Cheng Chun was awakened by the sound of Su Xubai’s voice. She stirred slightly, only to feel sore all over. Struggling to get up, she found herself unable to open her eyes no matter how hard she tried, and eventually gave up.
“Don’t disturb her unless it’s necessary. Let her sleep a little longer!” Su Xubai’s voice was soft, yet every word was clear.
“Yes, Fifth Master!”
Perhaps because she had heard Su Xubai’s words, Cheng Chun abandoned her plan to get up and soon fell back asleep.
By the time she woke again, it was already noon. As soon as Hongdou entered the room, she saw Cheng Chun trying to sit up and hurried over to help her. “Are you all right, Mistress?”
Cheng Chun felt her entire body aching intensely. Her arms and thighs trembled slightly, and even the slightest exertion made her grimace in pain. Seeing this, Hongdou couldn’t help but frown. “Fifth Master really has no sense of restraint. How could someone as delicate as you endure such rough treatment?”
“I’m used to hard work. I’m not as fragile as you say!” Cheng Chun struggled to sit up and, noticing Hongdou’s genuine concern, reassured her, “It’s nothing serious. I’ll be fine in a few days!”
Though Hongdou felt sorry for her, she didn’t say much more, only harboring some resentment toward Su Xubai.
Cheng Chun sat there to freshen up. Perhaps due to exhaustion, her complexion didn’t look well, appearing slightly pale. Hongdou, skilled with her hands, soon had her looking lovely and radiant again.
Just as Hongdou set down the wooden comb, someone knocked on the door. Hongdou found it odd but still called out, “Come in!”
It was an elderly woman Cheng Chun had never seen before, but Hongdou stepped forward with a smile and greeted her, “Nanny Zhang!”
Cheng Chun quickly rose to her feet. Before she could speak, the person accompanying Nanny Zhang stepped forward with a bowl of dark, murky medicinal soup. “Mistress, since Fifth Master spent the night here last night, and he has yet to marry—there is no proper mistress in the household—there are certain rules you, as a young mistress, must abide by.”
Having worked in a pharmacy, Cheng Chun could recognize most medicinal herbs. Just by the smell, she knew it was Bizitang.
Seeing Cheng Chun’s face turn pale, Nanny Zhang explained, “This is the rule in noble households. When the master has no proper mistress, he should not take a concubine. But the master is fond of you and has taken you as his concubine, which already breaks the rules. We certainly cannot have a firstborn son from a concubine. So, please drink this bowl of medicine and spare us the trouble.”
Cheng Chun slowly stepped forward, took the bowl of medicine, and felt its warmth—just the right temperature for drinking. She took a deep breath and downed the medicine in one gulp, its bitterness making her grimace.
Even so, Nanny Zhang made Cheng Chun open her mouth, pinched her chin, and carefully inspected it to ensure all the medicine had been swallowed before turning to leave.
Cheng Chun felt a pang of bitterness and a touch of grievance in her heart. Hongdou, seeing this, wanted to comfort her but hesitated, unsure of what to say. In the end, she simply lowered her head in silence.
“Hongdou, I’m a little hungry. Is there anything to eat?” Cheng Chun spoke first, smiling faintly, her eyes still holding a glimmer of light.
Hongdou quickly nodded. “Songlan, who serves Fifth Master, came earlier to ask. He said that once you’re awake, you should go to the front hall to dine with Fifth Master.”
Cheng Chun was actually somewhat unwilling. The mere mention of Su Xubai made her recall the events of last night, filling her with panic and fear. But in this courtyard, he was the highest authority. Even if she was unwilling, she couldn’t refuse. With no other choice, she got up and headed to the front hall.
By the time Cheng Chun arrived, Su Xubai was already seated, and the servants were serving the dishes. As Cheng Chun stepped forward to take her seat, Nanny Zhang called out to her, “Madam should stand to the side and serve the master his food!”
Cheng Chun was taken aback for a moment, then nodded obediently and walked over to Su Xubai’s side. Picking up the serving chopsticks, she began serving him food, remaining silent from start to finish, like a young wife who had been wronged but dared not speak up.
Su Xubai watched her, increasingly convinced of her gentle nature. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Sit down and eat!”
“Master, this isn’t proper…” Nanny Zhang hurried forward.
“This is my villa. What I say is proper!” Su Xubai glanced at Nanny Zhang. “A-chun has just arrived at the estate and is my companion. Don’t think you can bully her just because she seems delicate. I won’t tolerate servants who bully their master!”
Nanny Zhang probably hadn’t expected Su Xubai to say this. She opened her mouth as if to explain something but ultimately lowered her head and replied, “Yes!”
Cheng Chun glanced up at Nanny Zhang, then at Su Xubai, but in the end, she said nothing and simply lowered her head to eat.
After the meal, Cheng Chun had intended to return to her room, but Su Xubai insisted on taking her for a walk. With no choice, she had to accompany him.
“This is my private villa. You can live here freely. If you want anything, tell Hongdou, and she’ll arrange for someone to buy it. As for Nanny Zhang, she’s a lifelong servant of our family and has been in the Marquis’s household for many years. She was sent to the villa to retire because of her age, so don’t pay her too much mind,” Su Xubai said softly as they walked.
Cheng Chun was somewhat surprised and slowly looked up at him. “The Marquis’s household arranges for servants to retire?”
Su Xubai paused and turned to look at her. “Are you curious about this?”
“Huh?” Cheng Chun was momentarily stunned, then nodded. “Yes, there are many people who work for their masters, but I’ve never heard of any household arranging for their retirement. Is this how all the wealthy families in the capital are?”
“Not all of them,” Su Xubai replied, smiling at Cheng Chun’s shining eyes. “Nanny Zhang was my mother’s dowry maid and took care of me for many years when I was young. She’s considered an old servant of the Marquis’s household. Her daughter also became my eldest brother’s chamber maid. The master’s family can’t just ignore her fate.”
Cheng Chun was taken aback. “Nanny Zhang’s daughter?”
“Yes, the children of lifelong servants are born as servants. Sons work in the outer courtyard, and daughters in the inner courtyard. Nanny Zhang’s daughter has been by my eldest brother’s side since childhood and was always meant to be his chamber maid,” Su Xubai explained as they continued walking.
Cheng Chun suddenly recalled the expression on Nanny Zhang’s face that morning. After thinking for a long while, she asked, “Is a chamber maid different from a concubine?”
“Of course, it’s different. Concubines are divided into lowly concubines and proper concubines. Lowly concubines are bought or promoted from maidservants—they are slaves, and the mistress of the household has the right to sell them. Proper concubines, on the other hand, are formally taken into the household with a written concubine contract and cannot be sold at will!” Su Xubai said with a smile. “So, you are a legitimate mistress in this courtyard and don’t need to pay attention to the attitudes of these servants!”