Chapter 2

I went to the Seventh Princess’s palace and became one of her personal maids.

The comments seemed bewildered.

[Where have we ended up?]

[Has the heroine joined the villainess’s side?]

[Run! You’re going to die at the hands of the Seventh Princess’s cousin!]

[Stupid heroine. All she has to do is suffer with the male lead for a few years, and she’ll have a good life. Instead, she’s walking straight into the enemy camp to get herself killed.]

Was I walking to my death?

I didn’t think so.

The Seventh Princess was fourteen. In another year or two, she would marry and move into her own residence, taking a large number of maids and eunuchs with her. That was my opportunity.

On my very first day in her palace, she punished a maid.

“You fool! I told you to look after my things, and you don’t even know what caused this rash. What use are you? Out! All of you, get out!”

The Seventh Princess had been meant to attend a flower-viewing banquet that day, but a rather alarming rash had broken out on her face.

The palace was silent. No one dared face her anger.

The comments said:

[Isn’t missing this banquet the reason the man she likes gets betrothed to someone else?]

[It wouldn’t matter whether she went. He doesn’t like her at all. It’s all in her head. The one he likes is her older sister.]

[Spoiler: the Seventh Princess marries a wastrel who keeps several mistresses outside the household. She falls out with him, and he accidentally kills her. Just as he’s about to be sentenced, the new emperor takes the throne and issues a general amnesty. The wastrel gets off with exile. Her death amounts to nothing. So when the villainess goes after the leads to avenge the Seventh Princess and her own sister, I honestly don’t think she’s wrong.]

So that was how it was.

Everyone had withdrawn from the inner chamber, leaving only the Seventh Princess’s muffled sobs.

“Everyone bullies me. If my mother were still alive, none of you would dare be so careless.”

She struck the table angrily, then turned to inspect her hand. She must have hurt it. Her nose kept twitching as she sniffled, and she looked rather endearing.

Her mother had been a daughter of the Cui family. She had raised her until she was a little over ten, then died.

The Seventh Princess had lived alone ever since. The maids and eunuchs of Feiluan Palace took advantage of their mistress’s youth and frequently neglected their duties.

After she lost her temper a few times, she acquired a reputation for severity.

Most palace servants didn’t want to come here. I had paid for the privilege.

At this time of year, the well water was still cold.

I quickly drew a basinful and carried it inside. “Your Highness, the rash has only just appeared. A cold compress may ease the itching. Will you let me apply one?”

“Get out! Who let you in?” she snapped.

Her manner was fierce. Her eyes were red.

The comments cursed her.

They said she deserved it. No wonder she was on the villainess’s side, being so nasty.

“Are you worried the water is too cold, Your Highness?” I asked softly. “It is a little cold. If you would rather not use it on your face, you could wear a veiled hat when you go out. To me, you are beautiful whatever you do.”

I set down the basin, quietly withdrew, and waited by the door.

After a long time, the crying stopped. I heard her say coldly, “Come in.”

I went inside slowly. The Seventh Princess stared at me in silence, her small face rigid.

I almost smiled, but quickly lowered my head and brought the basin over. I rinsed a cloth and laid it over her face. While it rested there, I put the dressing boxes scattered across her table back in order, one by one. Among them, I found a pot of face cream whose color looked wrong.

I held it up to the sunlight. Someone seemed to have mixed something into it.

The Seventh Princess pulled the cloth off her face and fixed me with a cold stare.

“What are you doing?”

I handed her the pot. “I’ve never seen face cream this color, Your Highness. I was curious.”

She took it, startled. Her expression shifted uncertainly.

At last, she hurled the pot to the floor.

“Bring Huazhi here!”