You are pushed roughly towards Prince Jin's mansion. You stumble along, almost falling several times. A male of 50 or 60 stand before you, a fly-whisk in his hand. He looks you up and down. His voice is shrill – probably a eunuch.
Steward Zhou: Well, well! I cannot see why the Prince would bother saving you. But there will be time for that. The day is still young.
Xiu Ying: [Smiling fainting after getting your footing] I throw myself on your mercy, Steward.
Steward Zhou: In the Prince's mansion whether your live or die is up to you.
Xiu Ying: Thanks for the tip.
Steward Zhou had obviously been hoping to see you in tears or scared out of your wits, but you seem well-composed. Robbed of his sport, he looks coldly at you and walks off.
Xiu Ying: Steward Zhou, where shall I stay? Master!
You call out to him, but he completely ignores you and walks off, out of sight. You're just starting to feel sorry for yourself when a fierce looking young woman walks out of the kitchen and starts scolding you.
Cui Cui: What's all that noise? Don't you know where you are? Think you're special? You think you get your own room?
Xiu Ying: [Innocently] Sorry. I don't know the rules in the Prince's mansion.
Cui Cui: Stupid girl, the best place for you to sleep will be by the wood pile! Anyway, it's almost time for breakfast! Get inside and get to work!
News travels fast and the staff in Prince Jin's mansion seem to know about your run in with the Prince and your narrow escape. Naturally they are not well disposed to you.
But since you are here you might as well make the best of it. You walk briskly into the kitchen, roll up your sleeves, collect the wood, the trouble hits.
Xiu Ying: (Dammit, I can't light a fire! If Shi Lian was here... Thankfully she's not, but... haven't I suffered enough humiliations for one day?)
Cui Cui: [Hands on hips] What are you mumbling to yourself about?!
Xiu Ying: [Innocently] Cuir Cui, I can't light a fire.
[Getting louder and louder] WHAT?! YOU CAN'T LIGHT A FIRE?!! WHAT KIND OF CINDER WENCH DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO LIGHT A FIRE?!!
Cui Cui stares at you in disbelief. She looks very frightening, like she wants to beat the living daylights out of you.
Xiu Ying: [Innocently] I didn't chose to be a cinder maid, the Prince sent me down here... I'm a fish out of water!
Cui Cui: Shut your pie hole, fish face!
Xiu Ying: You're right Cui Cui, but could you at least show me how to light a fire?
Cui Cui: I have to teach you to light a fire now? I suppose you want lessons on eating too?
Xiu Ying: I'm a good student. When I know how to do it I can help you out and won't keep bothering you.
You look pleadingly at Cui Cui. She is still thinking when another maid starts laughing off to one side.
Xiu Xiu: She thinks she can push us around? Cui Cui, ignore her. She's in the Prince's bad books – she's not gonna last long! Let HER work it out!
Her words don't vex you or even hurt your feelings. You smile faintly and speak in a measured way.
Xiu Ying: I foolishly angered the Prince, but don't forget he spared my life! You've worked for him for a ling time. Have you ever seen him spare anyone before?
YOU ARE READING
LoT Phoenix 1
RandomThis is not my story. Post it here from a game for offline reading. PS: I wish they will make a drama out of this.
