Boundless darkness engulfed her, bloody severed legs, day after day of torture. Li Weiyang jerked awake from her dream, her entire body covered in cold sweat, nearly soaking through her clothes and bedding. She gasped for breath in great gulps, until Baizhi came over and lifted the sky-blue gauze curtain, saying in a low voice: “Third Miss, are you alright?”
Li Weiyang instinctively glanced at the carved and lacquered bed she was on. She had only been dreaming just now. She was still alive.
In the darkness, Li Weiyang’s face still carried some bewilderment, several strands of hair on her forehead soaked with cold sweat, sticking wetly to her smooth forehead.
“Is Third Miss having nightmares again?” Baizhi asked cautiously. “Would you like some water?”
Li Weiyang shook her head.
At this moment, Mozhu entered from outside the room, asking softly: “Is Third Miss unwell?”
Tonight it was Baizhi and Mozhu keeping watch. Li Weiyang glanced at Baizhi, who immediately smiled and said: “No, the quilt was just too thick, making her sweat!”
Baizhi was a clever girl, Li Weiyang thought. Back then, the Li family from Pingcheng had also sent Baizhi and Ziyan, but unfortunately she had always felt they had treated her too harshly in the past, so she hadn’t grown close to these two maids either, and had listened to the First Madam’s words early on, sending them away to marry. Looking at it now, she needed helpers, and these two maids also needed further testing.
Mozhu was a second-rank maid at Old Madam Meng Shi’s side. Now that she had come to the Third Miss’s room, she had naturally been promoted by one rank. Hearing Baizhi’s words, she smiled, then turned and went out to fetch the hot water warming on the stove, saying softly: “Let me help Miss wipe down.”
Li Weiyang nodded. Mozhu deftly filled a brass basin with hot water, took a fragrant cloth and soaked it, then came forward to help Baizhi wash and change Li Weiyang’s clothes.
After changing into sleeping clothes, feeling slightly cool, Li Weiyang’s mood gradually calmed. She looked at the two maids and smiled: “Stop fussing. You both go rest. If I need anything, I’ll call.”
The next day at noon, Ziyan brought over a small blue porcelain cup, saying: “Third Miss, this was sent from the kitchen. They said the Master invited guests today, so they didn’t have time to prepare the afternoon meal for the rear courtyard. Please have some chicken soup first.”
Unlike Elder Sister, she didn’t have her own small kitchen and could only eat meals from the communal kitchen. Hearing this, Li Weiyang only smiled slightly and said: “Fine.” Then she lifted the lid, but could tell at a glance that this was chicken soup diluted with water. The bowl contained only four pieces of chicken—one chicken head, one chicken neck, one chicken rear, and one chicken rib. There truly wasn’t a single decent piece.
Even Li Weiyang couldn’t help but laugh. The Li family had strict rules and had always maintained appearances when dealing with illegitimate children. Never mind anything else, just look at the furnishings in this room—all were quite valuable. On the surface, the First Madam showed no sign of mistreating her. But these valuable furnishings were all recorded in the inventory. They couldn’t be lost or damaged, or she would have to compensate for them at full price. As for her own clothes, she only had two presentable outfits. Since arriving a month ago, although the First Madam often mentioned sending someone to measure her for clothes, she had never actually taken action. In her previous life, Jiang Shi hadn’t acted so excessively. At least on the surface, she had still been a dignified and gracious legitimate mother. Clearly, after she had gotten her precious daughter’s clothes wet last time, causing Li Changle to cough in front of others for two days, she had been held in grudge. And now, it was obvious that even the servants below had started looking down on her, trampling on her head. Li Weiyang glanced at it lightly with a half-smile.
Ziyan’s eyes reddened: “Third Miss, this servant also argued with the kitchen staff. But those people said the standard for all the other young misses is the same, and only Third Miss is being picky. They also said… if the other masters want to eat or drink anything good, they all supplement with their own money. If Third Miss wants to eat well, she can certainly learn to do the same.”
Supplement? Li Weiyang smiled and shook her head. She was now a poor illegitimate daughter, jingling with poverty. Where would she get money to supplement the servants? The First Madam was sweet-mouthed but bitter-hearted. In front of others, she had bestowed quite a few things on her, but not a single coin. Those things couldn’t be sold either. These servants were simply certain that she, Li Weiyang, had no money. Ha ha, this was truly quite interesting.
Li Weiyang’s clear bright eyes sparkled. Then she instructed Ziyan: “Go fetch scissors.”
Ziyan didn’t know what she wanted to do, but still obeyed. Her eyes watched her nervously, afraid she might do something foolish. Li Weiyang smiled slightly, removed her outer robe herself, and used the scissors to cut the sleeves of her inner garment short by half. She had Ziyan take it to sew up the thread ends properly, then put the outer robe back on. From the outside, nothing unusual could be detected. Then she stood up and said: “I heard Fifth Sister was released today. She must be paying respects to Old Madam now, right?”
Ziyan looked at her with an extremely puzzled expression on her face.
“Come, let’s go see Fifth Sister too.” Li Weiyang’s smile grew larger, actually taking on three parts craftiness.
Leaving the room, Li Weiyang’s face was full of a smile like bathing in spring breeze. No one liked looking at a face covered with tears every day. Old Madam was no exception!
Hexiang Pavilion was lively and bustling, with warm fragrance assailing the nose. The First Madam was sitting beside Old Madam, discussing New Year matters with Second Madam Meng Shi.
Li Changle wore a snow-white silver fox fur buttoned jacket and a crabapple-red flowing cloud pattern pleated skirt. In terms of clothing, she wasn’t more outstanding than the other young misses present, but paired with her extremely beautiful appearance, sitting there she was eye-catching, making all the other girls in the room pale in comparison. At this moment, she was smiling as she listened to her mother speak, extremely dignified and serene.
Li Changxi wore a rose-red jacket trimmed with muskrat fur, with golden pearls in her hair and ruby earrings swaying at her temples. Her face wore a charming smile. She showed no sign of the dejection and vexation of being confined for a month. Obviously she had already recovered from her frustration. She wholeheartedly tried to please Old Madam, occasionally telling a joke or two. But no matter how hard she tried, Old Madam’s face remained indifferent without any particular expression. Fourth Miss Li Changxiao was still as silent as ever, only occasionally lifting her head to glance at Second Miss Li Changru from the second branch across from her. Each time she looked over, Li Changru was staring at Li Changle full of jealous hatred.
This roomful of people appeared harmonious and happy, but actually each harbored their own thoughts.
The maid Luxin carried up a vermilion lacquered wooden tray, delivering tea cups to everyone’s tables.
Old Madam Meng Shi picked hers up and took a sip, immediately startled: “Oh? This tea soup is very fragrant.”
Hearing this, Li Changle also picked hers up and took a sip, agreeing: “Yes, this color is also good, and the taste is proper. This is truly a supreme grade.” As she spoke, she looked toward Luxin. “Old Madam’s people and things here are truly excellent. I’ve never had such fragrant tea soup before!”
The art of tea preparation was regarded as an extremely elegant activity in this dynasty. Not just in the palace and wealthy households—it was also very popular among common people. Never mind anything else, just speaking of Eldest Miss Li Changle, she was an expert in this field and had even received instruction from famous teachers. For her to give such praise now showed that the person who prepared this tea had extremely accomplished skills!
With this, everyone in the room took up their tea to drink, and nearly everyone began praising it.
Meng Shi smiled faintly: “Luxin, your girl’s tea preparation skills have improved by leaps and bounds. This deserves a reward.”
Luxin smiled and curtsied: “Old Madam, this tea soup wasn’t prepared by this servant, but by Third Miss.”
Everyone in the room was stunned. The First Madam’s expression couldn’t help but become complicated. A trace of barely perceptible amusement flashed through Old Madam Meng Shi’s eyes: “Oh, it was Weiyang? Let her come in!”
After she had laboriously talked for so long, Old Madam had only been indifferent, yet Li Weiyang had so easily earned Old Madam’s praise! Li Changxi looked at Li Weiyang entering gracefully from the doorway, hating her so much she almost wanted to burn a hole through her face!