Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Qiushuang was kicked out of Funing Palace.

Aunt An handled the matter efficiently, without the slightest hesitation. The rest of us palace maids held our breath, terrified that we would be the next ones sent away.

Aunt An told me to go inside and comfort the Sixth Princess.

After a moment’s thought, I said softly, “Let the Princess cry. She has indeed been wronged; she’ll feel better once she lets it out.”

Aunt An’s eyes grew red. “This has happened many times before. It’s not that the Princess is stingy, but she knows that once she gives something up, it never comes back. She would rather destroy it than give it to someone else.”

I understood!

Today, I noticed that the words “Villainess Supporting Character” floating above the Sixth Princess’s head were glowing even brighter.

I said, “Could you find me some more candles, clay, paint, fabric, and cotton? I want to make some more things for the Princess. She’s only unwilling to let go because she has so little. Once she has plenty, she won’t care as much. If others want something then, she can share it generously.”

Aunt An gave me a deep, searching look before turning to make the preparations.

Soon, I had a large pile of candles, clay, paint, and other materials…

Having been in the palace for three years, I knew these things weren’t easy to come by. Every palace had its set rations, and I had no idea how Aunt An had managed to get them.

Aunt An spoke with a touch of pride.

“You just focus on serving the Princess well. I’ll handle getting the supplies.”

Only later did I find out the truth.

Inside Funing Palace, Aunt An was calm and composed, never panicking no matter what happened. But outside, she bowed and scraped, kneeling until her forehead was bruised and bloody, all just to beg for help.

I spent the entire afternoon molding clay, carving candles, and making dolls.

This was work I was used to, and I found it quite therapeutic. Fangcao and Ruxia watched with envy, and once they became familiar with the process, they joined in.

I did the cutting, while they handled the sewing and stuffing. Their needlework was far superior to mine; the little rabbits they made were delicate and beautiful.

By the time the Sixth Princess woke up, she was surrounded by dozens of candle rabbits, clay rabbits, and cloth rabbits…

She was stunned.

Aunt An smiled and said, “Princess, these are all yours.”

The Sixth Princess pursed her little lips and burst into tears.

She cried very sorrowfully.

She touched one, then another, before suddenly asking Aunt An, “Am I really petty?”

Fangcao had mentioned that the Crown Prince said the Sixth Princess was calculating and vindictive, not behaving like a royal princess at all.

Aunt An replied, “You aren’t petty at all, Princess. No one in the entire palace is more generous than you.”

Me: “…”

That’s a bit of an exaggeration; you’ve lost all credibility there.

But I kept my mouth shut. Making my boss lose face would be the end of my career.

The Sixth Princess suddenly turned to me. “Sui’an, what do you think?”

Me: “…”

Little Princess, you certainly know how to ask the tough questions.

I said gently, “Princess, the little rabbits are yours, so you have the final say. The way you protect what belongs to you shows that you are brave and independent. Only those who fail to take advantage of you would intentionally belittle you.”

Aunt An looked relieved. “Sui’an is absolutely right. Princess, do not listen to them.”

The Sixth Princess’s eyes welled up.

She sniffled, lifted her small face, and picked up a candle rabbit to give to me.

“This is for you.”

I took it and bowed happily. “Thank you, Princess.”

That day, the Sixth Princess gave a little rabbit to every palace maid present, keeping only a few for herself.

It was likely the first time Fangcao and Ruxia had ever received a gift from the Sixth Princess, and they were overjoyed.

Fangcao suggested, “Why don’t we make some little chicks and piglets too?”

Ruxia chimed in, “Yes, let’s make the whole Chinese Zodiac!”

After speaking, the two of them realized they might have been too forward and looked at Aunt An uneasily.

A hint of a smile appeared on Aunt An’s usually stern face.

“Then go ahead and make them.”