Chapter 41: How Proactive Can a Woman Be? (Thank you, Grand Patron

…

Xi Duo, who had long given up hope that Ma Xiao Jiao would win favor, now felt her spirits revive when she saw Ma Xiao Jiao being summoned by Zhao Yu—personally called by Liang Shicheng himself, and with Liang Shicheng's demeanor unusually warm.

By the time night fell, Ma Xiao Jiao still hadn't returned; Xi Duo rejoiced, convinced Ma Xiao Jiao had succeeded for sure.

But just as Xi Duo was humming a cheerful tune and preparing red date porridge to nourish Ma Xiao Jiao, the sound of the door opening reached her ears.

Xi Duo immediately dropped the red dates she was washing and rushed toward the door with eager anticipation.

There stood Ma Xiao Jiao, face streaked with tears, pulling open the door and standing in the threshold.

Seeing this, Xi Duo's heart sank.

In Xi Duo's eyes, with Ma Xiao Jiao looking like a ghost right now, how could Zhao Yu possibly find her appealing?

Without a doubt, Ma Xiao Jiao had failed to please Zhao Yu in bed—hence the crying, and hence why she'd been sent back.

Finished.

Completely finished.

This investment had utterly failed.

Xi Duo's joy froze instantly; her heart plunged to the bottom.

But Xi Duo still had a shred of humanity; she didn't kick her while she was down, forcing a smile as she stepped forward: "Madam, you…"

At that moment, Zhao Yu walked in from outside.

Xi Duo clapped a hand over her mouth in disbelief!

"Did Ma Madam succeed?!?!"

Zhao Yu's appearance, like the sun, instantly illuminated Xi Duo's gloomy heart.

Xi Duo never imagined Zhao Yu would personally escort Ma Xiao Jiao back.

"Am I dreaming?!"

"What immense favor is this!!!"

This sudden twist filled Xi Duo's heart with mixed emotions—surprise, confusion, but mostly a renewed hope for the future.

Xi Duo hurried forward and bowed: "Servant Xi Duo bows before Your Highness."

Zhao Yu froze.

He recognized Xi Duo.

Xi Duo had boldness beyond her years: she had thrice voluntarily come to serve him in bed, and on the last occasion, she had stripped naked and hidden in his bathtub while preparing his bathwater, showing a reckless, all-or-nothing determination.

Only then did Zhao Yu realize: until a person reaches a certain height, they never know how proactive a woman can be.

Although Xi Duo had startled Zhao Yu, he did not punish her.

Having come from the lowest rungs of society, Zhao Yu understood: Xi Duo merely wanted to change her own fate; she chose this extreme path because she truly had no other way forward.

Zhao Yu personally lifted Xi Duo out of the bathtub, dried her body himself, dressed her himself, and told her: "Don't speak of this to anyone, or you'll be punished. Wait two years until you're older—I'll give you a chance to serve me in bed." Then he sent her away.

Seeing that Ma Xiao Jiao's maid was Xi Duo, Zhao Yu thought: "How convenient."

"Go fetch a basin of water for your mistress," Zhao Yu ordered.

Xi Duo moved swiftly; soon she brought a basin of clear water and a bar of soap.

What nearly made Xi Duo's eyes pop out was that Zhao Yu, this lofty prince, rolled up his sleeves and intended to personally remove Ma Xiao Jiao's makeup. Ma Xiao Jiao hesitated and said: "I can do it myself, I dare not trouble Your Highness."

Xi Duo, standing nearby, was nearly frantic—she thought: "My foolish madam, this is a favor so rare even others beg for it! If this succeeds, your status in Wang Fu is secured—why are you pushing it away?!"

At that moment, Zhao Yu revealed his domineering side: he ignored Ma Xiao Jiao's words and continued skillfully removing her makeup, saying to her: "I don't like women who wear heavy makeup. If you truly wish to wear it, only light makeup is acceptable."

Ma Xiao Jiao, with no experience in romance, had no idea how to handle Zhao Yu's domineering demeanor as this younger man.

After floundering helplessly for a while, Ma Xiao Jiao could only mutter "Oh," then obediently tilted her neck and let Zhao Yu proceed.

Watching this, Xi Duo was filled with envy—she even felt a pang of jealousy toward Ma Xiao Jiao.

But then Xi Duo remembered: Zhao Yu had lifted her from the bathtub, dried her body himself, dressed her himself—that had been the happiest moment of her life, even though her goal hadn't been achieved.

Xi Duo secretly watched Zhao Yu, lost in the daydreams of a young girl in love…

After some time passed, when Xi Duo finally came to her senses, Zhao Yu had finished removing Ma Xiao Jiao's makeup and stood up.

Xi Duo thought Zhao Yu was leaving; she dropped to her knees with a thud and pleaded: "If Your Highness leaves, you're denying my madam any chance at life—I beg Your Highness to pity her!"

Zhao Yu frowned slightly.

First, Zhao Yu had never intended to leave—otherwise, why would he have personally escorted Ma Xiao Jiao back?

Second, in Zhao Yu's view, even if he left now, it wasn't nearly as dire as Xi Duo made it out to be.

But Zhao Yu soon recalled the scene in "The Legend of Zhen Huan," when An Lingrong's first night with Emperor Yongzheng ended in rejection.

The eunuchs carrying her palanquin back openly called it an unlucky task; the next day, Consort Hua led the mockery, calling An Lingrong "a virgin returned intact." Other servants, seeing her lack of favor, began treating her with contempt.

This inflicted severe psychological trauma on An Lingrong. For someone of humble origin, deeply insecure, and desperate to change her fate, being rejected in bed was a crushing humiliation—her self-respect was trampled, her insecurity deepened, and she eventually turned dark.

Though the drama had artistic embellishment, Zhao Yu considered: in this feudal society, a woman's path within the household was indeed far crueler than a man's, especially in a harem teeming with women.

Zhao Yu also recalled the idiotic male lead from "Fleet of Time."

This made Zhao Yu, who had already been pacing like a cat on hot bricks and didn't want to miss this chance by dawdling and let someone else seize it, simply go along with the flow: "Bring me my nightgown."

Seeing Zhao Yu choose to stay, Xi Duo rejoiced and answered brightly: "Yes~!" Then she ran off to fetch Zhao Yu's nightgown.

Nearby, Ma Xiao Jiao panicked at the thought of Zhao Yu sleeping with her.

But remembering what Zhang Chun and Xi Duo had said, and reflecting on all she'd experienced these days, Ma Xiao Jiao now fully understood: in this feudal era, for a woman to accomplish anything, she needed the support and protection of a powerful man—and without such support, a woman couldn't even survive, let alone achieve anything.

More importantly, though Zhao Yu was a native and had many women, honestly, Ma Xiao Jiao had truly fallen for him—in fact, across two lifetimes, Zhao Yu was the first man she had ever liked.

"Perhaps I'm the most pathetic transporter of all?"

"Or perhaps… I should forget I'm a transporter—that way, I might finally be able to sink into this life without guilt…"

…

Thank you, Grand Patron, for your generous gift—I owe you an extra chapter, to be repaid upon serialization.

Thank you, fellow cultivators "Youthful Past Is an Unreachable Dream," "Eagle Soars the Heavens1," "Zhang Fei," "Dongyun521," "Riding Horse Just Right," "Lin Hao," "Reader20191201052116443," and "Tie Tied Slanted" for your generous support! Wishing all fellow cultivators good health and smooth fortune!!!

(End of Chapter)