Chapter 065
Chapter 65: Xiu He’s Advice
Xiao Man’s eyes were red, and dark rings sat heavy beneath them. She had been guarding Lin Qing Xuan day and night, afraid anything might go wrong. Her body had reached its limit. At last she could not hold on and called for Chen Shi from the courtyard.
She forced a smile and said, “Shi Tou, you watch the Young Master today. I cannot keep going. I need to go lie down a bit.”
Lin Qing Xuan saw how she swayed on her feet and frowned: “Go rest. I am fine.”
Xiao Man almost floated back to her room. She had just touched the edge of the bed when a soft knock sounded.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Who is it?” she asked, standing bolt upright in a flash.
“Xiao Man, it is me, Xiu He,” came the reply.
Xiao Man steadied herself, opened the door, and Xiu He slipped in like a fish, shutting it quickly behind her. Lowering her voice, words tumbling out fast, she said, “Do not be scared. When I heard your courtyard had trouble, Dong Chun and I almost went crazy with worry. That girl tried to rush over several times, and I had to drag her back each time.”
Xiu He paused, glanced toward the yard, then went on: “We also did not want to disturb the Eldest Grandson Young Master while he heals. And there is the matter with Zheng Xiu Yun. Right now the whole manor is acting like quail, nobody daring to make a big move, afraid the First Madam, that living hell king, will punish everyone together.”
“Is it really that serious?” asked Xiao Man. She had been focused on Lin Qing Xuan the past few days and knew nothing of what was happening outside.
Xiu He took Xiao Man’s hand and felt how ice cold it was. She sighed and said, “It is over now. The one from the Zheng Clan has already been dealt with by the First Madam.”
“I came to tell you something so you have it in your heart,” she added, leaning closer, her eyes tangled with mixed feelings. “That bottle of Spring Breeze Powder was not some bad idea she cooked up after entering the manor. We found out she got that dirty stuff from the Black Market before she even came here.”
“So do not underestimate her. From the start, she was not simple. Her goal was clear. She came straight for the Eldest Grandson Young Master, dreaming of leaping up in one step.”
Xiao Man’s pupils tightened.
Xiu He patted her hand to soothe her, then her tone turned cool and pointed as she said, “But think. She is only the daughter of a Sixth Rank Official. Where would she get the guts to stir trouble on the head of the Lord of Tai Sui? Do they think our Heir Apparent Manor is a marketplace where anyone can walk in and cause a scene?”
“If someone were not behind her, drawing big pictures and pouring sweet poison in her ear, would she have swelled up like that?”
She gave a short, cold laugh and said, “Remember the birthday party at Drifting Cloud Hall for the third Miss? Birthday my foot. It was a blind date feast for the Eldest Grandson Young Master. A whole crowd of Noble Ladies came. Every one of them wanted to squeeze in, but in the end, not a single one made it.”
“Everyone thought the matter was over. Who knew Miss Zheng from the Zheng Clan would paste herself to our door afterward?”
“She is the daughter of the First Madam’s cousin from her maiden family. Her birth mother died early. Her father is a useless Sixth Rank Official with no way up. Later he married a Second Principal Wife. That stepmother hates the sight of her, thinks she is a burden, and would love to push her off on any random man to be done with it.”
“But Miss Zheng’s pride reaches the sky. She did not like any of the poor matches they found. So she ran here to cling to her Aunt at the Heir Apparent Manor.”
“The moment she entered the manor, the huge wealth dazzled her so much she could barely walk straight. The First Madam is a sharp one. She lifted her up on purpose, gave her little favors, a hairpin today, a dress tomorrow, letting her dream she could fly onto a branch and turn into a phoenix.”
“To be blunt, what is she? She is only a chess piece in the First Madam’s hand. A piece used to test the Buddha’s Chosen and to knock you on the head, to make you back off. Too bad this pawn was so foolish that before anyone else could move her, she ruined herself first.”
Each sentence made Xiao Man’s heart sink lower and lower.
At last, Xiu He held Xiao Man by the shoulders and sat her down. She crouched, looked straight into her eyes, and said each word clearly, “Xiao Man, the Old Madam told me to warn you. Do not be fooled by how the First Madam worships Buddha. Her pride in family status is higher than the sky.”
“You are a good Miss. Everyone can see that. But you must be crystal clear inside. Even if you truly end up with the Eldest Grandson Young Master, that high seat of Household Matriarch is not something you can reach. Do not dream about it. If you do, Zheng Xiu Yun’s today will be your tomorrow.”
When Xiu He left, Xiao Man slumped onto a cold stool, strength drained from her body.
Of course she knew. How could she not?
She had seen with her own eyes what happened to girls like Xiao Tao. They were sold like livestock. Whether they lived or died, who cared? And today, she had also “heard” Zheng Xiu Yun’s fate. So what if she was an official’s daughter? In the First Madam’s eyes, she was still trash to be used and tossed away. One order to beat her, one order to send her off, not even a chance to explain.
That so called noble status was weak as paper before real power. One poke and it tore.
A chill shot up from the soles of Xiao Man’s feet to the crown of her head, freezing her through and through. [This world eats people. This cursed place.]
[Are women’s lives really so easy to control, as cheap as weeds by the road?]
[No! I refuse!]
Smack.
Xiao Man slapped herself hard. The sting cleared her head at once.
Lin Qing Xuan was good. He truly treated her well. But could love and kindness feed her? Could they keep her safe for life? How long could they last?
[I cannot. I must not bet my life and future on a man’s favor.]
[I must get out.]
[I have to leave the House of Wang, this gold covered cage.]
The fear and confusion in her eyes faded. In their place rose a fierce, no turning back resolve.
[I will live for myself, just once.]
[Leave the manor.]
[Go and find the freedom that belongs to me.]
This thought had never burned so bright.