Red Mansion Rebirth: Ghost Phoenix

"It's a perfect time to enjoy the scenery under the bright moon and gentle breeze. Besides, once I return to the palace, I will never see this scenery again.

"If you want to go back, you can go back. I won't go!

"I'll eat in this yard in a moment!"

Wang Xifeng smiled, as if she was not worried at all that she would become the most conspicuous target in this brightly lit courtyard.

She even turned around and shouted, "Come here, set up the tables and chairs for me and put them in this yard!

"After dinner, I'll have some tea outside.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that I brought two boxes of good tea. I'll give one box to Dai Xiang later!"

When Dai Quan was mentioned, a few palace servants finally came out from the back reluctantly and set up tables and chairs according to Wang Xifeng's instructions.

There was a maid who was really unwilling to accept this and questioned Wang Xifeng: "After the death of the Concubine Dowager, except for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the other palaces' masters have all taken off their makeup and reduced their meals.

"Your Highness, you are eating and drinking tea so ostentatiously. Aren't you afraid that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager will hear you and blame you for being unfilial?"

Wang Xifeng looked at her without saying anything, then looked at Chunnuan.

Chun Nuan immediately stepped forward, rolled up her sleeves and slapped him:

"Slut! Do you think you have the right to talk back to your master like this?

"The Imperial Concubine took a carriage for four hours and came to the other palace without stopping, just to arrange a decent and thorough funeral for Concubine Zhen!

"Now she hasn't eaten a single bite of food or drank a single cup of tea, and you, the bastards who bully your master, don't even boil water or make the bed, but you're just sneaking around and lying on the ground!

“What?!

"The Empress Dowager only cares about whether the concubines in the palace are sad or not, and whether the imperial concubines are filial or not, and doesn't care whether you bunch of slaves rebel or not, right?!"

The maid had nothing to say in reply. She covered her face with her hands and looked at Chun Nuan with hatred in her eyes: "No matter what, I am still the Queen Mother's maid. How can you hit me..."

"So what? With your filthy face, you still want the Imperial Concubine to do it herself?! Take a look and see if you are worthy!"

Chun Nuan pointed at her nose and said, "Just these four words, 'using a slave to bully the master', are enough to kill you!

"Don't be so ungrateful! Get out of here!"

The maid was so angry that she ran away crying.

Wang Xifeng asked, "Who is the leader?"

A middle-aged female official stepped forward and said calmly, "I am Yue Shao, the steward of Cui Bo Pavilion. I pay my respects to the imperial concubine."

Wang Xifeng nodded and pointed in the direction where the maid ran away: "Is this the rule of the other palace or the rule of Cuibo Pavilion?"

Yue Shao was somewhat helpless, and bowed his head and saluted: “In reply to the Imperial Concubine, this palace maid’s surname is Lin, and her original name is Twelve Niang.

"Ten days ago, the Supreme Lord was visiting here. She responded eloquently, and the Supreme Lord was pleased, so he personally gave her the name: Deyi.

"However, he was not transferred to serve in Hanfeng Palace, nor was he given a title...

"So, her rules are neither from the other palaces nor from Cui Bo Pavilion."

It turned out to be the case.

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble Aunt Yue to deal with it. I can't afford to work with an aunt like her."

Yue Shao sighed, turned around and ordered the eunuch: "Go find her, tie her up and gag her, and tell her to stop making trouble. Send her to Hanfeng Palace tomorrow morning, and ask Prime Minister Dai to deal with her."

This rule is correct.

Wang Xifeng was too lazy to ask about what had happened before and just leaned back in her chair to enjoy the scenery.

Another half stick of incense passed, and An'er, Chunsheng and two young eunuchs returned with the meal.

Although they were all vegetarian dishes, at least there were four plates and four bowls.

Wang Xifeng saw that An'er and the others had brought back their meals, so she waved her hand and told them to go eat first, and told Yue Shao to stay and serve them.

Wang Xifeng was already very hungry and ate up all the food on the table.

Yue Shao was stunned.

After clearing away the dishes and making tea, Wang Xifeng began to lazily talk to Yue Shao: "When did you enter the palace? Why did you go to another palace to serve? Have you ever been to Daming Palace?"

"I entered the palace when I was eight years old, and I started to learn the rules in the palace. Twenty-one years ago, the other palace was built, and people were selected to guard the empty rooms. Because I had no money to give to the aunts and maids in the palace, I was sent here.

“I never went back to Daming Palace.

"However, the other palace is quiet, with few ordinary people, and it is easy to get along with, so I am used to it."

Yue Shao lowered his eyes and looked submissive.

This means refusing to be recruited and not wanting to return to the Daming Palace.

Wang Xifeng nodded: "So, you are familiar with this palace inside and out?"

"Yes." Yue Shao still refused to say more.

Wang Xifeng sighed: "All in all, you should have had a good ending.

“I heard that this place was originally decorated for Concubine Zhen to live in.

"She has always been favored by the Supreme Lord. If you can serve her for a few months, you may be given money to return home and live a comfortable life.

"pity……"

Yue Shao remained silent.

Wang Xifeng looked at her and laughed, "What's the matter? You don't want to leave the palace and go home?"

Yue Shao hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "To answer your Majesty, I was sold into the palace by my parents, and we have had no contact since entering the palace. It has been twenty-six years now.

"Now that I have left the palace, I am alone and have no relatives to turn to. I don't have any skills to make a living. It would be better for me to stay in the palace..."

Having said this, Yue Shao stopped.

She slowly raised her head and looked at Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng looked at her with a smile and innocent eyes.

Yes, what is the point of staying in the palace? I am a slave, serving my master.

But now, the Empress Dowager is of this age, and Yue Shao has never had a proper master to serve - it would have been Concubine Zhen, but now it is gone.

You are a masterless slave. Why should the palace keep you and provide for your old age?

She hesitated for a moment.

But before she could open her mouth, Wang Xifeng asked her curiously, "If you have never had a master, then according to the palace rules, shouldn't you leave the palace at the age of 25?

"Why has it been delayed until now?"

Yue Shao lowered his head and said, "We are servants from the other palaces. I think the Ministry of Internal Affairs has forgotten about us."

"How is that possible? I've seen the account books of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They release people every year, not only from the Zhongnan Palace, but also from other palaces. The list is clear."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Aunt Yue, tell the truth, don't hide anything. In my eyes, telling lies is the same as courting death."

Yue Shao shuddered slightly, gritted his teeth, and knelt down on his knees:

"The first time I was supposed to leave the palace was when the capital was in turmoil...

"Later, when it was mentioned for the second time, the eunuch in charge of the other palace was, yes, yes, my partner...

“He died two years ago.

"Now I, a servant, have no one to rely on, but I have a rich purse...

"There are several... people who are trying to show their affection to me, and there is even a guard who wants to marry me as his second wife.

“They are all after the slaves’ money!

“I dare not leave the palace!

"Otherwise, once they get their hands on us, we will lose everything!

"I beg the Imperial Concubine to show mercy and allow this servant to continue to stay in the other palace!"