Chapter 262: Seeing the Light of Day Again (3)

Those medicine boys' medical skills might not be as high as Fu Ling's. Taking care of her a little more usually would come in handy when they had physical discomfort.

Two people entered the courtyard, one was the old nanny Wu who was in charge of the laundry bureau, and the other was a young eunuch. Seeing who it was, the old nanny who had been showing off just now immediately restrained her arrogance and greeted them respectfully and almost flatteringly: "Nanny Wu, why are you here."

Nanny Wu swept her eyes around the courtyard, ignored the old nanny's flattery, and said quite urgently, "Call that palace maid named Fu Ling out."

"Yes, yes." The old nanny responded, but for a moment couldn't remember who was named Fu Ling in the laundry bureau. Fortunately, Lanzhi was quick-witted and immediately said, "This servant will go and call her."

Fu Ling hadn't gone far. Hearing Lanzhi's call, she looked back and saw Nanny Wu and the little eunuch in the courtyard. A bad premonition arose in her heart. Even so, Fu Ling walked toward them.

Nanny Wu looked her up and down without leaving a trace and asked, "Are you Fu Ling?"

"Yes."

Her plain face was quite clean, and her quiet temperament was indeed more special than ordinary palace maids. Nanny Wu waved her hand and said, "Pack up and follow the eunuch."

Where to? There were questions in her heart, but Fu Ling didn't ask them. She had been here for half a month and had nothing to pack. Rolling down her sleeves, Fu Ling followed the little eunuch silently. Nanny Wu looked at Fu Ling's departing back and couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth. She actually followed the little eunuch without changing her expression or saying a word. Was this woman really so content with her lot, or was she so deep in thought?

Lanzhi walked to Nanny Wu's side and asked in a low voice, "Nanny Wu, where is Fu Ling going?" In the past, if palace maids were sent elsewhere, they would pack their things and go themselves. Fu Ling actually had a eunuch come to lead her away, which made Lanzhi curious.

Nanny Wu smiled with a bit of sarcasm, "Concubine Qing, who was newly conferred by the Emperor, specifically named her to serve. She won't be a low-level palace maid in the future."

A concubine was a rank second only to a consort. Following such a master, her status would naturally be higher than others. Lanzhi cursed secretly in her heart. Fu Ling always pretended to be indifferent to the world, aloof and indifferent, but she didn't expect that she was still clinging to the powerful. She just didn't know which master she was flattering. Lanzhi raised a sweet smile and asked casually, "Which beauty is Concubine Qing?"

"Isn't it that Miss Qing sent by Haoyue."

"What?"

That—ugly monster? Lanzhi's apricot eyes widened. With such a ruined and terrifying face, the Emperor actually liked her? It was only a few days ago that she heard she had been thrown into the Heavenly Prison, how did she become a phoenix from a pheasant in just ten days?!

Lanzhi's shocked and suspicious appearance startled Nanny Wu, who shouted in a low voice, "What are you asking so much for? Go to work."

Beside her feet were baskets of unwashed clothes, and behind her was that pool of dirty water. Lanzhi felt unwilling in her heart. At that time, both of them went to serve Miss Qing, but today only Fu Ling got such a good job. It was only her own fault for not having a good eye. If she hadn't been in such a hurry to escape, the one leaving here today should have been her!

In the scorching noon of early summer, the sunlight penetrated the branches and leaves on both sides of the palace path, no longer scorching on the body, but still dazzling. Fu Ling lowered her head and followed the eunuch silently. She didn't ask where they were taking her. It wasn't that she didn't care, but asking was useless. If she were really going to some place that couldn't be mentioned, her questioning wouldn't give her an answer but would cause trouble for others, so why bother?

The laundry bureau was in the most remote courtyard of the harem. They walked for a long time before stopping in front of a palace. Fu Ling raised her head and glanced at the palace gate, recognizing that this was Shuyun Palace, the palace of the late Consort Shu. After Consort Shu died in childbirth, it had been unoccupied. When she saw the three new large characters "Qingfeng Hall" on the palace plaque, she couldn't help but sigh. Consort Shu was favored in the harem back then, with infinite scenery. That was how noble she was. Now that she had been dead for only three years, let alone the Emperor, even the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were afraid that few people remembered her.

Still lowering her head, Fu Ling entered the hall. A young woman greeted her and looked her up and down without leaving a trace, asking politely, "Are you Sister Fu Ling?"

Sister? Palace maids were also divided into different ranks. Looking at her exquisite and fine light blue palace dress, she knew she was a close palace maid by the master's side. Although she couldn't compare to the high status of a female official, she shouldn't call her a low-level palace maid "sister," right? Fu Ling was suspicious and replied cautiously, "This servant is."

She had been lowering her head, so Lan'er couldn't see her appearance clearly. Hearing herself call her sister, she wasn't too surprised, nor did she take advantage of her verbally. Her temperament was steady and her attitude was humble. She should be quite easy to get along with, right? After all, she was a palace maid specifically named by Concubine Qing, so she must be the most favored. Flattering her would make her days better in the future. Raising a smile, Lan'er smiled and said, "My name is Lan'er, Sister, please follow me."

The heart lake that had been calm all the way was rippling at this moment. Fu Ling secretly guessed. When she was in the Female Medical Academy, she only saw a few unfavored ladies and beauties, and even the beauties didn't get their turn. After arriving at the laundry bureau, it was even more impossible to have any intersection with the concubines of each palace. Who exactly wanted to see her? Fu Ling didn't have time to think carefully before Lan'er had already brought her behind a large screen and whispered to the inside, "Mistress, Sister Fu Ling is here."

Although she still didn't understand what was going on, Fu Ling still knelt and saluted according to the palace etiquette: "This servant Fu Ling greets the mistress."

"Lan'er, you withdraw." A low woman's voice came from the inner room. The voice was too small, and Fu Ling could barely hear what she said. Lan'er bowed and saluted sensibly before retreating.

The person inside didn't speak for a long time. In the vast palace, only her own breathing could be heard. Fu Ling felt her heartbeat accelerating. This was a kind of fear of the unknown. Fortunately, the person inside didn't let her wait too long and said again, "Fu Ling, you come in."

"Yes." This time the voice was slightly louder than just now. Fu Ling found it familiar, but for a moment couldn't remember where she had heard it. Not daring to delay for too long, Fu Ling stood up, crossed the screen, lifted the layers of curtains, and stood in the corner of the inner room.

"Come over and help me." That woman's voice rang out again, her breathing quite tight. Fu Ling raised her head and looked at the bed. A woman in white was grabbing the bed curtain with one hand and supporting the edge of the bed with the other, trying hard to stand up. Her unbundled black hair was scattered all over the floor, and the plain white brocade made her face even paler. Even so, the slightly raised eyebrows, the proud nose, and the slightly parted lips were all beautiful. Just a side face in a sickly state was beautiful enough to make people's hearts tremble.

Is it her? Until the woman also turned her head to look at her, and the deep scar on the other side of her face was clearly visible, Fu Ling dared to confirm that she was Qing Ling. No, she should be called Qingfeng now. A few days ago, Lanfang told her about the beauty sent to the wrong place by Haoyue.

No wonder this place was called Qingfeng Hall. Fu Ling sighed secretly. The encounters in life were really beyond one's guess. Half a month ago, she was still the "gift" sent by Haoyue to seek peace, but now she was already a high-ranking concubine.

Fu Ling stood in the corner, staring at her, unable to hide her surprise. Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh, "Is it that surprising?" It seemed that her becoming a concubine overnight had really frightened many people.

Fu Ling came back to her senses, walked up to support her as she did when she arrived, and replied respectfully, "This servant is guilty."

The body that had just stood up paused. Qingfeng frowned and looked at the woman beside her. She couldn't see what she was thinking from her calm face, but she could feel the alienation behind her respect. If she just wanted an extra palace maid, why did she insist on choosing her? Qingfeng originally wanted to walk to the lounge chair by the window and sit down, but now she changed her mind.

Qingfeng sat down again, grabbed Fu Ling's wrist, and pulled her over to sit with her. Fu Ling was shocked and wanted to stand up, but Qingfeng held her hand and wouldn't let go, and she didn't dare to struggle. After weighing it, Fu Ling finally sat down.

Fu Ling sat obediently, and Qingfeng let go of her hand. She remained silent, but Qingfeng didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "You are the first person I saw after arriving in this palace, and the first person who didn't run away from me but lent a helping hand. I hope you can stay by my side. Of course, if you are unwilling, I can help you return to the Female Medical Academy. I know you were originally a medical maid."

Fu Ling was still sitting quietly, her expression indifferent. Because she didn't change in the slightest because of Qingfeng's words, she replied respectfully but coldly, "This servant is just a low-level palace maid with mediocre medical skills. Staying won't be able to do anything for the mistress or solve her worries." She helped her out of the little pity she had left. If she wanted to cling to the powerful, she wouldn't have been just a low-level palace maid even after she was over twenty.

Qingfeng laughed and asked, "What do you think I want you to do by staying by my side?"

Fu Ling really couldn't guess Qingfeng's thoughts, nor did she want to guess, so she remained speechless.

Fu Ling remained silent again. Qingfeng wasn't angry, leaned against the head of the bed, and asked abruptly, "Fu Ling, in this palace, is there anyone you can trust?"

Fu Ling's heart trembled slightly, and the always indifferent eyes rippled. Although it dissipated quickly, it didn't escape Qingfeng's eyes. Leaning her head on one hand, Qingfeng waited patiently for her answer. After a long while, Fu Ling replied in a low voice, "No."

Qingfeng shook her head and laughed in a low voice, "How sad." Although she said it with a smile, the dissatisfaction and sarcasm toward the palace were undisguised. Fu Ling couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly. This woman was fierce and straightforward, and could be considered unique in the palace. She just didn't know how long such uniqueness could be maintained.

"What's more pathetic is that I seem to be falling into such sadness too, but?" Qingfeng paused, looked at Fu Ling beside her with clear eyes, and said in a low voice, "I don't want to be like this."

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 263 =====