From the beginning up until now, Su Mei Fan has been cursing under her breath. Her usual moistured eyes have long turned dry from all the glaring she was shooting to the carriages in front. The handkerchief in her hands turned wrinkled beyond recognition.
Again and again, she sacrificed many opportunities to be with her majesty just to prevent Ye Ai Ning from joining them at the Autumn Hunt.
Many times, she willingly tumbled into the ground, bringing porcelains and inks with her. Not once, has she done it halfheartedly. The bruises, cuts, and scars in her skin are proof of her mighty acts.
Even when she"s dying inside with worry when the empress has fallen sick, Su Mei Fan stone her heart and didn"t run to her side.
She could have stayed right next to the empress while she nurses her to health. Feed her while she leans to her embrace. And then, when she"s feeling hot all over with the fever, strip her with all her clothes, wipe her whole body and feel her skin under her palms.
"Ah! Ah! Your majesty! Fan"er is not having any further thoughts!" Su Mei Fan squealed sharply inside her own carriage in embarra.s.sment.
With the sudden sound, the servant driving the carriage was taken by surprise and pulled the reins strongly to the side. The horse got confused. It suddenly stopped then turn. Panicking, the servant once again pulled on the reins to get the horse right back on track.
The whole carriage jolted. With the excess momentum, it tossed Su Mei Fan to one side then to the other. She almost rolled out too.
"Niangniang! Are you alright?!" The servant asked with fear. It was a good thing that as the lady with the lowest rank, Su Mei Fan"s carriage is at the furthest back and the brief slip up didn"t affect the whole procession.
"You---!" Calming herself, she forced her usual tone to come up. "Ple---please drive a bit more gentle..."
"Apologies for startling your ladys.h.i.+p," the servant said. Thankfully, the one he is serving is one with a milder aura.
Inside, Su Mei Fan bites her handkerchief in annoyance.
Why does she need to put up with any of this?! What for!
She sacrificed that golden chance!
Yet, that witch, from who knows what kind of black magic, produced a thick file of papers overnight, got out of her punishment and sat nicely inside the carriage just behind the empress right now!
Even Feng Lei is still stuck inside her courtyard copying scriptures!
What happened to abandoning Ye Ai Ning behind and h.o.a.rding the empress by herself?! What happened to the dream of the two of them walking hand in hand while laughing?!
That b.i.t.c.h will surely get in the way! She always has to say a word or two and destroy the atmosphere!
Ye Ai Ning is a horrible witch! Her brother is a witch! Her whole clan is an ugly witch!
If Wei Yi Yi saw Su Mei Fan looking like a murderer right now, her eyes will definitely fall out of their sockets.
When the carriages stopped, Su Mei Fan breathing heaved in antic.i.p.ation.
"Niangniang," Xiao Xiu called from the outside. "The emperor gave orders to stop and rest for a while. The guards are setting camp and the servants are preparing food. Does Niangniang want to----"
"Down! Escort me down already," Su Mei Fan couldn"t control herself any longer and rudely cut off her own maidservant. "Out of all days, why are you talking so much right now?"
Did everyone collaborate today just to obstruct her and the empress from being together?!
"Please mind your manners, your ladys.h.i.+p. We"re outside of the palace right now. Even her majesty would not be able to protect herself from the eyes of the n.o.ble families. Much less protect a lesser concubine," Xiao Xiu hastily reminded her mistress in goodwill.
"That"s why I"m saying you must hurry and escort me already! Else I might lose control and leap down myself!"
Feeling nervous with Imperial Concubine Su"s agitated mood, Xiao Xiu dare not let her out and make a mess in public. "Please calm yourself down first!"
"NO! Every moment is precious! Xiao Xiu, every second you waste is a second added to the time her majesty and I are separated!"
While both mistress and servant are in a state of anxiety with each other, Wei Yi Yi discreetly made her way down the carriage on her own.
Despite all the effort, it was a wasted action. Tang Mei was already standing guard and eyeing her from head to toe.
Wei Yi Yi dare not meet the eye of a raging tiger.
Exhaling exaggeratedly, Tang Mei shouted, "Escort the empress to her tent right away!"
Tang Mei was fiercer than any other day. It was so scary that she was even afraid to flinch.
True to its word, never underestimate a woman. More so a woman like Tang Mei! This bro wouldn"t even have any thoughts of fighting back! Or utter any excuses!
In Wei Yi Yi"s defense, she hasn"t stirred up any trouble as of yet. But she has forgotten, while she doesn"t have any concept of "face", the people of olden times have. And they are extreme in keeping them.
Their mistresses cannot lose any face! As the servants, they must do everything on their power to prevent any damage to their mistresses reputation! They too have an uphill battle ongoing right now.