World of Hidden Phoenixes Chapter 23
The two concubines had originally not noticed Hua Zhu Yu, however when they heard Bai Ma furen‘s words, their gazes turned from Xiao Yin to Hua Zhu Yu.
Hua Zhu Yu stood in the twilight and was look at using some complicated expressions, however, her expression was still quite expressionless. She suddenly thought of the day when she had walked on the red carpet to marriage when she had also been stared at. In her heart, she suddenly felt annoyance.
Xiao Yin looked back at Hua Zhu Yu with a light gaze and quietly said: “Mother, she is just a servant.”
Bai Ma furen‘s eyes flashed with a sliver of confusion. However, she didn’t ask anything and just lightly nodded her head before turning away to head into the residence.
Once Xiao Yin’s concubines heard that Hua Zhu Yu was just a servant and that she was wearing the clothes of a servant girl, they smiled with relief and turned to follow Xiao Yin and Bai Ma furen.
Hua Zhu Yu followed behind the group of people and entered Xiao Yin’s residence.
Even though the night was quite dark, however the residence was lit up brightly by the fire from the lanterns. It was quite obvious that Bai Ma furen had prepared a feast for his arrival.
Hua Zhu Yu was led by Hui Xue through a courtyard into a large manor. The words “Qing An Palace” were carved on the door.
This manor was created using Han White Jade. Even though it wasn’t as luxurious as the South Kingdom’s manors, however, it had its own unique grandeur. The floor of the manor had pieces of three-feet long polished blue-stones pieced together. The roof was extremely high and pillars with dragons carved on them were exquisite. If one were to stand in this manor and were to talk, there would be an echo.
The furnishings of the manor was gorgeous and n.o.ble. In the middle of the room was a seat made of Golden Jade, leading Hua Zhu Yu to speculate that the place was most likely Xiao Yin’s qin manor. He had just said that she was a servant, yet Hui Xue had led her here.
“Hui Xue, why did his highness order me to live here?” Hua Zhu Yu lightly asked.
Hui Xue stopped his steps and replied: “Dan Hong, your are Taizi residence’s servant. In the future, when you say something to your master, you must refer to yourself as a servant. Taizi residence is different from the outside. You must remember your ident.i.ty as a servant. Else, if you were to anger his highness or another master, you would only have further difficulties in the future.”
Hua Zhu Yu slightly froze and then she lightly smiled: “Dan Hong remembers.” She is basically someone who has died before, and she has already been an army prost.i.tute. How could she not be able to be a servant?
Hui Xue continued to say: “This is his highness’s personal qin manor. You will live here and be his highness’s siqin.”
(TL: ‘qin manor’ is a place where a member (or members) of the imperial family sleep)
“What is a siqin and what do they do?” When Hua Zhu Yu heard the words ‘siqin‘ she felt a sense of foreboding.
“To put it simply, its a servant that specifically helps his highness to make the bed.” Hui Xue quietly said.
Hua Zhu Yu frowned slightly. She never imagined that being a servant could be so hard. Specifically making the bed for Xiao Yin? No matter how she thought about it, it sounded awkward.
“There isn’t any other labor, such as boiling water, washing clothes or cleaning out the courtyard?” Hua Zhu Yu asked.
“Those are all menial labor. A siqin‘s labor is actually a very good job. The servant girls all fight for this job.” Hui Xue’s gaze swept over Hua Zhu Yu.
Hua Zhu Yu understood that actually those servant girls were fighting for the job not because it was easy, rather because they can see Xiao Yin.
“Since everyone is fighting for this job, then let them do it instead. Why don’t I go clean the courtyard?” The further she is from Xiao Yin the better. It’s the best if he could once again forget, so that when the wound on her hand healed, she could escape.
“This is what his highness ordered. Hui Xue doesn’t have any power to change it. If you really don’t want to do it, I can go ask his highness.” Hui Xue said while walking towards the other side of the manor and opening the door to a room, “You will live here. Everyday, you will make the bed with new blankets. If the days are cold, you must remember to also warm the blankets as well. Did you remember it?”
Hua Zhu Yu frowned and had suspicions as to whether she had heard correctly.
She was born in a rich family and her family also had many servants, yet this was the first time she had heard of ‘siqin‘ and of having to warm the blankets. It was probably because she had stayed outside for too long and had gotten used to a life of hardship. She had never lived in luxury and she had not known that they would actually have such odd jobs.
Warming the blankets. Could it be that it was what Pin Laoda and Kang Laosan did when they had free time: warming the bed?
She definitely wouldn’t do it.
It was already the third month of Spring. Even though this was the frigid North, it had still slowly began to warm up as such, warming the blankets was naturally something she didn’t need to do. And even once it was the winter again, who knew where she’d be by then?
“I remembered everything. Is there any other orders?” Hua Zhu Yu lightly smiled as she said.
“No there isn’t. I’ll be leaving first. Remember to make the bed for his highness after a while.” Hui Xue finished speaking and left.
Hua Zhu Yu observed her surroundings. The room was small but it was very clean. Even though the furnishings were simple, they were all expensive in comparison to others. Even though this wasn’t the main manor, however, because it was still a manor in the Taizi residence, it still had some extravagance.
Because of the previous days she had ridden in the b.u.mpy horse carriage, she was extremely fatigued. The moment she touched the bed, Hua Zhu Yu leaned on the soft blankets and wanted to rest a little.
She faintly heard the voices of people. Hua Zhu Yu opened her eyes. She could see through the window that that it was already very late in the night.
Hua Zhu Yu quickly climbed up from the bed. Remembering Hui Xue’s words, she quickly left for Xiao Yin’s qin manor. As she wanted to keep a low profile and to peacefully heal her wound, she couldn’t receive punishment.
She arrived at Xiao Yin’s qin manor and walked across the blue-stones on the ground. She pa.s.sed the golden silk curtain and entered to see a golden jade bed. It was obvious that Xiao Yin lived luxuriously. The bed was quite enormous.
As she heard the sound of voices coming nearer, Hua Zhu Yu hurriedly opened the closet and took out a blanket. As her other hand was still unusable, she could only use one hand to make the bed. Her movements were a little slow and she could already hear the voices enter the door of the manor.
It seemed like Xiao Yin had returned. Hua Zhu Yu quickly looked at the bed. Everyplace was neat. She left the room. The sound of the servant girls’ respectful greetings could be heard. It was obvious Xiao Yin had already entered the manor.
Because she would most definitely have to meet Xiao Yin if she exited right now and she hastily hid herself into the shadows. She lifted her eyes as saw that Xiao Yin – who was currently surrounded by servant girls – was lazily walking inside. However, it wasn’t just him. In his embrace was a female.
The female was the red-robed female that Hua Zhu Yu had just seen at the front of Taizi residence.
She was currently like a small bird in Xiao Yin’s embrace. Her bright eyes were looking up at him and her cheeks glowed faintly red. She was acting in quite a sultry manner. Her red robes were like clouds and were embroidered with sequins that glimmered like gold. She wore a colorful ribbon around her waist which was gracefully poking out.
It looks like men really cannot leave women. Xiao Yin had just returned from the battlefield, yet here he was – inviting his concubine into his qin manor.
It was also quite obvious that Xiao Yin had drunk wine. His purple eyes held a sliver of intoxication. His golden crown had loosened and his black hair was messily released down. His whole body seemed to give off an evil charm that was uninhibited.
The two pa.s.sed from in front of Hua Zhu Yu. After a while, Hua Zhu Yu could hear Xiao Yin’s laugh float from inside the room.
She quietly walked from the shadows and toward the entrance to the manor.
Just at this time, she heard Xiao Yin’s cold voice from inside: “Siqin! Roll out here for bendianxia.”
(TL: ‘rolling’ is actually an offensive term and not to be taken literally. It just shows that Xiao Yin is angry.)