Chapter 47 Palace Maid

Su Zheng frowned. "If you take this on, won't it bring you trouble too? Do you have a plan?"

"Are you worried about me, Imperial Brother?"

Su Zheng didn't beat around the bush. "Of course I'm worried about you."

He paused, lowering his voice even more, and said solemnly, "In this world, you are my only brother."

Luo Yunchen looked at Su Zheng, his gaze probing and questioning.

Su Zheng shook his head. "You'll understand in the future."

Dropping the subject, Su Zheng returned to the original question. "You still haven't said what you plan to do."

"Borrow your name, Imperial Brother, and have you take the lead on this."

"Me? I have neither people nor influence. Who would listen to me?"

"All you need to do is find an excuse to get His Majesty to agree to let you take charge of the Southern City."

"Well then, tell me what to do, and I'll go see Father."

"There's no rush. This requires careful planning. Besides, whatever we do, we first need to survey the population and land of the Southern City, register them, and then we can act."

"Fine. Let me know what you need me to do."

That morning, though Su Zheng still skipped the Grand Tutor's lessons, he wasn't idle. He spent the time studying and brainstorming ideas with the system, looking for ways to help the Southern City and its beggars.

Back at the Eastern Palace after a meal, he.

Xiaoyunzi reported, "Your Highness, the palace maids you requested are waiting outside. Would you like to see them?"

Su Zheng waved his hand. "Bring them all in."

Xiaoyunzi called out, "Enter the hall!"

Immediately, eight young women, pretty and graceful, filed in neatly and lined up in a row.

The maids didn't dare raise their heads, quickly stepping forward with eyes downcast. Once they were in position, they knelt together to greet Su Zheng and Luo Yunchen: "We, your servants, greet His Highness the Crown Prince and Heir Luo."

"Raise your heads. Let me see you."

"Yes." The maids obediently straightened up and looked up, still keeping their eyes down, not daring to look the prince in the eye.

Su Zheng glanced over them and thought they looked fine.

Some had fair skin and were beautiful, but since he was used to looking at Luo Yunchen, these women seemed far less stunning by comparison.

Still, it was almost impossible to find anyone in the palace more beautiful than Luo Yunchen.

Even if such a person existed, she had probably either been buried by his stepmother or taken in by his stepfather.

Su Zheng studied each one carefully. All eight had undergone strict court training and dared not move, making it hard to tell what their personalities were like.

In terms of appearance, some were flirtatious, some dignified, some cute, some gentle—each had her own charm.

Su Zheng asked, "Tell me what each of you is good at."

"Your servant is skilled in dance."

"Your servant is skilled in Kunqu opera."

"Your servant is skilled in styling hair."

"Your servant is skilled in massage."

"Your servant knows a bit of poetry and writing."

"..."

Su Zheng was about to ask more, but Luo Yunchen was already getting annoyed at him ogling these women.

Before Su Zheng could say anything, Luo Yunchen tugged his sleeve and casually pointed to four maids. "These four."

Turning around to face Su Zheng and blocking his view of the maids, Luo Yunchen asked, "Since they're for me, Brother, let me choose."

Su Zheng didn't object and nodded to Xiaoyunzi. "Xiaoyunzi, take the four that Heir Luo picked to his separate palace and tell them the rules.

Their only job is to take care of and look after the heir's comfort. If any of them upsets him, she'll be replaced and demoted to a lower maid.

The other four will stay here in the Eastern Palace for now. Take them and find them rooms."

Xiaoyunzi quickly acknowledged and led the maids away.

The eight maids heard the Crown Prince's orders loud and clear and immediately understood—they were here to serve the heir, not the prince.

Thoughts raced through the maids' minds, but even if any had reservations, none dared show it.

Luo Yunchen smirked with satisfaction. He looked at Su Zheng, longing to pull him close and hold him tight.

But in the end, he held back.

No rush. He couldn't be impatient. He had to make his brother understand that he only wanted his brother.

Once his brother understood, there'd be no reason to refuse!

After everyone had left, Luo Yunchen pulled Su Zheng into the study. "Brother, time for calligraphy practice."

Su Zheng didn't just practice casually. Instead, he picked up a brush and wrote down several recipes.

First, he wrote a recipe for compressed biscuits, then some brewing methods for liquor.

"When the Southern City is being repaired, we could set up a workshop to make this food. A small piece can fill a grown man's stomach for a meal. It doesn't taste great, but it's convenient and easy to eat. It could serve as emergency rations for soldiers on the march."

"These are brewing methods. We can teach them to the people of the Southern City. Open a tavern or distillery. Good wine sells itself—people will come to buy it. Over time, it'll boost the Southern City's economy and let the people make a living."

"Chen Di, see if these are useful. If not, burn them directly. I'll write more when I think of other ideas."

As for how to use them, he trusted Luo Yunchen would think it through more thoroughly than he could.

"Alright, rest assured, Imperial Brother. I will make good use of them."

Su Zheng nodded. "I'm going to sleep. Go back to your separate palace and meet your maids."

Luo Yunchen agreed and returned to his separate palace.

The four maids were already waiting outside. Without permission, they dared not enter the hall on their own.

After Luo Yunchen returned, the four palace maids followed him into the hall and knelt down.

Once Luo Yunchen was seated, a palace maid immediately rose to pour tea and present it to him.

Luo Yunchen accepted it nonchalantly and took a sip.

The palace maid promptly retreated to her original position and knelt down.

Luo Yunchen showed no particular reaction and said expressionlessly, "Do what you are supposed to do. But one thing—without my permission, you are not to approach the inner hall, nor touch anything inside it. Otherwise, death."

The light, emotionless word fell upon their ears like a heavy weight crashing onto their hearts, stirring an indescribable chill of fear within them.

The four hurriedly kowtowed in acknowledgment.

"You may leave."

One palace maid stood up and asked, "Young Master, would you like me to help you take off your outer robe?"

Luo Yunchen cast a faint glance at her.

The palace maid trembled, thinking she had displeased the Young Master. She was about to beg for mercy but before she could even react, she heard him respond flatly, "Mm."

Her heart relaxed, and she thought to herself that she had indeed overthought things—the Young Master seemed aloof and distant, but was actually quite approachable.

Luo Yunchen stood up and entered the inner hall. The palace maid immediately stood up and followed him in, helped him remove his outer robe and hung it on the rack.

"Go out now. Don’t touch anything else."

"Yes, Young Master. May I ask when this servant should come to wake you up?"

"No need."

That settled the matter. The palace maid dared not ask further and could only bow and withdraw.