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The night is deep with floating shadows, a few cold fireflies, and dim stars. In the broad daylight, the mountains are layered, and a blackbird carries away floating duckweed with a single peck. She, with Xing eyes, stares fearfully at the maid in front of her, saying, "Why are you so fierce?"
The maid named " Xing'zi " raised her neck and coldly snorted. Ignoring her, she threw the bedding onto the empty bed board and began to arrange it.
The other maid were unwilling to accept this and whispered to each other, "It's definitely her. She's just hiding here because she's afraid of trouble!" "Ah? Doesn't that mean she'll be called away in a few days?" "Let's see when the Noble Consort finds out." One of the maid covered her mouth, pulled the sleeve of another maid, and asked in a hushed voice, "Is that true?" "What's true?" " Noble Consort..."
Without turning her head, Xing'zi raised her voice and said, "If you want to know anything, go ask the Noble Consort, okay? I want to take a nap."
"Hey! What are you doing!"
When the other person wanted to scold back, she lay down on the bed, covered her ears with both hands, and curled up her legs. She closed her eyes in front of them and really fell asleep.
Her name is Xing'zi, and it seems that Tao Hong had seen her in The Noble Consort's Palace. She thought carefully but couldn't remember where she originally stood. She is much prettier than Tao Hong, with a calm and peaceful face, unexpected to have a fiery temper. Tao Hong was afraid that they would continue to cause trouble, so she pressed her face against the window and continued to look at the green leaves outside. Occasionally, a breeze passed through, causing the leaves to sway, and her bangs were blown, making the stuffy forehead feel cool.
There was no news from The Noble Consort's Palace. The guards who went there to search seemed to still be looking for evidence, while the Emperor had lunch there and then dinner. As the moon rose above the treetops, the curtains in The Noble Consort's Palace were drawn tightly shut.
Perhaps due to the summer months, the sky was not completely dark but a deep blue. After lying in the sun for too long, Maid Tao Hong found it impossible to sleep, so she took over another maid's shift to patrol at night. The palace was vast and empty; after nightfall, all the sharp angles of the roofs and walls disappeared, making one's breathing feel much bolder.
Tao Hong went with others to the Empress Dowager's hall. The Empress's surname was Shi, and everyone in the palace was forbidden from looking down upon the pebbles by the roadside or the stone carvings on the walls. The Empress Dowager's palace was located deep within, far from the white marble path of the former dynasty and the harem's flower courtyard, presenting a scene that was isolated from worldly affairs, serene and peaceful.
The lamp flickered brightly as the Empress lit incense in the hall, her white hair cascading down her back. Facing her was a serene and dignified statue of Buddha, with six arms holding flowers. Tao Hong dared not linger too long, only catching a glimpse of the Empress Dowager in her all-black attire, just as the Noble Consort had described. An old maid, while changing the incense, said, "Empress, the Emperor is still staying at the Noble Consort's place today."
Tao Hong felt she shouldn't listen any longer, but she couldn't leave due to the poorly stacked plates. She heard the Empress let out a sigh, her voice weary like smoke: "I don't know who he resembles. Perhaps it's a deep-seated affection inherited from his birth mother. Tomorrow, you go and take this thing to Noble Consort Cao. That woman has deep feelings for everyone, yet she is most indifferent towards my family's son."
At that moment, the old maid glanced over at the maids, instructing them to finish gathering their things and leave. With a demeanor as tough as tree bark and an icy, guarded expression reminiscent of a man-eating tree spirit, Tao Hong's heart raced with worry about whether she would be able to leave the Empress's Palace.
Fortunately, they walked out of the Empress's Palace safely. Along the way, the maids from the same team began to pair up and chat, mentioning the Noble Consort and the Empress. Tao Hong, afraid of getting involved, buried her head and quickened her pace, almost running back to her quarters. She wasn't paying attention to the path and accidentally bumped into someone, falling hard to the ground.
When she saw who it was, she was quite surprised. "You, Xing..."
Her mouth was covered. "Shh! Don't say you've seen me."
The person who quickly got up avoided the lantern she dropped, and said, "I will come to explain to you later." Hurriedly, they ran towards another dark and gloomy path.
The pitch-black night seemed like a beast, opening its mouth to swallow maid.
When The old maid was counting the people, she found one missing and asked maid where the newcomer had gone. Tao Hong was asked but nervously shook her head. Later, in a daze in the middle of the night, she heard a noise and got up to see maid returning from the bathroom, the faint silver light spreading over the only empty bed.
Xing'zi returned in the morning. By this time, the maid s had all changed into their clothes, some were chatting, some were helping each other with their makeup, and there was laughter in small groups. Tao Hong was using a small bronze mirror to carefully outline her eyes with her rough fingertips. When Xing'zi entered, they all stopped what they were doing. One of them, who had argued with her the day before, said, "I need to go call the old maid, someone was gone all night."
Xing'zi's clothes were covered in a lot of dust, as if she had been to a faraway place. No one paid her any attention, and she went straight back to her bed and lay down to rest.
The old maid who had been called over stood by the bed and asked where she had been the night before, but Xing'zi didn't answer. This old maid treated these maid s as her own daughters, but when she was angry, she would impose some terrible punishments, such as kneeling on thorny grass or freezing their hands with cold water. Everyone was on edge, waiting to see what would happen, but the old maid said, "This time I'll let it go. I won't pursue it. Just remember to come back earlier in the future."
The troublemaking maid immediately called out, "Maid, you're biased! She disappeared last night, who knows where she went and what she did!" The old maid shot her a disdainful look and said, "The maid is not biased, it's Noble Consort's orders. If you're not satisfied, go ask Noble Consort. Guizhi, you've put on so much makeup today. The maid kindly advises you to put away those thoughts. You should know, a wooden ornament covered in all colors still can't become precious gold."
Laughter erupted at this, all directed at her. The maid, with her powdered face turning red, tears in her eyes, was led away by her companions, saying, "It's okay, Guizhi, don't take it to heart..."
The sky was pale, with a hint of blue. The bell tower rang, and the maid's group lined up to go to the consorts' chambers. Tao Hong didn't want to see Consort Cao, the events of yesterday still weighing heavily on her mind, and the old maid had specifically requested her presence in Consort Cao's hall. Just before they were about to leave, she anxiously feigned a stomach ache, bowed, and gave up her position.
maid left one after another. Xing'zi lay on the couch, and Tao Hong also lay on the couch. The old maid found the pepper and cinnamon that relieve stomach pain, heated the soup for Tao Hong to drink, and also served a bowl to Xing'zi. Xing'zi didn't drink, and The old maid naturally felt annoyed, but had nowhere to vent, so she left.
Tao Hong recalled what The old maid had said, gathered her courage, sat next to her with the bowl, and asked her softly, " Xing'zi, are you feeling cold? You..."
"Do you know?" Xing'zi suddenly spoke, opening her eyes abruptly. She said, "It was someone else who reported the maid. At first, she pretended to be obedient, wanting to share the maid's couch. When that didn't work out, she got angry and wanted to drag the maid down with her. I really don't know what she was thinking!"
These words seem to have been held in her heart for too long, filled with anger, frustration, and dissatisfaction.
Tao Hong stared blankly and said, "Is that so? Then... why don't you explain to others, it's not your fault."
Xing'zi showed an incomprehensible annoyance on her face, "I don't want to get involved in these things anymore in my life! I shouldn't have gotten involved in the first place, I regret it."
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