The maid who came was called Qiu Yan, a senior maid on the estate. Though her status couldn’t compare to Zhang Lan’s, she still had some standing. Having Qiu Yan deliver food on New Year’s Eve was unprecedented in previous years—it must be Zhang Lan’s way of stopping gossip, showing how attentive she was to the bedridden Miss Jiang.

As Qiu Yan set down the food basket, she also quickly surveyed the room. This was her first time in Jiang Ruan’s quarters. She saw that the cramped room was filled with a musty, decaying atmosphere. There were even traces where rainwater had seeped through cracks in the eaves into the walls, the bedding was extremely thin, and forget about furnishings—even ordinary utensils were quite shabby. Living in such a damp, dark room, it would be strange if one’s health didn’t deteriorate. At first glance, where was there any resemblance to a young lady’s boudoir? Even the lowest servants on the estate probably wouldn’t live in such squalor.

Qiu Yan had long been immersed in the ways of great households and understood in her heart that though Zhang Lan’s family was greedy and harsh, they wouldn’t dare treat a young lady this way without instructions from above. Since it was the master’s intention, Qiu Yan naturally wouldn’t interfere.

“You’re called Qiu Yan, aren’t you?” The person on the bed spoke, her voice still somewhat hoarse but strangely carrying a subtle emotion.

Qiu Yan looked up and smiled: “That’s correct, this servant.”

Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao positioned themselves protectively—one by Jiang Ruan’s side, one watching Qiu Yan closely. On this estate, apart from their master and two servants, everyone else harbored ill intentions.

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Tonight is New Year’s Eve, isn’t it? Sister Qiu Yan’s outfit is so festive—it looks really beautiful on you.”

This comment was rather strange. Qiu Yan couldn’t make heads or tails of it but still smiled: “These were all made on Aunt’s orders. This servant is just a servant—speaking of beauty, Miss is surely joking.”

Jiang Ruan sighed lightly: “Aunt Lan is so thoughtful. Did everyone on the estate get new clothes made?”

Her voice was soft and smiling. Qiu Yan instinctively was about to nod in agreement when she suddenly realized—everyone on the estate got new clothes except for the master and two servants right before her. No matter how she put it, these words couldn’t be spoken. Just as she was thinking of how to deflect, she heard Jiang Ruan say gently: “The two maids beside me are clumsy—they don’t even dress as festively as Sister Qiu Yan. There’s something Sister Qiu Yan said wrong though. I’m not joking. Though Sister Qiu Yan calls herself a servant, you seem to live more comfortably and respectably than I do.”

The words were too sharp, completely at odds with the master’s gentle tone. For some reason, Qiu Yan felt a wave of nervousness. She couldn’t help but look up at the person on the bed. In the dim candlelight, the girl took hot tea from Bai Zhi, the wisps of steam from the tea obscuring half her face so her expression couldn’t be seen clearly. Only her long, downcast eyelashes traced a beautiful arc, strangely alluring.

Jiang Ruan’s smiling voice continued: “Sister Qiu Yan is so respectable. When you come of age, you’ll surely be able to marry into a good family. The second young master of the Ma family outside the city would be quite suitable. Second Young Master Ma already has twelve concubines—Sister Qiu Yan should be able to rank as the thirteenth concubine.”

Qiu Yan froze as a chill slowly rose from her feet. Her face instantly turned pale, and she bit her lip while staring wide-eyed at Jiang Ruan, unable to utter a word.

Jiang Ruan was in no hurry, only bringing the warm tea to her lips and taking a small sip.

After a long while, Qiu Yan finally gathered courage and straightened her chest: “This servant doesn’t know what Miss is talking about.” The first half was said with righteous indignation, but somehow by the second half her voice grew guilty.

“Good birds choose trees to nest in, people move toward higher places, water flows toward lower places. What Sister Qiu Yan does is only human nature. No need to be shy.” She tilted her head and giggled: “This is a good thing. If one day Sister Qiu Yan truly becomes the thirteenth concubine, I’ll certainly send a gift of rouge. Sister Qiu Yan is so respectable—I imagine this respectability was earned through Sister Qiu Yan’s cleverness.”

Qiu Yan stood in place, slowly clenching her fists. Jiang Ruan pinched her brow: “I’m tired after just a short while. My health hasn’t fully recovered, so I can’t personally wish Aunt Lan New Year’s blessings. Please trouble Sister Qiu Yan to apologize on my behalf.” Then she instructed Bai Zhi: “Why don’t you see Sister Qiu Yan out.”

This was clearly dismissing her. Qiu Yan had no ideas for the moment and naturally hoped to leave this oppressive room immediately, so she nodded hastily in agreement, no longer showing any trace of the subtle superiority she’d displayed upon arrival.

As Bai Zhi and Qiu Yan reached the door, Jiang Ruan spoke again: “Oh, Sister Qiu Yan, about my two maids’ clothing that we discussed earlier—since it’s already the New Year, I’d like to see them look more spirited. Please think of a way to make them appear more festive.”

Qiu Yan bit her lip: “Isn’t Miss making unreasonable demands?”

“Sister Qiu Yan is a clever person,” Jiang Ruan interrupted her: “Otherwise how could you become the thirteenth concubine?”

Qiu Yan’s face grew several shades paler as she said through gritted teeth: “Yes.”

After Bai Zhi saw Qiu Yan out, Lian Qiao asked: “Miss, what was that about just now? How does Qiu Yan have connections with Second Young Master Ma?”

“She and Second Young Master Ma have long been carrying on secretly. Right now they’re in their honeymoon period,” Jiang Ruan said.

In her previous life, Qiu Yan’s affair with Second Young Master Ma was discovered several years later, exposing this romantic scandal. Second Young Master Ma emerged unscathed, but Qiu Yan was drowned in a pig cage. Before the drowning, Qiu Yan had been tortured to delirium, insisting she was the Ma family’s thirteenth concubine. This must have been how Second Young Master Ma had promised her during their passionate moments. But Qiu Yan ultimately never had the fate to become the thirteenth concubine—naturally Jiang Ruan wouldn’t reveal this part.

Lian Qiao had an epiphany: “No wonder she was so frightened. Bah, what a lowly person, so shameless!” Being a teenage girl herself, she immediately blushed: “But Miss, how do you know about these things?”

Lian Qiao’s doubts ran deep. Not only that, she also noticed that today Jiang Ruan seemed like a completely different person. The usually submissive girl had so boldly threatened Qiu Yan, and when speaking of such sordid matters, her expression showed no abnormality whatsoever, as if discussing the most ordinary household affairs.

Jiang Ruan usually had even fewer opportunities to go out than she and Bai Zhi did. All year round there was endless work to do in the courtyard—where would there be opportunities to encounter such things? While Lian Qiao wondered about this, Jiang Ruan didn’t answer her question, only saying: “Lian Qiao, do you want to stay here your whole life?”

“Of course not.” Lian Qiao had a straightforward, spirited personality and answered without thinking: “Miss needn’t worry. We certainly won’t stay on the estate forever. In a few days Master will come to fetch Miss.”

Jiang Ruan smiled. She knew better than anyone when he would come to fetch her. She had no patience to wait until then, nor did she want to wait.

“Why wait? Qiu Yan will soon send us back to the capital.”

Lian Qiao was startled and instinctively looked at Jiang Ruan, only to see the girl slowly yawn delicately again. Below her straight nose, her lips, moistened by tea, were rosy red and curved in a small arc.