Chapter 28
Chapter 28
The moment Shengsheng Zhou heard that she would not be fed unless she finished, she picked up her tools and set to work.
Her injured right hand ensured that she would go hungry anyway.
Because she was a palace maid from another kingdom, she did not wear the uniform issued to maids in the Yong Kingdom.
Her conspicuously foreign dress meant that even stealing a steamed bun drew immediate scrutiny.
That night, Shengsheng rubbed her empty stomach and slipped out after everyone had fallen asleep.
The imperial garden after dark was generally empty–apart from all the women harboring ulterior motives who arranged “chance” encounters with the emperor and displayed their talents.
Shengsheng had chosen it for a very simple reason.
From the southwest corner came a woman’s passionate performance of “The Phoenix Seeks His Mate.” Before her, a lovely young lady danced with a radiant smile.
Shengsheng beamed.
What excellent dinner entertainment.
*A-Pang, bring your sovereign a bowl of river-snail rice noodles to complete the occasion.*
A-Pang yawned.
*Shengsheng, the smell is too strong.*
*Then leave out the pickled bamboo shoots.*
That was her final concession.
***
The night dragged painfully for Shan Hai.
Ordinarily, His Majesty could review memorials until dawn without complaint. Tonight, however, Siran Ming repeatedly lost focus and grew visibly more restless by the moment.
“Your Majesty, the moon is lovely tonight. Perhaps a walk in the imperial garden would refresh you?”
Siran’s hand stopped.
Government affairs he once handled with ease had become inexplicably torturous.
His eyes kept straying toward the empty place where ink was ground.
He remembered a pale hand moving beneath the lamplight and a vivid red mole glowing against skin. The image distracted him again and again.
Siran abruptly threw down the half-read memorial and rose.
“Let’s go.”
Shan raised his voice.
“Prepare His Majesty’s–”
“Only you will accompany me,” Siran interrupted.
Shan bowed.
Shengsheng, happily slurping noodles, did not know that her former son would arrive on the battlefield within minutes.
Siran stepped into a place he had not visited in years. A zither played nearby, and a woman danced in the most conspicuous patch of moonlight.
He narrowed his eyes.
“How lively. Has the imperial garden become a theater?”
Cold sweat streamed down Shan’s back. He was about to personally drive both women away when Siran spotted beneath a flowering bush the figure who had occupied his dreams all night.
“Wait.”
He stopped Shan with one hand and walked over alone.
A-Pang, circling in midair, froze and darted down.
*Shengsheng, Shengsheng! Siran Ming is coming!*
With oil still shining on her lips, Shengsheng expertly wiped her mouth. As she packed everything away, inspiration struck.
*A-Pang, exchange this for a steamed bun. Quickly!*
A-Pang did not understand, but they obeyed.
Thus, when Siran approached, he found a young woman crouching miserably beneath the flowers, clutching a plain white bun and tearing into it with desperate, graceless bites.
She looked as though she had starved for days.
Yet her gaze remained clear, her spirit strong and resilient–a tiny white flower blooming alone in the wilderness, enough to stir pity in any observer.
Siran’s brows drew together. He turned an angry look on Shan.
*This is what you arranged?* the look seemed to demand.
*Has he left yet? I can’t keep this up. A plain bun is so painfully boring! Though when you think about it, the eunuchs responsible for meals are even worse. They didn’t leave me so much as a bun!*
Siran fell silent.
“Drive those women away,” he ordered coolly, his anger disappearing.
Of course.
Someone with Shengsheng’s heaven-defying abilities could hardly be defeated by something as trivial as hunger.
Remembering the findings Rong Li had brought back, Siran lowered his eyes.
Shan was already on his knees.
The moment Siran Ming gave the order, Shan Hai hurried to carry it out.
Apparently, Miss Shengsheng’s place in His Majesty’s heart required serious reassessment.
***
“Look at how slowly she’s working. She won’t finish in time to eat again.”
“It’s hilarious. I heard she used to serve before His Majesty and was sent here after making a mistake. Can you guess what she did?”
Someone leaned closer. “What?”
“What else? She tried to seduce His Majesty, failed, and made him furious.”
“Heavens. Has she never looked in a mirror?”
“Exactly. Some people have no shame. She leaves her homeland behind and still can’t stop chasing men!”
The final remark rang loudly enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear.
Shengsheng Zhou curled her lip and looked back at the scornful palace maid.
Her gaze traveled from the woman’s head to her feet. Shengsheng made no effort to hide her lack of appreciation.
“Imagine being ugly and not even knowing it.”
She shook her head in wonder.
The maid had a violent temper. She immediately grabbed a bucket of filthy water and stormed over.
Shengsheng intended to dodge. Then she turned and happened to see the person standing outside the gate.
She stopped moving.
The entire bucket drenched her from head to toe.
Shan saw that something was wrong and hurried into the courtyard.
“Eunuch Shan.”
Shengsheng set down her broom and saluted. Despite being soaked in dirty water, she performed every movement with elegant composure.
Shan hastily helped her upright.
“Oh, Miss Shengsheng, you have suffered! This old servant came because His Majesty has ordered you to return to service before the throne.”
As he finished, he cast an apparently casual glance at the maid who had thrown the water.
Her face turned deathly pale.
“Impossible!” she screamed. “She tried to seduce His Majesty! How could she be allowed to go back?”
“Insolent wretch!” Shan roared. “You speak disrespectfully and spread malicious rumors. Drag her away and beat her to death!”
Young eunuchs rushed forward and hauled the terrified maid away. She had already lost control of her bladder.
Every other observer immediately lowered their eyes and resumed working, not daring to utter another word.
For one brief moment, Shengsheng looked lost.
Wasn’t killing one chicken to frighten the monkeys supposed to be the heroine’s special privilege? How had it been used for her?
***
Siran had ascended the throne at twenty and ruled for six years.
Never in that time had he felt as content as he did now.
He cast an apparently casual glance at Shengsheng grinding ink beside him and silently reminded himself:
He had restored her to his side only because he needed to uncover the truth of Yanyan Yu’s death. Was that not why he had brought her back in the first place?
It had nothing to do with selfish desire.
The young emperor conveniently forgot that Zhiyu Jiang–the woman he had originally brought home as Yanyan’s substitute–had long since vanished from his thoughts.
“Your Majesty!”
Rong Li entered with a grave expression.
“An urgent report from the front. Plague has suddenly broken out along the border!”
Shan entered almost simultaneously.
“Your Majesty, Lord Liu from the Imperial Observatory has arrived.”
A middle-aged man in official robes followed him into the study.
Shengsheng observed without appearing to do so.
This was the plot segment in which Siran contracted the plague and nearly died. None of those closest to him dared approach. Only the heroine took pity and personally cared for him.
After he recovered, he truly fell in love with Zhiyu, no longer treating her as a substitute.
While Shengsheng considered this, the others exchanged several sentences.
Only the final declaration blasted her from her thoughts.
“Your Majesty, I have studied the heavens. This plague was caused by a calamitous star from the northern kingdom who angered heaven! Sacrifice that star, and heaven will forgive our great Yong!”
There was only one kingdom to the north.
The Zhu Kingdom.