Chapter 255: The Servant Only Wishes to Serve the Eldest Miss

Chapter 255: This Humble Servant Only Wishes to Serve the Eldest Young Miss

She was Lu Minghua's own sister, yet how had he treated her?

Nothing but self-righteous lectures and half-hearted neglect.

"Ahem." Yongning Marquis cleared his throat in disapproving reminder.

Lu Minghui hurriedly adjusted her expression, pasted on a smile as she stood up and said softly, "Elder Brother, Mingchao, you’ve finally arrived."

Lu Minghua's smile vanished instantly, and he nodded expressionlessly.

Lu Minghui ground her teeth in frustration.

Was Lu Minghua deliberately putting on this deathly act to disgust her?

All she had done was plot to ruin Lu Minghua’s virtue and marriage to curry favor with Qin Wanrou.

Qin Wanrou was lovely as a celestial maiden, like a delicate camellia shyly perched on a branch amidst morning mist and dew. Grand Tutor Qin’s doting was the fragrance exuded by that camellia—Lu Minghua was getting no bad bargain!

If he disliked Qin Wanrou’s background as unfit for a primary wife, he could always demote her to a concubine after Grand Tutor Qin’s death and marry a highborn lady from an eminent family instead.

These were all trivial matters, yet Lu Minghua nursed resentment over them, as if all the teachings of the sages had gone to waste.

"Has Minghui done something to upset Elder Brother?" Lu Minghui fluttered her handkerchief dramatically, dabbing at nonexistent tears, her pitiful appearance heartrending.

A flash of recognition passed through Lu Mingchao’s eyes—this scene felt familiar.

With a cool smile, she curtsied slightly. "Marquis, Madam, Miss Lu."

"Miss Lu, may I be so bold as to ask if you and Qi Rui are particularly close?"

Her pitiful demeanor was identical to Qi Rui’s—so much so that for a moment, I almost mistook her for Qi Rui, as if we had unexpectedly crossed paths in the capital."

Lu Minghui grew uneasy, frowning in silence.

After all, her deepest connection with Qi Rui was when she had begged her to arrange a match between herself and Xie Yan.

"Chaochao, who is this Qi Rui?" Lu Minghua seemed to detect the teasing undertone in Lu Mingchao’s voice and smiled faintly, responding like an ideal foil on stage.

Lu Mingchao smiled coolly, her tone calm. "A woman who offered herself as a bedmaid, willingly becoming a chamber concubine to a feckless wastrel."

Yongning Marquis Madam, who had a sensitive disposition to such topics, was about to scold Lu Mingchao for her improper language when Lu Minghua solemnly repeated, "Ah, so she was a chamber concubine."

Seeing this, Yongning Marquis Madam bit back her words.

Who could blame her? She owed Minghua too much.

Lu Mingchao nodded cheerfully. "Yes, a chamber concubine—one with a wicked heart, terrible luck, and a miserable end."

"Miss Lu." Lu Mingchao turned her gaze back to Lu Minghui, speaking earnestly. "The Yongning Marquis household is a noble and distinguished family. As the trueborn daughter of the marquisate, your every action represents its honor. Thus, you must be cautious in speech and conduct, avoiding rashness. Do not emulate unseemly, vulgar behavior, nor indulge in petty, trivial schemes."

"A single misstep affects the whole. It has not been easy for the marquisate to reach this point, and the Marquis has toiled endlessly at court, carefully planning every move."

"I hope Miss Lu will not resent an outsider like me for speaking plainly."

Leading the Yongning Marquis household into steady decline—of course, it hadn’t been easy!

Yongning Marquis’ brow twitched. Even though he knew Lu Mingchao’s words were meant to sow discord, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of agreement deep down.

Minghui's words and actions after being acknowledged into the family were indeed foolish and senseless.

Mingchao, having been raised by him, truly understood the difficulties he faced as the head of the household in court.

At this thought, Yongning Marquis's fatherly affection flared up anew, and he spoke gently, "Minghua, Chaochao, please take your seats."

Lu Mingchao sat beside Lu Minghua, stealing a glance at Qiu Shi, who stood submissively behind Lu Minghui with her head bowed.

She was painfully thin and haggard.

Like a reed trembling in the wind, a crumpled piece of paper.

Soon, maids filed in, carrying trays of dishes that soon covered the table.

Qiu Shi bent down, properly serving Lu Minghui her meal.

As her sleeves slid up, they revealed wrists as thin as bamboo, her pale skin marbled with a faint bluish-black hue. At first glance, she looked less like a living person and more like a corpse left in a mortuary for three days—enough to make one's flesh crawl.

Lu Mingchao grew pale.

She now believed the words that Qiu Shi might not last much longer.

And Chun Hua's limp must be real too.

Throughout the meal, Lu Mingchao picked at her food, the flavors lost on her.

After rinsing her mouth and wiping her lips with a handkerchief, the maids swiftly cleared the table, leaving the hall spotless in an instant.

"Madam," Lu Mingchao began, "it has been over half a year since I left the capital. Returning now, everything feels unfamiliar, and with my pregnancy, I can't shake this unease and restlessness."

"Qiu Shi once served me for many years. I wonder if Madam would be willing to part with her and let her come to me?"

"It would bring me great comfort, and I would owe you dearly."

Qiu Shi suddenly raised her eyes, her clouded eyes glistening with tears.

Her mistress hadn't forgotten her.

That was enough.

Yongning Marquis Madam took a sip of tea and said gently, "Chaochao, you may not know this."

"Minghui's wedding is approaching. As a married woman, she can no longer indulge in romantic fantasies like a young lady, clueless about domestic matters. So, after much consideration, I handed over the indentures of Lanxi Courtyard to Minghui, allowing her to practice managing the household and better train her personal maids."

"Chaochao, marriage is a major event in life, and Minghui relies most on Qiu Shi—she can hardly spare her by her side."

Yongning Marquis Madam was fully aware of the situation in Lanxi Courtyard and wouldn't dream of relinquishing Qiu Shi.

With the indentures in Minghui's hands, the servants wouldn't dare speak out.

If Qiu Shi were given to Lu Mingchao, who could tell what damning truths she might reveal?

Lu Mingchao frowned, playing doubtful. "Qiu Shi has become the most capable maid in Lanxi Courtyard?"

"It seems the eldest lady truly knows how to train people. Qiu Shi's progress must have been remarkable."

"Eldest Lady," Lu Mingchao shifted her tone, "after I woke from my self-inflicted injury, Qiu Shi was the first person I saw. Since then, I've developed an inexplicable reliance on her. Now that I'm staying at the marquis's residence, I only hope Qiu Shi can continue to serve me."

"I know this places you in an awkward spot, but I'm willing to pay ten times the price to buy out Qiu Shi's contract."

"The young mistress is kind-hearted, generous, and skilled in training servants. If she loses one Qiu Shi, she can train another."

"Would the young mistress be so kind as to oblige?"

Lu Minghui first cast a cold glance at Qiu Shi, full of warning, then feigned confidence and said hypocritically, "Sister Mingchao, though Qiu Shi is a servant, she is still a person, not an object. Why not ask for her opinion?"

As soon as the words fell, Qiu Shi fell to her knees with a loud thump. "Miss Mingchao, I do not wish to leave."

"Miss Lu treats me very well. I only wish to serve and remain loyal to her wholeheartedly."

Lu Mingchao: ???

"Help! Save Chun Hua!"