Is the Princess Still Satisfied with This Prince's Service?

Su Luoqian had a dream.

In the dream, red candles and warm curtains, enchanting and fragrant.

And she was one of the main characters in it.

She was ashamed and annoyed that she had actually dreamed such a thing, wanting to wake up from the dream quickly while also being extremely curious about who the man with her was.

Yet no matter how hard she tried to look, she could not see him clearly.

Until—

The man raised his head on his own, his cold, sharp and stern features falling into her eyes, his voice deep, his dark eyes filled with desire.

"Is the princess still satisfied with this prince's service?"

"Ah—"

Su Luoqian directly gave a start, waking up from the dream in a fright.

So terrifying, so terrifying.

She actually dreamed of doing that kind of thing with Lu Jingsi.

No.

She and Lu Jingsi were already married, and the wedding night had passed too, even though it was a bit perfunctory, that blood stain was real.

They were a real couple, although somewhat at odds in appearance, but a real couple.

If she dreamed of such a thing but the object wasn't Lu Jingsi, then she really would feel too ashamed to face anyone.

No, no.

Why did she dream of such a thing? There would be no next time, absolutely no next time.

Su Luoqian's head was a mess, her thoughts drifting here and there.

The gauze curtains by the bed sheltered it, blocking out the light from outside, but tiny movements sounded.

It was Zelan's voice, "Princess, are you awake?"

Su Luoqian gave an acknowledgement, and just as she wanted to raise her hand, an ache came from the back of her neck.

"Hiss..."

Zelan hurriedly lifted the gauze curtain, "Princess, don't move yet."

Su Luoqian's delicate brows furrowed slightly, "What's wrong with me?"

Zelan gently parted the back collar of her light pink inner robe to look, "I applied medicine for you several times yesterday, but after just one night, the marks now look somewhat red and terrifying."

This spot...

The memories from inside the carriage yesterday came flooding back, but they were very blurry.

Su Luoqian shook her head, deciding not to think about what she couldn't clear up.

Anyway, facing Lu Jingsi, she probably couldn't have done anything good.

But she remembered this chop of the hand now.

Zelan fetched the ointment, gently applying medicine to her, her muttering tone carrying slight complaint, "The prince is really something, starting so heavy-handedly with you; who knows how many days these red marks will take to fade."

Although their Su Family was not an official-domed household, their family was large and wealthy with flourishing financial resources. Their young miss had been petted and raised by the master and mistress since childhood, with delicate skin and flesh; where had she ever suffered this kind of suffering?

Su Luoqian didn't care much, glancing at the incense clepsydra in the room, "Get ready to wash up. Today is mother's birthday, we must return to the Su Estate early."

"Yes."

Zelan gave an acknowledgment, helped Su Luoqian off the bed to change clothes, and then she sat before the dressing mirror.

The mistress and servant chatted idly while picking out hair ornaments and pearls.

Su Luoqian spoke up, "Where is Lu Jingsi?"

"The prince was summoned into the palace by the Holy One early in the morning, and has not yet returned."

Su Luoqian thought about it, "Never mind, don't wait for him. After we have breakfast in a moment, we'll go back first, and have the people in the estate notify him."

A mother-in-law's birthday, as a son-in-law how could there be any reason not to arrive, but Su Luoqian didn't want to wait for him, anxious to go home and spend more time with her parents.

This was the very first time she was returning to her maternal home since her wedding and return visit.

"Yes."

Zelan's hands were nimble, and before long she had coiled an exquisite hair bun for Su Luoqian.

Su Luoqian casually handed her the pearls and jade ornaments on the table, and just as she was about to speak, she heard the voices speaking in the courtyard gradually grow louder.

It was Nanny Liu.

Zelan spoke in a low voice, "Nanny Liu went to the Eldest Princess's Estate yesterday, and only returned this morning."

Su Luoqian glanced at herself in the bronze mirror, gold and jade with bright pearls winding her hair bun, her complexion still quite good.

She curved her lips in a satisfied smile, stood up and skirted the screen, walking with a gentle sway to sit down by the table.

She leisurely spoke, "Zelan, serve breakfast."

Nanny Liu stood by the door. She lifted her eyes and glanced at her, then gave a perfunctory curtsy and said impatiently, "Your Highness, the Prince's name must not be spoken directly. There is an order of rank, and the rules of propriety must not be cast aside. Please do not do it again."

A maid entered the courtyard carrying a lacquered tray. One by one, light but exquisite breakfast dishes were set on the table.

The servants below worked quietly and carefully. For a time, the only sound in the room was Nanny Liu's somewhat shrill voice.

"Your Highness mustn't sleep until this hour again. I don't know how unruly you were at the Su Family's when you were still a young girl, but now that you've married into Prince Cheng'an's Residence, you can't afford to be lazy about any of the affairs, great or small, of this household."

At that, Su Luoqian's slender fingers touched her earring. Her lightly made-up face glowed softly, making her look especially gentle and easy to handle.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

As these four words had been passed down to the present day, most people had forgotten that the original intent of the sages and forebears had merely been to divide the four classes by occupation.

Merchants were looked down on by those in power, yet also feared by them.

The Su Family was wealthy and influential. Last year, when they had exposed their wealth while providing disaster relief and aiding the people, the imperial family had intended to bring them into its fold. The other aristocratic houses and clans had also set their sights on the Su Family. Under those circumstances, she had had no better choice.

Now the Su Family had become imperial merchants, and she had become the Prince of Cheng'an's Consort. Yet in the vast city of Yujing, plenty of people still looked down on her and the Su Family.

Nanny Liu was not the first, and she would not be the last.

Su Luoqian's delicate brows drew together slightly. She did not speak, but simply picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.

In the cool air of early morning, the room was so quiet that only the occasional faint clink of silver chopsticks against bowls and plates could be heard.

With no one paying her any attention, Nanny Liu's words had fallen on deaf ears.

Ignored, she looked displeased. Drawing breath to lash out again, she was interrupted when Su Luoqian put down her silver chopsticks and spoke softly—not to her, but to someone else.

"Zelan, according to the rules of the Prince's residence, how should servants who offend their masters be punished?"

Zelan curtsied and replied, "According to the rules of the Prince's residence, she should receive twenty slaps."

Nanny Liu's heart lurched. She stared at Su Luoqian in disbelief. "You..."

Su Luoqian gently wiped her lips with a handkerchief and rose, coming to stand before her. Smiling warmly, she said, "Nanny, you're getting on in years. Besides, today is my mother's birthday, so it wouldn't be appropriate to draw blood. We'll let the slapping go."

"But a mistake must be punished." She looked at Nanny Liu, her almond-shaped eyes smiling. "It's still early. Nanny, kneel in the courtyard for an hour."

"You dare!"

When Nanny Liu heard that Su Luoqian actually meant to make her kneel as punishment, her expression turned fierce.

Su Luoqian glanced at her coolly. "There is an order of rank, and the rules of propriety must not be cast aside. Those were your own words just now."

With that, she looked toward the moon gate. "Someone, escort Nanny Liu into the courtyard."

When Su Luoqian married into Prince Cheng'an's Residence, the dowry personnel sent by the Su Family included not only maids and servants, but also several guards.

Two of them heard her words, entered the room, and escorted Nanny Liu outside. They gripped her shoulders and pressed down with a little force, leaving her no choice but to kneel stiffly in the courtyard.

Su Luoqian curled her lips into a smile, then casually glanced at another maid beneath the corridor.

It was the maid who had known Nanny Liu was already at the door but had not informed Su Luoqian.

She looked vaguely familiar and seemed to have come with the Su Family's dowry as well. But since she couldn't tell who her mistress was, there was little point in keeping her by Su Luoqian's side.

Su Luoqian raised a hand and pointed lightly. "Starting today, you'll work as a laborer in the coal room."

"Y-Your Highness, please calm down! Please calm down! This servant won't dare do it again."

As soon as the maid heard she was being sent to the coal room, her knees buckled. She immediately knelt and kowtowed, nearly in tears.

Although it was still far too early in the year for coal to be used often, work in the coal room was filthy and exhausting. How could it compare to serving in the main courtyard?

Su Luoqian looked up at the sunlight. Her patience was nearly exhausted.

She waved her hand in dismissal. "Take her away."

Two more guards immediately dragged the maid away.

Nanny Liu's eyes widened as she watched. She tried to struggle to her feet but could not move at all. Just as she was about to open her mouth and curse, Eunuch Fulin's voice came from outside.

"Your Highness, Her Highness the Eldest Princess has sent someone to deliver a birthday gift for Madam Su."