Volume One: Spring Lock in the Garden, Chapter One: Crossing a Thousand Years
My throat is so dry and thirsty, it feels like there's a fire burning inside, or like a knife cutting into it...
Ruan Bi slowly opened her eyes, looking at the carved bed and the densely draped curtains, momentarily stunned—although she had been transmigrated for a month, she always felt stunned every time she woke up. Just because she took a cold medicine, she went from a nearly thirty-year-old career woman to a sickly thirteen-year-old heiress in the Minister's mansion. If she weren't so resilient, she probably would have gone mad long ago.
This body was incredibly weak; for almost a month after she transmigrated, she had been lying in bed, drinking so much traditional Chinese medicine that she felt like vomiting. Her clothes, the curtains, the blankets… even her entire being reeked of traditional Chinese medicine. Fortunately, a few days ago, she finally stopped taking the medicine, and her health gradually improved.
I've been awake for so long, and not a single maid has come to greet me. The room is as quiet as a tomb.
Ruan Bi was puzzled. She reached out and lifted the bed curtains to peek out, but the maids who had been guarding her bedside were nowhere to be seen. Her throat was too sore, so she got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, grabbed a thin jacket from the bedside table and put it on. She reached for the table; the kettle was empty, not a drop left. She slowly walked along the wall to the outer room, but there was still no one there. The doors and windows were tightly closed, and the light was dim.
I walked over, opened the door, and the blazing sunlight shone in, blinding me with a blinding white light, almost making me faint again. Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I leaned against the door and stepped outside, just in time to see a young maid coming out of the main room. I quickly waved to her.
The maid hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and curtsied. "Good afternoon, Fifth Miss."
Ruan Bi asked in a hoarse voice, "Could you get me a kettle of hot water?"
The maidservant paused, a hint of sympathy suddenly appearing in her eyes. "Fifth Miss, please wait a moment, I'll get it for you right away." She turned and went back to the side room, emerging a moment later with a rough white porcelain teapot in her hand.
Ruan Bi took the teapot and was about to say thank you.
The curtain to the main room fluttered, and a young maid, about sixteen years old with a pointed chin and slanted eyes, stepped out, hands on her hips, scolding, "Qiuyan, you wretched girl! I told you to go to the kitchen and get some snacks for the young lady, what are you dawdling about? I think you're getting more and more clueless. You don't do your proper mistress's work, but instead meddle in other people's business..."
The little maid stuck out her tongue and said, "Good sister, please don't scold me, I'll go right away." She smiled apologetically at Ruan Bi and ran off in a hurry.
The head maid gave Ruan Bi a cold, sidelong glance, then lifted the curtain and went inside.
Ruan Bi was taken aback. She knew the original owner of this body was disliked in the manor, but she hadn't expected even a maid to dare to be so disrespectful and veiledly insult her to her face. She couldn't help but feel a little sad, and the burning thirst in her throat disappeared.
A pretty maidservant, around sixteen years old, entered from outside the courtyard. She saw Ruan Bi standing on the white stone platform, holding a teapot, looking melancholy. She quickly rushed to her side and helped her into the house. "Why did you come out, Miss? You've just recovered; don't let the wind catch you again."
Her name is Dongxue, and she is the original owner's head maid.
"I'm fine, I was just thirsty and came out to find some water."
Dongxue was taken aback and said, "The young lady came out to find water by herself? Where are Dongmei and Dongqin?"
"I don't know either. When I got up, they weren't there."
Dongxue's expression changed, and she said angrily, "These two brats are getting bolder and bolder. When I left, I clearly told them to watch over the young lady. They actually took advantage of the young lady's sleep and ran off to play without a word. I'm going to teach them a lesson later. This time, young lady, please don't stop me."
Ruan Bi gave a casual "hmm". She had no love for this era and was unwilling to care about the rights and wrongs here.
Back in the inner room, Dongxue helped her to the bedside to lean against it, took a large blue satin pillow and placed it behind her back, then took a comb to tidy up her messy double buns from her afternoon nap. As she combed, she said, "I just went to see Granny Zheng, and I heard that the Second Madam, the Third Miss, and the Seventh Miss will be returning from Yangzhou in a couple of days. This time, the Second Madam stayed in Yangzhou for almost two months. The Old Madam didn't say anything, but she wasn't very happy... But speaking of which, it's only the Second Master's fault for going too far; he didn't bring his proper wife with him, but instead brought a concubine..."
Just then, the sound of light footsteps came from the outer room.
Dongxue put down her comb, her face darkening, and lifted the curtain to go outside. A moment later, the sound of hushed arguing could be heard. A little while later, the curtain moved, and Dongqin rushed in, pulling Dongmei along. They knelt before her with a thud, saying, "Miss, you must do me justice..."
Ruan Bi turned to look at her. She was a young maid who rarely appeared in the inner room. Moreover, Ruan Bi had been bedridden for the past month, her heart heavy with sorrow, and she hadn't paid attention to anything around her. Therefore, although Dong Qin had appeared before her a few times, she hadn't gotten a clear look at her face. Dong Xue was probably thirteen or fourteen years old, with a round face that was almost square, large eyes, and a rather clever air about her. Although she was kneeling, her back and neck were straight, showing that she was extremely resentful. In contrast, Dong Mei beside her had her head almost drooping to her chest, looking utterly docile.
"Just now, while the young lady was asleep, Chunliu from the second young lady's courtyard came over and said that the second young lady had invited a distinguished guest to stroll in the garden and admire the orchids today, and that they were short-handed, so she asked Dongmei and me to help. I thought that the young lady always slept soundly and wouldn't get up until four o'clock in the afternoon, so if we got back before that time, it wouldn't delay serving the young lady, and so I went. But as soon as Dongmei and I returned, Sister Dongxue wanted to scold and punish us, saying that we had no respect for our mistress, which is a huge injustice."
Dongxue followed in and, after hearing Dongqin's words, raised an eyebrow and sneered. "The Second Miss invited the Second Miss Xie from the Marquis of Yanping's residence. If there aren't enough people, the Madam will naturally make arrangements. Why would we need to borrow people from our courtyard? If we were to borrow, of course we would have to ask our master. Only when our master gives the order can a servant go. How can a servant go on their own? It's clear that you disregarded your master and eagerly went up to her, yet you said such nonsense as 'they begged you for help.'"
"Chunliu originally wanted to inform the young lady, but she was asleep and it was not good to disturb her. That's why she came to me and Dongmei to discuss it. I thought that the young lady and the second young lady have always been close. I had heard that if the second young lady had something to do, she would put aside her own affairs to help the second young lady first. If the young lady is awake, she will definitely allow us to go. So I took it upon myself to go with Dongmei."
Dongxue sneered. "So you admit you acted on your own initiative?"
"Yes, Dongqin acted on her own initiative, but it was for the sake of Miss and Second Miss." Dongqin looked at Ruan Bi expectantly, secretly wondering why her young lady, who was usually timid and fearful, would panic at the mere mention of Second Miss, was so calm today.
Dongxue, standing to the side, was also puzzled. "Pah, don't try to sweet-talk me. Saying it's for the young lady and the second young lady, you're clearly doing it for yourself. Dongxue, everyone knows what you're after by currying favor with Chunyun."
Dongqin glared at Dongxue and said, "Then I also want to ask, what is it that Sister Dongxue wants from becoming Chen Mama's godmother?"
Dongxue was startled and quickly looked at Ruan Bi, only to find her expression unmoved, as if she hadn't heard at all. Feeling slightly relieved, she said, "When I first entered the manor, I worked under Granny Chen. She treated me like her own daughter. I grew up without parents, and I became her godmother out of affection. Is there anything wrong with that?"
Dongqin sneered and said, "Whether it's right or wrong, it's up to you, Miss, to judge. All I know is that Sister Dongxue entered the manor six years ago and only became the godmother of the old nanny this month."
Dongxue said, "You have your own thoughts, but you don't care if others have the same thoughts as you. Today, in front of the girl, I swear, may I be struck by lightning!" Her oath startled Dongqin, who didn't know what to say for a moment.
Dongxue ignored her and looked at Ruanbi. Seeing that Ruanbi was still unmoved, she couldn't help but wonder. The young lady used to be so impatient, her emotions always showing on her face. How come she's like a different person now that she's recovered from her illness? "Miss, Dongqin and Dongmei went out without your permission. What should be the punishment?"
Dongmei lowered her head even further, while Dongqin looked up at Ruanbi without panicking. She knew her young lady's temperament well; she was timid and afraid of trouble. Since this matter was related to the second young lady, she knew she wouldn't dare to make things difficult for herself. At most, she would be fined half a month's salary. The two taels of silver she had just received from the second young lady and Miss Xie in the garden were equivalent to two months' salary.
Ruan Bi said calmly, "Since they want to serve the Second Miss in her courtyard, Dongxue, you should send them there."
Upon hearing this, the three maids' faces changed drastically. Dongmei trembled violently, almost fainting. Dongqin bit her lip for a moment, then suddenly kowtowed. "Miss, we were wrong, please forgive us this time." Dongmei beside her also kowtowed, and for a moment, the room was filled with the sound of kowtowing.
Dongxue kept giving Ruanbi meaningful glances. The servants in each courtyard were all arranged by the First Madam; how could they be sent around so casually? If word got back to the First Madam or the Second Miss, it would cause another uproar.
Ruan Bi understood what she meant, but ignored it. After the two maids kowtowed ten or so times, she said casually, "I'll let you off this time. If you do it again, I won't say anything. Just pack your bags and go home."
The three maids breathed a sigh of relief at the same time, but felt an inexplicable sense of unease, and stood frozen in place, staring at Ruan Bi.
Ignoring their thoughts, Ruan Bicai picked up the Book of Songs and said, "I'm going to read for a while. Go outside."
The three maids obeyed and left.
A little while later, Dongxue returned with a cup of tea and handed it to Ruanbi, saying, "The tea earlier wasn't very good, so I brewed you a cup of good tea to soothe your thirst." Ruanbi was indeed thirsty, so she took the tea and took a sip.
Dongxue added from the side, "So that's what you were doing just now, Miss. You really scared me to death too." She paused, "But Miss, you must never say such things again. If word gets out, people will just say that you are dissatisfied with Madam and Second Miss, which will only cause more gossip and trouble."
Ruan Bi glanced at her and thought to herself, "This maid does have some sincerity."
She had indeed been bluffing them, but she also genuinely intended to send them there. Although this method would be a Pyrrhic victory, this body was, after all, her master, and she could afford to be hurt. Besides, given her current situation, it was probably beyond repair.
Dongxue picked up the comb and continued to comb her hair, saying, "Miss, when you have time, you should learn from Fourth Miss and visit the Old Madam more often, chat with her, and play cards with her. This way, you can show your filial piety and also become closer... They say that familiarity breeds affection, so this kind of feeling needs to be cultivated every day..." Dongxue couldn't help but get anxious when she saw that she had no reaction. "Is Miss listening to me?"
Ruan Bi gave a faint "hmm".
Dongxue sensed the perfunctory tone in the voice and felt utterly dejected. The young lady, Youyou, was meek and timid, and she consulted with her on everything, big or small; the two were like sisters. Now that she had recovered from her illness, she was more assertive than before, but a new rift had also appeared. Was this ultimately a good thing or a bad thing?
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