“Ah!” The maid exclaimed, stepping back several paces in alarm. “Fourth Miss, are you alright?”
Quickly pulling off her damp outer robe, Li Huaiyu looked up at her with a half-smile, “What do you think?”
“It’s all my fault! I should be punished!” Xiyun repeatedly knelt in apology. “I was in a hurry to fetch breakfast for my lady and didn’t see it was the Fourth Miss here. I thought it was just another maid.”
Her posture seemed sincere in admitting her mistake, but her half-lowered eyes were anything but honest, darting around and revealing a hint of mockery.
Huaiyu couldn’t help but click her tongue in annoyance.
It was true that like master, like a servant; the Second Miss, Bai Xuanji, was a smiling tiger, and her maid was no different. If she couldn’t stand Huaiyu, she should just say so directly instead of smiling while making such a fuss. What was the point?
“Just get me some more.” Putting down the tray, Huaiyu addressed the cook in the back.
The cook complied, quickly going to ladle more porridge for her. Seeing that Huaiyu didn’t seem inclined to pursue the matter, Xiyun cheerfully entered the kitchen and began loading the exquisite dishes from the stove onto her tray.
“The Second Miss is waiting for her meal, so I’ll take my leave first.” Xiyun smiled at Huaiyu, her gaze lingering on the tray Huaiyu had just set down, her smile widening. “I’m sorry to have inconvenienced the Fourth Miss.”
Huaiyu stood by, watching her triumphant figure leave, her expression unchanged as she turned to the cook. “The Second Miss’s breakfast?”
The cook wiped her hands on her apron awkwardly. “Fourth Miss, please don’t be angry. The residence has its own rules.”
“What rule allows for such a disparity in treatment among the young ladies?” Huaiyu asked, her smile not reaching her eyes. “Should I go ask my father?”
“Now, now, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill! The Master is so busy; how could he have time to deal with this?” the cook hurriedly replied. “Shall I serve you some more dishes?”
Li Huaiyu remained silent, her gaze fixed on the cook.
The cook felt a chill under her scrutiny, suddenly realizing that the Fourth Miss, even without raising her voice, was more intimidating than the Master himself.
But then she thought, she was just a concubine’s daughter who had lost her mother. Even if she wasn’t foolish anymore, she was still unloved in the residence. Why should she be afraid of her?
With that thought, the cook regained her composure and adopted a firmer attitude. “I’m not being rude, but you should understand who is in charge in this courtyard. If you’re truly dissatisfied, go speak to the Madam. Why make things difficult for us servants?”
Go find that biased Bai Mengshi? Huaiyu sneered inwardly; even if she did, it wouldn’t yield any results.
Taking the food back, she took a deep breath and turned to head back to the West Courtyard.
The cook watched her retreating figure with a mix of fear and anger, and once she was out of sight, she spat, “Hmph, what’s with the airs? Does she think she’s some important figure?”
The nearby kitchen maid chimed in, “Isn’t that right? Everyone knows she won’t amount to much. When the Jiang family finally breaks off the engagement, she won’t even have the face to drink porridge, let alone anything else!”
“I’m just waiting for the Second Miss to give her a taste of reality, so she knows her place!”
“That day is coming soon,” the little maid laughed. “The masters are about to go to the Jiang residence for a banquet, and she hasn’t even prepared her outfit yet. When she can’t get through the gates, it’ll be quite the sight!”
Their chattering voices, mixed with curses, drifted in the morning light.
Huaiyu felt that perhaps she had enjoyed too much luxury when she was a princess, so the heavens had decided to teach her a lesson by making her the foolish Fourth Miss of the Bai family, allowing her to experience hunger and cold.
A little harshness at breakfast was fine; she could consider it a cleanse. But for lunch and dinner, the food from the kitchen was terrible, and the rice was scarce. After just a few bites, it was gone.
Looking at her bowl, which was cleaner than if it had been washed, Li Huaiyu truly wanted to shed a tear of sympathy for Bai Sijie. After all, she was a young lady from a noble family, yet her situation was so miserable!
“Fourth Miss.” A matron called out from outside, her voice sharp. “The Master has sent word that tomorrow you are to go to the Jiang residence, so dress appropriately to pay your respects in the front hall.”
Huaiyu hadn’t had a chance to respond when Lingxiu suddenly stood up, trembling. “My lady will go right away!”
Saying this, she nervously bit off the thread in her hand and held up a silk skirt in front of Huaiyu. “Miss, quickly change into this!”
“This…” Huaiyu glanced at the few scattered lotus flowers embroidered on the silk skirt and blinked. “Are you sure it’s alright?”
“It’s better than those plain clothes you usually wear.” Lingxiu urged her to get up and change. “If the Master finds it unsatisfactory, perhaps he’ll reward you with some jewelry!”
That was the only way to think about it. Huaiyu nodded and obediently changed into the skirt, arranging her hair into a neat bun. After washing her face, she followed the matron outside toward the front hall.
Before stepping out, she examined herself to ensure everything was in order, as was customary for young ladies from high-status families. When Li Huaiyu arrived at the front hall, she found everyone already present. Bai Dezhong and Bai Mengshi were seated in the main positions, while Bai Xuanji stood before them.
Dressed in fine silks, her collar and hem embroidered with intricate begonia flowers, Bai Xuanji wore her hair in a high cloud bun, moving gracefully and exuding poise, truly a qualified young lady from a noble family.
Bai Mengshi looked on with satisfaction, nodding repeatedly as she clutched her handkerchief. “Master, look at our daughter. With her looks, how could we worry about finding a good husband?”
Bai Dezhong’s face was stern, showing little joy, yet he still nodded.
His gaze shifted, and he noticed the timid figure at the door. His expression immediately darkened as he barked, “Aren’t you coming in?”
Huaiyu was startled by his loud voice, thinking how boisterous he was. Every time, he either scolded her or yelled at her. Couldn’t he speak nicely?
Pouting, she reluctantly stepped into the front hall.
Bai Mengshi and Bai Xuanji both turned to look at her, their eyes scanning her simple silk skirt, then glancing at her bare hair and lack of earrings, their expressions filled with disdain.
Bai Dezhong frowned at her. “Is this how you plan to go to the Jiang residence?”
“Is there a problem?” Huaiyu tugged at her skirt. “The fabric is quite good.”
Bai Dezhong turned to Bai Mengshi, who shook her head repeatedly. “I instructed someone to send a few outfits to the West Courtyard for her to choose from. She picked this one, which has nothing to do with me.”
Huh? Li Huaiyu looked at Bai Mengshi in surprise, almost wanting to applaud her for her skill in lying. Not to mention a few outfits; she hadn’t even sent one that was properly embroidered!
Yet, Bai Dezhong believed her, his gaze growing even more severe as he said, “You don’t understand the rules or have any taste. If you go to the Jiang family like this, you’ll surely embarrass the household. Tomorrow, I’ll go with your second sister. You should stay in the residence.”