The maid was stunned by the shouting and then looked at Princess Jin Hua with a bit of grievance, defending her own princess yet wondering why her princess rebuked her so harshly.
"Stupid!" Princess Jin Hua looked at the maid with cold eyes and then said lightly, "Considering the many years you have served me, I will explain a bit more. Even though Young Master Jin and the others are subordinates of Lord Ye, their status is still not something we can comment on. And as a maid, you should never speak such disrespectful words. From now on, you are not to stay by my side."
"No, Princess, please have mercy..." The maid’s face turned ashen as she quickly knelt down and tried to grab Princess Jin Hua’s legs to plead for forgiveness. She knew that the princess’s words had just determined her future fate, from the clouds to the mud, about to engage in the lowest tasks that a palace maid would perform. As the personal maid to the Princess, her life had been even better than that of daughters of officials’ families. But all of this was granted by Princess Jin Hua, and now her words would cast her into endless darkness.
Yet Princess Jin Hua was indifferent and simply waved her hand, whereupon guards came forward and covered the maid’s mouth, dragging her away. Princess Jin Hua ignored the maid’s expression of despair and looked longingly at the embassy’s main gate. She so hoped that Ye Lanfeng would suddenly appear, to have a chance to see him.
The expression of Princess Jin Hua’s other personal maid turned pale as well, filled with relief. She too had almost uttered the same words to please Princess Jin Hua had the other maid not spoken first, but with such a result. Now, she broke out in a cold sweat as she belatedly realized the regal status of those residing in the embassy; even the King treated them with utmost respect, yet how could they, mere servants, have been so thoughtlessly disrespectful?
The dragged-away maid glared at Princess Jin Hua’s back with resentful eyes. Her mind was flooded with curses. Since you, Princess Jin Hua, knew the esteemed status of those in the embassy and had said more than once that no woman could catch his eye, why did you think you were special, where did you get the audacity to think you could catch his eye? If not for your misleading, how could I have spoken those reckless words today? I was defending you, yet you show no past affection and are so merciless!
Princess Jin Hua, how cruel your heart is. I, Fu Ping, swear today that if one day I have the chance, I will make you wish you were dead.
Princess Jin Hua was unaware that her actions had provoked such hatred. However, even if she knew, it would not bother her; she did not believe a lowly maid could do anything against a high and mighty princess. She still stood dreamily at the embassy gate for a long time before reluctantly leaving.
At that moment, Jin Yuguang was carrying roast duck through the corridor, intending to enjoy it in the hall. He was caught by Zhou Binghai, who was originally intently reading a book.
"Brother Bing, heh, what’s up?" Jin Yuguang asked somewhat guiltily.
"You’ve got some nerve, daring to accept gifts on behalf of Lord Ye! You know full well Lord Ye has absolutely no interest in that princess," Zhou Binghai reproached him with a cold face.
"Oh, I know, that’s why I didn’t tell Lord Ye. I was just going to throw these gifts out later," Jin Yuguang chuckled.