Chapter 471

Chapter 471 Fangse was a household-born maidservant in the prince's mansion. In her entire life, she had only learned how to serve her master and remain loyal to her. She knew nothing of the scheming and calculations within the inner court, nor could she go against her conscience to betray her master. When her mistress ordered her to serve the Prince, she served. When her mistress told her to protect Princess Ruyi, she did her utmost to protect her. But in the dead of night, she too felt lost and helpless. Toward the future, toward herself, she had not the slightest idea. The Prince favored her for three consecutive days. The maidservants attended to her, gold and jade adorned her hair, and rewards flowed into Fangfei Pavilion like running water. Fangse, who had been a maidservant her entire life, suddenly knew how to be a mistress after three days of being one. If she were destined to be a maidservant forever, she would have accepted her fate. But she had been born a servant, and then given the chance to be a mistress—to be cast back down to her original place, to become a despised maidservant once more, suddenly filled her with fear and resistance. On the fourth day, the Prince came again. She welcomed him joyfully, but saw the Prince's cold face as he asked only one question: "How did your mistress get in touch with Princess Consort Su? As her maidservant, you should know perfectly well, shouldn't you?" Cold sweat broke out all over Fangse's body, her fingertips trembling. So the Prince really knew everything! What her mistress had done might have fooled everyone in the inner court, but it could never escape the Prince's eyes. For the first time in her life, Fangse had selfish motives, driven also by her mistress's instructions. She chose to confess. Her mistress had probably anticipated this day long ago and had already taught her how to act. Abandon the old master, pledge loyalty to the Prince, confess everything! Only by stepping over her mistress's corpse could she have a chance at survival, and only then could she protect Princess Ruyi on her mistress's behalf. Afterward, the Prince only left one sentence: "Tell your mistress that Ruyi's future is in her own hands." Fangse did not understand the Prince's meaning, but faithfully relayed the words to her mistress. After hearing this, her mistress's expression was calm, yet seemed to hold back many emotions, with a feeling of finally being able to exhale after trekking ten thousand miles through the desert. Fangse vaguely understood. Her mistress had committed too many evils; the Prince would not let her live. Sure enough, her mistress died. She died without a sound. The maidservants in the courtyard screamed: "Consort Yun is dead!" Fangse hurried over, tears streaming down her face. In the end, she brought Princess Ruyi to mourn for her mistress. Looking at the cold and desolate mourning hall, Fangse's eyes were filled with sorrow and confusion. The road ahead was uncertain. She had no schemes, no calculations—how was she to go on? Reality told Fangse that she was overthinking. After her mistress's death, the Prince cast her aside and never saw her again. He only showed great mercy by allowing her to temporarily care for Princess Ruyi. The Prince loathed her mistress, and likewise did not care for her. It was only because he doted on Princess Ruyi that he kept her around, to look after the princess. Fangse had understood the Prince's meaning long ago. She had received only three days of favor, and since then had never been regarded by the Prince. She had no children, no family standing—she was worse off than her mistress had been when she first entered the mansion. Moreover, her mistress had died by taking poison, blood flowing from all seven orifices. This was told to her by the sisters who had attended her mistress. Fangse knew that the poison was the same arsenic her mistress had once used on Consort Fang during childbirth. Outside, rumors spread that her mistress had originally intended to elevate Fangcao to concubine, but that she had used schemes to seduce the Prince and betray her mistress. In the end, everyone said she had climbed to her position over her mistress's dead body. Fangse did not bother to explain. Because she felt guilt and remorse for the selfish thought she had harbored, and even came to accept the rumors outside. And Fangse knew in her own heart. She was the Prince's person, a pawn kept by the Prince to look after Princess Ruyi. As long as the Prince knew she was innocent, she was innocent. If the Prince thought her guilty, then even if everyone in the mansion believed her innocent, it would be useless.