Night.

  Hua Zhu Yu looked through her window. A flower tree in the courtyard had bloomed with countless flowers. Under the soft moonlight, it seemed as though it was misty and cloud-like. The fragrance floated through the window into the room.

  The words that Mei Na had said during the day let her feel annoyance and hate. She had been caught in the whirlpool of the rivalry of Xiao Yin’s concubines. If she continued to stay at Taizi residence, with the rumors pa.s.sing about, then his concubines would probably think of her as an obstacle into gaining Xiao Yin’s love. More trouble would definitely come in the future.

  Even though Xiao Yin was hateful, he still was a honorable man. He had always tormented her openly. However, the concubines’ battle for love was not a battle in the open but secretly. With her current situation, she probably would not be able to protect herself against that.

  Just as her heart felt heavy from these pressing matters, Xiao Yin’s personal bodyguard, Liu Feng, suddenly came over to tell her to go over. It was already quite late and she had already made the bed for Xiao Yin. She didn’t know that he wanted her for.

  In a moment, she had already arrived at Xiao Yin’s qin manor. The light in the manor was lit. Xiao Yin sat on a chair, lazily flipping the pages of a book. His eyes were looking down and he seemed very focused. The warm yellow light shone on his straight nose, glided past his dense eyelashes, and radiated on his lips. His cold att.i.tude seemed to have disappeared under the light and he seemed to be quite leisurely.

  He did indeed have handsome features which explains why his concubines and his servant girls all secretly fight for him. However, this was unrelated to her. She had been unjustly dragged into the midst of that battle.

  Liu Feng brought her over. He then bowed respectfully towards Xiao Yin and moved back. Hua Zhu Yu was angry. She stood in the room without saying a word. The room was instantaneously silent. There was only the sound of the burning candle. Suddenly, a low call of an eagle broke the silence. Hua Zhu Yu promptly realized that she had not noticed when the gyrfalcon had landed on Xiao Yin’s shoulder. It was now tilting its head as it observed her. The pair of dark eagle eyes seemed quite spiritual.

  If the master is not a good person, the the bird is not a good bird either! Hua Zhu Yu coldly glanced at the gyrfalcon.

  “Come over the grind the ink for bendianxia.” Xiao Yin placed his book down as he coldly ordered her.

  Hua Zhu Yu’s clear eyes looked around and saw that the other servant girls didn’t move or make a sound. Could it be that Xiao Yin wanted her to grind the ink? However, she didn’t move. Xiao Yin lifted his eyes and looked at her, coldly saying: “What? Bendianxia cannot order you?”


  “This servant doesn’t dare!” Hua Zhu Yu quietly said, “This servant is a siqin.”


  The corners of Xiao Yin’s lips hooked up: “Then from now on your aren’t a siqin. The wound on your hand has already recovered. You will be bendianxia‘s personal maid from now on! Grind ink!”


  Hua Zhu Yu frowned. He wanted her to be his personal maid? Hui Xue was also Xiao Yin’s personal maid. Other than resting, she was always serving him. She also needed to always follow him wherever he went. If his mood was not good, she would even be scolded. Most importantly, if she became his personal maid, she would never be able to escape.

  “This servant is dumb. I fear that this servant is not worthy to be his highness’s personal maid!” Hua Zhu Yu lowered her posture slightly as she slowly said.

  Xiao Yin flapped his sleeves as he stood up and slowly walked over to Hua Zhu Yu. His purple eyes were like water – deep enough that she couldn’t see the bottom. His face had already become that of ice and the mood in the room also became colder.”


  “You highness! This servant has a matter that must be reported!” A servant girl came from inside this room. Xiao Yin coldly scoffed, but he gaze was still on Hua Zhu Yu’s face as he slowly asked: “What matter? Report!”


  “This servant was just in the room placing the incense for you rhighness and I discovered……” The servant girl paused. Her gaze showed a complicated expression as she looked at Hua Zhu Yu. She then hesitantly said: “I found that the blankets the siqin set for your highness has……”


  Hua Zhu Yu’s heart froze. Her clear gaze looked at the servant girl. She recognized her – she was the one that specifically placed the incense for Xiao Yin.

  “What did it have?” Xiao Yin asked in a low voice.

  “There’s blood!” The servant girl finally said.

  When her words landed, the other servant girls in the room all sucked in a breath. These days, the crown prince had not invited any females over. Only the siqin had touched the blankets. Could it be……that the siqin really……?

  “Bring over the blankets!” Xiao Yin’s cold gaze was sharp.

  That servant girl quickly entered the room and took out the blankets. There was indeed a red mark on it.

  “What do you have to say?” Xiao Yin sat down again and placed his hand on the chair arm. His voice was cold.

  Hua Zhu Yu’s lips hooked up into a cold smile. Who knew that people would already begin targeting her so quickly. However, was it Mei Na? Or Xue Ji?

  However, Xiao Yin knew very well that she had only done the blankets and so how would she leave marks on the blankets? However, it looked like Xiao Yin did not plan to forgive her. He leisurely sat on his chair as though he was planning to see a good play.

  Hua Zhu Yu really wanted to kick him flat.

  “Your highness knows the events very clearly. Why would you ask me?” Hua Zhu Yu pursed her lips as she coldly said.

  Xiao Yin coldly snorted. He stood up again. His purple eyes seemed to contain a dark light that was as cold as snow.

  “You don’t want to be bendianxia‘s personal main and you can’t be a siqin well. As this is so, then go to the washing room to do bitter labor!”He turned around and left to enter his room.

  Hua Zhu Yu retreated from Xiao Yin’s qin manor under the sympathetic gazes of the other servant girls.

  The courtyard was silent and cold. The night sky subtly brought along the flower fragrance.

  Tomorrow, Taizi residence will most likely be filled with rumors of her punishment. However, for her, this punishment was in fact relieving. Hua Zhu Yu walked quickly to her room and packed up all her things. By the time Hui Xue arrived by the door, she had already finished packing. Hui Xue brought her to the dwelling of clothes washers. Small and short rooms surrounded a courtyard. The courtyard did not have any plants; there was only bamboo sticks used for frying clothes. The bamboo sticks were filled with multi-colored shirts. There was a light scent of soap within the courtyard.

  In the exact center of the courtyard was a well. A couple servant girls were surrounding the well, washing clothes. The sound of clothing being washed in the silent night seemed to sound heavy yet also clear.

  It was indeed bitter labor. It was already so late, yet they had not rested and were continuing to wash clothes.