As they all began to implore her, Qu Fulan felt it would be ungracious to refuse. Since it had already been seen, there was no difference in letting them look at it more.
So she took out the box for them to see.
As soon as the box was opened, everyone's eyes lit up.
"Wow, it's so beautiful."
"Haitang, you're so lucky!"
The two maids each held one earring, speaking with extreme caution but couldn't help but murmur compliments.
Hai Yue silently watched from the side, recalling the joy she felt when she received items of better quality than others before, now all those feelings turned into smoke and vanished.
Thinking about her previous desire to show off, it now turned into embarrassing humiliation.
Seeing others praising and laughing, Hai Yue forced a difficult smile, "Indeed, it's a fine item. Just by looking at it, you can tell it's a top-grade tribute. It's said that only a few are tributes each year, aside from what the ladies in the palace receive, only noble families who have rendered great service can have them. None of the young ladies in our mansion have ever worn them, perhaps the Princely Heir got only these two pairs, and they're all given to Haitang."
"And these earrings are the least picky with outfits, they can be worn with any attire."
The two maids were immediately amazed and exclaimed again.
"Haitang, the Princely Heir is so kind to you!"
"Indeed, you're so fortunate to be treated so well by the Princely Heir!"
In her heart, Qu Fulan felt no sense of fortune. She had already felt uneasy earlier at Hua Hao Yueyuan's place. If they hadn't checked and confirmed there was no mistake, she would have assumed that others made a mistake when distributing items.
She didn't really understand why Heir Pei would give her such fine items, clearly now it was Hai Yue who was winning favor in front of the old lady.
Why?
Unable to figure it out, she could only use the reason of "Princely Heir showing filial respect to the old lady" to brush off others' curiosity.
However, Hai Yue wouldn't let her off with that, "If you consider it, the mansion doctor has treated the old lady more than once and hasn't received any good things from the Princely Heir either."
The other two maids fully agreed with what she said: "Right, just take Sister Hai Yue for instance, now you're diligently serving in front of the old lady every day, why doesn't the Young Master reward you with such fine items?"
Hai Yue's voice was extremely sour, "It seems I'm not qualified for such things..."
She truly couldn't understand why the Young Master would treat them so differently. If speaking of merits and rewards, it would surely be her earning the most credit now.
But the things she received couldn't compare at all to Haitang's.
When Taohong heard about this, she was also very indignant for Hai Yue, but she was wise enough not to blame the Princely Heir.
"Surely that girl Haitang used some scheme behind the scenes to take what's originally yours."
Hai Yue thought so too, perhaps Haitang bribed someone working for the Princely Heir, tampering when the items were distributed.
Otherwise, she couldn't fathom the reason for the Princely Heir arranging things this way.
Isn't the Princely Heir known for his fairness in rewards and punishments?
Although this reason was most convincing, Hai Yue knew in her heart it was impossible.
The people around the Princely Heir were all well-trained, not that easily bribed. Moreover, the Princely Heir had just returned, even the old lady couldn't place people around him, how could a mere maid have such ability?
If not for this reason, then what could it be?
Hai Yue was obsessively searching for the answer, driving herself to the brink of madness.
Taohong, however, considered another possibility, "Could it be that the Princely Heir has taken a liking to her?"
Haitang is good-looking; since ancient times even heroes find beauty a difficult hurdle to overcome. It wouldn't be strange for the Princely Heir to fancy her.
If that were the case, it would make perfect sense.
Hai Yue decisively denied it, "Impossible, the Princely Heir wouldn't fancy someone so shallow with just looks."
Although denying it verbally, she felt a vague unease in her heart.
Not only was Hai Yue uneasy, but Qu Fulan wasn't at ease either.
She couldn't comprehend Heir Pei's actions.
The fact that the Princely Heir gifted her valuable earrings was seen by people in the same room, and soon enough other maids would also know.
Even Hai Yue showed such jealousy and envy, imagining how other maids would react was not difficult.
Had she offended Heir Pei and he intended to punish her using this tactic of putting on a pedestal, making her a target for everyone?
She seemed to have done nothing to offend Heir Pei, why would he want to do that to her?
Being too involved to see, Hai Xia, who soon heard of this affair, was an outsider, crucially a bystander fearful of the Princely Heir, hence she had no filter to see issues more objectively.
"As the masters giving to the servants depends entirely on mood, it's perfectly normal to sometimes want to give someone something better or someone else something lesser on a whim. Such things have happened before, others are making too big a deal of it."
Hearing this, Qu Fulan felt a weight lifted from her heart, "Has something like this happened before?"
Hai Xia: "Hmm…it seems so, but I don't remember... haha, but I think it must have happened."
The heart Qu Fulan just settled was lifted again, and nonchalantly, she asked Hai Xia a question, "Has the Princely Heir given you anything?"
She recalled them gossiping about Heir Pei behind his back and comparing him to Prince Xiao previously.
Could it be that while Heir Pei said nothing at the time, he was actually displeased, and now is seeking revenge?
After ruminating, this seemed to be the only possibility.
If Heir Pei intended to put her on a pedestal, her "accomplice" Hai Xia shouldn't be able to escape either.
If Hai Xia's situation was similar to hers, that was more than likely the reason.
But Hai Xia directly replied, "No way, I'm just a third-class maid who can't even go near the old lady, no matter how fair the Princely Heir is, he wouldn't randomly reward."
Qu Fulan was instantly filled with gloom.
Hai Xia continued speaking nonchalantly, "You don't need to think too much, just consider it a grace from the master."
As for people saying the Princely Heir might like Haitang, she didn't believe it.
It's not that she thought Haitang undeserving, Haitang bloomed like a flower bud on the cusp of blossoming, charmingly beautiful at the most lovable age, who wouldn't be enamored?
Except for the Princely Heir, perhaps.
Because Heir Pei was unlike the Third Young Master who would brighten at the sight of a pretty maid, nor like the Eldest Young Master who appeared chaste but actually required female attendants.
Heir Pei truly wasn't interested in women, how could such a person easily fancy a maid?
Meanwhile, Qu Fulan was still pondering Heir Pei's intentions.
Over at Hai Yue's side, however, there was already a contingency plan.
She thought she was too foolish, always silently and earnestly doing things behind the scenes, so the masters unconsciously got used to it and didn't even notice her importance.
Resulting in situations where the Princely Heir rewards others with valuable items, bypassing her.
So now she would let the masters see her importance.
These days, didn't the old lady become accustomed to having her meridians massaged to feel comfortable?
Hua Hao and Yueyuan couldn't compare to her massaging skills, so if she pretended to be ill, and the old lady had no one to massage her, she would naturally realize her value.
By then, the Princely Heir would certainly know, and might even personally visit to check on her.