When he saw the words on the note clearly, a chill ran from the soles of his feet up to his brain.
He threw the wooden box aside and immediately tried to leave the study.
Li Dong had already stationed guards and others to surround the study.
The moment he stepped out, the lanterns’ glare hit his eyes. It was the same male servant Zhu Xingxu had seen that day.
Li Dong and Meng Chunhe stood side by side.
Only when confronting enemies of the Li residence together did they appear like a deeply devoted couple.
Li Dong glanced at Meng Chunhe, noticing her straight back and calm demeanor, secretly admiring her in his heart.
That was why, although he indulged some concubines, he would never let them surpass Meng Chunhe.
A woman like her deserved to be the head mistress.
Meng Chunhe first spoke, “Ah Gui, the household treats you well, why would you do such a thing?”
Ah Gui’s head was slick with sweat; he immediately knelt, “Please forgive me, master and madam, I was momentarily bewitched, I beg your mercy…”
Li Dong’s anger made his chest ache, and he kicked him squarely in the sternum.
Ah Gui felt his chest burn, but dared not cry out, scrambling back into a kneeling position, trembling as if caught in the dead of winter.
With the true culprit found, he was naturally taken away.
A person caught stealing within the residence could be delivered to the authorities at the master’s discretion.
Li Dong, as the Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple, had Ah Gui sent directly to prison.
The punishment he received would be determined according to proper law.
With the item returned, Li Dong finally felt a sense of relief.
He reached for Meng Chunhe’s hand, “Chunhe… Thank you for this as well.”
The madam smiled faintly and withdrew her hand, “It’s what I should do.”
Li Dong, though slightly embarrassed, did not mind.
He was merely comforting Meng Chunhe; whether her heart leaned toward him was of no concern.
As he turned to leave, his eyes fell on Zhu Xingxu behind Meng Chunhe.
“You’re impressive,” he said.
Zhu Xingxu, overwhelmed by the praise, replied, “Thank you, master, for your compliment.”
Li Dong left. Zhu Xingxu followed Meng Chunhe back to Chanxiang Courtyard.
The madam did not look at her once.
Zhu Xingxu trailed behind nervously, trying to calm herself.
It had to be this way; she could not remain a maid in the Li residence forever.
At the main room’s entrance, Su Lan was already waiting.
As usual, she allowed Zhu Xingxu to rest while she attended.
Meng Chunhe did not look back, “Su Lan, you step out, Cuihua, you come with me.”
Su Lan glanced at Zhu Xingxu in surprise but complied, staying outside.
Zhu Xingxu followed Meng Chunhe inside and closed the door.
Meng Chunhe sat at the head of the room, calm, and then spoke sharply, “Kneel!”
Zhu Xingxu’s body shivered, unsure if she should obey.
She felt as if she had betrayed Meng Chunhe.
Seeing her hesitation, Meng Chunhe’s anger flared.
“What? Do you dare defy me now, to act insolently?!”
Zhu Xingxu drew a deep breath and knelt slowly.
For the sake of going home, she endured.
“You’ve grown bold, daring to overstep!”
Meng Chunhe’s eyes reflected her disappointment.
She had hoped to choose a few sincere and diligent servants, or at least some good candidates, to support in the future, providing a dowry and a lifelong backing.
She wanted to give Zhu Xingxu another chance.
“Do you realize your mistake?”
Zhu Xingxu lowered her head, “I… do not know what mistake I have made.”
If she admitted fault, there would be no chance to approach Li Dong.
So she chose to feign ignorance.
Meng Chunhe, exasperated, gasped for breath, knowing Zhu Xingxu was clever and certainly understood her words.
She rose and retrieved a whip from the cabinet.
Zhu Xingxu, seeing the whip, feared she might fall—what if the cost of going home was too high…
Yet she endured, kneeling lower on the floor.
Meng Chunhe did not miss her reaction.
She struck the ground near Zhu Xingxu’s knees several times with the whip.
“Do you think being a concubine is easy? Do you know how many women suffer unbearably after becoming concubines?”
Zhu Xingxu remained silent, head lowered.
She knew all too well…
Meng Chunhe assumed she was young and naive, and continued patiently, “Even the favored concubine, for a mild illness, was sent to a distant estate, where life as a maid was worse than death.
And you cannot run. If you escape, your master can use your contract to report you. Once caught, more beatings await.”
She spoke in hopes that Zhu Xingxu would change her mind.
“If you acknowledge your fault, I can find another suitable husband for you, one who will make you the lawful wife.”
Zhu Xingxu shook her head frantically in her mind, “I… do not know.”
Meng Chunhe closed her eyes, slumping back in her chair.
Time slowly passed. Zhu Xingxu’s knees were sore from kneeling so long.
Seeing Meng Chunhe sitting quietly, she secretly rubbed her knees, then quickly withdrew her hands, maintaining her stubborn and humble posture.
Finally, Meng Chunhe said, “Understood. Give me a few days to prepare.”
She comforted herself—at least Zhu Xingxu would not cause trouble, and might even contribute to the Li residence.
Zhu Xingxu exhaled in relief.
These days were grueling, living in constant fear.
Seeing Zhu Xingxu still kneeling, Meng Chunhe also softened, “Stand up. Let Su Lan take over.”
“Yes, madam.”
Zhu Xingxu rose, nearly stumbling from knee pain.
Meng Chunhe glanced away. Zhu Xingxu walked out slowly.
Su Lan noticed her limp and supported her, but Meng Chunhe said, “Do not assist her.”
Obedient, Su Lan withdrew.
She assumed Zhu Xingxu had angered Meng Chunhe and whispered, “Madam is soft-hearted, I will speak for you later.”
Zhu Xingxu managed a wry smile. Back in her room, she realized she had no bruising salve.
Sitting cautiously on the bed, she lifted her pants to check.
Having grown up in comfort in the Zhu residence, her skin was delicate.
Although she had only knelt briefly, there was no serious injury.
But this was her first prolonged kneeling; her knees were already red and swollen.
Zhu Xingxu wanted to curse, but did not know whom to blame.
She knew Meng Chunhe meant well and feared for her, so she would not.
Pei Xie and Pei Yan, often involved in courtly disputes, knelt far more than her.
Without them targeting Li Dong, she could never have obtained the brush.
Finally, she could only curse her fate, “Damn it, sending me here! I’ll return eventually!”
In the following days, Meng Chunhe did not allow her to serve.
Even Su Lan treated her differently, no longer as friendly.
Zhu Xingxu understood—anyone would feel the same.
Better to focus on herself. One day, Su Lan approached, “Cuihua, today you serve madam.”
Zhu Xingxu was surprised but agreed.
After attending Meng Chunhe until dusk, the madam gave her a pair of jade bracelets, “Today is your last day serving me. Consider these your dowry.”
Zhu Xingxu was dumbfounded, staring blankly.
Meng Chunhe ignored her further, calling several maids to escort her for bathing and changing.
Before she could react, the maids carried her off.
Fearing her Cloud Cover Paste secret would be discovered, she sent the maids out after entering the bath.
“They will do as madam says. You may do as you please, stop us if needed,” she called.
The maids, under Meng Chunhe’s orders, froze outside.
Zhu Xingxu ignored the title, “Bring me some citrus, a few, please.”
The maids exchanged glances, left to fetch some.
“The season for growing citrus has passed. These may be sour and harsh,” one warned.
“Doesn’t matter, go on,” Zhu Xingxu replied.
She returned to the bath, peeling and eating the fruit.
The first bite made her teeth ache, and she spat it out, placing it aside.
Her mood inexplicably sank. The fruit was terrible, and now she had to be a concubine.
If only she could get the brush, none of this would matter.
And if she failed…
She submerged her face in water, blowing bubbles, before rising to dry and putting on the prepared outfit.
It was sheer, revealing her undergarments, embroidered with plum blossoms, not covering much, with an effect reminiscent of a half-concealed lute.
Seeing it, she immediately changed into her own clothes.
When the maids saw her in the previous outfit, they panicked, “Cuihua, you need to wear the other set.”
She refused, feigning urgency, “Enough, enough. What matters is that I go. If I delay, my master will be anxious.”
The maids wanted to argue, but Zhu Xingxu strode toward the study.
She later learned why a concubine could enter the study, Li Dong had a certain preference…
He found the contrast thrilling.
Zhu Xingxu owed him thanks—otherwise, she could not have entered.
She ran ahead, the maids chasing behind.
“Cuihua, please walk slowly,” they called.
At the study door, the guards also hailed her, “Cuihua.”
Zhu Xingxu ignored them and went straight in.
The maids did not stop her, lingering outside, “Master will arrive soon.”
Inside, Zhu Xingxu was suddenly muffled, staring in shock at the “culprit.”