The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1517 - 1514: Making Things Difficult

Following the chamberlain, Wang Yongzhu examined the Imperial City as she walked.

The Imperial City was broadly similar to the Purple-something City she had seen in her previous life, generally grand and imposing.

However, since the Purple-something City of her former life was uninhabited, many places were locked, lacking any sign of life.

But this Imperial City was at its peak, with red walls and green tiles shining brilliantly under the sun.

Along the way, Imperial Guards patrolled periodically, and a few eunuchs or palace maids passed by in twos and threes.

Yet, probably because noise was forbidden in the Imperial City, the rules were stringent.

Aside from the slightly louder footsteps of the Imperial Guards, the eunuchs and palace maids walked with very light and swift steps, keeping close to the walls.

Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu and her group, the eunuchs and palace maids respectfully stepped aside, bowed their heads, and only continued forward after they had passed.

The chamberlain in front occasionally glanced back at the Duke Weiguo Residence’s Wife of the Heir-Apparent. If it were the noble daughter of another family, she should have at least exchanged a few pleasantries.

Whether or not she could get a truth from him, it would at least give her a bit of reassurance, wouldn’t it?

He could also reveal a mix of truths and falsehoods, earn some rewards, and everyone would be happy.

But this Wife of the Heir-Apparent, since disembarking the carriage, had not uttered a single word.

If she was scared, why does she look so relaxed, as if taking a leisurely stroll, even turning her head to glance around, showing no sign of fear?

Indeed, it’s like visiting a garden she’s never been to.

The chamberlain was startled by his thoughts and collected himself, "Wife of the Heir-Apparent, this is the palace, you can’t look around freely!"

Wang Yongzhu looked at the chamberlain with a faint smile and calmly said "Oh," and truly stopped looking around.

After all, both sides were just palace walls, looking the same when glanced at over and over.

The chamberlain was stifled by Wang Yongzhu’s attitude, was momentarily stunned, rolled his eyes, and then quickened his pace without showing any expression.

Yesterday, the order from above said to bring this Wife of the Heir-Apparent into the palace and reminded not to show negligence but to serve carefully.

He had inquired about the Wife of the Heir-Apparent, knowing that though she was the Wife of the Heir-Apparent of the Duke Weiguo Residence, a few years back she and the Princely Heir had been banished to a remote place in the Northwest to serve as the County Magistrate’s Lady.

This time she returned, and it was unsure how she came to receive the attention of the Imperial Noble Consort, who wanted to meet her.

But having not entered the palace for so many years and staying in the countryside, he initially regarded her with slight contempt.

Maybe her manners and conduct were unsophisticated?

Moreover, upon meeting Wang Yongzhu in person, although she was wearing the formal garb of the Wife of the Heir-Apparent, which was not common, her complexion was sallow, indicating she came from the countryside, thus he regarded her even more disdainfully.

Besides, while waiting at the Duke Weiguo Residence’s entrance, no one from the residence came out to see her off, it seemed the Duke’s Mansion didn’t hold her in high esteem.

Surely, if she were esteemed, the Princely Heir and Wife of the Heir-Apparent wouldn’t have been sent to a desolate place in the Northwest to serve as County Magistrates?

So, the chamberlain thought to himself, if the Wife of the Heir-Apparent were sensible, with a good attitude and offered some good gifts, he wouldn’t make things difficult.

Yet Wang Yongzhu showed no such sensibility, so he held no culpability.

For these chamberlains, making things difficult for these high-born ladies was done effortlessly, easily and skillfully.

Without saying it, these noble patrons, accustomed to comfort, wouldn’t keep pace if he just increased the pace a bit.

In the palace, meeting with the consorts required proper outfit and attire.

Failing to keep up meant they’d have to run to catch up, which given the weather, would be unbearable running all the way to Changchun Palace.

Their hair would be disheveled, makeup ruined, making a meeting disrespectful.

If they didn’t keep up and caused an offense to any consort in the palace, he wouldn’t be to blame.

The little eunuchs nearby saw the chamberlain speeding up and instantly understood.

Glancing at each other, they too picked up their pace, intending to give Wang Yongzhu a hard time.

Wang Yongzhu immediately grasped the scheme and nearly burst into laughter.

She held back her laughter and silently kept pace with the chamberlain.

The chamberlain sped up for a bit, turned back to check, and found Wang Yongzhu following closely. Seeing him look back, she even used a handkerchief as if wiping sweat.

The chamberlain only glanced once, not daring to look further, guessing that the Wife of the Heir-Apparent might soon be unable to keep up.

Increasing his pace even more, striding briskly, almost breaking into a jog.

No matter how much he accelerated, each time he glanced back, Wang Yongzhu followed at a not-too-far distance, struggling but keeping up.

At first, the chamberlain didn’t feel much, but when he almost ran out of energy, and the trailing little eunuchs were panting heavily, he sensed something was wrong.

Stopping his steps to catch his breath.

Wang Yongzhu then casually asked, "Manager, why did you stop? Not to mention, your pace is a bit too slow. Even the oxen in our countryside walk faster than you! You barely picked up the pace, and after just a few steps, you’re all exhausted like dogs?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"When I meet the Imperial Noble Consort, I should discuss with Her Majesty how the servants are so feeble, panting after a few quick steps, how can they handle matters? What if there’s something important, wouldn’t it be delayed?"

"Seeing you all here, unable to carry a shoulder pole or lift anything, it’s fortunate you’re in the palace, where His Majesty and the consorts are kind enough to allow this laziness. Were you in our countryside, keeping such servants would be pointless. Unable to work and wasting silver coins?"

The chamberlain and the little eunuchs’ faces changed immediately, if word reached the ears of the Imperial Noble Consort, never mind Her Majesty, even the aunts and the Chief Steward in Changchun Palace, their lives wouldn’t be spared.

Little did he expect that the familiar method backfired this time, hitting a hard wall.

Yet in the palace, serving there, having a thick skin was useless.

With Wang Yongzhu’s words, they each knelt down swiftly, bursting into tears and snot flowing: "We implore the Wife of the Heir-Apparent to be magnanimous and forgive us. We were momentarily overwhelmed, clouded by foolishness, and behaved in such a manner! We beg you, punish us as you wish, just don’t mention this to the Imperial Noble Consort, or our lives will be forfeit!"

Tearfully, they banged their heads on the floor with thunderous noise.

The passing eunuchs and palace maids, seeing from afar, hurriedly avoided getting involved, fearing implication in the matter.

Wang Yongzhu wouldn’t truly hold grudges against them. Seeing their genuine fear, she snorted coldly, "Alright, get up! The Imperial Noble Consort is still waiting for me, don’t delay the timing, or even if I want to spare you, would Her Majesty spare you?"

The chamberlain and the eunuchs felt their souls leave their bodies, quickly got up, wiped their tears, tidied their appearances, and respectfully led Wang Yongzhu to Changchun Palace.

At Changchun Palace’s gate, the little eunuch who had accompanied Chief Steward Huai to the Duke Weiguo Residence yesterday was already waiting.

Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, he hurriedly welcomed her with eagerness: "Wife of the Heir-Apparent, you’re finally here, Her Majesty has been expecting you since morning, please—"

This attitude made the leading chamberlain and eunuchs shiver.

They realized that this Wife of the Heir-Apparent was not someone they should have offended?

They weren’t foolish, a quick thought and they understood they had likely been set up intentionally to offend the Wife of the Heir-Apparent and Changchun Palace.

Sullen and filled with dread, their legs started trembling.

The little eunuch beside Chief Steward Huai was very astute as well, seeing their condition, he guessed part of the situation and quickly asked, "Wife of the Heir-Apparent, was it these servants along the way treating you poorly? Not serving adequately?"

The group trembled even more.

Wang Yongzhu smiled, took a plain purse from her sleeve, and threw it to the chamberlain: "They were fairly obedient along the way, here’s something for you!"

The chamberlain and the little eunuchs, feeling like they escaped death, didn’t dare to accept the purse, knelt, and clanked their heads, "Thank you for your reward, Wife of the Heir-Apparent!"

After the little eunuch from Changchun Palace led Wang Yongzhu inside, they shakily grabbed the purse, exchanged glances, and helped each other back to report.