Chapter 15

"Greetings Grand Empress Dowager."

I don't have the strength to look at her and just laid on the floor. More bloody images burst in my head the more I felt pained. Just looking at my ankles, my dress, and my arms I'm covered with bruises and scratches.

Sorry Li Jia Ying, I said before that I'll sully your face but now it's more than dirtying your face but your whole body as well.

I carefully took a deep breath, curled slowly, and just closed my eyes. You guys can discuss on your own, this girl doesn't have enough battery to entertain you.

"Why is she like this?"

"Answering the Grand Empress, the First Princess was very disobedient that we need to drag her all the way here."

"This Dowager sees you've been taking good care of the First Princess."

"We...This servant..."

"You did well. This Dowager will reward you."

Heh.

"Thanking Grand Empress Dowager for her generosity!"

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel happiness in her voice.

"Beat all the remaining servants from the First Princess's courtyard along with the Head Maid. One hundred slaps for all of them."

I'm not thankful at all.

"Ah please, Grand Empress Dowager forgive this servant!"

"Grand Empress Dowager please have mercy."

"Forgive this servant!"

"Grand Empress Dowager!"

Their desperate voices slowly became unheard as the door slammed shut.

I slowly opened my eyes making a direct-eye contact with the Grand Empress Dowager.

Good.

Stare at me like you always do and look how empty my eyes are.

"Fu Jian Yu."

A man appeared behind her, the Overlord. Seeing his stature, I lowered my face and curled more like an infant in a mother's womb.

"Great Grand Empress."

"The First Princess is not currently beautiful."

Him and Me: "..."

"This servant will surely mention this to the Emperor."

"..."

What's there to mention! This villainess has. a peerless appearance. Do I not have that 'still beautiful even if injured' effect? Maybe not.

"Very well."

Come on, what's the use of mentioning this issue to that Emperor. Tsk.

"Call the Imperial Doctor."

"Understood."

I frowned seeing a servant leaving the room. What's up with this granny?

The Grand Empress Dowager looked at the Overlord and then at me. "What can you observe from this fool?"

"This servant is not clear-sighted like the Grand Empress Dowager."

"Just tell this Dowager what you see in this fool."

Now I'm a lab rat. Haha, nice.

"This servant sees the First Princess as rather presumptuous than before."

Oh you mean the time I boldly want to latch on your arm at the banquet? I won't do that ever again. I promise. Cross my heart. Hope you'll die.

"She will be of great use to you."

Don't tell me... No. That's impossible. Other than becoming a puppet and entertainment of their circle there's nothing worth taking note about Li Jia Ying.

"This Overlord will keep that in mind."

"Leave."

The Overlord bowed at the same time the Imperial Doctor rushed in. I just sighed. Maybe, what I thought a while ago was not the same as the Grand Empress' scheme.

"Ahk."

"Treat her, and let her stay in one of the closest rooms here."

Oh? Just by looking at the Imperial Doctor's uncomfortable gaze, I could tell the closest rooms wouldn't be ordinary.

"Understood Grand Empress."

I wanted to ask the Grand Empress Dowager why is she doing this. Yet, just by looking at her pitch-black eyes that pierce my soul, I could only clamp my mouth shut.

This might be the wisdom of someone that has gone through many things in life.

The servants carefully held me using a stretcher. So, they have stretchers in this era huh? Oh yeah, how could I forget the reincarnated Gu Mei Xiang? She must have updated these kinds of things.

As I was being treated which was a lot 'gentler' than my maid's service I started to feel sleepy. Mm, yes. Let's just sleep...

The pain I'm feeling slowly eased away.

***

I groaned.

When I woke up I was still in this chamber full of luxury. Ah, these antiques... I want to take them all.

Thankfully, I don't feel much pain like before. Some twitch here and there but that's alright.

I can bear the pain.

Seems being here would make me get used to pain huh? Kidding aside, it could be a numbing sensation when it takes too long. Numbness is the passive sensation of pain. Well, that's what I think. Doesn't matter tho.

I carefully try to stretch my legs and arms.

"Ahck."

Why does it feel like I just broke more bones?

"Princess, you still need to rest."

Geez, that's startled me. I thought I was the only person in this room.

"Hng."

I sat back on the edge of the bed watching the maid applying medicine on my bruises.

"Old grandma?"

"Old...Old Grandma?"

The maid was flabbergasted. No, I don't mean it's you, dearie.

"Do you mean the Great Grand Empress Dowager?"

Fast.

"En... Old Grandma!"

Yet I subtly nodded in confirmation to her question.

"Well, the...the Grand Empress Dowager is currently resting."

"Rest, oh."

Okay.

If I try to figure out her intention which is something that I'm not good at, isn't she the type of person who would only like to talk if necessary? She's is highly valued and rarely puts someone in her eyes. A person like her giving attention whether her motive is good or bad makes me confused.

No, it's disturbing.

Wouldn't this be noticed by everyone? So as the Emperor? If they knew the Grand Empress Dowager and I have made contact not just once but thrice and that even the Overlord is present... The person that the Emperor is cautious with...

I facepalmed. No wonder I was called.

"Bad."

"First Princess?"

Nothing. "Ehehehe."

Anyone with scheming minds would think that the Grand Empress Dowager is plotting something.

And I have their attention which I didn't have ever since I was born...

"Hahaha." Amazing.

I smiled at the maid which made her shiver. Must have been creepy for me to do that.

"Name old grandma?"

The maid was quick-witted enough to understand me as she shook her head, "The Grand Empress Dowager doesn't want to be called by her name."

Oh? "Old."

"No, no, no."

She panicked shaking her head. "It's not her name. Not her name. Please don't say that to the Grand Empress Dowager."

"Old."

Hehe.

"First Princess please don't make it difficult for this servant."

I'm just kidding girl. I just want a bit of playfulness.

"The Second Princess comes to visit."

"..."

My life. *cries* I take back that friskiness I did a while ago.

"Greetings to the Second Princess."

I just stared dumbly at her.

"Ah sister, how are you? Feeling good?"

Like I should?

"Hehe."

"All of you leave. This Second Princess will personally take care of her Eldest sister."

Fake. You're only caring just now? What happened when both you and Li Jia Ying were children? You just watched her, scratch that, me, without a care.

Hypocrite.

Well, we're all hypocrites.

The servants obeyed her without a question and closed the door behind us. Even her personal servants were outside, waiting and guarding the door. These people's efficacy is so good. So different from the lovable maids in my own courtyard.

Are we having a 'private' talk dear sister? Just thinking about it, my memories flashed back to Li Jing. There were some similarities with the way they talk to me right now. Too similar that it makes me shudder.

No. Control. Act. Act. Don't show any loopholes.

I stayed quiet showing my dumb look with an additional open fish mouth. Come, I'm all ears.

"Lay down Elder sister."

"Un."

"Play?"

Gu Mei Xiang smiled. "After I treat you."

"Oh."

That's a red light even you're eyes are telling me there is something amiss with the way you look at me. Creepy.

"Let younger sister see your wounds."

I obediently showed her my hands, arms that were bruised, and my stomach. If she wanted to look more, then she'll have to strip me naked to see a better view.

"Painful?"

I shook my head.

"No. Li Jia Ying wants to play. Not painful. Not painful."

Of course, it is. What am I? Ironman?

"Alright."

As Gu Mei Xiang applies some healing ointment on my wounds I felt a bit sleepy. The way she carefully and softly put medicine on my wounds makes me feel relaxed. It's so soothing. Any man would feel relieved with this kind of sensation. Thinking about it, who did this woman end up to when the male lead didn't choose her? It's so hard to recall.

"Elder sister should be careful. Grand Empress Dowager has her eyes on you."

"Old lady?"

Yes, that's better to say.

She chuckled. "Don't call her old lady, she is our grandmother."

"Grandmother. Grandmother."

"Elder sister?"

"Mm?"

Gu Mei Xiang still wears her usual gentle smile looking unarmed like a rabbit. She lifted her two fingers hooking a few strands of my hair that covered my face behind my ears. She closed her medicine kit putting away the used clothes and sat straight looking at me with her usual facade; albeit her eyes were more profound than before. Her next words became a bucket of cold water.

"Miss, I already know you're not Li Jia Ying."