First, arranging a clever encounter to resolve her situation, then coming to propose marriage – how well calculated indeed. But what did Li Mao want to use Chun Xing for?
Seeing Bai Qingyan lost in thought, Chun Xing kowtowed again: “The sixth young master of the minister’s mansion likes this servant, and this servant also likes the sixth young master of the minister’s mansion! There is no conspiracy in this. I beseech Eldest Miss to fulfill my wish! If Eldest Miss would grant permission, Chun Xing would repay Eldest Miss even if it meant working like an ox or horse!”
She came back to her senses and looked down at Chun Xing kneeling and kowtowing on the ground, not expecting that Chun Xing could say… that there was no conspiracy involved.
She had underestimated Chun Xing. Chun Xing was much cleverer than she had thought, and should understand clearly in her heart.
Since Chun Xing understood, that was fine… Everyone chose their path and had to bear the consequences themselves.
She continued: “Do you know that you signed an indenture contract, so your parents have no right to arrange marriages for you?”
Chun Xing’s body trembled as she timidly raised her head to look at Eldest Miss: “El… Eldest Miss!”
“You are my head maid, not like ordinary maids. Either… you find a suitable match within the Bai mansion, or you offend your master and get sold off – letting you keep your life would already be considered merciful.”
“Eldest Miss?” Chun Xing couldn’t gauge what Eldest Miss meant.
“Since you want to go to someone else’s house to be a concubine, to avoid us, master and servant, having an ugly falling out later, I can only find an excuse to sell you off. Then you can have your mother redeem you, and your marriage will have nothing to do with our Bai mansion.”
Bai Qingyan looked at Chun Xing with calm and indifferent eyes.
Chun Xing’s eyes widened in shock. But if that were the case… she would no longer be the county princess’s personal head maid! And for her wedding… Eldest Miss certainly wouldn’t prepare a dowry for her either!
“Since you say the minister’s mansion chose you to be the sixth young master’s virtuous concubine, not because of your status as my head maid, and there’s no conspiracy involved, the sixth young master of the minister’s mansion simply wants you as a person. Then… even if you no longer have the status of the county princess’s personal head maid, the minister’s mansion would still want you.”
“But Eldest Miss, if this servant is sold off… There would be a stain on my record!” Chun Xing hurriedly crawled forward two steps. “I beseech Eldest Miss for mercy!”
Looking at Chun Xing, who had always been dutiful and never showed her cleverness, Bai Qingyan now understood… Chun Xing understood everything in her heart – she was the typical case of pretending to be confused while being perfectly aware.
“Chun Xing, you are a maid who sold herself into service. Your parents arranging a marriage for you is already improper! Sugar cane doesn’t have two sweet ends. You want to climb high branches while also using your status as Zhenguo County Princess’s personal head maid to raise your value. All the good things in the world can’t be monopolized by you alone, can they? Though I’ve always treated the maids around me well, I absolutely cannot let a maid push her luck. Do you understand?”
Chun Xing trembled, her throat working, suddenly thinking of Chun Yan.
In terms of affection, Eldest Miss’s bond with Chun Yan was much deeper than with her, but when such a maid made a mistake, she was still beaten by Eldest Miss and died in prison. So she had always been cautious, never doing anything to displease Eldest Miss.
Just this once, overstepping bounds, she hadn’t harmed Eldest Miss in any way – she just wanted to retain the dignity of having once served Eldest Miss… of having been Eldest Miss’s head maid. Wasn’t this even allowed?
Seeing Chun Xing remain silent, Bai Qingyan called out: “Nanny Tong…”
Chun Xing’s body trembled as she lowered her head even further.
Nanny Tong responded and entered: “Eldest Miss…”
“Chun Xing, since you have other thoughts, this Zhenguo County Princess’s mansion won’t force you to stay! Tonight you’ll spend the night in the woodshed. I won’t trouble Nanny Tong to call in a broker, then have your parents buy you back – such trouble. Tomorrow morning, Nanny Tong will send someone to notify your parents to come and take you home.”
This was Bai Qingyan’s final decision.
“Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss, I beg you to leave me some dignity! I beg Eldest Miss to leave me some dignity!” Chun Xing cried out.
“Dignity is earned by oneself, not given by others! You don’t want the dignity of being a legitimate wife, but now you want the dignity of a maid?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was calm. “I won’t say publicly what wrong you committed, but I will spread word that Zhenguo County Princess’s mansion will never again employ you or anyone related to you. Take care of yourself.”
Chun Xing wanted to plead again, but was pulled by the arm by Nanny Tong toward the door.
She watched coldly as Chun Xing refused to get up, crying and crawling toward her: “Eldest Miss! I beg Eldest Miss for mercy! I beg Eldest Miss to leave me a way to live!”
“Chun Xing, you have high aspirations. You developed feelings for the sixth young master of the minister’s mansion and want to be his concubine – I won’t stop you. But since you two are mutually attracted, I’m having your parents take you out of the mansion… why are you unwilling again and asking me to give you a way to live? This shows… You clearly understand in your heart why the minister’s mansion would seek you as a virtuous concubine!”
Chun Xing’s legs went weak. Looking at Bai Qingyan’s cold and indifferent gaze, her crying paused for a moment.
“I cannot tolerate those around me having divided loyalties. If you truly didn’t know the reason, I could forgive your ignorance. But if you want to pretend ignorance and use me to advance your prospects! That cannot be allowed…”
“Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss, this servant hasn’t! I beg Eldest Miss to spare this servant!”
Nanny Tong was strong, gripping Chun Xing under both arms and gritting her teeth as she dragged her out.
“Eldest Miss! Please spare this servant! I beg you to remember that Chun Xing has served faithfully for many years without overstepping…”
“If you continue making a scene and disturb Mother, I’ll have no choice but to call in a broker.”
Before Chun Xing could finish speaking, Bai Qingyan spoke with a stern face, showing no mercy.
Chun Xing immediately fell silent, tears streaming down her face.
But Bai Qingyan’s heart grew even colder. This maid Chun Xing… was indeed clever, but the cleverer she was, the more chilled Bai Qingyan felt.
She asked herself – she had always been very lenient with the maids and servants around her, yet she had raised maids like Chun Yan and Chun Xing.
The former Chun Yan was truly foolish, so she did foolish things, but at least Chun Yan’s feelings for Prince Liang were genuine.
The current Chun Xing was truly clever yet still did foolish things, because she treated everyone else as fools while single-mindedly wanting to climb high branches.
A servant like Chun Xing was more detestable than Chun Yan and required more vigilance.
Today, having Chun Xing spend the night in the woodshed and tomorrow having her parents take her home, then spreading word that Zhenguo County Princess’s mansion would never employ Chun Xing or anyone related to her – even if the Duke’s mansion didn’t say what wrong Chun Xing had committed, others could guess that she must have made a serious mistake.
Thus, even if the minister’s mansion still wanted this maid who had been driven out by her master for wrongdoing, aside from getting some information about her from Chun Xing, they couldn’t use her for any other purpose.
Fortunately, Bai Qingyan hadn’t trusted Chun Xing too much and generally kept her away when handling important matters.
The news of Chun Xing being locked in the woodshed by Nanny Tong quickly became known throughout the Duke’s mansion, with everyone discussing and speculating about what serious mistake Chun Xing had made.