Chapter 3: Qiu Yan
The maid who arrived was named Qiu Yan, the head servant girl of the estate. Though her status couldn't compare to Zhang Lan's, she still held some influence. Sending Qiu Yan to deliver meals on New Year's Eve was unprecedented in previous years—likely Zhang Lan's attempt to silence gossip by appearing attentive to the bedridden young miss of the Jiang family.
As Qiu Yan set down the food basket, her eyes swiftly scanned the room. This was her first time entering Jiang Ruan's quarters. The cramped space reeked of decay, with rainwater seeping through cracks in the roof, leaving stains on the walls. The bedding was pitifully thin, and even basic furnishings were worn and broken. Living in such a damp, gloomy room, it was no wonder the girl's health had deteriorated. This was far from the boudoir of a noble young lady—even the lowest-ranking servants on the estate likely lived in better conditions.
Having spent years navigating the intrigues of wealthy households, Qiu Yan understood that Zhang Lan, despite her greed and harshness, wouldn't dare mistreat a young miss without higher approval. Since this was the master's will, Qiu Yan had no intention of interfering.
"You're Qiu Yan, aren't you?" The voice from the bed was hoarse yet carried an oddly subtle undertone.
Qiu Yan looked up with a practiced smile. "Yes, this servant is."
Zisu and Lianqiao stood guard—one shielding Jiang Ruan, the other glaring at Qiu Yan. To them, everyone on the estate besides their trio harbored ill intentions.
Jiang Ruan smiled. "Tonight is New Year's Eve, isn't it? Sister Qiu Yan, your festive attire suits you beautifully."
The compliment struck Qiu Yan as strange, but she maintained her smile. "Auntie Zhang had it made. This servant is merely a lowly maid—you flatter me, young miss."
Jiang Ruan sighed softly. "Auntie Lan is so thoughtful. Did she arrange new clothes for everyone on the estate?"
Her tone was light and pleasant, and Qiu Yan nearly nodded in agreement before catching herself. The entire estate had received new garments—except the three before her. There was no tactful way to phrase this. As she scrambled for a response, Jiang Ruan continued gently, "My two maids are clumsy—even their clothes lack the festive charm of yours. But you're mistaken about one thing, Sister Qiu Yan. I wasn't jesting. Though you're a servant, you seem to live more comfortably and respectably than I do."
The cutting words clashed starkly with Jiang Ruan's gentle delivery, sending an inexplicable chill down Qiu Yan's spine. She looked up at the girl on the bed. In the dim candlelight, Jiang Ruan accepted a cup of hot tea from Zisu. Steam curled up, veiling half her face, leaving only the elegant sweep of her long lashes visible—an almost eerie sight.
Jiang Ruan's amused voice floated through the haze. "Such a respectable servant like you, Sister Qiu Yan, will surely be granted freedom to marry well when the time comes. The second young master of the Ma family outside the city would suit you perfectly. With twelve concubines already, you'd make a fine thirteenth."
Qiu Yan froze. A cold dread crept up from her feet, draining the color from her face. She stared wide-eyed at Jiang Ruan, lips trembling, utterly speechless.
Unhurried, Jiang Ruan brought the warm teacup to her lips and took a delicate sip.After a long pause, Qiu Yan finally mustered her courage, straightened her back, and said, "This servant doesn’t know what the young lady is talking about." The first half of her sentence was spoken with righteous indignation, but by the latter half, for some reason, her voice faltered with guilt.
"A fine bird chooses a worthy tree to perch upon, just as people seek higher paths and water flows downward. Sister Qiu Yan’s actions are only human nature. There’s no need to be shy." Jiang Ruan tilted her head and chuckled lightly. "This is a good thing. If one day Sister Qiu Yan truly becomes the Thirteenth Concubine, I will surely send a gift of rouge. Such dignity, I imagine, is earned by Sister Qiu Yan’s cleverness."
Qiu Yan stood rooted to the spot, slowly clenching her fists. Jiang Ruan pinched the bridge of her nose. "I’m already tired after just a short while. My health hasn’t fully recovered, so I can’t personally wish Nanny Lan a happy New Year. Please apologize on my behalf, Sister Qiu Yan." With that, she instructed Zisu, "Why haven’t you seen Sister Qiu Yan out yet?"
This was clearly a dismissal. Qiu Yan, momentarily at a loss, naturally wished to flee the oppressive room as quickly as possible. She nodded hastily in agreement, the faint air of superiority she had carried upon arrival now completely gone.
Just as Zisu and Qiu Yan reached the door, Jiang Ruan spoke again. "Oh, Sister Qiu Yan, about the clothes for my two maids that we discussed earlier—since it’s the New Year, I’d like to see them dressed more festively. Please find a way to make them look more cheerful."
Qiu Yan bit her lip. "Isn’t the young lady asking for the impossible?"
"Sister Qiu Yan is a clever woman," Jiang Ruan interrupted her. "Otherwise, how could she become the Thirteenth Concubine?"
Qiu Yan’s face paled further. Through gritted teeth, she replied, "Understood."
After Zisu escorted Qiu Yan out, Lianqiao asked, "Young lady, what was that about earlier? How did Qiu Yan get involved with the second son of the Ma family?"
"She and the second young master of the Ma family have long been carrying on in secret. Right now, they’re as sweet as honey," Jiang Ruan said.
In her past life, Qiu Yan’s affair with the second young master of the Ma family had been exposed years later, and the scandal had been brought to light. While the young master emerged unscathed, Qiu Yan had been brutally drowned in a pig cage. Before her execution, she had already been tortured into delirium, repeatedly insisting she was the Ma family’s Thirteenth Concubine. No doubt, during their passionate affair, the young master had promised her as much. But Qiu Yan had never lived to become the Thirteenth Concubine. Jiang Ruan naturally kept this knowledge to herself.
Lianqiao suddenly understood. "No wonder she was so frightened! Ugh, what a shameless woman, to behave so indecently!" Being a young girl in her teens, she blushed as she spoke. "But young lady, how did you know about these things?"
Lianqiao’s confusion ran deep. Not only that, but she had noticed that today, Jiang Ruan seemed like a completely different person. The once meek and submissive girl had openly threatened Qiu Yan without hesitation, and even when discussing such vulgar matters, her expression hadn’t flickered, as if she were merely talking about an ordinary household affair.
Jiang Ruan rarely had the chance to leave the house—even less than Lianqiao and Zisu. She spent the entire year in the courtyard, buried under endless chores. Where would she have encountered such things? As Lianqiao puzzled over this, Jiang Ruan didn’t answer her question. Instead, she asked, "Lianqiao, do you want to stay here forever?"
"Of course not!" Lianqiao, straightforward and fiery by nature, answered without hesitation. "Young lady, don’t worry. We won’t be stuck in this village forever. In a few days, the master will surely come to fetch you."Jiang Ruan smiled. She knew better than anyone when they would come to fetch her. But she had no patience to wait until then, nor did she wish to.
"Why wait? Qiu Yan will soon send us back to the capital."
Lianqiao was taken aback and instinctively turned to look at Jiang Ruan, only to see the young girl yawn delicately once more. Beneath her straight nose, her lips—moist from sipping tea—were rosy and curved into a slight smile.
(End of Chapter)
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