gaze sharp enough to devour someone.

“I’m not getting up. I want to sleep.”

After much coaxing and pleading, she was finally up, but then she had no interest in eating.

Aunt An was frantic. Being late for lessons meant another punishment from the Grand Tutor. Not sleeping well at night led to trouble waking up early-the days had become a vicious cycle.

Her face was a mask of numbness.

Her gaze shifted toward us again.

This time, Qiushuang had wised up and immediately lowered her head.

I was a step too slow, and I heard Aunt An say, “Sui’an, you do it.”

Me: “…”

Aunt An snapped coldly, “What are you standing there for?”

I stepped forward and looked at the food: plain congee, side dishes, and steamed egg custard. It didn’t look particularly appetizing.

I sighed inwardly.

If the kid doesn’t want to eat, don’t force her. She’ll eat when she’s hungry.

But I didn’t dare say that.

This was ancient times, an era where if a prince or princess missed a meal, palace maids and eunuchs could lose their heads.

I thought for a moment and said softly to the Sixth Princess, “Princess, if you eat well, I will carve a little rabbit for you.”

The Sixth Princess wasn’t easily fooled.

She sneered, “I don’t want it.”

I ignored her refusal. “I’ll carve it right now. I’m very good at it.”

I found a candle and a small knife and began to carve bit by bit.

The translucent wax slowly took the shape of a little rabbit in my hands.

The Sixth Princess watched, mesmerized.

Aunt An took the opportunity to hand her a spoon. She pursed her lips and began to eat, watching me as she chewed. Surprisingly, she didn’t complain once.

At that moment, I was the most effective side dish at the table.

By the time I finished carving, the Sixth Princess was full.

I handed the little rabbit to her.

She said disdainfully, “Hmph, you dare give me a mere candle?”

“I know this object is crude. I only dared to show it to the Princess; I wouldn’t dream of gifting it to you,” I replied smoothly.

The Sixth Princess’s eyes widened in anger. “You carved this using a candle from my palace! It belongs to me!”

She immediately snatched the wax rabbit and turned to leave.

Fangcao and Ruxia, the two palace maids, hurried to follow her.

Aunt An watched her retreating figure and said with relief, “This is the first time I’ve seen the Princess so eager to go to school.”

Me: “…”

Aunt An added, “You did well. From now on, you will serve the Princess in the inner hall.”

“Yes!”

I had been promoted.

Moving to the inner hall meant jumping from a second-class maid to a first-class maid, with a salary increase of one tael.

I was overjoyed.

The Sixth Princess wasn’t some Villainess Supporting Character; she was clearly my angel baby, my lucky charm.

However, when school let out at noon, the Sixth Princess returned in a rage.

As soon as she entered, she started screaming, throwing a tantrum, and smashing things.

No one dared to intervene, fearing they would get hurt or that she would hurt herself.

Aunt An coldly asked Fangcao and Ruxia what had happened.

Fangcao said hesitantly, “It was because of that little rabbit.”

Aside from the princes and princesses born to the Emperor, the students at the Hall of Literary Brilliance included the Emperor’s adopted daughter, Princess Zhen’an.

Princess Zhen’an’s parents were generals who had died on the battlefield. Out of gratitude for their merit and loyalty, the Emperor had chosen a daughter from their family to be raised in the palace as Princess Zhen’an.

Princess Zhen’an was being personally raised by the Empress.

The Empress had no daughters of her own and treated her as her own flesh and blood.

She was also adorable and very well-liked.

The Sixth Princess had been playing with the wax rabbit during class, and Princess Zhen’an had spotted it.

The Second Prince wanted to borrow it to show Princess Zhen’an.

Without a word, the Sixth Princess destroyed the little rabbit.

This made Princess Zhen’an cry and enraged several princes, leading to a confrontation.

In the end, the Crown Prince stepped in. He punished the Sixth Princess and the princes who started the trouble, then turned around and gave Princess Zhen’an a pile of fine gifts.

Aunt An’s face was as cold as frost.

She went inside to comfort the Princess.

Qiushuang seemed to have found the perfect opening to attack me.

“Look at you, acting so capable. Now you’ve caused trouble. You’ve offended several princes and princesses, and even Princess Zhen’an. Let’s see what you do now.”

What would I do?

I’d do nothing.

Did those princes and princesses even know who I was?

I didn’t know them either.

Only the Sixth Princess knew me.

As soon as Aunt An came out, I immediately reported her.

“Auntie, just now Qiushuang said the Princess was being foolish and should have given the item to Princess Zhen’an to please her.”

Qiushuang panicked. “I-I didn’t say that!”

Aunt An had just been kicked out by the Sixth Princess and had nowhere to vent her anger. “Then what did you say?”

Qiushuang quickly knelt. “I only said that Sui’an shouldn’t have carved that rabbit…”

With a sharp *slap*, Aunt An struck Qiushuang across the face. “You don’t need to stay in Funing Palace anymore. Get out!”

Qiushuang was indignant. “Auntie, what did I say wrong? If Sui’an hadn’t carved that rabbit, none of this would have happened!”

Aunt An said coldly, “When the master is insulted, the servant should be ready to die. You don’t have a single ounce of backbone.”