Chapter 1058: Betrayal

"How dare you betray me!"

Her face was twisted with venomous words.

The words she spoke were like poisonous arrows that continuously pierced Pan Zhu’s heart.

In the past, Pan Zhu would have been heartbroken again.

But now she suddenly saw things clearly.

Some people are not worth ruining one’s health over.

If she wants to die, let her die. If she wants to live, Pan Zhu will still serve her, just not as wholeheartedly as before.

Take this medicine, for example.

She only ensured it was brewed on time and delivered it. Whether or not she drank it, Pan Zhu didn’t care.

If she wants to live, she should take her medicine. If she wants to die, she doesn’t have to.

Live or die, it didn’t matter to Pan Zhu.

"Miss! I’ve left the medicine here for you. Drink it if you want, or throw it away if you don’t. I’ll take my leave now."

With a faint smile, Pan Zhu turned gracefully and left.

Xia Ruyi was so furious, she waved her hand, and a teacup went crashing down.

"You wretch, off to meetings with wild men again?"

"Can’t see the shadow of a person all day, and you leave as soon as you come!!"

"In such a hurry to be reborn? What good are you to me?"

After she finished speaking, there was another bout of smashing and cursing.

Instead of getting angry, Pan Zhu listened to the commotion behind her and laughed.

"Miss!"

"I still need to do your laundry! After laundry, I have to bring your meal!"

"If you insist on thinking I’m meeting wild men, so be it!"

"After all, it’s your reputation at stake, isn’t it?!"

Pan Zhu swayed her body and left.

Xia Ruyi screamed and shouted from behind, but Pan Zhu was indifferent.

Xia Ruyi was infuriated.

She cursed and ranted to the window for half a Shi Chen before she stopped.

The scorching sun blazed over the earth, the low courtyard was damp and hot.

Xia Ruyi, both anxious and restless, with her pimpled body acting up as expected again.

It felt like thousands of needles were stabbing her at once, painful and itchy, accompanied by sharp prickling pain.

The anger that had just cooled in her chest erupted suddenly like a volcano.

And it was uncontrollable.

"Ah!"

"Ah ah!"

"Help!"

In a panic, she picked up the bowl of medicine, trying to suppress the tormenting pain, but unfortunately, the poison’s wrath was too strong.

She hadn’t finished drinking before she was choked, rolling her eyes and fainting.

The medicine bowl clattered to the ground, shattered into countless pieces.

The sound was loud.

But alas, the desolate, low courtyard was empty, not a soul in sight.

In the damp, low house, only a field of shards emitting a pale glow accompanied the unconscious Xia Ruyi.

The room was filled with desolation.

...

Meanwhile, the main courtyard was a different scene.

Pan Zhu left the low courtyard, not heading to do laundry.

But went directly to the Princess Consort’s main courtyard.

Inside, there were several bowls of ice, and upon entering, a cool breeze swept across.

The Princess Consort was reclining on a beautiful chaise near the window, gently napping.

A few maids beside her were quietly fanning her, looking very content.

Pan Zhu entered without daring to look up, instantly kneeling at the Princess Consort’s feet.

"Greetings to the Princess Consort!"

Lady Zhu heard the commotion.

Gently opened her beautiful eyes, the corners of her red lips slightly curling up.

"Oh? It’s you?"

Pan Zhu kowtowed again.

"To the Princess Consort, it’s your servant!"

"How’s it going?" Lady Zhu waved a beautiful fan in her hand and asked.

Without thinking, Pan Zhu replied.

"Her illness is severe, covered in rashes, the Female Doctor’s medicine seems ineffective! Her temper is becoming more irritable!"

"I got scolded again when I went!"

Hearing this, Lady Zhu’s smile blossomed at the corners of her lips.

"Scolded?"

"That’s good! It won’t be long before she becomes the Prince’s most despised nagging shrew!"

"At that time, how could she compete with me?"

Towards this woman who entered the residence with her, Lady Zhu was filled with jealousy and resentment!

Concubines are tolerable, as the Princess Consort, she cannot be intolerant.

But on the day of the grand wedding, a concubine appeared under her nose, was she thought dead?

The thought was extremely nauseating and irksome.

With Lady Xia not dead, her heart’s resentment couldn’t be calmed.

The more she thought, the more venomous her gaze became.

Pan Zhu lowered her head, pretending not to see.

Lady Zhu glanced at her suddenly and smiled.

"What?"

"Feeling pity for your master?"

"No, the servant dares not!" Pan Zhu was startled and quickly kowtowed.

Lady Zhu suddenly chuckled.

"No need to fear!"

"I understand your decade-long loyalty to your master, incomparable to me."

"I just can’t stand by seeing your master treat you like that!"

"It’s really out of concern that I want to help you!"

"Rest assured, I have no intent to take her life. As long as she loses favor, that’s enough!"

Pan Zhu bit her lip with her head down, making a firm decision as if.

"To the Princess Consort!"

"Your servant... wholeheartedly pledges loyalty to the Princess Consort, begging for your mercy!"

"Your servant no longer wants to live that kind of life!"

"From now on, I pledge my service to the Princess Consort alone!"

This was the intention of allegiance.

Lady Zhu paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"What a spirited girl!"

Saying this, she stood up, personally helping Pan Zhu stand, continuing,

"As the saying goes, ’A wise bird chooses a good tree to nest in!’"

"You are a girl with foresight, just unfortunate... with bad luck!"

With a look of difficulty, she continued,

"It’s not that I’m unwilling to take you in, but..."

"Your master is in a bad situation now, and you’re the only one by her side. If you leave too!"

"If something happens to your master, I can’t bear that responsibility either!"

Lady Zhu held Pan Zhu’s hand, speaking earnestly.

Pan Zhu lowered her head with a conflicted expression.

’Yes!’

’If she turns to the Princess Consort now, and something happens to her master!’

’Wouldn’t it suggest to others that she and the Princess Consort conspired to harm her own master?’

’Not to mention herself, even the Princess Consort would find it hard to escape!’

After thinking, she reluctantly knelt down.

"Thank you, Princess Consort, for your guidance, I was mistaken!"

Lady Zhu quickly lifted her up.

"Such words!"

"In front of this Princess Consort, there are no such formalities. In my eyes, you are no different from the close maids by my side!"

Saying this, she glanced behind her.

The maid understood and turned to retrieve a large pouch.

Lady Zhu took it and placed it in Pan Zhu’s hand, smiling.

"Alright then!"

"Don’t be discouraged; here are fifty taels of silver for you to use!"

"I’ll have someone renovate your living quarters!"

"I will also have ice prepared for you later!"

"And food and drink, ask the kitchen for anything you want!"

"Those under my care shouldn’t live worse than Lady Xia, don’t you agree?"

Lady Zhu smiled warmly at Pan Zhu.

Pan Zhu, with wide eyes, looked at the heavy silver in her hands.

She was choked, she was thrilled.

She swore she had never seen this much silver in her life.

Fifty taels!

So much? So heavy!

"Is all this... mine?" she asked incredulously.

Lady Zhu smiled broadly.

"Yes!"

"It’s all yours, and there will be more in the future!"