Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 28 - I am a noble maid

The once-deserted courtyard suddenly had so many people in it that Wu Sheyue was not used to it. She looked at the two little maids standing to the side and began, “You two—”

The two little girls dropped to their knees with a thud. “Please give your orders, Miss.”

“—what are your names?” Wu Sheyue finished somewhat blankly.

The two little girls knocked their heads against the ground. “Please bestow names upon us, Miss.”

“I don’t know how to name people.” She was the sort who could not even name cats and dogs.

The two little girls raised their heads and timidly looked at each other. One said softly, “Miss, my name is Chen Sisi.”

“When I was at home, I was called… called Xiaoling.”

Wu Sheyue nodded. “Fine. Sisi and Xiaoling, right? From now on, when you work here, remember one thing: whatever I say goes. Aside from my orders, you had best not do anything else. Your miss came from hard days too, so naturally I will not make things difficult for you. But if anyone betrays her master for personal gain, eating from the inside while serving the outside…” As she spoke, she glanced at Bailian. “You remember that too.”

Bailian immediately nodded. “Yes. Bailian understands.”

Sisi and Xiaoling felt extremely uneasy. Third Miss’s eyes are more frightening than the First Madam’s. They said timidly, “This servant understands.”

“Get up. I imagine Mother will soon have food, clothing, and supplies sent over. We will set aside clothes for now. Ning’er, decide how to arrange a room for the two of them and let them rest.”

“Yes.”

Seeing the two maids follow Ning’er away happily, Bailian could not help asking Wu Sheyue, “Third Miss, where will I stay?”

Wu Sheyue gave an exaggerated sigh. “Oh my, from now on, you will be attending to my food, clothing, and daily life. Where would be closest? I will stay in my concubine mother’s old room. You can stay in the side chamber.”

“The side chamber?” Bailian stared in surprise. Does that mean I have to make do sleeping in the side chamber every night?

“Yes. Aren’t you supposed to serve me? I swore to Mother that I absolutely would not order Ning’er around anymore.” Wu Sheyue’s expression was innocent and deeply irritating. She thought to herself: I know exactly what you came here to do. How could I feel at ease letting you stay far away? I’ll put you right under my nose. If I can kill you, I’ll kill you. If I can’t, I’ll still make you stay where I can see you.

Although her dream of killing this whole bizarre family could not be realized for now, she could still deal with one little maid.

Bailian had no idea her life was already being eyed by someone. She was still anxiously stamping over the bad sleeping arrangement.

This… what am I supposed to do? This ruined place is already miserable enough. If not for the First Madam, I would never have been willing to come. Now things are even worse. Ning’er becomes the idle, comfortable senior maid, while I have to serve tea and water every day?

Seeing that Ning’er had already led Sisi and Xiaoling back to their room, Wu Sheyue waved her hand. “All right. Ning’er and I were doing a major cleaning and happened to be short on help. Ning’er, find Bailian a rag too.”

Major cleaning? Third Miss wants me to help with a major cleaning? “Th-Third Miss, are you serious?”

“Yes. Everyone has to work. The side room has been empty for a long time and must be very dusty. Sisi and Xiaoling should be cleaning their own room now. The three of us will clean the rest of the courtyard.”

This… no way. This is not the kind of work I should be doing. Bailian was just about to argue when Wu Sheyue turned to Ning’er and said, “Rag.”

Ning’er quickly stuffed the gray-brown rag into Bailian’s hand. At first glance, Bailian nearly threw the “filthy thing” away. She quickly pinched a corner of it between two fingers, holding it far away from her body in disgust. Her heart nearly collapsed. This Third Miss looks clean and neat on the outside, but who would have thought she is so lowly and filthy at the bone?

Seeing her look so disgusted only made Wu Sheyue feel better. “Go. Wipe down the mourning hall. Grandmother should soon send people to conduct the burial.”

Wipe the mourning hall? Bailian felt as though she had been struck by lightning again. She had been standing in the west courtyard for only a short while, and already she deeply regretted volunteering when the First Madam asked who was willing to come. Bailian turned to glance at the mourning hall and felt only a gloomy chill. “Miss, over there is too…”

Wu Sheyue pulled Ning’er back toward the room. “We’ll continue tidying the room.”

“Ah, wait—wait, Third Miss.” Bailian hurried to follow, but Wu Sheyue had already shut the door in her face.

As soon as she entered, Wu Sheyue leaned by the window and peeked outside. Bailian stood outside for a long while, stamping her feet in anger. Only after a moment did she slowly trudge toward the mourning hall.

Wu Sheyue said to Ning’er, “Go wipe the windows outside. Keep an eye on her.”

“Miss? You think there is something wrong with her?”

Wu Sheyue asked back, “You think there isn’t?”

“Not… not exactly…” Ning’er was somewhat embarrassed. In great rear courtyards, the most common way to scheme against someone was to insert one’s own person into their courtyard. This was normal, and even a young maid who did not understand much knew that. But why does Miss think the First Madam wants to scheme against her?

All this time, although the First Madam’s branch had never paid much attention to them, they had also never bullied them the way Wu Jinghua and Concubine Meng did. Miss… has only just recovered. Why is she already so suspicious?

(To be continued)