Tiao Hong always looked as if she were sulking, which made Song Chaoyu cover her mouth and laugh. "Do you really think a woman like that would catch the Prince's eye?"
Tiao Hong paused, then seemed to realize, nodding. "You're right! What kind of stunning women are there in the capital? These girls from the backwaters, with names like Hua Hong and Liu Lu, they don't sound like proper ladies. How could our Prince fancy them?"
This maid had no ulterior motives. Once her worries were settled, her face bloomed with a smile. "Then I'm relieved!"
Song Chaoyu wasn't afraid of Hua Hong and Liu Lu being favored by Mu Changxi, but she still instructed Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong, "However, you'd best keep an eye on those two. Don't let them serve inside the rooms; just have them stay outside."
Tiao Hong and Qiu Qing naturally understood this.
Song Chaoyu personally inspected the room to ensure there were no untoward items, then waited for Mu Changxi's return with peace of mind.
—
It wasn't until evening that the sound of Mu Changxi's return echoed from outside.
Today, at the Yuezhou Prefecture yamen, Mu Changxi had achieved a great victory. Therefore, his mood had been excellent all day, and as he was pushed back in his wooden wheelchair by Xiao Ruizhi, his eyes were still quite gentle.
However, before Song Chaoyu could go out to meet him, Hua Hong's voice was heard from outside: "The Prince is back? Are you tired today? The meal is already prepared, but I don't know if the Prince will be accustomed to our local flavors. If Your Highness needs anything, please just tell Hua Hong."
As Song Chaoyu walked out, she observed Hua Hong.
She smiled and stepped forward, holding a wrung-out wet handkerchief to offer to Mu Changxi to wipe his hands. Everything was done naturally.
Hua Hong at this moment had, of course, also dressed up meticulously, looking completely different from when she had met Song Chaoyu.
She was wearing a pink lily-patterned floor-length skirt that slightly overstepped the boundaries of a maid's attire, and her hair was adorned with pink winter jasmine.
She appeared delicate and charming, but the gold and silver jewelry she wore made her seem a bit gaudy.
"Pah! Vixen!"
Tiao Hong, standing beside Song Chaoyu, couldn't help but spit upon seeing Hua Hong's appearance. "Look at her clothes, she's practically exposing every part of herself she can to the Prince! To find winter jasmine to wear in her hair at this time of year, she must have put in quite an effort. Why didn't she bring her good sister along? Is she only here to seduce the Prince by herself?"
With so many eyes watching, Hua Hong showed no sign of discomfort, indicating she was determined.
However, Mu Changxi paid her no mind. He frowned as he took the handkerchief, then looked Hua Hong up and down, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. "Who are you?"
Hua Hong affected a sway of her waist, then knelt gracefully before Mu Changxi. "This servant, Hua Hong, is a maid specially assigned by Madam Han to serve Your Highness!"
"Oh."
Clearly, Mu Changxi was not interested in Hua Hong's delicate and affected demeanor. He merely uttered an "Oh," then looked at Song Chaoyu, who was walking from behind. "The Princess already has three maids serving her, which is more than enough. Thank you for Madam Han's kindness, but if there's nothing else, you may return."
"Prince?"
Hua Hong clearly had not expected that despite her meticulous efforts, Mu Changxi wouldn't even spare her a second glance!
She looked at Mu Changxi with eyes that seemed to be misting over with tears.
Mu Changxi, however, treated her as if she were invisible. Only when he saw Song Chaoyu approaching did a smile appear on his face. "You must be tired today, too? You didn't need to wait for me until this hour."
Song Chaoyu glanced at Hua Hong, who was still kneeling on the ground, and smiled. "Let Hua Hong rise. This maid was sent by Madam Han to serve, and I've asked her to stay in the courtyard. It's also to avoid others saying we've failed to appreciate Madam Han's kindness."
Mu Changxi, though displeased with Hua Hong, nodded at Song Chaoyu. "You are indeed."
He then entered the room, not sparing Hua Hong another glance.
This caused Hua Hong to feel utterly humiliated, and she ran back to her room in tears.
However, what Song Chaoyu did not expect was that the very next morning, the entire city of Yuezhou was abuzz with gossip.
It was said that she, the Princess of Chang, was a jealous woman who bullied any maid with even a hint of beauty who approached His Highness, driving them to tears.
—
Song Chaoyu only heard about this rumor after she had eaten breakfast and seen Mu Changxi off.
Tiao Hong stomped her feet in anger beside her. "That little slut! These scoundrels, aren't they all speaking nonsense with their eyes open?! We were so polite to her, and yet she acts like this. Truly ungrateful! Madam, we cannot let her get away with this so easily!"
Actually, Song Chaoyu felt there was no need to trouble a mere maid too much.
However, her thoughts had now changed. "Are they all treating me like a soft persimmon, to be squeezed at their will? What are she and Liu Lu doing now?"
Seeing that Song Chaoyu was finally going to "make a move," Tiao Hong became inexplicably excited. "Hua Hong was supposed to be on duty today, but I noticed she wasn't waiting outside this morning. I suppose she's still upset about yesterday and is crying in her room right now?"
Song Chaoyu nodded, then stood up, her eyes gradually turning cold. "Let's go. We'll go and see what this delicate Miss Hua Hong intends to do!"
Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong followed Song Chaoyu with a hint of joy.
—
Hua Hong and Liu Lu lived close to each other. After all, they wanted to "constantly" be at Mu Changxi's side, so they naturally wouldn't live too far away.
As Song Chaoyu approached their room, she softened her footsteps.
No one had informed them of Song Chaoyu's arrival, and the two were hiding in the room, whispering secrets.
As Song Chaoyu drew near, she heard Hua Hong speaking ill of her: "...She's just an illegitimate daughter, and yet the Prince ignores me when he sees her! Madam is right, I must find a way to approach the Prince alone. Although I'm just a maid, am I truly inferior to this ignorant illegitimate daughter? I must work hard to control the Prince in the future!"
Control?
They thought too simply of Mu Changxi.
In this world, the only person who could control Mu Changxi, besides the Imperial Consort, was likely no one else!
"Heh—"
Song Chaoyu finally couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
Hua Hong and Liu Lu inside naturally heard it. "Who's outside?!"
Song Chaoyu revealed herself. "It's me. I intended to come and see the wronged Miss Hua Hong, but I didn't expect to overhear you two sisters whispering!"