Chapter 37: Generous Rewards Await
"Did that maid truly say such things?" Lin Qingyu asked, her face etched with disbelief.
Ever since Qi Yunyan had brought her into the Prince's residence, every servant had catered to her every whim. She had enjoyed unparalleled favor within the estate, with everyone respectfully addressing her as Mistress Lin. How could a mere servant of Shen Mengli—that useless, parasitic creature—dare to mock her behind her back? Where did she find the audacity?
"It is true. I heard it with my own ears, and Mother Li from the kitchen can bear witness. That maid shows absolutely no respect for you, Mistress. Perhaps the request for the chicken soup was a mere pretext, and she intended to use the incident to slight you intentionally. After all, you are the woman held in the Prince's heart, and that Princess Consort must be green with envy," Biyu said, watching Lin Qingyu’s expression and adding fuel to the fire with every word.
"It seems I have been too lenient with Shen Mengli, emboldening her maid to trample upon my dignity," Lin Qingyu said, her face twisted with resentment. "It appears I must find an opportunity to properly encounter this Princess Consort."
Biyu nodded repeatedly. "Exactly, Mistress. You should not grant that Princess Consort any courtesy. You are clearly the one the Prince truly loves; that Princess Consort is worth nothing at all."
With those words, the mistress and her maid made their way toward the Snow Bamboo Pavilion.
***
Inside the Snow Bamboo Pavilion, Magpie placed the chicken soup before Shen Mengli and boasted, "Your Highness, the maid from Listening Rain Pavilion wanted this bowl of soup earlier. She claimed the Prince’s true love was her mistress and demanded I hand it over. Guess how I handled it?"
"And how did you handle it?" Shen Mengli asked, looking at her head maid with curiosity.
"That Biyu tried to flaunt her mistress’s status in front of me, so I shut her down by invoking your name, Your Highness. You should have seen her face; she was so furious she couldn't even speak."
Shen Mengli tapped Magpie on the forehead with her finger. "You child, you really are..."
"Did I do something wrong, my lady?" Magpie asked, fearing Shen Mengli was displeased.
Unexpectedly, Shen Mengli replied, "You did wonderfully."
Only then did Magpie’s heart settle. Fortunately, she had feared the Princess Consort might decide to play the saint. Toward such petty, bullying villains, one had to strike back.
"You did well, Magpie. You defended my dignity in front of others. I shall reward you handsomely; go to the accounts office and draw ten taels of silver," Shen Mengli said generously. She understood that Magpie had acted out of loyalty, and she was always clear and lavish in rewarding such devoted servants.
"Thank you, Your Highness. This servant will be cautious in word and deed hereafter, upholding your reputation and ensuring no outsider looks down upon our Snow Bamboo Pavilion."
***
The mistress and maid were still laughing when the voice of Ginkgo came from outside the door: "Your Highness, Mistress Lin from Listening Rain Pavilion has arrived."
Why would Lin Qingyu leave Listening Rain Pavilion to come to the Snow Bamboo Pavilion? Was she so resentful over the chicken soup that she had come here to vent her spleen? Regardless, she would wait and see what scheme the woman was brewing.
Lin Qingyu, accompanied by Biyu, strode into the Snow Bamboo Pavilion with an air of arrogance. Before the maid could finish announcing them, Lin Qingyu stepped over the threshold and marched directly into the room.
What met her eyes was a dignified and majestic woman, dressed in a magnificent gown embroidered with golden phoenixes. Her hair was styled in an elegant, towering bun, adorned with a gold-threaded phoenix hairpin inlaid with precious stones. She sat gracefully on a red sandalwood chair. Her eyebrows were like distant, verdant hills, and her eyes were as clear and shimmering as autumn water; every gesture she made exuded nobility and composure.
"So, you are Shen Mengli?"