"Niang niang's complexion looks much better today." Cui 'er knelt down behind Siyang. She picked up the wooden comb on the dressing table and gently combed her long hair.
Siyang allowed her to do as she pleased. She quietly played with a wooden hairpin between her fingers, an expression of extreme boredom on her face.
"Cui 'er, how long have we known each other?"
Cui 'er's hand that was holding the comb paused. A look of reminiscence appeared in her eyes. A moment later, she said in a soft voice: "This servant has followed niang niang for eighteen years."
"That's right." With a long sigh, Siyang shook her head and smiled: "I still remember that year, I followed him out of the Prime Minister's fu with nothing. We left father and mother and came to the cold cave in Wujia Po to settle down."
"Niang niang?" Cui 'er heard some clues and her brows furrowed.
However, Si Yang remained unmoved. She raised the wooden hairpin, the bitter smile at the corner of her mouth growing deeper and deeper. "I used to think that I didn't need to be rich or well-matched. I only needed a sincere and ambitious heart. As long as it was what I liked, that would be the best."
"Eighteen years, ah. I went from being the daughter of the Prime Minister's fu who never did any household chores to being so poor that I could only shelter myself from the wind and rain in the cold cave. I didn't have enough food to eat or clothes to cover my body … …"
"… … I don't feel any of this is bitter."
Wang Baochuan had waited willingly. She didn't feel bitter because there was someone she constantly worried about. No matter how much bitterness there was, she would swallow it and not reveal anything.
"But … …" Her eyelashes trembled slightly. She closed her eyes and tears fell. Sorrow filled her body. Siyang raised her head and made herself appear stronger. However, her voice couldn't help but tremble.
"Who would have thought that after eighteen years, he was on the other side with a beautiful wife in his arms and a son and a daughter at his knees. How could he remember me, Wang Baochuan, from the cold cave?"
"Your servant understands all of your hardships." If there was anyone who understood Wang Baochuan the most, it would be Cui'er. At this time, she felt sad when she heard this. She did not care about the difference in seniority and went forward to support the Siyang with both hands. Her heart ached as she said, "This servant was saved by Miss. I saw clearly what you have been through these years. When I learned that Xue Pinggui was like this …"
"Be careful with your words." Turning around, Siyang hurriedly stopped Cui'er from continuing. She shook her head at her with a serious expression. She looked warily in the direction of the door before saying in a low voice, "This is the Imperial Palace, not our home. We must be careful with our words and actions."
"Miss." Cui'er pursed her lips. She called her by the way she used to address Wang Baochuan, not the way she addressed the Empress now.
Hearing her mention that home, Cui'er knew that it was not just her. Miss also did not treat the Imperial Palace as her home.
When she was in the cold kiln, she heard Miss talk about her husband, Xue Pinggui, every day. She talked about how the two of them met, knew each other, and fell in love. She also talked about how she broke off their relationship with her father and came to the cold kiln to live a difficult life.
Cui'er had never seen Xue Pinggui at that time, but in Wang Baochuan's description, she thought that this person was an indomitable man who was responsible and ambitious. In reality, when Xue Pinggui came to the cold kiln with a noble aura, she felt that everything was different from what Miss said.
What love and righteousness? He was clearly heartless.
The world praised Xue Pinggui for not forgetting his wife when he was rich and had even made her Miss the Empress. Cui'er did not understand much, but she saw everything.
"Miss, let's not be the Empress anymore. Let's go back to the cold kiln. Cui'er will do anything for you." The more she thought about it, the more excited Cui'er was. She took Siyang's hand and said in a sad voice, "If you continue to stay in this cruel place, I'm afraid, I'm afraid that it will really …"
Cui'er had doubts in her heart. Yesterday, she secretly poured away the decoction made by the imperial physician according to Miss's orders. Today, Miss, who had been sick for many days, could get up. Thinking of the many inconsistencies in the Imperial Palace, she did not dare to continue to stay. She wanted to leave. Not only that, she wanted to take Miss away from here as soon as possible.
"Silly girl, there are some things that you can't do just because you want to." Wang Baochuan gently put his hand on Cui 'er's hand that was holding his arm. Wang Baochuan had worked hard for many years. His hands were already covered with calluses. His hands were rough and cracked. The delicate fingers of a rich young lady were long gone.
Siyang looked down at his black, ugly, and thick hands, which did not match the exquisite and luxurious clothes he was wearing. He sighed, "Since we entered the Imperial Palace, we have no chance to go out, unless …" His voice got lower and lower until it was close to Cui'er's ear, "Unless, they can let us go."
Them!
Who were they?
Why didn't they let them go?
Cui'er was hit hard by Siyang's words. Her body went limp and she sat on the side. Her hands hung down weakly, and she bit her lips. Looking at her ugly face and increasingly desperate eyes, Siyang felt a little distressed.
This was the only person who was loyal to Wang Baochuan. She and Wang Baochuan had supported each other to survive in the cold cave. It was more appropriate to say that they were sisters than master and servant. She was bullied like a soft bun by Xue Pinggui, so she valued this girl very much.
Part of the reason for her anger was that after Wang Baochuan's death, Cui 'er didn't live for long. This girl was indeed loyal. She didn't follow her mistress to the afterlife. Instead, she waited for an opportunity to take revenge. She wanted to secretly kill Princess Qianzan to avenge her mistress.
However, Princess Tuozan had many capable people around her. In addition, she knew martial arts. Cui'er was caught before she could get close. After she was caught, she cursed Tuozan and Xue Pinggui. In the end, she angered the two and was dragged away to have her tongue pulled out. She was put to death by a thousand cuts. Her death was very miserable.
She was such a loyal and courageous girl, the person Wang Baochuan cared about the most. How could he swallow this insult?
"Then what should we do?" Cui'er was about to cry.
In contrast, Siyang was much calmer. She had deliberately said these words to scare her. No... it was not appropriate to say that she was scaring her. She just wanted to let her know what was going to happen in the future. After all, she could only rely on Cui'er now. She had to make sure that she was of one mind.
Turning back, Siyang took a comb and began to comb her hair. "What else can we do? If we don't want to die, we naturally have to..."
"Have to what?" This turn of events gave Cui'er a glimmer of hope. She looked at Siyang expectantly.
"Naturally..."
"Imperial Consort Niangniang has arrived."
Suddenly, there was a loud shout that made Si Yang stop talking. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the palace door that was gradually being pushed open from the bronze mirror. A dark light flashed in her eyes, and then her eyelids drooped as if nothing had happened.
"She's here so soon." Siyang whispered.
"Imperial, Imperial Consort Niangniang, why, why is she here..." Cui'er panicked when she heard the name. After all, what they were talking about just now was closely related to the arrival of the person.
"What are you afraid of?" She was afraid that she would not come. Siyang looked at her and said, "Help me up. Don't talk too much. Just watch me do it."
Cui'er had always listened to Wang Baochuan. Now that Miss said this, she licked her lips and quickly got up. She carefully helped Siyang up.
"Sister, Tuozan is here to see you."
The door of the bedchamber was pushed open by two attendants from the outside. Tuozan lifted her skirt and walked in. She was born in Xiliang. Girls there were also vigorous. Although she had come to the Central Plains, some habits could not be changed. No one would say anything about it. Anyway, Xue Pinggui said that she liked it very much.
"Sister, cough, sister, why are you here today... cough cough..." Siyang walked over slowly with Cui'er supporting her. Her face was pale. She coughed with a handkerchief in her hand. She did not finish her sentence.
Tuozan stopped. Seeing this scene, she raised her thin and long eyebrows. She looked at Siyang with suspicion. "I took time out of my day to visit sister today."
Tuozan blinked twice and asked with a face full of concern. However, her expression was more probing. "I heard that sister's body is getting better?"
Siyang acted as if she did not notice this. She really thought that Tuozan was here to care about her. She smiled and said apologetically, "Sister, you are so considerate. However, my palace is full of the smell of medicine. You are delicate. Don't let me infect you with the smell of medicine. Oh... cough cough cough... cough cough."
Before she finished speaking, she coughed violently again. She could not stop coughing.
Jin Zan, who originally wanted to go forward, had a bewildered look in his eyes. In the end, he retracted his foot that was about to take a step forward. He even seemed to inadvertently take a step back. It looked like he was really worried that he would be contaminated.
Cui'er saw all this and lowered her head to hide the sarcasm in her eyes. She knew that this Princess Tuozan was not a good person. Normally, she called her young miss and sister intimately, but in private, she never took her young miss seriously.
Others said that she was magnanimous and decent, that she was willing to give up her status as a princess and give up the position of the main empress, which made people praise her character. What good character? Who could compare with the character of her family's young miss? Her young miss was the first wife, so the position of the main empress was an honor she deserved.
She patted the hand on Cui'er's body. Siyang covered her mouth and bent over. She coughed non-stop. As she coughed, it was almost heart-wrenching. Everyone who heard it frowned. They were really afraid that she would cough until she could not breathe.
"Young miss, young miss, let me go get you some water." Seeing Siyang coughing like this, Cui'er was so anxious that she did not have time to care about Tuozan.
"No, no need … Cough, cough."
After two more heavy coughs, Siyang finally stopped. She slowly wiped the corner of her mouth. Because of the heavy coughs, her sunken cheeks were abnormally red.
Bei Zan had been staring at her the entire time. He watched as she used her trembling hands to hold onto that ….. What was that?
"Sister, you …"
"I'm fine." Slightly panicked, Siyang put the hand that was holding the handkerchief behind her back. She forced a weak smile and said, "I'm fine. It's just, it's just that I'm too tired."
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