Chapter 276: Chapter 273: AttentiveXiang Ying, upon hearing her tears, couldn’t help but think, "Huh, that does seem rather sad!"

    The sorrowful Sang Ruoshui just couldn’t understand, "What is going on? In terms of looks, she isn’t better than Sang Yan! Could it be—"

    "Could she have bewitched the Emperor with some kind of sorcery? Otherwise, why would the Emperor only have eyes for her, completely oblivious to everyone else?"

    Sang Ruoshui wept, talking to herself and then laughed bitterly at her own ridiculous thoughts. "Such things don’t exist in this world. If they did, why would there still be so many lovesick men and women? Besides, if such sorcery exists, why would Sang Yan have it and not me? Am I not even as fortunate as her?"

    Xiang Ying hung her head, listening quietly and patiently to Sang Ruoshui’s rambles.

    This was her chance to curry favor with Sang Ruoshui.

    Just because Sang Ruoshui was out of favor now didn’t mean it would be forever.

    A man’s heart is ever fickle.

    If she could gain Sang Ruoshui’s trust, her future would be far better than other palace maids.

    At this thought, Xiang Ying picked up a handkerchief to wipe Sang Ruoshui’s tears, consoling her, "Lady, please stop crying. If you damage your eyes from too much crying, the Emperor is just enamored with novelty for now. In the end, he will surely see your worth. Your beauty moves even this servant; how much more would it move the Emperor? It’s just not the right time. You must look at the bigger picture; the last to laugh will be the true winner."

    Her words struck a chord in Sang Ruoshui’s heart.

    Her greatest pride was her beauty.

    She stopped crying and a smile appeared on her face, "You understand much better than Xiangxiu, that little mischief-maker."

    "It’s your pity that spares me, my Lady."

    As she said this, a rumbling of her stomach was heard.

    Xiang Ying was startled and quickly knelt on the ground, "This servant has been improper, please forgive me, my Lady!"

    Before her knees even touched the ground, Sang Ruoshui steadied her.

    "You’ve been busy on my behalf and returned so late; it was my oversight to detain you here all this while, chattering away. Go have your meal now and rest well tonight. You still have duties tomorrow."

    Sang Ruoshui helped Xiang Ying to stand and casually slipped an eight-treasure jade bracelet from her vanity case onto Xiang Ying’s wrist.

    The green and translucent jade bracelet on her fair skin made her complexion even more radiant.

    Joy filled Xiang Ying, unable to suppress a smile, she knelt and thanked profusely, "Thank you for your compassion, my Lady. I will share your worries in the future and never cause you the grief or disappointment that Xiangxiu did."

    Pleased with the response, even if she inwardly scorned her, Sang Ruoshui’s face wore a gentle smile.

    She helped Xiang Ying up, "Enough, go eat something now. Have the kitchen prepare something you enjoy."

    "Yes."

    Xiang Ying left with a smile.

    As she stepped out of the palace doors, she lifted her chin and walked to the awaiting palace maids, deliberately touching the tender flower in her hair while flaunting her newly acquired valuable jade bracelet.

    Under the light, the bracelet was especially conspicuous.

    The young palace maids looked on enviously.

    "Xiang Ying, your master treats you so well, that bracelet is beautiful."

    One young palace maid said, moving to touch it.

    Xiang Ying slapped her hand away, protectively covering the bracelet with a scornful and proud look. "You little mischief-maker, what right do you have to touch this? This was awarded to me by Princess Consort Sang. Enough, don’t dawdle here. I’ve been running around all day; quickly get some food and hot water ready for me. I need a good bath to relieve the fatigue."

    The young palace maid hurriedly replied, "Yes," and bustled away.

    Directing the servants, Xiang Ying felt smug: Who would have thought? Just a few days ago, Xiangxiu was favored and now it was her turn, Xiang Ying.

    If she desired considerable wealth in the future, she needed to firmly cling to Sang Ruoshui, this mighty tree.

    It was unfortunate that Sang Ruoshui was currently out of favor.

    She needed to find a way to help her.

    After all, they were in the same boat; Sang Ruoshui gaining the Emperor’s favor would also be great for her!

    Xiang Ying pondered this as she walked to her quarters.

    Though she was the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace, she did not reside within the palace but in the wing where other palace maids lived.

    She only stayed up in Yuesang Palace when on duty.

    Now, the night had deepened.

    The entire harem was deathly silent.

    Only the candlelight in the lamps in the long corridor flickered, illuminating a corner of the world.

    She was pleased with herself and kept stroking the bracelet on her wrist, thinking about the glory and wealth to come, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

    She just happened to walk to a rockery.

    Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness.

    Then, before Xiang Ying could let out a scream, she was dragged into the rockery.

    "Mmm—"

    Xiang Ying’s eyes widened, and she made a frightened whimpering sound. Sёar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sister Xiang Ying, don’t be afraid."

    A young, gentle male voice came from behind her, "I’ll let you go, but don’t shout, or the guards patrolling outside will hear us, and we’ll both be in big trouble."

    The man’s voice carried a hint of flattery and reassurance.

    Xiang Ying, realizing that the man meant no harm, promptly nodded, "Mm—uh—mm."

    Seeing her response, the man slowly let her go.

    Xiang Ying took a deep breath of relief, turned her head back, and in the dim moonlight, a dark red Mandarin jacket caught her eye.

    That was the attire of a palace guard.

    She raised her head and saw a clear, resolute face smiling at her ingratiatingly.

    "Guard Xing?"

    Wasn’t this Xing Ce, the patrol guard of the palace?

    She had seen him around the palace a few times.

    He always kept his head low and was overly deferential around her; she hadn’t expected him to be so daring!

    Recognizing the man, Xiang Ying frowned, lowered her voice, and asked coquettishly, "Guard Xing, what do you intend by bringing me here?"

    Could it be that he fancied her?

    This thought startled her, and her face gradually turned red. She couldn’t help glancing at Xing Ce again—this fellow did have quite a handsome face.

    Mainly because the status of guards was higher than that of the palace maids.

    Other than the Emperor and eunuchs, the only men in the harem were guards.

    Many palace maids fancied the idea of getting close to a guard.

    There were times when she had fantasized about having a guard in the harem liking her, but her lowly status had made it just a fantasy. Now things were different, for she was the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace!

    Xing Ce gave Xiang Ying a shy smile, then pulled a wallet from his bosom and, despite her struggles, forcefully stuffed it into her hand.

    "Today I heard Sister Xiang Ying has won the favor of Princess Consort Sang and has become the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace, I, Xing Ce, came to congratulate Sister."

    The wallet was crudely made, but it felt heavy in her hands.

    Xiang Ying stealthily weighed it, guessing it might contain 20 to 30 taels of silver.

    She curled her lips, tucked the wallet into her chest, and sized Xing Ce up from head to toe, laughing, "Guard Xing, your congratulations are puzzling to me; you never used to talk to the palace maids before."

    It must be said, Xing Ce did possess a handsome face.

    She had always thought him meek and unassuming, but perhaps it was the money he had given, for today he seemed especially good-looking.

    As if unaware of Xiang Ying’s fiery gaze, Xing Ce hung his head and sighed softly, "Ah, Sister Xiang Ying, it’s not that I didn’t want to speak with you, but there were too many idle people around, and I feared causing you unnecessary gossip. Now, Sister is the Chief Palace Maid, and no one can bully her, so I can finally feel at ease."

    He kept mentioning her status as "Chief Palace Maid."

    Xiang Ying was inwardly very pleased, and her tone became even more proud, "So Guard Xing did consider my welfare after all."

    While saying so, she knew in her heart— unsolicited favors usually betoken hidden intentions.

    There was no way this fellow would seek her out without some motive.

    "Spill it."

    Xiang Ying was still hungry and didn’t want to dawdle any longer, she went straight to the point, "What do you want from me?"