Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 45
by Little PandaVolume 2: The Captivating Splendor of Jingdu
The desire to possess the Ninth Princess had long taken root in Su Tianci’s heart, growing into an obsession that was close to controlling his mind.
Fondling the medicine hidden in his sleeve, Su Tianci took advantage of a moment when everyone was chatting and laughing, paying him no attention. He slipped away to a corner of the pavilion, summoned his personal xiaosi2, and handed over the medicine. “Go. When the tea is served later, find a chance to put this into the Ninth Princess’s cup.”
Su Tianci was a frequent visitor to the First Prince’s Mansion, and the maids and servants there were already familiar with his xiaosi. Therefore, drugging the tea wouldn’t be difficult.
The xiaosi was a little scared. He didn’t know what kind of drug his master was asking him to administer. That was an imperial princess! If he were found out, his own insignificant life would likely be forfeit. But he couldn’t disobey his master’s command, so he could only agree, trembling.
Seeing him like this, Su Tianci felt intensely disappointed in his uselessness3. He smacked the servant on the head. “Idiot! How could this Young Master dare to harm an imperial princess? This isn’t some bad medicine. Just go do it. When it’s done, the Ninth Princess won’t blame you. She might even reward you.”
Reassured by his master’s words, the xiaosi felt a bit bolder. After checking that no one outside had noticed him, he slipped away stealthily.
Su Tianci watched him leave, then returned to the banquet, thoroughly satisfied.
Su Yi was led to the area where the Prince’s Mansion servants rested. She was allowed a short break there before she had to help with chores, like serving tea and melon seeds when the young masters and misses attending the banquet grew tired. At that time, she could try to promote her wares to them, getting them to buy something. This, supposedly, was the great benevolence bestowed upon them by the First Prince.
Su Yi, “…”
F%cking hell, did she pay money to sneak in here just to be a maid?
Su Yi felt this First Prince was cunning as a monkey4, with so many ways to trick people. Now she understood what the “attendant” part of “attendant merchant” meant.
The xiaosi who had explained the rules glanced at the merchants and artisans before him—lowly people fit only to wear animal masks—and said haughtily5, “Did you all remember the rules I just told you?”
Su Yi retorted defiantly, “This commoner’s6 mind isn’t good, I can’t remember.”
“Tsk.” The xiaosi shot her a disdainful look. “No wonder you’re a pig, you don’t even have brains.”
Su Yi was furious and about to argue back when the Big Sister7 next to her, wearing an ox-head mask, quickly pulled her back. “Aiya, little sister, is this your first time? This is the nephew of the head housekeeper auntie in the mansion. We can’t afford to offend him! Otherwise, we won’t be able to earn money in the future. This is the First Prince’s benevolence, you absolutely mustn’t miss this chance! Quick, quick, apologize to Steward Huang.”
The young masters and misses were very generous spenders8. Coming here once could earn enough money for the next two or three, even five or six years. Everyone had families to support, so merchants and artisans eagerly flocked9 to the First Prince’s Mansion flower-viewing parties, which had been held many times.
Su Yi calmed down. She hadn’t come here to cause trouble for others anyway. Besides, being a maid was perfect; it gave her a chance to get close to the princesses.
Heeding the Big Sister’s advice, she apologized to the xiaosi. “This commoner came here for the first time and doesn’t understand the rules. Please forgive me, Daren10.”
As she spoke, she took out some bits of silver and offered them to the xiaosi. “Please bear with me, Daren.”
Seeing the silver, the xiaosi beamed with delight and waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it. What do you commoners understand anyway? What’s your name?”
“This commoner is called Yin Su.”
The xiaosi scanned her. Although he couldn’t see Su Yi’s face, her slender waist suggested a frail physique. “Seeing how thin and weak you look, you probably can’t handle heavy work. Just go serve tea to the misses and young masters. Making and serving tea is simple work, you can manage that, right?”
“Yes, I can. Thank you very much, Daren.”
It seemed the saying “money makes the world go round”11 applied in any dynasty.
The Big Sister who had advised her took the chance to whisper tips in her ear. “Little sister, wait until the misses and young masters are in a good mood after drinking their tea. Then, seize every opportunity12 to tell them about the goods you have. For the sake of face, the misses and young masters will usually buy something.”
“Understood. Thank you, Big Sister.” Su Yi gave her a grateful smile and followed a maid to the tea room.
Only one person was in the tea room, dozing off. Because of the banquet today, trusting that the masters wouldn’t come here, the other maids and servants were also slacking off, having run off somewhere to play.
The maid who brought her saw her colleague slacking but said nothing; after all, she planned to find a warm place to hide and be lazy herself after dropping Su Yi off.
She glanced at the stove heating water; the water on top wasn’t boiling yet. She instructed Su Yi, “When the water boils, prepare the tea. You can’t use the first infusion; only the second is acceptable. I’ll go out and call someone to serve the tea with you. You watch the stove here, understand?”
“Yes.” Su Yi obediently agreed.
The maid left eagerly. Su Yi walked over to the stove and watched the fire, feeling utterly bored.
Once the water boiled, she began preparing the tea according to the maid’s instructions.
Following his master’s orders, Su Tianci’s xiaosi made his way to the tea room. He felt somewhat guilty because he didn’t know which cup belonged to the Ninth Princess.
To prevent assassination attempts by poisoning, the utensils used by imperial princesses and princes were specially supplied. The First Prince often held flower-viewing parties at his mansion, and for his sisters’ safety, he personally selected their utensils, which were engraved with their rank.
Upon entering the tea room, Su Tianci’s xiaosi saw only Su Yi and the dozing maid. He instantly grew bolder, walked up to Su Yi with his hands behind his back, and asked, “Elder sister, are you preparing the tea?”
Su Tianci was annoying, and his xiaosi was no less so. During the months Su Yi spent at the Marquis Pingyang Mansion, Su Tianci had come over daily to disgust her, so Su Yi had become familiar with the people around him.
Recognizing him as Su Tianci’s xiaosi, alarm bells instantly rang in Su Yi’s mind. “Yes, I am. Is there something you need, little brother?”
“Oh, nothing much, just came to have a look.” The xiaosi smiled, pulling out a few copper coins from his pocket, fawning. “Elder Sister, let me handle a small task like making tea. It wouldn’t be good if you scalded yourself.”
Who’s your elder sister? So disgusting.
“Alright, I was just wondering how to slack off anyway.” Su Yi smiled, walking over to the dozing maid’s side, wanting to see what he was really up to. “Then I’ll take a nap.”
This suited the xiaosi perfectly. “Ah, yes, yes, you rest, you rest.”
After saying this, he turned his back to them, took the packet of medicine from his robes, poured half of it into a cup, and stirred it evenly with a teaspoon.
Su Yi sat down, watching his actions with cold eyes. She couldn’t see exactly what he was doing, but it definitely wasn’t anything good.
The xiaosi finished preparing the tea and called out to Su Yi, “Elder Sister, the tea is ready. Should I serve it?”
“No, that’s our job. How could we trouble you?” Su Yi stood up smiling. Just then, several maids arrived to carry the tea trays. Mansion rules forbade male servants from serving tea, as they might easily offend the guests. No matter how reluctant the xiaosi was, he had no choice but to let them deliver the tea.
However, thinking that he had already administered the drug and the Ninth Princess couldn’t escape, he felt reassured and went back to report to his master.
After Su Yi and the maids left the room, she deliberately walked behind the maid carrying the tray with the princesses’ cups. While the people ahead were walking, she secretly slipped the maid a silver ingot worth five taels. “Elder Sister, I sell rouge. Could you let me carry the princesses’ tea? I want to sell them some things later.”
“This…” The maid hesitated. According to the rules, merchants like Su Yi weren’t qualified to serve things to the princesses.
Su Yi slipped her another ingot. “Good sister, please bend the rules a little.”
Ten taels of silver was three or four months’ wages for her. Feeling the warmth of the silver, the maid gritted her teeth. “I can’t let you carry all of them, or the First Prince will punish me if he finds out. How about this: you carry the cups for the Second, Third, and Ninth Princesses.”
These particular princesses were usually amiable and had never blamed anyone. Even if a merchant served their tea instead of a maid, they probably wouldn’t punish her.
“Alright.” As long as the Ninth Princess was included, things would be easy.
Su Yi quickly took the cups and swapped three ordinary teacups onto the maid’s tray. “Elder Sister, it’s my first time here, I’m not familiar with the way. Please walk ahead.”
“Then you’d better follow closely.”
“Okay.”
Su Yi walked at the very back. As they rounded a corner, while the people ahead weren’t paying attention, she poured the liquid from an ordinary teacup onto the ground, emptied the contents of Ji Qingchi’s cup into that now-empty ordinary cup, and then wiped Ji Qingchi’s cup clean with a handkerchief, leaving only the empty teacup.
Up in the pavilion, the sound of chatting and laughing continued unabated.
The Seventh Princess looked like a frost-bitten eggplant13, completely lacking energy. “What kind of lousy flower-viewing party is this? When will it end?”
“Little Seven, mind your image.” The Third Princess maintained a dignified smile while trying to prop up her sister, who was practically slumped in her chair.
“Which young master has caught your eyes, dear Imperial Sisters?” the Second Princess asked with great interest, listening to a young master play the flute. “This Palace thinks that eldest legitimate great-grandson from the Marquis Pingyang’s family isn’t bad. His face is handsome enough. For men, what else can you expect? A good face is sufficient.”
The Seventh Princess nodded. “This Palace also agrees with Second Imperial Sister. If they aren’t good-looking, This Palace gets annoyed just looking at them.”
The Third Princess also nodded. If one were to choose a zhengjun14, the legitimate heir of the Marquis Pingyang’s Mansion was indeed a good choice.
The Second Princess then looked at her sisters to her left and right. “What about Fifth Imperial Sister and Ninth Imperial Sister?”
Ji Qingxuan said impatiently, “Don’t know.”
Actually, she favored the Chancellor’s son, but if she said so now, Ji Qingchi might compete with her for him.
The Second Princess was snubbed15, but she didn’t mind the awkwardness and asked again, “What about Little Nine?”
“Not yet.”
“Aiya, Little Nine, this won’t do! Look at you, already seventeen, how come you don’t even have a shijun16…”
Just as the Second Princess was about to launch into a long lecture, she caught sight of a pig head mixed in among the tea-serving maids, who wore elegant crane masks and moved with ethereal grace. The stark contrast made her burst out laughing. “Aiyo, this mask is truly made remarkably true to life!”
The other princesses laughed too. The Seventh Princess was more exaggerated, clutching her stomach and collapsing onto her seat with laughter. “Who carved this pig head? It’s carved so well.”
Seeing the princesses laugh, the others pointed at Su Yi and laughed loudly as well.
Su Yi felt like Grandma Liu17 being made fun of in the Grand View Garden, forced to pretend she didn’t know what was happening. She thought resentfully, Go ahead and laugh. In the future, the price of your things will all go up.
Carrying the tea tray, she bypassed the other maids and first delivered the drugged cup of tea to Su Tianci.
The guests’ teacups were all identical. Su Tianci never imagined that the tea he had arranged to be drugged would end up being served to him. He didn’t recognize Su Yi either, merely nodding at her before opening the lid and drinking.
Only after serving the guests did Su Yi serve the princesses.
The Second Princess stroked her teacup, looking at Su Yi’s mask with considerable interest. “You’re not a maid from Imperial Brother’s mansion, are you?”
Su Yi disguised her voice. “This commoner is a merchant.”
“No wonder.” The Third Princess smiled and took a sip of tea. “This Palace was just saying, why did you serve the guests first before serving us?”
According to etiquette, the princesses should have been served first. But Su Yi had been afraid someone else would serve Su Tianci, leaving her unable to deliver the problematic tea in her hand, so she had rushed to serve him first.
Su Yi quickly pleaded guilty. “This commoner is guilty. This commoner just arrived and does not understand the rules.”
Ji Qingchi opened her teacup, found it empty, and frowned slightly. Just as she was about to inquire, she heard the person before her say she was a merchant…
Her gaze lingered for a few moments on the woman’s waist, so slender it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. Then, Ji Qingchi’s brow slowly smoothed out. Raising the empty cup, she pretended to take a sip before speaking slowly and methodically, “Ignorance is no crime. You say you are a merchant. What kind of business do you do?”
Su Yi saw her action and was inwardly surprised. The female protagonist saw the cup was empty, didn’t blame me, and even pretended to drink from it? Seems she isn’t that cruel?
“This commoner deals in the rouge business.”
“Oh?” This little Su Yi’s brain works fast. Haven’t seen her in a short while, and she’s already started researching and selling rouge.
Ji Qingchi’s eyes held a smile. “Then did you bring any products with you? This Palace would like to see how they are. If the goods are good, This Palace will buy them all.”
“Aiya, Little Nine has turned over a new leaf?” The Seventh Princess tugged at the Third Princess in astonishment, whispering, “What’s she buying rouge for? She doesn’t even have a shijun in her residence.”
The Third Princess was also puzzled. “Maybe… she’s taken a liking to someone and wants to gift it to him?”
Su Yi had brought quite a bit of rouge with her. Part of it was prepared for dealing with Su Tianci, while the other part was perfectly fine.
Su Yi said, “This commoner doesn’t have it on her person right now. I need to go get it.”
“Alright, This Palace will go with you.”
Su Yi was very surprised. The female protagonist likes rouge that much? She specifically wants to come with me to get it.
However, thinking that she needed the female protagonist to lure Su Tianci out, she nodded. “Then please follow this commoner, Your Highness.”
Ji Qingchi stood up. “Imperial Sisters, please sit for a while. This Palace will be right back.”
“Go on, go on.” Guessing that their long-single Ninth Sister might finally have someone she liked, all the princesses except the Fifth were quite pleased, watching them leave with benevolent gazes.
Seeing them depart, Su Tianci also slipped out secretly. His xiaosi saw him and said happily, “Young Master, I put in more than half the medicine. It should start taking effect very soon.”
“Good. This Young Master will reward you handsomely later.” Overjoyed, Su Tianci gave him a string of cash18 and hurriedly dashed off after Su Yi and the princess.
Su Yi led Ji Qingchi towards the place where she had stored the rouge. Just as they exited the main area and reached the rock garden, her waist suddenly tightened as someone grabbed her.
Su Yi jumped in fright. The word “Pervert!” was stuck in her throat, not yet shouted, when she was lifted into the air and hidden behind a large boulder on the rockery.
“Shh…” Ji Qingchi put a finger to her lips, gesturing for silence, and pointed downwards. “Someone is following us.”
From a distance, Su Tianci had watched Su Yi and the princess walk towards the rock garden. When he arrived there, however, he couldn’t see anyone. He searched back and forth, sweating anxiously. Gradually, as he moved, the drug in his system began to take effect, and he instantly became overcome with lust and confusion.
The First Prince knew how to enjoy life and kept many pet beasts in his garden, including eight or nine wolfhounds taller than a man. This rock garden was near the menagerie, so few people came here. Today, the menagerie keepers had all gone off drinking for the flower-viewing party. Consequently, several of the beasts, being in heat19, broke through their cages and escaped.
Soon, a scene requiring mosaic censorship20 unfolded in front of the rock garden.
Su Yi’s face was alight with excitement. Hearing Su Tianci’s miserable screams brought her immense joy. Just as she wanted to get closer to watch, a hand covered her eyes.
She impatiently slapped the hand away. “Don’t interrupt my viewing of the show.”
A low voice sounded beside her ear. “So Miss Su enjoys this kind of performance.”
Su Yi: “!!!”
Crap! In my excitement, I forgot to disguise my voice!
What now? Will the female protagonist think I’m a pervert?!
Footnotes
- 恶果报 | È guǒ bào | Lit. “evil fruit recompense”; Refers to receiving retribution or bad consequences for one’s evil actions, akin to reaping what you sow.
- 小厮 | xiǎo sī | Young male servant or attendant.
- 恨铁不成钢 | hèn tiě bù chéng gāng | Lit. “hate iron for not becoming steel”; To feel resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations or develop potential.
- 猴精猴精的 | hóu jīng hóu jīng de | Lit. “monkey spirit monkey spirit”; Very clever, sly, or cunning, often in a mischievous way. Repetition adds emphasis.
- 趾高气昂 | zhǐ gāo qì áng | Lit. “high toes and lofty spirit”; Strutting about arrogantly, puffed up with pride.
- 草民 | cǎomín | Lit. “grass person”; a humble self-address used by commoners when speaking to officials or nobility.
- 大姐 | dàjiě | Lit. “Big Sister”; A common, friendly term for addressing an older woman who is not a relative.
- 出手阔绰 | chū shǒu kuò chuò | Lit. “hand出手 extends wide”; Lavish or generous with money.
- 趋之若鹜 | qū zhī ruò wù | Lit. “rush to it like ducks”; To scramble for something eagerly, often out of self-interest.
- 大人 | dàren | Lit. “great person”; a respectful term of address for an official or superior, like ‘Sir’ or ‘Master’.
- 有钱能使鬼推磨 | yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò | Lit. “money can make ghosts turn the millstone”; A proverb meaning that money is powerful enough to make anything happen.
- 见缝插针 | jiàn fèng chā zhēn | Lit. “stick a needle in wherever there’s a crack”; To make use of every single opportunity, however small.
- 霜打的茄子 | shuāng dǎ de qiézi | Lit. “eggplant hit by frost”; An idiom describing someone who is listless, dispirited, or wilted.
- 正君 | zhèng jūn | Likely ‘Principal Consort’ or the main, official husband in this context where women hold imperial rank.
- 碰了一鼻子灰 | pèng le yī bízi huī | Lit. “got a nose full of ash”; To meet with a rebuff, be snubbed, or have one’s request turned down.
- 侍君 | shì jūn | Attendant Lord.
- 刘姥姥 | Liú Lǎolao | A rustic, comical character from the classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦), known for visiting her wealthy relatives in the Jia family’s grand estate (Dàguānyuán – Grand View Garden) and being a source of amusement.
- 吊钱 | diào qián | A unit of currency in historical China, typically consisting of 1000 copper coins strung together.
- 发了情的兽 | fā le qíng de shòu | Lit. “beasts that have entered estrus/heat.”
- 需要被马赛克的场景 | xūyào bèi mǎsàikè de chǎngjǐng | Lit. “a scene that needs to be mosaicked/pixelated”; A modern internet phrase indicating content that is too graphic (violent, sexual, or disturbing) to be shown directly and would typically be censored.
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