A Maid Dressed As A Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role (Transmigration) - Chapter 30

The next day, A’Zhi woke up to a courtyard covered in white. She stood on the steps, her hands clasped in front of her, her face serious.

The servants who were sweeping the courtyard were already working hard. Now that they saw Miss A’Zhi personally supervising them from the eaves, they swept with all their might. The Qi manor was no longer what it used to be. Ever since their monthly wages were raised a few days ago, the servants had become more diligent and hardworking. In the past, when A’Zhi asked them to do something, it would take her a long time to get a response. Now, they would respond immediately.

They weren’t fools. The master of the manor was the young princess. If they followed the princess, they would be rewarded and have a good life. Why wouldn’t they want that? Steward Qi was a good man, but he had been in charge for decades, and his close confidants were already set. All the new servants or those who were not in his favor were now rushing to the young princess’s side. The princess had just returned to the capital, and she only had A’Zhi and maybe Cui Cui as her trusted servants. With so many places to manage in the front and back of the manor, the princess couldn’t just rely on two maids. She would definitely need more help. Their opportunity had finally come.

In the past, when A’Zhi wasn’t watching, the servants would compete to show off. Now that Miss A’Zhi was standing right there, who would dare to be lazy? Who would be willing to give up their money and their good life?

Cui Cui came over to find A’Zhi. She first looked at the servants in the courtyard, who were full of energy, and then she turned to A’Zhi. 

“A’Zhi?” she whispered.

A’Zhi’s face was blank, but she was deep in thought. Cui Cui waved her hand in front of A’Zhi’s face. “A’Zhi, didn’t you sleep well last night?”

A’Zhi came back to her senses. No, I didn’t, she thought. She had dreamed of playing a guessing game with the little princess and kept losing. When all the gold melon seeds in the jar were gone, the little princess’s fingers started playing with the ribbons of her nightgown. A sweet, soft voice whispered in her ear, “A’Zhi, if you lose one more time, you’ll be mine~” A’Zhi woke up in a fright and had to stand outside in the cold for a long time to calm down.

“Do you want to go catch up on sleep during mealtime?” Cui Cui asked. “I can take over for you for a while.”

A’Zhi shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ve gone entire nights without sleep. A little breeze will wake me up.” A’Zhi’s eyes finally focused on the courtyard. Seeing the servants working with such enthusiasm, she nodded in approval. “They are very diligent.”

Cui Cui looked back at the servants and then at A’Zhi. They’re only diligent because they’re afraid of you, she thought. They thought A’Zhi was supervising them with a cold expression, but in reality, A’Zhi was just lost in her own world. It was a testament to how deeply ingrained A’Zhi’s image as a capable head maid was in the manor.

“Oh, by the way, A’Zhi, I found out what you asked me to look into.” Cui Cui covered her mouth with one hand and spoke in a low voice. She was talking about the relationship between Steward Qi and Zhi Yuan. Last time, A’Zhi had found it strange that Zhi Yuan, who was not clever or capable, was so favored by Steward Qi. There had to be something more to it. Steward Qi was not a kind man. A’Zhi didn’t believe he would keep a young man by his side for no reason.

A’Zhi led Cui Cui into the room. As she arranged the tea set, she asked in a low voice, “What did you find?”

Cui Cui looked around to make sure no one was listening. Her eyes wide with surprise, she said, “Guess what? Zhi Yuan is Steward Qi’s illegitimate son!”

“No wonder he kept him so close. He’s his own son,” Cui Cui chattered on. “Zhi Yuan’s mother fell gravely ill and passed away recently, so Steward Qi made up a sob story and took him in. But Zhi Yuan doesn’t seem to know. He still thinks Steward Qi is his godfather.” Zhi Yuan was a bit naive and never thought too deeply about things. He just thought Steward Qi was a kind man who took care of him and his mother. He was so grateful that he felt lucky to be the butler’s little errand boy.

Cui Cui pouted. “You wouldn’t believe it, A’Zhi. Steward Qi’s wife is something else. When she comes to the manor, Steward Qi doesn’t even dare to breathe. And Steward Qi has three sons of his own, who are all managers of the Qi family’s estates.” And despite all that, Steward Qi had the audacity to have a secret affair and an illegitimate son for so many years, and even bring him into the manor to care for him!

It was unbelievable. Cui Cui couldn’t imagine what would happen if Madame Zhou found out. Luckily, Zhi Yuan looked like his mother. If he looked like Steward Qi, he would have been found out a long time ago.

A’Zhi wasn’t interested in Steward Qi’s affairs. She was interested in the estates. “Did you say Steward Qi’s two sons manage the estates?” She recalled that two of the managers she had memorized had the surname Qi.

“Yes,” Cui Cui nodded. “Of course he would give his own sons the most profitable estates.” “And Steward Qi’s wife, Madame Zhou, has her own tailor shop. She doesn’t live at the manor.” Cui Cui held up the fabric of her clothes for A’Zhi to see. “I never thought much of it before, but at the banquet, the clothes of the maids from the Liang, Chu, and Chen families were all made of better fabric than ours. And our fabric was five qians more expensive!”

Just one person’s clothes were five qians more expensive, and they were made of the worst fabric. Imagine how much money Madame Zhou made from the clothes of all the servants in the manor. According to the rules, the Qi family’s servants got three new outfits every season. The Qi family’s money was like a river, flowing straight into Steward Qi’s and his wife’s pockets. The massive Qi manor was being hollowed out by Steward Qi, the worm.

A’Zhi thought for a moment. She already had an idea. She said to Cui Cui, “I’ll talk to the princess first and see what she wants to do.” She smiled at Cui Cui, her voice full of praise. “You did a good job investigating. You not only found out about Zhi Yuan and Steward Qi’s relationship but also found out so much more.” For example, she had found out about Steward Qi’s sons and wife, and even noticed the problem with the clothes. It showed that Cui Cui wasn’t a dumb little girl who only did what was expected of her.

Cui Cui’s face turned red at the praise, and she giggled. “I learned it all from you, A’Zhi.” A’Zhi gave her a look of approval and then walked into the inner room.

The little princess was still in bed, reading a book. Her voice was intermittent. She would read two lines and then take a break. Even the laziest donkey in the back of the manor didn’t rest as much as she did. A’Zhi couldn’t help but remind her, “Princess, the entrance exam is tomorrow.” The person in the bed groaned in pain. A’Zhi felt a wave of satisfaction. Ha. You get tortured, too!

Whatever she was thinking, A’Zhi didn’t show it. She stood by the bed, bending slightly, and asked softly, “Princess, are you getting up? It’s time for breakfast.”

“I’m full,” Chao Mu said, wriggling in her blanket. “The Four Books for Women are too much. I’ve read until I’m full.” To her, knowledge was food, and she was “stuffed” to the point of throwing up.

A’Zhi’s lips twitched in a smile. She took a deep breath and coaxed her to get up. “I’ll give you a new hairstyle today. Would you like to get up and try it, Princess?”

Chao Mu’s fluffy head peeked out from the curtains. Her eyes were bright and curious as she looked at A’Zhi. “What kind of new hairstyle?”

She was a little girl who cared about her appearance. No wonder she didn’t want to wear the same color as Chen Yue. With a face like Chen Yue’s, anyone who wore the same color would be “humiliated.”

A’Zhi’s face remained impassive. She smiled faintly. “You’ll have to get up to find out.”

Chao Mu finally sat up. A’Zhi hung up the bed curtains so she couldn’t lie back down. After Chao Mu put on her outer robes and sat at the dressing table, A’Zhi washed her hands and began to style her hair, telling her about Steward Qi as she did.

Chao Mu looked down at the book on her lap, her long, curly eyelashes fluttering. “What do you think, A’Zhi?”

“An adopted son would have no right to ask for more, but what about a real son?” A’Zhi said. “If Zhi Yuan knew he was Steward Qi’s son, would he be satisfied with what he has now?” The answer was no. People are greedy. When they are barely surviving, all they want to do is live. But once they survive, they want a better life. If Zhi Yuan were just an adopted son, being a little errand boy wouldn’t matter. But if he knew he was Steward Qi’s son, he would compare himself to Steward Qi’s three sons. The more he compared, the more resentful he would become. Why should they manage estates and get rich while he has to run around like a servant? Just because he’s an illegitimate son? What did he do wrong? If Steward Qi hadn’t been so lustful, he wouldn’t have been born. He would feel that Steward Qi owed him and his mother a lot and should compensate him more!

Chao Mu smiled and looked into the bronze mirror. A’Zhi also looked into the mirror, and their eyes met. Chao Mu’s dimples appeared. 

“You’re clever, A’Zhi.”

A’Zhi modestly lowered her head. “It’s all because the princess taught me so well.”

“Since they’re all Steward Qi’s sons, why shouldn’t his wife know?” Chao Mu said, her finger tapping the character for “inner” in the Inner Precepts. Her voice was slow. “Ask Madame Zhou to come in a few days. Say I want to have some new clothes made.” If she didn’t come back, how would she find out there was a new person in the family?

“Yes,” A’Zhi replied, looking down. As she pinned a hairpin in the princess’s hair, she added, “Cui Cui will ‘accidentally’ leak Zhi Yuan’s secret.”

“Good,” Chao Mu said. She loved her new hairstyle and kept touching it. A’Zhi had twisted her black hair into two loops, like a rabbit’s ears. “But A’Zhi, what’s happening in the inner courtyard can only make things difficult for Steward Qi. It can’t bring him down.”

A’Zhi knew this. “I’ll go to the estates to audit the accounts.” The moment the little princess had asked her to look at the ledgers, A’Zhi knew this day would come. She was the one who would go first, the stepping stone. People wouldn’t take her seriously, and they would make mistakes. Steward Qi was rich enough to have a mistress, which meant he wasn’t completely honest with his wife, Madame Zhou. She might forgive him for having an illegitimate son, but she would never forgive him for secretly taking money for himself. For a couple like them, transparency with money was more important than loyalty.

Chao Mu turned around and looked up at A’Zhi. Her smile was sweet. “Thank you for all your hard work, A’Zhi.” A’Zhi’s heart wasn’t bitter. She smiled faintly. But her life was. She couldn’t give herself to such a black-hearted little princess. She would be worked to death.

“You don’t have to come with me to the Imperial Academy tomorrow,” Chao Mu said. “You can take some people and go audit the accounts at the nearest estate.” She thought for a moment. “Take a few guards with you so you don’t get hurt.”

“Yes,” A’Zhi said.

******

The next day, at dawn, A’Zhi had a carriage prepared and left to audit the accounts. Chao Mu left an hour later. She was going to the Imperial Academy with Cui Cui and another maid for her exam. Cui Cui had assumed A’Zhi would be the one to go with the princess. She was confused when she heard that A’Zhi was going to audit the accounts. Auditing? Wasn’t that the job of the lady of the house?

Cui Cui thought that today, the princess was handling the social aspects and A’Zhi was in charge of the internal affairs. It was like they were a married couple. Cui Cui had never left the Qi manor before and was a bit nervous about going to the Imperial Academy. But the other maid was even more timid, so Cui Cui had to step up and represent the Qi manor. She may not have seen big crowds, but she had seen her calm and composed head maid. She thought of A’Zhi, and her back straightened. Her face was cold, and her eyes were serious. She was trying to be A’Zhi.

Chao Mu looked at her, then looked at her again, and said with a mournful voice, “Cui Cui, don’t be like that.”

Cui Cui was nervous. She asked, “Princess, am I not doing it right?”

Chao Mu pulled back the curtain and looked down at her. Her voice was weak. “No, you’re doing it too well.”

Cui Cui’s round eyes widened in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Chao Mu whined, “Because you’re doing it so well, you’re making me miss A’Zhi.”

Cui Cui sighed. Just bear with it, Princess. Today you only have Cui Cui. Cui Cui is filling in for A’Zhi.

The Qi family’s carriage passed another carriage. It was from the Liang family.

Liang You’an lifted the curtain of the carriage with his fan and smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He said to the person inside, “Hongji, guess whose carriage just passed by?”

Chao Hongji, the Sixth Prince and the only son of the emperor’s favorite concubine, Noble Consort Li. He picked up a winter date from the fruit bowl between them and looked over. “Whose?”

“Your future consort, Princess Fu Jia of the Qi family.” After getting a good look, Liang You’an put his fan away and let the curtain fall.

“Oh, Cousin Fu Jia?” Chao Hongji smiled. “Our marriage was just a verbal promise my father made years ago. It’s not a done deal yet.” He calculated the time. “My aunt had just passed away, and my father took pity on her. He just made a promise to protect her from being bullied in the future. She must be going to the Imperial Academy for her entrance exam today.” Chao Hongji tossed the date into his mouth, his eyes sparkling. “I hope she passes. She’s a princess, after all. It would be an embarrassment to the royal family if she didn’t get in.”

“She’s taking the entrance exam, and you’re not going to see her?” Liang You’an opened his fan and fanned himself. He teased the prince. “She is your fiancée, after all.”

Chao Hongji threw a date at him. “I heard Miss Chu invited you to have tea today, and you didn’t go. We’re not like you two. You’ve already set a date, and we’re not even close to that.”

At the mention of Chu Qingqiu, Liang You’an’s face fell. “I don’t like her.” He had been cooped up in his manor for days. He finally got to see Chao Hongji and couldn’t help but complain. “You know me. I like… wild girls. Chu Qingqiu is like… a dried-up well.” Liang You’an didn’t want to say anything too harsh. “She and my sister have been good friends since they were kids. I’ve always seen her as a little sister. Who knew our families would just decide to marry us off without asking for my opinion?” He slapped his thigh. “Who falls in love with their own sister? That’s just wrong.” But he didn’t have a say in his family, so he couldn’t object.

Liang You’an fanned himself furiously. “I’m so worried. Just thinking about getting married gives me a headache, let alone having tea. If I were happy about this, why would I have made up an excuse to come out with you just to avoid having tea with Chu Qingqiu?” The thought of having tea with Chu Qingqiu sent shivers down his spine.

It was a good thing Chao Hongji had come to find him today. Liang You’an immediately took the opportunity to get away from the manor. The two of them were going to admire the snow and roast fish. It was a pleasant and carefree day.

“What are you going to tell the Chu family?” Chao Hongji asked. “You can’t just stand her up. It would be rude to Miss Chu, and your family might have a hard time explaining it to Lord Chu.”

Liang You’an’s fanning slowed down. He took a bite of a date and crossed his legs. “How could I dare to offend the Chu family? I have my own plan.” His plan was to have his sister, Liang Youyun, go in his place. The conversation today was about the marriage anyway, and it would be more useful to have Liang Youyun there than him.

“Thank god I have a sister,” Liang You’an said with a sigh. Especially since she was such good friends with his future wife. Even if he didn’t show up, Chu Qingqiu wouldn’t say anything because of Liang Youyun.

At the Chu manor, Liang Youyun wore a soft smile. “Did Miss Chu really invite my brother for tea today?” she asked the maid, Ren Dong.

Ren Dong walked while bowing. “Yes, Miss Liang. My mistress had planned to have tea with the young master. But after she found out he couldn’t make it and that you were coming in his place, she changed her mind.”

Liang Youyun’s fingers twitched. She had a strange feeling. “Changed her mind to what?”

Ren Dong smiled faintly. “To try on the wedding clothes. She wants you to give her some advice.” And it was the inner garments of the wedding dress.