Chapter 44 is all fake

  This Wang and Zhang had been at odds with each other, but when they were suppressing me, they didn't forget to mention her.

  "Yes..." I replied with my head down.

  "What's wrong, hurry up and go serve the prince, don't forget your identity, you are a personal maid, not even one of the twelve hours in a day can you leave the prince's side, go!" Wang Gonggong yelled at me as I stood still.

  Helpless, I had to force myself to go find him, Xuan Yuan Mu was at Dongyuan, where Mei Ling Hua lived. As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw the two people in the pavilion sipping tea and listening to music, Xuan Yuan Mu held a teacup with a leisurely expression, while Mei Ling's fingers danced on the strings of the zither.

  He seemed not to have seen me come in, and I awkwardly stood behind many palace maids.

  "You play well! If all the women in the country of Tiancang were to compete with you in zither skills, no one would be able to surpass you!" Xuan Yuan Mu was extremely delighted.

  Mei Lingxue smiled brightly, got up and poured another cup of tea for Xuan Yuan Mu: "The prince doesn't like hot tea, I have specially prepared Gu Tan Longjing here, this tea is refreshing and pleasant to drink, it's a top-grade good tea, the taste is even better after it cools down!"

  "Alright, come here!" Xuan Yuan Mu stretched out his hand and pulled Mei Linghua over to his side, surprisingly pulling her onto his lap.

  My mind went "boom" and suddenly I felt like my world didn't exist anymore, it had collapsed. For a long time, I was numb and didn't feel anything until the palace maid pulled me and I came back to reality.

  The Crown Prince and Liang Niang have already gone out, I heard they are going to the Imperial Garden, we maidservants must follow.

  My whole body was cold and my footsteps were a bit stiff. Looking at the two people in front of me, I thought: actually, they are the real couple, aren't they?

  These past few days, Xuan Yuan has been handling state affairs in the morning and accompanying Mei Ling to paint in the afternoons. Since Xue Qiu Feng hasn't returned to the palace yet, some matters have been delayed.

  I just quietly followed Xuan Yuan Mu, sometimes even simple tasks like changing clothes didn't require me to do it, and I wasn't the only personal maid by his side.

  I was like air in front of him, not even worth a glance.

  On this day, the National Master's birthday was grand, and all officials, ministers, imperial family members, and noblewomen went to the National Master's mansion. Xuan Yuan brought Mu Ling Hua, and we several personal maidservants also went to congratulate him on his birthday.

  The national teacher saw the crown prince coming forward, naturally with a full face of joy, and let him in, accompanied by Yang Chen.

  "General Yang is getting old this year, isn't it time for him to get married?" Xuan Yuan Wu asked while drinking tea.

  Yang Chen smiled and looked at me before replying: "I already have someone I like!"

  "Ah? Whose young lady is it? Don't be shy, speak up. I, the king, will help you propose!" Xuan Yuan Mu coldly smiled as he looked at him.

  "This doesn't require Your Highness to worry, when the time comes, I will naturally take the initiative to propose to her myself!" Yang Chen also sensed Xuan Yuan Mu's hostility and replied coldly.

  "Hey! Mei Lingxue, long time no see!" Xuan Yuanqi suddenly darted over from one side and hit me as soon as he came up.

  I looked embarrassed and nodded slightly at him.

  "What's wrong with you? You look so terrible?" Xuan Yuan asked me strangely, looking me up and down.

  "Long live the strange king!" To avoid his entanglement, I bowed to him.

  "What's wrong? You two had a falling out?" Xuan Yuan Qi sat on one side, looking at us with a puzzled expression.

  Mei Linghua saw the scene and couldn't help but peel a grape and send it to Xuan Yuanmu's mouth: "Crown Prince..." Her eyes flowed with emotion, looking at Xuan Yuanmu with a thousand charms.

  It can't be more obvious than this, she is the woman beside the prince today.

  Xuanyuan Qizhang opened his mouth in surprise, then nodded and sneered: "I know, I understand!"

  The longevity banquet began, and the Crown Prince Xuan Yuan was invited to sit in the main seat. Only one maid could stay by his side to serve him, while others had to wait until the end of the banquet before they could follow him.

  This position would never be mine anyway, as the other palace maids had secretly arranged it long ago, and I was just a discarded palace maid being squeezed out, so I ended up with nothing to do.

  The other maidservants were invited to dine in another courtyard, and I wasn't hungry, so I strolled around the painting corridors, pavilions, and galleries. The peony flowers floated on the water, and the National Master's residence was truly no less beautiful than the imperial palace, only smaller in scale.

  "Snow is coming!" A voice sounded behind him.

  I turned around and it was General Yang Chen.

  "General Wan An!" I bowed deeply.

  "Do you want to leave him? If so, I have a way!" Yang Chen asked straightforwardly.

  I heard this and hesitated, turning back towards the garden, he followed closely behind.

  "I haven't thought it through, I don't know!" Tears welled up in my eyes, but refused to fall.

  Yang Chen walked behind, he didn't see: "I've said it before, Xuan Yuan's heart is very deep, he's just using you, now that he's used you up, he'll throw you aside. What are you still doing by his side?"

  "I never knew what the road ahead would be like, I've always been taking it one step at a time. So, it's not his problem, it's just that I haven't figured it out myself yet!" I replied calmly.

  "Snow...". Yang Chen stepped forward and grabbed my arm: "I know you've suffered a lot by his side, if one day you make up your mind, be sure to tell me. The little sixth son of the front hall is quite close to me, you can tell him, he will contact me."

  "Uh-huh!" I nodded "Go back, you're the only young master of Guoshi Fu, can't not be on the scene." After finishing speaking, I continued walking into the garden.

  The longevity banquet ended, and the crowd poured out of the National Master's Mansion. We maidservants followed the carriage all the way, running towards the Imperial Palace.

  As soon as I returned to the East Palace, Mei Linghua stepped forward and slapped me: "As a woman, you don't know how to behave properly, seducing General Yang Chen, what do you have to say for yourself?"

  I was stunned and it took me a long time to realize that she had sent someone to follow me.

  Xuanyuan Mu saw this scene, furrowed his brow, and his face was difficult to look at.

  Suddenly, I seemed to understand that Mei Ling's kindness to me was fake, Xuan Yuan Mu's kindness to me was fake, and everything in the world was fake.

  I smiled slightly and nodded "Yes, I seduced him. We grew up together since childhood. We went to Anlan Mountain to see the sea of flowers..."

  "Slap!" Mei Linghua gave me another slap "Lock up this shameless little scoundrel for me!"

  I was locked in a shabby room, I didn't even know that Donggong had such a place.

  At night, I heard a woman's scream, rising and falling in an unusually terrifying manner.

  In the darkness, I saw a black figure jump into my room, he just stood there, staring at me.

  I remained silent, and that figure was all too familiar - it was Xuan Yuan Ye.

  "Snow is deep!" His voice was muffled.

  I sat there in silence...

  "You're my woman, I can bully you, but no one else can!" Xuan Yuan Mo said in a low voice.

  I gave a faint cold smile...