Chapter Thirty-Seven: Forced

"Who are you? Why have I never seen you before? Are you from my courtyard?" Su Liluoluo eyed the unfamiliar maid cautiously. She had no idea where this servant had come from; she certainly had never seen her before.

The maid knelt and bowed her head. "I am but the lowest servant in your courtyard, miss. I usually do only the roughest chores. I came in hastily when I heard your summons—please forgive my presumption."

Su Liluoluo studied her hands. Indeed, they were rough and calloused, as if she truly had done hard labor. Still, she did not let her guard down simply because of a few words. Exhaustion weighed heavy on her; all she wanted was to eat her fill and sleep. She decided not to test the maid further. "Very well, you may go for now. Tell Liu Zhu and Liu Ying to bring me some pastries."

Yet the maid did not budge. Su Liluoluo felt a surge of irritation and was about to snap, when the girl knelt again. "Miss, I am in fact a servant of Prince Yi. By his command, from this day forth, whatever medicinal herbs you require, simply write them down for me and someone will deliver them."

Su Liluoluo's attitude immediately shifted from disregard to excitement. "Excellent. The prince is indeed a man of his word." She listed the herbs she needed on a slip of paper, then wrote out a prescription and handed both to the maid. "This list is for my own use. The prescription is for the prince. Tell him this as well: as long as our cooperation continues and the prince shows sincerity, I will be open and honest. I simply wish to live well."

"I understand, miss. My name is Yuxin. From now on, I will carry messages between you and the prince. If you need anything, just command me." Yuxin kept her head respectfully lowered, as if she would not look up unless spoken to.

Su Liluoluo nodded. This maid was neither arrogant nor impatient. Time would tell what sort of person she truly was, but after all, she belonged to Prince Yi. At present, the most pressing matter was her own hunger. Su Liluoluo clutched her stomach and said urgently, "Nothing else matters for now—just find me something to eat, quickly."

Yuxin obeyed at once, hurrying to the kitchen. She soon returned, speaking softly, "Miss, there is nothing left in the kitchen. Only some cold pastries remain. Would you like those?"

Su Liluoluo's exhaustion was instantly replaced by anger. She refused to believe that, after such a tiring day, the kitchen had nothing at all at this hour. "Take a few taels of silver and use them to coax the kitchen staff. Have them prepare a couple of dishes for me—I'm hungry."

Her mood worsened by the minute. Yuxin went with the silver, but returned unsuccessful. "Miss, the steward says it is not allowed. What do you wish to do now?"

Yuxin gazed at Su Liluoluo with a hint of pity. She had never imagined that a young lady of the grand chancellor’s household could live so harshly—unable to eat as she wished, denied at every turn.

"Very well, those wretched curs dare put on airs before me? Come, let's go together. I want to see for myself—must I trouble Grandmother just to get a meal?" Su Liluoluo’s face was pale with fury, her eyes red, and she marched toward the kitchen with her chin raised defiantly.

Yuxin followed, urging, "Please, miss, slow down. It's late, you might fall." But seeing Su Liluoluo would not listen, she hurried to keep pace.

As they entered, the kitchen was brightly lit. Several young maids chattered cheerfully, while a few older women sat around a table laden with food, all in high spirits. An older woman, her face oily and smug, reclined in a rocking chair, looking exceedingly comfortable.

Su Liluoluo strode over and kicked the chair, startling the old woman awake. She looked up, recognized Su Liluoluo, and her expression soured. "Why has the young miss come to the kitchen at this hour?"

The old woman rose with deliberate slowness. The other maids and matrons quickly gathered behind her as Su Liluoluo surveyed them, then said with a hint of insolence, "I'm hungry. Go prepare me something to eat."

The head matron gave a contemptuous laugh. "Miss, do you take the kitchen for your own courtyard, to order about as you please? The lady of the house has set strict rules: after dusk, nothing may be taken from the kitchen."

"And when was this rule established? I've never heard of it," Su Liluoluo retorted, frowning at the impudent servants before her. Since when did the help outshine the mistress?

"It's no wonder you've never heard, miss. But if you insist on eating at such a late hour, you'll only get fatter—then who will want you... ha ha ha..." The others laughed openly, making no effort to hide their disdain.

"Indeed, ugly girls are always the ones making trouble," muttered another matron, drawing approving nods from the others. "You’re the educated one here; we rough folk can’t grasp your poetic moods."

Su Liluoluo endured and endured, but these damned servants would not shut their mouths. A cold smile curled at her lips. "You all seem quite pleased with yourselves. Don’t blame me for what happens next." With that, she rushed to the old woman and, catching her off guard, slapped her hard across the face—twice.

"Madam He, are you alright?" the other maids and matrons gasped, shocked that their overseer had been struck. Madam He would surely not let this pass.

Madam He covered her reddening cheek, her former arrogance gone. Facing Su Liluoluo's steely gaze, she quavered, "Miss, I must report this injury to the lady of the house. And as for you others, since the young miss insists on eating, see to it she is well served!"

The matrons snickered maliciously, rubbing their hands as they advanced on Su Liluoluo and Yuxin. Su Liluoluo’s eyes flicked to the kitchen knives. A glint of resolve flashed in her gaze. "Yuxin, block them for me."

She darted around from behind Yuxin. The moment Su Liluoluo's hand closed on a knife, her heart steadied. The matrons surrounded Yuxin, while Madam He stood on the steps, shielded by several maids. Su Liluoluo kicked aside a maid who blocked her way. Madam He suddenly felt the chill of a blade against her neck and stammered, "Miss, I was wrong—please, don’t do anything rash."

"Madam He, moments ago you were all-powerful, queen of the kitchen, ruling everything as you pleased. All I wanted were two simple dishes, yet you made things so difficult. Perhaps I should slit your throat, hack off your claws, and use you as a side dish to choke down my meal," Su Liluoluo spat out, disgusted at the very thought of such a greasy woman as food.

Feeling the knife press closer to her neck, Madam He trembled. "Quickly now, didn’t you hear the miss? Prepare some dishes for her at once!"

She dared not move, terrified that a careless slip might see her throat cut. All her bravado had vanished. Yuxin quietly took her place behind Su Liluoluo, standing watchful and ready.