A Maid Dressed As A Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role (Transmigration) - Chapter 2

“I’ve written out the prescription,” the physician said, handing the sheet to Chao Mu. “If the young princess could spare someone to accompany me back to the pharmacy to fetch the medicine, I’d appreciate it. Instructions on dosage, how many times a day, and how to prepare it are all noted clearly.”

Chao Mu rose to receive the paper with both hands and gave him a polite bow. “Thank you, Doctor.”

Perhaps because Chao Mu had grown up in Jiangnan as a regular young lady, never having been treated as royalty, she carried herself without the usual pride or formality of a princess. Even to an ordinary doctor like him, she remained respectful and courteous.

As the doctor began to pack up his things, Chao Mu looked over at the bed, her almond-shaped eyes full of worry. “Will A’Zhi have any lingering effects from this?”

“Well…” The doctor followed her gaze, his tone uncertain. “Though it seems to be just a superficial injury, she did hit her head on a rock. Whether there’ll be any lasting consequences is hard to say.”

“If she shows any strange symptoms after waking, don’t hesitate to call me,” he added with a formal bow. “There are still other patients at the pharmacy. If there’s nothing else here, I’ll be on my way.”

Chao Mu nodded and gestured for Xiao Yan to pay the consultation fee. “Thank you for your trouble.”

After seeing the doctor out, Xiao Yan returned, and Chao Mu called Xiao Que in and handed her the prescription. “Go with the doctor and get the medicine.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Xiao Que replied, but as soon as she stepped out the door, she casually passed the prescription to a passing servant who was sweeping the path.

The servant blinked in confusion. “Sister Xiao Que, what’s this?”

Arms crossed, Xiao Que lifted her chin. “The young princess wants you to take this to the pharmacy and get the medicine.”

And without another word, as she turned around with her hips swaying.

Xiao Que was about the same age as Xiao Yan, but she had a striking appearance—slim figure, delicate features, and a refined aura.

She had originally served in her former master’s household, specifically in the young master’s study.

The young master had just turned sixteen—the age when boys begin to understand such matters—and Xiao Que had long since set her sights on him, dressing up elaborately each day. And she had succeeded—almost. The young master had promised to make her a concubine.

But in the end, not only did she not become his concubine, she didn’t even make it as a bed servant. Instead, she was sold off and ended up here in the Qi household.

Having her dreams shattered like that, how could Xiao Que be willing to give up? She and the equally ambitious Xiao Yan instantly became rivals, both vying for the top maid position in the young princess’s residence.

Just earlier today, the two had gotten into a heated argument and, in the heat of the moment, physically fought. Who would’ve thought they’d end up crashing into the young princess?

At first, Xiao Que had been terrified, but when she realized it was A’Zhi who got hurt—her head bloodied—while the young princess was completely fine, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and even strutted proudly again like a peacock.

Among this batch of new servants, Xiao Que had never taken anyone seriously. In her eyes, the other maids were just lowly workers doing menial tasks—not like her, who had served in a study, could read, and even prepare ink.

She used to handle study-related tasks exclusively. Now she had to compete with this group of “coarse maids” just to serve someone—what a fall from grace.

Especially that vixen Xiao Yan who always scheming against her. A woman straight out of the kitchen, quick to resort to pushing and shoving the moment she lost a verbal argument.

As these thoughts festered, who else but Xiao Yan came walking straight toward her?

“Well, if it isn’t Sister Xiao Que,” Xiao Yan’s expression had been stormy, but the moment she spotted Xiao Que, her eyes gleamed and she smiled sweetly. Lifting the food box in her hand, she said, “You just came out of the room. Have you seen if A’Zhi has woken up yet?”

“This is chicken soup the young princess had the kitchen prepare for her. There’s even a hundred-year-old ginseng in it—smells amazing, even through the lid.”

Xiao Yan let out a sigh. “A’Zhi really is lucky. By some twist of fate, she saved the young princess. From now on, her standing in Her Highness’s eyes might be quite different.”

Xiao Que’s face had long turned cold, but Xiao Yan just kept stoking the fire with a smile. “Her Highness even said that when A’Zhi wakes up, we’re both to kneel and apologize.”

She tucked a non-existent loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Xiao Que from the corner of her eye. “Honestly, I’ve accepted it. As long as A’Zhi wakes up, I’ll kneel gladly. Better her as the head maid than… someone else.”

If the young princess had been a man, Xiao Yan was sure this fox-faced flirt Xiao Que would’ve long since crawled into bed with her.

Though technically, A’Zhi was currently lying in the young princess’s bed—but the implications were very different.

“B1tch!” Xiao Que spat, unable to hold back.

Xiao Yan’s ears were sharp. “Who are you calling a b1tch?”

Arms crossed, chin lifted high, Xiao Que sneered, “You, of course. Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on in that twisted little head of yours. Are you jealous? Just look at your eyes—you’d poison that chicken soup if you could, and please, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. Her Highness would never have us kneel to A’Zhi. What a joke.”

Caught red-handed, Xiao Yan flushed with anger. “You’re the jealous one!”

“Oh, please. You think you’re clever just because you used to work in a study? You lost your chance to be a concubine and now you can’t even be the head maid. What’s that say about your so-called intelligence?”

Xiao Yan spat on the ground, rolled her eyes, and scoffed, “All that reading, and your brain’s still worse than a fool’s.”

“You calling me worse than a fool?!” That hit a nerve. Xiao Que’s greatest regret was losing her shot at being a concubine. Now that Xiao Yan had said it out loud, her face burned with shame.

The two began shoving each other again, paying no mind to whether the precious soup had spilled.

“I’ll tell Her Highness you’ve been stealing pastries from her plate!” Xiao Que shouted.

“And I’ll tell her you’ve been secretly trying on her hairpins!” Xiao Yan screeched back.

They clawed at each other’s collars, tumbling from the round gate to the front of the courtyard, putting on a ridiculous show for the passing servants.

But no one looked surprised. It was as if everyone had grown used to the chaos in the young princess’s residence.

Outside, the commotion was loud—so loud that Chao Mu, sitting by the bedside, could hear every word clearly.

But she seemed unaffected by the noise. Her brows furrowed in concern as she gently patted A’Zhi’s arm under the blanket, speaking in a soft, child-soothing tone, “Don’t be scared, A’Zhi. It’s okay, really. Just a little longer…”

Just two more days. Just hang in there.

Her lips were chapped, and her almond eyes, freshly washed, were clear and bright with concern as she looked at the girl lying in bed.

Then—A’Zhi moved.

Chao Mu’s eyes widened in delight. “A’Zhi?”

Thinking she’d be thirsty when she woke, Chao Mu got up to pour her some water.

“Too loud…”

A’Zhi muttered something faint and hoarse, as if speaking from the depths of a dream. The words were hard to make out.

Since becoming an aunt, she hadn’t had to tolerate anyone raising their voice in her presence—especially when she was asleep.

Teen girls had the sharpest, shrillest voices, and the way they argued grated on her nerves.

Her head already ached, and now the shouting pushed her over the edge.

Had she grown so old she couldn’t even lift a hand? Or had the dynasty changed and her aunt was no longer Empress Dowager?

Servants daring to shout in her courtyard—did they have a death wish?

At that moment, Xiao Yan and Xiao Que were still tangled in each other’s hair by the door, neither willing to back down.

“Please, Your Highness, give us justice!” Xiao Yan cried first. “Xiao Que spilled the chicken soup meant for A’Zhi!”

Xiao Que snapped back, “It wasn’t me! She hit me with the food box and that’s how it spilled!”

Their voices rose over each other, getting louder and louder—until finally, A’Zhi sat up in bed.

“So noisy,” she muttered, her pretty face blank as she pulled off the covers and got out of bed—barefoot.

Without hesitation, she stormed to the door and flung it open, raising her arm at the two still bickering girls.

“PA! PA!”

Two crisp slaps echoed—and suddenly, the whole world went silent.

Chao Mu, by the table, felt a gust of wind blow past her—and then the unmistakable sound of slaps.

She looked up, dazed. “Huh?”

At the doorway, Xiao Yan and Xiao Que clutched their cheeks, eyes wide as they stared at A’Zhi, in shock.

A’Zhi, still fuming, didn’t notice their shocked expressions. She pointed to the steps outside and barked,

“This is the princess’s residence. Who gave you the right to make noise here? Get out. Kneel!”

Though her face was still young and delicate, her voice carried overwhelming authority. It was as if someone else entirely had spoken—sharp, commanding, and impossible to defy.

Xiao Yan’s knees buckled first. She dropped to the ground. Xiao Que, dazed, bowed her head and followed.

Not one dared to speak again.

A’Zhi’s aura at that moment was more terrifying than the steward’s—like someone used to holding power, not the kind of girl who’d get into petty fights.

She glanced at the two of them and sighed internally. Good thing this was her own courtyard—if it had been anywhere else, they’d have been dragged out and executed for the noise.

Her courtyard…

But wait.

It was the middle of winter, and the bitter wind hit her face hard. Dressed only in thin inner robes, A’Zhi shivered on the spot.

The wind and cold cleared her anger and sleepiness. She finally looked around.

A dainty courtyard, a refined little pavilion, a perfectly placed rock garden—every corner oozed elegance and privilege.

She froze in place, hair tousled by the wind.

This… wasn’t her courtyard.

The wind howled past her ears, buzzing faintly. A’Zhi closed her stinging eyes against it.

And in that moment, memories that didn’t belong to her came rushing in.