Ziyu smiled, "Thinking back to when you first arrived, so thin and scrawny—who would have thought that in just three years you'd grow into such a little beauty? No wonder Old Madam is fond of you. Even I can't help but like you."
Considering that Old Madam had spoken without avoiding others, and that she herself was several years older than Ninth Master—competing with Suian and the others was out of the question—it was better to foster goodwill here. With this in mind, she said, "This is truly good news. I'll just say one thing: you are Ninth Master's maid, so shouldn't you serve him well for the rest of your life?" She didn’t outright say that Old Madam had taken a liking to her and wanted to make her Ninth Master’s tongfang maid.
Suian understood immediately. If it was about serving him for a lifetime, then it must mean becoming a tongfang maid. At best, she might rise to the status of a concubine, which would already be considered remarkable.
Though she was unhappy inside, she dared not show the slightest hint of it on her face. Instead, she pouted and said, "What you say, sister, I naturally understand. A servant cannot serve two masters, right?"
Ziyu smiled and took the list, unwilling to say another word.
Suian also had no desire to continue the conversation. After returning, she closed the door and quietly counted her private savings.
But the more she counted, the worse her mood became.
The silver fragments and large copper coins she had on hand added up to less than two taels in total. Even if she added the occasional rewards she received during festivals—a few copper-gilded hairpins, a pair of delicate silver bracelets, and several pearl earrings—would pawning them all yield even two taels?
Back then, her indenture fee had been five taels, but she had been small and thin at the time. Now, after being nurtured in the mansion for several years, redeeming herself at the original price was simply impossible.
Usually, she felt she had been frugal, avoiding cosmetics and extravagance, and compared to others, she had managed to save a little. But now she realized that all her efforts had been in vain.
Outside, she couldn’t rely on her father. Inside, since she harbored thoughts of leaving, she couldn’t excessively curry favor with her master. Without currying favor, naturally, she wouldn’t receive many rewards.
In Zhengyang Hall, Old Madam had already made up her mind, but considering that Commander Chu’s return to the mansion was still some time away, she thought it would be good to observe a little longer. She said, "This matter can wait until after the New Year." After speaking, she invited Old Lady Wang to taste the thousand-layer pastry.
When Chu Yi heard this, he sneered inwardly. That wretched girl Suian—others might think she was obedient and sensible, but he knew just how cunning she was and how many schemes she had in her head.
Thinking of keeping a distance from him, neither too close nor too far, so she could leave the mansion unscathed when the time came?
Did she ever consider whether it would bring shame to him, her master, if his study-companion maid redeemed herself and left? Would people think he had some strange illness or something, that he couldn’t even keep a maid by his side?
With this in mind, he felt that even if he didn’t fancy her, for the sake of his reputation, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take this wretched girl into his chambers.
The next time he saw her, he would properly discuss this matter with her and carefully observe her panicked expression.
Over the next few days, Chu Yi paid extra attention to observing her, only to find that Suian remained exactly as before, seemingly completely unaware of the prospect of becoming a tongfang maid.
Chu Yi’s stubbornness flared up—he was determined to see her true nature. Before he could find an opportunity to stir things up, Mr. Lin’s family arrived at Hekou and was estimated to enter the capital in five or six days.
"Wasn’t it said that the journey would take over half a month? How did they arrive in just a few days?" The rough-working maids were also surprised.
Suian was unaware of the full context, but she knew she couldn’t afford to neglect this family. She deliberately went to invite Old Madam’s attendant, Mama Lu, saying, “When the time comes, I’ll have to trouble you to go and keep an eye on things. I’m still young and might overlook something.”
Mama Lu didn’t hold an official position in the household, but since her husband was the estate’s chief steward, she often stayed close to Old Madam, running errands and delivering messages. With her warm-hearted nature, everyone enjoyed being around her.
Mama Lu was well aware that Old Madam looked down on Mr. Lin, so she hesitated upon hearing the request. “Well… maybe we can decide later. I’m not sure if I’ll have time that day.”
Suian was determined to persuade her and smiled, saying, “Old Madam specifically sent me to handle this task, and I’m curious about the customs of people from the south. But I don’t understand these things and worry about neglecting the guests. If they complain to the master, I wouldn’t mind being scolded myself, but I’d hate to embarrass Ninth Master. With you there, with your vast experience, you could handle the conversation much better than a young girl like me. Just your presence would bring dignity and grace, far surpassing anything I could offer. Please, dear Mama, take pity on me and make sure to come. With you there, my legs won’t tremble, my heart won’t race, and I’ll have someone to rely on.”
Mama Lu felt quite pleased upon hearing this.
It was said that Ninth Master’s study-companion maid knew how to handle things, and it wasn’t an empty compliment. Her words carried several layers of meaning.
First, she was inviting Mama Lu to observe the customs and manners of the southerners. Whether good or bad, Mama Lu could share it with Old Madam as an amusing anecdote.
Second, Suian’s reception of this family represented Old Madam’s dignity. If anything went wrong and the marshal found out, he would surely blame Old Madam.
Third, if Mama Lu attended, any issues would be attributed to the family’s shortcomings, not the household’s lack of hospitality.
“Then I’ll make time to go. You little girl are quite clever.”
Suian thanked her repeatedly, overjoyed. Upon returning, Steward Lu indeed sent someone to inquire about the exact date of Mr. Lin’s family’s arrival in the capital.
She also went to find Ziyu, urging the storeroom to release the supplies and securing enough new charcoal for the winter in one go. The busy preparations helped ease much of her inner fear.
“Actually, Ninth Master is still just a child. What could he possibly know?” she muttered to herself.
“What are you saying, you wretched girl?”
Chu Yi’s angry voice suddenly rang out from behind her, and Suian realized she had spoken her thoughts aloud.
“Greetings, Ninth Master,” she hurriedly bowed. Since the mistake was already made, she might as well try to smooth things over as much as possible.
“Enough, there’s no one else around. Don’t put on this hypocritical act for me!” Chu Yi glared at her angrily. “Saying I don’t know anything? Hmph, I know far more than you. Just wait until you enter my room…”
He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, glancing sideways at Suian with a meaningful look.
Suian pretended to be clueless, deliberately putting on a fearful expression. “Does Ninth Master plan to beat this servant three times a day? Or perhaps starve me?”
Chu Yi suddenly flushed slightly. He recalled how restless he had been one night this spring… and how early the next morning, his mother had sent an instructing auntie to teach him about marital affairs. Seeing Suian still acting foolishly with her playful banter, he lifted his foot and kicked her, though not with much force.
After kicking her, Chu Yi walked away. Suian got up from the ground, patted the dust off her clothes, and this time finally managed to keep her mouth shut, thinking to herself: "I wonder if Mrs. Lin will give out rewards when she arrives. If they don’t know the going rate, they might just give ten or eight taels at once…"
Then she thought of her own father, that frail scholar. If he came to the mansion crying and wailing, perhaps Old Madam’s heart would soften, pitying him for having no one to care for him, and she might even release her…
Suian’s thoughts were exceedingly pleasant. With her hands cupping her cheeks, she smiled until her eyes curved like crescent moons, completely unaware that Chu Yi had returned.
Chu Yi remembered what he had heard from the rough men he associated with—how their wives at home needed to be disciplined from time to time to keep them obedient and well-behaved. Could it be that Suian also liked being hit?
Ninth Master of the Chu family shook his head and walked away. He felt there was still so much he didn’t understand, especially about a woman’s heart—as deep and elusive as a needle in the sea. Sometimes, not only might you fail to find it, but you might even get pricked. In any case, he absolutely did not want this wretched girl Suian. Let her dream all she wanted.
Harboring ulterior motives, Suian approached the matter of Mr. Lin’s family with both care and seriousness, earning quite a bit of goodwill from Mr. Lin in the process.
On the day Mrs. Lin arrived in the capital, Suian deliberately wore a festive cotton gauze jacket. When Chu Yi and Mr. Lin entered the study one after the other, both were struck by her appearance.
Suian had a small face and fair skin, and upon closer inspection, she truly resembled the description in the Book of Songs: "hands like tender shoots, skin like congealed fat."
Perhaps because Mr. Lin hadn’t seen his family in a long time, his lecture that day was somewhat stiff, and by the end, he was rambling incoherently, repeating the same sentence several times.
Chu Yi stood up with a smile. "Since Madam has arrived at the mansion today, it is only proper for this student to pay his respects. Perhaps it would be best to end class early today." He then asked Suian, "Are there any of my clothes in the study? I should change into something more formal."
Suian was accustomed to serving this young master, but Chu Yi was tall—a full head and a half taller than her. When she tried to drape his cloak, her arms seemed too short, and even standing on tiptoe, she couldn’t reach properly.
Chu Yi curled his lip and gave a contemptuous "fool."
Suian, being magnanimous, chose not to take it to heart.
Once ready, she followed Mr. Lin and Chu Yi to the main gate.
When they reached the main gate, the Lin family had not yet arrived.
Suian rarely had the chance to come to the mansion’s entrance, so she took the opportunity to look around carefully.
The main gate of Chu Mansion was Guangliang-style, with the door panels set between the central pillars of the gatehouse. The area in front of the gate was both spacious and bright, and in terms of specifications, it was second only to the gates of princely mansions. This was thanks to the emperor’s gracious reward for renovation after Commander Chu achieved successive victories in battle this year. Usually, the main gate remained tightly shut, with only the side gate left open for people to come and go.
Chu Yi stood by the gatehouse and noticed Mr. Lin glancing back twice. He turned to look and saw all the gatekeepers and servants in the courtyard secretly stealing glances at Suian. Instantly annoyed, he gave her an impatient look and said, "Get back to the inner gate and wait there!"
Unable to greet Mrs. Lin immediately and receive her reward, Suian was quite displeased.
She had just reached the second gate when a young servant hurried over to deliver a message, "Sister Suian, Mrs. Lin, along with Young Master Lin and Miss Lin, have arrived at the estate."
Mr. Lin had a son and a daughter—the young master, Lin Songfeng, and the young lady, Lin Songluan. From their names, one could see Mr. Lin's high regard for his daughter. In the mountains of the female bed, there is a bird resembling a pheasant, called the luan bird, whose appearance heralds peace and tranquility across the land.
Lin Songluan was fifteen by traditional reckoning. On the way, she had already discussed with her younger brother that upon meeting their father's student, they should address him as "younger martial brother." After all, in matters of study, precedence is determined by the order of entry, not by age. Although the Lin family was not a wealthy or influential clan, they were a family of scholars for generations. Both siblings had been tutored by their father from an early age—the young master of the Chu family could not have started earlier than them.
As soon as she stepped out of the sedan chair, she saw Chu Yi.