At some point, doors and windows had all been closed. Lamps burned brightly, the air seemed thin, and everyone in the room could feel the heat.
“Why are you crying? Isn’t the matter shameful enough already?” Zhang Shi grabbed a cup and smashed it in the center of the hall. Shattered porcelain nearly grazed the three people crying selflessly.
“Madam, you mustn’t listen to people spreading malicious gossip. My daughter has served by your side since childhood—don’t you know her character? This girl has a pretty face, but when has she ever been anything but proper and dutiful? If she weren’t like that, you wouldn’t have given her to Fourth Master. Let’s not mention other things, but that child—” Ai Lian’s mother wiped tears with her sleeve, speaking by shouting.
“Shut up!” Zhang Shi also shouted. “Listen to people spreading malicious gossip? There’s evidence and proof—how have I wronged her? Ai Lian, you tell your parents yourself. Don’t act as if I’ve greatly wronged you.”
Ai Lian pulled her parents behind her with both hands, using their strength to kneel on the ground. Thud—she kowtowed heavily to Zhang Shi.
Zhang Shi’s face showed no expression, her eyes holding no trace of pity.
“Madam, Ai Lian came to see you for no other reason than to say everything that should be said clearly. Then even if I die, I can rest in peace.” Originally weak with depleted vitality, speaking as if she couldn’t catch her breath, Ai Lian suddenly seemed to gain a burst of strength.
“Don’t say such things—hearing them makes people think I’m forcing you to death. You yourself admitted to this shameful deed, and you yourself gulped down the medicine in guilty haste. I’ve called physicians for you several times—you should be very clear about that.” Zhang Shi was iron-hearted. Toward this woman who toyed with her two sons, she wished she could kill her immediately and be done with it.
“Shameful deed?” Ai Lian laughed coldly, her face deathly pale, looking quite eerie. “Last time when Madam and the mistresses questioned me, how could I not admit it? Yes, Fifth Master and I had illicit relations, but at the very beginning, it was Fifth Master who took advantage of me while I was drunk and forced himself on me. I’m a weak woman—could I resist his strength?”
Instantly, people exchanged glances. They believed Ai Lian’s words more than they doubted them. Fifth Master Qiu doing such things wasn’t the first or second time in the mansion. Most maids swallowed their tears into their bellies. One or two chaste ones sought death. And some others wholeheartedly followed Fifth Master Qiu.
“You say this now—can you expect me to believe you? Ai Lian, touch your own conscience. I treated you almost like my own daughter. Your mother also said that by giving you to Ming’er, I was seeking a good future for you. If Zheng’er forced himself on you, why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Zhang Shi’s reaction was quick. Her sharp gaze swept over those maids and servants whose thoughts were wavering, pressing them to lower their heads and not dare have opinions.
“Madam, if you could truly punish your son for a maid, Fifth Master wouldn’t be so unbridled today.” Ai Lian now said whatever she thought.
“You presumptuous little slut!” Zhang Shi was furious. “I kept you by my side for many years, teaching you hand-by-hand. Turns out I raised a poisonous snake who now bites back at me. You say at first Zheng’er forced you—what about after? Clearly you yourself shamelessly seduced the master, yet you dare make excuses.”
“Aren’t maids human? Are maids’ lives worth less? The fault clearly doesn’t lie with me alone, yet you protect your two sons without a single leak, wanting me to take all the blame myself. Good Madam, there’s still heavenly justice in this world—you be careful.” Ai Lian’s gaze moved from Zhang Shi to Fifth Master Qiu’s face.
Fifth Master Qiu met her eyes directly, guiltily looking elsewhere, but caught sight of Bai He and immediately forgot himself, throwing her an ingratiating smile.
Following Fifth Master Qiu’s gaze, Ai Lian also saw Bai He. She turned her head back to Zhang Shi with a cold laugh. “Even in such circumstances, Fifth Master still can’t forget a certain someone. Madam, you must see clearly this time. A lotus dies, a lily blooms. And don’t think everyone is as useless as me, letting others trample them. My parents are slaves in this household, with younger siblings depending on them for support. But that one—if you don’t hold her indenture contract, don’t think you can do as you please.”
Zhang Shi also saw who Ai Lian meant. Seeing her younger son truly couldn’t distinguish occasions and was utterly bewitched, her heart burned with anger. She secretly pinched Fifth Master Qiu and glared at him fiercely. At the same time, she became newly alert. This base maid Ai Lian spoke truly well. Qiu Sanniang’s maids—not a single one was easy to handle. Taking them into the household as concubines for her son was simple, but how many complications would arise afterward was unknown. She’d always schemed wholeheartedly to drive away Qiu Sanniang precisely because she feared her cleverness and capability would dilute the property belonging to herself and her children. If she kept the maids—and two maids at that—Qiu Sanniang might scheme against her in secret.
“Ai Lian, say less. After this incident, continuing to stay in the mansion would only invite idle gossip. Better to leave with your parents, recuperate your body, and gain freedom. Madam is merciful. After you leave the mansion, she’ll have your family’s slave registration cancelled at the authorities and give your parents some silver for a small business.” Seeing Zhang Shi silent, Jiang Suxin spoke up to persuade.
“Fourth Mistress has always been so agreeable. Only Ai Lian doesn’t understand—truly agreeable or false sentiment.” Having staked her life, Ai Lian hadn’t come to beg for mercy. “As soon as I became pregnant, you took a new concubine for Fourth Master. Those who don’t know say you’re virtuous and magnanimous. But no matter how I look at it, you fear that if I bear a son, you who can’t even lay an egg will have no good days ahead. Anyway, you sit secure as the principal wife. The more wives Fourth Master takes, you just wait for them to fight each other while you reap the benefits.”
“You…” When had Jiang Suxin ever been pointed at and criticized like this to her face? Her face flushed red with embarrassment, unable to speak.
“However, I also advise you to be careful. Trying to drive away wolves, you’ve invited in a tiger. I, Ai Lian, love to play tricks and thought I competed for favor in secret, but anyone could see it. That’s because I wasn’t clever enough. They say barking dogs don’t bite, but silent dogs kill with their bite. Those cold and indifferent ones who pretend to be obedient and sweet—I fear Fourth Mistress will be the one outmaneuvered…” As if struck by pain, Ai Lian’s face tightened, sweat beading like pearls.
Jiang Suxin’s expression froze. Her gaze moved toward Qiu Sanniang’s direction, discovering Mo Zi was also there. A cold light flashed in her eyes. That seemingly meek and submissive maid—she’d witnessed her formidable nature before.
“Enough!” Fourth Master Qiu spoke in a deep voice. “You have no right to be presumptuous here!”
“Fourth Master…” Ai Lian shed tears. “Everything Ai Lian did was only to stay by Fourth Master’s side. Now that the matter is exposed, Ai Lian can resent anyone except Fourth Master. I only beg Fourth Master’s pity—after I die, burn some paper money and incense for me—”
“Shameless little slut—what face do you have to make demands of my son?” Zhang Shi spat, beckoning several robust women to take the person out.
Ai Lian closed her eyes in despair. Her body swayed once and she collapsed, unconscious.
Ai Lian’s father saw his daughter being carried away unconscious, old tears streaming down his face. He pulled his wife, who still wanted to speak, and left.
“Madam, you can’t treat our Ai Lian this way.” Ai Lian’s mother’s voice was extremely shrill.
Fourth Master Qiu tossed out a heavy money pouch. “Less nonsense. Pack up your things tonight and get out of the mansion. Once you’re outside, if you dare speak half a word, don’t forget your whole family’s indenture contracts are still in my mother’s hands.”
Ai Lian’s mother caught it, opened it to look—at least two hundred taels in gold ingots. Her tears dried immediately. She nodded repeatedly and left.
“Ming’er, I already gave silver. Why did you have to give more? That girl was debased—even dying is what she deserves. Now it seems as if we owe her something.” Zhang Shi complained with dissatisfaction.
“Spending money to ward off disaster, settling matters peacefully—forget it.” Fourth Master Qiu was annoyed by all the commotion.
“Mother, let it go. That child might have been brother’s. It was fine, but you got rid of it. Consider it compensation. This matter is settled—isn’t it time to help me ask Third Sister about Bai He—” Fifth Master Qiu’s every thought was on the beauty.
Zhang Shi was so angry she slapped Fifth Master Qiu. It was the first time she’d ever struck her son.
Not many people sympathized with Fifth Master Qiu holding his face and crying out, including Fifth Mistress.
Zhang Shi resolved to ignore Fifth Master Qiu. She slapped the table and stood up, her expression stern, looking at all the people present.
“Tonight I’m setting a new rule. From now on, maids in the mansion cannot be taken as concubines for the masters. Otherwise, they’ll all be sold or driven out.”
“Mother—” Fourth Master Qiu furrowed his brow.
Fifth Master Qiu forgot about his pain.
“If you don’t want to see your mother die of anger, don’t say more.” Zhang Shi raised her hand, then turned to address her two daughters-in-law. “If you want to take concubines for your husbands, you may. Go outside and find girls from proper families. Appearance doesn’t matter—most important is good character.”
Jiang Suxin’s heart already harbored some regret about the Mo Zi matter. Hearing her mother-in-law’s words suited her perfectly. She quickly stood with Fifth Mistress and curtsied in agreement.
“Sanniang.” Zhang Shi, having intimidated everyone, felt better inside. Her expression toward Qiu Sanniang softened slightly.
“Mother.” Qiu Sanniang also stood, her face expressionless.
“It’s getting late. The day after tomorrow you depart early in the morning—hurry back and rest. I originally wanted to give you several more senior maids, but Prince Jing’s Mansion’s regulation is four, and we can’t have you breaking rules as soon as you marry in. Fortunately, Bai He, Lu Ju, Mo Zi, and Xiao Yi are all capable. With these four as your dowry maids, I’m very reassured.” Zhang Shi had been awakened by Ai Lian’s words. No matter what, not a single one of Qiu Sanniang’s people could remain in Qiu Mansion, otherwise there would be endless future troubles. Originally she’d hesitated considering Fourth Master Qiu’s feelings, but if she kept Mo Zi and sent away Bai He, Fifth Master Qiu would certainly refuse and resent her favoritism. Therefore, she simply didn’t want either Mo Zi or Bai He, avoiding the blood brothers turning against each other again.
“Mother speaks correctly. Then I’ll take my leave first.” Qiu Sanniang made a slight curtsy.
Mo Zi also crouched and lowered her head. From her angle, she could just see Qiu Sanniang’s triumphant upturned lips.
One mistress and three servants walked back to the small courtyard without a word.
Lu Ju carefully bolted the door. Returning to walk into Qiu Sanniang’s room, she let out a long breath. “My goodness! Finally none of us have to be taken as concubines. Young miss, how were you so composed? My heart jumped to my throat.”
“Ai Lian spoke so plainly. If those two didn’t understand, they’d be fools. I guessed Zhang Shi originally wanted to accommodate Fourth Brother, but my Fifth Brother won’t compete for other things—women he will definitely compete for. To hold the bowl level, she could only refuse both. Otherwise, having already had the Ai Lian incident, keeping Bai He or Mo Zi under her nose would truly shorten her life.” Qiu Sanniang began removing the hairpins from her head.
Bai He made up the bedding, turning her face to smile. “Still, young miss’s foresight is divine. Now it’s wonderful—not one of us is missing. We’ll all accompany young miss when she marries.”
“Mo Zi?” Qiu Sanniang raised her eyes to look at the person standing motionless. “I resolved your trouble—won’t you praise me a few words?”
“Though young miss’s foresight is divine, this method is rather—” Bloody.
“I don’t care what method I use, as long as I achieve my goal.” Qiu Sanniang’s eyebrows rose. “Mo Zi, when you asked me to help you refuse, you should have thought of this early. I, Qiu Shuiyun, am not like you—hiding my fists in my sleeves, daring to be angry but not daring to act.”
Mo Zi suddenly smiled, her eyes curved like crescents. “Thank you, young miss, for resolving Mo Zi’s difficulty.”
Mistress and servant, servant and mistress—truly each had their own superiority and inferiority.