Ninth Grade Literature welcomes your visit. Any search engine can quickly direct you to our site by searching "Ninth Grade Literature." We provide ad-free, high-quality reading and download services permanently!
At this moment, Caimo's legs gave way, her expression darkened, and she involuntarily collapsed onto the crimson peony-patterned rug in the hall. A bitter taste filled her mouth as she struggled to speak but found no words. Turning her face toward Yan Wuyou, a single tear silently trailed down her cheek, disappearing into the scarlet rug.
Yan Wuyou gazed at her coldly and said indifferently, "What is the real reason? Speak up, and I won’t make it difficult for you. Considering you’ve served me for five or six years, I’ll spare you the caning and simply send you away."
Caimo lowered her head, biting her lip as she wept in silence.
Luo Shi, seated above, grew impatient. "Did you not hear what the young mistress said? If you refuse to speak, I won’t care how long you’ve served her. I have no tolerance for those who use underhanded tricks to harm others. Today, you harm my daughter-in-law; tomorrow, you might harm me or even the master!"
Her words carried weight. As soon as she finished, Yan Wengui, who had remained silent until now, let out a heavy snort. Caimo, quietly sobbing, shuddered at the sound. Then, with tears streaming down her face, she lifted her gaze toward where Mu Xiyan sat, her eyes passing over Wang Yiniang and Jiao Yiniang before finally settling on Mu Xiyan herself. Trembling, she whispered, "I did this... all because of the new bride the young mistress married..."
"For Miss Mu?" Yan Wuyou asked, puzzled. "Why?"
Caimo bit her lip. "Because... the young mistress treats her so well—so well that it breeds resentment..."
Her words left the others in the hall bewildered. How could Yan Wuyou’s kindness toward her newlywed wife possibly concern Caimo? Only Wang Yiniang smirked faintly, as if she understood. As the others remained stunned, Wang Yiniang spoke slowly, "Caimo, your words explain nothing. It’s only natural for the young mistress to treat her wife well. Are you saying you dislike her showing kindness to another? It’s like when a nobleman’s son marries—his former master’s chambermaid would surely resent the new bride."
With Wang Yiniang’s analogy, the others finally grasped the meaning behind Caimo’s words. Could it be that Caimo, out of jealousy toward the new bride, had done something so unthinkable? Luo Shi and the rest pondered—Caimo had served Wuyou for five or six years. Over time, she might have developed feelings for her mistress. But Wuyou was no nobleman’s son, and Caimo was no master’s chambermaid. Such jealousy seemed utterly inexplicable.
In the end, Yan Wengui murmured quietly, "Since ancient times, there have been eunuch-maid partnerships in the palace, and lesbian relationships outside its walls..."The low utterance was like a thunderclap out of the blue. Now, both Luo Shi and Jiao Yiniang understood why Caimo had acted this way. Of course, Yan Wuyou also comprehended, though her expression remained as composed as ever, only her eyes betraying a flicker of shock and underlying suspicion. She then glanced at Mu Xiyan seated opposite, who was frowning as if pondering the meanings of the terms "eunuch-maid partnership" and "lesbian relationship" she had just heard.
The corner of Yan Wuyou's mouth twitched imperceptibly before she calmly shifted her gaze back to the maid Caimo, who had collapsed onto the floor. Upon hearing her father's words, Caimo's eyes darted nervously, her pearly teeth sinking into her lower lip until deep blood marks appeared.
The hall fell into silence for a moment, the assembled crowd staring at Caimo as if she were some grotesque creature, while Luo Shi's eyes burned with profound disgust.
"Caimo, is it true you harbored such feelings for Wuyou?" Luo Shi was the first to regain her composure, her voice icy as she questioned with a darkened expression.
Caimo turned to look at Yan Wuyou, her eyes brimming with deep attachment and reluctance, tears gushing forth uncontrollably. Yan Wuyou felt a pang of pity and averted her gaze, murmuring, "Caimo, why must you be like this?"
Luo Shi's expression grew even colder, her hands clenched tightly within her wide sleeves as she commanded the stewardess Zhao Momo standing behind her, "Zhao Momo, take Caimo to the stables in the front courtyard immediately. Have the servants outside guard her well. At dawn tomorrow, summon a slave dealer to take her away and sell her off!"
Zhao Momo acknowledged the order and stepped forward, calling in two sturdy maids from outside to lift Caimo from the floor by her arms. Unexpectedly, Caimo broke free from their grasp and cried out loudly, "Since I entered this household at eight years old, Master, Mistress, Young Miss, and the concubines have treated me with great kindness. Now that I've foolishly committed such a wicked deed, this outcome is only fitting. But before I leave, I wish to kowtow to Master, Mistress, Young Miss, and the concubines!"
Before the maids could stop her, Caimo had already knelt heavily before Yan Wengui and kowtowed deeply. Yan Wengui remained silent, accepting her gesture without objection. Seeing their master's tacit approval, Zhao Momo and the two maids stood aside, allowing Caimo to kowtow to Luo Shi, Yan Wuyou, Jiao Yiniang, and Wang Yiniang in turn.
When she reached Wang Yiniang, the latter sighed and said, "You served as a lowly maid in my courtyard for a year when you first arrived. Seeing your cleverness, I recommended you to the Mistress, who then chose you to serve the Young Miss. Who could have imagined you would develop such improper thoughts and commit such foolish acts? Let me advise you: wherever you end up after this, serve dutifully and stay out of trouble."
Caimo trembled and whispered through tears, "This servant will remember your teachings, Yiniang..."
Her tears fell like broken strings of pearls as she rose unsteadily from the floor. Turning, she cast one last lingering glance at Mu Xiyan before resolutely striding out of the hall. Zhao Momo and the two maids hurried after her.
After Caimo's departure, the atmosphere in the hall remained heavy for a long while. Finally, Yan Wengui stood and announced, "Everyone may disperse." To Luo Shi, he added, "Come, let us return to our quarters."Luo Shi was slightly taken aback. That evening, the master was supposed to take his turn resting in Wang Yiniang's quarters. Glancing at Wang Yiniang, she saw the woman smiling as she stood up, curtsying respectfully to both her and Yan Wengui before saying softly, "Then this humble concubine shall take Changzhu and retire for the night."
Yan Wengui waved his sleeve dismissively, already striding toward the western side chamber's bedroom.
Thus, everyone rose, bowed to Luo Shi, and withdrew to their respective quarters to rest. Mu Xiyan followed Yan Wuyou directly to the rear courtyard where they would retire, with Caishu, Caixuan, Shancha, and Lamei close behind. Throughout the walk, Yan Wuyou remained silent. Xiyan thought she must be feeling terrible—after all, a maid who had served her faithfully for five or six years had been exposed as the one who stole the seal stone to frame someone else. No one could accept such a revelation easily at first.
As she walked, Xiyan pondered silently. Earlier, Caimo had said she did those things to frame her because the young mistress treated Xiyan too well. Then there was Wang Yiniang's mention of "young master" and "master's chambermaid"—this part Xiyan understood. She figured Caiyan must have harbored feelings for the young mistress, resented her favor toward Xiyan, grew jealous, and acted foolishly.
Still, if she had served the young mistress for five or six years like Caimo, she too might have fallen for the stunningly beautiful, brilliant, and talented Miss Yan. Xiyan imagined privately that if she saw the young mistress being kind to someone else, she might also feel a pang of sour discomfort. If anything, the blame lay with Miss Yan being too much like the enchanting Chang'e descending from the moon palace—utterly captivating.
After silently musing for a while, Xiyan suddenly recalled the terms "eunuch-maid partnership" and "lesbian relationship" mentioned earlier by her father-in-law, Prefect Yan. At the time, her mother-in-law Luo Shi's expression had darkened noticeably, giving Xiyan the instinctive sense that these phrases carried negative connotations.
Were it not for Yan Wuyou's icy silence, she would have asked the young mistress what those terms meant. It was no surprise Xiyan didn't know—she had never received formal education, spending her days on needlework in the inner quarters or kitchen chores like cooking and vegetable prep. Her grandmother and legal mother would never have had occasion to discuss such matters with her.
Yan Wuyou's mood was indeed somber that evening. Though she had anticipated this outcome, having it confirmed still left her with an ineffable melancholy. A maid who had served her faithfully for years was now to be sold off—the abruptness of it felt jarring, stirring reluctant pangs of attachment.
Upon entering her courtyard, Yan Wuyou turned to Xiyan following behind and said softly, "Rest early."
Mu Xiyan quickly responded, "Alright," then added, "You too... don't dwell on it. Rest well."
Yan Wuyou smiled faintly. "I understand."
Seeing her smile before turning away gracefully, Xiyan felt her own tension ease. She then led Shancha and Lamei back to her room to wash up and retire for the night.The next morning, when Caimo went with Yan Wuyou to the main house to pay respects and have breakfast, Luo Shi assigned her personal maid Taohua to serve Yan Wuyou, filling the vacancy left by Caimo's departure. Yan Wuyou renamed Taohua as Caitao, having her take over Caimo's former duties of dressing and styling her hair.
After the meal, Mu Xiyan attended Yan Wuyou's study session as usual. Since last night until now, Yan Wuyou had regained her usual composure and spoke quite amiably with Xiyan.
While Yan Wuyou read at her desk, Xiyan sat on a brocade stool behind her doing needlework. After about two hours, Yan Wuyou stood up to stretch and walked over to watch Xiyan sew. Casually, she remarked, "You're always making things for others. When will you make something for me?"
Xiyan looked up with a smile, "Miss, all your clothes are exquisitely crafted by the best embroiderers from Lingluo Pavilion in Luozhou City. My humble embroidery can't compare—I fear you'd find it unworthy."
"You're too modest. Your skills are no less than theirs, and that double-strand embroidery technique passed down from your grandmother is a long-lost art. Saying this must mean you don't want to make me anything," Yan Wuyou said with slight displeasure.
Her words both complimented Xiyan and challenged her. As expected, Mu Xiyan immediately responded, "Of course I want to make you something—I just worry it won't meet your standards. Since you insist, I'll make you something. What would you like?"
After some thought, Yan Wuyou said, "Make me a sachet then."
"What kind would you like?" Xiyan asked, inquiring about the color and design. After a brief pause, Yan Wuyou replied, "Make it however you prefer."
Xiyan blinked, "What I like might not be to your taste..."
Yan Wuyou said gently, "Who says so? I'm sure I'll like whatever you like..."
"Oh?" Xiyan looked up at Yan Wuyou, her clear, questioning eyes meeting Yan Wuyou's deep, dark pools that seemed like bottomless ponds. In them, she only saw her own reflection. Her heart inexplicably fluttered, and she quickly lowered her head, suppressing the irregular heartbeat as she pretended to focus on her stitching.
To dispel the sudden strange tension, Xiyan asked randomly, "Miss, what did father-in-law mean by 'eunuch-maid partnership' and 'lesbian relationship' last night? Why did mother-in-law seem upset when she heard it?"
Yan Wuyou closed her eyes and massaged her forehead, sighing inwardly—she had known Xiyan would ask this. But how could she explain such things to her? After a pause, Yan Wuyou said, "Xiyan, how about I teach you to read? Once you're literate and can read books, you'll naturally understand."
Xiyan pouted, "Miss, you could just tell me directly. Why go through all that trouble?"
Yan Wuyou adopted a stern expression, "Some things are better understood than explained. As my study attendant, how can you remain illiterate? I can't have you making me search for books myself every time I enter the study..."
OpenNovel