Chapter 53: Self-Reliance (2)

  Hua Xiang Rong finally managed to pull out the large wooden bucket filled with water from the well, when suddenly someone behind her called out in surprise, "Wang Fei?"

  "Oh no!" The bucket of water that had just been pulled up suddenly fell back into the well, splashing water all over Hua Xiangrong's body.

  "Hua Xiang's face turned red with anger as she spun around to see who dared to call her in this empty corridor. Seeing that it was Ning Er, the maid from Qing Chen Garden who served Xiao Yue Han, she quickly tidied up her disheveled self, cleared her throat, and turned back to look at Ning Er with a cold gaze: "Ah, it's you, Ning Er.""

  "Your Highness, what's wrong? Why are you drawing well water yourself?" Ning'er seemed to know nothing and stepped forward in surprise, looking at the wet spots all over Hua Xiangrong: "Oh dear, Your Highness, your clothes..."

  "Cough, isn't summer arriving soon? The weather is already starting to get hot. I woke up this morning feeling a bit sore all over, probably because I haven't exercised in a long time. So I came out to fetch water, which can be considered exercise, haha!" Hua Xiang Rong laughed as she spoke, but immediately turned back and grasped the rope of the water bucket, her smiling face suddenly changing to gritted teeth: "Ah, you want to send your maid over to see me make a fool of myself? You're really ruthless, you old fox!"

  "Well... Your Highness, you continue to exercise, Ning'er will take her leave first, the Prince is still waiting for me in the tea garden to deliver something."

  Hua Xiang hurriedly pulled out a thread of smile, intentionally ignoring the three words "Ming Xiang Garden" that Ning Er had just said loudly, and smiled at her: "Hmm, go ahead, hehehe..."

  After Ning'er left, Hua Xiang Rong rolled her eyes at her back and continued to carry the water bucket. After finally successfully drawing a bucket of water, she turned around and laboriously carried the bucket, swaying from side to side as she walked towards Xue Ling Garden.

  "Hey! What is the princess doing?" Suddenly, a shrill cry belonging to Concubine Fu came from the front, scaring Hua Xiangrong so much that her hand shook and the water in the bucket almost spilled over. She quickly pressed down on the bucket and glared at Concubine Fu's expression, which was trying to stifle a laugh, rolling her eyes in annoyance and muttering to herself: "Damn it, a dragon playing in shallow waters gets teased by shrimp, a tiger fallen into a plain gets bullied by dogs."

  "What is the queen doing?" Consort Fu walked over with a gentle swaying motion, supporting her slightly bulging belly.

  "Oh, it's Concubine Fu! " Hua Xiangrong stood up neatly, patted the water off her hands, raised an eyebrow with a hint of playfulness, and smiled brightly at Concubine Fu: "I got up early and was bored, so I did some exercise, hehe."

  "Is that so? Oh dear, Princess, I'm really sorry. Since I'm pregnant with the prince's child, there are not enough people around me, so I had to transfer Rong'er (the maid) from your side over here. It's made it so you don't have anyone to attend to you either... This prince is really something, can't he just assign another maid to you?" As she spoke, Consort Fu glanced sideways at Rong'er standing behind her.

  Hua Xiang Rong raised her eyes and looked at Ling Tong, who also looked up at the same time. The two of them didn't need to say a word, as they could see a hint of amusement in each other's eyes. Hua Xiang Rong winked at Ling Tong, who playfully winked back at her, and everything was understood without needing to be said.

  "Is that so? Then, Nü Xiè, you'd better enjoy the care of our Ling Tong properly. She's a rare good girl, to be honest, I'm a bit heartbroken to give her to you, but...” Huā Xiǎng Róng bent down and picked up the water bucket again: "Wanting her to serve well also depends on who is the master!"

  After speaking, Hua Xiang Rong struggled to carry the water bucket and walked forward, intentionally walking to the side of Fu Ce Fei who was pregnant. As soon as she reached her side, it seemed like she lost her balance, and the water bucket in her hand shook left and right: "Ahh... oh no..." She accidentally bumped into her belly and stepped on her small foot.

  Fufei hastily dodged, let out a startled cry and turned around to glare furiously at Huaxiang Rong's proud and carefree back as she struggled to carry the water bucket.

  "Hmph! Let's go." Consort Fu seemed to think it was dirty, shaking off the water that had accidentally splashed onto her clothes. Then she turned around and walked towards her own courtyard with her head held high and her chest out.

  Yeah, six updates today, found out I've been coding a bit too fast recently ~haha~~~ Love you guys~~~ muah muah~~~