Chapter Twenty-Four: Discussing Conditions

  Having made up her mind, Xue Lengyu was calm when she saw Wang Fei and even had a hint of a smile on her face.

  Xue Lengyu smiled with a hint of joy, unlike her dejected appearance earlier. The princess thought she was happy because she had caught the king's attention, and a faint pang of sourness flashed through her heart. Indeed, who could resist a young, beautiful, and fresh face? But Xue Lengyu was someone she had sent over herself, so did she have to swallow this vinegar too?

  "Pay respects to Her Highness." Xue Lengyu gave a slight bow to Queen Wang and straightened up.

  "I heard Butterfly Princess called you over just now?" said the Queen.

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu said. What's the point of asking when you already know?

  "What did the butterfly queen say to you?" Wang Fei asked. Xue Lengyu suddenly became calm, and she couldn't help but wonder if something had happened.

  Xue Lengyu said: "In response to your words, Consort Butterfly warned me to be honest and obedient."

  The princess nodded: "Is it this one?"

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu said: "After saying a lot, the overall meaning is this, let the slave not have a day when he gets the king's favor, and become lawless."

  "The princess's voice was somewhat cold: 'Then what did you say?'"

  Xue Lengyu said calmly, "I've already said it, I never had the idea of climbing high branches, I just wanted to be an ordinary maid in Fengyuan. Moreover, I think that Wangye didn't look at me with special eyes, but only because I am the person of Niangniang, so he wouldn't make things difficult for me."

  The princess smiled wryly: "You really are a naive little girl, you think the king is being magnanimous to you because of me?"

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu said, "I asked myself, and I don't think there's anything about me that can attract Your Highness. Admittedly, I acknowledge that I may have some good qualities, but Your Highness is a worldly person and wouldn't be moved by someone like me, a mere maid."

  "It's up to you then." The queen said, "What I need is for him to have a change of heart towards you. Only then can we divert the king's attention away from Butterfly Empress. I don't aspire to monopolize the king's affections, but I cannot bear his current doting on Butterfly Empress."

  Xue Lengyu smiled: "Your Highness, things are not as you think."

  Unexpectedly, Xue Lengyu actually dared to refute her words. The queen coldly said: "Not like I thought, then you say, how is it?"

  Xue Lengyu said, "Your Highness, this morning the king had breakfast at Butterfly Concubine's place, I took a close look. That Butterfly Concubine, although beautiful, has a petty air about her, far inferior to you. The king's attitude towards Butterfly Concubine is also not affectionate."

  "Oh?" The queen's expression was not quite believing, but in her heart she was delighted.

  "Your Ladyship." Xue Lengyu said, "To be honest with Your Ladyship, Butterfly Concubine summoned me today to win me over. I have also been secretly thinking about how to protect myself in the palace."

  This is human nature, but the princess didn't seem surprised, only saying: "In any case, you've already decided to stand on that side?"

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu said: "I have made up my mind to stand on your side, but not because you are the legitimate wife, but because I thought about it and felt that the king actually has no feelings for Hu Die, in his heart, he still has you. As long as you are willing to change, you can definitely regain the king's favor. That way, I won't have to mention you competing for favor, isn't that a win-win situation?"

  Xue Lengyu knew that the queen could ignore other things, but this was different. What could be more important to the queen than being able to regain the king's favor?

  As expected, the queen's expression turned solemn after hearing Xue Lengyu's words, and she thought carefully. To be honest, if she could win back the king's heart again, why would she want to send some concubine to Fengyuan? Which wife would be willing to help her husband take a concubine?

  "After a moment of silence, the queen slowly said: 'Xue Lengyu, do you know that your words are very bold?'"

  "The slave knows." Xue Lengyu said: "But the slave thinks that this is a good thing for both the princess and the slave. So the slave dares to ask, please Your Highness consider it carefully."

  The princess let out a long sigh: "Do you think I don't want the king to come back to me? Do you think I'm willing to send women to the king's side? Leng Yu, maybe you're kind-hearted, but do you think I still have hope?"

  The princess saw absolute sincerity in Xue Lengyu's eyes, and although she didn't know why Xue Lengyu was unwilling to be a woman of the royal palace, Xue Lengyu's words had deeply touched her heart. Even if she could take away some of the emperor's favor from Consort Hu Die, would the emperor still not ignore her?

  "There must be." Xue Lengyu's eyes shone with a glimmer of hope: "Your Majesty, if you agree with my idea, please forgive me for being somewhat impertinent later on."

  "Speak," said the princess. "Whether you are right or wrong, I won't blame you."

  "Yes." Xue Lengyu said: "Your Highness, you are still young and have a pretty face, extraordinary temperament, it's just that because you didn't get the king's favor, you became self-abandoned, so now you look a bit plump and your spirit is decadent. As long as you healthily lose weight, you will absolutely surpass that Butterfly Concubine. Then you tell me again about some romantic moments between you and the king when your relationship was good, we'll create some events in the palace, I believe the king will definitely recall your beautiful past together and return to Your Highness' side."

  "What are you trying to do?" The princess frowned and said: "What do you want to do in the palace? I certainly can't afford to cause trouble in the palace because of my own affairs."

  "You misunderstood, mistress." Xue Lengyu hastily said: "The thing I was referring to is creating some atmosphere, that is, the kind of atmosphere that reminds His Highness of the good times you shared with him in the past, which would be beneficial for him to recall your kindness, mistress."

  "Ah, I see. So that's how it is." The princess thought for half a day: "Where did these ideas of yours come from?"

  Xue Lengyu knew that the Wang Fu had already made up their mind, and couldn't help but smile: "Not to deceive Your Highness, after seeing Die Fei this morning, I felt that Die Fei was far inferior to Your Highness, it's impossible for her to capture the heart of the Prince. At that time, I had this idea."

  This flattering praise made the queen feel extremely comfortable, and she couldn't help but smile, saying: "Leng Yu, I really didn't misjudge you, I didn't think you were such a clever girl."

  Xue Lengyu humbly said: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your praise. If Your Highness is willing to trust me, I can take responsibility for this matter... but I have one request."

  "Go ahead and speak." The princess said: "If you can help me accomplish this matter, as long as it's not an excessive request, I will agree to it."

  Xue Lengyu said: "The servant's request is not high. The servant only hopes that after the matter is successful, the princess will give the servant some money and let the servant leave the mansion."

  The princess was taken aback: "You are so unwilling to stay in the palace? Leng Yu, if you can accomplish this matter, it will be a great favor to me. Even though your status is low and you cannot be made a princess, even as a concubine, with me here, I absolutely will not mistreat you."

  "You misunderstood, mistress," Xue Lengyu said: "I really don't want to stay in the Wang mansion. Because my parents are old and need care, and I have a bad temper since childhood, so I think it's better for me to live outside."

  The queen could barely accept this reason, to be honest, the outside world is free and easy, a person who has been used to staying outside for a long time, suddenly entered this deep mansion, it's really not very adaptable.

  "So..." The princess said: "How much money do you want?"

  Xue Lengyu smiled: "Mother, I'm not begging for alms. I just want to open a small shop with Father and be self-sufficient. I don't know how much capital is needed, but I think 180 taels should be enough."

  The princess couldn't help but laugh, this little girl was indeed straightforward: "Leng Yu, I find that I'm liking you more and more. When the prince returns to my side, I'll give you a thousand taels of silver and send you out of the mansion."

  "1,000 taels? Isn't that too much?" Xue Lengyu was stunned, as if it were a huge amount, wondering if he could eat for a lifetime.