Chapter 181 - 179. Ming Yu’s Motive

Third-person POV

Ming Yu's face suddenly paled and immediately kneeled with her head on the floor. She didn't know that her motive was so easy to read.

Ming Yu: "Yo-Your Majesty Empress, please forgive this lowly one for being brazen."

Hong er: "Speak."

Hong er nonchalantly replied.

Ming Yu: "Th-this lowly one wishes that I can serve beside Your Majesty Empress."

Hong er: "Serve beside me? But you are a noble."

Hong er asked with her eyes flashed a tint of interest, Ming Yu didn't see it and continued to speak.

Ming Yu: "This lowly one's mother had died a week ago, therefore, this lowly one didn't have any desire to live in that residence where I am being looked down more than a dog."

Hong er: "Deep condolences from Ben Gong. But how about your sister?"

Hong er had known all of this information beforehand but decided to act clueless.                                    

Ming Yu: "Ming Zhu Jiejie is the only one who treated me like human and she had left Chang An to learn music from different cultures."

Hong er: "You still have your father."

Ming Yu: "He didn't even spare a glance at my dead mother so why do I have to care about him?"

Hong er sighed and felt that the girl in front of her was quite pitiful.

Hong er: "Whatever you say, he is still your biological father. Even if you were forgotten by him, you shouldn't forget him. Do you understand?"

Ming Yu: "Yes, Your Majesty Empress."

Since Hong er had said so, Ming Yu decided to forgive his father and would only speak to him if it was urgent.

Hong er: "So, what makes you desire to be Ben Gong's servant?"

Ming Yu: "This lowly one owed Your Majesty Empress and doesn't have anything to repay back the deed except this lowly one's dedication and skills."

Hong er stared at Ming Yu for a moment before she nodded her head.

Hong er: "En. You can serve beside Ben Gong but with one condition. Change your surname."

Ming Yu widened her eyes and quickly bowed her head.

Ming Yu: "This lowly one understood."

Hong er: "En. Clear up all of your business and come back in 3 days."

Ming Yu: "Yes! Your Majesty Empress!"

Ming Yu replied with a voice full of joy. She had been using her mother's surname whenever she went out so she just decided to use her mother's surname when she entered the palace. Even though Ming Yu was illiterate, she was clever and bright. She knew why Hong er wanted her to change her surname.

Huang family was one of the most powerful families in Da Qi hence if the daughter of Huang family served as a personal maid of Empress, people would start to think that Hong er supports Huang family which is not good.

Ming Yu retreated and quickly went back home to her residence to cut ties with Huang family. She didn't look for Master Huang for permission, yet she went to Madam Huang who had hated her and her mother forever. Ming Yu deliberately didn't tell Madam Huang why she wanted to cut ties with their family.

Madam Huang happily agreed and immediately told the servants to clean up Ming Yu's small courtyard. Ming Yu who had packed all of her belongings didn't care about what Madam Huang was going to do with her courtyard and left the residence without another glance.

Then she went to a shop to sell her unnecessary possession such as low-quality accessories and one or two things that her siblings gave her just to ridicule her. At least she got a few silver taels in her savings.

She didn't waste any time and went back to the royal palace to find Hong er. Hong er looked at her with a quite surprised face.

Hong er: "So fast. It hasn't been even a day."

Ming Yu: "Yes! Your Majesty Empress. This lowly one had prepared everything in advance, therefore I can work right away."

Hong er: "En. Well then, Meiyun and Huayun will teach you everything that you need to do. Do your best."

Ming Yu: "Yes, Your Majesty Empress."

Ming Yu walked behind the Yun sisters and smiled bashfully at them. She didn't know if the Yun sisters would like her or not but her thought immediately thrown out the window when Meiyun slapped her buttocks and grinned from ear to ear.

Meiyun: 'Ohohoho~ My teasing list has increased.'

Ming Yu stared at Meiyun like she had been wronged and pouted. Huayun patted her shoulder and told her just to ignore the annoying creature (Meiyun). However, the thing that made Ming Yu baffled was Hong er secretly high fived Meiyun for that butt slap. And once again, Huayun told her to ignore those two playful kids.

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Later, Huayun brought Ming Yun to accompany her to pick-up Xue Lang from his classes to Hong er's palace. Xue Lang and Ming Yun got along quite well, they talked about how cool Hong er when Hong er appeared at the right time to save them.

Then, just like their daily activities, Hong er enjoyed the scenery at her pavilion while continuing her embroidery. Sometimes she would ask Ming Yun's opinion about embroidery and she found out that Ming Yun was very knowledgeable in this topic.

Hong er didn't care about her status, she asked her servant to teach her how to embroider better and prettier. This took up them a day to finish a little part that Hong er said it was the most important part.

Xue Lang gleefully skipped towards Hong er and wore the tunic like it was the first clothes he had ever worn. He spun around to show it off to everyone, including to Weisheng that recently just arrived there. Weisheng stared at Hong er and waited for her to do something. Hong er tilted her head in puzzlement.

Hong er: "Hm?"

Some of the clever servants like Ming Yun and Huayun sympathized Hong er while some of the dense and stupid servants like Meiyun could only look at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

Weisheng: "Mine?"

Hong er finally understood Weisheng's silent request. Hong er innocently looked at Weisheng and shook her head.

Hong er: "Chen qie didn't have any for Your Majesty Emperor. Chen qie deeply apologies."

Even though it was not shown on Weisheng's face, everyone could feel his mood has become sour by the drop of the temperature in the middle of summer.

Everyone: 'Oh no, our emperor is jealous.'