Chapter 15.2: protected by him

Hong Li appears to be young and immature, but those pairs of eyes turn particularly fast.She’s definitely not an ordinary palace maid in the Palace Side Quarters. At the very least, she holds some status in front of Old Maidservant Zhao.

“You’re not lying to me, right?” The look in Hong Li’s eyes was full of inquiry, but when she saw Su Xi-er’s calm and composed manner, she reckoned the latter wasn’t lying. “I believe you; but there’s a precondition for me to help you out. If you become successful in the future, remember to take me out of the Palace Side Quarters.” Hong Li was not silly. Although she was only fourteen years old and had yet to come of age, she had already been in the Palace Side Quarters for nine years. She had no intention of staying here forever.  

“Monitor Old Maidservant Zhao for now. In addition, don’t be intimate with me in front of outsiders.”

“I have always been the one arranging her meals and everyday life. I’ll have no problems in monitoring her.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Su Xi-er’s mouth. Hong Li has served beside Old Maidservant Zhao for many years, yet the old woman hasn’t given her any benefits. Otherwise, why would she have such a reaction to just seeing the red bean congee and two small side dishes?

“Alright, feel free to eat all the remaining food if you like them.”

Hong Li’s eyes widened. “You’re not hungry? You’re giving all of it to me to eat?”

“Old Maidservant Zhao will deliver again.”

She had barely finished speaking when Old Maidservant Zhao’s voice sounded.

“Su Xi-er, look at what I have brought you.”

Hong Li panicked and immediately stood up from the chair.

When she saw Old Maidservant Zhao carrying a plate of roast chicken, bitterness flitted across her eyes. Old witch, Su Xi-er has definitely gotten hold of some dirt on you. You even personally delivered the roast chicken! 

Hong Li, how could you eat the things meant for Su Xi-er? Damned thing, scram!” Old Maidservant Zhao chided in a stern voice. 

Hong Li pouted. She directly walked out without saying anything.

“Old Maidservant Zhao, you’re too polite.” Su Xi-er chuckled.

“This wasn’t made by me. It was the Third Imperial Prince’s servant who sent it to you. So it turns out that your backer is actually the Third Imperial Prince.”

Su Xi-er glanced at Old Maidservant Zhao. The astonishment in her eyes doesn’t look like it’s fake. This roast chicken was really sent by the Third Imperial Prince. The words he said yesterday flashed across her mind. 

“As long as I’m in this imperial palace, no one will dare to touch you.”

We have only met once so why is he doing this?

“Among all the imperial princes, Prince Hao only finds the Third Imperial Prince to be worthy of any attention. Su Xi-er, how are you so lucky? The Third Imperial Prince has an ice-cold disposition has him barely speaking to any men, much less women.”

Su Xi-er’s expression didn’t change. “My backer isn’t him.”

The Third Imperial Prince is an imperial prince after all. If the Pei Family finds him threatening, Prince Hao and the Empress Dowager would definitely not let him off. She didn’t want to be implicated in the struggle for power. 

“It’s not him? Don’t tell me it’s someone even more powerful?” Old Maidservant Zhao didn’t understand Su Xi-er’s real intentions and misunderstood.

“Either way, it’s someone you can’t offend,” she purposely hinted. After all, she didn’t have a single backer.

Old Maidservant Zhao almost fell onto the floor. The men with the greatest power in Beimin are Prince Hao and Commandery Prince Xie. Her backer is one of them?

“Since He Ying instructed you to make me suffer hardships, you still have to put on an act.” Su Xi-er reminded indifferently. As she spoke, the thick noble aura around her pervaded the air.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.” Old Maidservant Zhao was completely frightened.

Su Xi-er nodded before heading over to the table. She understood that her physical strength was lacking, and that she needed to eat something for nourishment.

Hence, she picked up the chopsticks and began eating.

She was neither fast nor slow as she ate, keeping an elegant demeanour throughout the process. Old Maidservant Zhao stared blankly. Su Xi-er didn’t eat like this in the past. I had once seen the bearing of a noble when dining, but Su Xi-er’s elegance surpasses even that of a noble!

“Old Maidservant Zhao,” a woman’s soft call could be heard. Old Maidservant Zhao’s body trembled. He Ying is here again. Furthermore, she happened to see me in Su Xi-er’s room.

“Miss He.” Old Maidservant Zhao immediately stood up with her face full of respect.

“The Empress Dowager bestowed some things to the servant girls in the Palace Side Quarters. Quickly distribute them.”

Old Maidservant Zhao was surprised. It’s the first time the Empress Dowager is bestowing things to the Palace Side Quarters.

“Old Maidservant Zhao, go out first. There is something that I need to personally pass to Su Xi-er.”

Su Xi-er remained calm and collected. It’s not that she’s bestowing something to me, but rather that she’s making trouble for me.

The room door was tightly shut. He Ying took out a fragrance sachet. “The Empress Dowager instructed the seamstresses in the imperial palace to specially embroider this for you. What I’m curious about though, is that the Third Imperial Prince had just returned to the palace yesterday but he is already so protective towards you. Could it be that the two of you have already known each other previously?”