“Yes, when even such people can enter the household, what rules are left…” A’Ru murmured, her anger replaced by sadness, her expression dejected. Yes, the Old Madam had been gone for three years, and in these three years, too much had changed…
A’Ru didn’t enter the room but asked A’Hao to tell the Young Madam so she wouldn’t worry, while she herself went to the small kitchen next door under the pretext of preparing breakfast.
A’Hao entered the room showing no dejection, but rather carrying a hint of victorious satisfaction as she arranged the lotus flower.
“The lotus flowers in the lake bloom late, only those near the lake-heart bridge bloom early. I’ve had my eye on this one for a while, knowing that after yesterday’s rain it would surely bloom today. I ran over first thing this morning and indeed…” she said happily, “Young Madam, don’t you think it’s beautiful?”
Qi Yue smiled and nodded in praise. A’Hao’s face lit up with an even brighter smile, though her hair was somewhat disheveled from the earlier struggle, making her look a bit comical.
“Someone saw it and got jealous, came to fight me for it. I’m sorry for troubling you,” she hadn’t forgotten A’Ru’s instruction to report back, saying this with a smile.
“Good things, right? If no one fights for them, what makes them good things? It shows you have good taste,” Qi Yue laughed.
A’Hao happily curtsied in thanks.
“Let me help Young Madam style her hair…” she said, about to help Qi Yue undo her casually arranged hair. She hadn’t even picked up the comb when the main gate crashed open.
“A’Ru, come out here!”
A female voice rang out at the gate. Along with this shout, the slightly ajar main gate was kicked open, and four or five people rushed in.
Leading them was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl wearing a fish-white small-flowered straight-cut thin shirt, pink skirt, and red sash at her waist. She was tall and pretty, with her pointed chin slightly raised, standing in the middle of the courtyard.
Behind her followed several maids of similar age, wearing scallion-green or tender-yellow sashes, all with angry expressions.
A’Ru came out of the kitchen, looking at this girl.
“It’s Su Mei. What do you want with me?” she said, her eyes showing the joy of seeing an acquaintance.
The newcomer pulled a little maid from behind her.
“Is it her?” Su Mei asked.
The little maid was the one who had fought for the lotus flower earlier. Being dragged by Su Mei, she glared fiercely at A’Ru.
“It’s her,” she said.
A’Ru understood what this was about, and the joy on her face faded.
“Su Mei, I heard you’re serving under Concubine Zhu…” she said.
Before she could finish, Su Mei stepped forward and slapped her.
The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the courtyard, stunning everyone inside and out.
A’Ru covered her face, looking at the person before her in disbelief.
“Where I serve is none of your concern,” Su Mei snorted, “Even when beating a dog, one must consider the master. Sister A’Ru, you served the Old Madam for so long, but the Old Madam has only been gone three years and you’re already confused?”
She emphasized the words “Old Madam” and “gone.”
Tears welled up in A’Ru’s eyes as she stared at this maid who was younger than herself, seeming to still see her timid, fawning expression from years past.
“Whatever sister wants to do, just say it…”
“…Sister, teach me, I don’t understand…”
“…Being able to help sister is my good fortune…”
Her tears finally fell drop by drop.
“Those words are absolutely right.”
A female voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone present looked toward the sound to see a woman standing at the room’s entrance. Her hair was not styled, she wore an outer garment draped over her shoulders, and was slowly picking her nails with a hairpin, looking over with a half-smile.
These years everyone had avoided Qiutong Courtyard, and since this Young Madam never left her room while recuperating, everyone had nearly forgotten her appearance. But seeing her now, they immediately recognized her – after all, the Young Madam’s face was beautiful enough to be unforgettable.
“Young Madam…” Su Mei lowered her head and curtsied, showing little fear on her face. As she was about to say something, Qi Yue spoke first.
“A’Hao, slap her,” she said lightly.
A’Hao, who had been trembling with anger behind her, immediately rushed out upon hearing this and delivered a heavy slap to Su Mei.
Like A’Ru, who hadn’t expected the visitor to speak and strike immediately, Su Mei also didn’t react in time and took the slap squarely.
This slap from A’Hao carried all her accumulated new and old grievances. Following the principle of making each strike count, she didn’t restrain her newly grown nails either. With one slap, Su Mei not only screamed in pain but also had blue-white marks on her face plus two scratches, with blood seeping out.
“You, you dare hit me!” she shrieked, feeling her face burn with pain. When she touched it and felt blood, she realized she was disfigured!
Her looks were her life! Su Mei nearly fainted. The maids who had come with her also surged forward in a commotion, wanting to grab and beat A’Hao.
A’Hao, having received prior instructions, didn’t linger after her successful strike and quickly ran back to Qi Yue’s side in two or three steps.
“Kneel down!” Qi Yue raised her voice and shouted.
The chaotic maids were startled into silence, staring blankly at Qi Yue leaning against the doorframe.
“You’re absolutely right – even when beating a dog, one must consider the master. What are you things? Running to my presence to hit and scold my maids?” Qi Yue slapped the doorframe and shouted, “Are you blind, or am I, your master, dead?”
The slap made a loud thump, frightening the maids into shuddering. The marquis household had strict hierarchies, and by instinct, one of them couldn’t help but kneel down. Once one knelt, the others followed suit due to herd mentality. Su Mei, though extremely unwilling, also had to kneel.
Taking advantage of the maids lowering their heads, Qi Yue quickly took two breaths and shook her hand.
She had used too much force – the slap had nearly broken her hand. This was because it was her first time performing such a scene and her technique was unpracticed…
She should have grabbed a teacup, teapot, or vase to smash, but those items looked like genuine antiques and fine imperial porcelain to Qi Yue – far too precious. The psychological pressure was too great for her to bring herself to destroy them.