Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I didn’t tell my lady the complicated details of what had happened; I simply said I had been careless and spilled the soup pot.

My lady was a bit displeased, but she didn’t punish me.

To be fair, she was already an exceptionally kind mistress.

I had grown up by her side, and I had hardly suffered any hardships. In my previous life, had I not lost my memory and been misidentified by Qi Yu, she wouldn’t have endured such exhaustion and misery in the outside world until her life force was spent.

I suppose, where she was concerned, I truly felt a sense of guilt in my heart.

I thought the matter would end there, but at noon the following day, I heard Qi Yu grumbling to my lady with pointed implications:

“Though Tong Yue saved your life, she is a maid by birth after all. You are kind-hearted; do not let yourself be deceived.”

Through the door curtain, my lady’s voice sounded confused. “How could that be? Brother Qi, do you dislike her? I always feel like you have a cold face every time you see her.”

The man’s voice inside choked up, sounding somewhat flustered and annoyed.

“Why would I bother myself over a mere maid? It is simply that one may know a person’s face but not their heart. I am just telling you to be on your guard. How do you know she won’t try to climb the social ladder behind your back by clinging to someone…”

His voice gradually faded until I could no longer hear anything.

After another half a cup of tea’s time, Qi Yu walked out.

I took a step back, and as I looked up, I met his startled gaze.

He seemed to realize something, and his expression shifted repeatedly, appearing somewhat embarrassed and ugly. He frowned and stared at me for a while, his lips parting and closing several times as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, nothing came out. He tucked his hands behind his back and left in a huff.

I ignored him and lifted the curtain to enter the room.

In this life, I didn’t intend to have any involvement with him. Whatever he thought of me was no longer important.

A few days later, my lady came to find me, looking excited.

She handed me a portrait, acting very mysterious.

“A distant relative of a merchant family has come to the Marquis Manor. His surname is Zhang, and he says he’s looking for a head maid to be his primary wife. I’ve looked into it; this man from the Zhang Family is well-off and has a decent character. The Old Madam hasn’t been feeling well lately, so she handed the matter to me. Tong Yue, do you want to meet him?”

I instinctively refused. “My lady, this wouldn’t be appropriate-”

I really didn’t want to have any further involvement with anyone related to the Marquis Manor.

I was halfway through my sentence when my lady interrupted me. “Don’t be in such a hurry. Do you know how many people have come to me these past two days to act as matchmakers? People are fighting tooth and nail for this. I only kept it for you because you’re one of my own.”

As she spoke, she lowered her head, looking rather helpless. “Furthermore, for some reason I truly don’t understand, I feel that Brother Qi doesn’t like you. No matter how much I hate to part with you, I can’t keep you by my side forever. Although the Zhang Family is far away in Cangzhou, if you can marry into a good family, I will accept the distance…”

My brow twitched slightly. The words of protest reached my lips but I swallowed them back down.

Cangzhou…

It was indeed a good place.

After a moment’s pause, I nodded.

Soon after, I met with Young Master Zhang.

After a few exchanges, I learned that the main branch of the Zhang Family was in Cangzhou. Because Young Master Zhang was away from home all year round for business, he wanted to find a steady maid from a prestigious household to look after his home.

Each getting what they needed-it was a good idea.

My lady was delighted to have facilitated the match and immediately wanted to prepare a dowry for me.

When Qi Yu entered the room, she had just put away the list of betrothal gifts and was telling me about Young Master Zhang’s virtues.

He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “What, you want to marry her off to Cangzhou? Even though the Zhang Family are merchants, not just anyone is worthy of them. I don’t think this will work.”

“Besides-” He took a sip of tea, pausing for a moment.

His posture was composed, his tone inscrutable. “She wouldn’t agree to it anyway.”

My lady shot him a surprised look.

“What nonsense are you talking about, Brother Qi? Tong Yue has already agreed.”

Qi Yu’s motion of drinking tea came to a sudden halt.

“What did you say?”

My lady, completely oblivious, continued with a smile, “I said both Tong Yue and Young Master Zhang have agreed. This Young Master Zhang is indeed a good man; you can see his sincerity just from the list of betrothal gifts.”

Qi Yu pressed his lips tight, his hand gripping the teacup unconsciously tightening.

“This is perfect. Didn’t you find Tong Yue disagreeable? I’m sending her away to a remote place like Cangzhou. Out of sight, out of mind. You should be satisfied now, shouldn’t you?”

Qi Yu looked up, his mouth moving but making no sound. He simply set the teacup down heavily and gave a cold snort.

“Then that is truly for the best.”