Chapter 3 Run on the Bank

Yifei saw her lift her head and saw a slightly chubby melon seed face, clear and bright grape-like watery eyes, paired with a charming expression, which made her suddenly feel a bit soft-hearted.

"Never mind, when I was your age, I was nervous the first time I entered the palace."

"Thank you, Your Highness." With one mistake, Wanxi dared not lose focus again and secretly gathered her spirits to deal with it seriously.

The other several maids waiting on the side looked disappointed, watching Wanxi make a mistake. They were hoping she would be disliked by Yifei, but who knew Yifei was so generous...

Yifei noticed the performance of the maids. Originally, she thought that the Ninth Prince was interested in the fox-like woman who used tricks, but now, looking at Wanxi, her appearance and demeanor were not bad, and she didn't seem like a troublemaker. This made her make a decision. As for the other maids, Yifei had already seen through their expressions. Seeing their attitudes, she naturally wouldn't do what they expected. After all, it had just begun, and there were many people to choose from.

Yifei always acted decisively and generously, and she liked to say everything at once, even helping to clarify the details, but all of this was only for the people she favored.

After chatting for a while and giving some rewards, Yifei waved them off.

Coming out of Yikun Palace, Wanxi clearly felt the alienation of the other three maids. However, compared to being ridiculed, this situation was much better.

Back at Chuxiu Palace, Yexue stood in the courtyard, gazing ahead. The plants and trees in the palace were exquisite, set against the distant blue sky, giving a sense of tranquility. Unfortunately, she didn't have the mood to appreciate these beautiful scenes, and seemed a bit absent-minded.

"Wanxi, you're back. What was the result? What did Princess Yifei say?" The person speaking was Huifang, a branch of the Majia clan. The two of them had met a few times in the women's quarters, and their relationship was average. However, compared to the maids they didn't know, their relationship was naturally closer.

"What result? Princess Yifei probably just followed the routine to summon the maids, not just me." Although Yintong treated her differently, Wanxi had no confidence here with Yifei.

In fact, recently, not only Yifei, but also Guifei, Huifei, and others had independently summoned many maids. After all, most of the Eight Banners nobles were related, so seeing one person was like seeing a group. So as long as it wasn't particularly outstanding, it didn't count as standing out.

"Wanxi, don't worry. You're so beautiful, the masters will definitely like you." Huifang pouted her red lips, took Wanxi's hand, and said enviously.

When she said these words, she naturally glanced at Wanxi's expression. In this selection, there were indeed many beautiful maids, but Wanxi's beauty was universally recognized, not to mention her unparalleled singing voice.

"Well, we can't guess the masters' thoughts. If we can go home peacefully without any arrangements, that's not bad." Wanxi replied with a light smile.

At this stage, either staying in the palace, being bestowed to a prince, or becoming an official lady, as long as they didn't stay until the next round due to their young age, it was either staying in the palace or being bestowed to a prince. The former seemed good, but with bad luck, one could easily become a discarded daughter.

Wanxi and Huifang were of similar age and had no prominent family background. For maids like them, if there were no special arrangements or favor from a noble, it all depended on luck. With good luck, they would be bestowed to a prince, but with bad luck, no one knew what kind of future they would face.

"Exactly." Huifang nodded with a smile, but she felt extremely uncomfortable inside.

Every maid who had reached this stage hoped for a good outcome, but unfortunately, her appearance was not as outstanding as Wanxi's, and her status was only average. Even if she could stay in the palace, her status wouldn't be much better. In comparison, it was better to be bestowed to a prince. Even with a low status, at least there was some room for competition.

But she couldn't say these things out loud.

Wanxi didn't know what Huifang was thinking. After exchanging a few words, just as Wanxi was thinking about inviting her to sit for a while, she suddenly noticed Suochuo Luo walking over with a gloomy expression. The two of them exchanged a glance, and regardless of their thoughts, they bid farewell and went their separate ways.

Suochuo Luo's status was slightly better than Wanxi's, and she was considered one of the most outstanding maids. She was willful and cunning, often bullying the maids with lower status, but she also kept within the limits. At this moment, it was really hard to say whether she was clever or foolish.

Wanxi walked into the room, poured herself a glass of water, and saw Suochuo Luo walking in with a black face.

"Oh, isn't this Sister Wanyan? It's really different when you've gained the favor of the prince. Your behavior is not the same!" Thinking about being bullied by other maids in Yikun Palace just now, Suochuo Luo couldn't help but scowl.

What did Suochuo Luo have that was inferior to Wanyan, other than that fox-like face?

"Suochuo Luo, you flatter me. People are just attracted by appearances. If they like you, they like you. If they don't, even if you offer yourself, it won't make them like you." Wanxi looked at Suochuo Luo with a dignified expression, but her words were cutting.

"You—" Suochuo Luo's neck stiffened, chin raised, and she coldly said, "I hope you can be as pleased in the future as you are now." With that, Suochuo Luo turned and walked out.

Wanxi watched her leaving figure with a slight smile on her lips, showing no concern. Instead, she got up and went to the desk to transcribe Buddhist scriptures.

She used to not believe in ghosts and gods, but after experiencing rebirth herself, she discovered that everything in the world has a spirit. Regardless of how she achieved her wishes, she only knew that she would reclaim everything owed to her, one by one.

In the following days, Wanxi was no longer summoned by any concubines, while her roommate Suo Chuo Luo received frequent summons from various palace concubines. As a result, Suo Chuo Luo did not hesitate to mock Wanxi.

Although the maidservants on the surface did not intervene in such matters, privately, everyone in the palace who should know about it knew every detail.

"Are you saying she has been bullied by the maid in the same room all along?" Yintong's face darkened, and he asked with a cold gaze.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chujiu immediately bowed and replied, "Indeed, I heard from the maidservant serving Princess Wanyan that the previous illness of Princess Wanyan was also related to Suo Chuo Luo."

"Hmph!" Yintong snorted coldly, tapping the table with distinct knuckles.

Seeing this, Lin Chujiu involuntarily lowered her body even more. "Master, should I...?"

Yintong remained silent, his thick eyebrows furrowed. After a long while, he ordered, "Walking the night road often leads to encountering ghosts. Those who are blind should indeed not stay for long."

"I will take care of it immediately," Lin Chujiu said and quickly left the study.