Chapter Seventy-Four: A Handful of Hidden Guards Revealed by an Explosion

“In my view, your situation is hardly pitiful. Isn’t freedom a good thing? Even doing menial labor is better than being at someone’s beck and call. And if you think freedom is not so wonderful, then let it serve as your punishment—you must endure it. Gather your things and leave, now.” Su Jingluo had no intention of granting them any opportunity; mercy and authority were not meant for enemies.

With that, Su Jingluo turned away with A-Lan, leaving the three maids weeping bitterly in Scarlet Moon Pavilion.

“Princess, I’m a bit worried,” A-Lan said cautiously, watching Su Jingluo’s back. They all said the princess was timid and meek, but she turned out to be a sleeping tigress.

“Are you feeling sorry for them? There’s no need. There’s nothing wrong with people fulfilling their duties, but those three shouldn’t have raised their hands against you—especially when their aim was to ruin your face. Mischief is one thing, but destroying someone’s life is another matter entirely.” Su Jingluo glanced at the deep, swollen gashes on A-Lan’s face, and her heart ached with pity.

“I understand. Though I do feel sorry for them, what truly worries me is you.” Seeing the concern in Su Jingluo’s eyes, A-Lan suddenly felt a desire to devote her life to this woman.

“What are you worried about?” Su Jingluo hadn’t expected A-Lan’s concern to be for her. Was she afraid that Lin Feifei would come seeking trouble?

“They’re so distraught, who’s to say something unexpected won’t happen? If tragedy ensues over this—even if it’s not your fault—it could still tarnish your reputation.” A-Lan glanced anxiously back at the three women.

“Would they really take their own lives just because they’ve been expelled? That seems unlikely.” Su Jingluo would have been only too glad to be cast out of the estate herself, along with that little sticky rice dumpling.

“They wouldn’t do it on their own, but if someone incited them, it’s not impossible. And we can’t keep watch over them all day and night,” A-Lan replied, her gaze lingering meaningfully on Scarlet Moon Pavilion.

Indeed, A-Lan was clever—not so much because she cared about reputation, but because Su Jingluo, having been a doctor in two lifetimes, couldn’t bear to see needless death. After all, she was not a coroner.

“That’s easily solved.” Su Jingluo stuck out her tongue mischievously, put her hands on her hips, then tilted her head back at a forty-five degree angle and suddenly shouted loudly in all directions.

“Assassin! There’s an assassin! Murder! Help!”

Well, she was certainly not a typical princess.

Watching the princess, who moments before had been so stern and solemn, suddenly shout out such blatant lies with wide eyes and a shrill voice, A-Lan thought her mistress seemed a little unhinged.

Before Su Jingluo’s cry had even faded, a dozen men in black darted out from the shadows, looking tense and bewildered as they glanced around and at Su Jingluo.

“Heh, sorry about that, I just wanted to see if you were actually there,” Su Jingluo said, scratching her head sheepishly.

...

Do something meaningful, please! The black-clad guards were speechless. Just as they were about to slip back into the shadows, Su Jingluo hurriedly called them back.

“Hey, don’t leave! I need your help—”

“No, we take orders only from the prince and Commander Zhuo,” one of the men interrupted her before she could finish.

“Then where is Commander Zhuo? I’ll speak to him directly.” If all else failed, she’d have to go to the top.

“We don’t know.” After all, the princess was quite talkative, and it was awkward to leave, but staying felt equally pointless.

“Then tell me about your responsibilities here.” The princess’s authority didn’t seem to carry much weight, and Su Jingluo was a little disappointed, but not yet ready to give up. If she understood their duties, perhaps she could find a loophole.

“There’s no need for us to report such things to you,” one of the men replied, growing impatient.

Goodness, they were so stubborn!

“Someone’s trying to harm me—I can’t go on!” With that, Su Jingluo collapsed dramatically to the ground. A-Lan, startled, nearly jumped out of her skin, tears welling instantly in her eyes.