Volume 3, Chapter 15: Shin Latter Part (1/2)

Now then, I wonder what will happen, Maomao thought as she wiped her face with a towel.

The face powder was gross. The rouge hardly came off, and she really needed to go wash her hair that had clumped up from the perfume oil properly afterwards. She had glued hair trimmings around her eyes a technique used by prostitutes with thin lashes but she was worried it wont come off.

The skirt she wore was longer than usual, and she had worn heavy shoes underneath to fake her height. She probably didnt need it though. The lot at the Crystal Palace hadnt noticed it at all.

Though Maomao was sulking about it, she took off the false bottom shoes. She also changed out of her outfit. Some sputum got caught on her clothes when she was nursing the severely sick person a while ago. She was relieved there wasnt blood in it. The infectiousness might be low, but she considered what could happen if she walked around with it, and thus prepared for a change of clothes. With it prepared at the Crystal Palace, the maid attire was pretty much lacking in function, but there was nothing she could do about it. She really wanted to take a bath, but it couldnt be done now so she relented.

When she tidied up, Maomao headed to the room where everyone was waiting for her.

Everyone was gathered in the parlour of the Crystal Palace, their expressions clouded with anxiety. Their gorgeous faces were all well-suited to the various fixtures of the room, but when Maomao entered with her make-up off, she couldnt help feeling she was somehow beyond her station.

There was Consort Rifa, Jinshi, Gaoshun, as well as a woman with a lithe beauty. The other maids had withdrawn from the room at Consort Rifas behest. The quack doctor seemed to be among that group as well, but since he had other business, he took priority over that.

Consort Rifas head maid was a woman called Shin. Consort Rifas cousin, and as a person who also had a noble lineage, she was a proud beauty who stood out even in the inner palace. Perhaps due to their relation, she somehow resembled Consort Rifa in looks.

She was the head maid. But considering her social status, she was in a position where it wouldnt be strange for her to be middle-ranked consort either.

(I wonder if shes challenging as a head maid.)

The ones vying for the emperors favour werent all consorts. Sometimes even a maidservant can win the emperors favour and become the empress dowager. It wasnt something absent in history. If that was the case, wouldnt gathering beautiful flowers in the one place make them stand out more? The maid who serves the high-rank consort becomes a mistress. That moment, the maid would immediately be appointed a rank so that her social status is appropriate to become a consort.

(What is it like for the people in question?)

Maomao didnt know anything concerning Consort Rifas family. Just that complex emotions would be revolving around the people in question. If they could overcome that and cover it with deep trust, the world will be at peace.

(Consort Gyokuyou is blessed.)

The head maid Honnyan wasnt a capable person who was sent in as help. She was only working as a maid for Consort Gyokuyou. Due to that, she passed her marriageable age. It would be nice if Consort Gyokuyou would mediate a good family for her to marry into one day, though. Even the other maids. They all have certainly lovely features, but they wouldnt even consider something outrageous like obtaining the emperors favour.

On the flipside, speaking of Consort Rifas maid here.

What is this supposed to mean?

Jinshi slapped the table, his eyes narrowed. There were several varieties of perfume oil and spices on it. These were the things that were found a while ago in the storage room with the sick person. They wouldnt stand out as individual pieces, but when several types get mixed, the smell of stuffy.

The rest of the perfume was wafting around the head maid called Shin. Even though the smell of the perfume wasnt on the head maid at all before.

With the stink of perfume being not there as the reason, she must have confiscated something else she bought with the other maids. Even if it wasnt the case, she might have properly kept it hidden away.

.

Shin closed her eyes, saying nothing.

(Is she keeping quiet?)

Her crime, at the same time as concealing the perfume and spice that had been banned, was on how she attempted to use those products to make something.

She shouldnt be charged with the crime of quarantining the maidservant in the shed. Moving her from the common room to prevent infection was an appropriate measure. The inner palace only has a single medical officer; it would be hopeless in the first place to have him look after the maidservant.

(It became the place for the eunuch with too much free time to drink tea though.)

Even if she was taken to the medical clinic, it doesnt mean that they could be entrusted with the maidservant. There were also those who hate getting medical treatment from women.

However, it was troubling if a person dies because of that reason, but it couldnt be helped.

Just that, the lives of maidservants are insignificant.

Jinshi was also thrust before the pieces of evidence and charged her the crime that she was accused of based on that.

However, the head maid called Shin simply stood there, making an oblivious face. She had a noble lineage from the start. The eunuch called Jinshi might only have the position where he could just phrase a complaint no matter what he wanted to say.

And the mysterious one was Consort Rifa. Her brows were lowered. She was just looking at her head maid. Her face was an expression of sorrow.

Shin looked directly at the eunuch who was inquiring her without lowering her head.

(Hoho, shes playing it quite well.)

The usual court lady would end up staggering just by being cross-examined by Jinshi. It seems he cannot use his ayakashi-like ability with this court lady either.

I dont know anything. Certainly, it was I who said to move the maidservant there. Apart from that, after suddenly turning up and asking to meet Rifa-sama, isnt her actions of looking through the shed more of an issue?

She said it succinctly. It was certainly true that they can not prove that the things in the shed were Shins.

Being the place with a sick person, the only contact everyone had to the shed only amounted to carrying her meals there, but conversely, it was a place where it wouldnt be strange if anyone entered.

In that case, it would be better if we asked the maidservant who was in that place.

How far can we trust the words of a maidservant who was mindless from fever?

You knew that she was feverish huh.

Maomao said without a moment of delay.

Shins demeanour changed instantly.

How gracious of you. To go out of your way to see a lowly maidservants condition.

Maomao added brazenly.

In that case, it wouldnt be strange to have the smell of perfume oil remain of your body.

Maomao picked out a small bottle from the table.

(No, Im obtruding too much if I do any more than this.)

She thought, but her body moved. She couldnt help it out of aggravation. Over her own position and all that, she was annoyed.

You smell just like this perfume oil. Despite you saying that this bottle was carefully placed inside the baggage. It is a smell that is so strong that it seeps out? Just in case, can you allow me to check?

Maomao was going to grab onto Shins sleeves, but Shin pushed her away. That moment, nails gouged across Maomaos cheeks. They were long nails.

Amidst the commotion around her, Maomao rubbed the gash with her thumb. There wasnt a lot of blood. Only a thin layer of skin was taken off.

My apologies. Someone of my position shouldnt have touched you. Shall we get someone else to examine you instead?

She said it casually as all of the gazes in the room gathered onto Shin.

Shin, whose lips were twisted into a jagged shape, whose eyes were bloodshot. The unpleasant smell of sweat hung in the air. Her pupils were dilated.

People sweat when they are nervous. The glistening sweat was different to the perspiration from strenuous activity. The sweat was disgusting, the smell intense.

Eyes were the same. Though not as easily understood as a cats, the pupils of human eyes also change. Consort Gyokuyou with her pale eyes was more easily understood than others because of that, so when she held tea parties with other consorts, there were many times where she smiled with her pale eyes closed.

(One more effort.)

It was what Maomao had prepared one step in advance.

For this part, can you leave it to me?

She heard a voice that was prideful but not arrogant. Consort Rifa who was sitting on the couch stood up. As she fingered her long skirt, she approached Maomao, no, Shin.

(Oh?)

The outfit that Consort Rifa was wearing looked very similar to the design that Consort Gyokuyou was wearing recently. It wasnt a problem, considering that it was purchased when the caravans came.

What will be this persons charge?

Rifa-sama.

Shin said. Her eyes were filled with various emotions, but for some reason, there were no signs of a questioning in her gaze.

For arguments sake, if she was making an abortion drug, it is the same as killing the emperors children.

As if she would understand by just saying that, Jinshi closed his eyes.

Is that so. Does that apply to any consort?

It is the same for high-rank consorts and low-rank consorts.

Consort Rifa covered her eyes, and looked at Shin,

(That saying.)

Rifa and Shin. They were names of a set.

Maomao suddenly thought. She didnt think that this head maid called Shin was dumb. Just that there were millions of people in this world who are foolish even when they are smart. Most of these were actions controlled by emotions.

Maomao thought about Shin and one other person.

And then, the one who put out the conclusion was Consort Rifa.

Even if the target was just myself?

Consort! That is!

Jinshi leaned forward. Gaoshun also widened his eyes.

With the one line from Consort Rifa, it was Maomao who understood.

She had thought it was strange the whole time.

The resources Consort Rifa had as a consort were sufficient. And yet, she had always thought that the other woman couldnt find decent maids.

It wasnt the case. It was the maids of the Crystal Palace who gathered up these type of people, and the one who gathered them was Shin here.

Previously, during the incident with the poisonous face powder, a single maid who was forced to resign. However, what about the other ones who were there? They continued working carefreely.

And then, speaking of Consort Rifa in response to this head maid

Shin, even once, you never treated me as a consort. You must be thinking that I wasnt suitable as the empress dowager.

Maomao understood what Consort Rifa was saying. Shin never called her Consort even once.

You and I, we never understood who will become the consort till the end.

Consort Rifas voice was sad.