Chapter 51
Chapter 51
“But first…”
Weiqing abruptly changed direction.
Shengsheng looked at him in confusion.
“What did you put on your face?”
Siran Ming and Weiqing Song turned toward Fusheng Duan at precisely the same moment.
Someone who lived as a woman truly was different. Neither of them had even realized Shengsheng wore powder.
Faced with two foolish yet burning stares, Fusheng bent one finger beneath his chin.
His voice was soft and cold.
“Is it pretty?”
With perfect coordination, the two men immediately looked away.
Shengsheng answered without expression.
“A woman adorns herself for the one who delights her.”
All three men regarded her strangely.
Even A-Pang emerged for the first time in ages to comment.
*Shengsheng… That phrase means a woman dresses carefully for the person she loves.*
The illiterate Shengsheng went still.
*I told you to hit the books, but you went and hit the road on a pig. Used the phrase wrong, didn’t you?*
Apparently embarrassed on Shengsheng’s behalf, A-Pang covered their face and fled.
“Then tell us,” Fusheng said. “Who is this person who delights you?”
All three men knew she had misspoken. Fusheng plainly had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
Siran’s back straightened unconsciously. Weiqing set down his teacup.
“Your Grace, perhaps we should discuss who this servant belongs to,” Shengsheng suggested with a dry laugh.
*You truly know how to cause trouble for me.*
She was not wrong.
Fusheng was deliberately causing trouble.
Yet even if he had agreed to let the matter drop, the other two men were already far too interested in the answer.
“Let us phrase it differently,” Weiqing said with a gentle smile. “Xiaohong, which of the three of us would you most prefer to follow?”
Something meaningful lurked beneath his half-smiling gaze.
Even Fusheng became interested.
He still appeared lazy, but his sharp eyes never left Shengsheng.
Three scorching gazes, each carrying an almost identical threat, pinned her in place.
Shengsheng said nothing.
She should have died outside when she had the chance.
Though she pretended to consider the question, her thoughts had already begun muttering.
*First, eliminate Siran Ming. He withholds wages and has no respect for contracts.*
Siran’s face turned completely black.
Even he had not expected that to be the reason he was eliminated first.
*Next is Weiqing Song. Shengsheng handles his daily needs. Shengsheng handles all his dirty little schemes. Every day is overtime. My skin has wrinkled so badly that even placenta injections could not save me.*
Weiqing looked displeased, but a different question occupied his mind.
What were placenta injections?
Fusheng’s expression did not change. Victory already glittered in his eyes.
*Finally, my old master Fusheng Duan. Serving him means I never worry about unpaid wages or overtime, but… he is impossibly fussy. Does anyone know how many domestic skills I had to learn for him? I used to be a pampered girl who never lifted a finger. Because of you, I resemble a young lady less every day. My thoughts contain nothing but firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauces, vinegar–and whether you are too cold or too hot, or whether that bastard emperor upset you again!*
*So if I truly must choose, I choose none of you!*
Having reached her conclusion, Shengsheng said sweetly, “All three masters are equally worthy. It is this servant’s blessing to serve you.”
*Anyone else want this blessing?*
Siran gave Fusheng a complicated look.
Weiqing silently pitied him for two seconds.
How much did Shengsheng have to dislike Fusheng to compose an entire essay about him alone?
Fusheng’s smile only deepened.
“Tail’s term in the Yong Kingdom has ended. She should have returned to the Zhu Kingdom, but instead, she came to Zhen by accident. Since I have made this journey in person, it is time I took her home.”
Weiqing narrowed his eyes.
“I refuse.”
Fusheng calmly sipped his tea.
“Do not forget our agreement.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“How could I?”
Fusheng raised his brows with an innocent expression and not a trace of sincerity in his voice.
Siran did not interrupt.
Though he held the highest rank in the room, he had barely spoken from beginning to end.
He wanted Shengsheng to return to the Yong Kingdom with him.
But would she be willing?
Siran did not know the answer.
More importantly, he no longer wanted to force Shengsheng to do anything she disliked.
This journey to the Zhen Kingdom had gradually made him understand one thing: he did not want her to hate him more than she already did.
“What does the emperor of Yong think?” Weiqing asked.
Siran replied calmly, “Do as you please.”
If Weiqing failed to keep her and Fusheng held no romantic intentions toward her, Siran could always borrow her for another six months. Eventually, he would find an opportunity to ask Fusheng for her permanently.
Besides, he now possessed the pouch Shengsheng had embroidered with her own hands.
He could look at it whenever he missed her.
No one had expected Siran to let go so easily.
Shengsheng stared at him in disbelief.
Feeling her gaze, Siran curved his lips.
Surprised?
*You may be relaxed about this, but what about the wages you owe me?*
Siran fell silent.
***
Fusheng wanted Shengsheng to return to the Zhu delegation’s residence with him immediately.
She refused.
As long as she remained in the Zhen Kingdom, she owed Weiqing for sheltering her. It was only proper that she serve in the Eastern Palace until the very end.
Fusheng raised no objection.
He merely laughed coldly and turned away.
If she liked it here so much, she could stay.
He could not be bothered to care!
Half an hour later, a yellow bird flew reluctantly onto Shengsheng’s shoulder.
“Baby, you are back!”
Delighted, Shengsheng twisted her neck, caught him, and planted a kiss on his feathers.
The bird expertly shook himself out. With an expression of pure disgust, he flew onto her head and escaped her clutches.
Weiqing claimed he was tired and did not keep Shengsheng any longer.
She returned to her room and began packing.
There was little to take. When she had arrived, she possessed only a phoenix coronet, several changes of clothes, one daughter, and one bird.
Thinking of the phoenix coronet, Shengsheng crawled beneath the bed to drag out the bundle wrapped around it.
As she pulled, a small wooden box came out as well.
The object was surprisingly heavy.
After several seconds of thought, Shengsheng woke A-Pang, who was sleeping so deeply that a tiny bubble inflated at their nose.
*What is it, Shengsheng?*
Shengsheng spoke gently.
“Open this for me.”
Still half asleep, A-Pang released the clasp.
Only then did Shengsheng relax.
Good. No hidden weapon.
Then the contents nearly blinded her.
The end.
Just kidding.
The ordinary wooden box had been packed tightly with gold bars. There were not very many, but whoever sent them had filled every inch of space.
Clearly, the giver had anticipated that Shengsheng would be traveling and chosen something easy to carry.
A note lay beneath the gold.
In powerful handwriting that carried an almost murderous force, it read:
*The wages I owed you.*