Dong Mei left the main room and turned into the tea room.
Back when Gu daren had been drinking flower wine for several nights in a row, Gu Jiu had seized the opportunity to plant a small seed in Dong Mei’s mind. Months later, it had finally taken root and begun to grow.
Chun He had no idea.
She returned to the Furong Yuan and, as usual, went to attend to Xie shi.
The atmosphere inside the room felt off, too serious.
Seeing Xie shi with a stern expression, Chun He asked, “Taitai, what’s wrong? Did someone make you angry?”
Xie shi’s gaze turned unfriendly as she stared at Chun He.
Chun He noticed the tangled bundle of needlework, it was clearly hers. She had left it in her room, so how had it ended up in taitai’s hands?
Her heart skipped a beat. She felt flustered but managed to keep her face calm.
“Would taitai like some tea?”
Xie shi snorted coldly, grabbed the crumpled needlework, and flung it directly at Chun He’s face.
Chun He didn’t dare dodge.
Thump!
She fell straight to her knees.
Xie shi sneered, “You didn’t do anything wrong, so why are you kneeling?”
Chun He’s eyes darted around, then she steeled herself and said firmly, “Taitai, please judge fairly. Nubi is loyal to you and have no selfish intentions. No matter where nubi is or what nubi does, nubi’s heart is entirely devoted to you.”
Xie shi’s face showed a trace of sarcasm. “I haven’t said anything yet, and you’re already rushing to explain. So guilty, indeed.”
Chun He suddenly burst into silent tears, the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Through her sobs, she spoke, “When nubi returned and saw taitai upset, and then saw the needlework nubi had done myself, nubi realized I was wrong, terribly wrong.
“When Tan yiniang entered, taitai suffered every day. Nubi felt heartache for you and wanted to ease your burden.
“So nubi decided, in your name, to make a few pieces of needlework for Gu daren. Perhaps when Gu daren saw the needlework ‘personally made’ by taitai, he might change his mind.
“Nubi didn’t consider things carefully. Nubi only thought about helping taitai, without reporting it to you. Everything is nubi’s fault. Please punish nubi severely.”
Xie shi frowned. “You really did it to help me?”
Chun He’s expression was resolute. “By the sun and the moon, if nubi has the slightest selfish thought toward taitai, may the heavens strike nubi with thunder and may nubi die an unnatural death.”
Her oath was solemn.
Hearing Chun He’s deadly vow, Xie shi’s expression softened slightly.
“Stand up. Why kneel?”
Chun He wiped her tears. “Thank you, taitai. It was all nubi’s fault for making you angry.”
She stood, her knees aching, but she endured it. Her humble demeanor could not conceal her striking features.
Xie shi lifted her teacup and said lightly, “Someone said you had selfish intentions, wanting to become laoye’s yiniang.”
Chun He’s heart jolted. Who was slandering her behind her back?
She quickly clarified, “Nubi is taitai’s servant in life, and taitai’s spirit in death. Nubi wants no one else. Nubi only wishes to serve taitai for my whole life. Nubi only fears that taitai may find me too old or clumsy, not as clever as the younger maids.”
Xie shi’s expression was indifferent. “You’re older, and normally you should have been married by now. I’ve held you by my side, delaying your life’s major matters.”
“Taitai flatters nubi. Nubi never thought of marriage. Nubi only want to serve you for my whole life.”
Chun He’s sincerity was so genuine that even she felt moved.
All these years, she had served Xie shi diligently. Though she had no accomplishments, she had endured hardships. She merely hoped to secure a comfortable future, so why was it so difficult?
Xie shi appraised Chun He from head to toe. “You mean well. But I cannot continue to delay your future. Don’t worry, I will find you an excellent match.”
Chun He panicked but dared not show it. “Nubi doesn’t want to marry.”
Xie shi stared at her, asking deliberately, word by word, “Could it be that you want to become laoye’s qie?”
Chun He shook her head vigorously, like a rattle drum.
“Nubi has never thought such a thing.”
Xie shi said coldly, “I believe you. You have no such selfish intentions. I’m tired; go. Take your needlework with you. Don’t do needlework again, it will hurt your eyes. Laoye’s matters cannot be mended by a few pieces of needlework.”
Chun He felt a chill run through her heart. It was over, she was utterly finished.
She bowed. “Yes, taitai.”
Carrying the tangled needlework, she walked out of the main room with heavy steps.
She returned to her bedroom in a daze and sat on the bed, dazed.
How had things turned out like this?
Guo Taohua passed by the door.
Chun He snapped back to attention and called out, “Taohua, come here.”
Guo Taohua pushed the door open. “Chun He jiejie, you called me?”
Chun He stared at her. “After I left, who entered my room?”
Guo Taohua shook her head. “No one! I didn’t see anyone enter your room.”
“Then after I left, who was attending taitai?”
“That was, Dong Mei jiejie.”
Dong Mei?
It had been Dong Mei all along.
Chun He never expected that the one who had reported her to taitai was Dong Mei.
Why would Dong Mei want to harm her?
She thought carefully and realized she had never offended Dong Mei. Why was she being targeted?
“Chun He jiejie, is there anything else?” Guo Taohua asked nervously, feeling something had happened.
Chun He waved her off. “Go.”
Guo Taohua hurried away, and at the door, she couldn’t resist looking back. “Chun He jiejie, don’t be too sad. Being scolded by taitai happens often; try to take it lightly.”
Chun He forced a bitter smile. “I appreciate your concern.”
Chun He sat in her room for almost an hour before her emotions settled.
She went to the tea room.
Dong Mei greeted her as usual.
Chun He smiled at her, then, with lightning speed, grabbed the teapot from the stove and hurled it at Dong Mei.
“Ah, ”
Dong Mei jumped, stomping her feet.
The teapot hit the top of her foot, causing excruciating pain.
The hot water inside spilled slowly onto the floor. Luckily, it wasn’t very hot, or Dong Mei’s foot would have been scalded.
Dong Mei pointed at Chun He. “Chun He, are you crazy? I didn’t provoke you. Why are you attacking me?”
Chun He smiled coldly. “Why I attack you? You know that best yourself.”
Dong Mei grew uneasy. She hadn’t expected Chun He to figure it out so quickly.
Dong Mei struggled to hold herself together, refusing to admit anything. “What are you saying? I don’t understand a word. I’m going to taitai to get this settled. How dare you attack me for no reason?”
Chun He sneered, “Go ahead!”
Chun He stood near the door. For Dong Mei to leave, she had to pass by Chun He.
Dong Mei, wary of Chun He, cautiously tried to exit.
Just as they brushed past each other, Chun He suddenly grabbed Dong Mei by the hair, pulled her back, and swung her fists hard at her.
Of course, Dong Mei didn’t take the hits quietly.
In an instant, the two maids were grappling fiercely.
“Someone’s fighting! Someone’s fighting!”
“Dong Mei jiejie and Chun He jiejie are fighting, someone help!”
All the maids of the Furong Yuan ran toward the tea room.
At the doorway, a crowd gathered, but no one tried to stop them.
It wasn’t until Chun Cao and Xia Cao arrived at the tea room and exerted enormous effort that the two were finally pulled apart.
Even after being separated, they continued to struggle, fists swinging.
“Let go of me! I’m going to teach her a lesson today!”
“Who gave you the right to hit me?”
“Today, it’s you I’m hitting!”
Both Chun He and Dong Mei had messy hair, disheveled clothes, and scratches on their faces and arms.
The usual tactics in a fight between women, pulling hair, scratching faces, kicking stomachs, were all in play.
“Stop fighting! Be careful not to disturb taitai,” Xia Cao warned.
Dong Mei shouted, “I really will ask taitai to settle this!”
Chun He was furious, Dong Mei had ruined her plan and still dared to shout about involving taitai.
She swung fists and kicked, “Let go of me! Today, I will beat her to death if I have to!”
“Let her go! I want to see if she dares to kill me today.”
“What on earth are you two fighting about?”
Chun Cao was panicking, barely able to control the two hot-headed girls.
Dong Mei laughed loudly, pointing at Chun He. “Ask her! Ask her what she’s done behind my back. She dares to have shameless thoughts but won’t let anyone speak!”
Chun He’s face twisted with rage. “Shameless? Who’s shameless? It’s clearly you who’s scheming, imagining yourself becoming laoye’s qie!”
Dong Mei panicked. “You’re lying! You’re the one plotting to become laoye’s qie, thinking you can climb into his bed.”
The maids gathered at the door gasped. It turned out the fight was over trying to become laoye’s qie.
Chun He’s face was red, both angry and embarrassed. “Today, I will tear your mouth apart!”
“Whose mouth are you tearing?”
They had caught Xie shi’s attention.
Xie shi stood outside the tea room. The maids quickly stepped aside, clearing the doorway.
With Xie shi’s arrival, Chun He and Dong Mei immediately calmed down.
Chun Cao and Xia Cao let go of them, their arms aching from the effort. Exhausted.
Xie shi entered the tea room.
Her gaze moved from Dong Mei to Chun He.
Her eyes were icy, and both maids shivered.
She then surveyed the chaotic tea room:
the smashed teapots, overturned stools, and scattered coal briquettes.
“Outrageous. Everyone, go kneel outside. Don’t get up without my command.”
Chun He silently walked out to the courtyard to kneel.
“Taitai!” Dong Mei looked at Xie shi cautiously.
Xie shi’s face was stern. “I said kneel. Didn’t you hear me?”
Dong Mei had no choice but to go outside and kneel with Chun He.
Dong Mei gritted her teeth and complained, “Well, that’s done. Now that we’ve angered taitai, you’re doomed for life.”
Chun He sneered coldly, “I’m doomed, and so are you. You think pulling me down will make taitai favor you as laoye’s yiniang? Dream on. With your looks, how could you ever compete with Tan yiniang?”
Dong Mei smiled smugly. “I can’t compete with Tan yiniang, but pulling you down makes me happy.”
Chun He was filled with hatred. “I have no grudge against you. Why target me? What do you gain from this?”
Dong Mei scoffed. “I just can’t stand your haughty, smug attitude. I don’t like seeing you so pleased with yourself.”
Chun He shivered inside. How could Dong Mei hold such malice toward her?
She honestly hadn’t wronged Dong Mei, why the hostility?
Chun Cao ran over. “Look at the mess you’ve made. Taitai is angry. Think about how to calm her down.”
“What did taitai say?” Chun He asked nervously.
Chun Cao whispered, “Taitai said you’re both grown-up and cannot be tolerated. Left unchecked, you’d just become enemies. Taitai has summoned Gao Sanfu to arrange marriages for you two. Once arranged, you’ll be married off.”
Dong Mei’s face turned pale. “Why am I being sent away too?”
Chun Cao stomped her foot. “Because both of you had designs on becoming laoye’s concubine. How could taitai allow that? You know taitai hates selfishness. This time, she’s only sending you away, she didn’t punish you severely, didn’t beat you half to death. Consider yourself lucky. Take care of yourselves from now on.”
Dong Mei was stunned.
Chun He grinned, “You’re the dumbest person I’ve ever seen, lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot. Serves you right.”
Dong Mei burst into tears, wailing, “It’s all your fault, all your fault! If you hadn’t come to the tea room to fight me, would I have been abandoned by taitai? Chun He, I hate you, I’ll hate you forever!”
Chun He chuckled softly, “Then hate yourself. If you hadn’t attacked me, I wouldn’t have fought back. I’ll tell you the truth, I knew this would happen even before I went to the tea room. I said it then: even if I’m unlucky, I’d take someone down with me. You’re that someone.”
Dong Mei was filled with regret and hatred. She hadn’t expected Chun He to be so vicious, dragging her down even in her last moments.
Dong Mei cried uncontrollably.
Chun He’s mind raced with countless thoughts.
She couldn’t sit idly by, she still had hope.
Taitai had given up on her, but she couldn’t give up on herself.
Dong Mei and Chun He knelt like that for three or four hours, not rising until midnight.
When they finally stood, their legs felt alien, prickling with pain as if stabbed by needles.
Several young maids helped support them and dragged them back to the bedroom.
Dong Mei cried all night. Once back in her room, she collapsed on the bed, continuing to sob.
Chun He, however, kept busy, having hot water brought to soothe her knees.
Sure enough, Xie shi instructed Gao Sanfu to arrange matches for Chun He and Dong Mei.
Gao Sanfu selected two young servants, one to serve in the stables, the other at the gate.
When the news reached the ears of the two maids, Dong Mei seemed resigned, but Chun He began to take action.
Perhaps because the two maids’ matches had been arranged, Xie shi relaxed her supervision.
Chun He finally found the chance to leave the Furong Yuan.
For a moment, she considered going to Gu Jiu for help, but quickly dismissed the thought.
Gu Jiu didn’t even have time to watch the commotion; how could she help her?
The fight between Chun He and Dong Mei had already spread throughout the entire household, they had become the laughingstock of everyone.
She could easily imagine the gossip that would follow.
But it didn’t matter.
Until the very end, she wouldn’t accept defeat.
No one noticed Chun He’s disappearance.
Chun He, once a first-rank maid in the Furong Yuan, had become the most neglected person there. No one cared about her whereabouts, and no one checked to see if she was in her room.
The next day, a young maid delivering meals discovered Chun He was gone.
The news was reported to Xie shi.
“Gone?”
A bad premonition filled Xie shi’s heart. She hurriedly asked, “Where did laoye rest last night?”
Chun Cao quickly replied, “It seems he stayed at Tan yiniang’s place.”
Xie shi gritted her teeth. “Come with me. We’ll see Tan shi.”
If Chun He had teamed up with Tan yiniang, Xie shi would tear her apart.
To betray her mistress was a death sentence.
Xie shi rushed out, heading to Tan yiniang’s residence.
But what did she see?
She saw Gu daren coming out of the Xiangsi Yuan, and following behind him was Chun He.
Of course, Tan yiniang’s courtyard and the Xiangsi Yuan, where Bai yiniang lived, were next to each other.
Gu daren had a day off today, so he had slept in.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped outside, he saw Xie shi.
Gu daren looked slightly embarrassed.
He stepped forward and asked, “So early in the morning, why are you here?”
Xie shi glanced at Chun He standing behind Gu daren, then said calmly, “Greetings, laoye. One of my maids went missing, so I came looking. But I didn’t expect her to be by your side. Laoye, why did you come out of the Xiangsi Yuan?”
As she spoke, Bai yiniang emerged from the Xiangsi Yuan.
The formerly plump Bai yiniang was still pale, but she had clearly lost at least two rounds of weight.
Xie shi froze. In just a few months, she had become so thin.
Xie shi didn’t pause to consider that Bai yiniang had been working hard every day and eating little, of course she would lose weight.
Yet her entire being looked old and haggard; her skin had deteriorated considerably.
After all, she hadn’t properly taken care of herself for several months.
Xie shi could tell at a glance that Gu daren could not have made Bai yiniang serve him.
Last night, it must have been that wretched maid Chun He who used Bai yiniang’s quarters to serve Gu daren.
This arrangement allowed Bai yiniang to escape the heavy labour and return to the eyes of everyone else.
As for what Tan yiniang was up to, Xie shi hadn’t yet figured it out.
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