Chapter 111: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

Chapter 111: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

On the way back from Hongwen Hall to Xuanshi Hall, they passed by the inner courtyard of the Imperial Dietary Department.

As they passed by, Bei Jingchu heard the sound of crying.

"Stop."

The palanquin halted, and Bei Jingchu asked the palace servants around her, "Did you hear someone crying?"

The palace servants shook their heads in response.

The sound was very faint, a suppressed low cry. If one weren't listening carefully, it would be easy to miss.

Maybe because of her youth, her good hearing allowed her to hear it.

Bei Jingchu got off the palanquin and followed the direction of the crying sound.

It was coming from the inner courtyard of the Imperial Dietary Department.

It was around the time to prepare for lunch, so there likely shouldn’t be anyone in the courtyard.

Bei Jingchu pushed the door open and saw a little palace maid who looked about four years old, trying hard to sweep the floor with a broom that was twice as long as her height.

Her eyes were red from tears, but she didn’t dare cry out loud, only suppressing her sobs.

She was as cute as a little white rabbit being bullied.

Bei Jingchu felt her protective instincts surge.

Pretty sister, I'm here!

When Bei Jingchu entered the door, the little maid looked at her as if startled.

"Who are you? Are you new?"

The palace servants were all following Bei Jingchu, and from inside, they could only see a little girl.

Bei Jingchu looked down at her own clothes and tugged on her sleeves.

She began to doubt herself.

Did she really look that un-princess-like?

Was she really as much of a wild monkey that had run down from some unknown mountain, as Father had said?

Bei Jingchu felt wronged.

The little palace maid had been sold into the palace during the recent small selection and didn’t know the rules of the palace. Even the youngest children brought in weren’t one or two years old.

The dress Bei Jingchu wore was made of an all-over lake-green floral patterned silk. It was something you couldn’t find on the streets. It was a tribute from the Western Regions.

Moreover, lake-green is a color that only princesses could wear in the palace. But the little palace maid had just entered the palace and hadn’t seen or heard of such things, so she didn’t recognize its value.

Initially, she thought it was a younger palace maid who had just arrived.

Bei Jingchu turned back and whispered to the palace servants, "Wait outside, alright?"

Then she hurried inside and approached the young palace maid. "What's wrong?"

The young palace maid didn’t respond but instead said, “Are you new? It’s time for lunch.”

“You should go quickly. If you’re late, they’ll be too busy preparing lunch for the masters, and you’ll miss out.”

“So why aren’t you going?”

As soon as she asked that, the young palace maid burst into tears.

She crouched down and sobbed loudly, “Waaa, Auntie punished me and said I can’t eat, waaa.”

“But I’m so hungry! Mother said that once I entered the palace, I’d have plenty to eat. Why can’t I even eat my first meal here, waaa?”

Her sudden outburst left Bei Jingchu completely stunned.

Wait, wasn’t she supposed to be comforting her?

How could one question have such an effect?

Feeling helpless, she pulled out a piece of Crystal Dragon Phoenix Cake she had taken from Father’s plate that morning.

“Here, eat this.”

Bei Jingchu unfolded the oil paper that wrapped the pastries.

The delicate and beautiful pastries had been squished into a sorry state after being pressed against Bei Jingchu’s chest all morning.

They didn’t look very appetizing at all.

In fact, they looked kind of gross.

The young palace maid gave her a doubtful look.

"They’re really delicious."

"If you don’t try them, they’ll be gone."

The hungry young palace maid hesitantly grabbed a piece and popped it into her mouth.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"This is amazing!"

"I’ve never tasted anything this good before!"

"Mother was right—life in the palace is so much better."

Bei Jingchu passed the oil paper to her.

"Why weren’t you allowed to eat?"

"Today, while the elder was talking, my nose started itching, and I couldn’t stop myself from sneezing."

"I really didn't mean to, but the palace instructor said my attitude wasn't proper, and that's not allowed in the palace."

"She punished me by sweeping the floor and forbade me from eating."

"The palace instructor said she'd go easy on me this time since it was my first offense."

How naive, child.

The palace rules, no matter how strict, haven't become this severe.

Except for important occasions in front of the emperor or ceremonies, there's still some humanity observed in daily life.

This palace instructor is clearly making an example out of the little palace maid, using her as an example to establish authority.

In a palace drama, she wouldn't survive past the opening scene.

But she's just a child, so it's normal that her intelligence isn't fully developed yet.

After all, not every kid is as smart as me, hehe!

"She asked San Ya, 'What's your name?'"

"I'm called Hua San Ya."

Such a down-to-earth name.

Bei Jingchu suddenly felt a sudden sensation in her stomach.

She only had time to say a hurried goodbye before rushing off.

Commode, commode, this princess can't wait!

The emperor had been sitting at the table for a long time when the little one finally arrived, late.

"Why are you so late today?"

"I went to the restroom."

The emperor frowned, "As a princess of the royal family, how can you use such vulgar language? It's disgraceful."

"Use more refined language."

Bei Jingchu pondered for a moment, then hesitantly said, "Then... my butt yue-d?"

The emperor sighed, "Never mind, that's even more vivid."

You're quite creative with words.

After Bei Jingchu left, everyone in the Imperial Food Court returned, but San Ya still hadn't finished sweeping the courtyard.

Such a large inner courtyard, how could a four-year-old girl possibly finish cleaning it quickly?

Even if she did finish, the palace instructor would find fault.

"Auntie, the tasks you set are too difficult; I can't do them."

"If you can't even do such small tasks, what will you do when the masters order you to do something? Will you also say you can't do it?"

"You are a palace maid, not a master!"

"If you want to be an ancestor, go and kill yourself early, and be reincarnated into a better life."

"Once you enter the palace, you are destined to be a servant."

"Whatever we tell you to do, you do it. If we tell you to die, you must die."

"There’s no use talking about whether you can do it or not."

"Daring to talk back rudely when you haven't finished cleaning, you don’t deserve dinner. Go without food for the day."

"Don’t forget to finish sweeping the courtyard."

San Ya was scolded in front of everyone, and her shame was worse than the hunger and exhaustion.

She wished she could dig a hole to hide in.

She looked like she wanted to cry but couldn't, looking utterly helpless.

Emotions can be contagious.

The other palace maids were overwhelmed by her collapsing emotions and all showed fear in their eyes.

The Teaching Aunt nodded with satisfaction. Good, the desired effect was achieved.

Although there were other methods, this one is the simplest and most obvious.

By simply shattering a little girl's self-esteem, she could rapidly achieve her goal.