Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 24 - Know Yourself and Your Enemy

The two walked side by side on the way back and ran into several maids and young servants. Every one of them stared at Wu Sheyue as though they had seen a ghost, but Wu Sheyue did not particularly care.

However, Wu Sheyue noticed that Ning’er had been excited when she first saw her, but now she had fallen silent again. So Wu Sheyue asked, “Did I scare you?”

Ning’er said softly, “Miss, to tell the truth… Ning’er thought… you would follow Concubine Yin today.”

Was the chancellor’s estate really that terrifying? Wu Sheyue asked as casually as she could, “Is that so? Why?”

Ning’er hesitated, then seemed to gather her courage. “Miss, no one ever cared when something happened to us before. If Concubine Yin had not always done everything she could to smooth things over, we would never have survived. Ning’er has always felt wronged for you. Everyone in the residence knows Miss did nothing wrong. You only had a birthmark on your face, and your mind was only a little too straightforward… Yet everyone bullied Third Miss. Third Miss is clearly also a young lady of the chancellor’s estate. Ning’er has followed Third Miss for many years, but I almost never saw the chancellor or the madam’s faces.”

“They probably all said, ‘She’s a fool anyway. She doesn’t feel anything if you bully her,’ right?”

Ning’er was startled. “You… you still remember those things?”

Wu Sheyue smiled faintly. “People like that exist in every era. Then why did you still help me? Don’t you want anything from me?”

“Third Miss!” Ning’er suddenly looked at Wu Sheyue. Her third miss was now extremely beautiful, but the cold clarity in her eyes almost made Ning’er think this was not the same Third Miss from before.

Ning’er withdrew her gaze and said, aggrieved, “Concubine Yin saved Ning’er. Miss doesn’t remember. Ning’er borrowed three taels of silver from Matron Wang to bury my parents. Later, the interest grew too high and I could not repay it. It was Concubine Yin who helped. Concubine Yin had only one jade bracelet on her, and she pawned it to Matron Wang. Otherwise, Ning’er would have been beaten to death. How could Ning’er abandon Miss?”

So that was it… Wu Sheyue patted Ning’er’s head as though coaxing a child. “I know. Things like that won’t happen again.”

“Mm.” Ning’er nodded. She felt that Third Miss was somehow like an adult now.

“Then tell me about this family… my family. What are everyone’s relationships?” It seems my current position is not high enough; this will have to be a long battle. In that case, I absolutely need to know myself and my enemy. I didn’t understand things properly before, which is why today I was blind in front of the old lady and the concubines.

“Sigh, Miss, do you remember or not…” Ning’er began explaining. “Our First Madam is the daughter of Grand Tutor Jiang. There are two legitimate children, one young master and one young lady—”

Wu Sheyue suddenly interrupted her. “Why haven’t I seen any boys in this family?”

“Uh… Miss, the young masters of our residence were sent away to study and train. They do not come back often.”

How awkward. Wu Sheyue smiled. “Haha… I forgot. My mind is still muddled.”

Ning’er seemed to have grown used to Wu Sheyue’s partial memory and continued. “The First Madam, née Jiang, is Grand Tutor Jiang’s daughter. She gave birth to one son and one daughter: the eldest young master, Wu Ziqi, who is seventeen this year, and the eldest miss, Wu Liuyun, who had her coming-of-age ceremony three months ago. Second Concubine Meng was originally a qin player from a brothel. She only gave birth to Second Miss Wu Jinghua, who is almost fifteen. Third Concubine was your birth mother. I do not know the details, but I have heard the other concubines… mutter that the chancellor brought her back from outside. Your birthday and the birthdays of Eldest Miss and Second Miss are only about half a year apart. I heard old matrons in the back courtyard gossip that when the three madams and concubines all gave birth to daughters one after another, the chancellor and the Old Madam were furious.”

Wu Sheyue gave a scoffing laugh. “If he had daughters, that was because he himself lacked the ability. And he blamed other people?”

Ning’er could not help smiling. “Fourth Concubine is Madam Liu. She gave birth to Fourth Miss Wu Lixiang. I do not remember her exact birthday, but she should be about fourteen. She also has Second Young Master Wu Ziming. He and Wu Lixiang are twins. Ning’er thinks Concubine Liu is a little petty. She has always been proud of having given birth to a pair of twins. Oh, right. There was also a Fifth Concubine who passed away very early. Ning’er does not know much about her. She had one son, the youngest young master of the residence, Wu Ziyi. He is only ten. Last is Concubine Zhao. She gave birth to Fifth Miss Wu Yin’er, who is thirteen this year.”

“Looking at it that way, there really are more girls than boys.”

Wu Sheyue shook her head. Men in ancient times really had holes in their brains. Did they think marrying more women meant they could embrace beauties left and right and enjoy life? When women like these get ruthless, they can play you to death in minutes. People say three women make a play, but this is enough not only to set up a stage, but to provide all the singing, instruments, and accompaniment too.

Thinking of how Wu Jinghua, at such a young age, could be so vicious as to make her younger sister eat spoiled food, what would the others be like?

“Will we come into contact with anyone else here? Tell me about them.”

“Mm… Usually, Ning’er handles the courtyard alone. If you ask who we often deal with… Ning’er is familiar with several cooks in the main kitchen, but Miss does not need to know about them. Then there is Matron Wang, who is responsible for delivering monthly allowances and supplies.”

The corner of Wu Sheyue’s mouth lifted. “In that case, Matron Wang is quite an important figure. She is so economical and knows how to run a household.”

(To be continued)