The news that the Crown Prince's Secondary Consort had suddenly become obsessed with Buddhism, dismissed her palace attendants, shut her palace gates, and spent her days with only a dim oil lamp and ancient Buddhist scriptures quickly spread throughout the deep palace.
Among those who knew the truth of this matter, aside from Zhou Shengsheng, all the other palace servants had likely already been reincarnated.
Meanwhile, our protagonist, Ms. Zhou Shengsheng, was facing the greatest crisis of her career thus far.
"What? You dare disobey your master’s orders?" A disheveled young man lounged on the bed, his face stern but his tone teasing.
Zhou Shengsheng forced a smile. "This servant wouldn’t dare, but Your Highness’s request is truly..."
"Truly what? I’ve lost my memory. Didn’t the Crown Prince order you to take good care of me before he left? Is this how you care for me?" His voice grew sharper, impatience creeping into his brow.
"The Crown Prince instructed this servant to tend to Your Highness’s daily needs, but he never said... to serve you... in bed..." The last few words seemed to be squeezed out through gritted teeth.
Song Weicen, however, was displeased. "Isn’t intimacy between men and women also part of daily life?"
Zhou Shengsheng had no desire to waste more words on this shameless playboy.
"Prince, please restrain yourself. This servant refuses." Her tone turned icy. If he dared force her, she’d just make him lose his memory again.
After all, she was quite skilled at that.
Song Weicen looked at her with disbelief, then casually pulled open his already loose robe, baring his torso.
"What part of this displeases you? Are my abs not plentiful enough? Or are my muscles not firm enough? Or perhaps—" He narrowed his eyes, a suggestive smirk curling his lips.
To prevent him from spewing more obscenities that would assault her ears, Zhou Shengsheng took a deep breath.
[Pang, spray this playboy into oblivion!]
---To protect our dear readers from the knockout potion, the scene divider bravely steps in to shield you---
Satisfied with the sight of Song Weicen sprawled out like a dead dog, Zhou Shengsheng planted her hands on her hips and smirked viciously.
Just as she was about to act, her gaze fell on the long boots placed beneath the couch.
An idea struck her.
Under Pang’s stunned gaze, Zhou Shengsheng picked up one of the boots with great disdain, gripped it by the sole, and smacked it hard against the unconscious Song Weicen’s backside.
A dusty boot print promptly bloomed across his buttocks.
Oh no. She’d forgotten the playboy was wearing light-colored clothes.
Pursing her lips, she decided to feign ignorance, casually setting down the "murder weapon" before rummaging through the room.
According to Song Weiqing’s description, she was looking for a small booklet.
After turning the entire room upside down, the only paper-related items she found were some... colorful books under the bed. Nothing else.
Exhausted, she collapsed onto the floor, panting. As her gaze swept over the ceiling beams, inspiration struck.
[Pang, fly up and check the rafters.]
Holding the bright yellow booklet in her hand, Zhou Shengsheng whistled in triumph.
Damn, Zhou Shengsheng, you’re a genius! (￣▽￣)ｂ
She had no idea how Song Weicen had managed to climb up there—what a sneaky hiding spot.
Tucking the booklet into her robes, she left without another glance at the unconscious Song Weicen and strode out.
The door clicked softly shut behind her.
Then, without warning, the man who should have been dead to the world suddenly opened his eyes.
---Scene divider: Song Weicen isn’t as simple as he seems---
"You’ve done well." Closing the booklet in his hand, Song Weiqing nodded in satisfaction.
Compared to how the plot was supposed to unfold, putting Zhou Shengsheng to work for him seemed a far better use of her talents. Duan Fusheng had truly underestimated her, treating such a capable person as nothing more than a palace maid.
What a waste.
Zhou Shengsheng, of course, had no idea what he was thinking. She only found his current expression rather unsettling.
"Your reward has been placed in your old courtyard. Take these next few days to rest." Song Weiqing said.
Zhou Shengsheng was overjoyed, itching to fly back immediately, but she forced herself to bow gracefully before scurrying off with small, measured steps.
Watching her leave, Zhang Jian couldn’t help but praise, "Miss Zhou is truly composed."
Song Weiqing shot him a disbelieving glare.
What kind of eyes did he have? Couldn’t he hear the mental screaming of someone desperate to vanish into the earth?
Oh, right. Zhang Jian couldn’t hear it.
Zhang Jian, inexplicably glared at by his master: ?
Before she even reached the courtyard gate, Zhou Shengsheng heard laughter from inside.
It was Jiang Zhiyu’s voice.
Stepping past the threshold, the first thing that caught her eye was the neatly arranged wooden chests and rare treasures piled in the center of the yard.
One of the chests had already been opened. At the sound of footsteps, Jiang Zhiyu, who had been crouching on the ground, scrambled to her feet.
"Shengsheng! You’re back!" Jiang Zhiyu cried excitedly.
Seeing her adorned with necklaces piled high on her head and every finger glittering with gemstone rings, Zhou Shengsheng couldn’t help but laugh.
"Where did this little heiress come from? This master finds you quite adorable." She put on a lecherous grin and pounced on Jiang Zhiyu, vigorously pinching her cheeks.
"Let me see—why’s this little face gotten chubbier?" She teased, kneading the soft flesh between her fingers.
"Fud ish too good~" (The food’s too good~)
After a quick glance at Song Weiqing’s lavish rewards, Zhou Shengsheng’s grin stretched ear to ear.
She’d really struck gold this time.
She hadn’t even been in the Zhen Kingdom for long, yet she’d already earned far more than she ever did serving that bastard Ming Siran.
The comparison made Ming Siran seem especially detestable!
At the thought of Ming Siran, her good mood dimmed.
"Is Little Ji inside? Has he gotten as plump as you?" Setting down the embroidered silk dress in her hands, Zhou Shengsheng chuckled and headed into the house.
At the mention of Little Ji, Jiang Zhiyu’s cheerful face fell.
Seeing her expression, Zhou Shengsheng frowned and quickened her pace.
When she entered, she saw that the bird that should have been curled up in its golden basin was gone.
The small dish of fresh water beside the basin was still full, as though untouched for days.
"How long?"
When Jiang Zhiyu rushed in, she saw Zhou Shengsheng’s back as she stood by the window.
Though her voice sounded calm, Jiang Zhiyu could hear the loneliness in it.
"The day after you left for the Secondary Consort’s place, I went to change the water and found him gone. He never came back. I searched... but couldn’t find him." Jiang Zhiyu stammered out the explanation. She knew that despite Zhou Shengsheng’s constant complaints about the bird’s picky appetite, she always went out of her way to find the ripest fruits and clearest water for him.
She doted on Little Ji.
"It’s fine... If he’s gone, he’s gone. Maybe he’ll come back someday."
Zhou Shengsheng turned around with a composed smile, though the unnatural curve of her lips betrayed the sorrow she couldn’t hide.
"I was actually planning to go ask the Crown Prince about your situation, but now that you're back, I don’t have to anymore, hehe." Jiang Zhiyu clumsily steered the conversation elsewhere.
Hearing that she had considered seeking out Song Weiqing, Zhou Shengsheng nodded absentmindedly as she picked up her teacup. But the moment her fingers brushed the porcelain, a sudden realization struck her.
Damn it! How could she have forgotten such a crucial part of the plot!
