chapter 3

chapter 3

Outside, the housekeeper looked helpless. He took me to the western side room of Pine-and-Plum Court.

“You will live here from now on. Serve the Eldest Young Master well. In time, he will see what kind of person you are. Things will improve.”

He left with a sigh.

There was nothing I could do but accept my fate and settle in.

Then the writing in the air began to churn again.

“Why didn’t the second female lead explain herself just now? Grand Madam only feels guilty after Pei Yi hits her. When he still refuses to sleep with her, Grand Madam gives her an aphrodisiac.”

“Right. The drug is so strong that the male lead misses an official assignment. He flies into a rage, strips the second female lead naked, and has her publicly whipped.”

“Her injuries are terrible, and she dies that night. Her parents and brothers are all banished to an outlying farm to fend for themselves too. I suppose it is a little tragic.”

“Whose fault is that? She overestimates herself and tries to steal the male lead from the heroine! Worst of all, she takes his virginity. The heroine stays angry forever, and they have to suffer through another fifty episodes before they finally get together!”

After staring at those lines for a long while, I began to understand.

Chun Tang was their heroine. She had not come to the Pei estate merely to work as a maid. She was here to complete some strange mission.

She also possessed something called a system. It helped her, gave her money, and created opportunities for her. It sounded miraculous.

Yet the mission would succeed only if Pei Yi married her as his lawful wife.

As for me, I was nothing but a supporting figure meant to advance their romance. I would bring about my own death and drag my entire family down with me.

The whole affair was so inconceivable that I could not sit still. I feared someone would discover I could see the writing, call me an evil spirit, and burn me alive.

Even more, I feared Pei Yi would strip me and have me whipped.

I spent several anxious days in Pine-and-Plum Court, but Pei Yi never summoned me. He behaved as though I did not exist. The comments never realized I could see them and spent all day discussing things I barely understood.

Then it occurred to me that perhaps the danger could be avoided.

They said I would die because I drugged and seduced Pei Yi. If I did neither, would I not be safe?

Chun Tang was bound to return for her mission. When she did, she would certainly drive me away. I needed only to lie low until then.

The thought steadied me.

From that point on, I was discreet, dutiful, and reclusive. I stayed in the western side room and kept out of sight.

Still, I could hardly move into his courtyard and do no work at all. A bedchamber maid did more than share her master’s bed. She was also expected to sew, keep watch at night, and tidy his rooms. Pine-and-Plum Court had a small kitchen, so I could prepare late-night food as well.

On the third day of my seclusion, a servant boy came to ask me to make Pei Yi a pair of socks. He also suggested that I send a snack to the study when his master read at night.

I agreed.

Each day, I waited until Pei Yi left before tidying his room. If he lacked socks or handkerchiefs, I made one or two. At night, I occasionally cooked sweet mung-bean and lily-bulb soup and had a servant boy deliver it.

I sought no praise. I only wished to avoid blame.

A month passed in peace.