Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 430 Visiting the Cold Palace

In just over ten days, when Qu Cainu heard the familiar voice again, her body reacted before her mind could react. Like a trapped beast, she lunged forward and her slender fingers gripped Qu Meiren's sleeve tightly.

"Qingge, you've finally arrived. Deliver a message to Father, asking him to plead with the Emperor. I need to see the Emperor..."

She was met with a resounding slap.

Seeing her mistress being humiliated, Fuling screamed and rushed forward, only to be kicked in the back of the knee by Ruixue. With a dull thud, Fuling fell heavily to her knees, raising a cloud of dust.

Qu Meiren withdrew her numb palm, the burning pain at her fingertips only deepening her smile.

Before Qu Cainu could recover, two more slaps landed in quick succession, their crisp sound echoing in the empty room. She pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and slowly wiped her fingertips, as if she had touched something dirty.

"How does it feel to be slapped?" She leaned closer, her nails tracing across the other woman's swollen cheek. "My dear cousin, it took me ten years to repay you for those three slaps."

Ten bright red finger marks instantly appeared on Qu Cainu's face. She covered her burning cheeks, her wide eyes filled with disbelief. Where was the timid, submissive woman who stood before her, looking down at her with such disdain?

"You bitch! How dare you hit me!"

After realizing what was happening, Qu Cainu's face contorted with rage. Suddenly, she sprang up, and with a burst of strength from who-knows-where, her frail body slammed into Qu Meiren.

Qu Meiren simply nimbly sidestepped. Qu Cainu couldn't stop in time and fell heavily onto the damp blue brick floor, her elbow hitting the ground with a dull thud that made your teeth ache.

"Auspicious snow." Qu Meiren smoothed out non-existent creases on her sleeve and said casually, "Have Cai Nu take a look at Uncle's letter of apology."

Ruixue immediately took out a copied document from her sleeve and lightly tossed it in front of Qu Cainu.

As the paper fell to the ground, it lifted slightly, revealing several neat characters in the official script: "Your subject, Qu Renshao, has failed to properly educate his daughter and humbly requests Your Majesty's judgment."

Ignoring the pain on her body and face, Qu Cainu reached out and grabbed the thin piece of paper. When she saw the words on it, she trembled violently and made a "hoarse" sound in her throat.

"No...it's impossible. Father won't abandon me, and Mother won't ignore me either..." she roared as she tore the paper to shreds, the scraps falling like snowflakes.

Ruixue glanced at her master's expression and placed the food box on the ground. "Your master is kind and specially brought some snacks for you. Lord Qu sent word to Ganlu Palace that Your master need not come here again. Please take care of yourself."

Upon hearing this, Qu Cainu grabbed the food box and slammed it to the ground, scattering pastries all over the floor.

"It's all fake...it's all fake..." She suddenly laughed maniacally. "My father loved me the most...he wouldn't abandon me...it's all because of you, you bitch..."

The voice gradually faded, turning into a muffled sob.

Qu Meiren watched coldly as she frantically scratched at the shredded paper like a trapped beast, as she cursed and sneered, and finally collapsed to the ground. It was just like her own past self, who had been slapped in public by Qu Meiren and could only hide behind the artificial hill and weep.

"How boring..."

As she turned around, her skirt swept across the scraps of paper on the ground, and she said somewhat listlessly, "I thought I could play a little longer."

Qu Meiren turned her head one last time, her red lips parted slightly, and said, word by word, "Cousin, you must live well and watch how I climb to a high position step by step, becoming someone you wouldn't even dare to dream of in your entire life."

The master and servant then left.

Separated by a wall.

Consort Qi stood frozen in place.

Although she couldn't hear clearly, every slap and every curse coming from the other side of the wall sent a chill down her spine.

At the same time, Meng Shu's words echoed in his ears: 'Have you ever seen how a hunter treats prey that has fallen into a trap? The victor, besides feigning pity, loves to... admire the defeated's groveling state.'

......

Changchun Garden Imperial Palace.

Empress Dowager Zhou, supported by Rongxiu, slowly walked to the front of the hanging flower gate and saw Consort Chun and her entourage approaching in the distance.

"This child..." The Empress Dowager's fine lines around her eyes smoothed out, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Rongxiu's hand. "She looks better than when she came to the palace last year."

When Rongxiu saw Consort Chun's almond-shaped eyes light up when she saw the Empress Dowager from afar, she immediately began to flatter her: "If you ask me, Consort Chun has come to see you by imperial decree. She is very happy and looks quite radiant."

Empress Dowager Zhou laughed heartily upon hearing this, "You have such a clever tongue, you always know how to make people happy."

As Consort Chun approached, she suddenly became solemn and said, "Is everything settled? Last year, during the time Consort Qing was confined to the Wutong Garden, Empress Dowager Jiang and the Duke of Qing's mansion secretly and openly planted many people in this Changchun Garden. Since Consort Chun has come to seek refuge with me..."

Rongxiu hurriedly whispered, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Imperial Physician Zhou and Doctor Zhen have already led their men to investigate everywhere. As the year draws to a close, they have also used some excuse to get rid of those spies in Wutong Garden and the kitchen."

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over Consort Chun's still relatively flat waist and abdomen like water. Before Consort Chun could curtsy, the Empress Dowager reached out to help her up, saying, "There's no need for such formalities. You must be tired from the journey. Please come inside with me to rest."