Chapter 10: The Malevolent Villainess

After the surge of rage subsided, Rong Yan suddenly regained his composure. Glancing at the young woman he had pushed, who now stumbled back, a touch of awkwardness crossed his face. "A-Sheng, wouldn't this idea of yours just be doing her a favor?"

"A lowly servant isn't even fit to be the Prince's concubine!"

Yun Shengsheng’s eyes were filled with suspicion, but she forced herself to remain calm and whispered, "That girl has spent five years in bitter training alongside Your Highness. If you still have feelings for her, once I am married to you, you can simply raise her to a minor position."

"Why would you think that, A-Sheng?" Rong Yan placed his hands on her shoulders, his gaze earnest. "For all these years, you are the only one in my heart; all else is but passing smoke."

"How could that wretch Sheng Mingyue ever be compared to you?" Rong Yan frowned slightly, his heart filled with indescribable disgust at the mention of the past. "She followed me for five years, but it was all for profit. She’s just a house sparrow hoping that if I return to the Eastern Palace, she can fly up to the branches and turn into a phoenix!"

"How can there be any sincerity in that?"

Yun Shengsheng pressed her lips together and remained silent, allowing him to pull her into his arms for comfort. Hidden beneath her long sleeves, her hands were tightly clenched into fists, her fingernails digging deep into the tender flesh of her palms.

Relying on others was never truly secure; it would be better to take matters into her own hands.

She refused to believe that a mere lowly servant could continue to haunt her like a restless ghost.

-

In the capital, a light rain began to fall, pattering against the ground. Only two or three people with umbrellas remained on the streets.

The rain fell upon the Chrysanthemum Heart Garden. The vermilion window was left half-open, letting in wisps of chill from the outside.

Song Guo was dozing on a small couch, the thick blanket draped over her having long since slipped away. The person on the couch was unaware, still sleeping soundly while clutching a medicinal pillow.

Sheng Mingyue leaned against the head of the bed, her body sinking into the soft pillows as she gazed at the grape trellis outside the window, a whirlwind of emotions in her heart.

She was now utterly alone, struggling at every turn, while her father remained outside, suffering daily humiliations.

With the enemy in the shadows and her in the light, the situation was truly difficult to manage.

[The little cannon fodder doesn't even have anything to rely on. She's truly a peripheral character without any golden cheat!]

[Didn't the Emperor reward her with fifty taels of gold and silver? If nothing else, that should be enough to open a small shop for a year or two, right?]

[The capital is like our metropolis, where every inch of land is worth gold. Even if she rents a shop, she's just a palace maid—what can she do besides serving people? I’m afraid she’ll lose everything down to her last pair of trousers!]

[The previous comment was crudely put but not entirely wrong, though it was indeed too crude!]

Sheng Mingyue sighed softly, her gaze sweeping over the wooden cabinet beside the bed, feeling increasingly despondent.

She had certainly thought about using that money to settle herself, but as she was still a servant, it was hard to find a landlord willing to rent to her.

If she gave the money to her father, it would inevitably be snatched away by Liu Cuixi.

A chest of gold and silver, yet she could only look and not touch—it was truly a useless ornament!

[If she can't rent a shop, investing in a partnership should work, right? If I remember correctly, Zhao Can is planning to open a restaurant in a shop she bought on the East Market's first street, isn't she?]

[Zhao Can? That villainous supporting character? Is the person above trying to make the little cannon fodder die even faster?]

[That villainous character hasn't suffered her family's ruin yet, so she's far from her turning point. She needs to do business behind her family's back and is short on capital. If the little cannon fodder goes to offer help now, wouldn't that be exactly what she needs?]

[I have to say, that’s actually an idea! But the little cannon fodder can't see our messages, so how would she think of investing? And how could she find the villainous character accurately?]

Sheng Mingyue blinked and gently bit her lower lip.

She could.

East Market's first street... Zhao Can...

Sheng Mingyue quickly memorized the keywords, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward the girl sleeping on the small couch.

The top priority now was to manage Song Guo and sneak out of the estate!

Thinking of this, Sheng Mingyue lowered her head and coughed twice. The girl on the couch immediately woke up and jumped down, "Miss Mingyue, is something uncomfortable?"

Sheng Mingyue shook her head, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she whispered, "I am fine, it is just... I have things weighing on my mind that make it hard for me to eat or sleep."

Song Guo’s eyebrows twitched, and she hurried closer, "What is the matter, Miss?"

She was a warm-hearted person by nature, and having witnessed the Prince's special treatment of Miss Mingyue, she was naturally on high alert, fearing she hadn't taken good enough care of her.

Tears welled up in Sheng Mingyue's eyes as she looked at Song Guo with a touch of pleading, "Miss Song, you saw it last time—my father came to find me covered in wounds, yet I couldn't help him in the slightest. How could I not resent myself for that?"

"This..." Song Guo scratched her head in distress and asked in a low voice, "Is there anything I can do for you, Miss?"

Sheng Mingyue’s eyes shimmered as she gently took her hand, "Miss Song, could you take me out of the estate? Just to see my father from a distance—even one glance would be enough."

"You are still injured, Miss; I am afraid that won't be possible." A look of apology instantly appeared on Song Guo’s face as she whispered, "The Prince left orders for you to rest quietly in the estate. Besides, anyone leaving the estate must report it to Brother Yun Lai."

Sheng Mingyue pondered for a moment and gathered her courage, "Miss Song, you have seen how the Prince treats me, have you not?"

Song Guo was stunned and nodded subconsciously.

Sheng Mingyue felt a bit nervous, a blush spreading across her cheeks as she lowered her voice, "The Prince and I have a... special relationship. If I wish to leave the estate, he would certainly allow it."

Song Guo was shocked beyond measure, and her look toward Sheng Mingyue instantly changed.

[???]

[Prince, stop sleeping! Someone is spreading rumors about you here!]

[This girl is truly brave. What exactly is she trying to do?]

"Miss Mingyue... is this true?"

Hearing Song Guo’s words, the shyness on Sheng Mingyue’s face deepened. She hesitated before nodding, "It is true."

"But..." A look of hesitation flashed across Song Guo’s face, and she whispered, "At the very least, we must inform Brother Yun Lai... How about this: I will say I need to go to the apothecary for medicine. He will surely let me take someone with me. At that time, I can sneak you out, how about that?"

Sheng Mingyue nodded repeatedly and whispered, "That would be wonderful. Miss Song, you are truly clever and reliable."

Song Guo blushed, feeling delighted by the praise. She ran out of the room, opened her umbrella, and went to find Yun Lai.

Once she was gone, Sheng Mingyue endured the pain of her wounds, threw off the quilt, and stepped out of bed. She walked quickly to the cabinet, stuffed half of the gold and silver ingots from the box into her purse, and tucked the other half into the hidden pocket of her sleeve. The purse hung heavily at her waist, bulging significantly.

The next moment, Sheng Mingyue went to the table. Looking at the peeled and sliced pears there, she turned and picked up the small knife Song Guo hadn't had time to put away, carefully slipping it into her sleeve.

Rong Yan was currently going to great lengths to have her leave, and she didn't know where Liu Cuixi was lurking, watching her. Naturally, she had to be careful.

If she were pushed to the edge, she would sooner drag them down with her to a mutual destruction!

Before long, Song Guo returned in a hurry, a smile on her face, "Miss, Brother Yun Lai actually allowed it! Hurry and put on more clothes; let's leave the estate!"

Hearing this, Sheng Mingyue finally revealed a genuine smile and whispered, "Alright."

As the sun began to set, Sheng Mingyue dressed properly and left the courtyard with Song Guo, heading straight for the East Market.