Chapter 38: The Water Theft (1) Part 2

[First, I have prepared two sets of special palace maid uniforms for you. Once you change, follow me to the south of the city. The young Princess Dexin is there right now. Today, she returns to the palace. You will be the two palace maids I present to her.]

In front of a large residence, a carriage was parked. It was wide and extravagantly luxurious, inlaid with gold and silver, glittering brilliantly under the sun.

In front of the carriage stood three fine steeds, their muscles sleek and gleaming, their coats smooth and beautiful. Just looking at them, one could picture their magnificent galloping gait: four hooves churning, long manes flying in the wind.

Ten or so military officers flanked the carriage, each clad in dazzling golden armor, their palms resting on the hilts of their sabers as they surveyed their surroundings with vigilant glances.

Now dressed in palace maid attire, the two of them stood to one side of the carriage. Each held a slender porcelain vase, silently waiting for Princess Dexin to finish bidding farewell to her family and board.

Jiang Yanyu looked utterly disgusted by the pink, fussy maid’s outfit. Even though Shu Yizhong had stressed the need to act meek and cautious, she still stood with a fierce, intimidating air, as if ready to smash the porcelain vase in her hand right over the old emperor’s head.

Yun Jinxue held back her laughter several times, but eventually, a soft giggle still escaped. She lowered her voice. “You’re supposed to be holding a vase, not preparing to beat someone to death.”

Jiang Yanyu shifted her gaze, stealing a glance at the person beside her.

Senior Sister’s own natural, elegant beauty, paired with that light, soft layer of pink, made her look so gentle and pleasant that people couldn’t help wanting to draw closer.

With some difficulty, Jiang Yanyu tore her gaze away. “This outfit suits Senior Sister. It doesn’t suit me.”

Yun Jinxue also sized her up. When she was little, her looks hadn’t been so devastatingly gorgeous yet, but she’d still had a delicate, pretty air. White, pink, gray—all looked good on her.

But now, fully grown, she had a cold, striking beauty that hit you with irresistible force before you even got close. Vivid, bright red fit her perfectly. Such a light, pale pink truly did feel like an injustice to her.

But knowing Jiang Yanyu’s temperament, she couldn’t possibly say that outright. She merely commented: “Pink looks good too.”

Jiang Yanyu said, “Red.”

Yun Jinxue replied, “Pink works as well.”

Off to the side, Princess Dexin finally finished her farewells to her family and was helped into the carriage. The carriage started forward, moving smoothly and steadily.

Jiang Yanyu looked left and right, then leaned in close to the woman’s ear again. “Red. I insist.”

That warm breath, splashing right there, instantly caused a flush of pink to bloom on Yun Jinxue’s skin. She shrank back slightly, gently pushing the woman away a little.

One of the military officers nearby noticed their little movements but assumed it was just whispered secrets exchanged between women and thought nothing of it.

[After entering the palace, you’ll go together to Princess Dexin’s residence. She’s playful by nature, fond of the new and quickly bored by the old. She will toss you aside soon enough. When she goes out to play, you take out the map you’ve hidden, follow the instructions, and find the Imperial Treasury.]

Princess Dexin was only seven or eight years old, her hair tied up in little braids of all colors, her small face as beautiful as jade and snow.

Draped head to toe in magnificent attire, she was like a little ball of glutinous rice nestled amongst an overflowing pile of pearls and jewels. On anyone else, such an outfit would be gaudy beyond measure. Yet worn by her, it was as if she herself was one of those fine treasures, the aura of nobility cultivated by the unrestrained doting of the Imperial family.

But while the little girl was adorable, her mouth was rather rambling. On the way back to the palace, she chattered endlessly without pause. Even a passing butterfly would be caught and lectured for a good while.

Why are you flying from there? If your wing is torn off, can it grow back? Can you take me out to play?

The butterfly: …I’m out.

After a difficult journey, they finally entered the palace and turned into the magnificent main hall. Yet, contrary to what Shu Yizhong had said, the little princess didn’t immediately lose interest in the newcomers. Instead, she circled around them a few times, then reached out, demanding Yun Jinxue pick her up.

“…” Looking at the girl’s bright, glistening eyes, Yun Jinxue’s mind was still on the mission. She said, “This servant’s status is lowly…”

Dexin didn’t care about any of that. She was already tugging on her sash, bending the woman down. “Pick me up and take me outside.”

There was no further chance to delay. Yun Jinxue set down the slender vase and carefully lifted the warm, cozy little girl into her arms. “Where does the Princess wish to go?”

If she just wanted to be carried somewhere specific, Yun Jinxue could still slip away. But if it was just a random stroll around… that would be trouble.

Dexin wrapped her arms around Yun Jinxue’s neck and yawned. Then, taking advantage of the position, she gave her ear a small bite before saying, “To the Cloud-Pushing Pavilion.”

“…Alright. This servant understands.”

Yun Jinxue endured the sharp sting in her earlobe. As she walked out the door, she glanced back.

Jiang Yanyu saw the red mark on her ear. She looked as if she wanted to give the child a good thrashing. Catching the look Yun Jinxue sent back, she could only suppress her temper. She emptied the contents of the slender vase, stuffed them into her sleeve for safekeeping, and followed behind them.

A palace maid led the way ahead. Holding the princess, Yun Jinxue made her way to an elegant pavilion and waterside terrace.

They crossed a winding covered bridge into the pavilion. Inside, a woman in a long golden dress reclined on a daybed. Servant girls on either side fanned her gently with silk gauze fans. A few other maids knelt on the ground, helping to brew tea and peel fruit.

The woman in the golden dress did not seem to be wearing shoes or socks. One bare, exquisitely shaped foot rested on the shoulder of one of the kneeling maids, pressing down lightly from time to time.

Every single servant girl present was exceptionally beautiful, each exuding their own amorous charm. If their clothes hadn’t been fastened so properly, the scene would have seemed rather debauched.

The moment Princess Dexin saw the woman, her face lit up with joyful surprise. Waving her hand, she cried: “Sister Quan! I’m here!”

The princess was covered in numerous trinkets and pendants. With that sudden lift of her arm, a slightly sharp golden piece scraped across skin, adding a shallow scratch right over the already reddened and stinging earlobe.

However, Yun Jinxue’s attention wasn’t on this new wound. She was shocked by the princess’s greeting.

Sister Quan?

In the entire Central Prefecture, there was only one family with the surname Quan.

Hearing the commotion, the jade-like foot resting on the maid’s shoulder paused. It slowly withdrew from sight. A languid, drawn-out “Mm” floated out from within.

Yun Jinxue slowed her steps, a fine sweat beading on her forehead. She couldn’t come face-to-face with this person. Being recognized now would be disastrous.

Thankfully, Dexin had already grown impatient. She fussed and demanded to be put down.

Yun Jinxue lowered her to the ground. “Princess, this servant will withdraw first…”

From the corner of her eye, she caught a flicker of movement from the golden dress, as if the one inside was rising to greet the princess. Yun Jinxue immediately ducked her head lower, bent at the waist, and retreated backwards out of the pavilion in small, quick steps.

She probably hadn’t gotten a clear look, right?

Once the two were out of the pavilion, they immediately broke into a desperate sprint. They found an empty, deserted courtyard and ducked behind a rock formation. There, they stripped off their palace maid outer robes, turned them inside out—revealing a lining of dark gray night-walker gear.

After changing, Jiang Yanyu pressed Yun Jinxue against the rock formation. She meticulously examined the injury on her ear, frowning in displeasure. “That little princess is far too willful.”

Yun Jinxue grasped her wrist and gently pulled it down, her voice soft. “Pampered and doted on by so many, her actions are bound to be capricious. It doesn’t hurt. It’s nothing.”

Jiang Yanyu’s gaze remained fixed on the reddened skin. She used her sleeve to dab away a few threads of blood. “One of these days, I’ll catch her and give her a good spanking.”

Yun Jinxue felt around inside her sleeve, casting her a light, chiding glance. “Were you not mischievous when you were little? Did you ever see me spank you? Where did you put the map?”

Jiang Yanyu had been pinning her against the rock. Hearing this now, she slowly straightened up, her eyes taking on a deep, meaningful look.

Yun Jinxue smiled. “What are you staring at me for? The map? We need to hurry.”

Jiang Yanyu fished the map out and handed it to her. Then, suddenly leaning close again, she bit down on her words as her breath puffed out warmly. “Who says you never did? Do you think I’ve lost my memory?”

[The door of the Imperial Treasury is very high. There is a dragon head carving on top—it’s hollow. You can climb inside from the side. Once you’ve located the treasury, hide inside there first.]

It was dim and murky inside the dragon head’s interior. Only the glass dragon eyes let in sparse threads of light.

The space wasn’t very wide. With two people squeezed inside, they had to press tight against each other. They could hear the sound of each other’s breathing.

There was still some time before they could open the treasury door. The two looked outside through the gap. The guard directly below was leaning against a pillar and almost asleep.

They watched for only a short while before growing bored and settling back down.

In such a small, somewhat sealed environment, the temperature rose easily.

A layer of mist fogged over the surface of the glass dragon eyes, growing damp with the rhythm of their breathing.

Pressed close against a blisteringly warm body, Yun Jinxue could even smell the scent on her. She felt somewhat awkward and wanted to shift around a little, but the arm wrapped around her waist held her firmly in place.

“Senior Sister, don’t move. It’s cramped in here.”

Yun Jinxue responded with a soft “Mm.”

Time slipped by. She could feel the gaze locked onto her face growing hotter by the second. Even the hand at her waist began to grow a little restless, fingertips kneading in gentle circles.