Chapter 6

Chapter 6

In the past, when the Wei Family was at its height, they said servants filled the place like clouds and the lamps burned bright as day.

Now that it had fallen into decline, the household only felt deserted and cold.

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

Usually, Sister Zhu’er slept not far from me.

Farther away, in the row of side rooms, slept the steward and Cui Jiu.

But now that Madam had taken them all with her, those two long rows of side rooms held only me.

Jianru had never rested with the rest of us. Since the Eldest Young Master had difficulty moving about, he slept in the Eldest Young Master’s quarters in case the young master needed to rise in the night.

The wind outside the window was fierce, whining like a wild wolf. For no reason, I suddenly remembered how Cui Jiu used to tease me, saying that these grand households were where the filthiest things happened: corpses soaked white in wells, women ghosts heard weeping in the dead of night. The Wei Family residence was built in such luxury that even the servants’ rooms had carved beams and painted rafters. In daylight, it was fine. But now that all the candles had gone out and I was all alone, my scalp prickled with fear.

I curled myself tightly inside the quilt. The more frightened I was, the more I needed to relieve myself. I pressed a hand to my lower belly and tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

In the end, I did not even know how I finally drifted off.

When morning came and I washed up, I looked at the reflection in the water. The person staring back was haggard and bloodless, looking exactly like the female ghost Cui Jiu spoke of, the one that had been soaking in a well for half a year.

Cooking for only three people was easy, even with sweeping added on. After I finished my chores, I drew water and carefully washed the outer robe the Eldest Young Master had lent me from top to bottom. After that, I leaned against the firewood pile and gently closed my eyes.

It was my first time having my monthly courses, and my whole body ached. Counting from the night Madam fainted after reading Master’s letter, I had gone three straight days without a proper sleep.

I was truly exhausted and terribly sleepy.

I swear, at first I only meant to rest for the time it took one stick of incense to burn.

But when I opened my eyes, the last rays of the setting sun were shining through the window lattice, and a layer of golden dust floated in the air.

Once I came fully awake, I was so frightened that I sprang up from the ground.

It was nearly dark already. If I only started the fire and washed the rice at this hour, I would certainly delay the Eldest Young Master’s meal. If my mistake caused my master to go hungry and suffer, then I… then I…

For a moment, I did not know whether I should go confess my fault first or cook the rice first.

After weighing it over and over, I quickly put water on to boil. While waiting for it, I lifted my skirts and hurried off to the Eldest Young Master’s courtyard to admit my fault.

After hearing why I had come, the Eldest Young Master was not angry. His fingers paused on the open book before him, and he said only, in a mild voice, “Since it’s late, don’t make dishes. Cook a few bowls of noodles instead.”

My master had shown me leniency again and again, yet I had still made such a blunder. When I withdrew, I kept my head lowered, not daring to look at the Eldest Young Master’s expression. I felt so ashamed I could have died.

Hand-torn noodle soup. Hand-torn noodle soup. Ever since I could remember, I had helped Mother at her stall, and I was so practiced I could almost make it with my eyes closed. It was only that since coming to the Wei Family, I had never made it here before.

The three bowls of noodles were soon brought in. Jianru ate quickly, holding his bowl and slurping it all down. But the Eldest Young Master only tasted one mouthful before setting down his chopsticks, his brows drawing together. I could not tell what he was thinking.

My heart instantly leaped into my throat.

“Is it not to your taste?”

“I remember you’re from Baiyun Village in Qingshi Town?”

“Why does Young Master mention that? Is… is something wrong?”

The Eldest Young Master looked slightly lost in thought, as if recalling something from long ago. After a while, he revealed a gentle smile.

“So it was you. Back then, when I accompanied Father to the capital, we rested at your mother’s stall.”

Ah?

So the Eldest Young Master and I actually had such a connection.

I eagerly wanted to answer, but in the next instant, sorrow surged into my chest. My mother… had long since passed away. Master was far away in Baling too, and I did not know whether he had recovered from his illness.

The noodles were still that same bowl of noodles, but everything had changed.

The Eldest Young Master likely did not feel well either. When he spoke again, he had already changed the subject.

“You are usually very dependable in your work. What was the reason today? How did you miss the hour? Did something happen?”

The Eldest Young Master was like an immortal banished to the mortal world. Facing him, I found it very hard to lie.

I said, “This servant was frightened last night and didn’t sleep well. At noon today, I wanted to close my eyes for a bit, but I didn’t expect to oversleep.”

“Frightened of what?”

“This servant has never lived in such a large courtyard before. I’m afraid of sleeping alone… and afraid of the dark…”

The Eldest Young Master nodded. “In the end, you are still too young.”

Hearing what sounded like he intended to dismiss me, I jerked my head up and said in a panic, “This servant isn’t young. This servant can do many things. This servant… this servant won’t be afraid of the dark tonight, and tomorrow I definitely won’t delay anything!”

At that, the Eldest Young Master smiled faintly.

“No need to panic. Everyone has something they’re afraid of. This was my oversight; I did not think of it. After you finish eating, go back and pack your things. There are still a few empty rooms in my courtyard. Have Jianru take you to choose one. Starting tonight, move over here.”

There was actually someone as good as the Eldest Young Master in this world. Happiness had come so suddenly that I immediately grew lighthearted. After thanking him, I scrambled to my feet and headed outside.

“There’s still some soup in the pot. I’ll go bring you more.”

A gentle breeze blew from afar, carrying the sweet fragrance of locust blossoms. The sky was already completely dark. Perhaps because I was in such a good mood, I no longer felt afraid at all.

Jianru’s voice came from behind me. “Shiliu, are there any noodles left? I’m not full.”

I skipped along, then turned back and raised a hand with a smile.

“As much as you want.”