Chapter 74

Chapter 74: One Was Truly Missing

The more Huan Zhu listened, the redder her cheeks grew.

She couldn’t help but think back—many had once praised her as the most striking maidservant in the Duke’s residence. Wasn’t she just like the maid Xing Tao in that storybook? Voluptuous in figure, fair-faced and bashful.

But her fate was nothing like Xing Tao’s.

In the tale, the eldest young master of the Jiang residence was known for his romantic and indulgent ways. Merely crossing paths with Xing Tao a few times in the flower garden, he took an interest in her.

But in the Duke’s estate, the man she longed for never once glanced her way.

When she heard that Xing Tao had taken the chance to consummate with the young master while he was drunk, Huan Zhu felt a pang of envy in her heart.

[If only…]

[If only His Lordship could look upon me with such desire, to see how deep my affection truly runs.]

“Princess, is it true what the storybooks say, that men only grow more tender after they’ve shared a bed?” Ting Lan asked, her cheeks burning as she pushed out the last words.

Sheng Zhi Wan answered coolly, “Not necessarily. The words a man speaks in bed can only be believed three parts out of ten. Yet even that little, many women never receive.”

“Princess, Maidservant doesn’t quite understand.”

“Then forget it.” Sheng Zhi Wan waved her hand, lifting her gaze as she sat up. She turned toward Huan Zhu. “Do you truly know your mistake now?”

Still caught in her daydream, Huan Zhu blinked, then quickly lowered herself to the ground, knocking her forehead against the floor. “Maidservant truly knows her fault. Princess, Maidservant will never act on her own again.”

“Good,” Sheng Zhi Wan stood. “Then from tomorrow, you may return to your duties as a second-class maidservant.”

“Yes! Thank you, Princess, for your grace!”

Huan Zhu withdrew, but even in her own quarters, her heart was restless.

That night, she dreamed. In the dream, it was she and Qi Shu Xian entwined together, just like Xing Tao and the eldest young master in the tale—tender and passionate.

But dreams are nothing more than dreams. When dawn broke, all that remained was a hollow sense of loss.

[If only… if only it were real.]

“Huan Zhu Elder Sister! If you don’t get up soon, you’ll miss breakfast! Hurry, today the Princess asked the small kitchen to make meat-crumble pastries. She doesn’t like them, so they must be for us!”

Hearing the voice outside, Huan Zhu rolled her eyes but replied with a laugh, “Coming, coming.”

A maidservant was still a maidservant. Just a single meat pastry from their mistress was enough to spark such delight.

Once, she would pick and choose even among birds’ nest dishes.

The thought stirred a bitterness within her. [Why must I be born to serve? With my looks, I’m far more beautiful than that Meng Yang. If it had been me who had some accident with the Heir Apparent…]

Her heart skipped.

Quickly, she rose and left the room.

That day, Huan Zhu was assigned to attend outside Sheng Zhi Wan’s chamber.

After breakfast, the Princess passed out the leftover food to the courtyard maids. When Huan Zhu’s shiftmate left for her meal, An Zhi entered the chamber with a small box, trying to hide it behind her sleeves.

Huan Zhu instinctively leaned closer to the window, trying to catch the conversation.

“…Princess, this came from the Han residence—some rare medicinal goods. They weren’t properly recorded at first, but as Maidservant was updating the ledger, Maidservant realized what it was…”

“…Even though you haven’t shared a bed with the Heir Apparent, it’s still wise to have such things prepared… Besides, this is something meant only for men. It’s harmless to the body and might be useful in the future. It says here that when dissolved in water, it’s colorless and tasteless. Next time the Heir Apparent comes, just drop one in…”

“…We’ll see. I haven’t forgiven him yet,” came Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice. “Just place it beneath the false panel under the jewelry box.”

The hidden compartment beneath the jewelry box.

Huan Zhu had once served Sheng Zhi Wan closely. She could find it even with her eyes closed.

Her heart pounded violently.

[Could it be what I think it is?]

So the ever-dignified Sheng Zhi Wan, who used to hold herself so high, had also resorted to using secret powders to bind a man’s heart?

But the memory of that storybook flickered once more, and she couldn’t help but feel a dangerous thrill stir within her.

[If the one to “accidentally” encounter the Heir Apparent had been me… would I still be bowing and scraping before Sheng Zhi Wan now?]

That night, after supper, Sheng Zhi Wan walked a few rounds in the courtyard, teasing little Lai Fu as she always did.

When Huan Zhu noticed everyone preoccupied with the tiny creature, she turned aside and slipped into the Princess’s chambers.

The jewelry box sat exactly where it always had. With practiced ease, Huan Zhu opened the secret panel and found the porcelain vial hidden beneath.

Through a handkerchief, she gently shook it—there were still many left.

Quickly, she uncorked the bottle, took a single pellet, and tucked it into her sachet, then walked out as though nothing had happened.

“Princess! One really is missing!”

That night, Ting Lan counted again and again. No matter how she arranged them, there were only twenty-nine. But she had placed thirty in there herself.

“Princess, do you have the gift of foresight? How did you know Huan Zhu would steal it?” she said in amazement.

Then, growing alarmed, she whispered, “She wouldn’t… wouldn’t really dare to follow Xing Tao’s example? From maidservant to mistress?”