Counterattack of the Cannon Fodder Chambermaid

Untitled Part 57

The hall was extremely silent. The others probably never dared imagine Madam Hua would speak this way.

Normally when those who were born of low status rose up, they wanted nothing more than for others to be unaware of their low birth. Yu Jiao thought the same way, and planned on embarrassing her. However, the other party unexpectedly had zero misgivings about declaring it out loud.

Xiao Hua naturally understood Madam Yu Jiao's meaning. However, embarrassment was never given by others, but rather given by oneself. She was low born to begin with, and these people had probably investigated her background in detail. Why make a bigger fool of herself in trying to cover it up?

It was unfortunate she didn't understand this reasoning in her last life, and would often get into arguments with other over this. Having come back to life and encountering the same situation, Xiao Hua chose to lay it out generously for others to see.

At this moment the hall was extremely silent. The corner of her lips curled faintly without anyone noticing.

The Jing Consort saw that the atmosphere was a little frozen and said: "This consort just received some good tea, and could never bear to drink it. Today let's bring it out to treat this little sis, and let everyone have a taste."

Awkwardness could oftentimes be dispelled by taking a sip or two of tea to cover up a few things. Otherwise staring at each other awkwardly would only make things more awkward. Having some actions to interrupt was the best cure for an awkward silence.

Yu Jiao took advantage of the offered respite and raised her teacup for a sip. The others in the hall did the same.

Xiao Hua also raised her teacup, but seemed to have thought of something and placed it down again, saying: "This servant concubine heard the consort say that big sis Yu Jiao was a noble who came from the imperial palace. The palace must be really magnificent and luxurious, right?" Her tone contained some faint hints of envy.

Senior Concubine Qiao raised her eyebrows and gave a meaningful smile. The Jing Consort saw Xiao Hua's actions and her eyes briefly turned gloomy, lowering the teacup in her hand.

Yu Jiao put her cup aside, glanced mockingly at Xiao Hua and said: "The imperial palace's regal splendor is naturally not something a low born servant such as yourself could lay your eyes on...." After her mocking words, she carried on describing the palace as majestic, imposing and so on, as though she were showing off her own house while putting on a disdainful appearance.

Xiao Hua also put on an appearance of listening intently.

Yu Rong felt like covering her face, but also didn't know how she should interrupt Yu Jiao's words.

Senior Concubine Qiao's smile grew wider, but included a hint of derision.

When Yu Jiao finally finished describing what she could, she heard Xiao Hua say, "Big sis Yu Jiao is really familiar with the palace. Your family must be from the palace, right?"

These words made Yu Jiao choke up on the spot.

How could her family be from the palace? Everyone knew that palace maids were selected from the commoners.

The Grand Xi Dynasty had a selection system where the royal family's servants were all innocent maidens chosen from common families. The slighter better households would normally not send their own daughters to become a servant for others in the palace. Palace maids had to be twenty five before they were released. They would be old maids by that time, and a marriage partner would be difficult to find.

Another way of looking at it was that once you were a palace maid inside the palace, no one would care if you were a commoner or a noble. You became first and foremost a servant.

The meaning of Xiao Hua's words were very clear. Weren't you mocking me for being sold off as a servant? Weren't you the same? It was just that her method was much more veiled, unlike Yu Jiao just now who mocked so openly, making her seem vulgar and classless.

However, it was precisely because Xiao Hua's manner of mocking was veiled that her tossing out the phrase "your family must be from the palace" at this moment was a huge slap to the face.

Yu Jiao was a little dense, but not completely brainless, and reacted right away.

"You—-"

Xiao Hua took advantage of her young age, inexperience and sort-sightedness to blink her eyes in "confusion": "Could it be, big sis Yu Jiao's family isn't from the palace?"

Didn't she look down on her birth, and her lack of experience? Well, she was truly lacking experience, right?

Yu Jiao was choked up once again.

The Jing Consort stepped out to pacify things, "Alright, alright, this is the Jing Province's Jing Prince Estate, no need to talk about such far away matters. Drink some tea, drink some tea."

This was the second time the consort had said to drink tea. The one who needed this lifeline naturally took advantage of it, but Xiao Hua still didn't touch her teacup on the table and sat there with her eyes half lowered.

"Madam Hua doesn't like drinking tea?" The Jing Consort smiled and asked, her hands subconsciously swirling her own tea.

Xiao Hua's face was smiling, but said in an embarrassed manner: "This servant concubine isn't too good at drinking tea. In the past this one was a servant and couldn't have drank tea, only water. Moving into the pavilion, there was some tea given as part of the allowance but unfortunately this servant concubine finds it hard to sleep after drinking it, and thus stopped drinking tea. The consort's tea is good tea, but this servant concubine doesn't have the fortune to enjoy it."

The Jing Consort let out an "oh" and didn't speak again.

After a moment, the Jing Consort placed her cup down and said: "Time has flown in the blink of an eye, this consort won't keep everyone any longer. It's snowing outside and the roads are slippery. Take care on your way back."

Only now did the others stand and salute the consort once more before leaving one after the other.

In the hallway outside the house, Ding Xiang and Ding Lan helped Xiao Hua put on her cloak. The portable furnace wasn't as warm anymore, but still had a little heat. Xiao Hua clasped it in her hands.

Putting on her clogs and opening up her umbrella, Xiao Hua left the Chang Chun Pavilion with the other two.

There were two paths to take back to Xiao Hua's western pavilion. One was to go in front of the Hall of Splendor, the other was behind. The route behind the hall was shorter, and seeing the snow fall harder and harder, Ding Xiang carefully supported Xiao Hua along the shorter route.

"Madam is really awesome. I saw Madam Yu Jiao's face turning purple from anger." Ding Lan spoke from the side.

Xiao Hua smiled lightly and didn't deny anything, "It couldn't be helped. We can't keep letting others slap our face without returning the favor."

Actually Xiao Hua was still aware who she could provoke and who she couldn't. If it was the Jing Consort or Senior Concubine Qiao saying these things today, she could only have endured.

But Yu Jiao's status was the same as hers, and she was also someone not favored. Since she dared to act as cannon fodder, Xiao Hua would naturally use her to express her attitude.

Even if she needed to be sufficiently respectful, she wanted to tell others that she wasn't a soft persimmon.

With her new status, she naturally couldn't deal with things the way she did in the past. She couldn't blindly retreat, but also had to retreat. The space between was not easy to grasp.

Xiao Hua fell deep into her own thoughts as delicate snowflakes fluttered down. The air was filled with a soul penetrating chill that made one feel wide awake if breathed into the lungs.

Ding Xiang suddenly said to the side: "Madam, his highness seems to be up ahead."