In the Chanxiang Courtyard, some hardy flowers and plants were growing, such as sunflowers and foxtail grass.
Su Lan explained, “The mistress says that while most people favor rare and exquisite flowers, she finds resilience in wildflowers and grasses equally admirable.”
She quite liked Zhu Xingxu, seeing her as obedient and well-behaved, not someone prone to causing trouble.
Unconsciously, she shared many things with her.
Zhu Xingxu quietly took it all in.
The seasoned experience of an elder in the workplace was truly valuable.
Even though she might not stay long in the Li residence, Zhu Xingxu wanted to do her work well.
As dusk fell, the Chanxiang Courtyard gradually began to be lit.
At the doorway, Su Lan respectfully said, “Mistress, it is time for your meal.”
After a while, a voice called from inside, “Bring it in.”
The servants waiting outside carried in the dishes in an orderly fashion.
Su Lan immediately led Zhu Xingxu forward to arrange the plates.
She tried to recall how the servants at the Zhu residence had worked.
It was strange; despite having seen it every day, she couldn’t remember many details.
She could only guess and approximate.
There were minor stumbles, but Zhu Xingxu’s performance had no major faults.
While working, Su Lan also observed Zhu Xingxu.
Seeing that she was not entirely incapable, she felt satisfied.
The servant the Fifth Prince had sent this time was quite capable.
They could teach.
Zhu Xingxu’s awkward actions caught the attention of Meng Chunhe, the principal wife of Li Dong.
She turned to look at Zhu Xingxu.
“A new arrival?”
Su Lan was about to signal her, but Zhu Xingxu stepped forward and bowed, “I am Cuihua, just arrived at the residence today.”
The name was truly hard to utter.
Yet this scene made her fully realize that she had indeed traveled through time.
As a young lady, Zhu Xingxu had been as free-spirited as in the modern world, which didn’t feel unusual, but as a maid, every etiquette had to be followed.
Zhu Xingxu felt an inexplicable excitement.
She even felt as if she had joined a film crew.
Meng Chunhe nodded without speaking further.
While serving Meng Chunhe her meal, Su Lan quietly said to Zhu Xingxu, “Well done.”
Zhu Xingxu pursed her lips, giving a shy smile.
Look, look, how much talent she had for acting.
While working, she imagined that if she became a calligraphy master with plenty of money, perhaps she could fund a historical drama.
Then she could cameo as a noblewoman, as a rich lady, and even as a maid.
Thinking of returning to her modern life, Zhu Xingxu couldn’t help smiling.
Seeing her expression, Meng Chunhe’s mood brightened slightly.
Even as a servant, she could be so cheerful?
Perhaps seeing Zhu Xingxu’s faint smile improved her appetite, and she ate more than usual.
Su Lan, who always served Meng Chunhe, was pleasantly surprised.
With a warm smile, she remarked, “Mistress, you seem to have quite an appetite today.”
Meng Chunhe, slightly surprised, looked at her finished bowl of food and smiled.
“Perhaps.” After the meal, Su Lan had Zhu Xingxu return to her room, staying behind herself.
Meng Chunhe glanced at them and said, “Let her stay as well.”
Su Lan and Zhu Xingxu bowed, “Yes.”
Next, Zhu Xingxu helped pour hot water and followed Su Lan to serve Meng Chunhe to bed.
Back in her room after her shift, Zhu Xingxu massaged her aching shoulders.
Having previously lived as a young lady, she had rarely done such labor.
After a day of work, her small frame was sore.
So tired… not wanting to continue.
It felt like returning to her painful modern corporate life.
But thinking of children running around, she quickly washed up and went to sleep.
Once she completed the mission and obtained the brush, she could return to the Zhu residence.
Strangely, this room was only hers.
Where were the other maids?
Besides her belongings, there were no other personal items.
It was like a single dormitory.
In a wealthy household, only the head maid near the mistress would get a private room.
Given Zhu Xingxu’s current status, she shouldn’t have been assigned such a room.
She would ask Su Lan tomorrow; perhaps it was important news.
Zhu Xingxu closed her eyes.
While asleep, a knock on the window frame roused her.
Who was it? A thief?
Unlikely… the Li residence had guards patrolling. If thieves could enter this easily, the estate’s valuables would already be gone.
Then there was only one possibility.
Zhu Xingxu sat up, approached the window, and cautiously peeked through a small gap.
Pei Xie stood there.
He had changed into a dark blue long robe like the other young servants in the Li residence.
Zhu Xingxu exhaled in relief.
It really was him. She walked quietly to the door, opening it without a sound.
Looking around and seeing no one, she approached him.
Pei Xie wore a slight smile.
“Don’t be nervous, I used medicine to make the nearby people sleep.”
Zhu Xingxu was taken aback, relaxing her movements slightly.
“How did you come?”
Pei Xie said, “Meng Chunhe suffers from nightmares at night, and her maid at the door fell asleep. You’ll go attend to her shortly.”
Hearing him, Zhu Xingxu understood he was paving the way for her.
“And you?”
Pei Xie, about to leave, didn’t hide his plans, “I need to handle things with the young master; you take care of this side.”
As a maid in the Li residence, Zhu Xingxu couldn’t bathe often. Last night, she had only wiped with water, and the citrus scent had faded significantly.
Pei Xie felt a slight weight in his heart.
He didn’t show it, and seeing Zhu Xingxu didn’t ask further, he quickly departed.
His figure moved swiftly through the Li residence and soon vanished.
He really moves fast…
Muffled shouting came from the Chanxiang Courtyard.
To save time, Zhu Xingxu ran swiftly to the courtyard.
Entering Meng Chunhe’s room, she saw Su Lan collapse at the door.
Zhu Xingxu silently apologized in her heart.
Meng Chunhe’s voice came again from inside.
This time, Zhu Xingxu heard clearly, “Go quickly… don’t come back!”
She hurriedly served tea and sat by Meng Chunhe’s bedside, helping her up.
Meng Chunhe’s hair was soaked with sweat, sticking to her face, eyes tightly shut, seemingly trapped in endless suffering.
Zhu Xingxu carefully gave her sips of tea to moisten her lips.
Still unconscious, Meng Chunhe seemed very thirsty and swallowed the tea.
Zhu Xingxu gently supported her on the bed, brought a basin of cool water, and dampened a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
Meng Chunhe’s eyes opened slightly.
“Cuihua, is that you?”
Zhu Xingxu feigned surprise, “Mistress, you’re awake.”
Meng Chunhe struggled to sit up, holding her head.
“Where is Su Lan?”
Zhu Xingxu replied, “I saw her asleep at the door, perhaps she is exhausted from recent work.”
Hearing this, Meng Chunhe seemed dazed, her gaze distant.
“Is that so…”
Her voice was soft, like a leaf falling on water, with a ripple that quickly calmed.
Zhu Xingxu pursed her lips and poured another cup of water for her.
“Please drink more, Mistress.”
Meng Chunhe took a small sip and then turned to her, “Thank you.”
Zhu Xingxu took her unfinished tea cup and continued to serve her to bed.
“Rest now, Mistress.”
Zhu Xingxu tucked her in, gently patting her.
Meng Chunhe sensed that this person treated her almost like a child.
Improper by etiquette, yet she did not want to scold her.
No one had taught Zhu Xingxu how to serve her mistress, so she followed what she had observed with Jinzhu or from caring for relatives’ children.
Meng Chunhe fell asleep and did not wake again that night.
After waiting a while, Zhu Xingxu, seeing her sound asleep, returned to her own room.
In a strange place, she did not sleep soundly. Before dawn, she opened her eyes.
She wanted to sleep more but feared the Li residence’s work schedule.
She tossed in bed for a long time before getting up.
On her way out, she encountered a flustered Su Lan.
Zhu Xingxu understood immediately but still asked with concern, “What happened?”
Su Lan sighed, “I accidentally fell asleep while on duty last night; I couldn’t wake when the mistress had nightmares.”
Having apparently heard about last night from Meng Chunhe, she said again, “Thank you.”
Zhu Xingxu waved guiltily, “It’s what I should do.”
Su Lan smiled and returned to her room to rest.
Those who worked the night shift could rest during the day.
Zhu Xingxu was on the day shift.
She was puzzled; it seemed that only she and Su Lan were in the Chanxiang Courtyard.
The others were just carrying dishes or sweeping, unable to enter the inner courtyard.
Before she arrived, had there only been Su Lan?
Her curiosity was piqued, but she quickly shook her head.
She didn’t want to think about it; it wasn’t her concern.
Her only goal was the brush.
Stepping outside, she asked, “Mistress, would you like breakfast?”
A kind voice came from inside, “Bring it.”
Zhu Xingxu served her breakfast.
Meng Chunhe wiped her mouth and said, “I will be at prayer until noon; you can wait outside.”
Zhu Xingxu replied and waited by the door.
The sound of a wooden fish being struck came from inside. As the sun rose, the courtyard brightened.
Tired of standing, Zhu Xingxu sat under the corridor.
She wouldn’t endure unnecessary hardship.
By mid-morning, the sunlight was just right.
The camphor trees in the courtyard only shaded half the open space.
Sunlight rustled across Zhu Xingxu’s face. The weather was so nice, she nearly fell asleep.
Just as she was dozing off, loud laughter from outside woke her.
Frowning, she looked out.
Two women, dressed ostentatiously, approached.
A large group of maids and servants followed them.
Clearly, they were not here for a simple matter.
Seeing Zhu Xingxu, they paused, then disdainfully said, “You, go call your mistress out.”
Zhu Xingxu didn’t recognize them. From their demeanor, they were here to cause trouble.
She rarely had open conflicts at the Zhu residence and didn’t know how to respond, so she stayed seated.
Seeing her not move, Aunt Qiao stepped forward, intending to teach her a lesson.
“Can’t you hear me?” She raised her hand to strike Zhu Xingxu.
Though unsure how to act, Zhu Xingxu knew she couldn’t fight and dodged at the moment the hand came down.
Aunt Qiao, surprised, lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Sitting there, she couldn’t believe it.
“You… you dare dodge!”
Zhu Xingxu quickly bowed, “Spare me, Concubine, I just twisted my ankle!”
She guessed this was a favored concubine, otherwise she wouldn’t have come in such a grand manner to bother Li Dong’s wife.
Zhu Mingli also had concubines, but under Madam Xu’s strict control, they cowered like quails, waiting for their allotted days each month.
Seeing Zhu Xingxu’s response, Aunt Qiao angrily pointed at her, “You little wretch, do you dare? I’ll tell the master to expel you from the residence!”
Zhu Xingxu snorted coldly, about to retort, when Meng Chunhe heard the commotion and came out.
Zhu Xingxu knelt before her, “Sorry for disturbing you, Mistress, it is my fault.”
Meng Chunhe looked coldly at Aunt Qiao and Aunt Xiang, then finally at Zhu Xingxu.
“You are not at fault. Stand up.”
Zhu Xingxu rose quickly.
She too felt she hadn’t done anything wrong.
Aunt Qiao’s eyebrows shot up, “Mistress, your maid defied me, disrespecting me! Everyone saw it!”
Aunt Xiang and others nodded.
Meng Chunhe looked at her calmly, “I did not see it.”
Aunt Qiao’s eyes almost shot flames, ordering, “You old woman, you must punish her, or I’ll tell the master!”
Zhu Xingxu looked at her innocently.
Why did they always go to the master?
Though understandable, Li Dong was her support; naturally, they wanted him to settle grievances.
Meng Chunhe frowned, her tone impatient, “Go then, but now, leave!”
Aunt Qiao didn’t expect Meng Chunhe to be so firm.
In the past, Meng Chunhe had compromised often to avoid embarrassment.
She knew persisting was useless and would go back to the master to complain.
Only then did Aunt Qiao rise, tilting her head, “Hmph! I won’t stoop to your level.”
She turned and left the courtyard.
Aunt Xiang squinted, observing Zhu Xingxu and Meng Chunhe before following.
After they left, Meng Chunhe asked Zhu Xingxu, “Are you hurt?”