Su Tan had been quietly recuperating in her room for five or six days, and her injuries had already improved significantly.
Although confined indoors, her mind remained active. From the maids’ conversations, she had gained a general understanding of the family relationships within the Marquis’s Mansion.
The old marquis and Old Madam had three sons.
Shen Xiuwang’s father was the eldest son. During his lifetime, he had achieved much and was considered the pillar of the family.
The second uncle was mediocre in talent and accomplished little. He had four daughters.
Earlier in the year, he had taken in two young and beautiful concubines in succession, hoping to father a son.
The third uncle was in poor health, relying on medicine as if it were food. After marrying, he had been bedridden for years.
Now, the three branches lived together in the same mansion. Although Shen Xiuwang was a nephew, he held more real power than his two uncles.
After the death of his eldest son, the old marquis had retreated to a Buddhist temple outside the city, dedicating himself to a life of asceticism.
Naturally, the management of household affairs fell to Old Madam and Madam Cui, the wife of the eldest son.
Madam Cui had given birth to a son and a daughter. Her legitimate daughter, Shen Qingyi, had been married to the heir of Duke Du for nearly eight or nine years.
Her legitimate son, Shen Xiuwang, was exceptionally talented and distinguished. Not only had he preserved the family’s honor, but he had also brought it to new heights.
The late Father Shen had only one concubine: Concubine He.
Knowing her humble origins and possessing a gentle, non-confrontational nature, she had lived peacefully all these years.
Compared to the second branch, where concubines vied for favor like a flock of chattering birds, and the third branch, where the air was thick with the smell of medicine and illness, the eldest branch stood out as the most prominent.
With such accomplished children by her side, Madam Cui felt a sense of pride and superiority in front of her two sisters-in-law.
Currently, the most pressing matter in the mansion was Shen Xiuwang’s marriage.
Thus, there were three young ladies from maternal relatives staying in the mansion, all vying for the position of his legitimate wife.
Su Tan’s sudden appearance was undoubtedly like a thorn in their eyes.
Spending a fortune, sharing a single night of passion, and being redeemed into the mansion—any one of these was enough to make her a target.
After analyzing the situation, Su Tan concluded that there were likely few people in the entire mansion who viewed her favorably.
Sitting on a stool under the corridor, Su Tan looked up at the square patch of sky above her and sighed softly.
She thought to herself that various forms of intimidation were likely to come her way soon.
“Nian Tang, why are you sitting here daydreaming?”
A handsome young servant boy, carrying a vermilion wooden box, walked into the courtyard from outside and tiptoed quietly to her side.
Su Tan was startled and looked at him intently. “Zhan Ming, why do you walk so silently?”
Just like his master.
Zhan Ming smiled and handed her the wooden box in his arms. “The young master asked me to give this to you.”
Su Tan lowered her gaze, and her face immediately lit up with joy.
It was the wooden box she had left behind in the pavilion.
When the young lady sat alone, her expression was cool and detached, but once she smiled, her radiance was breathtaking.
Even dressed in a maid’s attire, her beauty could not be concealed.
Zhan Ming couldn’t help but blush, stammering, “Hurry and put it away. The young master is attending a banquet at the palace today and has asked you to serve him in his room for bathing and changing.”
Su Tan was slightly taken aback. Couldn’t Xiang Zhu and the other three manage on their own?
Her injuries had just healed, and she was already being put to work. The Marquis’s Mansion truly didn’t tolerate idleness.
Walking from the servants’ quarters in the west to the main house in the east, everything became increasingly orderly and refined.
Green tiles and vermilion eaves, layered pavilions and stacked towers.
Under the eaves, the corridors were spacious and bright. Servants swept the floors, maids tended to the flowers and plants, and everyone bustled about, attending to their duties.
When they saw Su Tan approaching, although filled with curiosity, they only dared to glance at her out of the corners of their eyes, their hands steadily continuing their work.
Su Tan kept her gaze straight ahead. Truly, the servants of a noble household were bound by strict rules.
As she stepped onto the stairs, Xiang Zhu happened to lift the curtain and beckoned to her, whispering softly, “Nian Tang, you’ve finally arrived.”
Outside, the three senior maids—You Luo and the others—stood quietly in respectful attendance, each holding a redwood tray. On them were arranged new robes, cloud-patterned satin boots, a folding fan, a pouch, a jade pendant, and other items.
Su Tan was puzzled. “Sister Xiang Zhu, aren’t you going inside to attend to him?”
Xiang Zhu smiled at her. “We’ve always only handled matters outside. Usually, it’s Zhan Ming who serves the young master up close. Now that you’re here, Zhan Ming can relax quite a bit.”
“Hurry inside, don’t delay the young master’s departure for the palace.”
Su Tan nodded. “Yes, thank you for the guidance, sister.”
As she spoke, among the other three, You Luo couldn’t help but lift her head to glare at her, her gaze unfriendly.
Su Tan pressed her lips together and stepped inside.
The Grand Commandant Shen was clearly afraid she’d have too easy a time in the mansion—making exceptions everywhere, creating enemies everywhere.
Turning past the huanghuali wood lotus and chi-patterned folding screen, the spacious room was empty. From the bathing chamber came the faint sound of water.
The bathing chamber was connected to the inner chamber. Shen Xiuwang must be bathing.
Su Tan hesitated on the spot for a moment. What was she supposed to do while he was bathing?
Suddenly recalling the bath-bucket kiss on the painted pleasure boat that night, she wanted even less to go in.
But a servant’s wishes are not the master’s command.
“Nian Tang, why are you dawdling outside? Come in.”
This man’s ears were too sharp.
Fine, fine. First time awkward, second time familiar.
At any rate, she’d already seen what shouldn’t be seen—what was there to fear?
Steeling herself, Su Tan clenched her fists in her sleeves and marched straight into the bathing chamber as if heading to her doom.
The bathing chamber was filled with steam, within the faint white mist, a figure like an exiled immortal was faintly visible.
Shen Xiuwang soaked in the bathtub with his eyes closed, his face as flawless as jade.
Hearing Su Tan’s footsteps entering, he casually pointed toward his back. Water droplets rolled down the lines of muscle on his forearm.
Plop—they fell into the tub.
Su Tan understood and approached, picking up the towel nearby.
As she reached out to place it on his shoulder, her gaze suddenly halted—
A fresh pink wound stretched conspicuously across the man’s back.
The newly grown flesh was hideous and terrifying, as if turned inside out from the muscle.
She had seen those old scars before, but this one was clearly new.
That night when Shen Xiuwang burst into the building, clad in black armor, imposing and majestic, he hadn’t shown the slightest sign of injury.
So, the savior who descended like a divine soldier was also a mortal of flesh and blood.
Unconsciously, Su Tan’s movements as she scrubbed his back became a bit gentler, avoiding the wound.
She asked softly, “Young master, why don’t you use the scar-removing ointment?”
The Third Young Lady’s scar-removing ointment was gentle in nature and remarkably effective; the wound on her own forehead had already healed completely.
Only after the words left her mouth did she realize it was inappropriate.
How could she question her master’s affairs?
The corners of Shen Xiuwang’s lips lifted, and he opened his eyes slightly. “What? I recall someone saying a month ago that scars represent outstanding achievements.”
“Has that changed now?”
Su Tan was left speechless.
“This servant knows her mistake. Please forgive me, young master.”
She couldn’t out-argue him, couldn’t out-logic him either—she still needed more cultivation.
The man snorted softly and silently closed his eyes again, feigning rest.
After personally helping him dress neatly, tying his jade crown, and handing him the folding fan,
Su Tan’s task as a novice maid was finally completed.
The maids and servants in the courtyard crowded around to see the young marquis off, calling out one after another, “Farewell, young master.”
Su Tan quietly blended into the back of the crowd, following the flow.
The master went to the palace for the banquet, with Chang Feng and Yuan Jing accompanying him. The rest remained in the courtyard, each attending to their duties.
No one dared to slack off or idle.
After tidying the bathing chamber with Xiang Zhu and the others, Su Tan finally got a moment to catch her breath.
Just as she was about to hurry back to her room to check the items in the wooden box.
A clever maid with an unfamiliar face came to deliver a message: “Old Madam has summoned Nian Tang to the Hall of Eternal Longevity for questioning.”
Sure enough, the show of authority arrived even faster than she had anticipated.
No sooner had Shen Xiuwang left the mansion than it followed.
Xiang Zhu took her by the wrist and whispered a reminder: “Old Madam dislikes those who pretend to be clever and act coy the most. Whatever she says, answer truthfully.”
“At most, you’ll be scolded a few times. Don’t be afraid.”
Su Tan cast a grateful glance at her. “Thank you, sister, for the guidance.”
With that, she followed the messenger maid, lifting the curtain and stepping out of the room.
Watching Su Tan’s departing figure, You Luo couldn’t help but lean close to Xiang Zhu and mutter.
“Why are you so kind to her, guiding her at every turn?”
Xiang Zhu smiled faintly but didn’t answer. Xiang Song, who was usually quiet and reserved, chimed in: “Being kind to others brings convenience to oneself.”
Yu Huai, holding a bronze mirror as she walked out, chuckled and sighed: “Xiang Song is usually silent, but now she speaks a word that hits the mark.”
Xiang Zhu finished cleaning the bathtub and urged them to stop their idle chatter.
For a servant, the most important thing is to understand the master’s preferences. Those who comply thrive, while those who defy face the fate of being beaten and sold.
The sky of the Marquis’s Mansion bears the surname Shen.