Volume Two: Step by Step to Success, Chapter Thirty-Three: A Deal
Xiuzhi asked in surprise, "Girl, why are you calling me home all of a sudden?"
“Of course there is something,” Ruan Bi said. “I want you to go to Yuxu Temple for me and deliver a letter to Master Ziying.”
Xiuzhi was silent for a moment, then said, "Miss, shall we stop associating with this real person?"
Ruan Bi asked, puzzled, "Why?"
"I sensed that she had ill intentions, and I was afraid that one day she would trick the girl into becoming a Taoist nun."
Ruan Bi chuckled and said, "Don't worry, she can't fool me."
As they spoke, they had already reached the entrance of Liaoyuan Garden. Tang Pozi stepped out sideways, blocking their way, and bowed with a beaming smile. "Greetings, Fifth Miss."
"Hello, Granny Tang." Ruan Bi knew Granny Tang's ways well; she knew that Granny Tang had stopped her because she had some information to sell her, so she winked at Xiuzhi.
Xiuzhi took out three hundred coins from her purse and placed them in the old woman's hand, saying, "Old woman, the young lady just won money. Everyone who sees this wins gets a share. Here's some money for you to buy some wine."
"Thank you, young lady." Granny Tang took the money and stuffed it into her bosom. She leaned closer to Ruan Bi and whispered, "Young lady, Xiushui from your room has been bringing things to Granny He's room these past few days. She says she wants to be transferred to the Third Young Lady's courtyard."
Ruan Bi was a little disappointed; this news wasn't worth three hundred coins. She wasn't surprised by Xiushui's actions; she'd probably heard from Manyun that she was going to marry a cripple, so she wanted to be transferred. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing; only through trials and tribulations could the true colors of the maids around her be revealed.
Seeing her calm demeanor, Granny Tang knew the news wasn't significant enough. She was itching to tell her about her engagement, but then she remembered the gravity of the situation. If the Fifth Miss made a scene, and the First Madam found out she was the one who told the tale, she'd be in deep trouble.
Ruan Bi said a few nice things, implying that she could sell any information she had in the future, before taking Xiuzhi back to the east wing.
Upon entering the inner room, Xiuzhi's face darkened as she said, "I didn't expect Xiushui to be this kind of person. Since she wants to be transferred, Miss, then don't give her the reward money."
She was just a fifteen-year-old girl, easily swayed by emotions. Ruan Bi didn't want to explain to her, saying, "Go and distribute the rewards, stop nagging." Xiu Shui didn't care; the key was her cousin Manyun, who was truly a remarkable person.
Xiuzhi pouted unhappily, took a wad of money, and went out. When she returned a while later, her face was even darker, and she looked at Ruan Bi with tears welling up in her eyes.
"What's wrong, Xiuzhi?"
“Miss…” Xiuzhi began, tears welling up in her eyes. “Just now I asked Xiushui… why she wanted to be transferred to the Third Miss’s courtyard, and she said… she said the Miss wanted… wanted…”
"You're going to marry a cripple, aren't you?" Ruan Bi frowned. She hadn't cared much about Xiu Shui's disloyalty, but she hadn't expected Xiu Shui to be so loose-lipped, daring to say anything. Keeping someone like that around was too dangerous; she should transfer her to the Third Miss's side as soon as possible.
Xiuzhi's eyes widened in astonishment: "Miss...you knew all along?"
Ruan Bi nodded.
“You’re such a good girl, how could the First Madam and the Old Madam be so heartless?” Xiuzhi’s tears flowed even more fiercely. “No, I have to go and beg the Old Madam for mercy.” With that, she turned to leave.
"stop."
Xiuzhi stopped in her tracks, looking at Ruanbi with tears streaming down her face.
Ruan Bi felt a warmth in her heart and whispered, "Don't cry, this marriage won't happen."
Xiuzhi looked at her in disbelief.
"Tomorrow you will deliver a letter to Master Ziying for me. You will know soon enough."
Xiuzhi wiped away her tears, nodded, and said, "I'll go first thing tomorrow morning." She paused, looked at Ruan Bi, and said, "Miss, I know the answers to the questions you asked me before. From now on, Xiuzhi belongs to you alone."
Even with her usual calm and composed demeanor, Ruan Bi felt a slight surge of emotion at this moment.
Neither did Granny Zheng nor Xiuzhi disappoint her.
Xiuzhi took two days off.
These past two days, aside from sleeping and eating, Ruan Bi has spent all her time in the Fourth Miss's embroidery room, doing needlework with her and taking the opportunity to observe the Fourth Miss in various ways. This is a habit she has cultivated over the years; knowing your enemy is the key to victory.
Besides her exceptional embroidery skills, the fourth sister was also quite accomplished in poetry and literature, occasionally speaking eloquently. However, most of the time, she concealed her talents. She often smiled, but the smile didn't always reach her eyes. She spared no effort in instructing Ruan Bi in needlework, and under her guidance, Ruan Bi improved rapidly, completing her first embroidery piece in just two days.
Several lotus flowers were embroidered on the plain white silk with black thread. Although the stitches were uneven and the composition was relatively simple, it was simple and elegant, and at first glance it looked like a painting.
The fourth sister leaned over for a look and said, "Speaking of which, the fifth sister is truly intelligent and kind-hearted. How did she think of using only black thread for embroidery? In this way, it looks just like a traditional Chinese ink painting."
"It's all thanks to your guidance, sister," Ruan Bi said, taking the handkerchief down from the embroidery frame and examining it from all angles, quite satisfied. She could show it to the Madam tomorrow; the things she'd brought yesterday and this morning were all embroidered by Xiuzhi. Actually, the Madam only glanced at them each time, revealing her true intention: to encourage Liu Mama. However, ever since Ruan Bi had given Liu Mama money that day, she hadn't spoken much. The saying "He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated" was an undeniable truth.
"Fifth Miss," Qiu Yan announced from outside, "Han Xing from your room has arrived. She says Xiu Zhi has returned."
"I understand." Ruan Bi put away her handkerchief, picked up the small round embroidery frame, and said to the Fourth Sister, "Sister, I'll go back now and come to you for needlework tomorrow."
Fourth Sister nodded and asked Qiulan to see her out.
Han Xing stood at the door and quickly took the embroidery frame from Ruan Bi's hands. Perhaps because her life had become more stable, she had gained a little weight and looked much better than when she first arrived.
Returning to the east wing and entering the inner room, Xiuzhi was just opening her bundle and taking out a package wrapped in oil paper, placing it on the table. Hearing the noise, she turned around, smiling, and said, "Girl, come and try the sesame pancakes my mother made especially for you. They're full of sesame seeds. My mother says that if you eat them, your hair will definitely be smooth and black."
"Your mother is so thoughtful." Ruan Bi walked over, picked up a sesame flatbread, took a bite, and found it fragrant and crispy.
Xiuzhi then asked Hanxing to take out the food and distribute it to Granny Liu, Chamei, and Xiushui. Then she whispered, "Miss, I delivered the letter myself, but I didn't see Master Ziying, nor did I receive a reply."
Are you sure the letter got to her?
Xiuzhi nodded.
“That’s fine then,” Ruan Bi said confidently. “At most, we’ll have to wait three more days…”
Unexpectedly, she didn't need to do it for three days. The next morning, just after she had breakfast, a maid came to the old lady's courtyard and asked her to come over.
Ruan Bi led Xiuzhi to the old lady's side hall, where only the old lady, the first lady, Manyun, and Baozhen were present. The old lady sat on the couch, facing the door, her face displeased. The first lady sat on the edge of the couch, her back to Ruan Bi, talking to the old lady.
Hearing footsteps, the two stopped talking and looked at Ruan Bi, both with puzzled expressions.
After performing the proper greetings, Ruan Bi sat down on the round stool next to her.
The First Madam coughed lightly and said, "Fifth Girl, I'm asking you, what exactly did you and Master Ziying talk about?"
"It's just about things that follow the natural order."
The First Madam frowned and said, "You're just a little girl, you've only learned a few of the Four Books and Five Classics, what do you know about the Daoist principle of following nature?"
Ruan Bi made up a story: "I didn't understand at first, but after that serious illness, I suddenly understood a little bit." A serious illness is a good thing; you can use it to explain everything.
The First Madam pondered for a moment, then turned to look at the Old Madam and said, "Mother, what do you think?"
The old lady waved her hand and said, "No, what kind of behavior is it for our daughters to be running around outside all day?"
The First Madam said with difficulty, "But this Master Ziying... is no ordinary person. The late Emperor had given her a title, and the Empress Dowager and Princess Huiwen are her fellow Daoists. How about we let Fifth Sister go this time? I'll write her another letter, saying that Fifth Sister wants to learn housekeeping from me and won't have time to discuss metaphysics and Daoism anymore."
Although the old lady was reluctant, she had no choice but to nod and say, "We'll do it your way."
The First Madam looked at Ruan Bi and said, "The Master has sent a carriage to pick you up. They are waiting outside the gate. You should also bring Granny Liu along."
“Yes, Mother,” Ruan Bi replied calmly.
The carriage sent by Master Ziying was the same one as last time, and it traveled very quickly, arriving at Yuxu Temple before noon.
The host, having received instructions, led Xiuzhi and Granny Liu to the front hall for tea, and had the young Taoist nun lead Ruanbi to the Fushu Abode.
Master Ziying was sitting cross-legged on the futon when he heard the noise. He opened his eyes and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Fifth Miss has quite the nerve, actually making me send a carriage to pick her up."
“There’s nothing we can do about it. Who can blame us when the Master has so much influence? If I told my mother I wanted to come to Yuxu Temple, she definitely wouldn’t allow it,” Ruan Bi said as she sat down.
Master Ziying smiled and said, "I told you long ago that you only have one way out. Alright, I will send you to the palace today."
"Master, I will not enter the palace."
Master Ziying's expression changed slightly, and he asked, "Then what brings you here, young lady?"
Ruan Bi said solemnly, "I have heard that the Master never accepts disciples, so I have come here today to ask the Master to accept me as a lay disciple and to hold a grand disciple-acceptance ceremony to spread the word throughout the world."
Master Ziying paused for a moment, then laughed a few times and said, "Fifth Miss, that's right, I admire you very much, but why should I take you as my disciple?"
Ruan Bi said with a smile, "Because I have an equivalent exchange condition."
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