Nanny Li, domineering and arrogant, looked at Xiahe with scorn and mockery. Beside her stood Concubine Wan’s maid, Su Xin, smugly triumphant. She casually snatched the pigeon soup from Xiahe’s hands.
“Ungrateful thing. Talking nicely doesn’t work with you—you just need Nanny Li to scold you before you understand.”
Su Xin then turned to Nanny Li with a smile. “Don’t worry, Nanny. Concubine Wan will remember your kindness.” She slipped a piece of silver into Nanny Li’s hand.
Nanny Li chuckled, weighed it, and tucked it into her bosom. Anyone who could rise to the position of stewardess in the household was no fool.
If Xiahe were still under the Third Young Lady’s protection, Nanny Li would never risk offending her just to curry favor with Concubine Wan. But she saw clearly: the Third Young Lady had already cast Xiahe aside. A maid without backing versus a pregnant concubine—Nanny Li knew exactly where to stand.
“Get out of here! Stop being an eyesore to Miss Su Xin.” Nanny Li sneered, rolling her eyes at Xiahe. As she spoke, she twisted Xiahe’s arm sharply.
The kitchen door suddenly flew open with a kick.
Gu Qingzhao strode in, her voice cold: “Nanny Li, such great airs! Tell me, how is *my* maid an eyesore to anyone?”
Nanny Li froze at the sight of Gu Qingzhao. Shock forgotten, she dropped to her knees at once.
“Greetings, Third Young Lady. If you have instructions, just say the word. The kitchen is messy—I wouldn’t want your gown to be sullied.”
Xiahe stiffened at the sight of her mistress. The defiance in her face melted into tears. She knelt, choked out “Third Young Lady,” and could say no more.
“Nanny Li, what crime has Xiahe committed?” Gu Qingzhao’s tone was icy.
Chunlan quickly helped Xiahe to her feet.
Before Nanny Li could answer, Su Xin stepped forward with a simpering smile. “Please don’t be angry, Third Young Lady. Concubine Wan merely wished for a bowl of pigeon soup. It’s nothing serious. Nanny Li was only acting fairly.”
Ever since Concubine Wan conceived, the servants of Qingyi Courtyard had grown arrogant. The Duke had only one son, frail since birth and often away seeking treatment. Now Concubine Wan was pregnant, and the physician predicted a boy. Everyone in Qingyi Courtyard pinned their hopes on this unborn child, as though the dukedom already belonged to them.
Gu Qingzhao’s gaze cut Su Xin like a blade. “I was speaking to Nanny Li. Did I ask *you*?” Her voice dropped to a chill command: “Chunlan—slap her.”
In her past life, her mother had returned to the manor the next afternoon. That very night, Concubine Wan lost her child, and all evidence pointed to her mother. Gu Yuande’s ruthlessness toward her mother stemmed directly from this incident.
Back then, Gu Qingzhao hadn’t understood the scheme. Now she saw clearly: it was deliberate entrapment. Whether Concubine Wan’s pregnancy was unstable from the start, or someone used the chance to strike, remained uncertain.
Chunlan delivered four sharp slaps before Gu Qingzhao raised her hand to halt her. She turned to Nanny Li. “I’m taking Xiahe back. In the future, Nanny Li, you’d better choose your allegiances wisely.”
Gu Qingzhao did not press further. In this household, everyone bowed to power. Punish Nanny Li, and another stewardess would rise in her place. Only when she herself grew strong would her people be respected everywhere.
Nanny Li kowtowed, thanking the Third Young Lady for her mercy.
Xiahe followed behind Gu Qingzhao, stunned, hardly daring to believe it. Chunlan and Guizhi were delighted.
Among the crowd, only Cuiliu was uneasy. She had replaced Xiahe in the Xiyun Pavilion and secretly served the Third Madam. Now that Xiahe had returned—could she still keep her place? She couldn’t shake the feeling that the Third Young Lady already knew something.
Before long, everyone returned to the Xiyun Pavilion.
Gu Qingzhao instructed Cuiliu, “Take Xiahe to settle in. From now on, she will serve as a senior maid, just like you. That makes one more first-class maid in my quarters. I’ll inform my aunt that the extra expense will come from my private allowance.”
In the Duke’s household, each young lady was attended by two senior maids, two second-class maids, four junior maids, one stewardess, and four servant women.
At Xiyun Pavilion, the two senior maids were Chunlan and Cuiliu. Now, Xiahe was added. The second-class maids were Yunxue and Guizhi. Guizhi had been promoted last year from junior maid to second-class maid. Yunxue had married out just last month, and no new second-class maid had been appointed yet.
The previous stewardess was Nanny Zhang, Xiahe’s mother. Last year, when Nanny Zhang became a grandmother, Gu Qingzhao allowed her to retire to her son’s household to enjoy her old age. Her stipend continued, and she only needed to come to pay respects during festivals. Since then, Chunlan and the others had shared the stewardess’s duties.
Now that there was an extra senior maid, it had to be properly accounted for. Otherwise, if one mistress added a maid and another added two, the household rules would soon fall into chaos.
Hearing Gu Qingzhao’s words, Cuiliu realized Xiahe was to stay. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, Miss. I’ll take Sister Xiahe to settle in, and tomorrow I’ll report to Madam.”
Once Cuiliu left, Gu Qingzhao dismissed the junior maids, keeping only Chunlan and Guizhi by her side.
She told Chunlan, “Take some silver and spread rumors outside about Gu Qingjin and Prince Cheng. No need for details—just let the gossip circulate.”
Then she said to Guizhi, “Go find the household physician, Doctor Liu. Ask him whether Concubine Wan’s pregnancy has any problems. He’s greedy for money—give him enough silver, and he’ll talk.”
Both maids were puzzled at the sudden orders to investigate Concubine Wan’s pregnancy, but they asked no questions. They nodded and went to carry out her commands.
Autumn dusk always fell unexpectedly.
The hour of Shen had just passed; the brilliant sun hurriedly slipped behind the gray rooftops.
Horn-shaped lanterns were already hung beneath the covered walkways. From the main chamber, the lattice windows glowed. Candlelight filtered through the gauze, honey-amber in hue, casting a warm glow on the bluestone steps below.
Cuiliu carried a rosewood box along the corridor’s edge. Whether from haste or distraction, she turned the corner and collided headlong with Guizhi, the second-class maid.
“Oh! Sister Cuiliu, where are you off to in such a rush?” Guizhi exclaimed in surprise.