Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 30 - Preparing the snow

Bailian firmly refused to work. She cried angrily, “I won’t wipe it. This is too disgusting. If you want to wipe it, wipe it yourself.”

“Oh my. You are actually standing here saying Second Miss is disgusting.” Ning’er clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Everyone has seen how good Second Miss has been to Third Miss. If you go around saying Second Miss is a ‘disgusting’ person, then even if Third Miss beats you to death, the First Madam will not say half a word against it. Do you believe me?”

“You—” Bailian glared hatefully at Ning’er. She had thought this little girl was dull and listless and did not know how to speak. She had not expected her to be so good at lying with her eyes open.

Even if the First Madam knew what had happened, she probably would not expose the fact that the children of the rear courtyard did not get along. Bailian knew Ning’er was only scaring her, but she could not risk it. Her tone weakened. “I didn’t say Second Miss. I meant this thing—”

Ning’er cut her off with exaggerated shock. “Everyone is working, and only you refuse. Are you more precious than Third Miss? I did not expect it. The First Madam hoped you would take good care of Third Miss, yet all you think of is slacking off. The First Madam really misjudged you.”

Bailian pointed the rag at Ning’er’s nose and shouted, “The moment you came in, you started using the First Madam to pressure me. What do you mean by that?”

“The First Madam is the mistress of the household. Keeping the First Madam on my lips is my respect for the madam and my gratitude to her.”

“Fine. Fine. I’ll wipe it.” Bailian flung the rag into the basin, splashing water out. She had only just arrived. She could not fail to last even one day. If that happened, she would have no way to explain herself.

“Good. When the water gets dirty, pour it out by the back gate, then draw water from the well yourself. I already helped you carry one basin. Do the rest yourself.” Ning’er turned and left as she spoke.

What kind of thing does she think she is? Bailian cursed inwardly. She actually bullied me on the very first day. Ning’er must be relying on having followed Third Miss for a long time and now resenting Bailian for taking her place, so she came to establish authority. In truth, Bailian often thought this way herself, and now that their positions were reversed, she naturally assumed others thought the same.

Heh. Just watch. Bailian wrung out the rag, covered her nose with her sleeve, and carefully approached the stain, reaching from far away to wipe it. She muttered inwardly that there was no master Bailian could not handle. Once she spent enough time here… then Ning’er would suffer.

After Ning’er left the mourning hall, she patted her chest, and her excited heart gradually calmed. In the past, she had always been the one others scolded. Now fortunes had turned, and she could speak to those people that way too. It was… it was too satisfying.

“Miss is so amazing…” Ning’er sighed happily. As expected, as long as she listened to Miss and made every sentence lean toward the First Madam, she could bully Bailian.

In truth, these small methods of using authority to suppress someone were not difficult for Wu Sheyue. In modern workplaces, similar tactics were used constantly between colleagues and superiors. Although Wu Sheyue was not professional at killing, she had done quite well in courses on disguise and social language.

—

On that side, Wu Sheyue had just hidden the items beneath the floor tile. She was standing up when Ning’er pushed the door open, stepped right onto that tile, and said excitedly, “Miss, Miss. I just made Bailian wipe the floor. I was afraid she would refuse, so I watched her from a distance for quite a while.”

Wu Sheyue glanced at Ning’er’s foot. “Mm. That’s good.”

Because Ning’er had lived with the foolish Wu Sheyue before, she had not developed very good habits of etiquette. She was rather rash and pointed at Wu Sheyue’s hand. “Miss, what are you holding?”

Wu Sheyue weighed the object in her hand, something like a wrench and something like a blade. “My concubine mother left it behind. I used it to pry up the floor. It is really useful. I worked with it for a long time and it did not get a scratch.”

Pry up the floor? Ning’er looked around but could not see anything.

“Miss, what do we do now?”

Wu Sheyue tucked the tool behind her waist. “Wait. Didn’t Grandmother say she wanted Mother buried quickly? We have been busy for so long, so they should be coming soon.”

Every time Yin Qiuming’s funeral was mentioned, Ning’er’s mood immediately fell. She mumbled, “Miss… you do not seem very sad. That makes sense… now that your mind has recovered, you do not remember many things.”

Wu Sheyue’s heart stirred. She patted Ning’er’s shoulder gently. “I will remember later.”

Ning’er asked in alarm, “Then… then will Miss become foolish again? If so, it is better not to remember. It is all right.”

This child is far too adorably dense.

A hard knock suddenly came from outside. Ning’er was startled and hurried out to open the door. Wu Sheyue followed her out.

Outside stood the steward, already past fifty, along with several men in black short robes.

Ning’er turned back and said sadly to Wu Sheyue, “Miss, they really are here to bury Concubine Yin…”

After letting the men in, Wu Sheyue walked over and stopped the steward. “Since this is a burial, should I prepare anything?” She did not know much about ancient burial rituals, but they were certainly complicated.

The steward did not answer her immediately. Instead, he looked at Wu Sheyue with an openly astonished gaze, examining her without the least attempt to hide it. Wu Sheyue’s expression chilled. Did no one in the original owner’s family think anything of her?

(To be continued)