"Your Highness hasn’t visited me in so long. I wonder what has kept you so busy?" Though her words were directed at Song Weiqing, her eyes flickered with amusement toward Zhou Shengsheng.
Song Weiqing smiled faintly. "I’ve been occupied and neglected you, my concubine."
Concubine? Zhou Shengsheng was surprised. In the original story, this reclusive concubine, whom even the female lead rarely saw, had made an early appearance?
"Quite busy indeed..." Zhang Wei remarked pointedly, glancing between the two women in the room.
Song Weiqing merely smiled without responding.
"If Your Highness has taken a liking to either of these sisters, why not let me arrange for her to join your household?" Seeing his silence, Zhang Wei took the initiative.
Zhou Shengsheng was somewhat taken aback—this concubine seemed the type to speak bluntly.
As if anticipating her words, Song Weiqing replied casually, "She’s merely a palace maid who serves me well. There’s no need for such arrangements, Concubine."
"Is that so..." Zhang Wei’s eyes gleamed thoughtfully before she added playfully, "I find her quite pleasing to the eye. Why not gift her to me, Your Highness?"
Zhou Shengsheng nearly dropped the brush in her hand.
Just how pleasing was she to attract so many people’s favor!?
Still, she wasn’t worried Song Weiqing would hand her over. After all, he had gone to great lengths to make her his personal maid—why would he give her away so easily?
"Very well." The Crown Prince’s clear voice rang unexpectedly in her ears, and this time, the brush clattered to the ground.
Zhou Shengsheng stared at him in shock, but his expression remained as composed as ever, as if he hadn’t just made a significant decision.
Even Zhang Wei seemed surprised by his swift agreement.
"Then, I shall take her under my care."
Those in power never regarded servants as anything more than tools—Zhou Shengsheng knew this well.
Yet she had made a grave mistake, foolishly believing Song Weiqing was different.
His casual demeanor and irreverent jokes had almost made her forget he was nobility through and through.
And not just any noble—he was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.
"From now on, serve the concubine well. Understood?" His tone was as gentle as always.
Zhou Shengsheng bowed in acknowledgment.
Jiang Zhiyu stood dumbfounded. In just a moment, the kind sister who had given her a kite had become Zhou Shengsheng’s new mistress.
"Miss Jiang may remain here. As for your bird, I’ll arrange for someone to tend to it. Focus solely on serving the concubine."
A suspicion arose in Zhou Shengsheng’s mind. She glanced subtly at him before obediently following the Crown Prince’s concubine away.
---
She had assumed Zhang Wei wanted her to torment her, but upon returning to the concubine’s palace, the woman barely spared her a glance before sending her off to a secluded courtyard, instructing that she need not attend to her unless summoned.
So that was it. Zhou Shengsheng understood now.
Had this been a test for Song Weiqing?
If he had refused, it would have proven she held some importance in his eyes. But his indifference made it clear—she was nothing more than a lowly maid, just as he claimed.
Yet, as someone bestowed by the Crown Prince, Zhang Wei couldn’t easily dispose of her, so she had her tucked away instead.
Having spent time around Duan Fusheng, Zhou Shengsheng had learned much about the scheming hearts of palace women. She quickly unraveled Zhang Wei’s intentions.
Night fell, and silence enveloped the quarters.
For the first time in a while, Zhou Shengsheng slept alone.
With Jiang Zhiyu no longer clinging to her and the lazy bird that often nested in her room absent, the solitude felt unfamiliar.
But as drowsiness overtook her, she no longer cared.
Half-asleep, a sudden chill against her neck jolted her awake. Instinctively, she reached under her pillow, drew a hidden dagger, and slashed upward.
She had prepared it in case Zhang Wei had ulterior motives—never expecting to actually use it.
"It’s me." A deep voice spoke as a hand clamped around her wrist.
Heart still pounding, Zhou Shengsheng squinted through the dim moonlight.
"Zhang Jian?" she gasped.
Why was Song Weiqing’s guard here?
"His Highness summons you." Seeing her recognition, Zhang Jian loosened his grip.
Brought to the familiar main hall of the Eastern Palace, Zhou Shengsheng schooled her expression.
She had guessed right—Song Weiqing’s decision to give her to Zhang Wei had another purpose.
Otherwise, why keep Jiang Zhiyu and Xiao Ji behind? Clearly, they were leverage.
"Your Highness." She bowed respectfully.
[I’m so done. Who wakes people up in the middle of the night?]
Shuan Q? What did that mean? Song Weiqing silently repeated the odd phrase. Some kind of pun?
Strange pronunciation.
When he didn’t respond, she called again, "Your Highness?"
He snapped out of his thoughts.
"Are you comfortable at the concubine’s residence?" he asked mildly, rolling a string of prayer beads between his fingers.
[Absolutely thriving. Never been better.]
Zhou Shengsheng forced a pitiful expression, eyes glistening. "How could I be comfortable away from Your Highness? This servant hasn’t slept a wink."
Zhang Jian cut in bluntly, "Your Highness, she’s lying. She was snoring when I fetched her."
Song Weiqing: "..." I noticed. No need to announce it.
Clearing his throat, he redirected Zhou Shengsheng’s glare away from Zhang Jian.
Cross her, and you’ll regret it. She’s even drugged me before.
"You’ve suffered, Xiao Hong. Giving you away weighed heavily on my heart."
Zhang Jian stared at his usually sharp-witted, albeit playful, master in disbelief.
Had he not intervened, Song Weiqing would’ve slept soundly through the night!
"Zhang Jian, leave us." He really needed to teach his guard some subtlety.
As Zhou Shengsheng would say, he needed a crash course in expression management.
"Since our bond runs so deep, would Xiao Hong help this prince resolve a long-standing nuisance?"
[Here it comes. I knew you were up to no good!]
But outwardly, she blinked innocently. "Of course, Your Highness. But as a mere maid, I fear..."
[Gold. Lots of it. Got it?]
Song Weiqing chuckled knowingly. "Naturally. A generous reward awaits upon success."
"This servant will give her all!"
Pleased, he drawled, "It’s nothing major. Just... rid me of Concubine Zhang Wei."
She keeps complaining to Mother. It’s exhausting.
