CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 132: THE EVENING AFFAIR (PART 2)

Nanny Fang nodded; she understood what Lady meant. Back in the day, First Master had such hatred for Madam Xia because Lady had revealed a receipt for money deposited by Madam Xia at the Tianheng Bank in Yongzhou. The moment First Master saw the receipt, he erupted in a furious rage and sent people to investigate in Yongzhou. Sure enough, it was discovered that Madam Xia had accepted a silver note of five thousand taels from the County Magistrate’s Wife of Liu Yong County. That County Magistrate’s Wife cried and caused a scene, saying Madam Xia took the money but did nothing; her husband was still kept waiting at the county government, his position unchanged, ultimately tearing up the facade and causing an uproar directly at the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office...

In his anger, First Master didn’t even ask Madam Xia a single question and had her brought back to the household from Yongzhou, despite just having finished her confinement period, and he himself never showed his face, promptly returning to Yongzhou instead.

Given First Master’s character, he might question others, but when it came to Madam Xia, his concern turned into irrationality. Lady had grasped this point and bribed that wife to put on this play for First Master. To this day, Madam Xia is probably still unaware of why First Master has ignored her for six years; even if she knows, it’s only from fragmented words overheard from others.

With the precedent of Madam Xia’s situation, after discovering that Madam Wang was accepting bribes, Lady pretended to know nothing. The same method could only be used once, not twice.

"She schemed so hard to have Third Miss married off, and now it’s really her own doing! But the servant has noticed that even in such anger, First Master still spared her life..."

Lady sighed powerlessly, "Master is good in everything but is too soft-hearted towards women." Lady paused slightly and then instructed Nanny Fang, "Have the little maid go check if Master has returned to the study." Today, First Master’s actions at the East Cross Courtyard certainly sounded an alarm for her. Before First Master returns to Yongzhou, she still has many things to do...

Nanny Fang responded and went out, calling a little maid to go to the study. Lady herself got up, went to the green gauze window in her room, opened a locked chest, and took out a box with a black lacquered copper surface. She patted the box in her hand and revealed a subtle smile at the corners of her mouth.

In a short while, the little maid returned, saying that First Master had just returned to the study from Second Master’s place. Lady smiled faintly and said to Nanny Fang, "Go, call Zijuan here!" Nanny Fang’s expression tightened, and she asked, "Lady, are you going to..."

Lady personally adjusted the overcoat on herself and took the black lacquered box in her hand, smiling slightly, "It’s just a matter of time!"

Nanny Fang said nothing and personally went to summon Zijuan, instructing her to change her makeup, and even personally picked a pink overcoat from the chest for her. Only then did she show satisfaction. Zijuan, like a puppet, let Nanny Fang manipulate her, yet she could not stop the sweat from pouring off her forehead. In her heart, she knew very well that Lady was impatient and wanted to use her to keep First Master’s heart.

Zijuan had nothing to say, nor could she say anything; she was just a servant. Although she had signed a contract for life, if Lady had that intention, she had no choice but to comply. A fifth-rank official in the Capital was no more than a sesame-sized position, but for them, it was as high as the heavens. If Lady wanted her life, it was just a matter of moving a finger.

Even though her face was dusted with rouge, it still couldn’t hide Zijuan’s pale complexion. She followed behind Nanny Fang into the main room, and Lady looked at her with satisfaction, affectionately drawing her close and holding her hand, saying, "Today I spoke a bit harshly, but it’s your own fault, girl, for losing the composure you usually have. I don’t blame you; had it been First Master, who knows what it might have turned into." As she spoke, she took a careful look at Zijuan, secretly pleased. Zijuan had an oval face, fair skin, eyes that were lively and bright, most importantly, only she knew that with a bit of makeup, Zijuan also had a few Jiangnan women’s gentle and graceful qualities.

"What’s the matter, trembling like this for no reason." Lady held Zijuan’s hand, raising her eyebrows and looking at her, "Stop standing around, go get the dish of yam cake made in the kitchen tonight, and follow me to take it to the study for First Master."

"Yes...yes, Lady." Zijuan didn’t dare look at Lady; having served her for over ten years, she had never found Lady as terrifying as at this moment. She couldn’t wait to escape from the main room, hurrying out of the courtyard and running behind the rockery in the garden, crouching beside a Taihu Stone, and could no longer hold back her tears.

What was she to do? If she listened to Lady, she would become First Master’s concubine. Though poor since childhood, she had never thought of marrying as a concubine. She would rather marry a servant from the household as a proper wife than live her entire life as a nameless concubine, subjecting her children to a life of low status because of her own.

But what could she do to resist? Zijuan cried quietly, her mind suddenly presenting the image of Sixth Miss. Her eyes dimmed; should she plead with Sixth Miss? Would Sixth Miss help her? She dared not be sure, nor did she dare to take the risk...

Zijuan huddled beside the Taihu Stone, clutching her arms, looking up at the brightly lit main room. If she died now, wouldn’t she not have to follow Lady’s orders anymore?

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the darkness, startling Zijuan, who instinctively tried to hide, but the person had already spotted her: "Sister Zijuan..." The person exclaimed and came to help Zijuan, surprised to see her eyes red from crying, and asked in astonishment, "What happened? Did Lady punish you?"

"Caitao?" Zijuan wiped her tears and looked up at Caitao. Although Caitao entered the household a year later than Zijuan, they were not familiar. Normally, Zijuan would have politely exchanged a few words, but at this moment, she had no mind for it, her eyes filled with despair and confusion. She grabbed Caitao and said, "Caitao, do you want to leave this household?"

Caitao was taken aback, puzzled, "Why is sister suddenly talking about this?" She sat beside Zijuan again, as if understanding, and said, "Sister, are you thinking about Xiuzhi?" They were all maids, not usually close, but in such a situation, a feeling of sympathetic companionship inevitably arose.

Zijuan shook her head, not speaking. Caitao’s eyes flashed as she said, "Sister, you don’t have to envy Xiuzhi. Though she stayed in the household, she also requested to have her hair done." She sneered and pouted, "A good person, and she learned that snobbish pride from following Madam Xia."

Zijuan sensed the meaning in Caitao’s words but felt it was not worth continuing the conversation. She wiped her tears and forced a smile, "Did you come here for something, sister?"

Caitao replied, "Nothing really, just an aunt wanted me to see if Eighth Miss is asleep; she made some pastries and wanted me to bring some over." She pointed to the food box at her feet.

Zijuan patted her skirt and stood up, saying to Caitao, "If that’s the case, I won’t hold you any longer; I also have to return to the main room and accompany Lady to the study." Unexpectedly, Caitao’s eyes flashed, and she seemed quite agitated, grabbing Zijuan forcefully and asking, "Lady is going to the study at this hour?"