The Legend of the Princess' Counterattack

"The Legend of the Princess' Counterattack"

Chapter 14: First visit to the housekeeper, hit a wall

Ever since Yun Yao and Xiao Cui pried open the floor tiles and found the locked box, she has been eager for the ancient book that may contain the method of cultivation. The ancient book is like a ray of light in the darkness, and it is her hope to turn things around in this strange and difficult palace. She knows very well that the key to opening the box and getting the ancient book lies in the special key in the housekeeper's hand.

Yun Yao stood at the door of the housekeeper's residence, took a deep breath, and tried to look calm. She raised her hand and knocked on the door gently. After a while, the door opened with a creak, and the housekeeper's arrogant face appeared in front of her. When the housekeeper saw that it was Yun Yao, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes. He raised his chin slightly and asked coldly: "What are you doing here?"

Yun Yao bowed respectfully, trying to make her voice gentle and polite: "Master Butler, I recently found a box with a special lock in the courtyard. I heard that the key to unlock it is kept by you. The things in the box may be of great use to me. I beg you to lend me the key."

The butler smiled contemptuously, his smile full of sarcasm: "Princess, you are so easy to say. Everything in this palace is the property of the prince. The item corresponding to this key is naturally important. How can I lend it to you so casually?"

Yun Yao hurriedly explained, "Master Steward, I know this is an important item in the palace. But the things in the box are really important to me. It may change my current situation in the palace. I have no other intentions. I just want to borrow the key. I will return it immediately after use."

The housekeeper laughed loudly as if he had heard a joke: "Change your situation? You are an unfavored princess, what are you trying to change? Who do you think you are? Don't you understand the rules of this palace?"

Yun Yao felt a little aggrieved, but she knew she couldn't back down at this moment, so she patiently said, "Master Steward, I understand the rules of the palace. But I also sincerely want to make some contributions to the palace. If I can get the things in the box, maybe it can help the prince."

The housekeeper waved his hand impatiently: "Enough! Stop talking nonsense here. You say you can help the prince? What can you do? You are just a freeloader in this palace. Are you worthy of taking the key?"

Yun Yao's face turned slightly pale, but she still gritted her teeth and insisted: "Master Steward, although I don't have any ability now, I have been working hard. I believe that as long as you give me a chance, I will be able to prove my worth."

The housekeeper snorted coldly: "Value? What value do you have? If you were really valuable, would the prince dislike you so much? You'd better stop wasting my time here and go back quickly."

Yun Yao wanted to fight for it again. She took a small step forward and said, "Master Steward, I know that you are highly respected in the palace and in charge of many affairs. Please help me this time because I am alone and helpless in this palace."

The housekeeper's expression suddenly changed, and he shouted angrily, "Are you threatening me? You said you were alone and helpless, are you trying to gain sympathy with this? Such tactics of yours will not work on me."

Yun Yao hurriedly shook her head: "Master Steward, I have absolutely no such intention. I just want to sincerely ask for your help."

The housekeeper stopped listening to her explanation and took a step forward, pushing Yun Yao hard. Yun Yao staggered and almost fell. The housekeeper shouted, "Get out of here! Don't bother me with these inexplicable things again. If you dare to bother me again, I won't be so polite."

A hint of stubbornness flashed in Yun Yao's eyes. She knew that it was impossible to get the key from the housekeeper today. She slowly stood up, glanced at the housekeeper, and then turned and left.

Yun Yao was walking back to the courtyard, feeling frustrated. She had thought that if she explained the situation to the housekeeper, there might be a glimmer of hope, but she didn't expect the housekeeper to be so unreasonable. She felt like a bird trapped in a cage, trying to break free but hitting a wall everywhere.

However, Yun Yao was not completely defeated by this setback. She said to herself silently in her heart: "This is just a small setback, I can't give up. Since the housekeeper's method doesn't work, there must be other ways." She clenched her fists and her steps became firmer.

After returning to the courtyard, Xiao Cui saw Yun Yao's dejected look and knew that things were not going well. She walked up to her and asked softly, "Princess, is it that the housekeeper refused to give you the key?"

Yun Yao nodded: "Yes, the housekeeper was very arrogant, he didn't listen to my explanation at all, and even kicked me out."

Xiao Cui frowned: "This housekeeper has always been very powerful. He only values those who are favored. Princess, don't be too discouraged. We will definitely be able to think of other ways."

Yun Yao looked at Xiao Cui gratefully and said, "Xiao Cui, thank you. I also know that we can't just give up like this. Let's think of a solution together."

So, Yun Yao and Xiao Cui sat on the stone bench in the courtyard and began to discuss countermeasures again. Xiao Cui thought and said, "Princess, if the housekeeper's way doesn't work, maybe we can ask other servants about the key. Maybe someone knows other clues."

Yun Yao felt that Xiao Cui's words made sense: "You are right, but we have to be careful and not let the housekeeper find out that we are asking about the key, otherwise he will definitely cause trouble for us."

Xiao Cui nodded: "Don't worry, Princess, I will be careful. I will go to the kitchen first to take a look. There are many people there and maybe I can hear some useful information."

Yun Yao warned: "Okay, you have to be careful too. If there is any danger, don't act tough."

Xiao Cui smiled and said, "Don't worry, Princess." After that, she turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Yun Yao looked at Xiao Cui's back, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. In this cold palace, Xiao Cui was like a small flame, bringing her a glimmer of warmth and hope. She knew that she could not let Xiao Cui down, and she must work harder to find a way to get the ancient book.

Yun Yao sat in the courtyard, looking into the distance, her thoughts began to drift. She thought of her life in modern times. Although there were difficulties at that time, at least it was equal and free. But now, in this hierarchical palace of the cultivation world, she has to face not only the pressure of survival, but also the difficulties and calculations of various people. However, she did not regret coming to this world, because she knew that only here would she have the opportunity to become a powerful person and no longer be bullied at will.

She began to recall the knowledge she had learned in modern times, the knowledge about logical reasoning and interpersonal communication. She thought that maybe she could use this knowledge to find a way to get the key. She closed her eyes and sorted out all the information she knew about the key and the ancient book in her mind.

Judging from the tasks issued by the system, this ancient book must exist and is crucial to her cultivation. The key is in the hands of the butler, who is unwilling to hand it over easily because he does not trust himself, or he does not want to give himself any chance to turn things around. So, besides getting the key directly from the butler, is there any other way?

Yun Yao suddenly thought that maybe she could start from the source of the key. How did the key get into the hands of the butler? Was it given to him by the prince, or did it have other origins? If she could find the source of the key, maybe she could find a way to get the key without the butler.

She thought of the books about the history of the palace that she had found in the secret passage. Perhaps those books would contain clues about the key. She immediately got up, went back into the house, found those books, and began to read them carefully.

The handwriting on the scroll was a bit old, and it was not easy to read, but Yun Yao still read it patiently word by word. She found that these scrolls recorded many old stories of the palace, including the origins and whereabouts of some treasures. She stared at the pages, not missing any information that might be related to the key.

Time passed quietly as Yun Yao was concentrating on reading. Before she knew it, the sun had already set. Yun Yao rubbed her sore eyes. Although she had not found a clear clue about the key, she felt that her thoughts were clearer. She decided to wait for Xiao Cui to come back and discuss her ideas with her.

At this time, Xiao Cui was carefully trying to find out the news near the kitchen. The kitchen was one of the busiest places in the palace, where the servants were busy preparing meals and chatting about gossip in the palace. Xiao Cui pretended to help casually, but her ears were perked up, listening to the conversation of the servants.

"Have you heard? The unfavored Princess Yun Yao seems to be a little different recently." A maid said in a low voice.

"What's the difference? Can she still turn the tables?" another maid replied disdainfully.

"I heard that she seemed to be looking for something and even went to the housekeeper to ask for the key." The first maid said mysteriously.

"Looking for something? Looking for what? Is she trying to steal treasures from the palace?" The second maid widened her eyes.

"I don't know either, but the housekeeper will definitely not give her the key. She doesn't even consider her own identity and dares to trouble the housekeeper." The first maid said gloatingly.

Xiao Cui felt a little angry when she heard these words. She knew that these servants liked to gossip. Princess Yunyao just wanted to get what belonged to her, so why was she being talked about so badly? However, she did not show it and continued to listen silently.

Suddenly, an old maid came over. She saw Xiao Cui helping in the kitchen, frowned and said, "Xiao Cui, why are you in the kitchen instead of serving your princess?"

Xiao Cui was startled, but she quickly calmed down and said with a smile: "Mammy, I saw that the kitchen was too busy, so I came to help. The princess has nothing to do right now, so I thought it would be good to do more."

The old nanny looked at Xiao Cui suspiciously and said, "Don't be lazy. If your princess finds out, she won't let you off easily."

Xiao Cui nodded quickly: "Don't worry, Mammy, I know."

After the old lady turned and left, Xiao Cui breathed a sigh of relief. She felt that she couldn't stay here for too long, otherwise it would easily arouse suspicion. And she didn't hear any useful news, so it would be better to go back and discuss it with Princess Yunyao first.

Xiao Cui hurried back to the courtyard and saw Yun Yao flipping through a book in the house. She walked into the house and said softly, "Princess, I'm back."

Yun Yao raised her head and saw Xiao Cui, and asked quickly: "Xiao Cui, have you heard any news?"

Xiao Cui shook her head: "Princess, I didn't hear any useful news from the kitchen. The servants were saying some unpleasant things, saying that you wanted to steal the treasures of the palace."

Yun Yao frowned: "These people really like to gossip. But it doesn't matter, I was just reading these scrolls, and I think maybe I can start from the source of the key to find clues."

Xiao Cui asked curiously, "Where did the key come from? Princess, do you have any idea?"

Yun Yao told Xiao Cui her idea: "I want to know how this key got into the hands of the housekeeper. If I can find this clue, maybe I can find other ways to get the key."

Xiao Cui's eyes lit up: "Princess, this is a good idea. Then shall we look for clues from these scrolls now?"

Yun Yao nodded: "Well, for now we can only look for it in these scrolls. However, the contents recorded in these scrolls are very diverse, so it may be difficult to find them."

So, Yun Yao and Xiao Cui began to carefully read the book together again, hoping to find clues about the origin of the key.

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