"This debt... all of your family have to pay for it," Xiao Fang thought to herself. This marriage alliance matter was a chance that she had been waiting for a long time. If only Xiao Fang was still the old Xiao Fang, she should have been jumping into the chance of saving her and her plan would go smoothly.
"Han Xiang... you are so innocent ah~ and so naive..." Xiao Fang said softly.
Han Xiang was taken aback by Xiao Fang"s words. The dummy dared to say that she was innocent and naive?! "What... what do you mean?" Han Xiang asked in confusion.
Han Yi almost laughed when she saw the bewildered look on Han Xiang"s face. She really wanted to kowtow to Yao Ling for opening her young miss" mind. She became smarter than before in handling this annoying princess. She didn"t know whether Xiao Fang had realized the truth, but at the very least... she started to guard herself up from Han Xiang"s trick.
Han Yi felt curious whether her young miss realized that when Han Xiang just arrived... her usual unique smell wasn"t there. It was said that her unique smell that attracted b.u.t.terfly would never go away, but somehow it was gone back then. However, after taking a bath, the unique smell came out once again. She wondered if it was just her imagination or not, she needed to confirm it with Xiao Fang. After all, her young miss was still the one who knew Han Xiang best.
"You are too innocent, that"s why you don"t realize what will happen to my family if I really try to help you get out of this marriage alliance," Xiao Fang sighed, pretending to wipe the corner of her eyes --- crying fake tears. She wanted to look like that she was sad because she was unable to help Han Xiang.
"What will happen to them?" Han Xiang pretended to be oblivious, even though she clearly understood. The man behind her had already told her everything, but she felt disappointed when Xiao Fang finally realized about this point too.
"My family will be implicated and for opposing the royal decree... we will be exterminated to nine generations. I... I really want to help you... I swear I do... but I can"t abandon my family," Xiao Fang looked down guiltily. She really wanted to see what Han Xiang would say about this.
Han Xiang was dumbfounded. Previously, Xiao Fang would never know about this logic. She always listened to her more rather than her own father. She didn"t believe that it was her father or brother who woke her up and helped her get out from her clutch. "Ah... that would happen? Then... then... I won"t bother asking for your help. I don"t want to implicate all of your family..."
Han Xiang was slightly paler and she looked like she felt guilty. "I"m so sorry... I realize that I was being too selfish..." She cleverly apologized to Xiao Fang and admitted her mistake.
She bit her lower lips while letting a few tears falling down. Han Xiang sighed and said, "It seems like I can only resign to my fate..." She weakly said. Her plan to evoke Xiao Fang"s sympathy had failed, it seemed like she had to make a new plan. She never thought that she would fail, that"s why she didn"t bother to make a back-up plan.
Han Xiang cleverly didn"t push Xiao Fang anymore or the latter would feel suspicious of her. They talked just like usual when Xiao Fang decided to ask her, "What"s your plan after this? I heard that the Emperor will arrange new bridal dowry for you."
Han Xiang nodded. "Yes... I can only wait for the new bridal dowry here and then continue my journey to the Qin Kingdom. Haiyah~ What else can I do?"
Xiao Fang patted her shoulder. "I"m here if you need anything."
Han Xiang thought to herself, "What"s the use of you being here?! You don"t even have the gut to save me. What kind of best friend are you?" Han Xiang scolded Xiao Fang inwardly but she didn"t dare to let her displeasure show on her face.
"Do you need anything else? I will a.s.sign a maidservant for you until your new maidservants arrive. How is that sound?" Xiao Fang asked. She felt pity that the pampered princess didn"t have anyone on her side, besides... she needed someone to keep an eye on her. She contemplated who would be the best candidate to become Han Xiang"s maidservant for the time being because she needed someone that she could trust.
Xiao Fang knew that the Emperor would certainly provide her with new maidservants after all they were part of the dowry. This made her feel in relief. She didn"t want to let her trusted maid follow Han Xiang to the Qin Kingdom.
Han Xiang received Xiao Fang"s help gratefully. On one side, she had said that she was miserable without her maidservants so she couldn"t reject her nice offer. On the other side, she didn"t want any of Xiao Fang"s people went near her because it would make it hard for her to move around without Xiao Fang knowing about it. She could only grit her teeth and received the new maidservants. Han Xiang had no other choice --- for now.
Xiao Fang sent one of her trusted subordinates, Han Er. She already served as long as Han Yi and was also given by her mother, so she knew that she could be trusted. She was slightly older than Han Yi so she had a better temperament. Xiao Fang was closer to Han Yi because Han Yi was more talkative than Han Er, but it didn"t mean that she wasn"t close to Han Er. She treated both of them as her own sisters and playmates.
Han Xiang said, "Xiao Fang, Han Er is one of your closest maidservants. How could you let her serve me? Just give me someone unimportant would be just fine. I don"t want to give you a ha.s.sle..." Han Xiang knew Xiao Fang"s background like the back of her hands, there would be no way for her to bribe Han Er. She was very loyal to Xiao Fang and she would hinder her plan!
"How could I do that to you, Han Xiang? I always treat you like my own sister. If I give you an unimportant maidservant, it won"t sit well with me. I"m afraid that she won"t treat you well, however... Han Er is different. Han Er is very adept at serving people and it will make me feel better to give you the best maidservant to serve you..." Xiao Fang said while smiling. She knew that she couldn"t give her Han Yi because the latter was clever but a bit rash. On the other hand, Han Er was also smart but calmer.
Han Er wouldn"t blatantly show her dislike to Han Xiang, unlike Han Yi who had shown her several times about her displeasure. Han Er was standing behind Xiao Fang all of this time. She quickly came out and gave a light bow to Han Xiang, "This servant will follow Young Miss" arrangement. Han Xiang Gong Zhu please receive this servant as your maidservant for the time being. This servant will definitely serve you well."
Han Er quickly caught up with Xiao Fang"s plan. With this gesture of hers, there would be no way Han Xiang could reject Xiao Fang"s arrangement. In the end, Han Xiang could only smile politely and receive Han Er as her temporary maidservant despite her initial unwillingness.