85 Chapter 85: Poor Quality (1/2)

”Ah,” Su Mei Fan gasped in surprise. She just took a step inside the chamber and as she saw the mess, considerately stopped by the door. Following her, Xiao Xiu while carrying a bundle of papers, stood behind, seemingly afraid. Worried, Su Mei Fan added, ”What's the matter, Sister Ye?”

”You..!” Ye Ai Ning shakily pointed a finger towards Su Mei Fan then glare at the maidservant who let her in. The servant trembled in fear and step further to the side. Shards were all over the chamber and spilled tea dirtied the floor. Having caught in such a mess and with her acting like a madman from the slums, Ye Ai Ning can't help but feel shame. Her cheeks redden as if she was slapped. She gripped her palms tightly that her nails almost dug into her skin. Ye Ai Ning choose to rein in her emotion and smoothed her robes, however, her tone remain filled with poison as she state, ”What matters are so urgent that Concubine Su must barge rudely in my palace?”

Su Mei Fan raised her arms in defense. As if trying to hide her quivering lips, she covered half of her face with her sleeves. ”After going thru suffering and enduring together, is there still a need to be mean to Fan'er?”

Although intentionally throwing her weight around, still, after she was directly accused of being mean by a childlike beauty, Ye Ai Ning was struck with a bit of conscience.”Quickly state what you came for,” she said, easing her tone a bit.

Su Mei Fan open her mouth, and close it, then open it again but ultimately closing it in the end. Her eyes flickering around the room and suddenly, she looked as if she'll cry at any given moment. Ye Ai Ning, as the one witnessing it, felt responsible and guilt gnawed her heart.

Lowering her gaze at the floor, Su Mei Fan fidget, shutter, and then talk her way around it, slowly telling but actually avoiding the topic. ”His Majesty favored Imperial Noble Consort Ye so much that he cannot be separated for long and ordered the empress to make an exception. Knowing this, Her Majesty happily obligate and allowed the ladies with the rank of a consort and above to participate for the Autumn Hunt. B—but Sister Ye just recently made a mistake and was punished. In this, the empress can't make another exception and thus, Sister Ye must done her task or—or…”

”Stop talking about things I already know. Be quick and direct with it,” Ye Ai Ning interrupted. She can no longer look at Su Mei Fan. It was as if she was a sheep being send to slaughter and all Ye Ai Ning wanted, is to get her out of her misery already. If other saw, they will accuse her of bullying, and Ye Ai Ning herself, might even nod in agreement with them.

'These pass week, how did she exactly handle this cry baby?' Ye Ai Ning thought and then flashbacks of careless mistake flooded her mind. Even before she could flip out in rage, Su Mei Fan is already drowning in tears. Ye Ai Ning reach to massage her head.

tartled, Su Mei Fan turned even more anxious. Feeling a lump in her throat and fighting against her sobs, she painfully let out her voice. ”Y-yes! I'm… I was happy when we finally finished copying after these days of hurrying and so… I can't help but be excited for the ink to dry and to turn them in to Eunuch Lin. B—but Sister Ye, they are not drying! Not at all!”

”What?!” Ye Ai Ning felt her heart drop. In a large stride, she reach in front of Su Mei Fan. The first thought in her mind is that, Wei Yi Yi must be playing tricks on her. What obediently obligating?! She must be planning from the start to make it difficult for her!

This time, tears begin to roll down Su Mei Fan's rounded cheeks. With her emotion spilling out of control, she frustratingly explained, ”Fan'er is not lying! Not only the ink is not drying, it seems like it was not properly diluted and now the water is separating in the surface, creating stain marks, and affecting the others.” Su Mei Fan took a page from her servant and turn it towards her. ”Water marks are forming around the characters. The—they're turning gray. Somehow. Wait… ah ah! I don't think they're legible anymore! I—I don't know anymore! What to do Sister Ye? If we cannot present these copies to the Eunuch, you'll be left behind!”

”How could that be?! Last time I saw, they were still fine!”

”Maybe… too much water were mixed while grinding the ink… or… or…”

”Or what?!”