Early the next morning, A’Ru, who had used powder to cover the dark circles under her eyes, came to attend to the Young Madam’s rising.

Qi Yue had already gotten up. Having experienced such an incomprehensible event, she had barely slept. She only dozed off briefly at dawn and was now struggling with the clothes laid out on the bed.

“How does this thing get put on?” Qi Yue muttered while trying to put it on herself. Hearing the door, she quickly pretended to have just woken up.

Surely helping the master dress was one of a maid’s duties.

“Did Young Madam sleep well?” A’Ru asked while pulling open the curtains and raising the bed hangings. Morning light streamed in, and the room immediately became bright and cheerful.

“Well,” Qi Yue said with a smile, sporting two dark circles under her eyes.

A’Ru poured her a cup of hot tea. Qi Yue slowly held it in her mouth while casually observing A’Ru.

A’Ru picked up a small white porcelain vessel from beside the bed and came over.

This was a mouth-rinsing basin? Qi Yue naturally spat into it while marveling inwardly. Last night she had studied it for quite a while – this white porcelain was made so exquisitely, small and adorable. She had thought it was for ornamental enjoyment, not realizing it was merely a spittoon.

The lifestyle of an ancient marquis household was truly extraordinary in every aspect.

After rinsing her mouth, she then drank tea. Qi Yue walked back and forth in the room a few times, stretching her body.

“The weather is nice today,” she said to A’Ru.

The best way to start a conversation was with the weather – this should be universally applicable across all times and places.

A’Ru smiled and nodded.

“After the rain, the flowers and plants outside are so vibrant they make one’s heart flutter,” she said, handing Qi Yue an object.

Qi Yue took it and looked – her heart exclaimed “wow” again. A toothbrush!

Of course it couldn’t compare to modern ones. It was coated with salt. Qi Yue happily brushed her teeth, then A’Ru washed her face and applied makeup.

What a wicked old society… this was too enjoyable…

“That girl A’Hao is being playful again,” A’Ru said, looking outside.

A’Hao was good at styling hair, which was why the Old Madam had originally given her to the Young Madam, so hair styling had always been her responsibility.

“What’s the rush? We don’t have anything urgent to do,” Qi Yue said, experimenting with various hairpins from the jewelry box to arrange her hair in different styles.

“You’re too good-tempered, you’ve spoiled her,” A’Ru laughed, while continuing to clean and tidy the room.

“Do you think this hairstyle I’ve done looks good?” Qi Yue would turn around and ask her from time to time.

The master and servant chatted back and forth in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Just as they were enjoying themselves, they heard arguing voices outside, including A’Hao’s voice.

“Go see what’s happening,” Qi Yue immediately said.

A’Ru had been waiting for this instruction. Upon hearing it, she hurried outside.

As she went out, the courtyard gate also opened, and Qi Yue could hear the conversation outside.

“…I picked this lotus flower first…”

“…Who said you could pick it! Our Concubine said she wanted this early on…”

“…Our Young Madam…”

“…What Young Madam? Don’t ruin this good flower, give it to me quickly, you little hussy. Say another word and I’ll tear your mouth…”

This was immediately followed by A’Hao’s pained cry, apparently she had gotten the worse end of it.

“Which courtyard are you from? How can you hit people?” A’Ru looked at the little maid in front of her who had pushed A’Hao to the ground and snatched the lotus flower from her arms.

Three years ago, during Qi Yue and the Prince’s wedding, for added joy, the household had released a batch of older maids, pairing them with young men in marriage, and most of their duties had changed. A new batch of young maids had come up. After that, she had followed the Young Madam into Qiutong Courtyard and wasn’t very familiar with these newcomers.

Looking at this maid, about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing a half-new, half-old azure cloth shirt and blue cloth pants, with a pointed face and sharp features – clearly a rough servant girl used for sweeping and running errands who couldn’t enter the inner quarters.

Since the Old Madam’s passing, the household rules had indeed become increasingly lax. Hadn’t such maids received any training? Even if she didn’t recognize people, she should recognize A’Hao’s sash. How dare she be so aggressive?

As A’Ru spoke, the little maid paid no attention. Despite her small stature, she was quite agile, snatching the lotus flower in a few moves. She looked up at Qiutong Courtyard with disdain, spat at A’Ru, and turned to run.

A’Ru trembled with anger. Originally, cold words and attitudes were manageable – they could still maintain face when meeting. But now such a rough servant girl had come to cause trouble at their door…

“You stop right there,” she chased after her in a few steps, grabbing the little maid and shouting sternly, “Who taught you such manners? You’re out of line!”

A’Hao also came over and, taking advantage of A’Ru holding her, snatched back the lotus flower.

“Setting aside the question of our respective statuses, I picked this lotus flower first. There’s no reason for you to snatch it halfway. You’re being too domineering. Do you think all the flowers and plants in the entire mansion that catch your eye belong to you, and others can’t pick them?” she said angrily.

“Who do you think you are to lecture me? People say that everyone in Qiutong Courtyard doesn’t even count as cats and dogs,” the little maid said with her nose in the air, trying to push A’Ru away while reaching for the lotus flower again.

A’Ru knew there was much unpleasant talk behind their backs, but she hadn’t expected it to be this ugly.

“The Young Madam was properly married with a matchmaker, personally arranged by the Old Madam, with an imperial decree. Even I, A’Ru, am at least someone who served the Old Madam. To say… to say such treasonous words! Tell me, who said this? I’ll report her immediately and have this lawless, rule-breaking person thrown out,” she trembled like a sieve, gripping the little maid and shouting sternly.

The little maid became frightened, her eyes darting about. Desperately trying to break free but unable to, she simply turned and bit A’Ru’s hand. A’Ru hadn’t expected this girl to be so crude. With a cry of pain, she pulled her hand back and reflexively slapped the little maid.

The little maid covered her face and ran away.

A’Ru was so angry she shouted “Don’t run!” and chased her a few steps but ultimately couldn’t catch up.

A’Hao pulled her back, consoling her as they returned to the courtyard.

“She said she’s from Concubine Zhu’s courtyard…” she whispered to A’Ru, “An outsider… when the roof beam is crooked, the pillars below are slanted… Sister, don’t be angry. Getting angry with her is too beneath you.”

Just two months ago, the Madam had arranged to bring back a woman the Marquis had been keeping outside.

“Yes, when even such people can enter the household, what rules are left…” A’Ru murmured, her anger replaced by sadness, her expression dejected. Yes, the Old Madam had been gone for three years, and in these three years, too much had changed…

A’Ru didn’t enter the room but asked A’Hao to tell the Young Madam so she wouldn’t worry, while she herself went to the small kitchen next door under the pretext of preparing breakfast.

A’Hao entered the room showing no dejection, but rather carrying a hint of victorious satisfaction as she arranged the lotus flower.

“The lotus flowers in the lake bloom late, only those near the lake-heart bridge bloom early. I’ve had my eye on this one for a while, knowing that after yesterday’s rain it would surely bloom today. I ran over first thing this morning and indeed…” she said happily, “Young Madam, don’t you think it’s beautiful?”

Qi Yue smiled and nodded in praise. A’Hao’s face lit up with an even brighter smile, though her hair was somewhat disheveled from the earlier struggle, making her look a bit comical.

“Someone saw it and got jealous, came to fight me for it. I’m sorry for troubling you,” she hadn’t forgotten A’Ru’s instruction to report back, saying this with a smile.

“Good things, right? If no one fights for them, what makes them good things? It shows you have good taste,” Qi Yue laughed.

A’Hao happily curtsied in thanks.

“Let me help Young Madam style her hair…” she said, about to help Qi Yue undo her casually arranged hair. She hadn’t even picked up the comb when the main gate crashed open.

“A’Ru, come out here!”

A female voice rang out at the gate. Along with this shout, the slightly ajar main gate was kicked open, and four or five people rushed in.

Leading them was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl wearing a fish-white small-flowered straight-cut thin shirt, pink skirt, and red sash at her waist. She was tall and pretty, with her pointed chin slightly raised, standing in the middle of the courtyard.

Behind her followed several maids of similar age, wearing scallion-green or tender-yellow sashes, all with angry expressions.

A’Ru came out of the kitchen, looking at this girl.

“It’s Su Mei. What do you want with me?” she said, her eyes showing the joy of seeing an acquaintance.

The newcomer pulled a little maid from behind her.

“Is it her?” Su Mei asked.

The little maid was the one who had fought for the lotus flower earlier. Being dragged by Su Mei, she glared fiercely at A’Ru.

“It’s her,” she said.

A’Ru understood what this was about, and the joy on her face faded.

“Su Mei, I heard you’re serving under Concubine Zhu…” she said.

Before she could finish, Su Mei stepped forward and slapped her.

The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the courtyard, stunning everyone inside and out.

A’Ru covered her face, looking at the person before her in disbelief.

“Where I serve is none of your concern,” Su Mei snorted, “Even when beating a dog, one must consider the master. Sister A’Ru, you served the Old Madam for so long, but the Old Madam has only been gone three years and you’re already confused?”

She emphasized the words “Old Madam” and “gone.”

Tears welled up in A’Ru’s eyes as she stared at this maid who was younger than herself, seeming to still see her timid, fawning expression from years past.

“Whatever sister wants to do, just say it…”

“…Sister, teach me, I don’t understand…”

“…Being able to help sister is my good fortune…”

Her tears finally fell drop by drop.

“Those words are absolutely right.”

A female voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone present looked toward the sound to see a woman standing at the room’s entrance. Her hair was not styled, she wore an outer garment draped over her shoulders, and was slowly picking her nails with a hairpin, looking over with a half-smile.

These years everyone had avoided Qiutong Courtyard, and since this Young Madam never left her room while recuperating, everyone had nearly forgotten her appearance. But seeing her now, they immediately recognized her – after all, the Young Madam’s face was beautiful enough to be unforgettable.

“Young Madam…” Su Mei lowered her head and curtsied, showing little fear on her face. As she was about to say something, Qi Yue spoke first.

“A’Hao, slap her,” she said lightly.

A’Hao, who had been trembling with anger behind her, immediately rushed out upon hearing this and delivered a heavy slap to Su Mei.

Like A’Ru, who hadn’t expected the visitor to speak and strike immediately, Su Mei also didn’t react in time and took the slap squarely.

This slap from A’Hao carried all her accumulated new and old grievances. Following the principle of making each strike count, she didn’t restrain her newly grown nails either. With one slap, Su Mei not only screamed in pain but also had blue-white marks on her face plus two scratches, with blood seeping out.

“You, you dare hit me!” she shrieked, feeling her face burn with pain. When she touched it and felt blood, she realized she was disfigured!

Her looks were her life! Su Mei nearly fainted. The maids who had come with her also surged forward in a commotion, wanting to grab and beat A’Hao.

A’Hao, having received prior instructions, didn’t linger after her successful strike and quickly ran back to Qi Yue’s side in two or three steps.

“Kneel down!” Qi Yue raised her voice and shouted.

The chaotic maids were startled into silence, staring blankly at Qi Yue leaning against the doorframe.

“You’re absolutely right – even when beating a dog, one must consider the master. What are you things? Running to my presence to hit and scold my maids?” Qi Yue slapped the doorframe and shouted, “Are you blind, or am I, your master, dead?”

The slap made a loud thump, frightening the maids into shuddering. The marquis household had strict hierarchies, and by instinct, one of them couldn’t help but kneel down. Once one knelt, the others followed suit due to herd mentality. Su Mei, though extremely unwilling, also had to kneel.

Taking advantage of the maids lowering their heads, Qi Yue quickly took two breaths and shook her hand.

She had used too much force – the slap had nearly broken her hand. This was because it was her first time performing such a scene and her technique was unpracticed…

She should have grabbed a teacup, teapot, or vase to smash, but those items looked like genuine antiques and fine imperial porcelain to Qi Yue – far too precious. The psychological pressure was too great for her to bring herself to destroy them.