Chapter 4, Chapter Four: Bone-Pounding and Marrow-Sucking
The following day at noon, Jinping from Chenghui Hall sent a maid to invite Meng Qingci.
Jinping is the head maid of Fu Yan'an, the eldest son of the main branch of the family. She is in charge of the young master's daily life. She had previously agreed to ask Meng Qingci to come and draw a flower pattern. Now that she has some free time, she came to invite him.
The two siblings in the eldest branch of the family had a very close relationship. The eldest son, Fu Yan'an, would often bring his younger sister, Fu Jingyu, some trendy food and trinkets from outside. Occasionally, even the servants below would get to enjoy the novelty once or twice. As a result, the servants on both sides of Chenghui Hall and Biqiong Garden visited each other frequently, and Meng Qingci could not refuse.
The eldest young master had already gone to his shift. Perhaps because their master was not around, the servants, though performing their duties in an orderly manner, appeared noticeably more relaxed.
Jinping's room was on one side of the corridor. Meng Qingci lifted the curtain and went in, smiling as she said, "It's only been a few days since I last visited you, and your room is even more elegant now. It's clear that the young master dotes on you."
"You put on such a proper act in public, who would believe you're a poor girl in private?" Jinping pursed her lips and scolded her, then grabbed a handful of copper coins for the little maid and sent her out. She then glanced inquisitively at Qing'er, who was smiling and touching her embroidery frame.
"You've hit the nail on the head, are you getting shy?" Meng Qingci smiled lightly, pursing her lips. "Tell me, what kind of flower pattern do you want to draw for your young master this time?"
During her years at the Marquis of Anyi's mansion, Meng Qingci worked hard to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from Fu Jingyu, as well as embroidery and tailoring, in order to have a skill to rely on after leaving the mansion. There was no other way; at that time, women had very few jobs to choose from.
Fortunately, the tutors that the Marquis's mansion hired for Fu Jingyu were all top-notch. She was intelligent and diligent, and she learned a lot of skills. Many of the maids she knew asked her to draw patterns or do embroidery.
Jinping was reserved and composed. Her face flushed slightly, but she did not argue. She pointed to a pair of old boots on the table and showed them to her: "I want to make a pair of cloud-patterned black boots. I don't want the cloud pattern to be too plain, but I'm also afraid that it will be too gorgeous and complicated and the young master won't like it. Please help me find a style."
Meng Qingci glanced at the old dark boots and teased her again: "Men's shoes and boots are all the same style. You're really meticulous. It's no wonder your young master dotes on you."
Having finished speaking, he already had a plan in mind. He picked up the brush he had prepared earlier, dipped it in ink, and began to carefully sketch on the paper.
Meng Qingci lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her smooth, white neck. Sunlight shone through the window paper, illuminating her delicate, porcelain-like face. Even a woman like Jinping would be captivated by her, let alone a man. She probed, "I heard that the eldest young lady has already changed your status to that of a good person. The eldest young lady is truly kind to you."
Meng Qingci glanced at her, then focused on drawing again: "How did you know? Oh, let me guess. I remember that Zifu's second brother served the eldest young master, so I knew. If Zifu knew, then her whole family knew too."
“You’re the most clever.” Jinping was amused by her playful tone. “But don’t worry, only the young master and I know about your affairs.”
“We’ve known each other since childhood. If I can’t trust others, I can trust you.” Meng Qingci’s pen continued to move, her fair wrist holding the pen steadily. She didn’t actively publicize it, but she wasn’t afraid of people finding out either. However, there were many people in the Marquis’s mansion, and it would be better to find out later than sooner to avoid trouble.
“Since you’ve brought up our childhood bond, I’ll say a few more words.” Jinping watched Qing’er draw for a while, scrutinizing her expression, and her lips twitched: “I’m naturally happy for you that you’ve been freed from slavery, but you’re all alone, without brothers, parents, or any support. You’re so beautiful, a frail woman, how will you survive without anyone to protect you?”
Meng Qingci thought to herself that she would naturally have a carefree place to go once she left, which was better than serving people year after year without rest, but she and Jinping couldn't discuss it in detail.
Jinping glanced at her quickly, then lowered her eyes, speaking more rapidly: "If you don't want to go to the East Palace with the eldest young lady, why not... come to Chenghui Hall? We know each other well, and you'll have company. You know, the eldest young master treats you differently from others; he's quite sincere. The eldest young master is handsome and talented, a true gem among men. You won't lose out; it's better than you wasting your life with some ordinary peddlers. We grew up in this courtyard; how could you endure the hardships of making a living outside?"
This wasn't the first time Jinping had sought out Meng Qingci to draw a picture, but Meng Qingci never expected that she would come to her today to say something like this.
Meng Qingci knew that for a servant like Jinping, who was born into a family and had been enslaved for generations, to rise to the position of a first-class maid of the young master was a feat achieved through sheer hard work and fierce competition, like a thousand soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge. She was already standing at the top of the pyramid among the servants.
As a maid, her greatest ambition was to become a concubine for her master and change her child's status so that she could become a person above others among the servants. This was her greatest goal in life.
Jinping is seventeen years old this year and has not yet been married off. She is to become Fu Yan'an's concubine. Jinping truly believes that because of the affection she has shown for the young master since childhood, she will be of a higher status as a concubine in the future.
Seeing Jinping's bitter yet sincere expression, Meng Qingci objectively understood her, but she still couldn't help feeling nauseous. She was a transmigrator, unlike Jinping and Zifu, who were born from servility and obsequiousness. Hearing these heartfelt words, she felt no gratitude, only a chill running down her spine.
Meng Qingci didn't believe it was because of her good looks, or because of what Jinping said about masters and servants developing feelings over time. Nor did she believe it was because she had some kind of transmigrated heroine halo, possessing boundless charm that could bewitch Fu Yan'an or the men around her.
When she was young, she relied on her intelligence to gain some respect in front of the young lady. Fortunately, the young lady remembered this kindness and let her go.
These so-called masters of the Marquis's mansion see that she is now of age and is no different from a pig about to be sold. They only see her as a novelty and want to squeeze out the last bit of value from her.
No matter how sincere and heartfelt the words, they are nothing more than a way to get her to stay and be a source of amusement. They also have to speak with deep affection and gratitude, expecting her to be thankful.
After finishing the last stroke, he put down the brush, no longer in the mood to argue, his face slightly pale: "You can't say that again. Just pretend you're still half asleep and dreaming. No matter how much you love me, you can't just act as my master. I'm now a free person and I'm going to go out and make a living. You don't need to worry about me."
"In broad daylight, what are you two hiding away doing? Who would worry about you?" Yu Lu giggled, lifted the curtain and came in, scolding Meng Qingci, "Why didn't you call me when you came? Let me see what you two are doing, what's there to hide?"
Yu Lu spotted the old boots at a glance, completely unaware of Jinping's stiff expression. Then, seeing the floral pattern Meng Qingci had drawn on the table, she pouted and said, "No wonder. So she was secretly making a new pair of boots for the young master behind my back, and even went to Qing'er to draw the pattern."
Meng Qingci had no intention of staying any longer, and made an excuse that he had something to do at Biqiong Garden and couldn't leave her, so he hurriedly left.
Yu Lu could no longer see Meng Qingci. She casually put down her boots, sat down, glanced at Jinping, and said in a cold voice, "She was determined to go out. Everyone can see that. Why did you say those things to her? Others may not know, but you know how sincere the master is towards her. She's so proud and arrogant, and you still talked to her about serving her. What were you up to? Did you think others couldn't see through you?"
You know your master's temperament better than anyone. How could you be so foolish? If I hadn't come in and let you spout nonsense, what good would have happened to you?
Jinping bit her lip, her face deathly pale, but she still stubbornly insisted, "If you don't tell, how will anyone know?"
Heaven knows how she suppressed the churning bitterness in her heart to persuade Qing'er to become the young master's concubine. No one knows how she climbed into the young master's bed; only she knows that when the young master was drunk, he held her down and kept calling Qing'er's name. That tenderness captivated her, something she could never have.
What Jin Ping found most shameful was that even so, the young master still didn't want her.
"I'm about to leave the manor, why bother with this thankless task?" Yu Lu laughed in exasperation: "Do you think I know anything about this courtyard that can't be hidden from the young master? You're really blinded by greed."
Yulu will marry the eldest son of the steward of the estate after the New Year. Unlike Jinping, who is stubborn, she can understand Qing'er's thoughts to some extent. Who would want to be a servant for the rest of their life? It's just that none of them have Qing'er's abilities.
After leaving Chenghui Hall, Meng Qingci still wanted to return to Biqiong Garden through the bamboo forest behind Wuheng Mountain House. She was feeling suffocated by the series of sordid events that had occurred in the Marquis's mansion.
The siblings Fu Yan'an and Fu Jingyu are free-spirited, diligent, and ambitious, unlike the dissolute son Fu Hongxuan. Although Fu Yan'an is not as talented as the Third Master Fu Heng, who passed the county-level imperial examination at the age of twelve and became the top scholar at the age of sixteen, he still passed the imperial examination at a young age and is now an official in the Ministry of Justice.
In my memory, Fu Yan'an was an upright and gentle person who only knew how to study and followed the rules meticulously. Now he was twenty years old and didn't even have a concubine in his house. His uncle often joked that he had the style of his third uncle.
Meng Qingci never expected that Fu Yan'an harbored such feelings for her. If it weren't for her master's instructions, Jinping, a mere servant, would never have dared to speak up on her own.
Meng Qingci walked quickly, but was stopped at the corner of the corridor. A gentle and noble young man, dressed in an official robe with a blue and white pheasant embroidered patch and a plain silver belt buckle around his waist, was looking at her with a calm expression. He was impeccably dressed, tall and elegant.
"This servant greets the young master." Meng Qingci composed herself, stepped forward and bowed. Perhaps because she had finally obtained the official title, she replied lazily, "I have other matters to attend to at Biqiong Garden, so this servant will take her leave now."
After saying that, he turned and walked past Fu Yan'an to leave.
"Are you angry?" Fu Yan'an grabbed Meng Qingci's arm. When he gazed at her, his slightly upturned eyes held a tender and affectionate quality, and his gaze had a power that made people willingly sink into it and drown in it.
He interrogated prisoners all night and came back specifically for this.
Qing'er was still young and had not yet matured in matters of the heart, so she was inevitably a bit naive. She was disgusted by the filth of the second wife's household and began to resist men. She wanted to go out, but little did she know that the outside world was even more dangerous.
He didn't want to scare her, so he specially arranged for Jinping to express his feelings to her, thinking that she was prepared and that if he kept her around, she would eventually agree.
He hadn't expected to learn as soon as he entered the mansion that Jinping had acted on her own initiative. Seeing her approaching from afar, looking gloomy, he knew she was angry.
"Young Master, I'm just in a hurry to get back to Biqiong Garden to take care of some business." Meng Qingci gave him a perfunctory smile, not wanting to argue with him. His grip wasn't strong, but she couldn't pull her arm away no matter what she did. She frowned and looked at him impatiently: "Young Master, this is not reasonable."
Fu Yan'an released his grip, chuckled helplessly, and said in a gentle voice with a hint of doting: "I carried you on my back, applied medicine to your wounds, and fed you. Have you forgotten all that?"
"I was young and ignorant back then." Meng Qingci's face grew even darker. She didn't buy his explanation. He was talking about such old, trivial matters. She was not even ten years old at the time. In the first two years after she transmigrated, she couldn't overcome her original proud nature. If she had continued like that, Madam Lin would have been the first to not let her off the hook.
"Now you want to sever ties with me?" Fu Yan'an rubbed his temples helplessly and explained good-naturedly, "I have never had anyone else, and you can forget about abandoning me."
"This servant is terrified. You are the master, and this servant is a servant. I can only respect and honor you." Meng Qingci lowered his eyes and refused to look at her. He was extremely annoyed and just wanted to get rid of him.
As she got closer, she smelled a faint scent of blood and caught a glimpse of dark dampness on his black boots. Knowing that he was now an Assistant Minister of Justice, and looking at his gentle and refined face, with a hint of pity always in his eyes, her heart pounded. She dared not think too deeply about where he had come from or what he had just been doing.
"Are you afraid of me?" Fu Yan'an's expression turned colder, and his tone became even lighter: "When have I ever asked you for the master's favor? You are clearly not heartless towards me, so why do you have to say these things to stab me?"
Meng Qingci: Was there affection? Was there any? There was, I suppose! After all, ten years of being a slave was too long and unbearable. Why would she refuse the occasional bright and warm moments? But those could only be categorized as moments of respite.
No matter how eloquently Fu Yan'an tries to portray herself, the truth is that Fu Hongxuan is a jackal, Fu Yan'an is a wolf, and she is the sheep in the pen. How can a sheep possibly have feelings for a wolf?
Seeing her pale face and nervously pursing her lips, Fu Yan'an followed her gaze to the bloodstains on his boots. He couldn't bear to press her, and gently squeezed her delicate shoulder reassuringly: "Don't take today's matter to heart. I only wanted to transfer you to Chenghui Hall to protect you, but now that you're a free person, it's fine. But you're so heartless! Do you mean that once you leave, you'll never have anything to do with me again?"
Seeing that he was no longer bothering her or arguing with her, Meng Qingci left as if fleeing.
Ha! How dare he even ask? What could a single woman like her possibly have to do with a young master from a noble family like him? Was she his lover? Or his mistress?
With Jinping's words in mind, Meng Qingci had no desire to get entangled with him. In any case, she had already made up her mind to leave the capital, so why bother arguing with him?
Fu Yan'an watched Meng Qingci's hurried departure, his gentle eyes turning icy cold, his jaw clenching.
I remember when I first met her, she was so small, looking at her red palms, hiding in a corner and crying, feeling sorry for herself, her shoulders trembling, holding back her tears, which made my heart soften.
The next time he saw her, she was smiling sweetly and coaxing her nanny. Later, when his younger sister was choosing a study companion, he secretly put her in the list. She was indeed intelligent and had been deeply trusted by his sister over the years.
Now he regrets not keeping her by his side. It was just a few words from Jinping that made her wary of him. If it weren't for him, that scoundrel Fu Hongxuan would have already succeeded, and she wouldn't be safe and sound in the Marquis's mansion.
After Qing'er obtained the Liangji, her temperament became wild. She stubbornly distanced herself from him and feared him. Fu Yan'an tightened his jawline, and his usually refined and gentle handsome face was tinged with a hint of anger.
Meng Qingci walked out of the corridor and turned past a wall, where she saw Fu Heng standing there like a pine tree, dressed in a silver-gray narrow-sleeved casual dress with embroidered thunder and cloud patterns. She didn't know how long he had been there.
A note from the author:
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Fu Yan'an: Third Uncle, you actually want to take my fruits!
Fu Heng: Each according to their own ability
Fu Hongxuan: My Third Uncle spared my life
Author's note: Thank you to all the lovely commenters! Wishing you prosperity every day!
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