Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Deal with the nuisance that was the Secondary Consort.
Shengsheng turned those words over in her mind again and again.
In the original novel, the Secondary Consort had first been mentioned shortly after Weiqing Song developed feelings for Zhiyu Jiang. By then, Wei Zhang had already ceased appearing in public.
Yet judging from Weiqing’s reaction and the servants’ behavior earlier that day, Wei Zhang currently visited his study quite often.
Shengsheng and Zhiyu had met Weiqing much earlier than they had in the original plot. In other words, before the original Zhiyu ever encountered him, he had already “dealt with” Wei Zhang.
The plot had changed, however, and Wei Zhang was still very much active.
“This servant begs permission to ask a question. The Secondary Consort is your wife…” Seeing no displeasure on Weiqing’s face, Shengsheng dared to finish. “Why would Your Highness do this?”
Weiqing smiled carelessly. “I dislike people who meddle in matters that do not concern them.”
Shengsheng could not tell whether he meant Wei Zhang, who constantly interfered in his affairs, or Shengsheng herself, who constantly ran her mouth. She wisely decided not to ask.
“Then what does Your Highness require of me?”
The plot demanded it, and there was money to be made. Shengsheng was no fool.
Besides, Zhiyu and Pecky remained in Weiqing’s hands. She had no choice but to accept.
Weiqing smiled calmly. “Xiaohong understands me after all. I knew I had not misjudged you.”
***
For the rest of the night, Shengsheng tossed and turned in bed.
Appearances truly were deceiving.
Who could have imagined that the gentle, proper Secondary Consort was secretly that sort of woman? The revelation had left Shengsheng thoroughly stunned.
No wonder Weiqing disliked her. What man could tolerate such a thing? Much less the august Crown Prince of the Zhen Kingdom.
Thinking of the task he had assigned her, Shengsheng cursed him inwardly for using her as his weapon. Eventually, she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
She rose early the next morning.
“Her Ladyship said she has no need of your service. What are you doing here?”
According to the information Weiqing had provided, the palace maid in the emerald-green dress was Hongxing, the Secondary Consort’s confidante.
Shengsheng summoned a courteous smile.
“Sister Hongxing, this servant knows her status is low and would never presume herself worthy of attending Her Ladyship. I only hoped you might assign me some work. His Highness sent me here, after all. If he learns that I have done nothing but eat free meals all day, he will surely blame me.”
Hongxing raised one eyebrow. “Everyone else would kill for the chance to avoid work, yet you came looking for hardship on your own. Follow me.”
Lifting her chin, she led Shengsheng inside.
The woman’s arrogance made Shengsheng miss her own days as Fusheng’s chief palace maid.
Even as the Noble Consort’s personal attendant, Shengsheng had trodden carefully. Whenever possible, she avoided offending anyone. Hongxing, meanwhile, treated everyone around her with open contempt.
Her taste in clothes suited her name perfectly: red paired with green, fit for a dog’s fart.
“I have no vacant posts,” Hongxing said. “If you insist on working, sweep the courtyard. We happen to have lost one of the servants responsible for cleaning it yesterday.”
With an expression of distaste, she ordered someone to shove a large broom into Shengsheng’s hands.
Shengsheng stared at the familiar object in silence.
She had swept courtyards when she first entered the palace in the Zhu Kingdom. She had done the same for several days in the Yong Kingdom. Now that she had reached the Zhen Kingdom, this old companion had found her yet again.
Was there some problem with the way she transmigrated?
Perhaps her story should have been titled *My Years Sweeping Courtyards Across Three Kingdoms*.
When Hongxing saw her staring blankly at the broom, she assumed Shengsheng was dissatisfied with the task.
“That reminds me,” she said coldly. “Do you know how this post became vacant?”
Shengsheng shook her head.
Hongxing sneered. “The last servant kept dreaming of climbing above her station instead of doing her work. The Noble Consort had her dragged out and beaten to death, then threw her corpse to the dogs!”
The moment Hongxing finished speaking, terror appeared on the faces of every eunuch and palace maid scattered throughout the courtyard.
Shengsheng stared at her.
Not because she was frightened.
She was stunned by the sheer stupidity of Hongxing’s behavior.
Chief palace maids were usually more protective of their mistresses’ reputations than anything else. Yet Hongxing had casually shattered the image of gentleness and dignity on which the Secondary Consort’s standing in the palace depended.
Back in the Zhu Kingdom, Fusheng Duan had been famously irritable, demanding, and impossible to serve. Even so, whenever anyone tried to question Shengsheng about the Noble Consort’s character, she would smile and inform them that His Grace was virtuous, gentle, and delicate.
Whether it was true was beside the point.
Even if Hongxing’s story were entirely true, she should never have blurted it out in front of someone who had previously served the Crown Prince.
Shengsheng almost laughed in her face.
She had expected Wei Zhang’s confidante to possess at least a little cunning. Who knew the woman would turn out to be an idiot?
And what kind of enemy was easiest to deal with in the palace?
An idiot.
“Sister Hongxing is quite right. This servant understands and will never neglect her duties,” Shengsheng said meekly.
Mistaking her obedience for fear, Hongxing privately scoffed. His Highness had personally kept this maid at his side, yet she was nothing remarkable after all.
“Enough! What are the rest of you staring at? Get back to work!” she barked at the gathered servants.
Shengsheng carried her broom into a corner and began sweeping.
*Barring an accident, it should happen tonight.*
She stared at an ant crawling along the foot of the wall, lost in thought.
Nearby, a maid watering the flowers suddenly cried out in pain. The copper watering pot slipped from her hands and hit the ground with a piercing clang.
Terror crossed the maid’s face as she glanced over her shoulder, seemingly afraid of someone. She crouched and hurriedly retrieved the pot.
Shengsheng’s sharp eyes caught sight of the dense bruises covering the girl’s arms. Strangely, the other servants responded with cold indifference, as though the sight were entirely ordinary.
Shengsheng picked up the lid that had rolled away and carried it over. Only then did she see the girl clearly.
She appeared no more than fifteen or sixteen. After accepting the lid, she thanked Shengsheng several times in quick succession.
Shengsheng nodded and turned back to her work, only for the girl to catch hold of her sleeve.
Hunched timidly in on herself, the girl whispered, “Sister, whatever you do, do not anger Sister Hongxing. She beats people to death.”
***
Wei Zhang sat upon a couch, delicately eating from a plate of exquisite peach-blossom cakes. A dusting of powder clung to her balsam-dyed fingertips, and she carefully wiped it away with a handkerchief.
Hongxing entered with utmost respect and presented her with a cup of hot tea.
Wei Zhang took a small sip. “Why are you so late? Did something happen?”
Hongxing accepted the teacup with a fawning smile.
“Nothing happened, Your Ladyship.”
Wei Zhang nodded without concern. “Everything is prepared?”
“Everything is ready. You need not worry.”
Wei Zhang inclined her head, and a shy smile like that of a maiden dreaming of love appeared on her face.
***
Shengsheng deliberately dawdled over her sweeping for so long that the moon had climbed above the branches by the time Hongxing came outside.
The sight of Shengsheng still in the courtyard startled her.
“Why are you still here?”
Shengsheng answered obediently, “This servant has not finished her work. Naturally, she cannot leave.”
Hongxing looked at her as if she were an imbecile.
“You are done for today. Get out. Come back tomorrow.”
Shengsheng acknowledged the order and walked out carrying her large broom.
Hongxing exhaled in relief once she was gone. She entered the residence and said to Wei Zhang, who had wrapped herself from head to toe, “Everything is ready.”
The two women slipped into the moonlit night.
Neither noticed Shengsheng emerge from the deep shadows around a nearby corner.
She watched them depart, her expression hidden by the darkness.