A Maid Dressed As A Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role (Transmigration) - Chapter 35

In the back of the Qi manor, in Steward Qi’s own courtyard.

A butler like Qi Shilei, who had been in the manor for years, had his own small courtyard. Although it was not as spacious and sunny as the Xiangyang courtyardyard, he didn’t have to share a room with other servants. When Zhi Yuan arrived, Qi Shilei wanted to have him live in his courtyard, but he was afraid of attracting attention. So he just gave him a few extra blankets and had him live with the others.

One of them was Chen Cheng, who had also just arrived. It was Chen Cheng who had told the others about Zhi Yuan’s true identity during a casual chat before bed. Of course, Chen Cheng wasn’t stupid enough to tell Zhi Yuan, “Your father is Qi Shilei.” He just gave them a similar story, guiding Zhi Yuan to the right conclusion.

He told them a story about a man who had an illegitimate son. After the mistress died, the man took the son in. But because the man was afraid of his wife, he had to pretend the son was his nephew. The son had to live in the house and work like a dog, serving the whole family. Compared to the legitimate sons, the illegitimate one was treated like dirt.

Chen Cheng spoke with a righteous anger, slapping the bed. “They’re all his sons, so why are they treated so differently? I’m not saying he should be a young master, but he should at least have a property or a house to live in and be a master himself. Why bring him in just to make him work? Is he a son or an enemy?” As he spoke, he glanced at Zhi Yuan, who was sharing the bed with him. When he saw Zhi Yuan’s tense body, a smile appeared on Chen Cheng’s face. He quickly hid it and continued the conversation with the others.

Compared to Zhi Yuan, Chen Cheng was always more likable. The others who lived with him also agreed with him, and their righteous anger grew. Zhi Yuan was lying on his side, facing the wall. He gripped the sheet tightly, his teeth clenched. Chen Cheng and the others were just telling a story, but Zhi Yuan knew he was the main character. Even those who were not involved felt the injustice. So how could Zhi Yuan, who was in the middle of it all, feel any different?

Zhi Yuan hadn’t dared to join the conversation because he felt that the story was too similar to his and his godfather’s. He had never thought about it before, but now the truth was right in front of him, separated by a thin veil. He had to pull the veil aside to see the truth.

He wasn’t an adopted son who was being taken care of. He was Qi Shilei’s illegitimate son! And his mother was Qi Shilei’s mistress for many years! No wonder Zhi Yuan had never met his father as a child. He only saw his godfather bring things to their house from time to time. He realized now that this so-called godfather was his father!

These two people had hidden the truth from him for so many years. Before his mother died, she was hesitant to tell him the truth. She only hinted at it, “Just pretend you’re your godfather’s son. Follow him, and you’ll be fine.” Zhi Yuan had followed her words and followed Qi Shilei. But what did he get in return? On cold winter days, he was in a small room with a bunch of other people, shivering. He had to boil his own water just to wash his face. Every day, he was a little errand boy, running around and being bossed around. Even that maid, A’Zhi, from the Xiangyang courtyardyard, dared to give him a cold shoulder. He lived in fear, worried about being scolded by his godfather whenever he did something wrong.

Was this the “fine” life he was promised?

Meanwhile, Qi Shilei’s other three sons were all in charge of the most profitable estates. They lived like masters and didn’t have to serve anyone in the manor. The more he compared himself to them, the more unbalanced Zhi Yuan felt. The seed of jealousy and hatred grew wildly in his heart. No one was born to be a servant. Everyone wanted to be a master. It was even more painful when he found out that he could have been a master, but the chance was taken from him. He couldn’t even focus on his work anymore.

Since he found out the truth, Zhi Yuan’s attitude toward Qi Shilei became more and more lax. He didn’t dare to openly defy him, but he was reluctant to do the tasks he was given. That morning, a servant from an estate came and said that something had happened at the Third Young Master’s estate and that they needed to find Steward Qi. Zhi Yuan asked, “Where is your young master?” The servant replied, “The young master went out drinking last night, and he’s not at the estate. That’s why Mama Rou told me to come find Steward Qi.”

Drinking? Zhi Yuan’s lip curled in a sneer. He asked the servant, “Does he drink often? I thought he was supposed to be in charge of the estate.” The servant didn’t understand why Zhi Yuan was asking these questions, but he answered anyway. “Not often. Almost every day. The servants are in charge of everything. The young master just has to show his face. Why would he do all the work himself?”

To Zhi Yuan, this meant that Qi Bao only had to enjoy himself and didn’t have to do any of the work. Look at him, wearing a servant’s uniform, running around doing errands. He looked nothing like Qi Bao. Zhi Yuan was so jealous that he wished something bad would happen to Qi Bao. He even wished all three of Qi Shilei’s sons would die. That way, he would be the only son left, and he could go and manage an estate and be a master.

Zhi Yuan subconsciously didn’t want to deliver the message. Just then, the princess came back. After learning what had happened, Cui Cui told him, “You don’t have to worry about it. We’ll go check it out. It’ll be fine.” If this had happened before, Zhi Yuan would have immediately gone back and told Qi Shilei. But now… he said to Cui Cui, “Okay, I understand.”

The princess had spoken, so he, a servant, had to obey, right? He was a servant, so he had to listen to his master. If he were Qi Shilei’s fourth son, he might have had a choice. But now he was just Qi Shilei’s adopted son. Zhi Yuan hid the news. The manor had no idea what was happening outside.

*****

In the afternoon, Qi Shilei was still mumbling to himself, “I wonder which estate A’Zhi went to. She’s just a little girl who’s never seen the world. She’s good at managing the inner courtyard, but she’s useless outside.” He thought, “Since there’s no news from the east suburb, she must have gone to the west. She’s smart enough to know to pick on the easy ones and not mess with the east suburb.”

Zhi Yuan, who was listening, felt a mix of anxiety and schadenfreude. You’re wrong, he thought. That girl went straight to the east suburb. And your precious son might be in trouble. As for why the princess returned in the afternoon, Qi Shilei didn’t think much of it. He just assumed she had lunch at the Imperial Academy. After all, she had passed the entrance exam and was now a part of the academy.

It wasn’t until A’Zhi returned that night that Qi Shilei found out what happened. Chen Cheng, with a look of confusion, looked at Qi Shilei and then at Zhi Yuan. “Huh? You didn’t hear? The Third and First Young Masters have been taken away. The capital’s magistrate’s office came and arrested them. They had handcuffs on them when they left.” He paused. “I remember Mama Rou sent someone to tell Zhi Yuan… Why didn’t you get the message?” Chen Cheng smiled. “I didn’t see you or Madame Zhou come in the afternoon. I thought you were so confident in your sons’ innocence that you were staying in the manor so calmly.”

Calm? He wasn’t calm at all! Innocent? How could they be innocent? Qi Shilei knew exactly how much money they had embezzled. He knew exactly what his sons were doing on the estates, which was why he was so worried.

Qi Shilei’s heart almost stopped. He couldn’t believe his eldest and third sons were gone. The eldest son had some brains, but the third had none. When the third son was born, all the masters had already left the capital. He was practically raised like a young master, and even the servants called him “the young master.” The third son was so spoiled and naive. He only knew how to enjoy himself, which was why Qi Shilei had sent Mama Rou with him. Now that he was in jail, he would confess everything with just a little intimidation.

Qi Shilei was both anxious and heartbroken. He thought his son, who had never been hurt before, must be terrified and suffering in jail.

“I didn’t hear a thing about this. Not a single word,” Steward Qi said, his hand on his chest. He was out of breath.

“I don’t know,” Chen Cheng said, shaking his head. He added, “But Mama Rou said she sent someone to find you. She was disrespectful to the princess and her actions. She got two slaps from Miss A’Zhi. She was so angry she told A’Zhi to wait, that she had sent for you to deal with her.”

“But we never saw you,” Chen Cheng said, feigning flattery. “I even told the princess that you were a righteous man and that you wouldn’t stand for such a disloyal servant.”

Qi Shilei was about to spit bl00d. “The princess? The princess went, too?”

“Yes, she arrived at noon,” Chen Cheng said, smiling like a simpleton. “It’s a good thing the princess went to the magistrate’s office. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to arrest the eldest young master.”

Qi Shilei’s face was ashen. Every word Chen Cheng said was like a knife in his heart.

Before Chen Cheng left, he added one more knife. “Oh, the second son has also been taken into custody. It was too late to audit his accounts today, so they’re going to do it tomorrow morning. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

Fine? How could he be fine? All three of Qi Shilei’s sons were in trouble. The old father’s heart trembled.

If Qi Shilei hadn’t eaten well all his life, he would have coughed up bl00d and fainted. After Chen Cheng dropped the bombshell, he left, leaving Qi Shilei and Zhi Yuan alone.

Zhi Yuan’s face had been as white as a sheet ever since Chen Cheng began to speak. He had trembled with every word. He was angry at Qi Shilei, but he was also terrified. Now that Qi Shilei knew the truth, Zhi Yuan was shaking like a leaf.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Mama Rou sent someone to find me?” Qi Shilei asked Zhi Yuan.

Zhi Yuan lowered his head, giving him the lame excuse he had prepared. His voice was trembling. “The princess said she would take care of it and that I didn’t have to worry about it.”

“You idiot!” Qi Shilei was furious. He raised his hand and slapped Zhi Yuan across the face. Zhi Yuan’s gums hit his teeth, and his mouth began to bleed. He fell to the ground, his face in his hands, not daring to say a word.

Qi Shilei’s jaw was tight. His trembling finger pointed at Zhi Yuan. “Are you a pig? She told you not to worry about it, so you just didn’t? Do you know how big of a deal this is?” He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. “I took you under my wing and patiently taught you everything, and yet you’re still a fool!”

“I’m going to go out and see what I can find out,” Qi Shilei said, his heart burning with anxiety. He was going to spend some money to get information from the magistrate’s office. His eyes were dark. He had a feeling that this wasn’t a simple matter. Since the magistrate’s office was involved, it was likely that the emperor also knew about it. General Qi was not in the capital, so he couldn’t even go to him for help. Now that everything was exposed, there was no one he could turn to. If they audited all of his accounts, he would have to sacrifice nine heads, and it wouldn’t be enough.

Qi Shilei had been fearless before because he knew the princess was a member of the royal family. She was weak, soft, and cared about her reputation. She wouldn’t expose the Qi family’s problems to the public, or else people would say she was incompetent, and she would lose her place as a future prince’s consort. A future prince’s consort who couldn’t even manage her own servants had no place in the palace.

Qi Shilei thought that Chao Mu would help him maintain the facade of a harmonious master-servant relationship. Who would have thought she would be so foolish as to send people to the authorities? She was incompetent and naive! Now that everything was out in the open, Qi Shilei didn’t have a good chance of winning. He clenched his jaw. A thought began to form in his mind. If he couldn’t get his sons out… he would have to save himself. The magistrate’s office would have everything sorted out by noon tomorrow, so he didn’t have much time.

Qi Shilei turned to leave, leaving Zhi Yuan on the ground without a second glance. He couldn’t even care about his own sons right now, let alone an illegitimate one.

Zhi Yuan’s head was still down. Tears rolled down his nose. His heart was as cold as the stones on the ground on a cold winter night. Was this the difference between him and Qi Bao? Qi Bao was a golden nugget, and he was a piece of mud. Qi Bao was held in his father’s palm, and he was being trampled under his foot.

Why? Zhi Yuan wiped his tears and got up. He didn’t follow Qi Shilei. Instead, he went straight to the Xiangyang Courtyard. If he was miserable, everyone else should be, too!

Qi Shilei hated him now, thinking he was the reason his sons were in jail. He had been beaten by his father before his brothers were even dead. He knew his father would never be good to him. Zhi Yuan’s heart was filled with bl00d and anger. He was so disappointed that he decided he had never had a father, so he would be fine without one.

“Zhi Yuan?”

Cui Cui was at the gate of the Xiangyang courtyardyard. She saw his disheveled appearance and his swollen cheek. She acted surprised, as if she didn’t know what had happened. A’Zhi had told her to wait outside. A fish would bite. And there it was.

“I need to see the princess,” Zhi Yuan said. “I have proof that Qi Shilei has been embezzling money from the manor.” He had been with Qi Shilei for a while, so he knew all about his corruption. He even had some evidence.

Cui Cui was so excited she pinched the back of her hand to keep a calm face. “Okay. I’ll go in and tell the princess.”

Chao Mu was already in bed. When she heard the news, she wanted to get up. Her feet were still warm from her bath. If she got up, they would get cold. A’Zhi tucked the blanket around her and said softly, “Princess, you can stay in bed. I’ll go out and listen. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.” She added, “It’s late and cold. Don’t get up. You’ll get sick.”

Chao Mu obediently lay down. Her eyes looked at A’Zhi. “Okay. Go and deal with it.” She took out a hand warmer from her blanket and gave it to A’Zhi. “Take this.”

A’Zhi took the hand warmer and went out. She stood on the steps, looking at Zhi Yuan. The situation was exactly as she had predicted. There were no surprises. After Zhi Yuan had told her everything, A’Zhi had Cui Cui take him away and put him under surveillance.

Madame Zhou would be coming to the manor tomorrow morning to make clothes for Chao Mu. What would she think when she found out that Qi Shilei had a secret illegitimate son who had been the reason her three sons were in jail?

“Cui Cui,” A’Zhi said quietly. “Have Chen Cheng and the four guards follow Qi Shilei. Don’t let him run away.”

Cui Cui was surprised. “He won’t run away, will he? All his assets and family are here in the capital.” His wife, sons, and illegitimate son were all here. How could he abandon them? That would be so heartless.

A’Zhi smiled faintly. She looked up at the dark night sky. “Anything is possible,” she said, her voice distant. “When it comes to saving your own life, nothing else matters.” Her father had run away, and everyone else in her family had been killed or imprisoned. She only survived because of her low status. Later, she met her aunt, who had been raised in another family. Her aunt told her, “The past doesn’t matter. What matters is that you live. Living is more important than anything.”

A’Zhi never forgot those words. She had to live. She had survived in the palace, and now she would survive here, too.

Cui Cui looked at A’Zhi with a worried expression. A’Zhi looked back at her, a faint smile in her eyes. “Go and do what you need to do,” she said.

“Okay,” Cui Cui said. She didn’t ask any more questions and went to find Chen Cheng. A’Zhi held the hand warmer and stood outside for a while. By the time she went back, she was covered in a cold chill.

“A’Zhi?” When Chao Mu saw her, she blinked. A’Zhi had gone out fine, but she came back looking cold. Chao Mu sat up. She didn’t ask about what had happened. Instead, she said softly, “A’Zhi, can you pour me a cup of tea?”

A’Zhi touched the teapot. It was still hot. She held the hand warmer with one arm and the teacup with both hands. “Princess, the tea is very hot. Can you wait a little longer to drink it?”

Chao Mu knew the tea was hot. She patted the bed and gestured for A’Zhi to sit. “Then can you hold it for me? I’ll drink it later.”

“Okay.” A’Zhi sat on the edge of the bed and held the teacup with both hands. Chao Mu took the hand warmer from her arm. She touched it and sighed. “You silly A’Zhi. It’s cold now. Why were you still holding it?” The hand warmer wasn’t cold when she left, but she had been standing outside for too long.

A’Zhi looked at the steam coming from the teacup. “I forgot. I was too busy to notice.” The warmth in her life had always been less than the coldness. She was used to cold hands and feet.

A’Zhi told Chao Mu about Zhi Yuan. “Chen Cheng’s story worked.” The fact that Zhi Yuan hadn’t told Steward Qi about the message showed that he knew about his identity. He had just found out that Qi Shilei was his father. The resentment in his heart hadn’t even had time to fully develop when this happened, and it immediately turned into hatred.

If it had been a normal day, Qi Shilei would have been in a good mood and wouldn’t have lost his temper or hit Zhi Yuan. He might have even tried to make it up to him, to get closer to him. If that had happened, Zhi Yuan would have been grateful to his father and would never have come to the princess.

But A’Zhi had timed it perfectly. The touching reunion of father and son had turned into a feud.

“A’Zhi, you’re so good,” Chao Mu said, praising her. Her eyes curved into a smile. “But did my great military advisor, A’Zhi, predict that her nose would turn red from the cold?”

“Huh?” A’Zhi was confused.

Chao Mu reached out and touched A’Zhi’s nose with her soft, warm index finger. Her dimples appeared. “It’s all red.” The warm, comforting scent of the princess floated over, making A’Zhi’s heart skip a beat. She looked down and touched her nose with the back of her hand, explaining softly, “It’s probably just cold outside.”

Good, my nose isn’t running. That’s good. A’Zhi took a deep breath. She acted like a head maid. “See, it was a good idea not to let you go out. Otherwise, there would be two red noses.”

Chao Mu was in a good mood. She smiled and hummed softly, pointing at her own nose. “How do you know I don’t want a red nose?” she asked. “A’Zhi and I should go through things together. That’s what masters and servants do.” Chao Mu put her hand on the teacup A’Zhi was holding. “Give it to me. I can drink it now.”

The moment A’Zhi handed the cup to her, she realized that the little princess didn’t drink water before bed. The little princess hadn’t wanted tea at all. She had seen that A’Zhi was upset, but she was afraid to ask her directly. So she made an excuse to get her to hold a warm cup and warm her hands. She was always thoughtful and considerate of others’ feelings. The little gooey-centered pastry!

A’Zhi looked down at her warm hands and smiled faintly, the corner of her eyes crinkling. “I don’t want to go through anything with you, Princess.” She looked at Chao Mu, her eyes were filled with light.

 “I want you to be happy forever.”