"Deal with this concubine problem."
Zhou Shengsheng repeated this sentence in her mind several times.
In the original novel, the concubine appeared shortly after Song Weiqing and Jiang Zhiyu developed feelings for each other. By that time, Zhang Wei had already disappeared from public view.
But judging from Song Weiqing and the servants' reactions during the day, it was clear that Zhang Wei frequently visited Song Weiqing’s study.
Currently, the time the two met Song Weiqing was much earlier than in the original novel. In other words, in the original story, before Jiang Zhiyu even encountered Song Weiqing, he had already taken care of Zhang Wei.
But now the plot had changed—Zhang Wei was still active.
"Your servant dares to ask, the concubine is Your Highness’s consort... why would you do this?" Seeing that his expression showed no sign of displeasure, Zhou Shengsheng finished her question.
Song Weiqing smiled indifferently. "This prince dislikes meddlesome people."
Meddlesome—Zhou Shengsheng wasn’t sure if he meant her for speaking out of turn or the concubine for constantly interfering in his affairs. She decided not to press further.
"Then, what does Your Highness need this servant to do?" The plot demanded it, and she could earn some money on the side. Zhou Shengsheng wasn’t foolish.
Besides, Jiang Zhiyu and Xiao Ji were still in his hands. She had no choice but to comply.
Song Weiqing smiled faintly. "As expected, Little Hong understands me. This prince truly didn’t misjudge you."
---Dividing line reminder: The concubine is not a good person---
Late into the night, Zhou Shengsheng tossed and turned in bed.
Truly, appearances could be deceiving. Who would have thought?
The thought of that seemingly gentle and refined concubine being such a person in private left her utterly shocked.
No wonder Song Weiqing disliked her. What man could tolerate that? Let alone Song Weiqing, the esteemed Crown Prince of the Zhen Kingdom.
Thinking about what Song Weiqing had asked her to do, Zhou Shengsheng cursed him inwardly for using her as a pawn before finally drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Zhou Shengsheng rose early.
"The concubine has instructed that you need not serve her. Why are you here?"
From the materials Song Weiqing had provided, she knew the palace maid in the emerald-green dress before her was Hong Xing, the concubine’s confidante.
Putting on a polite smile, Zhou Shengsheng quickly replied, "Sister Hong Xing, this servant knows her lowly status is unworthy of serving the concubine. But I only wish for Sister to assign me some work. After all, His Highness sent me here. If he finds out I’ve been idling around, he will surely reprimand me."
Hong Xing raised an eyebrow. "Others would jump at the chance to avoid work, yet you actively seek it out. How foolish. Follow me." With that, she lifted her chin and led Zhou Shengsheng inside.
Watching her haughty demeanor, Zhou Shengsheng couldn’t help but reminisce about her days as the chief maid serving the imperial concubine. Even as a personal attendant, she had always been cautious, avoiding conflicts whenever possible. Yet this Hong Xing acted so rudely.
Truly, she lived up to her name and attire.
Red and green—a hideous match.
"There are no vacancies here. If you insist on working, sweep the courtyard. The cleaning maid from yesterday is missing one person." Hong Xing disdainfully shoved a broom into her hands.
Zhou Shengsheng stared at the large broom in silence.
In the Zhu Kingdom, she had swept courtyards when she first entered the palace. In the Yong Kingdom, she had swept for a few days as well. Now, in the Zhen Kingdom, she was reunited with this old companion?
Was there something wrong with her transmigration?
"Those Years I Swept Courtyards Across Three Kingdoms"?
Seeing her frozen in place, Hong Xing assumed she was dissatisfied with the task and sneered. "Come to think of it, do you know why this position is vacant?"
Zhou Shengsheng shook her head.
Hong Xing smirked coldly. "Because she kept dreaming of climbing the social ladder instead of doing her job. The imperial concubine had her dragged out, beaten to death, and her corpse thrown to the dogs!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, the eunuchs and palace maids in the courtyard all paled in horror.
Zhou Shengsheng was stunned—not out of fear, but disbelief at Hong Xing’s stupidity.
As a chief maid, one’s priority was maintaining the master’s reputation. The concubine’s carefully crafted image of grace and dignity was being casually tarnished by her?
For example, back in the Zhu Kingdom, though Duan Fusheng was notorious for his temper, pickiness, and difficult nature, if anyone asked Zhou Shengsheng about the imperial concubine’s character, she would always smile and say he was virtuous, gentle, and delicate.
Whether it was true or not, even if it were, Hong Xing shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly in front of her, a former attendant of the Crown Prince.
Zhou Shengsheng almost laughed in her face.
She had thought Hong Xing was shrewd, but she was just an idiot.
In the palace, who was the easiest to deal with?
Answer: Idiots.
"Sister Hong Xing is absolutely right. This servant understands and will not neglect my duties," Zhou Shengsheng replied softly.
Seeing her reaction, Hong Xing assumed she was frightened. So much for the Crown Prince keeping her by his side—she was nothing special.
"Enough! What are you all staring at? Get back to work!" Hong Xing snapped, shooing the servants away.
Zhou Shengsheng took the broom to a corner and began sweeping.
If all went well, it would happen tonight. Staring at an ant on the wall, she thought to herself.
Lost in thought, she suddenly heard a pained cry nearby. A palace maid watering the flowers had dropped her copper watering can, the clang ringing sharply through the courtyard.
The maid looked around fearfully, as if afraid of someone, before hastily picking up the can.
Zhou Shengsheng’s sharp eyes caught the bruises covering the girl’s arm. Strangely, the other servants acted as if this were normal, indifferent to her plight.
She walked over, picked up the lid that had rolled away, and handed it back. Only then did she get a clear look at the girl’s face.
She was about fifteen or sixteen. Accepting the lid, she thanked Zhou Shengsheng repeatedly.
Zhou Shengsheng nodded and turned to leave, but the girl grabbed her sleeve.
In a trembling whisper, the girl said, "Sister, whatever you do, don’t anger Sister Hong Xing. She’s killed people before."
---Dividing line: Hugging myself in fear---
Zhang Wei sat on the couch, delicately eating a plate of exquisitely crafted peach blossom cakes. A bit of powder stuck to her fingertips, painted with red nail polish, which she wiped away with a handkerchief.
Hong Xing entered respectfully, presenting her with a cup of hot tea.
Zhang Wei took a small sip. "Why so late? Did something happen?"
Hong Xing took the cup back with a flattering smile. "Nothing at all, Your Ladyship."
Zhang Wei nodded dismissively. "Is everything prepared?"
Hong Xing bowed. "Everything is ready. You need not worry."
Zhang Wei nodded, her face breaking into a shy, maidenly smile.
---Separator separator separator---
Since Zhou Shengsheng had been dawdling with her sweeping for so long, by the time the moon rose above the branches, Hong Xing was startled to find her still in the courtyard.
"Why are you still here?"
Zhou Shengsheng replied obediently, "This servant hasn’t finished the work yet, so of course I can’t leave."
Hong Xing looked at her as if she were a fool.
"Enough. Get lost and come back tomorrow."
Zhou Shengsheng acknowledged the order and walked out with the large broom in hand.
Once she was gone, Hong Xing let out a sigh of relief and entered the room, where Zhang Wei was wrapped tightly in layers of clothing. "Everything is ready," she said.
The two then slipped out under the cover of moonlight.
Unbeknownst to them, Zhou Shengsheng—who should have already left—emerged from the shadows of a nearby corner. She watched the direction in which they had disappeared, her expression unreadable beneath the darkness.
