A Maid Dressed As A Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role (Transmigration) - Chapter 8

“Head maid.”

“Head maid?!”

Everyone stared blankly at A’Zhi, taking a few moments to fully grasp those two words. They were surprised, yet at the same time, it felt completely right. A’Zhi’s every word and action was different from before. She carried the authority of a head maid, and since she was able to handle the rowdiest maids, Xiao Yan and Xiao Que, it was only fitting that the county princess made her head maid.

The crowd below had no objections. Only Xiao Yan and Xiao Que’s eyes were wide, and they mumbled, “Head maid.” A’Zhi had actually become the head maid. How would they ever get a moment’s peace now?

Just as Xiao Yan was about to plead with the county princess again, A’Zhi, the newly appointed head maid, took a step forward.

“Since the county princess trusts this servant, I will make the decision.” A’Zhi bowed to the county princess. She didn’t feign humility or push the task away. She immediately exercised her power as the head maid. She looked at Xiao Yan and Xiao Que. “Do you two know your mistake?”

Xiao Yan and Xiao Que knelt below, their hearts filled with resentment. But they were in a tight spot and had no choice but to begrudgingly lower their heads. “We know our mistake.”

A’Zhi’s voice was calm and without a hint of emotion. “What was your mistake?”

Xiao Yan secretly rolled her eyes, pouted, and said in a thin voice, “We shouldn’t have soaked your bedding, and we shouldn’t have fought with you.” Her attitude wasn’t sincere, and her tone was mocking. It was as if she wanted to placate A’Zhi but couldn’t bring herself to, so she just gave a half-hearted, dismissive nod.

A’Zhi looked at Xiao Que. “What about you?”

Xiao Que followed Xiao Yan’s lead. “The same as her.”

Xiao Que had grown up in a respectable household and was sure that A’Zhi, having just become the head maid, wouldn’t go too far with her punishment. The most she’d do was dock their monthly wages and give them a stern lecture. If A’Zhi were to be “ruthless” right away, she would lose the respect of the other maids. They would just think she was abusing her power to get revenge, and her future orders would not be taken seriously. Xiao Que felt secure, believing A’Zhi wouldn’t dare to punish them too harshly.

Everyone could hear the insincerity and resentment in Xiao Yan’s and Xiao Que’s voices. They wondered how A’Zhi would punish these two troublemakers. A light punishment would be too easy on them, while a harsh one would seem like personal revenge and would be difficult to enforce.

The county princess, Chao Mu, sat upright and stable. When she heard Xiao Yan and Xiao Que speak, she simply glanced up at the person standing beside her. A’Zhi’s delicate and youthful face was composed with a calm maturity that was beyond her years. She was not at all bothered by their childish antics and patiently listened to them.

Chao Mu’s long, thick eyelashes fell, and her gaze followed them down. A’Zhi had taken one step forward, but her toes were still exactly a half-foot behind Chao Mu’s—no more, no less, a clear sign of respect for her master. These little details were something that couldn’t be faked. It was a rule so deeply ingrained that she did it naturally.

Just as Chao Mu retracted her gaze, A’Zhi spoke.

“Wrong answer.” A’Zhi folded her hands over her stomach, her back straight and elegant as a bamboo stalk. She looked at Xiao Yan and Xiao Que. “As maids serving in the inner courtyard, you are wrong on three counts.”

A’Zhi calmly summarized: “First: Disrespect for your master. You routinely speak ill of the master behind her back, and you even dared to interrupt her while she was speaking because of your own personal squabble. Do you have any respect for the county princess?”

“Second: Laziness and deceit. The inner courtyard is different from the front hall. The front hall maids are responsible for sweeping, while the inner courtyard maids are responsible for serving. You lazily pushed your duties onto others. Did you truly fulfill your duty of ‘serving’?”

“Third: A lack of understanding of your place. The master of this courtyard and this entire manor is the county princess. Your wrongdoing stems from your failure to serve the county princess well. It is not about your personal grudge against me.”

The three charges, one after another, crushed Xiao Yan and Xiao Que. Their faces went pale, and their kneeling bodies swayed.

A’Zhi’s voice became slightly colder. “If you can’t even tell who is your master and who is not, what right do you have to serve in the inner courtyard? You have strength but no brains, and you are only fit for doing laundry and sorting vegetables in the back courtyard.”

“Xiao Yan and Xiao Que, you are to be fined three months’ wages. Starting tomorrow, you will be transferred from the inner courtyard to do laundry in the back.” A’Zhi’s gaze swept over the maids who had their heads down, barely daring to breathe. “Do any of you object to this punishment?”

Even Xiao Yan and Xiao Que didn’t know where to begin to argue. A’Zhi’s words were reasonable and logical. She hadn’t used her personal grudge against them at all, and no one could find a single fault in her judgment.

Only then did A’Zhi turn and bow to the county princess, asking softly, “County princess, what do you think?” It was a test given by the county princess, and she was asking how she had done. The line, “‘You say how to punish them, and I’ll listen to you,’” was a sugar-coated trap. In reality, it was a test to see how she would handle Xiao Yan and Xiao Que in a way that commanded respect without seeming like she was seeking revenge.

Hmph, she thought, you little sweet bun.

Chao Mu, of course, would not let A’Zhi down. She was very pleased. “I think it’s an excellent punishment. Do as A’Zhi says.” After a moment of thought, her soft and slow voice added, “If they behave well in the future, there will still be a chance for them to be transferred back.”

Everyone thought to themselves: The county princess is too kind and forgiving. She’s so soft-hearted that she’s even considering letting them transfer back in the future. If it were any of them, they would have sent people like Xiao Yan and Xiao Que as far away as possible, never to see them again. Thinking about this, everyone felt that it was actually a good thing for A’Zhi to be the head maid.

The county princess was soft, while A’Zhi was stern. The county princess saw friendships, while A’Zhi saw rules. This combination of soft and stern worked perfectly. Moreover, A’Zhi had no personal grudges against them, so if she became the head maid, everyone in the courtyard would be treated equally, without favoritism. This was the best possible outcome for everyone.

The show was over, and they had a new head maid. Her goal achieved, Chao Mu let out a small, satisfied yawn. Her already moist almond eyes welled up with a fine mist. “A’Zhi”

Before she could speak, A’Zhi thoughtfully suggested she go back to rest.

“Since your bed is wet,” Chao Mu said, pointing to her side room, “you can sleep in there for tonight.” She would have someone buy a new bed for the room tomorrow.

A’Zhi answered, “Yes.”

After the county princess left, A’Zhi took a big step forward, her toes at the edge of the steps. The warmth and kindness she showed before were gone from her eyes.

“Cui Cui, tomorrow, sort out a list of all the maids in the courtyard, including their duties and areas of responsibility. Now that we have a head maid, we can no longer be as lazy and disorganized as before.”

Cui Cui replied, “Yes.”

A’Zhi continued, “Starting tomorrow, I will apply to the county princess for a reward and punishment system. Those who do well will be rewarded. Those who don’t will end up like them.”

Everyone looked at Xiao Yan and Xiao Que, who were sprawled on the ground.

A’Zhi asked, “Did you hear me clearly?”

The maids’ answers were quiet and hesitant.

A’Zhi’s voice turned cold. “Did you hear me clearly?!”

The maids’ backs stiffened instantly, and they answered loudly and in unison, “Yes!”

Only then did A’Zhi dismiss them. If a system wasn’t established, the maids who worked hard would never get ahead, while deceitful and unruly maids like Xiao Yan would just push their work onto others and live comfortably.

The maids dispersed. Xiao Yan got up from the ground, gave A’Zhi a fierce glare, and left. Xiao Que seemed completely defeated, staggering away. She not only failed to become a concubine, but she also failed to become the head maid and was now being punished with doing laundry in the back courtyard. This blow was enough to take some time for a “proud” person like Xiao Que to accept.

Cui Cui carried the stool back and was about to return to their four-person room when A’Zhi called her.

“Oh, right, I’ll go get your bedding,” Cui Cui said, looking towards the side room. “What if there’s no bedding inside?” Cui Cui was worried because there had never been a head maid in this courtyard before, and it was possible that the manor hadn’t prepared any bedding.

“There is,” A’Zhi said with certainty. Since the county princess had told her to rest there, it meant there was bedding.

A’Zhi brought Cui Cui into the side room, and sure enough, they found new bedding in the closet! Cui Cui’s face lit up with surprise, and she looked at A’Zhi with even more admiration. Together, they put the covers on the blankets.

A’Zhi placed two pillows on the bed and said to Cui Cui, “Xiao Yan and Xiao Que won’t be leaving until tomorrow. Don’t go back to the room tonight. Just squeeze in here with me for the night to avoid being bullied.” Since Cui Cui had helped her, she had undoubtedly made enemies of Xiao Yan and Xiao Que. And with their bedding soaked, Cui Cui would likely be freezing on her bed all night if she went back.

Cui Cui’s small, round eyes curved into a smile. “Thank you, A’Zhi” She had never expected her kind warning to lead to such a positive outcome. It all felt a bit unreal. She and A’Zhi had actually turned the tables on Xiao Yan and Xiao Que!

It was late, and they had to wake up early tomorrow. After A’Zhi finished washing up, they blew out the lamp and lay down in bed. The bed wasn’t big, but since they were both thin, they weren’t squeezed shoulder to shoulder.

Cui Cui was still awake and whispered to A’Zhi, “I never thought you were so impressive.”

A’Zhi smiled faintly, her eyes closed. “Do you like the old A’Zhi or the new A’Zhi better?”

Cui Cui thought about it seriously. “The old A’Zhi was good too, quiet and honest. But the old A’Zhi wouldn’t have been my friend.” Cui Cui nodded with certainty. “So I don’t dislike either of them, but I like the new A’Zhi better.”

It was a perfect answer.

A’Zhi sighed. “People always grow up, and they change…” She said something strange, “But the old A’Zhi is still very happy, happier than before.” Living the carefree life that should have been hers. T_T

Tears rolled down A’Zhi’s face. “I really don’t want to ‘grow up.'”

Cui Cui patted her arm comfortingly. “It’s okay, A’Zhi. You’re the head maid now. You’ll be happier and happier.”

Cui Cui didn’t understand. She didn’t understand at all. Her A’Zhi was originally the head maid of all head maids. This wasn’t a promotion; it was a demotion.

A’Zhi wiped her face. “Mmm, I know. I’m just so happy. It’s a blessing to be the county princess’s head maid.” It was a blessing to become the head maid based on skill, not favoritism. Unfortunately, Cui Cui didn’t understand.

Before falling asleep, A’Zhi sighed to herself again. In this world, the only person who truly understood her was the little sweet bun.