Chapter 159: The Secret of Saintess Jing Li
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Late at Night
Chao Chao tiptoed out of her room, mounting her faithful dog, Chasing Wind, who wagged his tail with excitement. Her two personal maids tiptoed behind her as they stealthily navigated through the dark estate, taking great care not to disturb anyone’s sleep.
Upon reaching a secluded spot, Chasing Wind let out two sharp barks. A shadowy figure then vaulted over the wall, moving with swift grace, and gently lifted Chao Chao off her mount.
“Where do you wish to go tonight?” whispered General Rong Che, his voice barely audible. “But remember, don’t tell your mother I helped you escape!”
Chao Chao patted his chest, her grin wide. “Chao Chao pwomise not teww Mommy! We go to Mawis’s house.”
Rong Che, careful to avoid any guards, quickly escorted them beyond the marquis’s premises.
“What’s this for? It smells awful!” Rong Che grimaced, pinching his nose as he glanced at the sack Chao Chao brought along.
“Chao Chao needs it!” she declared, aware of a dog hole in the wall at the marquis’s estate. “You wait here, ‘kay?” She signaled to Rong Che and then crawled through the hole with her maid Yuhua.
Scratching his head, Rong Che stood baffled outside. [All I wanted was to gain favor with Yun Shi’s children, but here I am, entangled in Chao Chao’s midnight adventure. Something isn’t right here.]
“Sister Yuhua, hurry up!” Chao Chao urged as she wriggled through the dog hole.
Expecting to encounter several guards, Chao Chao was surprised to find the residence unsettlingly quiet. Madam Pei had reduced the guard force to cut costs, which made their infiltration surprisingly easy. They paused upon overhearing disgruntled maids:
“Cursed miser! She’s even slashing our hard-earned wages!”
“Why stay as the marquis’s wife if she’s penniless?”
“She always acts high and mighty with us, but outside, she dares not speak a word!”
“Quiet, sister, or the madam will scold us again,” one maid cautioned.
“What if she hears us? What can she do? No other households cut their maids’ wages like this! She promised us better pay, and now blames us?”
“They’ve slashed my wages for half a year!”
“A concubine will always be just that, never equal to the noble Madam Xu! Madam Xu was generous and kind, never docking our pay. Life was so much better with her.”
The maids collectively sighed.
“How did the marquis ever choose Madam Pei over Madam Xu?”
“And the eldest young master, once paralyzed, is now topping the exams! The old madam must be regretting her decisions.”
“If he clinches first place in the royal exam, it will drive her mad with envy.”
“Just saw Madam Xu today—she’s looking lovelier than ever. You should’ve seen Madam Pei’s face! Serves her right.”
Laughter followed their spiteful remarks.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“Now, we make less than a third of what we did under Madam Xu… Sigh…”
[When the master lacks virtue, the servants suffer too.]
Quietly, Chao Chao tiptoed to a window and peeked in, catching a maid spitefully spitting into Madam Pei’s tea. She giggled softly. After a brief exploration of the courtyard, Chao Chao entered Deshan Hall.
She first checked for the ragged doll she had hidden there earlier, which was missing now after the old madam discovered her buddha statue had been replaced with the item.
The hall was dimly lit, pervaded by the odor of medicine. Chao Chao covered her nose; the place always smelled of illness and despair. A nanny was massaging the old madam’s legs. “Old Madam, don’t worry. Young Master Jing Huai is renowned as a genius in the capital. Unfortunately, he was assigned to a disadvantaged exam spot and fell ill, impacting his performance. The royal exam will surely restore his honor.”
The old madam lay on the couch, a cold towel on her forehead, her mind racked with tension. “I favored him over Yan Shu. For his sake, I even removed Yan Shu from our family register. He must excel. He can lose to anyone but Yan Shu! Otherwise, what will become of our family’s honor?” The old madam’s voice was filled with regret.
[Had I only delayed another year!]
“Hopefully, the royal exam will restore our family’s prestige, surpassing Yan Shu.” The old madam sighed, reflecting on how life had become unbearable without Madam Xu. Madam Pei, her niece, came from a modest background and lacked the grace required for her role.
“Don’t worry, Young Master Jing Huai will surely secure the top scholar title for our household and not disappoint you. The abbot from the National Temple assured that our residence would produce a distinguished scholar and a destined noblewoman. His predictions can’t be wrong.”
“Focus on massaging my hands and feet; they’re feeling numb,” the old madam whispered hoarsely. Ever since Madam Pei had taken over, the household had dismissed their regular doctor, leaving the old madam without a health check for months.
Outside, Chao Chao listened intently while Yuhua muttered bitterly, “Still dreaming of topping the exams. Keep dreaming.”
They then sneaked towards Lu Jing Huai’s courtyard. The few remaining guards appeared lax, a consequence of Madam Pei’s penny-pinching which left the servants bitter and reliant on scant monthly allowances.
Lu Jing Huai now resided in what was once Lu Yan Shu’s quarters. The area was profoundly silent. Chao Chao kept her distance, catching only fragments of a conversation about sending a letter to Saintess Jing Li at the embassy.
A servant reassured, “Don’t worry, young master, I’ll see to it.”
“I’ve noticed Saintess Jing Li seems quite fond of you. She always treasures your letters, reciting them often: ‘In the sea of people, I searched for her a thousand times. Suddenly, I turned, and there she was, under the dim light.'”
Lu Jing Huai allowed himself a small smile.
“How could Miss Jiang compare to Saintess Jing Li? The saintess is noble and perfectly suited for you.”
“Just ensure the letter is delivered swiftly and discreetly. The Jiang family must not find out.” Lu Jing Huai instructed sternly. The servant nodded and hurried off.
As the servant left, Lu Jing Huai’s smile vanished. He had spent the day at the West Yue embassy, painfully aware that his talents were mere shadows of Lu Yan Shu’s. His achievements were based on plagiarized works, including old articles from Lu Yan Shu and timeless poems from his sister. Perhaps he could rank among the top three. But competing directly with Lu Yan Shu felt like confronting an insurmountable peak—unreachable and only to be admired from afar. The mocking words he had endured earlier that day had deeply wounded his pride. He swore to one day restore his dignity!
Yuhua’s face flushed with anger. “He’s courting Saintess Jing Li? What right does he have? How could he possibly deserve such a noble woman? She mustn’t be deceived by him…”
In the capital, Saintess Jing Li was a dream pursued by all.
Chao Chao scrunched up her face in confusion. [Lu Jing Huai courting Saintess Jing Li?] She shook her head emphatically, “No no no, no need.”
[Saintess Jing Li is beyond reach! Oh my, Lu Jing Huai courting Saintess Jing Li, how utterly shocking!]
Wasn’t there something up with the Saintess? MC originally seemed interested in her but got kinda disappointed when they actually met?
yeah, there was something up and MC didn’t say what it was