30 Awaiting Another Play

A flare of a mix of salmon and red lit up the thick atmosphere in the sky as the birds commenced their morning songs about the new day. Outside an endless chatter drilled its way into Hongyue's ear. Hongyue's eyelids trembled as her courtyard became noisier by the minute.

"Do you think she's dead yet?" A voice choked out curiously. The speaker was huddled nervously outside the door. Their hands and ears were pressed against the door, trying to listen for any sound of breathing.

Hongyue opened her eyes in amusement. It was the only morning, and they wanted her to die already. How bad will it get once it gets to noon? She didn't go find them yet, and here they are, delivered right at her door. Her eyes lit up as she drew up a new plan. How convenient, she was just in the mood to play around. She stretched lazily and rolled over to the edge of the bed. As her body connected with the ground, a loud thump could be heard inside the room. She let out a low moan of pain and eyed the door where two faint shadows could be seen.

"Should we go in?" The same voice asked, shaken.

"Hpmh, that vermin is still alive!" Another voice sounded.

"What should we do now? Must we kill her ourselves? I can't...I don't want to.." The first voice sobbed.

"Do you want to die? If she doesn't die, then the fourth madam will kill us! It's her or us. Pick!" The second demanded.

Fourth Madam.

Another person in apparent boredom.

Hongyue's eyes flashed before she played dead.

Currently huddled outside her door were two maids of the general's residence. Both of the maids were lower class servants of the outer court until the fourth madam sought them out and delivered them this assignment. If they accomplish the task, they were to be awarded ten silvers and promoted to the inner court. Who wouldn't take a deal like this? The first voice belonged to a timid and young servant the age of 14 and the second voice belonged to an older girl of 19.

Seeing the younger servant too scared to move, the older one gave a snort of contempt. She marched up right up to the door before turning smugly at the younger one.

"What are you so afraid of? It's just a simple task of checking if the trash is still alive. If she is, we just got to kill her."

Shoving open the weak wooden doors, the 19-year-old maid walked her way over to the fallen body and felt under Hongyue's nose. After she thought no air passed through her fingers, she beckoned towards the younger maid by the door. To show off her prowess, she kicked Hongyue's body before smiling arrogantly. She looked back up at the 14-year-old maid only to see the other's eyes widen in horror. She looked back down in time to see a hand reaching out and grabbing her throat.

The maid stumbled back as she fought desperately for air. Her own eyes widened in shock as she realized the one choking her was Hongyue. Her arms and legs started to thrash wildly, as she fought for air.

Hongyue let out a blood-thirsty smile at her actions and turned to the younger maid with sparkling her eyes.

"Ah, sorry if I interrupted you, but I couldn't help overhear you two chat." She tilted her head as if she was sorry, mockingly.

Hongyue's smile grew as she continued to speak, "It's just that I, too think killing is rather easy as well and I got too excited. You wouldn't mind if I show off a bit, would you?"

Hongyue turned to the older maid clawing for breath while choked in her hands.

"Please continue; what were you going to say before?"

However, the dying maid could only force out weak whines and sharp gagging in protest. Hongyue wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"What? Speak louder. I can't hear you."

The younger maid's legs weakened, and she collapsed to the ground in fear. What was this? Did they say the eldest miss was merely a dummy? Who was this monster in front of her?

Hongyue narrowed her eyes. She tossed away the body in her hands, then turned to face the younger one. However before she even got to where the maid was, the maid starting screaming.

"Help! Murder!"

Hongyue smirked. What a hypocrite. She hadn't even started screaming murder yet so why was this little witch shrieking her head off first. She leaned against the door frame as she watched the maid crawl backward and darted away yelling for help.

Hongyue yawned before she turned to the dead body.

"Since you disturbed my sleep so early, you'll compensate me, right? It's only fair this way."

Hongyue turned back into her room as she waited for the next play to take place. She stared at the body.

"Oh, this is like Deja Vu; let's see what other stupid pests will come running now."

Pausing over the head of the body, Hongyue bent down ever so slowly and drew an enchantment circle.

<Dance>