So what exactly were these two master and servant duo doing outside dressed in red? From head to toe, both Yu Mei and Chu'mei were wearing a red cloak and mask. Luckily Yu Mei was smart enough to think the whole situation over. If they were in their regular clothes, they would be caught in the morning. But how did she get the cloth so quickly this late at night?
Ask the bare dining table that had its table cloth stripped from it. The creative Yu Mei actually whipped the cloth off the table, cutting it in half, one for her and the other for Chu'mei. Of course, their face mask also came from the same table cloth. Even til now, one could probably still hear the weeping of the naked table.
Yu Mei and Chu'mei were crouching on the ground in the back of the inn with some mixed bread with sugar and four cups in hand. "Xiaojie, what next?" a very eager Chu'mei turned to ask. Even if Yu Mei's mouth was covered, those big bright eyes revealed all her inner thoughts, revenge.
Yu Mei spoke two words, "Catching crickets," Chu'mei looked at her confused. Now was not the time to be catching crickets. Chu'mei scratched her head before asking her question. "Xiaojie, you've really changed. You never liked bugs in the past. Why are we catching crickets?"
"Aiya, how many times must I tell you, I've lost my memories…I like what I didn't like and I dislike what I used to like," The annoyed Yu Mei grabbed the bag of crushed bread and the 4 cups from Chu'mei, spreading the crumb near and inside the tipped cups.
30 minutes later, Yu Mei and Chu'mei were still waiting. "Wasn't this how you catch crickets?" Yu Mei asked.
"Xiaojie, how should I know? You were the one who came up with the idea,"
Yu Mei sighed, ready to give up. *cricket* *cricket* they were coming. Finally coming! Yu Mei and Chu'mei watched as dozens and dozens of crickets slowly entered the cups. If they knew they were going to be used for a grand scheme, they would never have willingly entered.
After the four cups were sealed with a cloth, Yu Mei and Chu'mei walked back to the inn. Luckily no one was in the main room other than a passed out servant, the same servant who took the bribe from her mother in law.
The master-servant duo sneakily went to the third floor with the four cups of crickets. The door at the end where her mother in law resided silently opened. Yu Mei and Chu'mei tiptoed inside, one by one. They had their backs near the walls, following it until they reached the Empress's bed. She was fast asleep. This is too easy, thought Yu Mei.
A little bit later, the two of them left the room as if they had never been there to start with. Yu Mei wasn't done yet, she quietly walked behind the attendant, pulled his collar lightly and dropped something inside.
Even when they returned to their first floor room, they couldn't fall asleep. Just thinking about how Empress Ping's morning will be like, they couldn't help but snicker.
***
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~" early in the morning, the loudest shriek could be heard coming from Empress Ping's room. Yu Mei and Chu'mei had already been up an hour prior to this, impatiently waiting. As soon as they heard the scream, they both looked at each other and high fived. Both their expressions reading; well played! After silently praising each other, they quickly rushed out of their room. They first walked past the same servant, jumping up and down like a crazy person. They both smiled as they made their way towards Empress Ping's.
The moment they got there, Fei Ning, Yi Er and Ming Yan were already there, pale like ghosts. Yu Mei watched from outside the door as the play she produced continued.
"Come, chase these things out," a freaked out Empress Ping pointed at those things next to her bed. This was probably the most unrefined Empress Ping has ever been since Chu'mei had entered the palace.
A layer of crickets had been placed right in front of Empress Ping's bed. Jumping and hopping in the same area, even placing themselves snuggly inside her shoes. Empress Ping was standing at the very corner of her bed with a disheveled look. "Fei Ning, shoo them away," even as Empress Ping demanded for each of them to help her, no one dared to move. They didn't like crickets just as much as Empress Ping.
They all held their handkerchief in hand, backed away a far distance. Just looking at the scene, they wanted to run away.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Yu Mei walked in 'surprise'.
"Mei'er, help me," Empress Ping was in such a panic, she didn't realize she had actually asked for help from Yu Mei. "Chu'mei, help me," Yu Mei urged her over. Chu'mei had to hold in her laughter before rushing over.
Empress Ping could only breathe properly when all the crickets were chased away. Yu Mei held out her hand, "Mother, let me help you," Empress Ping took her hand and stepped down. Yu Mei helped her make her way over to the three consorts. "Fei Ning, Ji Er, Ming Yan…you three…" *Shriek* all three consorts took a step back, pointing at the empress. "Cricket, a cricket is in your hair," they all said simultaneously.
Yu Mei almost lost it just now. The horror on Empress Ping's face was really too much for her to handle. Earlier while Yu Mei was helping her mother in law down, she had sneakily placed a cricket at the back of her head. Who knew that cricket would be so smart to make its resting spot on top of Empress Ping's head. Next thing Yu Mei knew, she was helping a passed out Empress Ping slowly land on the ground. Who knew that her little plan would have such an effective ending?
Not long later, Yu Mei and Chu'mei were walking along the streets of Siu with the biggest smiles on their faces. After Empress Ping was transferred to Fei Ning's room, a doctor came to check on her. By now, she was probably still passed out. Of course, this was none of Yu Mei and Chu'mei's concern as they merrily walked around, enjoying themselves. "Xiaojie, were we too much?" a worried Chu'mei suddenly asked. Yu Mei pondered on it with arms crossed. "You're right! We didn't do enough," they both looked at each other and laughed. Yu Mei wanted to do more but knew she couldn't afford it. If it was Consort Ning, she could do far worse but this was still her mother in law. If Pei Nan knew what she did to his mother, he would skin her alive.
About 15 minutes later, the duo had made their way to the south side of Siu. Being this close, Yu Mei felt her heart beat with excitement. She was going to finally see her first customer again.
Yu Mei slowly walked up to a huge estate and stared at the placard hanging, "Mu Family".
It was three years ago when the real her, Ju Ming first met the young miss from the Mu family. But in this life where she had gone back two years, this meant that she had only met the young Mu daughter a year ago. This meant that she had given her first pill to Mu Gao Ting about a year ago, long enough for that young lady to marry the man she wanted. Yu Mei was still lost in thoughts when Mu Gao Ting stepped out of the estate. Mu Gao Ting looked the same as she remembered; tall and slender with an angelic face. "Miss, you can't go. Old master has prohibited you from chasing after Young Master Feng," Yu Mei recognized the little maid who was trying to persuade Mu Gao Ting to stop. Mu Gao Ting turned around, facing her maid, Tong'er, "I don't care, I want to marry Feng Lin Ge. I don't believe he won't fall for me," Gao Ting pushed Tong'er away as she proceeded to leave.
A puzzled Yu Mei looked back at the irrational Mu Gao Ting. [What was going on? Wasn't Mu Gao Ting supposed to have already been married to Feng Lin Ge by now? Why is she only still chasing him?]