Xie Chen finally stopped, though he didn’t turn around.
With his back to her, his tall, straight figure was still and cold, like an ancient pine rooted for a thousand years.
The spring breeze swept past him, stirring up a few withered plum petals that fell onto the bluestone slabs, like a sigh.
“Do not ruin yourself.”
Four words, clear and calm, without a single ripple of emotion.
It sounded more like the well-meaning reminder of a calm bystander that she had taken the wrong path and should turn back.
From beginning to end, he didn’t give her a second glance or ask a single question, yet he seemed to understand everything.
Ci’er stood rooted to the spot, watching him leave.
Suddenly, she remembered the heavy snowy day that year.
She had deliberately gotten lost in the plum grove, waiting for Xie Chen to find her.
When he finally did, she was crouching under a plum tree building a snowman, her nose red from the cold.
“Brother Hengzhi, look at this snowman.
Doesn’t it look like you?”
Xie Chen glanced at the crooked snowman, the corners of his lips curving up slightly—that was the closest expression to a smile she had ever seen on him.
Captivated for a moment, she forgot herself, stepping forward and reaching out to hug him.
His chest had been burning hot then, a heat she could feel even through his thick winter clothes, making the tips of her ears turn red.
He didn’t push her away, merely patting the top of her head gently.
“Nonsense.”
She remembered their heartbeats in that moment for many years.
In the end, it was just the folly of youth; her first love had been given to the wrong person.
By the time Ci’er returned to Huanfang Pavilion, the maids’ assessment had concluded.
Xie Chen was nowhere to be seen.
Liu Tingyue leaned against the backrest, her eyes lowered as she toyed with the Agarwood Beads on her wrist, seemingly waiting for something.
The maids stood outside the pavilion doors with bowed heads and bated breath, silent as the grave.
Ms.
Cui stood before the steps, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the women.
“During the assessment just now, most of you were reasonably decent, and your etiquette was passable.” As she spoke, she looked at Ci’er.
Her eyes no longer held the warmth from the previous days, and with a single sentence, she condemned the girl.
“But there are also those who publicly contradicted the concubine, spoke frivolously, and even lost their sense of propriety in front of the Young Master.
Such a reckless wretch doesn’t even deserve to be sent to the laundry room, let alone stay by the Princely Heir’s side.”
Everyone’s gaze uniformly snapped toward Ci’er.
Some were sympathetic, some gloated, and others were purely spectators eager for drama.
Cui Wei deliberately bumped her shoulder against Ci’er’s, mocking, “You’d be counting your blessings if you only get banished to a rural estate to tend to the livestock.”
A few others nearby chimed in with laughter.
“And here I thought she was going to ascend to the heavens in a single bound.
Who knew that instead of becoming a phoenix, she’d turn into a dead bird.”
“Aunt Cui doted on her for nothing.
How humiliating.”
Those voices buzzed into her ears like flies.
A Tao’s eyes were red with anger; she wanted to speak up for Ci’er but didn’t dare.
Ci’er, however, seemed to be listening to a farce that had nothing to do with her.
She remained expressionless, even finding it somewhat boring, and let out a low chuckle.
Cui Wei sneered coldly, “Still putting on an act at death’s door.
Let’s see if you can still laugh when the wooden boards strike your back.”
Just as she finished speaking, Nanny Cai, who served by Liu Tingyue’s side, strode in from outside.
She bypassed the crowd in the corridor, stepped into Huanfang Pavilion, and bowed to whisper something into Liu Tingyue’s ear.
Liu Tingyue’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she frowned.
“Is that true?”
Nanny Cai nodded.
“That is what the Princely Heir instructed.”
“How annoying.” Consort Liu pinched the bridge of her nose, her movement tinged with weariness and a hint of helplessness.
“Ms.
Cui.”
Ms.
Cui voiced her compliance, leading the women inside to quietly await instructions.
Liu Tingyue picked up the roster and marked it with a vermilion brush for a while.
After a long time, she lazily handed the booklet to Ms.
Cui.
“Assign the duties.”
Ms.
Cui received it with both hands and cleared her throat.
“The assessment is concluded, and you all have your assigned places.
Those whose names are called, go to the Chief Maid to collect your allowances and learn your placements.
Cui Wei, the Chengde Hall tea room.
The Prince often needs to soothe his throat after discussing matters with the officials in Chengde Hall, so serve him diligently.”
“Cailing, the concubine’s sewing room.
Agarwood, Tanghua Courtyard sweeping.”
As the names were read out one by one, the women’s faces revealed their dejection.
Weren’t they supposed to be selecting a bedroom maid for the Princely Heir?
How did they all become menial servants?
Some quietly teared up, while others bit their lips in silence.
Ci’er stood in the crowd, her expression composed, like a quiet potted plant waiting to be moved to its proper place.
“A Tao—Heir’s Mansion inner courtyard.”
Before Ms.
Cui’s voice could even fade, everyone was stunned.
A Tao was plain-looking, with the features of a little girl who hadn’t fully matured yet.
She lacked Cui Wei’s striking beauty and Ci’er’s peerless looks.
Why would the concubine select her for such a role?
The women exchanged glances, each harboring their own thoughts.
“Ci’er—” Ms.
Cui’s voice paused.
Looking at the name on the roster that hadn’t been marked by the vermilion brush, her face abruptly sank, and she forcefully snapped the booklet shut.
“Men, drag this arrogant wretch away, slap her mouth fifty times, and kick her back to the maid selection office to await further punishment.”
A low murmur of whispers arose around them.
Some scoffed; others were alarmed.
Two older maidservants exchanged a glance, rolled up their sleeves, and lunged forward ferociously.
“Hold on.”
Liu Tingyue set down her teacup, leisurely dabbed the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and finally spoke in a lukewarm tone.
“Ci’er is someone the Young Master personally requested to keep, so it’s inconvenient for this concubine to interfere.
Assign her to the Heir’s Mansion to serve the Young Master.”
The Princely Heir personally named her to stay by his side and serve?
Then didn’t that make her the Princely Heir’s chosen bedroom maid?
The pavilion fell silent for a moment.
The color drained entirely from Cui Wei’s face, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her head.
The few maids who had joined in the jeering also froze, their mouths hanging open in shock.
Several ladies exchanged glances, concealing knowing smiles in their eyes, their expressions thought-provoking.
“The concubine is truly thorough.
Whenever any master’s courtyard adds a maid or servant, you personally inquire and make the final decision.”
Liu Tingyue replied with a forced smile, “You’re teasing me, Madam.
The Princess Consort passed away early.
I am merely honored by the Prince’s trust to handle these inner courtyard trivialities; I wouldn’t dare be the slightest bit negligent.” As she spoke, her gaze slid past Lady Li’s face and finally landed on Ci’er.
“Since the Princely Heir asked for you, you are now a member of the Heir’s Mansion.
Serve your master well from now on and play fewer of those little tricks, or else you’ll pay a bitter price.”
With a seemingly innocent expression, Ci’er curtsied.
“This servant thanks the concubine for her grace and thanks the Young Master for his favor.
I will not dare to be lazy or deceitful.”
Too impatient to say more, Liu Tingyue waved her hand casually.
“Go to your post.”
Ci’er gathered her skirts, stood up, and briskly retreated from Huanfang Pavilion.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the cold wind rushed at her face, causing her to shudder.
Others were puzzled as to why she had been chosen by Xie Chen.
Only she knew that this was the result of her step-by-step, life-risking calculations.
She hadn’t bet on Xie Chen’s affection, but on his compassion.
Xie Chen was a gentleman; no matter how cold a gentleman might be, he still retained a sense of propriety and tenderness.
Even if he saw right through her intentional schemes, he would still spare her life.
“Ci’er, wait.”
A voice interrupted her thoughts.