Volume One, Chapter Seven: That Person Was Even Better Than Him…

Was His Highness recognizing her, or merely probing her?

Xiangzhu met Zhao Ye’s furious gaze without flinching, asking softly in return, "Before Your Highness brought Mistress Shuangyun into your quarters, you had not favored any other woman, had you?"

He had spoken so plainly, yet she still feigned ignorance? Did she truly despise acknowledging their connection so much?

Zhao Ye staggered backward, laughing at her, "You are but a palace maid, Xiangzhu. Do not presume yourself to be anything special."

"Yes. This servant dares not forget her place, nor would she dare to climb above her station to a Fourth Prince. I respectfully bid Your Highness farewell."

Xiangzhu lowered her head and curtsied, her posture appearing perfectly submissive.

In all his eighteen years, Zhao Ye had never felt such a bone-deep sense of defeat. Unlike his quarrels and petty spats with Yanwan, he now felt a piercing, unbearable ache in his chest; even breathing caused him pain. The words Zhao Ye had wanted to use to explain himself disintegrated entirely under Xiangzhu’s calm gaze.

She truly did not care about what happened last night. She genuinely wanted everyone to believe that the one favored was Shuangyun. Was that person really so wonderful? Wonderful enough that she had not forgotten him even after a dozen years in the palace? Was he... better than him?

Zhao Ye dared not think further, nor did he dare remain. His remaining pride sustained him as he quickly flung the door open and strode away.

Xiangzhu remained in her curtsy, listening until the sound of his receding footsteps faded into total silence before she finally rose.

"You base wretch!"

A figure rushed in, hand raised to slap Xiangzhu across the face. Xiangzhu’s reflexes were sharp; luckily, she was still kneeling, so she simply collapsed her knees further to the floor, dodging the strike.

Shuangyun, having missed, was incensed and raised her left hand. This time, Xiangzhu was prepared. She caught Shuangyun’s arm with her left hand and swung her own right hand toward Shuangyun’s face.

"Slap!"

Shuangyun covered her cheek, her eyes turning red with pain as she shrieked, "You base wretch! How dare you strike me!"

"If you can strike me, why can I not strike you back?" Xiangzhu was not about to indulge Shuangyun. Shuangyun was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. If she took even one step back today to let Shuangyun have her way, she would never know a day of peace again.

"You seduced my Fourth Prince—do I not have the right to strike you?"

Xiangzhu chuckled lightly. "Since you were eavesdropping outside, you surely heard me reject His Highness."

Shuangyun was both afraid and jealous. She feared that the Fourth Prince would discover the woman from last night was Xiangzhu, not her. She was jealous of the special attention the Fourth Prince showed Xiangzhu. She could not fathom what was so good about Xiangzhu—old, dull, and uninteresting—that the Fourth Prince would consider taking her as a concubine.

Shuangyun deliberately sized her up with a look of disdain, mocking, "You are so much older than His Highness; why must you seduce him? Are you not afraid of becoming the laughingstock of the court?"

"You!" Xiangzhu feigned anger, suddenly grabbing Shuangyun’s arm.

"Let go! I warn you, if you lay a hand on me again, I will report you to the Empress!"

"You’ve learned to be clever," Xiangzhu said with a smile, leaning close and lowering her voice. "But, do you dare?"

Shuangyun tried to pull away, but Xiangzhu gripped her arm tightly, pulling her back.

"You saw it yourself. It is the first time His Highness has lost his temper like this over a mere palace maid. If the Empress hears of this, do you think she will honor His Highness's wishes, or will she punish me? If I were to enter the Prince’s inner quarters and then confess the truth of last night..."

Shuangyun, who had arrived in a rage, stumbled away.

Once Shuangyun was far off, Xiangzhu quickly shut the doors and windows. Ensuring they were secure, she went to the bed, opened the wardrobe, lifted the neatly folded clothes, and pulled out a wooden box. This was a portion of her savings. A cunning rabbit has three burrows; this was one of them.

She carefully took some silver fragments and placed them in a pouch, then sorted some copper coins into another. Once finished, she placed the box into a trunk and moved the clothes from the wardrobe into it, one by one. After the clothes were packed, there were only a few trinkets on the table—not enough to fill a small box—which she also tucked into the trunk.

With everything packed, she looked around. The trunk was barely full, and her preparations were complete. She had to hurry to the Imperial Household Department and ask the managing eunuch about transferring out of Xiefang Palace.

The Fourth Prince’s words had truly frightened her. Could he know that the one who received his favor last night was not Shuangyun, but her?

Xiangzhu felt unsettled. She dared not dwell on it, nor guess at the Prince’s heart. She was too conspicuous in front of Zhao Ye and Ouyang Yanwan; remaining in Xiefang Palace would surely lead to disaster. The best strategy now was to leave.

The Cold Palace always had vacancies. While those stationed there were always trying to find ways out, almost no one went there voluntarily—let alone a veteran like Xiangzhu, who had spent over a decade drifting through the palace.

When the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, Eunuch Fuyun, heard her request, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He even used his pinky finger to clean his ear, asking, "Did this humble servant hear you correctly?"

"You heard correctly, Eunuch. Might I go find a new residence today and move my things over?"

"So urgent?" Fuyun flicked his horsetail whisk to his other arm and began to ponder.

Xiangzhu’s experience and capability were enough for her to be a senior maid. He knew her to be disciplined, steady, and kind-hearted; many young maids and eunuchs in the palace had benefited from her grace. She handled every task assigned by her superiors with excellence. Most rare of all, she never sought to stand out or claim credit.

Eunuch Fuyun lowered his voice. "Give it to me straight—are you trying to hide from someone?"

In the palace, news grew wings and flew around every hall. The most interesting gossip this afternoon was that the Fourth Prince had favored a maid, and his future consort had been so jealous she had charged into the palace to settle the score. But surely, that had nothing to do with Xiangzhu?

Eunuch Fuyun was a manager for a reason. Fortunately, Xiangzhu had already prepared her excuse.

"I am nearing the age where I can leave the palace, and I have saved enough. Plus, with what happened today at Xiefang Palace..." She lowered her voice, "I thought I would find a quiet place with less work to idle away the time during this final year."

As she spoke, she slipped a coin purse into Eunuch Fuyun’s sleeve. *Ho!* It was quite heavy!

Eunuch Fuyun cleared his throat and smiled. "How about Hanchi Hall? It is a bit remote, but it was renovated simply in the last two years. The rooms are much brighter than the Cold Palace and can be lived in with just a simple cleaning. Does that sound feasible?"

"It does!" Xiangzhu beamed. "Whatever Eunuch Fuyun chooses for me is naturally the best place."

"Done. I will also find you a helper," Fuyun said, glancing around and muttering, "The sun is setting, and there is quite a distance from Xiefang to Hanchi Hall. With someone to help, you can move in and sleep in your new bed tonight."

"Eunuch Fuyun is always so considerate. I will follow your arrangements."

"Eunuch Fuyun, let me go," a short, thin young eunuch said, rushing over to Fuyun with a fawning smile. He leaned in close to Fuyun and whispered, as if to ensure Xiangzhu could hear him, "I will be sure to stay close to Sister Xiangzhu and find out exactly why she is so desperate to abandon Xiefang Palace for Hanchi Hall."