Gu Wanyue knew that being a Bedchamber Maid was no enviable position, but compared to those with crooked schemes like Lv Liu and Hong Tao, she preferred Youli to serve her brother, and said:
“Rest assured. Serve well and take good care of my brother, and I will never let him wrong you. I will surely have him take you as a Concubine and arrange servants for you. After my brother marries, you may bear him a son or daughter, and be raised to the rank of honored concubine…”
Though Youli was now a Bedchamber Maid, her status was only slightly better than a maidservant’s—she still belonged to the base registry. Even if she were raised to Concubine later, she would remain a base-born concubine. Only by bearing a child would she have a chance to become an honored concubine. This was already the best path a maidservant could hope for.
Youli curtsied in thanks. “Thank you for your kindness, Second Young Lady.”
For all that Gu Wanyue was sharp-tongued and relentless when in the right, she was fiercely protective of her own. She took careful note of everyone in her brother’s courtyard. Ever since Youli had come to serve in Songtao Courtyard, she had observed her for a long while and approved of her character. Now her wish had been granted—Youli had been taken in as her brother’s Bedchamber Maid—and she could rest easy.
Better than letting some other seductress lead her brother astray.
Gu Wanyue had her personal maid present a gift. “Take this fabric and make yourself a couple of outfits. You represent my brother’s face now—you can’t dress too shabbily.”
Youli had some discernment and knew the fabric was fine gold-woven brocade, wonderfully soft to the touch—something slaves like her would never normally be given.
Youli was overjoyed and curtsied again in gratitude.
Gu Wanyue appreciated Youli’s quiet steadiness, neither arrogant nor restless. “I know you’re the most pure-hearted and good-natured. If any of the rough servants, maids, or lackeys under you dare disobey your orders, just come tell me, and I’ll back you up.”
“Yes, thank you, Miss.” Youli smiled gracefully.
Gu Wanyue went to the study to find her brother, the Heir, while Youli instructed Qiu Shuang to boil water and brew tea. Once the tea was ready, Youli carried it to the study.
Meanwhile, Lv Liu ran weeping to the Marchioness to pour out her grievances, embellishing the tale with claims that Gu Wanyue didn’t hold the Marchioness in any regard and had refused her service. “The Second Young Lady even said, said…”
Nanny Cao, at the Marchioness’s side, urged her on: “Said what? Out with it, quickly!”
Lv Liu dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, her lips trembling. “The Second Young Lady also said that Madam is merely the second wife, and reaches far too long a hand. The Marquis’s Estate will belong to the Heir in the end—it’s not Madam’s place to make decisions… sob, sob…”
The Marchioness’s face changed, and her fingers immediately clenched around the low table beside her. “She truly said that?”
“The Second Young Lady never meant such a thing—it was all Youli stirring up trouble at her side. Madam, this slave believes that lowly maid, having climbed up to the Heir, no longer holds you in any regard…”
Though Lv Liu resented Gu Wanyue, she knew that a servant gossiping about her master was insubordination—right or wrong, she’d be blamed. If she truly provoked the Second Young Lady, things might blow up and she’d be the one to suffer. Better to shift all the blame onto Youli.
If the Madam truly wanted to deal with Youli, it would take but a word. Surely the Heir wouldn’t ruin his relationship with the Madam over a mere servant?
But Nanny Cao was an old hand, and she saw through Lv Liu’s little scheme at a glance, sneering coldly, “Could it be that you failed to climb up to that high branch, so you made all this up to serve your own scheme of killing with a borrowed knife?”
Lv Liu panicked inside. “Nanny, this slave-servant wouldn’t dare. If I’ve told a single lie, may I die a horrible death.”
Nanny Cao’s mouth twitched.
Anyone can swear an oath.
Living in this great estate, who believes such things?
Lv Liu burst into another round of wailing, going on about how unfair it was to the Marchioness and so on. The Marchioness looked disgusted, and Nanny Cao simply called for servants to drag Lv Liu off for ten strokes of the paddle, then assigned her to the Miscellaneous Courtyard to scrub chamber pots.
“Mercy, my lady, mercy!” Lv Liu had never expected that she came to plead her case, only to be treated like this.
Amid her cries for mercy, two old women dragged her off for the beating.
Lv Liu could never have imagined that, just a few days after transmigrating, she’d end up in such a state.
How come ancient times weren’t nearly as easy to navigate as the novels claimed?!
Transmigration novels have lied to me!
Only after Lv Liu was dragged away for her beating did Nanny Cao speak to the Marchioness. “Madam, nothing that lowly maid says can be trusted…”
The Marchioness looked at the account book, a cold sneer on her face.
“Yuejie has always believed I’m no match for her mother. She and her brother, behind my back, must despise me—a former concubine elevated to be the second wife. From what I can see, what Lv Liu said just now wasn’t entirely false.”
Nanny Cao said, “Madam, you have toiled for the Marquis’s Estate all these years. The Old Madame sees all your devotion…”
“But what good does it do?” The Marchioness closed the account book, her voice slow and heavy. “In the end, it’s all just making a wedding gown for someone else. And my son will never inherit the title.”
Though her son was the eldest, her past status as a concubine meant his standing would forever be a step below that of the first wife’s son.
Nanny Cao did not dare say more.
This had always been the wound at the heart of the Marchioness’s grievances.
As long as the Heir existed, there was no solution.
When dinnertime came that evening.
As usual, Youli stood to the side, attending the Heir as he dined.
Dinner consisted of five dishes and a soup.
Gu Wanyue came to dine with her brother.
Gu Wanyue had a good appetite tonight and ate with relish, but the Heir had a small complaint about one dish, the hibiscus tofu. “The bean taste is a bit strong…”
As a proper maidservant, Youli quietly made a mental note to remind the cook to improve it next time.
This hibiscus tofu was made by soaking tofu curd in well water three times to remove the bean taste, then simmering it in chicken broth, finished with seaweed and shrimp. It was normally one of the Heir’s favorites, but this time it clearly hadn’t been made well.
Still, his palate was just too refined.
To think he could even taste that.
Gu Wanyue certainly hadn’t noticed anything.
The Heir’s expression was indifferent, and his appetite seemed poor. Youli said gently, “Heir, this pear-fried chicken is quite a novel dish. Perhaps you’d like to try some.”
This pear-fried chicken was made by slicing the breast meat of a young chick, frying it in three liang of rendered lard, stir-frying three or four times with seasonings, then adding thin slices of snow pear and small pieces of mushrooms, stir-frying three or four more times before serving. The flavor was wonderfully fragrant…
When Youli went to the kitchen to fetch the dishes, she had specially tasted a few pieces—absolutely delicious!
Well, that didn’t count as stealing food.
She was loyal and devoted—she was taste-testing for poison on the Heir’s behalf.
Gu Wanyue said, “That’s right, Brother. You’ve been eating so little lately. It’s autumn now, and with you studying day and night, how can your body hold up?”
Youli sighed inwardly. The Heir was simply too picky. Drop him in a slum for two days and he’d behave.
The Heir tried the pear-fried chicken, took two bites, and complained the chicken was too tough.
Youli’s mouth twitched.
Hopeless!
Meanwhile, she herself ate everything with relish—no pickiness at all.
Gu Wanyue felt deep sympathy for her brother. “Brother, look, you’ve gotten even thinner than the day before. Worrying like this will age you quickly—don’t you think, Youli?”
Youli, suddenly put on the spot, broke out in a cold sweat.
How would she dare comment on the Heir’s appearance to his face?
But the Heir’s sinister gaze turned toward her. “So I’ve aged since the day before?”
Youli swallowed nervously.
Uh… it’s not as if he could have gotten younger, right?