A cannon fodder chambermaid wants a counterattack: Excerpt

The reason why Xiao Hua has flipped out this time was that, on one hand, she didn’t want to seek appeasement and, on the other hand, she wanted to find herself a peace.

Currently, among the six palace maids, only two still remained in the hall. And because Fu Shun and others have treated her a bit favorably, recently her roommates looked at her with more and more complicated expressions. She has also noticed that. As a result, she had to assume an attitude to chill them a little.

Sure enough. When Xiao Hua returned from her duty in the evening, the quarter of the palace maids was unprecedentedly quiet.

Xiao Hua didn’t bother to look at them. She acted as if they didn’t exist. It was alright with her as long as it was quiet and they didn’t disturb her.

Days went on. These few days were the most peaceful days in Xiao Hua’s recent time. Yet, at the moment,  a person who was always very low-key did something opposite.

That day, the weather was fine and sunny, the hall of Jing Tai He was as peaceful and noiseless as usual.

Xiao Hua stood by an unnoticeable corner of the hall. Since she’s been acting as a pillar for such a long time, she was already accustomed to this kind of silent environment, including this type of errand that required a lengthy standing. She has gradually learnt how to make herself feel comfortable.

Prince of Jing was sitting in the hall, thinking about something.

His sitting posture was straight and upright, like a jade green bamboo that was handsomely straight, not lacking elegance. His expression was as cold and indifferent as usual.

Xiao Hua could frequently see prince of Jing in a daze. However, prince of Jing’s daze looked much more impressive than hers. When she acted as a pillar, she dazed while standing. Her head was drooped down so people couldn’t see it clearly. Prince of Jing, on contrary, looked straight ahead when he was in a daze. People were able to see clearly his serene expression that carried no ripples and pupils that were focused on a distant object. Yet, there was no doubt that prince of Jing was actually dazing and not pondering.

This was what Xiao Hua has observed after acting as a pillar for such a long time.  The reason why she had such insight and understanding was due to her secret boring guess which was based on her way of thinking. Of course, these things couldn’t be spoken out.

The hall was so quiet as if time has stopped. Nevertheless, the air was filled with a pleasant atmosphere.

Xiao Hua knew that prince of Jing was in a good mood today. Although his good or bad mood could not be read from his face it could be seen through Fu Shun’s expression. When prince of Jing was in good mood, Fu Shun’s behavior and manners were relaxed and contented. When prince of Jing was in bad mood, Fu Shun was solemn and silent, his eyes menacing. Fu Shun was simply prince of Jing’s barometer. Since Xiao Hua has observed this kind of circumstance, whenever she was doing her duty in Jing Tai Hall she was forearmed and could easily handle difficult situations. 

Every person has good and bad moods. When the master has a bad mood, the servant ought to hide far away. This was a way of life.

Fu Shun over there made a gesture. Xia Hua knew that it was to change the tea for prince of Jing. Seeing Xiu Yun heading there first, she remained at her place and again looked down. 

After a moment of quietness, Xiao Hua suddenly heard an “aiya” sound.

It was Xiu Yun’s voice. Her absurd voice was so off-key people were unable to discern this voice’s owner. However, apart from Xiao Hua, there was only Xiu Yun who was female in this hall. Thus, it could be only Xiu Yun. In fact, that voice was quite mellow and feminine. Unfortunately, in such a quiet place combined with the current setting, it became somewhat preposterous. 

Xiao Hua reflexively looked up. What she saw was a scene that made people speechless.

Xiu Yun half lied on prince of Jing’s legs with a face filled with shyness. This scene lasted for only a split second. The next second Xiu Yun was thrown away. She was truly thrown away. Xiao Hua saw prince of Jing raise his arm and made a wave. Afterward, Xiu Yun dropped ten feet away, falling down on the ground.

Xiao Hua first grimaced, thinking how painful it must be, and then she started to contemplate that Xiu Yun must have done it on purpose!

These were thoughts that went through Xiao Hua in that split second. She thought like that because that ‘aiya’ of hers made people think in a bad way.

Xiu Yun reacted quickly. She couldn’t even heed her pain. She immediately kneeled on the spot.

“This servant begs your Highness for atonement. This servant’s feet were momentarily unsteady. This servant begs for your Highness’s atonement.” She said while knocking her head.

The floor of Jing Tai Hall was covered with golden tiles. It wasn’t only extraordinary hard. When she started to kowtow, a thumping sound could be heard. When Xiao Hua heard the sound she felt that even her forehead began to hurt. Especially when she saw Xiu Yun’s forehead redden after few kowtows.

She sneaked a peek at prince of Jing. His expression was indifferent. He turned a deaf ear toward the palace maid in front of him who knelt on the ground and was pitifully kowtowing, not giving that person even half a glance. He was still in his daze. 

After a quite while, a voice spoke up, “Go out.”

Fu shun has long ago started to glare at Xiu Yun. He wished his glares could kill her. When he heard this instruction, he impatiently swayed his hand, indicating Xiu Yun to quickly retreat. At the same time, he was inwardly cursing that she just couldn’t spare them troubles. If this kind of dated and stereotypical method had truly worked, he, grandpa Fu, wouldn’t have to wrack his brain! Nevertheless, that little girl Xiao Hua knew how to save them worry and she was also ambitious to improve herself. 

When he thought like this, the look he cast  Xiao Hua who was standing at the side like “pillar” seemed even more satisfied.

Xiu Yun’s face was pale. Her legs went so soft she was unable to stand up. She still wanted to beg for forgiveness. At this time, Xiao Xia Zi suddenly appeared. His face was full of smiles, yet his hands ruthlessly dragged embarrased Xiu Yun out.

Let’s not mention how Xiu Yun responded to others’ reactions after returning to the palace for servants. While she felt restless yet still harbored a hope, on that same evening Xiao Xia Zi came to notify Xiu Yun that she will be doing her duties in the courtyard from now on.

Xia Yun’s face was pale. She could no longer maintain her superficial calmness. She climbed on the bed and started to cry hysterically.

It was over. It was over. She was to blame as she didn’t listen to her sister. She was too impatient. Now, she was completely done for. How could she act so impulsively, so impulsively……

The others modestly went over to give her comfort. Xiao Hua sympathized with her in the heart.

However, she has recently figured it out. She harbored no thoughts and also possessed no “ambitions”. Even if someday she violated some taboo of his Highness, she will obediently go outside the hall to sweep the ground.

When she thought like this, immediately, she didn’t feel pressured. Xiao Hua covered her head and went to sleep. 

After finishing his errand, Xiao Xia Zi went to report back to Fu Shun.

He used few words to explain matters. Subsequently, he asked in a low voice: “Grandpa Fu, what about those palace maids? Won’t they be moved out?”

Fu Shun stroked his beard and looked askance at Xiao Xia Zi.

“There’s no need.”

Xiao Xia Zi stopped for a moment but didn’t speak out.

How could Fu Shun not know what was Xiao Xia Zi thinking? He was most likely pondering what were those little palace maids still doing in the Jing Tai Hall if they were of no use anymore.

 This was the reason why Fu Shun could become a grandpa yet he was only a servant eunuch. He was simply too tender.

At the moment, Fu Shun’s mood was good and also bad. Bad because seemingly steady and promising Xiu Yun acted foolishly. Good because the more he looked at that little palace maid Xiao Hua the more satisfied he became. When he summed up his mood, the good mood stood the major part. Hence, he cheerfully decided to give some directions to this silly youngster.

“Do you understand grandpa’s intention?”

Xiao Xia Zi couldn’t react for a moment as Fu Shun changed the subject  too fast.

Seeing Xiao Xia Zi’s dumbfounded look, Fu Shun continued, “Do you know what it means to throw a net all around and focus on fishing?”

Xiao Xia Zi couldn’t keep up with Fu Shen’s thinking at all. He blankly shook his head as if still thinking about what has Fu Shun just spoke.

Fu Shun sighed while shaking his head. He left a sentence before going. 

“Only when you’re oppressed you’ll have drive. Who hasn’t gone through that in the palace?”

After Fu Shun left, Xiao Xia Zi thought for a long time before he slapped his head, finally understanding what he meant.

After comprehension, he became dejected. It seems he was fated to be only a part-time eunuch. In the past, he thought there was no gap between him and An Cheng. Only now did he knew where was their gap. Compared to An Cheng, he couldn’t understand even what grandpa Fu has said. He needed to think for half a day to figure out.

    ****

It may be because she has totally changed her mindset, but Xiao Hua was nowadays more and more relaxed.

There were not many people serving in Jing Tai Hall. The environment was also simple. Excluding the people cohabitating the same room as her, there was hardly any conflict. Especially when the master they were attending to simplified the matters for them.

She wasn’t that clear about the situation in prince of Jing’s residence. However, she heard that there were concubines in the estate. Just, after arriving to Jing Tai Hall, she discovered that prince of Jing scarcely went to the legendary three courtyards in East. Like an ascetic monk, his life was dull and bland. Not man-like at all.

In Xiao Hua’s two lifetimes’ memories, there was almost no man who didn’t love beauties. Which man, who yielded a bit of power, wasn’t surrounded by women left and right, indulging in intimacies every night?

Just this prince of Jing was so odd.

However, the master’s affairs had nothing to do with Xiao Hua. She merely felt that the places with fewer women meant less of strives. When she compared the environment of Duke of Jin Yang’s household she stayed in the past with this place, Xiao Hua thought that the current place was almost a paradise. So much that she gradually had a feeling that staying here was, in fact, not that bad decision.

Once one’s mood relaxed, the smiles on that person’s face would naturally increase. In the past, Xiao Hua used to tilt her head slightly to cover her face as she was afraid to invoke needless trouble. Nowadays, there were either women or palace eunuchs in this place. As a result, she gradually let down her guard. 

Regarding prince of Jing. Xiao Hua thought that he was also almost an eunuch. It was said that he was already twenty-something, yet he had no offspring. The men of the Great Xi dynasty generally married at age seventeen-eighteen. The twenty-something adult man who had a wife and concubines yet no offsprings was a thing to astonish people. 

In addition, prince of Jing wasn’t into women’s charms. If it wasn’t said that his Highness was the current Emperor’s son, she would think that prince of Jing was an eunuch. Even so, Xiao Hua felt very strange every time she saw prince of Jing. She constantly thought that this master surely must have a defect. She even vaguely lamented that such a handsome person actually was defected. 

As for prince of Jing being childless.  Xiao Hua had accidentally heard it from Fu Shun’s mouth. 

Fu Shun’s original intention was to give Xiao Hua some motivation so she would make proper progress. After all, if she could climb to his Highness’s bed and give birth to one son and half a daughter[1] she would then become one person above all. 

How could he know that Xiao Hua would actually turn to think this way? It can only be said that the two were on different wavelength. If Fu Shun learnt that Xia Hua thought his Highness had a defect, he would surely drag her down and have her, once again, flogged to death. 

…………..

The subconscious hypnosis was a very frightening thing. Once such atrocious thoughts engaged Xiao Hua’s mind, even if she didn’t show it on outside while serving in the palace hall her movements gave her away. 

This referred to the times when Xiao Hua assisted prince of Jing with Tui Na massage[2]. 

After that time when she had massaged prince of Jing, every few days he would call for her again. 

Due to the fact that Xia Hua harbored thoughts like “prince of Jing wasn’t a man”, the movements of her hands became less cautious. In the past, beside those few fixed spots, she didn’t dare to massage other places. Nowadays, she didn’t have so many worries. Of course, she still wouldn’t touch those too sensitive spots. However, once one’s feelings changed, the motion of one’s hands will be naturally different. 

The one who found this difference was prince of Jing.  

Letting Fu Shun arrange several palace maids in the Jing Tai hall was prince of Jing showing a solicitude toward the elder who had served him since he was a child. Kicking out these people was because he was fed up with them. As for watching Fu Shun stomping mad incessantly, it could be considered as the only joy in prince of Jin’s boring life. 

Prince of Jing originally wanted to kick them out one by one, lest they irk his eyes while staying there. Who would have imagined that this old chap Fu Shun would bring, who knows from where, a skillful palace maid? After few massages, he actually felt pretty good. 

What prince of Jing didn’t know was that since he liked to sit idly for years, as long as he could sit he won’t lie down, and also that he used to read while sitting for years, his spine would maintain the same posture for a long time. It was no wonder then that he would feel uncomfortable.  Using the words of a modern person, he suffered a bit from spinal and vertebrae fatigue. He was currently young, hence it wasn’t obvious. However, it will definitely become more and more serious in the long run. And Xiao Hua’s handwork just happened to be able to alleviate those symptoms of fatigue. So, it wasn’t surprising that prince of Jing would think that it was not bad and that he felt very well. 

Since that day when this little palace maid has massaged him into falling asleep, prince of Jing started to pay a little attention to this little palace maid. 

She gave him a feeling that she was being very cautious, careful and well-behaved. However, in recent days he obviously felt that she has changed. 

He didn’t know where was the change. He merely felt that the movement of her hands wasn’t as reserved and careful as before. The spots she pressed also wasn’t limited to those few places. Rather, they’ve expanded a little. 

At first, when he detected that the scope has expanded, prince of Jing has thought it was his misconception. But the next time, he felt that the area has again widened a tiny bit. 

Prince of Jing guessed she did it unconsciously. After all, she hadn’t touched places that shouldn’t be touched. 

A human was a very strange animal. For example, you’re are afraid of a tiger, afraid that it will eat you. However, if that tiger showed up before you all day long and called you to smooth its fur, after frequent smoothing, evidently, the fear would also diminish. 

You will even have a feeling that the tiger wasn’t a tiger. Instead, it was a big cat. 

Although it wasn’t a good example, however, Xia Hua was currently exactly feeling like this. 

Now Xiao Hua wasn’t nervous when she was in close contact with prince of Jing. Seeing her remaining in the same half bent posture for over an hour, Fu Shun was afraid that she would be either tired or unable to hold on. For that reason, he changed the soft chair in the study for a higher one. He even prepared a drum stool at her side. 

Thus, Xiao Hua could massage while sitting, lessening her fatigue. 

As a result, prince of Jing could clearly feel that this little palace maid kneaded even more comfortably. Because it felt comfortable, he would let Xiao Hua massage him every day. 

The frequency of these massages gave an opportunity to hesitation to slip into Xiao Hua’s mind. 

It was said on that handwritten copy that massages couldn’t be conducted often nor by a wide margin for the long term. It will harm muscles and bones. This technique wasn’t meant only to relax channels in the human’s body or conformity, it also contained some tui na and osteopathy techniques. 

However, looking at prince of Jing’s relaxed body language, Xiao Hua was truly afraid if she spoke out, not only would prince of Jing tear her, Fu Shun also won’t spare her. 

Therefore, she started to slack. Of course, Xiao Hua’s slacking skill was pretty good. She will diligently knead for a while, afterward, there will be only movement and no strength. Her hand was moving and pressing on the surface. It seemed like she was exerting her strength but in reality, it was only an illusion. 

Her goal was achieved. But, prince of Jing was particularly aware of it. 

For no other reason as when he was being massaged by this little palace maid, prince of Jing would distinctly feel a sensation raising from his back. After a moment, everything would turn back to normal but then he would feel it again. 

Ultimately, the result of this massage was, when Xiao Hua finished, prince of Jing was still roped over there, “resting” for half a day before getting up. 

After getting up, prince of Jing calmly cast a glance at his crotch area. Just now, it was certainly a misconception. 

On that same evening, prince of Jing had a rare spring dream[1].

Nothing occurred in the dream. It was just he felt a sensation coming up from the tailbone. That sensation made him feel very comfortable. 

On the following day, when prince of Jing woke up, he found a cool wetness beneath him. 

Prince of Jing was familiar with this circumstance. 

In the previous life, he wasn’t into women’s charms. But because of the obligation to carry on one’s ancestral line, he had touched many women. In the previous life, owing to the practice of abstinence and meditation, his heart was free from desire. The women who were already bland in his eyes became even blander. When he came back in this lifetime, he has barely touched a woman. After arriving in the fiefdom, the only few time he went to the inner yard to spend a night was due to Fu Shun that old eunuch who liked to worry. However, after going there, he did nothing apart from simply sleeping. 

It wasn’t that prince of Jing didn’t understand Fu Shun’s intention. Just, after experiencing those things in the previous life, offsprings weren’t so important to him anymore. He had such an end, after all.  His own life and death were undecided. If possible, he didn’t want to implicate his children.

He was twenty-five this year, already an adult man. For an adult man like him who didn’t indulge himself in women, it was normal to get aroused. However, the feelings prince of Jing felt in the spring dream made him knit his brows. That sort of feeling wasn’t strange to him. It was the restlessness invoked by that little palace maid when she massaged him. 

After getting up, prince of Jing threw a glance at his underpants. His brows were still knitted. He contemplated for a moment and then called for an attending eunuch to prepare him a bath. 

Thereupon, while taking a bath, prince of Jing conveniently threw into the water the underpants that contained his evidence. 

There was no trace of spring dream nor the evidence anymore due to this. 

Everything could be of no trace. However, it was impossible to not leave a mark in one’s heart. Especially when it was related to something so embarrassing that has happened to him.

On the surface, prince of Jing revealed nothing. However, he couldn’t help but think about it. Once his heart recalled this matter, his eyes would involuntarily start to study. 

Of course, it wasn’t to study Xiao Hua but this palace maid’s hands. 

He was contemplating why those pair of hands could be so magical? Why could they invoke such a sensation? But, after looking at them all over he couldn’t find anything special about them. 

They were little and fair. The jade-like fingers were long and slender. Her nails were short, not pretty yet also not ugly. He then secretly turned to study his hands. However, he couldn’t come out with what was so special about them. 

Prince of Jing was a phlegmatic and also had a simple and direct personality. Since he’s studied for several days, yet came with no result, he listened to his heart and did one thing —— 

When Xiao Hua was serving tea, just as she was going to pull back her hand, suddenly, it was caught by prince of Jing. 

At that moment, Xiao Hua’s mind blanked.

Truly blackened. Totally blanked. Subsequently, several big characters went through her mind. What did he want to do? 

Her hand reflectively flung. The movement was very light. She still knew that she couldn’t disobey him. So, she didn’t pull back the hand. Following after, she discovered that after grabbing her hand prince of Jing didn’t touch it lecherously or teasingly. He looked at it carefully as if to study something. 

He looked very serious. From her spot, she could see that the long and narrow, slightly hooked upward eyes of his were hung low and the gaze that was fixed on her hands was very serious. After looking over the back he turned to look at palm. He even used his finger to brush it lightly and then did it again. 

Just as Xiao Hua’s heart was about to jump out of her chest, he released her hand and as if nothing had happened he turned his head to take a sip of tea. 

After careful observation, prince of Jing discovered that there was nothing special about this little palace maid’s hand. Her palm wasn’t very soft. It was even a little calloused.

Since there was nothing unusual, then it was his personal problem. It was certainly because he was celibate for too long. The other possibility would be what one thought about in the day, one would dream of it at night.

Prince of Jing was a person who didn’t engage himself in complicated thoughts. After clarifying the reason, he paid it no more heed as he didn’t take the little palace maid who owned those pair of hands to his heart.

Xiao Hua seriously wanted to ask prince of Jing what he wanted to do, but unfortunately, she didn’t have that courage. She could only pretend as if nothing happened and retreat while carrying a plate. 

Fu Shun at the side laughed till his eyes were squinted. Yet, on the surface, he had to act as if he saw nothing. But it was so hard. As a result, the expression on his face was distorted. 

At this time, Chang Shun, eunuch Chang, entered in. He appeared to be forty-something. He had a dark square face and was of medium build. After going inside, he paid respect and then came closer and courteously passed a circular cylinder in his hand to prince of Jing. 

Prince of Jing took it and waved his hand. Chang Shun silently retreated. 

He skillfully opened the little circular cylinder and took out a white paper slip from inside. After flattening it, one could see the paper to be filled densely with little characters. There were many characters, all of them dispersed widely. If one started to read it seriously based on what was written on the paper, he would discover that the words were illogical,  ungrammatical and incoherent, a complete mess. 

However, after prince of Jing read it, he quickly obtained the information he wanted. 

Looking at the time above again, prince of Jing’s brows knitted into a rare frown. 

Ten something days passed before the news arrived. 

He conveniently threw the slip of paper into the water for washing the brushes. The handwriting on it was quickly soaked by water and blurred. Prince of Jing began to think deeply again.

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[1] One son and half a daughter idiom meaning children, the one and half both refer to few, not having even few children

[2] Tui na massage is a form of Chinese manipulative therapy, more info

[3] Spring dream means wet dream

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