Chapter 126: Into Prince Jin’s Mansion Together

You have suffered a lot from the kitchen work, but things start to go smooth as you get along well with everyone in the mansion. At this time, Fu Heng has also entered Prince Jin's Mansion as a guard...

## Thanks for the Care

You are pushed roughly towards Prince Jin’s mansion. You stumble along, almost falling several times.

A male of 50 or 60 stand before you, a fly-whisk in his hand. He looks you up and down. His voice is shrill – probably a eunuch.

Steward Zhou: Well, well! I cannot see why the Prince would bother saving you. But there will be time for that. The day is still young.

MC: [Smiling fainting after getting your footing] I throw myself on your mercy, Steward.

Steward Zhou: In the Prince’s mansion whether your live or die is up to you.

MC: Thanks for the tip.

Steward Zhou had obviously been hoping to see you in tears or scared out of your wits, but you seem well-composed. Robbed of his sport, he looks coldly at you and walks off.

MC: Steward Zhou, where shall I stay? Master!

You call out to him, but he completely ignores you and walks off, out of sight.

You’re just starting to feel sorry for yourself when a fierce looking young woman walks out of the kitchen and starts scolding you.

Cui Cui: What’s all that noise? Don’t you know where you are? Think you’re special? You think you get your own room?

## Can’t Make Fire

MC: [Innocently] Sorry. I don’t know the rules in the Prince’s mansion.

Cui Cui: Stupid girl, the best place for you to sleep will be by the wood pile! Anyway, it’s almost time for breakfast! Get inside and get to work!

News travels fast and the staff in Prince Jin’s mansion seem to know about your run in with the Prince and your narrow escape. Naturally they are not well disposed to you.

But since you are here you might as well make the best of it. You walk briskly into the kitchen, roll up your sleeves, collect the wood, the trouble hits.

MC: (Dammit, I can’t light a fire! If Shi Lian was here… Thankfully she’s not, but… haven’t I suffered enough humiliations for one day?)

Cui Cui: [Hands on hips] What are you mumbling to yourself about?!

MC: [Innocently] Cuir Cui, I can’t light a fire.

[Getting louder and louder] WHAT?! YOU CAN’T LIGHT A FIRE?!! WHAT KIND OF CINDER WENCH DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO LIGHT A FIRE?!!

## Put on the Spot

Cui Cui stares at you in disbelief. She looks very frightening, like she wants to beat the living daylights out of you.

MC: [Innocently] I didn’t chose to be a cinder maid, the Prince sent me down here… I’m a fish out of water!

Cui Cui: Shut your pie hole, fish face!

MC: You’re right Cui Cui, but could you at least show me how to light a fire?

Cui Cui: I have to teach you to light a fire now? I suppose you want lessons on eating too?

MC: I’m a good student. When I know how to do it I can help you out and won’t keep bothering you.

You look pleadingly at Cui Cui. She is still thinking when another maid starts laughing off to one side.

Xiu Xiu: She thinks she can push us around? Cui Cui, ignore her. She’s in the Prince’s bad books – she’s not gonna last long! Let HER work it out!

## Mutual Peace

Her words don’t vex you or even hurt your feelings. You smile faintly and speak in a measured way.

MC: I foolishly angered the Prince, but don’t forget he spared my life! You’ve worked for him for a ling time. Have you ever seen him spare anyone before?

Cui Cui looks at Xiu Xiu. They’re still hesitant.

MC: Think about it. Why do you think he spared me? Was it what I did or perhaps I have some value to him? Why don’t we all just try to get along? [Tone softening] Come on, I just escaped death by the skin of my teeth! I just want to do the job the Prince has asked me to do. Please help me to do it.

You figure the Prince rules his house with an iron fist so these women are unlikely to react well to any threats you might make.

But if you are humble and friendly they might respond in a more positive way, and that is eventually what happens.

You talk sweetly and act like an innocent child, and finally they agree to teach you how to light a fire. But you find to your surprise lighting fires is even harder than washing clothes.

Cui Cui: You said you were a good student! You’re completely hopeless! How did you even make it this far?

## The New Guard

The first day at Prince Jin’s mansion is very hard. By the end of it your whole body aches and you collapse next to the wood pile and sleep right through till dawn.

In the days that follow you grit your teeth and survive by force of willpower alone. In time you become accustomed to working in the kitchen and start to develop the next phase of your plan.

You soon learn that Cui Cui is the highest ranking servant in the kitchen, and despite her fierce exterior, she is actually a bit of a softie. You work on her for several days, and finally her attitude towards you starts to improve.

Cui Cui: Afu, today I’m going to help Steward Zhou with something. Come along and you might learn a few things.

Of course you agree immediately and follow her out of the kitchen, down a long corridor, through a copse of trees, memorizing the way as you go.

Cui Cui: Dammit. A new batch of guard recruits. Steward Zhou has got his hands full. We’ll be waiting all day.

Hearing Cui Cui’s complaint, you look over at Steward Zhou. Standing in front of him is a line of new guards. Suddenly your pupils narrow. You see a familiar face among them!

Cui Cui: [Unhappily] What are you looking at? Aren’t you listening to me?

* The guards are quite handsome
* Steward Zhou is quite dashing
 MC: [Giggling] Those guards are very handsome. I can’t take my eyes off them!

 MC: Steward Zhou is quite dashing, don’t you think?

Cui Cui: Are you blind? I’d rather look at the guards.

MC: They ARE rather nice. I hope one of them notices me.

## Prosperity

Cui Cui: Shameless! Still… some of those new guards are easy on the eyes, especially that first one… Anyway, you’re dreaming! No one’s going to take a second look at you!

You watch Steward Zhou walking back and forth, but he is focused on training the new recruits. You look directly at the first one and wink.

He returns your look. His eyes are cool and kind, like moonlight in springtime. It’s Fu Heng.

MC: (Typical Fu Heng, gaining access to the Prince’s mansion by honorable means… But the Prince is cruel and innocent people get hurt. I wonder if Fu Heng will be able to stand it?)

While you have been daydreaming, Steward Zhou has walked over to you.

Steward Zhou: [Squinting at you] What are you doing here?

Cui Cui: [Rushing to reply] Steward Zhou, she is very good. I have brought her along to help me.

MC: [Smiling sweetly] You’re looking well today, Steward Zhou!

Steward Zhou: Fine. But please don’t smile. It’s nice when other people do it, but it just makes you look even uglier!

MC: [Slightly offended] It’s not my fault I’m ugly! Okay, I’ll try not to smile so much…

Steward Zhou: You’re doing well. Even Cui Cui’s willing to help you out.

MC: Thanks to your good leadership, Steward Zhou. Cui Cui is a kind soul. [Very loudly] WHEN I STARTED AS A CINDER MAID I COULDN’T EVEN LIGHT A FIRE!!! LUCKILY CUI CUI HELPED ME!!!

Steward Zhou: [Angrily] What are you shouting about?! You scared the hell out of me!

MC: Sorry, sorry, my voice can be a bit loud sometimes…

Steward Zhou pulls a disgusted face and turns to talk to Cui Cui. You look over towards Fu Heng. He got the message and nods.

You yelled so he would know you are working in the kitchens.