Madam Ling's Failed Plan

I entered the banquet hall of the temple. It was very orderly and and fancy like other banquets that these wealthy people had, but it was not as fancy. There was not a wide variety of dishes like most feasts and everyone had to be good about not wasting food. There also more vegetarian dishes mostly because we are at a buddhist temple.

Upon entrance, I kept a low profile and ate my food quietly. I was planning on to keep my low profile and do nothing, but then, my trained ears heard what I thought was going happen anytime soon.

"Ling'er choose one of the concubines."

"Why mom?"

"Just choose one."

"Concubine Xiu."

Madam Ling looked at Zhao Ling discreetly and thought, "Well, she has the looks, but at least she knows who is has the highest position unlike the others. But, that doesn't mean she safe. I must make every effort to make sure that my Ling'er doesn't have anybody trying to steal her position."

"Mom, what are you thinking?"

Madam Ling called over one of her servants and whispered in the servants ear. After finishing giving instructions to the servant, she put on a face full of smiles, thinking that she had won already.

"One down, two more to go."

"Mom, what are you doing? Concubine Xiu is not a person with an evil mind. She's kind."

"Ling'er, there are fake people out there in the world. You never know if everything she says is to help you."

"Mom, I know for sure that she is a friend. When I went to the prince's mansion during Madam Wu's birthday, she helped me and didn't expose me."

"How are you so sure? Are you sure that she didn't tell it to anyone behind your back?"

"Mom, she wouldn't." Concubine Xiu, I'm so sorry! This is all my fault, if I knew mother was going to plan something and frame you, I would have chosen another concubine instead.

I may have had a look like I wasn't paying attention, but I heard everything she told her servant. This main wife of the Ling household is very dumb indeed. She doesn't even know a thing about me. Does she honestly think she can just frame me like that?

"Hao'er, can you go back to my room and give me the copied scrolls. I forgot to grab it. I have to give it to Madam."

"Yes, please wait Mistress Xiu."

Let us begin the play.

3...

2...

1...

I then casted a spell with nobody knowing to the servant that was coming up behind me. The spell made it look like if the servant had planned to make me be responsible for her dropping a precious small buddha statue, but made it look too obvious. The perfect way to make everyone pity the damsel in distress.

I then pretended to groan in pain as if I was in a lot of pain. I made sure the statue had hit my head and also used another spell that made my head swell from the pain. Of course, I felt nothing at all.

The commotion I made turned everyone's head towards me and everybody saw the situation. Soon, everyone's expression was of distaste towards the maid, and started whispering, "I can't believe they won't even let off a concubine when she already made effort to not disturb the wealthy." "Right right, horrible."

And in secret, I made a sly smile. This smile the prince and his best friend saw. At first they thought that she was bored and just wanted to have something happen and so, created this, but when they saw how Madam Ling was speaking in such a fake tone, it was more than enough to explain the situation.

"Bai, apologize to Concubine Xiu."

"But Madam, I didn't drop the statue on her. It was her! She did something to it."

"What are you talking about? Everybody already saw you drop it on her. Do you want to tarnish your own master's name?"

"Of course not Madam, but-but..."

"Apologize!"

The servant then apologized to me, but it was as fake as it could be. Since I already got what I wanted, I should stop playing now.

And with a fake sincere smile, "It's okay. I'm sure you didn't mean to do it. Not only that, I didn't get hurt that much. I am but a mere concubine, there's no need to apologize to me. You should only apologize to Madam Ling for this matter. I'm not that important, the reputation of your master is more important."

"Thank you for your forgiveness."

Hao'er then entered. "Mistress Xiu, how did you get hurt? How did you hit your head?"

Everybody then looked at my head and once again, started whispering about how mean Madam Ling for not even giving the little girl mercy and hurt her so much.

"Madam, may this servant be bold and ask to let Mistress Xiu rest? These are the scrolls you asked Mistress Xiu to copy for this trip."

Well, the little girl has already had to deal with this much already without even doing anything. If I let her stay further, Yin'er is going to get mad at me. "Go ahead. Make sure to take care of your Mistress until she heals."

"Yes, this maid understands!"

When we reached my room, I told Hao'er the truth of what happened.

"Sister, you did the right thing. You did nothing wrong yet they had planned to make you suffer. It was only right that you protect yourself."

"Hao'er, is the Master free?"

"Why Sister? Why do you want to see the Master of this temple?"

"I'll explain later."

"Well, I don't know where the master is, but I'm sure if you go to the praying room, he will appear at some point."

"Thank you. I'll be back by the time the moon is down."

"Wh-?!"

Hao'er couldn't finish her shocked face because Zhao Ling left already. "Sigh, people who knows how to use magic is so hard to talk with. Sister please come back quickly!"