Bethany still hesitated, she muttered, “The fifth mistress was very nice to me, she even gave me so many things, it’s not right if I do that.”
Madam Barbosa, who had high hopes for Bethany, felt exasperated and said, “You really do have a stubborn mind! You only followed the fifth mistress for a few days. No matter how the fifth mistress is loved, she still needs to marry someone someday. When she leaves the palace and brings her confidants for the marriage, could you, a mere old servant possibly follow her? You’re still going to stay at the regent household by then. Yet it would be fine for you, the palace would still feed you and give you clothes, you’re still having your monthly salaries, but what about your son and daughter? They should have a way out. What can your son do following the fifth mistress?”
Seeing Bethany still hesitated, Madam Barbosa made a more determined effort to persuade her, “Bethany, think back what the fifth mistress had done over the past few days, she has changed into a different person and become hard-hearted when she awoke from her coma, if she knows how your son has become from gambling until he wants to sell his own sister to the brothel, do you think she would want you to continue serving her? Until then, you might lose your job before even settling your son’s matter.”
Bethany trembled, she had witnessed Mary’s actions for these few days. She dared to debunk Granny Gordy who was feared by everyone in the palace, and coincidentally she was loved by his Majesty. Bethany did not dare to compare herself with Granny Gordy, she was only an old servant, and Mary’s single statement could decide for her punishment.
“Then……,” Bethany took a glance at Bryson who was moaning, she braced herself and said, “regarding what her Ladyship had promised me……”
Madam Barbosa sneered secretly in her heart, she knew Bethany would give up, “Rest assured, her Ladyship has already arranged everything, her Ladyship would pay for your son’s debt, also release your son into the farm. The farm is far from the town, and someone would be watching him so he does not have the chance to gamble nor being bullied by other people. Wait until he heals the wound on his leg, we’ll find him something to do.”
Bethany was still a bit unwilling to let her son suffered in the farm, and her face showed a slight unhappiness.
Madam Barbosa despised Bethany even more, yet with a smiley face she consoled her, “Don’t worry, Bethany. Although it’s on farm, but I did mention to let him rest and heal his wound there. We’ll let him back once he recovers, and let he be the shopkeeper’s helper in one of her Ladyship’s store. After a few years gaining experience, I promise you he could be the shopkeeper.”
For a mere flunkey, the position of a shopkeeper was respectful enough. Finally satisfied, Bethany continued, “Since my son’s matter has been settled, what about my daughter Chelsea……”
“You don’t need to worry about her. Her Ladyship had asked to let Chelsea pack her things and follow me into the palace today, temporarily serve beside her Ladyship. When his Majesty go to her Ladyship’s house, she would let Chelsea to serve tea and pour water, showing herself in front of his Majesty. I promise, with Chelsea’s goddess-like character and beauty, his Majesty would spot her in just a single sight. Till then, it would be reasonable for her Ladyship to recommend Chelsea to his Majesty.”
What Bethany had wanted could be granted in the blink of eyes, without concern, she held Madam Barbosa’s hands happily and expressed her gratitude.
Yet, Madam Barbosa retrieved her hands, with a neither enthusiastic nor cold voice, she said, “Please don’t be happy at the moment, the only condition to fulfill what I said just now is to do what her Ladyship ordered nicely and not ruined her Ladyship’s plan. Don’t blame me for not making it clear first, if you fail, your son and daughter’s life could not be guaranteed.”
Bethany was slightly frightened, now that she had boarded the pirate ship, there was no turning back that easily, therefore she could only force herself to promise her with certainty.
Seeing that she had successfully deterred her, Madam Barbosa smiled, “Don’t worry, what you need to do is really simple, you just need to keep your eyes and ears wide open and pay attention to what the fifth mistress had said, done and who had she be in touch with.”
Thinking that it really was an easy task, her last tiny concern disappeared and she blurted out a thing that baffled her, “The fifth mistress never let us carry out night duty.”
Madam Barbosa asked quickly, “And do you know why?”
Bethany shook her head and continued, “When the fifth mistress first arrived Planifolia Garden, she did not let Angelica to carry out her night duty, Angelica thought it was just because she was not familiar with her, but then she was told by Daisy who followed the fifth mistress since she was a kid that the fifth mistress had not let anyone to carry out night duty ever since she woke up from her coma. Also, she specifically enjoyed being alone. I’ve noticed that the fifth mistress always ran and jumped in the yard, making weird movements after she woke up from bed. Rumor says that she even meditates before her sleep at night.”
It was actually weird, Madam Barbosa thought, could it be that Mary was actually possessed?
After making a few orders to Bethany, Madam Barbosa quickly returned to the palace and told the second concubine every single word spoken by Bethany. “Your Ladyship, see, I’ve guessed it before, this fifth mistress had behaved differently ever since she woke up from her coma. She was an illiterate that did not recognize a single word, yet she can actually read ten lines at one glance and retain what she had read in her memory now. How many of the people in this world could have this talent? According to what Madam Lewis had said, it is shown to be true. I think what the fifth mistress said about being cured by some old doctor found on the street was definitely fake! To me, I believe she has been possessed by some nasty stuff!”
The second concubine squeezed her handkerchief, slightly afraid and said, “I did think that Mary that brat behave sneakily once you mentioned, could it really be that she’s possessed? Madam Barbosa, what should we do?”
The second concubine though callous and cruel, but when it involved ghosts and gods, she would still be extremely scared. Having heard that Mary might be possessed by some nasty stuff, she was completely stupefied.
“Your Ladyship, please don’t be scared, we’ll get the priest from Munashii Temple here for exorcism, isn’t that good?”
“Yes, it is a good idea,” the second concubine frowned, “It would be great if the exorcism succeeds, Mary would become an idiot again, the palace can raise her until she dies, there’s no big deal. Nevertheless, she would not be excluded out from the palace. However, what if Mary was not possessed by ghosts? And, what if, the power of the priests is not strong enough and they can’t deal with Mary? What if Mary knows that we’re trying to deal with her and comes to us for revenge?”
The second concubine felt more and more afraid the more she thought. Having thought about it, ever since Mary woke up from her coma, what she, Grace and Amy did had never gone well. Poor Amy, she not only had to marry a paralyzed waste, but was beaten up by Ralph until she could not move. Even Grace who used to be arrogant now had to mind her speech when she spoke.
The second concubine felt uncomfortable, even her had started to believe that Mary was possessed by ghosts.
“Your Ladyship, please do not be afraid and panic.”
Madam Barbosa though had grown in age, but she was still experienced, “Please stay calm, your Ladyship. If the power of the priests from Munashii Temple is not strong enough, we’ll ask for other priests to come over, there must be someone who can deal with Mary that slut.”
“And what if Mary was actually not possessed by ghosts?”
Madam Barbosa chuckled and said, “That would be easier to deal with. Until then, we’ll let the priests to turn her into a goblin. When the ritual has been carried out, there’s no way for Mary to decide for anything.”
Understanding her meaning, the second concubine was still worried, “But his Majesty had always disliked the priests, he would not let them have a single step inside the palace.”
Madam Barbosa smiled, “Your Ladyship need not worry about this. The third mistress was used to provoke his Majesty recently, so why not we seize this opportunity and say that we want to let the third mistress rest in the Munashii Temple, bringing along the other mistresses as a trip. After all, the nobles and the royals would go out for trips after some time. When we reach Munashii Temple, Mary would not have a choice but to follow what your Ladyship has ordered.”
There was finally a smile on the second concubine’s face. What Madam Barbosa said was right, Mary could only follow what she had ordered.
Still thought their motivation was not high enough, Madam Barbosa exaggerated, “Until then, your Ladyship could even take her life away if your Ladyship wants. After all, nobody would know what has happened in the middle of the forest. During our stay in Munashii Temple, we could say that Mary has suddenly gotten a malignant illness and passes away before even getting treated. His Majesty used to dislike her, though he did pay attention to her recently, it is just temporary. Who knows, after knowing Mary’s death, maybe he’ll just cry for a while and that’s just it.”
The second concubine smiled evilly, “You did well today, go and take your gratuity.”
Thanking her, Madam Barbosa then asked, “Your Ladyship, what about Madam Lewis’ son and daughter?”
The second concubine raised her eyebrow with a look of disgust and replied, “Her son is a waste, leaving him alive is a threat to us. How about this, you throw him to the hamlet which was my dowry and ask the person in charge not to get him any doctor. Let his leg be, it would be better that he gets an illness and dies to save us from the trouble.”
Madam Barbosa’s heart was beating fast, but still she continued, “That was a brilliant plan, your Ladyship! But what about Madam Lewis’ daughter, Chelsea?”
Having mentioned this, the second concubine grew more impatiently, “I’ve heard that her daughter was quite pretty?”
Madam Barbosa nodded and replied, “Yes, I’ve met her, and she is a flower bud-like girl.”
The second concubine felt even more disgusted, she said, “Bring her here to the Prosperity Hall as promised. When she comes, I’ll have plans to deal with her.”
A cold thrilled through Madam Barbosa’s heart, she had not forgotten how the second concubine had dealt with his Majesty’s original concubines. Except for Madam Talbert who was lucky enough to have survived, the rest of the concubines were either dead or handicapped, or even sold. Who knew what could have happened to Chelsea when she came into the palace, it was all thanks to Madam Lewis’ greed and the lousy plan she came up with.
“Madam Barbosa, there’s no need for you to care about other stuff these days besides the matter in Munashii Temple. After it’s all done, we’ll come back and deal with Madam Talbert that slut. Hmph, his Majesty might have forgiven her, but not me. Beating my daughter up and still hope for nothing to happen? Her and her sweet dreams!”
Madam Barbosa quickly agreed.
“I’ve heard that his Majesty had given Luna that slut a bunch of good things?”
Madam Barbosa was always a flatterer towards those having great power and wealth, she smiled and said, “I think those good things were given to the second and third mistresses, how could they be used by some degraded people? Your Ladyship can take them back with whatever excuse whenever your Ladyship feels to do so.”
The second concubine snorted, as if letting Luna getting away from it, yet in her mind, she had decided to punish her whenever she had the opportunity.