The Head Maid

Extra 1 - The Young Lady

 

1

My mother initially wanted me to take a maid of a similar age, or even a few years older, preferably one with a pretty appearance, to accompany me to my husband's family. This way, I would have someone familiar as a concubine.

But in the end, I chose a maid who was four years younger than me, simply because I found her interesting.

She turned out to be exactly what I wanted; she always understood my pranks intuitively.

So what does it matter if she can't do the usual maid tasks?

Other maids can’t even climb walls or shoot slingshots!　　

　　

I always treated Xi'er like a toy, thinking the novelty would eventually wear off.

But I forgot that everyone has a heart, and I had grown attached to this little maid.

Perhaps sensing the change in my attitude, the little maid tried even harder each day to cheer me up.

My brother always said Xi'er was my little shadow; if I was unhappy, this little shadow would wilt.

2

　　

I know I have a bit of a spoiled young lady's temperament. The servants in the mansion all know I'm difficult to serve, but my courtyard has the most rewards. More work, more gain; those who want to make money need to understand this!

Besides, those mistresses who appear gentle on the surface might have some strange habits in private.

For a while, I was fascinated by storybooks, so Xi'er would climb the walls to buy them for me. To find interesting stories, Xi'er began to learn to read, and later, she could read ten lines at a glance, something even I couldn't do.

Because Xi'er is younger than me, she didn't understand those romance stories; she was more fascinated by stories of the common people and tales of ghosts and monsters.

So I rarely talked to her about marriage. In my opinion, it's just a gamble that ruins a woman's youth, with neither party losing anything.

　　

One day, I too will become a bet, only this time, a prettier, more expensive, and more irritable bet.

I'm a very possessive person and don't want to share what I love with others. I won't touch anything others have touched. My husband is the only thing I can barely allow others to covet; as the main wife, I should be generous, shouldn't I!

But later, when I was going to be a cèfēi to Prince Cheng, I wasn't entirely against it. However, since birth, my food, clothing, and other things were always better than other young ladies. Now, when it comes to marriage, I'll be a step behind. I'm so angry.

It's all Prince Cheng's fault for insisting on marrying me.

That's right, everyone thinks it was my father who wanted to cling to Prince Cheng's sinking ship, but it was actually Prince Cheng who insisted on pulling my father down with him.

One day, my older brother suddenly became kind and wanted to take me horse riding. I knew something was up.

Prince Cheng, to be fair, is quite handsome, but his smirk is annoying.

　　

After that day, Prince Cheng kept asking me out. My mother called it cultivating our feelings, but honestly, I'm not the type of girl who enjoys tea ceremonies and poetry. I almost went crazy before any feelings developed.

I asked him directly, “Are you going to marry me or not?”

His ears suddenly turned red. 

Although his face remained expressionless, he said firmly, “I am.”

“Great! Let's prepare for the proposal!”

After that, my wedding with Prince Cheng was prepared in full swing.

3

　　

On my wedding day, Xi'er secretly told me that two extra people had somehow appeared. I entered the gates in a grand palanquin procession, and Prince Cheng didn't say anything about it.

Of course not, I paid for them. 

Besides, what could he do even if he saw?

Because I entered through a side gate, I didn't have to go through the wedding ceremony. On the bright side, the concubines in the palace don't go through it either.

But I was still a little disappointed; the storybooks described it as such a lively event.

After lifting the veil and drinking the wedding wine, the ceremony was complete, and the maids and servants bowed and withdrew.

“Husband and wife bow to each other! Send them to the bridal chamber!”

Xi'er's sudden shout made both me and Prince Cheng startled. I was the first to react and laugh.

This is like picking up a conversation years later.

　　

The matchmaker quickly pulled Xi'er away and closed the door.

Prince Cheng, to ease the tension, complimented me on looking even more beautiful than usual.

I told him he was drunk; I'm always beautiful, even with the lights out.

Prince Cheng lifted my face, trying to create a romantic atmosphere, but as soon as he sat down, he cried out, “Ouch!”

I looked closely and saw an embroidery needle and a crooked stitch that looked like a worm. I guessed Xi'er had dropped the needle onto the bed.

Then I laughed even harder, and Prince Cheng looked both angry and helpless.

If this had happened to me, I would have definitely found the culprit to vent my anger. To cover up the truth, I stood up and pushed Prince Cheng onto the bed.

Xi'er, your mistress has sacrificed herself for you.

4

　　

Life in Prince Cheng's mansion was similar to my life in the General's mansion; I just had to avoid climbing the walls to go out on the nights I slept with Prince Cheng.

Perhaps noticing my frequent outings, Prince Cheng started coming to my courtyard for dinner every day.

Sleep could be skipped, but meals were mandatory.

Prince Cheng not only ate a lot but also ate silently. I understood; it was just etiquette – “Don't speak while eating, don't speak while sleeping.”

I could silently eat for one or two meals, but after a while, I couldn't take it anymore and started making small talk. Prince Cheng occasionally responded with a word or two.

Prince Cheng's daily visits not only interfered with my outings but also consumed my rice, so I went to the accounts office to ask for money.

As soon as I asked for money, Prince Cheng stopped coming—it was a win-win situation. I immediately decided to climb the wall with Xi'er to go out and play.

　　

It was just my luck that as I was climbing the wall, I came face to face with Prince Cheng on the other side. 

In the end, I climbed down using Prince Cheng's shoulders.

I stomped my foot in anger, but the villain always complains first. I said that he was sneaking around and not using the main gate, that he must have a guilty conscience and was secretly meeting a fox spirit, and that I would go and report him to the Wángfēi.

Prince Cheng sighed and patted my head, saying he didn't; he only had me.

Heh, he's fooling me. There's the Wángfēi, one cèfēi, and two concubines.

I counted them on my fingers for him, and he said that none of them counted except me.

Since he didn’t press the matter of me sneaking out, I decided to stop making a fuss—for the sake of that ¹coral tree, at least.

　　

My monthly allowance doubled, and Prince Cheng, along with his food expenses, also settled at my dining table.

Whatever I ate, he would order another serving. If I had a bowl of bird's nest soup, he'd have to dig in two spoonfuls as well.

When will this ever end!

5

　　

It's true that naming is an art. Prince Cheng became Emperor Cheng.

Xi'er kept calling me “Guìfēi niángniang,” which made me so happy!

But the Imperial Kitchen is truly useless. The Emperor still comes to my palace every day to eat and sleep; this time, the rain doesn't fall evenly on all.

Keeping him company eating, drinking, chatting, playing, and sleeping.

I've never heard of a Guìfēi having such a heavy workload.

But my father and brother also rose to prominence because of me.

I boasted endlessly in front of my older brother: “What's the use of men studying? Doesn't it all come down to their sister marrying well?” (T/N: Well said! Hahahaha! 😂)

If it weren't for the fact that I'm now a Guìfēi, my older brother would have thrown me into the lotus pond.

　　

My older brother told me not to be so arrogant in the harem lately; Father has been reported countless times.

Did I tie up the Emperor or drug him? His legs are his own; how can I control them?

I didn't want to pay attention to the palace rumors, but they became more and more absurd.

Since the rumors couldn't be clarified, I might as well make them true; at least then I wouldn't feel wronged.

I diligently studied the booklets and, combined with my understanding of the ‘evil concubine’ archetype, I gradually grasped the essence.

The Emperor was a little surprised at first, but later he cooperated exceptionally well.

In the end, the Emperor didn't become a tyrant, but I was exhausted.

After several months, I had a poor appetite. Xi'er and I thought it was indigestion, but Li Mama insisted on calling for the imperial physician.

　　

So I became the first in the harem to become pregnant. This kind of news always spreads quickly in the harem, and Gāo Měirén and Huì pín rushed over.

Huì pín's first words were, “Whose child is it?”

Gāo Měirén immediately followed, “Does the Emperor know?”

I said, “Don't talk nonsense; of course, it's the Emperor's child.”

They exchanged a glance.

Huì pín said something that shocked me for ten thousand years: “You and the Emperor actually sleep together?”

How, can you still pretend to sleep…? My goodness, no wonder I've been so tired since I got married; I've been doing all the work myself!

　　

Just then, the Emperor arrived. The Emperor, who never showed his emotions, touched my still-flat stomach and, for once, showed a hint of a smile.

Gāo Měirén and Huì pín came in a flurry and left silently, so much so that I couldn't even keep them as witnesses.

I said, “Your Majesty, you really just treat me like a sheep to be shorn! You're amazing!”

The Emperor realized what I was talking about. “You said you don't want things that others have touched.”

I was stunned for a moment, then suddenly tears welled up in my eyes. 

I thought that a life of wealth and privilege was a blessing from Heaven, but maybe I really am a child favored by Heaven; it has given me all the good things in the world.

6

　　

After becoming a mother, I gradually curbed my willful temper. Looking at my daughter, who was my spitting image, I realized that I was truly annoying as a child.

But Xi'er said, “Oh, she's so adorable when she acts cute, it melts my heart.”

I have a natural resistance to beauty, so that little girl's tricks don't work on me.

But the Emperor is different; he would pluck the stars from the sky for that little rascal.

Come to think of it, it's understandable. He endured my unreasonable behavior for decades; how could he not do the same for his own daughter?

When people get older, they tend to dwell on the past. I also asked Xi'er about her past, and she told me like a storybook. I felt a pang of heartache listening to her.

Xi'er said, “Meeting Your Majesty is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, was born well and married well. Even after entering the palace and becoming a Guìfēi, I was able to have one man for life. Now, I even have a son and a daughter.

But Xi'er is completely different from me. She shouldn't spend her whole life revolving around me.

　　

I wanted to arrange a suitable marriage for Xi'er, to let her leave the palace. Her life is still long; she should experience a different life.

But Xi'er said, “I chose to live my life this way. A woman doesn't necessarily need to marry, nor does she need to be loved to have meaning.”

Xi'er's words were an epiphany. It seems that after staying in the palace for so long, I've become rigid in my thinking.

I said to Xi'er, “If there's a next life, and I'm still so lucky, then I'll switch places with you.”

I think a good girl like Xi'er deserves the best things in the world.

But Xi'er said, “Your Majesty is the best things in the world that came to me.”

　　

________________

Glossary:

¹As for the coral tree (珊瑚树)—it’s not a literal coral from the sea, but refers to a decorative tree or ornamental plant, often symbolizing beauty, elegance, or something precious in Chinese literature. It might also metaphorically represent a sentimental or meaningful object shared between the characters, like a peace offering or reminder of a moment.

Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter