Chapter 11 The Bet
See? He knew his young master had no good intentions.
This might seem like giving Aman a chance to stay, but it's actually a dead end.
The second wife manages the household affairs. If the young master cooks for himself, the second wife will lose one of the means to control the first wife.
If Aman really goes, he'll definitely not get his share back, and he might even get a scolding.
I felt a little reluctant to part with the steamed bun.
After spending so many days together, Mantou was reluctant to see Aman leave, and even more reluctant to part with her cooking skills.
Under her skillful hands, the young master could always eat more of the same meal.
"What, Miss Aman can't do it?" Fu Yunxiu raised an eyebrow.
Aman looked up and met Fu Yunxiu's handsome eyes. He was still smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, as if he were a wise sage who had nothing to do with the situation, strategizing and looking down on everyone.
Aman knew his chances of winning this bet were slim.
But since we're already at our wits' end, why not take a gamble?
A spark ignited in her heart, and Aman spoke resolutely under Fu Yunxiu's teasing gaze, "Fine, if I can't get my share back today, I will leave Wutong Garden as you said. But if I do get it back, please don't mention leaving me again."
Aman stared straight at Fu Yunxiu, without the slightest fear in her eyes.
Fu Yunxiu's smile froze for a moment, his hand on the armrest clenched slightly, and he looked up to carefully examine the woman in front of him. She was thin and small, and there was nothing particularly remarkable about her.
Yet this little girl seems to possess boundless strength, supporting herself while also inspiring others.
Her gaze was so firm, like the afternoon sun, so dazzling that one dared not look at her yet could not bear to look away.
As if possessed, Fu Yunxiu replied, "Okay."
“Young master… Miss Aman…” Mantou looked at this one and then at that one, not knowing what to say for a moment.
But what's done is done, and nothing he says will make a difference.
Aman went there after lunch, and she still remembered the way to the Marquis's residence, so she didn't need Mantou to lead the way.
Thinking of Mantou's hesitant expression when she left, Aman knew that it wouldn't be so easy to get this allowance back.
She knew perfectly well that the young master was using reverse psychology, but she also understood that if she backed down, he might take the opportunity to make her leave. So, in order to stay in Wutong Garden, she couldn't care less about anything else.
In order to help Aman enter the Marquis's mansion smoothly, Fu Yunxiu "kindly" gave Aman his jade token.
Sure enough, Aman was stopped by the guard at the gate. Aman took out the jade pendant, and the complicated pictures and text on it made the guard understand where she came from in an instant.
“They’re from the eldest young master’s side,” the man glanced at his companion, then returned the jade token to Aman. “Please wait a moment, young lady.”
After saying that, he jogged into the mansion.
Aman put the jade pendant into her sleeve and waited a moment. Then she saw the guard come out in a panic, followed by a middle-aged man.
He was about forty years old, dressed in silk, and had a wealthy appearance, which suggested he was of high status.
The guard led the man over and pointed Aman to him, saying, "This is the young lady."
The man stopped in front of Aman, slightly out of breath from his haste to get out. He looked Aman up and down and asked, "Are you from the eldest young master's side, young lady?"
Aman had just heard the guard address him and knew that this man was the steward of the Marquis's mansion. She nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I am new to Wutong Courtyard."
Steward Xu also heard that the First Madam had found another concubine for the Eldest Young Master. Seeing that Aman looked unfamiliar, he was certain that it was her.
He had been with the master since childhood, and he had watched the eldest son grow up. In a sense, he regarded the eldest son as his own son.
However, after the eldest son moved out of the Marquis's mansion, he couldn't visit him often because of his status. A few days ago, after learning about the eldest madam's actions, he originally planned to take some time to visit her, but he was delayed because of the many affairs in the mansion these days.
I didn't expect her to come by herself today.
Butler Xu sized up Aman. She wasn't particularly tall, but she had a pretty face. It was just a pity that she looked a bit thin. He wondered if she was good at bearing children.
However, she was the one who stayed in Wutong Garden the longest, and he was very satisfied with that alone.
The way Steward Xu looked at her, as if he were selecting a product, made Aman feel very uncomfortable, but she didn't show it. Instead, she curtsied appropriately and said, "Young Master sent me to the manor to ask about some things."
"Oh, is it to see the First Madam?" Butler Xu snapped out of his daze and looked at Aman with a smile.
"No, do you want to see the Second Madam?" Aman said.
"Second Madam?" Steward Xu frowned. He really couldn't understand what business the Wutong Courtyard could possibly have that required the Second Madam's presence. "The Second Madam is indeed in the manor. May I ask what business the Second Madam has?"
“This…” Aman was somewhat reluctant to say.
Mantou had said that not many people in the Marquis's mansion were actually on good terms with the young master; most were just waiting to see him make a fool of himself, which was why he moved to Wutong Courtyard. Aman wasn't sure if this steward was friend or foe, and she was afraid that if she revealed her intentions, he would laugh at the young master if he knew his current predicament.
She didn't want her son to be gossiped about and ridiculed even after he had left the place of trouble.
Seeing Aman's troubled expression, Butler Xu knew she was reluctant to speak, so he nodded and said, "I was being presumptuous. Please come with me, young lady."
Butler Xu led Aman inside, constantly inquiring about her background. Aman was wary and mostly gave only unimportant answers. Butler Xu asked questions all the way, and in the end, he only learned Aman's name.
Seeing how wary she was, Butler Xu stopped talking, and Ah Man took the opportunity to look around.
It's only early spring, and the Marquis's mansion is bare everywhere, but that doesn't diminish its grandeur in the slightest. The pavilions and towers, with their carved beams and painted rafters, are a model of beauty at every turn. The garden's artificial hills and ponds cover a vast area, at least three times the size of the Wutong Garden, and one can vaguely see servants moving about, pruning the newly sprouted buds with large shears.
Aman followed Steward Xu through the garden, where three stone paths connected three courtyards. The central courtyard was the main courtyard, the residence of the head of the family, which was now almost empty. The first wife lived in the East Courtyard, and the second wife lived in the West Courtyard.
“Miss Aman, you may follow this path to the residence of the Second Madam of the West Garden. I have official business to attend to, so I will not accompany you.” Steward Xu stopped at the end of the corridor, pointed out the direction to Aman, and then did not intend to go any further.
The second wife and the first wife have long been at odds, which has also affected the eldest son. Although he is just a steward, the second son is now the temporary head of the household, so he has to learn to avoid suspicion in order to avoid causing trouble.
"Thank you, Uncle Butler." Aman said her thanks and walked along the path by herself. In the distance, she saw the black plaque with gold lettering on it in the West Garden.
As expected of a wealthy family, there's a courtyard within a courtyard.
Aman took a few more steps forward and found that the surroundings were eerily quiet. The gate to the West Garden was open, but there was no one inside, which seemed quite strange.
Aman was puzzled, but she still boldly stepped through the door. Sure enough, the courtyard was eerily silent.
Could it be that the butler lied to her, and this is not the Second Madam's residence?
Aman was still suspicious, but she mustered up the courage to call out, "Is anyone there?"
No one answered, so she took two more steps forward and called out again, "Excuse me, is anyone home?"
Is anyone there?
Just as Aman was looking around anxiously, thinking that he had probably been scammed, a door in the row of low houses on the far west side suddenly opened, and a woman dressed just like Aman walked out, looking flustered. "Who are you? How dare you speak so loudly at a time like this? Don't you want to die?"
The newcomer spoke in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard. Ah Man, finally finding someone breathing, quickly stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, is this the Second Madam's residence?"
"Shh, shh, shh." The woman was extremely nervous, gesturing for Aman to keep quiet while pulling her by the sleeve and towards the door.
Aman was confused, but she still followed her outside. However, before they could even walk out the main gate, the door to the side room suddenly opened. "What's all this commotion? Don't you know Madam is sleeping?"
Aman looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged woman emerge, also dressed as a maid, but her clothes were slightly different from theirs. The woman glanced at Aman briefly before angrily questioning, "Haitang, what kind of job are you? Making such a scene at a time like this, do you want to be punished?"
The middle-aged woman spoke in a low voice, but she gave off an air of authority without being angry. Just as Aman was about to explain her purpose, the woman named Haitang suddenly knelt down and pulled Aman down with her.
Aman was caught off guard and her knees buckled as she was pulled down, causing her to kneel down as well.
Haitang trembled like a leaf, and said in a trembling voice, "Aunt, please calm down. This servant doesn't know where she came from. She disturbed Madam's afternoon nap. Please investigate, Aunt."
Fangyi was the second madam's dowry maid and also the head maid of the West Garden. She was second only to the madam in status in the West Garden, and none of the maids or servants in the entire West Garden were afraid of her. Of course, she also had her own way of tormenting people. Even the most stubborn person would become as obedient as a lamb after going through Fangyi's hands.
Haitang was terrified, but Fangyi remained silent, her eyes filled with anger.
Disturbing the lady's afternoon nap, for whatever reason, is a grave offense.
However, after Haitang pointed it out, Fangyi noticed Aman. Although she was also dressed as a maid, she looked unfamiliar.
"Who are you from, serving in that courtyard? How dare you be so unruly, shouting and yelling in my West Courtyard?"
Aman was held tightly by Haitang and had no choice but to kneel with her. Fangyi looked down at her with a condescending tone, which made Aman very unhappy.
But she also understood that if she wanted to see the Second Madam, she could not afford to offend this aunt, so she had to tell the truth, "I am from Wutong Garden. I have something to discuss with the Second Madam. I did not mean to disturb the Second Madam's afternoon nap. Please forgive me, Aunt."
Aman spoke earnestly, but Fangyi ignored him. Her slanted eyes scrutinized Aman, filled with contempt.
No wonder she looked unfamiliar; she was actually the eldest young master's new concubine.
If other maids came, they would leave in two days at most, but she's been gone for days without a word. It's quite something that she even went out of her way to arrange for Hongxing to tell her the truth.
As expected of someone from the countryside, she's lowly, being given as a concubine to a cripple.
Fangyi sneered, "So it's you. What brings you to my East Courtyard? Is the young master about to die?"
"You're the one who's going to die!" Upon hearing her say that, Aman was instantly enraged and wanted to stand up and argue with her, but Haitang held onto his sleeve tightly and kept shaking her head at him.
Helpless, Aman could only kneel on the ground and argue with her, "He is, after all, the master. How can you say such things about him?"
"Oh, so you're starting to protect her now," Fangyi said, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, her face full of disdain. "Fine, I won't say anything more. So, what brings you here?"
Fangyi looked down on Fu Yunxiu, that cripple, from the bottom of her heart. After all, if it weren't for him blocking her way, the position of family head might have already belonged to their second young master. But what Aman said was right. No matter what, that cripple was still the master, so no matter how dissatisfied she was, she could only endure it.
Seeing Fangyi's expression, Aman felt as if she had punched cotton; the anger in her chest was stuck, unable to rise or fall, making her extremely uncomfortable. However, she needed Fangyi's help, and if she truly angered her, it would likely do her no good.
Suppressing her dissatisfaction, Ah Man quietly exhaled a breath of stale air and patiently said, "I've come to ask for the monthly allowance for Wutong Garden?"
"What?" Fangyi even doubted if she had misheard. It hadn't been three years since Wutongyuan had received its monthly allowance; were they actually coming to ask for it today?
"Miss Aman, it seems you're new here and unaware of the situation. All the food, clothing, and lodging in Wutong Garden, as well as the eldest young master's seasonal clothing, are managed by the Marquis's mansion."
“I know,” Aman said, “but I also remember that when the eldest son moved out of the Marquis’s mansion, the second madam promised to give him an extra ten taels of silver a month after deducting daily expenses.”
Of course, Aman heard all of this from Mantou.
Seeing Aman's posture, Fangyi knew that she had come prepared.
Well, no wonder they suddenly started having monthly allowances; it must have been this little brat who was causing trouble.
If we don't deflate her arrogance today, she won't be Fangyi.
"The matter of the monthly allowance will naturally be discussed after Madam wakes up from her afternoon nap. However, it is a fact that you disturbed Madam by shouting in the West Garden. One thing at a time, since you made a mistake, you must accept the punishment. You will kneel here until Madam wakes up." After saying that, she did not give Aman a chance to argue, and turned to Haitang and said, "You don't need to stand there either. The small kitchen has just delivered some fresh fruit. Go and prepare some for Madam to eat when she wakes up."
"Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Auntie." Haitang was naturally very grateful, but she was so scared that her legs were weak. It took her a long time to stand up and she staggered away.
After the person had walked away, she suddenly smiled at Aman with a provocative look on her face, "Please wait a moment, young lady. Of course, if you can't wait, you can leave."
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