Song Shuyu rubbed her nose, accidentally touching her cheek, which was swollen from Prince Ling’s slap.
“It hurts so much!”
Song Shuyu pouted, and tears immediately streamed down her face.
“Commandery Princess, please wait a moment. This servant will go to the kitchen and ask for an egg to reduce the swelling.”
Chunxiao, seeing the handprint on Song Shuyu’s face, dared not say more and hurried out.
Song Shuyu walked to the dressing table and looked in the mirror at her half-swollen face, crying bitterly.
Right now, she desperately missed her days in the Song residence.
At the Song residence, she could have whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.
The entire household treated her as if she were a precious offering.
Even her parents dared not speak harshly to her.
But here at Prince Ling’s residence, she had already been hit more than once.
She wanted to go home!
She hated Prince Ling’s residence!
She hated everyone here!
Song Shuyu cried until her nose began to run.
She reached into her sleeve to pull out a handkerchief, but instead, the sachet from earlier dropped out.
Seeing the sachet, Song Shuyu’s anger flared up again.
This was all because of this thing!
It had caused her to be slapped!
Song Shuyu stood up with a whoosh.
She clutched the sachet tightly and looked around the room.
Finally, she found what she was looking for.
Scissors!
Song Shuyu ran over, grabbed the scissors from the embroidery basket, and began cutting the sachet in her hand.
“Ah, Commandery Princess!”
Chunxiao, who had just entered, saw Song Shuyu’s actions and rushed over.
“Commandery Princess, this sachet took so much effort to embroider!”
“You put so much work into it—how could you just cut it up like this?”
“This fabric is so expensive. Cutting it is such a waste!”
Chunxiao snatched the sachet from Song Shuyu’s hands.
But it was already too late—the sachet was torn.
The embroidered dragon on it had been cut into several pieces.
Chunxiao let out a pitying sigh.
“Commandery Princess, this servant brought back two eggs. Let me roll them on your face.”
Chunxiao peeled the eggs, wrapped them in a handkerchief, and led Song Shuyu to a chair to sit down.
Holding the bundled eggs, she gently rolled them over Song Shuyu’s face.
Song Shuyu kept yelping in pain.
“Commandery Princess, please bear it. The bruise needs to be rolled out, or your face will be unsightly tomorrow.”
Song Shuyu remembered she had to attend the Imperial Academy the next day and gritted her teeth to endure it.
Chunxiao continued until the eggs lost all warmth, then stopped.
Song Shuyu felt as though half her face had gone numb.
She glanced in the mirror and saw that her left eye had swollen to just a slit.
“Chunxiao, why is it even more swollen?” Song Shuyu asked, displeased.
“Commandery Princess, His Highness is a man—his strength is naturally great.”
“Please bear with it,” Chunxiao urged.
“Look at the situation: Princess Consort Ling fainted, and His Highness didn’t even call a physician.”
“Your injury is much worse than hers.”
Song Shuyu, recalling how Princess Consort Ling had been dragged out by the maidservants, fell silent.
Now that Secondary Consort Wei managed the household, Song Shuyu thought she needed to get some benefits for herself.
“Chunxiao, go to Secondary Consort Wei and tell her that the Commandery Princess’s face is swollen.”
“Tomorrow, the Commandery Princess still has to attend the Imperial Academy.”
Chunxiao paused for a moment, then caught on.
Commandery Princess Funing was asking for medicine for her injury!
“This servant will go right away! Is there anything else the Commandery Princess wishes to command?” Chunxiao deliberately asked one more question.
“The Commandery Princess is injured and wants to eat venison to restore her health!”
Song Shuyu’s eyes darted as she made the request.
“Commandery Princess, venison is too nourishing, and it’s the height of summer—it could cause heatiness!”
Chunxiao quickly tried to dissuade her.
“Mind your own business! Just go!” Song Shuyu said impatiently.
This Chunxiao was so meddlesome!
A mere maid dared to boss her around!
Chunxiao looked at Song Shuyu’s plump figure and swallowed her words.
She was just a servant; she would do as her master ordered.
Chunxiao bowed and withdrew.
Song Shuyu lay down on the rocking chair, swaying leisurely and looking quite content.
When Secondary Consort Wei heard Chunxiao’s report, she nearly jumped out of her seat.
“Venison? You say Commandery Princess Funing wants to eat venison?”
Secondary Consort Wei’s face showed disbelief.
Chunxiao lowered her head, her posture respectful.
“Reporting to the Secondary Consort, the Commandery Princess said she is injured and needs to replenish her strength.”
“Ha ha ha!” Secondary Consort Wei laughed in exasperation.
“She only got a single slap, and she wants to eat venison!”
“Why doesn’t she say she wants to eat swan instead?”
Chunxiao kept her head down, not daring to respond.
Secondary Consort Wei seethed with frustration but had no outlet.
Now she finally understood why Princess Consort Ling never showed Song Shuyu a good face.
Thinking of Princess Consort Ling, Secondary Consort Wei calmed down.
“Someone, go buy venison for Commandery Princess Funing!”
Chunxiao looked up in surprise at Secondary Consort Wei’s order, stealing a quick glance.
She clearly saw the calculation in Secondary Consort Wei’s expression, so she quickly lowered her head again, afraid to be seen.
After giving the order, Secondary Consort Wei had Pearl bring out medicine for Chunxiao.
“This is an excellent ointment for promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling.”
“Go back and apply a thin layer to her face. It should all fade by tomorrow.”
Chunxiao’s eyes widened. Could such a good ointment really exist?
“This was bestowed by the palace, so don’t waste it!”
Secondary Consort Wei winced inwardly.
But one had to sacrifice a pawn to catch a bigger fish.
Chunxiao carefully took the ointment from Pearl’s hands.
“Secondary Consort, should this return the medicine to you after use?”
Secondary Consort Wei gave a faint, forced smile.
Once given, things were never coming back.
“Forget it, let the Commandery Princess keep it.”
“If she gets bumped or bruised in the future, this medicine will work far better than what any doctor might give.”
Chunxiao curtsied to Secondary Consort Wei.
“This servant thanks the Secondary Consort on behalf of the Commandery Princess.”
Secondary Consort Wei waved her hand.
“Go on back now. I’m busy!”
Princess Consort Ling’s maids had just handed over the account books and household keys.
She now needed to check the records and inspect the storerooms.
Secondary Consort Wei felt a surge of excitement in her heart.
Chunxiao bowed once more and left.
When Song Shuyu saw Chunxiao enter with a thoughtful look, she grew annoyed.
“What? Did Secondary Consort Wei refuse?”
Chunxiao hurriedly bowed.
“Reporting to the Commandery Princess, Secondary Consort Wei has already sent someone to purchase the venison.”
“Also, she gave this ointment to this servant.”
“She said that if you apply it, it will be fine by tomorrow.”
Song Shuyu immediately sat up upon hearing this.
“That good? Let me see it!”
Chunxiao handed the ointment to Song Shuyu, who unscrewed the lid.
A cool, fragrant scent wafted out.
“Such a nice fragrance!” Song Shuyu inhaled deeply.
“Apply it for me right away!”
Song Shuyu had always cared about her appearance, and seeing her swollen face earlier had terrified her, thinking she might be permanently disfigured.
“Put on a thick layer!” Song Shuyu ordered.
