Han Yue’e’s heart was pounding all night, and she didn’t sleep a wink.
It wasn’t until the next morning, when she opened her eyes and sat before her dressing mirror, that she finally dared to believe it—she was truly the future Qi Wangfei.
An imperial decree, a golden promise.
The entire capital, no—the entire world, now knew she had become Qi Wangfei, as the royal bulletin had already been sent far and wide.
What a moment of glory!
She slowly combed her hair, a smug smile gradually spreading across her face in the mirror.
Who cares about Qi Jin or Qi Yuan?
That fool Qi Jin was dead.
As for Qi Yuan?
Heh, so what if she thought herself so clever? Even if she could forge her handwriting and mimic letters, what of it? Han Yue’e had carved out another path on her own!
A Wangfei—how could that lowly maid from the countryside ever imagine such a noble status?
From now on, when Qi Yuan sees her, she will have to kneel in humility and respectfully carry her shoes!
Lian’er, standing nearby, was all smiles as well. Wealth and fortune indeed come with risk. Just yesterday, they didn’t even know what identity they would hold in the prince’s residence. They were worried about being forgotten, about being silently disposed of.
But today, her mistress had become the future Wangfei of the prince’s household.
She couldn’t hold back her joy as she praised Han Yue’e: “My lady, you truly are both beautiful and clever!”
Indeed. Han Yue’e curled her lips.
It was easy to be beautiful, easy to be clever, but to look beautiful and clever at the same time—now that was rare.
So, everything today was rightfully hers. How could Qi Yuan ever be worthy?
Thinking of Qi Yuan, Han Yue’e’s expression darkened, a flicker of hatred in her eyes.
One day, she would make Qi Yuan kneel at her feet to wipe her shoes and wash her feet! That wretched maid!
The Qi Yuan being cursed at was currently meeting someone at a restaurant on Suzaku Street.
Lianqiao looked nervously at her and introduced, “Miss, this is my older brother.”
She quickly added, “You can just call him Shunzi.”
Shunzi seemed much more street-smart than Lianqiao. Upon hearing the introduction, he immediately dropped to his knees with a thud: “Greetings, Miss!”
Qi Yuan gave a soft hum: “Get up. From now on, you’ll be working for me outside. I’ll pay you monthly wages. Are you willing?”
Shunzi was instantly overjoyed.
How could he not be? At home, he had a gravely ill mother and younger siblings to support—everything required money.
But he had never been able to secure work inside a noble household.
Qi Yuan was now giving him a great opportunity. If he didn’t seize it, he’d be a complete fool.
“I’m willing!” Shunzi said excitedly, “I will faithfully serve you, Miss!”
Qi Yuan smiled and glanced at Baizhi, who immediately handed Shunzi a money pouch.
Shunzi took it and felt the surprising weight in his hands, looking at Qi Yuan in shock.
Qi Yuan said calmly, “There’s fifty taels of silver and a one-hundred-tael banknote. I want you to rent a house first, then go to the escort agency and redeem some people for me to guard the property.”
What?
Shunzi was briefly confused, but quickly recovered and, without asking why, immediately agreed.
Qi Yuan smiled: “Go ahead.”
Lianqiao escorted Shunzi out, repeatedly reminding him: “Brother, you must take Miss’s orders seriously! No deception or dupes or outward devotion but inner opposition allowed!”
Shunzi laughed: “You’ve really become a proper maid now, even using fancy idioms. Don’t worry—I’m not stupid…”
They left chatting and laughing. Back in the room, Baizhi looked at Qi Yuan with some concern: “Miss, you’re setting up property outside in secret, this…”
“Secretly?” Qi Yuan’s tone was gentle, but her words were firm: “I’m doing this openly and honestly.”
Baizhi didn’t know what to say when suddenly loud noises erupted from the street outside.
They were in a second-floor street-facing private room. If one listened carefully, the street vendors’ cries were clearly audible, but now there were angry shouts, curses, and crying.
Baizhi glanced at Qi Yuan and saw her standing up.
Was the young lady going to watch the commotion? Baizhi hurriedly pushed open the window: “Miss, here—”
She had just spoken when she suddenly screamed: “Miss, it’s Lianqiao and Shunzi! They’re in trouble!”
A luxurious carriage had just stopped by the street. Both Shunzi and Lianqiao were kneeling on the ground, looking disheveled.
Shunzi was clutching a toddler, about two or three years old.
Someone in the carriage said something, and the coachman lashed Shunzi’s back with a whip, tearing his skin open.
Lianqiao was kneeling and kowtowing but had her hand cruelly stepped on by a woman slowly descending from the carriage, making her scream in pain.
“Miss… isn’t that Lian’er, the maid who’s always with Miss Han?” Baizhi wanted to see Qi Yuan’s reaction, but Qi Yuan had already turned and briskly walked out.
Baizhi panicked and chased after her: “Miss! Miss! Wait for me!”
Lian’er’s foot pressed harder on Lianqiao’s hand as if she wasn’t satisfied with the screams yet—she ground her heel with delight: “How bold! You dared to collide with our Wangfei’s carriage and even injured our Wangfei. How many lives do you think you have to repay this?”
She was full of glee. Her mistress had been looking for an outlet for her frustration, and who knew they’d run into Lianqiao on the street? They had actually planned to crash the carriage into them, but that man had moved quickly, saving the child and pushing Lianqiao aside.
Lianqiao was in so much pain that cold sweat dripped from her forehead, unable to utter a word.
Shunzi let go of the child and lunged forward, trying to push Lian’er’s foot off Lianqiao’s hand.
But another lash landed on his face.
The coachman sneered: “Filthy thing! You dare touch someone noble? What are you?”
The little child was wailing on the side.
People nearby began to murmur: “It was this carriage that almost hit the child. These two siblings were just saving someone.”
“Whose carriage is this? So overbearing!”
“I heard it’s the Wangfei’s carriage. Who would dare to provoke a Wangfei?”
Han Yue’e heard all this clearly. All her recent frustrations vanished, and she lifted the carriage curtain, ordering Lian’er: “Take them to the magistrate and say they attempted to assassinate me!”
Assassinate?
Lianqiao, cold sweat pouring, protested: “I—I didn’t…”
Lian’er immediately lifted her foot to kick her: “You lowly thing, still dare to deny it!”
But this time, before she could kick, someone grabbed her foot and pushed her back hard. Lian’er lost her balance.
Qi Yuan coldly shoved her back, making her fall and hit her head hard on the carriage, sliding to the ground limply.
The coachman, startled by someone daring to interfere, reacted too slowly. When he came to his senses, he saw a pool of blood forming under Lian’er’s head and shouted while raising his whip: “You wretched little thing! You dare to kill someone!”
