“Why?” Cuihong seemed to have heard the biggest joke, her voice rising slightly. “I want to ask why, when we’re both from humble origins, you get to wear silk and jade, commanding servants and maids, while I’m just a servant attending to you?”

Chaohua seemed stunned by this, staring at her blankly.

Cuihong’s expression grew increasingly twisted: “Does the Attendant think that just because she doesn’t beat or scold people, those serving her should be grateful?”

“I never thought that way.” Chaohua seemed to come back to her senses, saying calmly.

Cuihong gave a derisive laugh: “The Attendant truly can withstand blows—you’ve regained your air of detachment so quickly. What I hate most is precisely your detached manner!”

Cuihong pointed at herself: “Do you know how I went from being a lowly palace maid doing menial tasks to personally serving you? I endured for a full five years! Clearly my appearance is not inferior, yet I have nothing, while you have everything without even trying. Why is that?”

Chaohua looked at Cuihong’s distorted features and gave a bitter smile: “Where are there so many ‘whys’ in this world? If I could choose, I would rather do menial tasks for a lifetime than have these things.”

She had these things without having to fight for them only because of the County Princess.

If it could bring the County Princess back to life, she would willingly have nothing, and wouldn’t even care if she lost her own life.

Hearing this, Cuihong hated her even more: “Bah! Stop putting on an act. Now that you’ve lost the Crown Prince’s favor, let’s see how long you can maintain your lofty airs!”

Chaohua looked at her, her expression desolate: “What benefit is there to you in my losing the Crown Prince’s favor?”

“Benefit?” Cuihong suddenly laughed, raising her hand to stroke her pale, almost pallid cheek. “That’s not something for the Attendant to worry about.”

Chaohua’s indifferent gaze swept across her face, a mocking smile on her lips: “Do you think you can become the second me?”

Cuihong proudly raised her chin: “Why not? I’m younger than you, my figure is more lithe, and I know better how to please people. Why wouldn’t His Highness favor me?”

An angry voice came through: “Cuihong, no wonder you don’t even eat dinner at night, starving yourself until you’re gasping for breath after just a few steps—so you’ve been harboring such schemes!”

“Shut up!” Cuihong spun around abruptly, pointing at Qing’er and scolding her. “Do you think everyone is like you, lacking ambition and just waiting to die while freeloading?”

Qing’er walked over carrying a bowl of noodle soup, sneering: “I may lack ambition and be waiting to die while freeloading, but what about you? I see you have sky-high aspirations but a fate thinner than paper! You caused the Attendant to lose favor—do you think you’ll still get to see His Highness? Dream on.”

Cuihong walked up to Qing’er and slapped her across the face.

Caught off guard, Qing’er’s hand jerked and more than half the noodle soup spilled.

She immediately became anxious: “Cuihong, have you gone mad? This was what I worked so hard to get for the Attendant!”

Cuihong looked at the bowl now half-filled with watery noodle soup and couldn’t help but laugh: “This is the meal you brought for the Attendant? Ha ha, it’s not pleasant being looked down upon, is it? Qing’er, I advise you to think carefully about your own future.”

Qing’er slammed the soup bowl on the table, rolled up her sleeves, and said through gritted teeth: “You madwoman, let’s see if I don’t tear that rotten mouth of yours apart!”

“Qing’er—” Chaohua called out.

Qing’er, who had been about to fight with Cuihong, quickly turned her head: “Attendant, what are your orders?”

“Don’t argue with her. Bring me the food.”

Qing’er was startled: “Attendant?”

Chaohua said flatly: “One must eat, after all.”

Qing’er was overjoyed and hurriedly brought the soup bowl over.

Cuihong watched coldly as Chaohua lowered her eyes to eat, curling her lip: “Some people put on airs of being aloof and pure, but actually they’re the most reluctant to die.”

“Get out.” Chaohua looked at her.

Cuihong stood without moving: “Stop putting on airs as an Attendant. Do you think this is still like before?”

If she tormented Jade Attendant to death, she would have performed a great service for the Crown Princess, and then she wouldn’t have to endure hardship in this wretched place.

She couldn’t beat or kill her, so she could only turn her words into sharp knives to deal with this woman.

“What if I died right now? Do you think His Highness would let you off?” Chaohua asked coldly.

Cuihong froze, somewhat panicked.

Yesterday, His Highness had left in great anger and had viciously kicked her.

His Highness harbored resentment toward her for exposing Jade Attendant. If Jade Attendant died now, she would probably be in danger.

No, Jade Attendant couldn’t die so soon.

Seeing the change in Cuihong’s expression, Chaohua raised her voice: “Get out!”

“Fine, I’ll get out. As if I enjoy looking at your miserable face.” With fear in her heart, Cuihong didn’t dare to keep opposing her and turned to leave.

Finally, her ears had some peace. Chaohua closed her eyes.

Qing’er urged: “Attendant, don’t take it to heart. Cuihong has gone mad. When enough time passes, she’ll realize it was all delusional thinking.”

Chaohua opened her eyes and shook her head: “I can’t wait that long.”

“Attendant?” Qing’er was startled.

What did the Attendant mean by that?

Chaohua got up and walked to the window.

The window wasn’t large, but she could still see a touch of greenery outside.

She supported herself on the window frame and said softly: “It rained yesterday, and today it’s cleared up.”

Qing’er felt increasingly anxious hearing this.

The Attendant in this state—could she really be thinking of ending her own life?

“The sky has cleared, but the wind is still cool. The Crown Princess will probably go stroll in the garden.”

The Eastern Palace had a garden with artificial hills and winding water, shaded by flowering trees—it was an excellent place to while away summer days.

The Crown Princess’s quarters were lonely, so she often lingered in the garden.

“Attendant, what’s wrong with you—”

Chaohua withdrew her gaze, staring fixedly at Qing’er, her voice extremely low: “Qing’er, do you remember when you said before that you would work like an ox or horse to repay me?”

Qing’er was startled, then nodded: “This servant remembers. The Attendant saved this servant’s sister’s life. Not to mention working like an ox or horse—even if you wanted this servant’s life, this servant would gladly give it.”

Qing’er originally had an older sister who was also a palace maid. They had both endured until nearly the age to leave the palace, but the sister had fallen seriously ill.

In the palace, ordinary palace maids who fell ill weren’t qualified to summon the imperial physicians—they could only leave it to fate.

It was Chaohua who had helped summon an imperial physician, allowing Qing’er’s sister to survive.

After Qing’er’s sister left the palace, Qing’er had asked the little eunuch responsible for outside purchases to inquire, and learned that her sister had married a good man and now had both sons and daughters, and could even care for their elderly and frail parents.

From then on, Qing’er was utterly devoted to Chaohua.

Chaohua studied Qing’er for a long while, reached out to tidy her stray hairs, and said softly: “Silly girl, I don’t want your life. I want you to help me take someone else’s life!”

Qing’er’s eyes suddenly widened: “Attendant!”

An unknown amount of time passed before Chaohua pushed Qing’er in front of the dressing mirror and said softly: “Qing’er, open your eyes.”

Qing’er, who had been keeping her eyes closed, opened them and looked at the person in the mirror, shocked into covering her mouth.

She was clearly sitting in front of the dressing mirror, so why wasn’t the person in the mirror her!

Chaohua watched Qing’er’s reaction and curved her lips slightly, picking up the eyebrow stone on the table and carefully drawing on her eyebrows stroke by stroke.

She was Chaohua, the County Princess’s maid, skilled in hairstyling and makeup.

But outsiders didn’t know—what she was most skilled at was disguise.

With one eyebrow stone and one box of rouge powder, she could create a thousand different faces.