Chapter 9: The Wicked Servant
On the way back, Lianqiao held back for a long time but finally couldn't resist asking, "Miss, why did you give those plum blossoms away? They were bought with silver after all. Even if you wanted to gift them, you should have kept at least one branch for the house. What’s the point of giving them to a stranger for nothing?"
"Lianqiao, when have you ever seen me fond of plum blossoms?" Jiang Ruan replied.
"Well... you truly aren’t very fond of them," Lianqiao admitted, shaking her head. Back when the late madam was still alive, their young miss had loved flowers and plants. But after the madam passed away, Jiang Ruan's daily life had become so difficult that she no longer had the heart for such romantic things.
"If I don’t like them, what’s the use of keeping them?" Jiang Ruan said indifferently. "Better to do someone a favor and give them away."
"But favors cost silver too," Lianqiao pressed anxiously. "That old man is no kin or acquaintance of ours. What good does it do to give them to him?"
Jiang Ruan continued walking leisurely as she answered, "There is naturally a benefit. Everything in this world comes at a price. Today, I gave him a few branches of red plum blossoms. In the future, the favor he owes me will far exceed the value of those blossoms. It’s just not visible yet."
The words sounded vague and cryptic, leaving both Lianqiao and Zisu, who followed silently behind, utterly perplexed. Zisu spoke up, "Miss, are you saying we’ll meet that old gentleman again in the future? But those plum blossoms were bought on a whim. If you had already planned this, how could you have known that old man would appear and even get into a dispute with someone?"
"I’m no immortal—how could I foresee the future?" Jiang Ruan replied coolly. Her tone was light, yet both Zisu and Lianqiao felt an inexplicable chill in her voice that sent shivers down their spines.
By the time they finally returned to the estate, they spotted a maid in a bright green padded jacket from afar, her lips painted a striking red. The moment she saw Jiang Ruan and the others, she immediately cried out in an exaggerated manner, "Oh my, young miss! It’s freezing out here, and you’re still unwell—how could you go out? Where have you been? I searched the entire estate and couldn’t find you!"
"Chunying," Lianqiao retorted, hands on her hips, "what’s with all this shouting in broad daylight? Does the young miss need to report her whereabouts to you?"
"I’m just worried about the young miss," Chunying shot back, her tone laced with sarcasm. "She’s only just recovering from illness, and with the New Year approaching, what if something unfortunate happens?"
Zisu frowned. "You know the young miss isn’t fully recovered, yet you’re shouting so loudly—you’ll give her a headache."
Chunying pursed her lips and turned to Jiang Ruan. "Miss, I only meant well. Since you’re still unwell, it’s best not to wander about. And we wouldn’t want outsiders to gossip, would we?"
Jiang Ruan watched her quietly. Chunying, like Qiu Yan, was one of the estate’s head maids, holding a high position in the household. Qiu Yan was often occupied with affairs outside the estate, so she rarely crossed paths with Jiang Ruan. Chunying, however, managed internal matters and was close to Zhang Lan’s family. She frequently flattered Zhang Lan and had schemed against Jiang Ruan more than once. Likely acting on orders from above, Chunying showed not a shred of respect toward Jiang Ruan, treating her with less deference than even Zhang Lan’s family.This Chunying, Jiang Ruan remembered very clearly. In her past life, the rumors about her seducing Chen Zhao had spread so quickly, and Chunying had played no small part in fueling them. Among the servants, she spoke as if she had witnessed it firsthand. Because of this, the rumors spread like wildfire, and her downfall came all too soon.
Seeing Jiang Ruan remain silent for so long, Chunying looked at her in surprise, meeting Jiang Ruan's gaze. That gaze was soft and gentle, yet inexplicably chilling, as if appraising a plaything about to be destroyed—cold and pitying.
"Miss...?" Chunying frowned.
"Who's the one spreading rumors?" Jiang Ruan looked at her and suddenly curled her lips into a faint smile. She smiled slowly, the corners of her eyes lifting flirtatiously, as if she had become a completely different person, instantly exuding a bewitching allure. Chunying, being just a woman herself, was momentarily stunned by that coquettishness, rendered speechless.
"Could it be... you?" Jiang Ruan's next words snapped Chunying out of her daze. She froze, instinctively shaking her head. "Of course not this servant."
"Dogs are raised to bite outsiders, not their own. If a dog you raised starts barking at its own people, do you know what happens to it?" Jiang Ruan asked her.
Chunying shook her head.
"Naturally, it gets cooked into a... delicious dish." Jiang Ruan spoke softly, lingering on the words "delicious dish." Chunying stared at her blankly, suddenly noticing how Jiang Ruan's skin seemed almost ghostly pale under the sunlight, her delicate and beautiful face carrying an indescribable sharpness. Unconsciously, she took two steps back. "M-Miss, Nanny Lan is still waiting inside..."
Both Zisu and Lianqiao's expressions darkened. For a servant to use the word "waiting" was utterly disrespectful. Zhang Lan's family had grown far too brazen, feigning obedience in public while privately treating Jiang Ruan with harshness.
"Waiting for me?" Jiang Ruan tilted her head slightly. "Then let's go. We mustn't keep Nanny Lan waiting." She smoothed the frog buttons on her dark green cotton-padded jacket.
...
Inside the room, two figures sat by the brazier. A girl of twelve or thirteen nestled in the arms of a middle-aged woman, her tone dripping with scorn. "This room is so cold, and it stinks. No wonder she always smells awful."
"Fang'er, don't talk nonsense," the woman scolded, though her voice was full of affection. "She is still the mistress, after all. Don't go too far in your usual behavior, lest someone catches you out."
The girl straightened slightly. "What kind of mistress is she? Look at how shabby she is. Even the master has washed his hands of her. I know what I'm doing, Mother. Look, isn’t this gold hairpin pretty?" She tilted her head, revealing a gold hairpin inlaid with tiny pearls.
The girl had plain features and slightly dark skin, dressed in a brand-new peach-red silk embroidered jacket and a matching horse-face skirt. A five-colored tassel hung at her waist, gold hairpins adorned her hair, and she wore eight-treasure pendant earrings and a thick gold necklace around her neck. Though merely the daughter of a servant from the estate, her attire could rival that of many wealthy young ladies.
Naturally, all these clothes and accessories had been "taken" from Jiang Ruan.
"The quality is excellent. It looks lovely on you, Fang'er," Zhang Lan praised.Chen Fang smiled smugly and was about to say something more when a soft, gentle voice came from outside: "Nanny Lan has been waiting in my room for so long. Is there something urgent?"
(End of chapter)
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