On this day, in their room in the east wing, Bai He was applying medicine to Mo Zi’s face.

Qiu Sanniang happened to pass by the window and see this, and began getting angry again. “Where was she slapping your face? Clearly she wanted to slap my face. I call her mother, and she really thinks she’s the head of the household—how laughable. Now I’m staying home purely for Father’s sake. Otherwise, after she made such a scene, I would have slapped her right back long ago.”

Bai He’s fingers were light as feathers. While applying the medicine, she said, “Miss, why bother arguing with Madam? Once you’re married out, you won’t be a member of the Qiu family anymore and won’t have to suffer such indignities. Let’s endure for now, lest Madam randomly promise you to an unsuitable family.”

Lu Ju, attending behind Qiu Sanniang, spoke bluntly. “If you ask me, no matter how well our miss behaves, Madam won’t choose a good family for her.”

Bai He was always unwilling to think the worst of people. “Miss is the Qiu Mansion’s eldest daughter. Even if Madam doesn’t like Miss, she must consider the master’s reputation, right? The master is still here.”

Though she said this, Master Qiu was like an oil lamp about to burn out—his body had already reached its limit. Even the doctor said it would happen within this month. He had indulged in wine and women, hollowing out his already weak constitution. His ears were soft too—he believed Zhang Shi had a generous temperament, and since she had borne him two sons, after his death this mother and sons would take care of daughters like Sanniang and the other three concubines. So he placed the Qiu family’s shops, businesses, and properties all in the hands of this mother and two sons.

Though Father was confused, Qiu Sanniang had never blamed him once. In any case, toward her, Father had been quite loving. Just taking her traveling across the world and teaching her to manage accounts and handle business was something ordinary fathers couldn’t do. Now, though trapped at home, it wasn’t yet a dead end—this was also thanks to Father.

Thinking of Father’s health, Qiu Sanniang’s face showed a trace of sorrow.

Mo Zi thought this was deep father-daughter affection, but her chest suddenly felt a sharp pain. She couldn’t see clearly—only felt red light overwhelming everything, sweeping toward her.

“Was my hand too heavy?” Bai He was startled and quickly stopped.

Mo Zi’s vision cleared again. Her expression dazed, she mumbled, “No. What is it?”

“You looked like you were about to cry from pain.” Bai He corked the medicine bottle.

Qiu Sanniang looked at Mo Zi. “Your appearance now is actually uglier than being slapped. That night, I saw you were calm and composed, as if you knew the rod wouldn’t land.”

“It concerned Miss’s reputation. Besides, if I were afraid, wouldn’t certain people be even more pleased? However, when Miss said those two words ‘wait a moment,’ it was just—just—just right.” Just when she thought she would take two rod strikes before Qiu Sanniang would mention the matter of the indenture contract ownership.

At that moment, wasn’t she afraid?

No, she was afraid. Very afraid. Extremely afraid.

Did returning from modern times make her fearlessly bold? Don’t be naive. With the same flesh and blood as ancient people, with even lower status, incomplete legal systems, and no guarantee of life—even with a mind full of innovative ideas and modern thinking, if Qiu Sanniang had looked on coldly, she could only have been beaten to death. Begging Zhang Shi for mercy, saying she could help her earn big money, as much silver as she wanted? People would think her a madwoman speaking nonsense.

Because she was afraid, her post-incident thought of enjoying the shade under a big tree changed slightly. She needed to prepare her own escape route rather than blindly depending on Qiu Sanniang.

This eldest miss had quite an emotional personality—easy to get along with when happy, explosive temper when unhappy. Like that night, when she used lip-reading to say those three words “indenture contract,” she was giving Qiu Sanniang advice. Qiu Sanniang stubbornly dragged it out until the last moment to speak, not only making her break into a cold sweat but also infuriating Zhang Shi to the point of rage, directly causing the two to completely tear off all pretenses.

Qiu Sanniang had good birth—she didn’t need to be afraid. She was just a worker who could become a sacrifice in the struggle at any time.

“Miss, it truly was dangerously close.” Just thinking about it, Lu Ju’s soul was still unsettled. She patted her chest. “I was so scared I didn’t dare open my eyes. I thought Mo Zi was dead for sure.”

“I just wanted to see my dear mother’s mood fall from mountaintop to valley floor.” Qiu Sanniang didn’t think anything of it. “As expected, she didn’t disappoint me. Even if I had spoken a moment later and she took a few rod strikes, it wouldn’t have killed anyone.”

How could Mo Zi not understand Qiu Sanniang? She was more considerate of subordinates than other daughters of wealthy families, but it wasn’t kindness—rather, she didn’t easily trust others. Those she personally cultivated and could rely on were only a few. Therefore, she was relatively easy to talk to and casual with Bai He and the others. Her intervention to save Mo Zi that night wasn’t compassionate heart—it was because Zhang Shi was using the topic as a pretext, with the spearhead actually aimed at her. If Mo Zi had been dealt with by Zhang Shi, she would henceforth be suppressed by Zhang Shi and lose her position in the mansion—this was a matter of mutual glory and ruin.

For the past half year in the mansion, Qiu Sanniang had barely stepped half a foot outside the gate. It wasn’t that she obediently listened to Zhang Shi’s words—actually, she was consolidating her power as the eldest miss.

Mo Zi had her three strategic heights. Qiu Sanniang used her status as legitimate eldest daughter to move among the various households. On the surface, Zhang Shi had the say. In the shadows, those fence-sitters planning to fall either way were increasing.

Of course, Mo Zi wasn’t saying Qiu Sanniang was bad. Inside the Qiu Mansion, storms were brewing. A young lady without a birth mother’s protection, constantly schemed against by her stepmother, had to be resilient herself. Kindness and a soft heart would only make her life miserable.

Just as Mo Zi had been slowly planning for herself, what Qiu Sanniang did was no different.

Precisely because they were two of a kind, Mo Zi could be said to understand Qiu Sanniang quite deeply.

Bai He and Lu Ju, hearing Qiu Sanniang’s statement about a few rod strikes not killing anyone, could completely accept it. In their hearts, even dying for Qiu Sanniang was what a servant, especially a loyal servant, should do.

Leaning against the doorframe, thin and tall, unremarkable-looking Xiao Yi whispered, “I would never let that rod fall.”

These words coming from Xiao Yi’s mouth—Mo Zi hadn’t expected that, since Xiao Yi’s loyalty to Qiu Sanniang was no less than Bai He and Lu Ju’s. Perhaps it was just fellow maid camaraderie.

“Miss, the weather has been good these past few days. Would you like to go to Cinian Hermitage on behalf of the master to burn some incense and request a peace divination?” Silently reciting her professional ethics three times, Mo Zi lightly wiped the tip of her nose with her hand. The swelling-reduction ointment wasn’t cool like those described in books she’d read, but had a very strong medicinal smell that made her nose itch.

Zhang Shi’s actions were fast, but weren’t her own actions just as fast? When Zhang Shi called her forward, that tone wasn’t one for giving rewards. From the moment she woke up and met a shrewd master like Qiu Sanniang, she never dared underestimate ancient people. Therefore, standing before Zhang Shi, she had the worst plan in mind. The instant Zhang Shi raised her right hand, her left cheek followed the wind of the slap and turned right, deflecting half of Zhang Shi’s force. Seeing her gaze was fierce and this wouldn’t end with one slap, she simply fell to the ground. With the distance created, Zhang Shi couldn’t hit or kick her. After all, she had been a soldier—being hurt by a noble lady who couldn’t carry anything or lift a shoulder would be letting down her squad leader from her previous life.

“Cinian Hermitage?” Qiu Sanniang immediately recalled what Mo Zi had mentioned to her two days ago.

“If we could stay for a few days, that would be even better.” Mo Zi continued her efforts, striving for “perfection.”

“What scheme are you plotting again?” Qiu Sanniang’s crimson-painted fingertips tapped the window frame.

“A scheme that will allow Miss to display her filial piety.” Mo Zi smiled, her eyes curved like two clear pools under the moon.