Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Today, I ran into Madam’s personal maidservant, Hong Xiu. Though perhaps… it was not by chance.

“Sister Xiacao, Madam has something to discuss with you. Come with me.”

My instincts told me it was nothing good.

“Sister Hong Xiu, what does Madam want with me? I still have to go back and take care of the Eldest Young Master.”

Every part of me resisted.

Hong Xiu grabbed my arm and dragged me away without another word. “You’ll know once we get there. A master wants to see you. Do you dare not go?”

She was right. When a master gave an order, I could only obey.

Madam and I truly had nothing to say to each other. She tormented the Eldest Young Master, and I had suffered plenty along with him.

“So this is Miss Xiacao, the girl serving Ting Zong. You really are a sweet little thing.” Madam’s smile was all kindness.

Madam was very beautiful. She was more than ten years younger than the Marquis, and with how well she maintained herself, she looked exceptionally lovely.

And yet, the Marquis had long since grown tired of that face of hers. Perhaps all men were the same.

Night after night, the Marquis stayed in his concubines’ rooms, taking one new bride after another into the household.

Madam did not seem to care. She managed the household, and no matter how favored a concubine was, none dared make trouble in front of her.

She was much like the mother I remembered, but she was not nearly as kind as my mother had been.

I bowed respectfully.

“No need for such ceremony. Sit, quickly. Hong Xiu, serve Miss Xiacao some tea.”

“Madam, please don’t. If there is anything you need, just give this servant your orders. There is no need to treat me like this.”

Madam smiled, and the sight sent a chill through me.

At her signal, Hong Xiu shut the door tightly. I grew even more frightened.

Thinking back on what I had just said, I wished I could slap myself hard across the mouth.

Madam’s expression shifted. She furrowed her brow and sighed softly. “Ah, Miss Xiacao, you know Ting Zong’s health is poor. Every time I see him fall ill, my heart aches terribly as his mother.”

I forced a smile. “Madam is compassionate. The Eldest Young Master is blessed by heaven. He will surely recover soon.”

“You’re right. That is why I found a miraculous wandering physician and spent a great sum to buy a tonic from him. He said it was made from snow lotus of the Tianshan Mountains.”

Cold sweat gathered in my palm. “Since it is such a good thing, this servant thinks… if Madam personally gave it to the Eldest Young Master, the Eldest Young Master would certainly be grateful to you.”

Madam kept smiling. “There is something you don’t know. The physician said this tonic has never been used before, and he is worried there may be side effects. I am afraid Ting Zong would refuse to try it if he knew. But the physician also said there is a ninety percent chance it can cure his frailty.”

Only after weighing my words carefully did I dare speak. “If that is the case, why does Madam not tell the Marquis and Old Madam? If they speak to him, the Young Master will surely listen.”

The smile vanished from Madam’s lips. In that instant, she became especially terrifying.

“There is no need to trouble the Marquis and Old Madam.”

As she spoke, she reached out to Hong Xiu.

Hong Xiu handed Madam a sheet of paper.

“Xiacao, this is your indenture, is it not?”

Madam said, “What I mean is, you should secretly put this into the tonic your Young Master drinks every day. Don’t worry. He won’t be able to tell.”

Secretly? Tonic?

“Madam, I…” I was so nervous I could not speak.

She suddenly stepped forward and kindly took my hand. “Xiacao, as long as Ting Zong drinks the medicine and recovers, that will count as a great achievement on your part. When the time comes, I will return your indenture to you. How does that sound?”

If I refused her, what would she do with my indenture?

Before I could finish thinking it through, Hong Xiu had already placed the packet of medicine in my hand.

Then I heard Madam say, “On the fifth of next month, the entire Lu Family will be coming to the capital. I hope that before then… Well, that way Ting Zong can meet his uncle in good health. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Without waiting for my reply, Madam smiled and removed a hairpin from her hair, then handed it to me. “Here. This is your reward.”

I panicked. “Madam… this servant cannot accept it… Madam.”

Hong Xiu forced the hairpin into my hair. “If Madam rewards you, you take it. Don’t fail to appreciate her kindness.”

Seeing that I had “accepted” it, Madam smiled and waved a hand. “All right. See Miss Xiacao out.”

Hong Xiu dragged me out. I was in a daze, as if I had yet to understand what had happened. I stumbled along, my mind foggy, until I reached the door of my own room. Only then did I jolt back to my senses.

I hurriedly took off the hairpin and hid it together with the packet of medicine before going inside.

Ming Yue rushed over to show off to me happily. “Hey, look at my new dress. Isn’t it pretty? The floral pattern is the latest fashion!”

I was in no mood to respond. I sat down on my bed by myself.

“What’s wrong with you? Is my dress pretty or not?”

As if possessed, I asked, “Where did you get so much money?”

She stammered, “This… Oh, come on… don’t ask about that. Just tell me, is it pretty or not?”

“Pretty… very pretty…” I did not know what kind of bleak smile I was wearing.

Then I suddenly froze. Her dress was indeed pretty. It was just…

Ming Yue worked alongside me. Our monthly wages were about the same. Yet on ordinary days, she had new clothes, rouge, and jewelry. Where had all of it come from?

I thought of everything I had experienced today. Someone must have rewarded Ming Yue too. Since Ming Yue had accepted it, did that not mean…

But nothing had happened to the Young Master.

Aside from his own frailty.

But the Young Master trusted me. On ordinary days, I was the one responsible for his food and medicine. Ming Yue had no way to interfere.

Or could it be… Ming Yue had done something else?

What had she done? Did the Young Master know?

I could not make sense of it. My head only ached terribly. I no longer had the energy to worry about anyone else. What should I do about the matter right in front of me?

The Young Master treated me well. I could not harm him.

But right now, I could not even protect myself.

My indenture was in Madam’s hands, and the terms she offered were indeed tempting. If I got my indenture back, I could leave this place.

But if I really did it, would she actually give it to me? And if something truly happened to the Young Master, who would be made the scapegoat?