The next day, Lin Yu’er was dug out of bed by Zhang Momo.
While still lazily yawning as she sat at the dining table dressed, Du Du led in a tall maid.
“This humble servant Wanqing pays respects to the Madam! Wishing the Madam peace!”
Lin Yu’er swayed unsteadily on her stool, her mind muddled and eyes still closed.
Zhang Momo stood with her legs awkwardly spread, one hand pushing Lin Yu’er’s shoulder to prevent her from falling off the stool while turning to fetch a cold towel to wipe her face.
“Yikes, so cold!!”
Lin Yu’er shuddered, immediately shrinking her neck as her eyes snapped open.
“Zhang Momo, have you eaten dog eggs or something? Planning a rebellion first thing in the morning!”
“Madam~, I’m doing this for your own good. Have you forgotten what you said last night?”
“Wh-what did I say last night?”
“You said eating only two meals a day was a huge loss, so you told me to start waking you up for breakfast every day from today onward!”
“I said that?”
“Yes, you did!”
Lin Yu’er had no memory of saying this, but she trusted Zhang Momo. If she said so, it must be true.
Then catching sight of the lavish spread of breakfast dishes on the table, her morning grumpiness vanished instantly.
She grabbed a dumpling with her hand and stuffed it into her mouth, her eyes glancing toward the maid still standing in place, finding her unfamiliar.
“Who are you? What are you standing there for?”
Wanqing had to bow again and repeat: “This humble servant is Wanqing, personal maid to Yue Yiniang of Bibo Pavilion, here to pay respects to the Madam.”
“Pay respects? Are you asking if I’m safe or not?”
Lin Yu’er stood up and moved the steamer aside, starting on the second layer of steamed dumplings. Speaking with her mouth full: “Who does she think she’s looking down on? Wherever I am is the safest place in the world! Not just me – even my lowest followers wouldn’t lose a single hair!”
Wanqing bowed her head thinking: Who’s asking about your safety? There’s no reasoning with a madwoman!
And your place is the safest in the world?
She scoffed inwardly. What empty boasting.
Then she produced a rouge case with twin peacock designs.
The center of the rouge case featured an oval white jade carving, the jade fine and lustrous, with layered openwork phoenix and bird patterns weaving through floral clusters, quite beautiful.
“This is rouge gifted to the Madam by Yue Yiniang, one of the signature products from Rouge Tower. It was part of Yiniang’s dowry. We hope the Madam will like it.”
Du Du stepped forward to receive it.
She didn’t immediately hand it to Lin Yu’er.
Rouge was most easily used for poisoning…
Zhang Momo pulled over a small wooden cabinet, changing position to comb Lin Yu’er’s hair and insert hairpins. Hearing this, her hand paused while adjusting a hairpin:
“You just said, Rouge Tower?”
Wanqing looked proud.
“Indeed!”
“Rouge Tower is the shop most sought after by noblewomen and clan matrons in Shengjing. Their hair ornaments, neckpieces and other accessories are essential dowry items for brides-to-be. Their signature pieces have limited quantities and can’t meet demand. Even their ordinary rouge and powder cases cause fierce competition.”
Wanqing grew increasingly pleased with herself as she spoke: “My Yiniang is the legitimate daughter of the third branch of the Xie family. Her family engages in business and has collaborations with Rouge Tower, which is how she obtained this case of rouge.”
Zhang Momo gave her a strange look but said nothing.
Du Du glanced at the ornaments on the small wooden cabinet… yikes, so many signature pieces!!!
She suddenly understood, then her dark eyes darted left and right as she bit her lip without speaking.
The atmosphere instantly grew quiet, with only the sound of Lin Yu’er eating breaking the silence.
Wanqing frowned, finding the trio’s reactions completely different from what she had anticipated.
“Madam, my mistress has gifted you such a valuable item in hopes that you would show mercy! Please lift her confinement and restore her meal privileges!”
Lin Yu’er spoke with her cheeks puffed full of food: “So your mistress is locked up? Who locked her away?”
Wanqing: “It was the Marquis… Wait, my mistress isn’t locked up, she’s just confined to her courtyard—there’s a difference! She simply cannot leave the courtyard!”
Lin Yu’er made a sympathetic sound: “I understand her situation. Being stuck in one place for too long is terribly boring. If it goes on, one might go mad from confinement! It’s not much better than solitary confinement. You should spend more time with her, talk to her more.”
Wanqing: “…”
Understand my foot!
You’re the very reason my mistress is confined!
Lin Yu’er’s eyes rolled thoughtfully as she continued: “Alright then, I’ll go play with her after I finish eating. You go back first and tell her to wait happily for me. I’ll come keep her company and relieve her boredom!”
Wanqing looked utterly speechless.
Who wants your company? What my mistress wants is to have her confinement lifted and her previous meal privileges restored!
If you can’t do that, return the rouge!
But before she could say anything, Du Du had already pulled her aside: “Don’t rush, let Madam finish her meal first.”
…
Bibo Pavilion.
Yue Yiniang was admiring flowers in the courtyard. When she grew tired, she sat down for tea.
Fortunately, although the Marquis had ordered three daily meals of plain cabbage, her tea remained of excellent quality.
Only during these moments did Yue Yiniang feel she was still a privileged mistress.
“Madam, you should drink less of this tea. This variety aids digestion—the more you drink, the hungrier you’ll get. And when you get hungry, you’ll have to eat more cabbage!” Cuihu reminded bluntly.
Yue Yiniang’s elegant and dignified demeanor instantly deflated.
She set down the teacup she had just picked up.
“I brought you to the Marquis’ residence because of your loyalty, not to have you stab me in the heart!”
Cuihu maintained her expression: “This servant only speaks truthfully. Honest advice often grates on the ears. If you don’t wish to hear it, simply order me to shut up! Unless you give that order, I’ll continue speaking!”
“You… you…” Yue Yiniang grew extremely agitated.
She wanted to strike Cuihu but couldn’t bring herself to—this was the maid who had grown up with her, truly devoted, if rather outspoken.
Just then, movement came from beyond the courtyard gate.
“Greetings to Madam!”
Yue Yiniang stared dumbfounded at the person entering through the gate.
She quickly stood up and hid behind Cuihu, glaring at Wanqing…
What’s going on? I sent you to deliver rouge, why have you brought her back? What if she hits me again?
Wanqing: “…”
Can I say it has nothing to do with me?
Lin Yu’er walked while observing the architectural style of Bibo Pavilion. “So small, feels much smaller than my place. No wonder you’re bored—there’s not even enough space for treasure hunting!”
Yue Yiniang peeked out from behind Cuihu: “This sister is merely a concubine, so naturally my courtyard wouldn’t be too large. Madam’s status is far more noble—of course you deserve the largest residence!”
Lin Yu’er nodded: “You’re right! Big means strong, big means impressive! You’re not as impressive as me, so you get the small one!”
Yue Yiniang felt like vomiting blood.
“This lunatic actually knows how to be sarcastic now?”
She angrily clenched her sleeves and gritted her teeth.
“May I ask why Madam has come to Bibo Pavilion?”
Lin Yu’er raised an eyebrow: “Your maid said you were feeling lonely and empty, so I’ve come out of great compassion to bring you warmth!”
Yue Yiniang’s eyes widened in shock.
Wanqing fell to her knees with a thud: “This servant never said that, I didn’t, what I said was…”
“Ah, never mind what she said! Since I’m already here, if you dare drive me away, I’ll get angry! Hehe, if I get angry, I’ll have you locked up forever! You might even die from holding your pee!” Lin Yu’er said with a shameless grin.
Yue Yiniang suppressed her rising anger.
Here we go again!
Not only is she being sarcastic, now she’s making threats too?!
However,
The Marquis practically grants the Madam’s every wish. He might actually listen to her and place me under permanent house arrest.
Both the eldest and second branches of the Xie family have officials serving in court, while the third branch serves as their purse – summoned and dismissed at will. Although I’m the legitimate daughter of the third branch, I’m like a meek punching bag who doesn’t dare talk back in front of the legitimate daughters of the first and second branches, unable to hold my head up high…
It was only after finally entering the Zhaoping Marquis residence and relying on the Marquis’s connections that my parents gained some say in the family!
If my uncles from the first and second branches learn that I’ve been placed under permanent house arrest, my parents would lose their status and likely become thankless money-making tools again.
This must absolutely not happen!
So what if I have to play along with this lunatic? I’ll just play along – like humoring a child.
Even though she’s mad, she’s still a woman! Don’t all women like flowers, plants, and cute little animals? My courtyard has plenty of flowers and plants – I can teach her to identify them and explain which ones can be used for perfumes.
If that doesn’t work, I have a parrot under my corridor eaves. Though it doesn’t speak, its feathers are quite beautiful.
Having mentally prepared herself and calmed her emotions, Yue Yiniang asked:
“What would Madam like to play?”
Lin Yu’er responded with animated excitement: “Let’s play with mud!”
Yue Yiniang: “…”