Chapter 45 – Came to Beg in Person

Shen Qing noticed that Qiu Lu was now dressed in the attire of someone from the Laundry Bureau and thought to herself—so she had ended up there. That wasn’t exactly promising.

Just as she was thinking about it, Qiu Lu knelt in front of her. “Please, My Lady, save this servant!”

Chunhua frowned and instinctively stepped in front of Shen Qing to block her.

Shen Qing waved her hand, signaling Chunhua not to interfere.

“You’re working in the palace now, and you chose to leave back then. You’re not my maid anymore, so I have no authority over you.”

Qiu Lu kowtowed to Shen Qing. “It was truly Madam Li who came looking for me. I thought if I offended her, I wouldn’t be able to survive in the palace, so I had no choice but to leave you, My Lady. Though I only served you for a few days, I know you are the kindest person. Now I’m working in the Laundry Bureau, laboring from dawn to dusk, and they still bully me. Please look at my hands.”

Qiu Lu stretched out her hands. From constantly being in water, they were red and peeling—pitiful to look at, especially for a young girl.

Shen Qing glanced at them. This was a pity display.

She was trying to tug at Shen Qing’s heartstrings? Trying to soften her up?

But Shen Qing felt no sympathy.

People walk the paths they choose. Qiu Lu had looked down on her and left in a hurry. Now she was coming back to beg?

Could Shen Qing really take her back?

Qiu Lu anxiously awaited Shen Qing’s response, heart full of unease.

After she left, Madam Li had arranged for her to be sent to the Laundry Bureau. That had already been tough to swallow. She’d spent a few miserable months there, and the inner palace was slow with gossip. By the time she was promoted from the lowest-ranking laundry maid to someone who delivered clothes to various palaces, she finally heard that Shen Qing was favored by the Emperor.

And she had been favored shortly after Qiu Lu had left.

The regret twisted her guts.

Now she thought about how grand Zhaohua Palace was, with just two maids serving. Now that Shen Qing was favored, once her rank was promoted, Qiu Lu could’ve become her head maid. Even if nothing else, other palace maids and eunuchs would’ve had to respect her.

So today, while no one was watching, she had found out that Shen Qing had come to the Imperial Garden and ran over as fast as she could.

After hearing her out, Shen Qing didn’t bring up the past. She simply said slowly, “But now I already have Chunhua and Fangyun by my side. You know as well as I do—given my status, I’m only allowed two palace maids. To take on a third would break protocol.”

Qiu Lu quickly said, “My Lady values the rules, and I understand. But now that you are favored, just one word to Madam Li would make my life so much better. If you could help me today, I would never forget your kindness. I’ll pray every day for you to remain favored and to bear the Emperor a son soon.”

She was selling dreams—trying to use Shen Qing as a ladder.

Chunhua wanted to speak but glanced at Shen Qing’s expression and held back.

Shen Qing smiled lightly. “I understand.”

Qiu Lu was overjoyed. “Thank you, My Lady!” Then she took her leave.

Once she was gone, Chunhua asked hesitantly, “My Lady, are you really going to help her?”

“She’s already begged openly. I gave her my word—delivering a message isn’t a big deal.”

Indeed, it wasn’t a big deal. The palace’s loyalties shifted with the wind. Right now, Shen Qing was favored. Making a request like this—just to move a palace maid—wasn’t really asking for much.

But Chunhua was still worried. She hesitated and said, “My Lady, I know you are kind-hearted, but this does nothing for your benefit. Instead, it gives others the excuse to say you’re soft-hearted. You’re still only a Liangren, after all.”

She was favored for now, yes, but her rank was low. To use her influence for a servant who had once asked to leave—Madam Li would certainly agree, but she might also begin to see Shen Qing as someone too easy to manipulate.

Such an impression could lead to being underestimated in the future.

Shen Qing let out a soft chuckle. “My dear Chunhua, why are you in such a rush? She just wants to be moved to a better place—so let her.”

Chunhua wasn’t stupid. She quickly caught on. “My Lady is wise. I worried too much.”

Shen Qing smiled again. “It’s enough that you understand. Have Fangyun handle it.”

Chunhua pressed her lips together, touched.

This showed that her lady still remembered that she and Qiu Lu had worked together once. Although not for long, they had known each other. If Shen Qing had had Fangyun do it behind her back, it would have implied distrust. But by being upfront with her and letting Fangyun handle it, it showed consideration.

One must know the difference between closeness and distance. Qiu Lu wasn’t trustworthy—neither loyal nor honest. And now she had the nerve to come back with a thick skin. Chunhua remembered how, when Qiu Lu left, she’d tried to drag Chunhua down with her—saying all the right things, but really trying to pull her into trouble. Chunhua had known it then but hadn’t said anything.

But silence didn’t mean she wasn’t angry.

Chunhua returned and relayed everything to Fangyun. This was, after all, Fangyun’s first official errand directly from Shen Qing, and she took it seriously. Once she confirmed Shen Qing’s intentions, she went to see Madam Li.

When Madam Li heard Fangyun had come, she was a little surprised. “What’s the matter? Did Lady Shen have instructions?”

Fangyun immediately slipped her a sachet and said, “Yesterday, Qiu Lu suddenly came begging our lady, saying her days were too bitter now. She asked My Lady to help her transfer somewhere better, given that she once served her.”

Madam Li raised an eyebrow. “And Lady Shen’s intention is…?”

“Lady Shen said Qiu Lu has a heart. Since she doesn’t like staying in the Laundry Bureau and still remembers what it was like serving her mistress, we hope you could kindly find her a better post.”

Madam Li couldn’t be clearer now. She accepted the sachet with a smile. Once Fangyun left, she opened it and understood everything.

Everyone said Lady Shen had a good temperament, and the two maids by her side acted without formality. She relied entirely on the Emperor’s favor—that was the only reason the Imperial Kitchen paid her any special attention.

And now this—Qiu Lu, who clearly had no sense, dared to return and ask her former mistress for help?

Really, back then when Shen Qing had nothing, Qiu Lu had just up and left. Now that she was favored, she was lucky Shen Qing hadn’t held a grudge or made things hard for her. And she still had the gall to come crawling back?

“Well, since it’s clearly stated that she wants a better place, I suppose I can’t slack off either.”