Bingtang and Ji Yun had silently watched Pang Xiao’s performance, observing Fuxue’s behavior clearly and already growing disgusted with her.
Having received their orders, the two naturally weren’t inclined to make proper arrangements. They had seen plenty of women like Fuxue who were bent on climbing the social ladder—perhaps this was exactly why the Lu family’s eldest young master had sold her.
Bingtang said coldly, “Follow me.”
Fuxue hadn’t yet recovered from her fixation on the young master. Only when she heard the voice did she reluctantly look over. Before her stood two maids, one tall and one short, both around twenty years old with dark, rough skin. No matter how pretty their features might be, on such lackluster faces, their beauty was completely obscured. Fuxue began calculating.
Fuxue smiled sweetly and bowed to both women. “Greetings to both elder sisters. May I ask how you are addressed?”
Bingtang replied, “Don’t be so formal. I’m Xiao Hong, that’s Xiao Lu. We serve Madam Ning. Follow me.”
She turned and headed toward the servants’ quarters at the back of the boat.
Fuxue hadn’t expected Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu to be so unfriendly. On second thought, she realized that this Madam Ning gave her personal maids such crude names—she must be an illiterate woman with only a pretty face. Such women were merely pleasing to look at for a while.
With such an opponent, Fuxue’s confidence, which had been shaken earlier, returned.
Arriving at the servants’ quarters, Bingtang assigned her to a corner room shared with the cook.
Looking at the cramped cabin, Fuxue was dissatisfied but dared not say much. The room had narrow beds on either side with a walkway between them, and a small, flat window facing the door. Frankly speaking, even a fart couldn’t be hidden here—how could anyone live in this?
“Hmm? Are you perhaps dissatisfied?” Bingtang curled her lip. “Remember your status—you’re someone our young master bought to do rough work. This is the kind of cabin you get. There are few rooms on this painted boat—this is already quite good. Otherwise, I could arrange for you to sleep in the common quarters. Would you prefer that?”
Fuxue quickly shook her head and waved her hands. “Sister Xiao Hong, please don’t be angry. How would I dare be dissatisfied? I’ll follow whatever you arrange.”
Bingtang glared at her and left, leaving Fuxue alone to sit on the bed’s edge in sullen anger.
Returning to their cabin, Ji Yun couldn’t help but laugh first, pinching Bingtang’s face. “Xiao Hong, Xiao Lu? Your naming is too casual—aren’t you afraid that tactless woman will suspect our mistress’s naming abilities?”
“Didn’t you see her expression? The moment she saw the prin—young master, she looked like she’d eaten honey mixed with bee droppings! Her eyes practically wanted to stick to the young master, and she had that look of looking down on our Madam Ning. What is she anyway? How dare she? Ptui!”
Ji Yun was calmer than Bingtang. “But our masters also call us by our real names in public. If that girl finds out, it won’t be good. Though she harbors thoughts of seducing the young master, which is wrong of her, we can’t act on our own and mustn’t ruin our masters’ plans.”
Bingtang took several deep breaths before saying, “I understand. It’s fine—everyone on the boat belongs to the young master. Later I’ll have Huzi give instructions, and we’ll inform our masters. Even if she discovers I lied to her, it doesn’t matter. At worst, she’ll think I deliberately deceived her because I dislike her.”
Ji Yun thought about it. “True, she’s under our watch anyway—she can’t cause any real trouble.”
The two returned to the cabin to report to Pang Xiao and Qin Yining.
Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile upon hearing this. “I understand. I’ll be careful around her from now on. But this is actually good—you can deliberately feed her some information later. For example, that I’m a thin horse the master bought from outside, granted concubine status after losing my virginity, that the old madam at home doesn’t like me, and they’re already discussing remarriage for the young master.”
Pang Xiao pinched Qin Yining’s cheek. “Don’t talk nonsense! What remarriage! Quick, spit twice—you’re talking complete nonsense!”
Qin Yining covered her cheek and laughed. “This is just made-up talk to test her character. I can see this woman isn’t content with her lot. If we give her such information and she still behaves properly, I’ll arrange a good life for her in the future, ensuring she’s well-fed and clothed.”
Everyone understood Qin Yining’s unspoken meaning.
If this woman did anything excessive, all consequences would be her own responsibility, and she could blame no one.
Bingtang thought for a moment. “That’s good. I’ve already played the bad character, so let Ji Yun play the good character next.”
Ji Yun glared at Bingtang with a smile. “You shrewd thing—do you think I don’t find her annoying too?”
Bingtang giggled. “Good sister, who told you to be more steady than me? You’re most suited to play the good character.”
Qin Yining and Pang Xiao watched and laughed from the side.
After Ji Yun and Bingtang withdrew, Qin Yining turned to Pang Xiao. “What’s your next step?”
Pang Xiao chuckled and moved close to Qin Yining, biting her red lips. “Haven’t you already thought of it? Why ask me?”
Qin Yining blushed at his action and pushed him away. “Don’t fool around—we’re talking business.”
“What business could be more serious than this?” With a sweep of his large hand, Pang Xiao lifted Qin Yining and strode toward the bedroom.
No matter how many calculations filled Qin Yining’s mind, she couldn’t focus on them now.
The next morning, before dawn, a layer of mist rose from the azure lake surface. Not only were distant boats invisible, but even the nearby shore could barely be seen.
Fuxue hadn’t slept enough when the cook sharing her room woke her to help in the kitchen. She had grown up in the Lu household and, though not born into the family, was beautiful and eloquent, never suffering much hardship. When older, she became a third-class maid and eventually the head maid of the eldest young master’s study—everyone respected her.
She had never done rough work like chopping wood and selecting vegetables, her hands as delicate as a young lady’s. Working slowly, she earned much disdain from the cook.
At mealtime, she had to stand by the stove holding her bowl, eating leftovers that would otherwise be thrown away.
This was no way for a human to live!
Feeling miserable and unwilling to endure hardship, Fuxue became more determined to climb upward. She began cozying up to the cook and others, trying to gather information about the young master’s household.
Unfortunately, these people were personally selected by Huzi—the most reliable sort with mouths sealed tight as clamshells, unwilling to reveal even half a detail.
After half a day’s work, Fuxue made no progress whatsoever.
In the afternoon, she saw Xiao Lu from Madam Ning’s side approaching.
“Sister Xiao Lu, why are you here? Does our master have orders?”
Ji Yun smiled amiably. “Indeed. Originally, the young master planned to take Madam Ning out sightseeing, but she said she’d seen everything already and found nothing interesting, so the master stayed on the painted boat today. Madam Ning wants some snacks and needs to buy some things, so she sent me. I thought since you’re local, it would be perfect to bring you along.”
Ji Yun winked and whispered, “Come out for a stroll to relax—don’t stay cooped up on the boat all the time. How boring.”
Fuxue was secretly delighted—it seemed this Xiao Lu didn’t get along with that Xiao Hong.
“Yes, thank you for caring about me, Sister Xiao Lu.” Fuxue happily agreed.
The weather in Danzhou City in September was perfect—the afternoon sunlight felt comfortable on one’s skin.
Ji Yun and Fuxue walked side by side through the streets. Ji Yun acted like countless young women visiting Danzhou City for the first time, finding everything novel.
Fuxue seized the opportunity to eloquently introduce everything, using all her skills to delight Ji Yun, quickly drawing their relationship much closer.
Seeing the right moment, Ji Yun smiled and said, “Your previous master was also from a great family, right?”
“Yes, the Lu family of Danzhou City—a century-old noble clan.” Fuxue’s tone carried pride.
Ji Yun smiled. “Our Wan family is also a great household—merchants with developments in every trade.”
Fuxue secretly scoffed—what Wan family? She’d never heard of them, just ordinary merchant folk.
But outwardly she showed an impressed expression. “How impressive! The Wan family head must be very capable.”
“Indeed.” Seeing the bait taken, Ji Yun began fabricating. “Our old master is very skilled in business and reportedly has many friends in the imperial court. The eldest young master is most favored by the old master and is the legitimate eldest son—all the family business will be passed to our eldest young master in the future…
“The eldest young master is wonderful in every way, except the eldest young mistress was unlucky—she passed away early without leaving even one child. Before we left, the old master and madam were arranging the eldest young master’s remarriage.”
Fuxue’s heart leaped—so that man was to remarry!
She trembled with excitement and steadied herself before asking, “What about Madam Ning? I see the eldest young master dotes on her greatly. If he remarries, surely Madam Ning would be the first choice?”
Ji Yun said, “Her? Well…”
Seeing her hesitation, Fuxue took Ji Yun’s arm pleadingly. “Sister Xiao Lu, please tell me. I’m new and know nothing about the household—I’m afraid of making mistakes later. Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t let a third person know what you tell me.”
Ji Yun frowned with difficulty and whispered, “Actually, this isn’t something we servants should discuss, but I find you quite agreeable. Fine, I’ll tell you, but you absolutely mustn’t repeat it.”
Fuxue nodded repeatedly. “Sister, don’t worry.”
Only then did Ji Yun begin her tale.
“Madam Ning is actually a thin horse given to the young master by his friend. When the old master and madam choose a second wife for the young master, they’ll naturally select someone from a matching family background, or at least someone with a clear background. Though Madam Ning is beautiful, she may not qualify.”
“But what about the young master? The eldest young master likes Madam Ning—won’t the old master and madam agree out of love for their son?”
“Ah, you don’t understand. In great families like the Wan family, they don’t bother with taking concubines or bed warmers, but they won’t be careless about choosing the main wife. I don’t think Madam Ning has much chance. But the eldest young master certainly dotes on her now—she’ll definitely become a concubine in the future.”
Fuxue was secretly delighted—so this Madam Ning hadn’t even secured a concubine position yet! No wonder everyone called her “Madam” instead of “Concubine.”
Madam Ning was a thin horse, and she was a courtesan just redeemed—neither had a higher status than the other. Her chances were still very good!