Chapter 5

Chapter 5: This Maid Was Doing It for Your Own Good

Madam Cui nodded with satisfaction and said, “Mm.”

A voice outside reported, “Madam, Miss Huan Zhu is here.”

Huan Zhu’s voice followed, “Heir Apparent, Princess ordered this maid to deliver medicine.”

Qi Shu Xian’s chopsticks paused in midair.

Qi Fei Yan let out a snort of laughter and said, “See? I was right! She is truly shameless. You begged her and she insisted on putting on airs, but the moment Mother decided it, she did not dare say a word. Now she even sends someone to deliver medicine. If you ask me, a woman like that should be treated lightly.”

Madam Cui spoke calmly and said, “Let her in.”

Huan Zhu entered with a bright, pleased look. The moment Huan Zhu saw Madam Cui and Qi Fei Yan, the smile on Huan Zhu’s face stiffened.

Madam Cui asked, “What wound medicine is it?”

Huan Zhu quickly produced a delicate porcelain bottle and said, “Replying to Madam, this was a gift Empress Dowager gave Princess years ago. I heard it has great effects for stopping bleeding from external wounds.”

Qi Shu Xian recognized it at a glance and said, “Golden Wound Skin-He A Ling Dew!”

It was said to be made from dozens of medicinal ingredients, including blood scorpion, Dan Nan Xing, and dragon bone. It could stop bleeding and seal skin almost instantly, and it could even restore rotting flesh back to normal.

That tiny, finger-sized bottle alone cost at least a thousand taels.

Madam Cui had also heard of it. Madam Cui’s eyes flashed as Madam Cui said, “Leave it. Go back and tell Zhi Wan that Shu Xian’s injuries are a bit serious, so Shu Xian will not go to her place tonight.”

Huan Zhu had no excuse to stay. Huan Zhu answered, “Yes,” then secretly glanced at Qi Shu Xian before slipping out.

Qi Shu Xian frowned and said, “Mother, my injuries are not that bad.”

Madam Cui shot Qi Shu Xian a sharp look and said, “Even if they are not that bad, you will stay put.”

Madam Cui continued, “That little temper of your wife must be twisted back somehow. Wait until she softens on her own and admits fault. You should grind down her pride first, then go over.”

Qi Fei Yan curled her lip and said, “Exactly. She will not last long anyway. Maybe she will come crawling over tonight.”

Qi Fei Yan suddenly remembered something else and snapped, “And you should ask her what she means! That fatherless Wang Zhi Yuan can become a Senior Sixth Rank Assistant Prefect, but my husband is a Vice Minister young master. Why did she only get him a Han Lin Compiler post?!”

Madam Cui stood up and said, “Enough. We will talk about that later.”

Madam Cui told Qi Shu Xian, “Rest well today. You still have to go to the Imperial Palace tomorrow to receive your reward.”

Madam Cui added, “I heard from your Father, who went to ask around, that this time His Majesty probably means to promote you to Senior Fourth Rank.”

Qi Shu Xian answered, “Yes!”

Qi Shu Xian did not show joy on his face, but a sharp light flashed through Qi Shu Xian’s eyes. Madam Cui saw it and felt even more satisfied.

In earlier years, everyone said the Duke Qi residence had fallen. Yet Madam Cui’s Shu Xian first became a Triple First Laureate, then earned great merit in Cang Nan.

These past two years, many families in the capital city that had stopped visiting the Duke residence began to come around again. Was it not because they saw Qi Shu Xian’s future was limitless?

It was not only Shu Xian. Madam Cui’s second daughter was famous for her beauty, and the fourth Young Master had become Great Scholar Lin’s disciple. In the future, they would all have great destinies.

Only the eldest daughter had married out a bit too early, into a Junior Fifth Rank Assistant Minister household. The husband, Lian Wen Hui, only barely passed the Metropolitan Exam at twenty-four.

Not long ago, after Sheng Zhi Wan handled things, Lian Wen Hui obtained a Han Lin Compiler post. Madam Cui had originally thought that was enough.

But when Madam Cui thought of the son of Sheng Zhi Wan’s Wet Nurse, Madam Cui grew displeased again. A servant’s son held an official rank half a grade higher than Madam Cui’s own brother-in-law.

This Sheng Zhi Wan could not even tell closeness from distance. It seemed Madam Cui still had to knock Sheng Zhi Wan down a bit more.

*Huan Zhu returned to Ping Lan Residence and saw Ting Lan holding a dowry box. Huan Zhu’s face sank, and Huan Zhu strode over to snatch it away.

Huan Zhu demanded, “How could you touch these things?”

Before Ting Lan could explain, Sheng Zhi Wan said coldly, “I told Ting Lan to touch them. What, do I need to inform you too?”

Ting Lan heard the deeper meaning in those words and immediately stopped talking.

Yet Huan Zhu had served Sheng Zhi Wan the longest. Huan Zhu was the only one who followed Sheng Zhi Wan out of the Imperial Palace, and among the maidservants, Huan Zhu had the most face. Even though Huan Zhu, An Zhi, and Ting Lan were all called First-Rank Maidservant, in this courtyard Huan Zhu counted as half a little master.

Now Sheng Zhi Wan embarrassed Huan Zhu in front of Ting Lan, and Huan Zhu could not help feeling resentful.

Huan Zhu said, “Princess, what do you mean by that? I followed you since I was little. For more than ten years I worked carefully, and I considered you in everything. You let someone touch the Dowry Inventory I manage without even telling me. If you think I did something wrong, then just say it!”

Sheng Zhi Wan took a slow sip of tea before looking at Huan Zhu. Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “Then why don’t you tell me first where you went just now, and what you did?”

Huan Zhu’s eyes flickered as Huan Zhu said, “This maid went to Heir Apparent’s courtyard to deliver the wound medicine. This maid was also doing it for your own good!”

Sheng Zhi Wan sneered and said, “For my own good? With just one line of ‘for my own good’, you sent out what Grandmother left to this Princess. Anyone who did not know better would think Qi Shu Xian is your master!”

Huan Zhu’s expression changed as Huan Zhu said, “How could Princess misunderstand this maid like that?! This maid only worried that you and Heir Apparent kept fighting, and others would take advantage. I never thought Princess would see this maid that way!”

As Huan Zhu spoke, Huan Zhu shoved the box hard into Ting Lan’s arms. If Ting Lan had not reacted fast, it would have hit the ground.

Huan Zhu did not care at all. Huan Zhu glared at Sheng Zhi Wan and said, “If Princess thinks this maid did wrong, then Princess might as well send this maid away right now!”