Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 31 - Killing a Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

The steward stared for a long while, inwardly marveling, before he finally said, “Third Miss, you are a young woman, so it would be inconvenient for you to participate in many matters. Funeral rites are also complicated and exhausting. If Third Miss were truly made to handle all of it alone, I fear you would not be able to bear it. The Old Madam’s intention is that everything should be kept simple. The living, after all, are more important.”

Oh, the living are more important. But whichever living person matters, it is not me. What I saw today in Qunxing Pavilion was not wrong. Even if these people treat me a little better now, they still take me for a fool.

Wu Sheyue smiled. “Since that is the case, we will follow Grandmother’s arrangements.” She moved aside indifferently. No matter. I have already prepared a show for them.

The steward nodded to Wu Sheyue, gestured, and led the men inside. Wu Sheyue and Ning’er followed behind. Wu Sheyue turned back for a glance and saw Xiaoling and Sisi peeking out from around a corner.

The steward entered the mourning hall first. At a glance, in that black-and-white, somewhat shabby hall, there was unexpectedly a maid dressed in exquisite, carefully made clothing standing with her back to them, wiping the floor. Her embroidered sleeves were rolled up to her forearms, and the silver hairpin tassels on her head swayed with her movements.

The contrast was truly too much.

Bailian had been wholeheartedly cursing people in her mind. Hearing movement, she turned and looked. She immediately threw down the rag and stood up. “Steward—greetings, Steward.”

“Miss Bailian?” The steward was very surprised. She was a second-rank maid from the First Madam’s side. In astonishment, he asked, “You… why are you doing this? Did the First Madam send you here to serve?”

“Yes, I only came today and already—” Bailian was just about to complain when she suddenly saw Wu Sheyue looking at her from behind the steward. In alarm, she saluted Wu Sheyue. “Third Miss. This servant has not finished wiping. Please do not punish me, Third Miss. It is this servant’s first time doing this and I am not yet skilled. It will not happen again.”

Wu Sheyue smiled. Bailian’s name truly has not been wasted. She has captured the essence of a white lotus perfectly. Is she a white-lotus spirit? She has not lost her manners, and she has also implied to the steward that she is being mistreated.

Sure enough, the steward’s face went pale. Third Miss’s face has recovered, but her mind has not, has it? She even dares make someone sent by the First Madam do rough work?

Yet before the steward could ask, Wu Sheyue spoke gently. “It’s fine. Ning’er and I have not finished working over there either. We can all take our time.”

The steward froze. “Third Miss, you also worked with your own hands?”

“Didn’t Grandmother say the place would be repaired? It was originally too dirty and messy here, so I had people sort through the odds and ends. But we lacked manpower, so I had to help as well.”

Bailian felt annoyed. Once Third Miss says that, I have no reason left to complain. She looked unhappily at Wu Sheyue, only to meet those deep, quiet eyes. Her heart trembled. Has this fool of a Third Miss seen through me?

The steward’s heart felt uneasy. Sorting through odds and ends? Sorting through things means putting them away. That work is easy enough. Why call Bailian to wipe the floor in the mourning hall? Does the mourning hall floor even need to be wiped? Even if it is wiped clean, once repairs begin, dust will be everywhere again.

He understood inwardly. Either Third Miss was still foolish, or she was using an excuse to dampen Bailian’s arrogance because Bailian had come from the First Madam’s good courtyard and might look down on her. But the steward had lived to his age, so he naturally leaned toward the latter. After all, Third Miss herself had done work. No one could say she was harsh to the servants. This Third Miss is unexpectedly capable. She has only just recovered and already has such a mind. Could someone be advising her from behind?

Thinking this, he said vaguely, “Then Third Miss has worked hard.”

Wu Sheyue said politely, “Not at all. It is not especially strenuous work.”

People were just like this. If they thought you were easy to bully, everyone would bully you. If they suspected you might act behind the scenes, their attitude became much more cautious and proper.

Bailian felt stifled. She looked at her wet hands. Disgusting. Why did Wu Sheyue not mention how dirty this non-strenuous work is?

Looking at Bailian’s expression, Wu Sheyue added, “Bailian, since the mourning hall is busy, stop wiping for now. That basin of water also needs changing. Go draw water first.”

Bailian froze in astonishment, then answered unhappily, “Yes…” She went to carry the basin of dirty water.

The steward glanced at Bailian and said to the men, “You few, go carry it.”

After walking two steps, Bailian heard the sound and turned back. She saw the men walking back and forth over the spot she had just wiped as they lifted the coffin. The vomit had just been cleaned away, but because the water had not dried, the floor was muddy. She was so angry she nearly threw the basin.

The coffin was far too poor and shabby. The men each used only one hand to lift it and carry it away. Before leaving, the steward said farewell to Wu Sheyue. His attitude was slightly better than when he had first entered the courtyard.

Seeing the steward follow the coffin away, Ning’er suddenly squatted on the ground, covered her face, and began crying loudly. Looking at her grief, Wu Sheyue’s heart softened as well. Yin Qiuming had taken care of her and Wu Sheyue for so many years. Now that she was gone, she did not even have a decent farewell.

She touched Ning’er’s shoulder and comforted her gently. “All right.”

“Miss… I… I’m so scared…”

“Don’t be afraid. Nothing will happen. At least the steward was right about one thing.” Ning’er raised her head, her eyes full of tears, and looked at Wu Sheyue.

Wu Sheyue smiled. “The living are more important. Concubine Mother has gone on to enjoy peace. She cannot feel anything now. Only if we live well can she rest easy.”

Ning’er nodded hard. “I understand. I am only very sad.”

Wu Sheyue pulled her up and wiped her tears. “You cannot be sad for too long. We still have a hard battle to fight.”

“Mm.” Ning’er’s heart warmed. Aside from Concubine Yin, Miss treated her best.

—

On Bailian’s side, she angrily carried the basin of water to the well. Only then did she realize she should have poured the water out as soon as she left the door instead of carrying it all this way. She had truly been muddled by anger.

She placed the basin on the ground and sat by the well, panting hard. She had been a second-rank maid at the First Madam’s side. Normally, she lived more comfortably than the daughters of small households. When had she ever done such dirty work or suffered such humiliation?

The more Bailian thought about it, the angrier she became. I truly should not have listened to Madam and been openly sent over. That fool is not as foolish as I imagined. I should have pretended to be newly bought and come in with Sisi and Xiaoling. Look at those two maids. Up to now, they have done nothing.

At that thought, Bailian also felt something strange. Although she had come with a mission, she had not had time to do anything yet. Didn’t the First Madam say Third Miss’s mind had only just recovered? How could she bully people this way?

No. I refuse to believe it. Bailian had struggled and schemed her way through the rear courtyard to reach her current position. Would I be afraid of one worthless Third Miss in name only? Just wait and see who laughs last.

Bailian glanced at the well, then angrily poured the dirty water into it. “Drink your dirty water.”

(To be continued)