FBC – Chapter 348 Paying Tea Respect

When Yin Tao woke up, she looked around in confusion. Where was she?

“Concubine has woken up.”

A maid entered, her face cold.

“Concubine?”

Yin Tao blinked blankly. Suddenly, her eyes widened. “You called me ‘Concubine’?”

The maid wore a smug expression. “Yes. Congratulations on being promoted to Concubine. Of course, you’re still just a concubine.”

Yin Tao was stunned. A concubine?

She… had become a concubine?

“You should get up and go pay tea to the Princess.”

Only then did Yin Tao dare to believe it. She was overjoyed. Did the Prince… enjoy her yesterday?

But she didn’t feel anything. She was still fuzzy about whether she had succeeded. She remembered entering the room and presenting tea and snacks. Before the Prince could taste anything, she had smelled a strong fragrance—not unpleasant—and soon felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Yet, if nothing had happened, why would she have been promoted to Concubine?

Prompted by the maid, Yin Tao hurried to wash and change into her best dress, then went to the main courtyard to pay tea to the Princess.

Gu Hua’s eyes were red and her face tired. She looked at her coldly.

This expression clearly meant she knew the Prince had slept with her.

Yin Tao’s heart finally settled, secretly pleased.

Feigning nervousness, she knelt quickly. “Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Princess. I thank you for your generosity in accepting me.”

Gu Hua’s voice was hoarse. “It’s not generosity. Concubine was promoted by Mother, no need to thank me. Now that you belong to the Prince, serve him well in the future.”

So it was the Old Madam who promoted her—no wonder. How could the usually jealous Princess allow her to be promoted without making a fuss?

Yin Tao bowed respectfully. “Yes, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to serving the Prince.”

Sui’er handed her a teacup, and Yin Tao held it with both hands, offering it to Gu Hua.

Gu Hua didn’t make things difficult. She sipped lightly and handed it back to Sui’er.

Sui’er then gave Yin Tao a red envelope.

“You may leave now.”

“Yes.” Yin Tao bowed and withdrew.

As soon as she stepped outside, she straightened up proudly and lifted her chin. “I’m going to pay respects to the Old Madam.”

The maid who brought her showed no expression. “The Old Madam said paying respects to the Princess is enough. She has no time to see you.”

Yin Tao’s anger flared. “You!”

The maid slightly bowed. “I am called Dong Cui. From now on, I will serve Concubine.”

Yin Tao squinted. “Dong Cui? Same generation as Dong Hua and Dong Qing, right? Should be a first-class maid?”

Dong Cui replied, “I originally serve the Old Madam.”

Hearing this, Yin Tao’s expression brightened. “So you were sent by the Old Madam! I must really thank her.”

She started to walk toward the Old Madam’s courtyard.

Dong Cui reached out to block her. “Concubine, please return.”

Yin Tao smiled, pushing her hand away. “I served the Prince just yesterday. It’s only proper that I pay respects to Mother too…”

But she couldn’t move Dong Cui’s arm.

Yin Tao’s face darkened slightly, but Dong Cui didn’t yield, wearing a face of exaggerated respect.

“Move! I’m your mistress!”

Dong Cui was indifferent. “My mistress is the Old Madam. If Concubine doesn’t listen, I can carry you back myself.”

Yin Tao was furious. “You’ll carry me?”

Unexpectedly, Dong Cui didn’t hesitate. With a swing of her arms, she flipped Yin Tao, grabbed her by the waist, and threw her over her shoulder—literally carrying her away.

Yin Tao’s waist nearly broke from the pain. She wailed and screamed.

“Put me down, you wretched maid! Put me down! I’ll tell the Prince you sold me out!”

But no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t escape.

“The Prince can’t sell me out either. My servitude contract is with the Old Madam.”

Dong Cui even deliberately bounced her, making Yin Tao nearly vomit.

Only after leaving the main courtyard and entering the garden did Dong Cui feel that Yin Tao wouldn’t make more noise, and she tossed her onto the grass.

Even though it was grass, falling from such a height could jolt her insides painfully.

Yin Tao screamed, tears streaming, unable to get up.

Dong Cui leaned down with a blank expression. “Concubine, will you walk yourself, or shall I continue carrying you?”

Frightened, Yin Tao stammered, “I-I’ll walk myself!”

If she was carried again, and Dong Cui deliberately threw her onto a stone this time, her life would be over. This wretched maid meant to harm her!

The surrounding servants looked on like it was a joke, some even gossiping openly:

“This wretch dared climb onto the bed, sullying the Prince’s reputation. She deserves to die.”

“Exactly. She should be beaten with sticks.”

“How dare she bully the Princess? She’ll pay for this later.”

Yin Tao, angry beyond words, couldn’t even stand.

She had no choice but to grit her teeth and call out to Dong Cui: “Help me up.”

Dong Cui raised an eyebrow. “Do you think standing up means you can walk? Maybe I should carry you back?”

“No!” Yin Tao refused.

She realized this girl hated her because of Gu Hua. Who knew if she’d throw her into a well next?

Clenching her teeth, she painstakingly crawled forward step by step.

Dong Cui simply watched.

Finally, after much effort, Yin Tao reached her small courtyard, only to find Yi Yun waiting for her.

She tried to straighten her body and walked inside carefully.

Yi Yun smiled and cupped her hands. “Congratulations, sister, on your promotion to Concubine.”

Yin Tao forced a bitter smile. “Thank you.”

But her legs ached terribly; her knees had hit stones during the fall. Every step sent sharp pain through her body.

She clenched her teeth and tried to keep her expression neutral.

Yi Yun noticed something was wrong, glancing at the maid behind Yin Tao who hadn’t helped. She immediately supported Yin Tao, asking with concern, “Sister, what’s wrong?”

Yin Tao had wanted to push her away, but she couldn’t walk alone. She allowed Yi Yun to support her step by step into the room.

She tried to smile shyly, lowering her voice. “The Prince was too amazing last night.”

Bang.

Both were startled. They turned to see Dong Cui smashing a wooden chair.

Yin Tao froze, shrinking her neck, afraid to speak.

Yi Yun… almost laughed.

Pretending ignorance, she helped Yin Tao inside. Seeing Dong Cui made no move to serve, she poured a cup of cold tea for Yin Tao.

A strange sadness welled up in Yin Tao’s heart. Her eyes reddened as she held the tea cup.

Yi Yun seemed unaware and smiled. “Congratulations on achieving your wish. Sister is impressive, promoted to Concubine after just one night. If the Empress knew, she would surely praise you.”

Hearing this, Yin Tao’s sadness dissipated.

“We were just following the Empress’s orders, nothing to congratulate.”

She looked at Yi Yun. “Did the shopkeeper contact you?”

Yi Yun nodded. “Someone came last night. Since you were serving the Prince, I didn’t meet them.”

Yin Tao was so angry she couldn’t speak. She held back, then said, “Send the message quickly. It seems the Prince had a quarrel with the Princess yesterday and stayed in the study. That works—I’ll find a way to get close to the Prince again.”

“Okay.”

Yi Yun pursed her lips, smiling, no longer pretending, and took her leave.

Watching her leave, Yin Tao looked outside. Dong Cui was gone, and a pang struck her heart.

She didn’t know whether to feel joy or sorrow.

Pain shot through her legs. Lifting her tea cup and skirt, she saw her knees were bruised. She had no medicine, and no maid was in the courtyard.

That Dong Cui clearly disliked her. As a first-class maid for the Old Madam, she was impossible to command.

Yin Tao couldn’t help but lie on the bed and cry.