“Miss Nine! Don’t be angry—don’t ruin your health!”
The little maid saw that her young lady’s face had turned pale with anger, her voice growing louder and more agitated with each shout.
She feared that others might hear her and cause even more trouble.
Although her young lady kept calling herself a “young lady of the Duke’s household,” in truth, Miss Nine—no, the entire Second Branch—was in an awkward position within the Duke’s residence.
The Grand Duke had four sons and one daughter.
Three sons and the daughter were born to the Grand Duchess: the eldest son Zhao Cheng, the third son Zhao Shu, the fourth son Zhao Zhao, and the daughter Zhao Wan.
Only the second son, Zhao Xian, was born of a concubine.
Zhao Xian’s mother had originally been a maid in the Duke’s household. Greedy for wealth, she climbed into the Grand Duke’s bed while the Grand Duchess was pregnant and the Duke was drunk.
The Grand Duke was disgusted after being schemed against.
But she happened to become pregnant from that single encounter.
At that time, the Duke’s mother—the Dowager Grand Duchess—was still alive. She did not care about a lowly maid’s status, but she cared about her grandson.
Under her insistence, the maid was taken into the household.
Although she did not officially become a concubine, she was no longer an ordinary servant.
Three months after the Grand Duchess gave birth to the eldest son Zhao Cheng, Zhao Xian was also born.
The Grand Duke detested the woman, and by extension, disliked Zhao Xian as well.
His three legitimate sons were either taught by renowned tutors he personally invited or instructed by him himself.
But Zhao Xian was thrown directly into the clan school.
Zhao Xian himself was mediocre—he failed at studies, and he was unwilling to endure hardship in martial training.
He was the only wastrel in the Duke’s household, spending his days hunting, gambling, and idling without ambition.
When he grew up, he rejected a marriage arranged by the Grand Duchess with a noble household’s illegitimate daughter and instead chose the daughter of a minor official.
The Grand Duke already disliked him, and seeing him disregard his mother’s arrangements only made him more indifferent.
Zhao Xian married that low-born woman. After just three years of marriage, once the novelty faded, he began taking concubines and keeping mistresses.
Unlike his three legitimate brothers, who had no concubines, Zhao Xian filled his household with women and had more than a dozen children.
Among them, there were over ten illegitimate sons and daughters.
The ninth young lady who envied Wang Yi was the daughter of Zhao Xian’s most favored concubine.
Her name was Zhao Yuan, the ninth ranked daughter among the sisters.
Coincidentally, among the girls of the same generation in the Duke’s household, most were either already married or still very young.
In the age range of twelve or thirteen, Zhao Yuan was the only one.
Zhao Yuan was clever and sweet-tongued. Every day she went to pay respects to the Grand Duchess, trying every possible way to make her happy.
The Grand Duchess, although she disliked the maid who had climbed into the bed, did not take it out on Zhao Xian.
Even less would she quarrel with the younger generation like Zhao Yuan.
Coincidentally, her legitimate granddaughters were already married, so Zhao Yuan naturally took the opportunity to get close.
The girl was pretty, observant, and eloquent. The Grand Duchess was willing to show her some kindness—
Treating her as a pleasant little companion to relieve boredom.
Because of this kindness, the Grand Duchess occasionally gave Zhao Yuan gifts, and the Second Branch gained some dignity through her.
Zhao Xian increasingly favored Zhao Yuan, and the servants of the Second Branch also tried to please her.
Over time, Zhao Yuan began to believe she was truly the most favored and noble young lady in the Duke’s household.
Now, Wang Yi had suddenly appeared. She was merely an external granddaughter of the Duke’s household, yet she had received a reward from the Grand Duke and his wife.
A shop on East Street!
How much silver was that worth?
To be honest—laughable as it was—their Second Branch did not even own such property.
Zhao Xian was not favored, and his wife Wang Shi came from a small family, bringing almost no dowry.
The entire Second Branch lived mostly on the Duke’s household allowance and the Grand Duchess’s festival gifts.
What they wished for most was that the Grand Duke would live a long life so the household would not be divided—otherwise they would be driven out.
Although Zhao Yuan claimed to be favored, her private savings were also limited.
The Grand Duchess was generous, but she was also clear-minded.
A concubine’s daughter had no real blood relation to her. At most, Zhao Yuan was slightly better than a maid.
She might give her some hairpins, fabric, or small pieces of gold and silver as rewards, but she would never give her personal wealth.
A shop on East Street?
That was out of the question.
In the Grand Duchess’s heart, Wang Yi was far closer to her than Zhao Yuan.
Wang Yi was her legitimate granddaughter by blood.
“Hmph! It must be that Wang Seven used sweet words to deceive Grandmother, and Grandmother is always kind, that’s why—”
The maid’s comfort did nothing to calm Zhao Yuan.
She paced around the room, speaking bitterly.
The maid, while appearing to comfort her, was also jealous and unwilling in her heart.
As Zhao Yuan’s personal maid, her benefits depended entirely on her mistress.
Previously, their Ninth Miss had been the most favored young lady in the Duke’s household. Now a cousin had suddenly appeared and immediately gained the Grand Duchess’s favor.
Everyone in the Duke’s household was perceptive—they would all understand that the Grand Duchess highly favored this granddaughter.
The cousin might very likely surpass their Ninth Miss and become the most prominent young lady in the household.
When one rises, another falls.
If the cousin was favored and gained benefits, then their Ninth Miss would lose favor and might even be suppressed.
If the master fell out of favor, how could servants expect any good outcome?
Even something as simple as daily meals would be affected. Normally, she could use Zhao Yuan’s name to request extra dishes from the kitchen, and the cooks would not dare refuse.
But once she lost favor…
The Second Branch already had several unfavored sons and daughters.
Not to mention servants—even those minor masters struggled to get food they liked if they were not favored.
The maid did not want to end up in such a situation.
After thinking quickly, she hurriedly said, “Miss, I’ve found out. The reason the Madam rewarded the cousin is because she personally cooked dishes.”
“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess both praised her filial piety, which is why—”
“Cooking? Hmph, so Wang Seven can cook?”
A trace of disdain flashed in Zhao Yuan’s eyes, as if cooking was something beneath contempt.
But inwardly, her thoughts were already turning.
So it’s just cooking?
If Wang Seven can do it, so can I!
She doesn’t really have to do it herself anyway—just tell the cook what to make, then personally bring it to Grandmother. That also counts as “personally made,” doesn’t it?
Yes!
That’s exactly what I’ll do!
Zhao Yuan suddenly stopped pacing.
She turned toward the kitchen direction, clenched her small fists, and said firmly, “I will also personally cook and prepare meals for Grandfather and Grandmother!”
As for what to cook?
She had no idea yet—but she immediately headed toward the kitchen…