Chapter 9: The Haomen Have No Good People

  With no outsiders in the room, Lan'er was also not as reserved as she had been earlier. She pulled Xue Lengyu into the queen's chambers and didn't bother with formalities, saying directly: "Your Majesty, do you think she looks pretty all dressed up?"

  The princess also looked at Xue Lengyu left and right, just like Lan'er, and saw that Xue Lengyu's scalp was full of sweat. She finally smiled and said: "Zhu'er, I've always said that among my four maidservants, you are the most beautiful. Now it seems you have to give up your position."

  Xue Lengyu took a glance at the green-robed girl called Zhu'er, thinking to herself that she was indeed the prettiest among the four maidservants. However, compared to herself, no, it would be more accurate to say that compared to Xue Lengyu, the difference was not just ordinary.

  Zhu'er didn't get angry, instead she looked at Xue Lengyu and smiled: "I think the empress said too little. Not to mention me, even that Butterfly Empress is not as good as Lengyu."

  Xue Lengyu was nervous and fearful, indeed a beauty was a calamity. As soon as she entered the Wang Fei's quarters, everyone immediately compared her to the beauties in the manor, which wasn't a good thing at all.

  "Don't talk nonsense." As expected, the queen also felt that Zhu'er's words were inappropriate and sternly rebuked her: "Is it up to you to discuss the right and wrong of Imperial Consort Die?"

  "Yes, I dare not." Bamboo hurriedly said.

  The princess wasn't really angry, she just had to say some things. She didn't mention Zhu'er again and turned to Xue Lengyu: "Lengyu, since you've come to my quarters, from now on you'll be my personal maid. I have a few words of advice for you."

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu bowed her head and said: "Please instruct me, Your Majesty."

  The princess smiled: "It's not that I'm trying to teach you, it's just that the palace is different from outside, the palace has its own rules, and some mistakes can't be made. If they are made, even if it's me, I won't be able to protect you."

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu's cold sweat dripped down. Working a job, did it have to be so life-threatening every day?

  The princess said slowly: "You're new here, and many things can't be explained at once. In short, follow Mei Lan Zhu Ju, and they'll teach you what to do. There's only one thing I want to tell you: as my maid, you must prioritize my interests above all else. As long as you're loyal to me, I won't treat you unfairly. But if you have a change of heart, no matter who you are, no one can save you."

  Xue Lengyu somewhat understood, yet was still a bit confused, but could only say: "This servant has taken note of Your Ladyship's words. As this servant is fortunate enough to serve in Your Ladyship's chambers, naturally I will be wholeheartedly devoted to Your Ladyship and absolutely not have a second heart."

  "Just remember that." The queen said: "Lan'er, go and get the tailor to come and take Cold Jade's measurements, make a few beautiful clothes and send them over. The maids in my room can't wear such shabby clothes."

  "Yes." Lan replied crisply and turned away.

  Xue Lengyu was puzzled in her heart, could it be that there were still customs in this mansion that were even more particular than those of the maids. Besides, although her own clothes were somewhat inferior, they weren't to the point of being shabby.

  "By the way," said the princess: "Leng Yu, I liked that poem you wrote earlier about Yuan Jing."

  "As long as the princess likes it, Xue Lengyu is happy." Xue Lengyu decided to keep a low profile. Those who know the current situation are heroes, although she doesn't like this kind of flattering life, but since this is the reality now, and there's no other way around it. It's unrealistic to talk about equality with these people.

  Thinking that other female leads who had crossed over all had illustrious identities, Xue Lengyu could only secretly pray in her heart, give me a kind boss too.

  "I plan to change the name of this garden." The queen continued: "Let's call it Spring Seeking Garden, how is that?"

  Xue Lengyu's heart was racing with uncertainty, wondering what kind of trickery was being peddled in this palace. Could it be that they truly admired her? There was no reason for it. Having watched many palace struggles, she felt that the women in such places were not a single one good.

  "Isn't it?" Seeing Xue Lengyu didn't respond, the queen asked with raised eyebrows.

  "It's not bad." Xue Lengyu said sincerely: "It's just that Cold Jade has just entered the mansion and received such attention from the princess, it's really making me feel apprehensive."

  Xue Lengyu's words were sincere, and the queen couldn't help but smile: "You don't have to be so nervous, I think your poem is well-written, that's why I'm doing this. As long as you don't do anything to betray me, I will naturally treat you kindly."

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu found that she could only say yes. Wanting to flatter a few more sentences would be too fake, and it would instead leave a bad impression on people.

  "All right," said the princess. "You go with Ju'er to find Manager Wang and have him find a master craftsman outside to change this name for me. Make it into a couplet, and write: 'The fragrance of April is exhausted in the world, I don't know when it will come to this place.' Name it Spring-Seeking Garden."

  "Yes." Chrysanthemum said: "Then I'll go now."

  The princess nodded, Xue Lengyu also bid farewell and followed Ju'er out of the door.

  As Xue Lengyu saw it, among the four people of Mei, Lan, Zhu and Ju, Ju should be the easiest to talk to. So she thought about asking her at least a general idea about the Wang Fu affair from her.

  Xue Lengyu was still thinking about how to put it, but Ju'er spoke up first: "Lengyu, you're new here and probably don't know anything. Let me tell you about the things in the mansion, so you won't be confused when something happens."

  Xue Lengyu was delighted and hastily said, "Good, good, Jie'er, you tell me all about it. Otherwise, I might unintentionally offend someone and die without knowing why."

  Chrysanthemum smiled: "It's not that serious. I just want to talk to you about a few masters in the mansion."

  "Several masters?" Xue Lengyu said: "Besides the king and the royal palace, what other masters? Young master?"

  "It seems you really don't know about the situation in the Wang estate." Chrysanthemum said: "In our estate, there is no young master yet, only two young ladies who are just a few months old and were not born to the princess. However, apart from the princess, the lord also has two concubines and three maidservants."

  "Oh." Xue Lengyu suddenly realized. Ah, how could I have forgotten this? This is an era where one can have three wives and four concubines. Moreover, as a prince, how could he possibly only have one wife?

  "Our princess is the main wife, and apart from the king, she has the highest status in the mansion.

  Jiuer said: "The king's two concubines, one of them is Li Fei, who had a miscarriage some time ago and hasn't recovered well, so she often lies in bed and doesn't see many people. The other one is Die Fei, who is currently favored by the king. This Die Fei is somewhat arrogant due to her favor, and apart from the king, she basically looks down on everyone."

  Xue Lengyu said: "Doesn't even the queen count in her eyes? The queen's status should be higher than hers, shouldn't it?"

  "Yes." Chrysanthemum said: "The queen's status is indeed higher than hers, but she now relies on the king's favor every night and thinks that as long as she can give birth to a little prince, even if it's just a concubine, no one can control her."

  "Is the princess going to let her get away with this?" Xue Lengyu said. Although this princess looked quite kind, Xue Lengyu would never be foolish enough to think that she was a kind and weak person who would always yield and tolerate humiliation.

  From the princess and her conversation, Xue Lengyu felt that she was not a kind person. Perhaps those who followed her wishes might be treated kindly, but those who opposed her would absolutely have no good outcome.