Nie Huiming watched her trembling lashes and asked no more, explaining in a gentle voice: "All three of them were sent by someone. If I dismissed them all, whoever sent them would know they'd been exposed. So I kept the one who seemed the most docile—she poses no threat to you, and it keeps us from being exposed."
Her pounding heart gradually steadied. "I see."
"But don't let her docile appearance win your trust too easily. Stay on your guard."
"This servant understands."
"Feel better now?" A hint of a smile entered Nie Huiming's voice as he asked again, "Have you been happy at home these past two days?"
She swallowed, her heart beginning to race again, and answered in a small voice: "This servant feels better now. Thank you, my lord. These two days have been very pleasant. My sister cooked something delicious for me, and I shared the ointment you gave me with her—she said it works wonderfully. And there's the two strings of cash. With that money, my elder siblings can have an easier time…"
"And what about you?"
"I work here with room and board provided, so I don't really need money for myself. But my family owes quite a bit of debt, and they really need this money."
Nie Huiming didn't press her about her family. "You brought back so much money—your sister didn't get suspicious?"
"How did you know, my lord?" She lifted her eyes and couldn't help but smile. "My sister was indeed worried and questioned me for a long while. I just told her I'd done my work well and a certain lord had rewarded me. I left it at that, vague as can be."
"Why lie?"
The smile faded gently from her eyes. She pressed her lips together and explained softly: "My sister thought you were the sort of lecher, and feared this servant might go astray."
Nie Huiming smiled slightly and said nothing.
Xu Yu hurried to explain: "But this servant has spent time with you, my lord, and knows you're not that kind of person. I couldn't make my sister understand, so I answered that way. Please forgive me, my lord."
"It's nothing. I wouldn't get angry over such a small matter. It's getting late—go rest early, and come to the study in the morning to attend me."
"Yes." Xu Yu stole a few glances at his expression, and seeing that he didn't look angry, quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She bowed and prepared to withdraw, but after only a few steps, she suddenly remembered the silver hairpin in her sleeve and stopped. "My lord, this is the silver hairpin Xiang Yuxue gave me earlier. I don't know what to do with it."
"If you're short on money, take it and exchange it for cash."
Xu Yu was a little surprised, then delighted: "Then this servant will take her leave."
She had thought Lord Nie would tell her to throw it away or confiscate it—she never expected him to let her sell it. Whatever this silver hairpin might fetch, to her at this moment it was charcoal in a snowstorm.
She walked toward her quarters with a smile and ran straight into Qin Rusu.
"What did his lordship say to you? You look so happy?"
"N-nothing, nothing at all." She immediately reined in her smile.
Qin Rusu took her hand and said warmly, "Look, it's nearly dark, and you were chatting with his lordship in the study for so long. Clearly, whatever the reason, his lordship treats you with special favor. From now on, we'll all be counting on you."
She wasn't that familiar with this woman, and her heart was full of caution—she really wasn't used to such closeness. But after a moment's thought, she didn't pull away, only saying, "Probably because I was the first maid Lord Nie met after arriving here. But truly, it's not what you all think. Every day in the study, I merely tidy the books and attend to the brushes and ink."
Qin Rusu led her toward the room, saying with a smile, "I believe what you say. But haven't you ever thought that one day, you might stay at Lord Nie's side always?"
Her brow furrowed, and she pulled her hand free, saying in a low voice, "I have never thought such a thing, and I ask you not to mention it again."
"Why are you so resistant? We're just chatting behind closed doors. Or do you think I mean you harm? If I truly wanted to harm you, I'd advise you to leave Lord Nie, not to get closer to him." Qin Rusu pulled her to sit down, scooting closer and whispering, "Do you know Lord Nie's background?"
Xu Yu told herself she should be wary of her, yet she couldn't help wanting to know Lord Nie's background.
Qin Rusu smiled and said softly, "Lord Nie comes from a distinguished family. His grandfather served three reigns, and his father rose to the Three Excellencies. Now, in Lord Nie's generation, his prospects are boundless. The Emperor appointed him Assistant Palace Secretary—it's clear that sending him here as Governor is only temporary. When he returns from this place, he may well become the man above ten thousand, second only to one. Tell me, for people like us, if not for such a chance coincidence, how would we ever have the opportunity to even speak with someone like Lord Nie?"
Xu Yu didn't understand those official titles, but she understood "second only to one, above ten thousand." Only then did she realize Lord Nie's position was even higher than she had imagined. But still…
She glanced at Qin Rusu and gently pushed her hand away: "In that case, someone like me could never climb that high."
Qin Rusu patted her hand: "Why belittle yourself? Anyone with eyes can see the Master treats you differently. You needn't refute me so quickly—if you're unwilling, I can't force you, can I? But to be honest with you, I do have such thoughts. My origins are humbler than yours. Originally, I would have spent this whole life at others' mercy here. But now, with such an opportunity, of course I must try. If I'm fortunate enough to gain the Master's protection, I could escape this sea of suffering."
She pressed her lips together and said nothing.
"Since you're unwilling, if I take the initiative to please the Master, you won't be angry with me, will you?"
"You—you're overthinking it." She turned away and said quietly, "I've told you, I'm just a servant girl. I have no power to sway the Master's thoughts. Whatever you do has nothing to do with me."
Qin Rusu affectionately hugged her arm: "Good, then I'm relieved. I don't know how long the Master will stay here, and we'll be working together for a long time to come—I'd hate for us to be on bad terms."
"We won't be." She struggled gently. "It's getting late. Now that we've finished talking, let's open the door quickly. Fen'er and Ruyi came later—if they see the door shut, they won't dare come in."
"You really are kind-hearted, little sister." Qin Rusu rose with a smile and opened the door. Before long, Fen'er and Ruyi entered.
Xu Yu let out a long breath of relief, quickly finished her meal, and returned to her own bed, Qin Rusu's words echoing over and over in her mind.
Would Lord Nie really take a fancy to Qin Rusu?
She hesitated, uncertain whether she should tell Nie Huiming about this, and on what standing she should do so.
Should she remind Lord Nie not to be beguiled by Qin Rusu? But Lord Nie clearly already knew what Qin Rusu was after—there was no need for her to say it over and over. Besides, whether Lord Nie favored her or not was not something she could influence anyway.
In the study, Nie Huiming tapped lightly on the long desk and reminded her softly, "Xu Yu, you've drifted off again."
Startled, Xu Yu hurriedly knelt in salute. "There is a matter, my lord, that this servant does not know whether she should report."
"Then speak."
"Yesterday, Qin Rusu told me that she wants to get close to you."
"Why would she say such a thing to you?"
Xu Yu swallowed, at a loss for how to answer. If she recounted the whole story, all those words would reach Lord Nie's ears; but if she said nothing, she could not explain herself.
She stole a glance at him.
"Hm?" Nie Huiming raised a brow.
"Because… because…" Gritting her teeth, she steeled herself and recounted everything that had happened the day before.
Nie Huiming listened quietly to the end, utterly unruffled, his gentle eyes even carrying a trace of amusement. "And what do you think of it?"
"I…" Xu Yu's heart began pounding again, so nervous that her palms grew clammy. "This servant doesn't know how to think of it. I leave the judgment entirely to you, my lord."
"You do not wish me to be close to her?"
"I do not." The moment she said it, she felt the answer sounded ambiguous, and hurriedly explained, "In this servant's heart, you are not the sort of man to be muddled by beauty. I believe you would never let a pretty face delay important matters."
"If that is so, why were you so distracted over this?"
"This servant…" She could not answer. She did not know why such a small matter had thrown her heart into such disarray. She clearly knew that Lord Nie understood Qin Rusu's origins—could it be that deep down, she truly did not want Lord Nie to get close to Qin Rusu?
Shaken by her own thought, she trembled, anxious and uneasy.
Nie Huiming opened a scroll of bamboo slips and resumed reading, saying with utter calm, "Of course, you've only just begun serving me, so it's natural to have some doubts. I won't hold it against you. And as for that Qin… that maidservant, you needn't worry. I won't take her bait. Now, grind the ink."
"Y-yes…" Xu Yu picked up the inkstick and continued grinding, her mind a muddle.
So it was settled just like that? But she didn't seem to have said anything at all.
She secretly lifted her eyes and saw Nie Huiming taking up his brush to write, looking as if everything was well in hand, and her heart quietly eased.
When evening came, she waited as usual to be dismissed, then waited to serve the evening meal.
Nie Huiming, his eyes on the bamboo slips, spoke. "Xu Yu."
She blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Did you have further instructions, my lord?"
"Tonight, you and that maidservant surnamed Qin will keep watch outside my quarters. Tomorrow morning, the two of you will attend me as I dress and wash."