Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Returning from the eastern side chamber to the rear annex, she kept pondering how she might avoid being sent to the elder aunt’s household. Feigning illness wouldn’t work—it would set back her work and lead to pay deductions. Besides, that wasn’t a real solution. As for framing someone else, that was even worse. Everyone in the embroidery workshop was just trying to make a living; scheming against each other would only set a bad precedent.

The only way, then, was to improve her needlework skills. Though her current ability was decent, it was far from Madam Chen’s caliber. To truly reach Madam Chen’s level, she needed to study more embroidery pattern books, think deeply, and practice diligently.

With real skill, even flowers could bloom from cracks in stone.

For people like her—without background, connections, or beauty—the only thing they could rely on was their own ability. If she truly excelled, even if she were sent to the elder aunt’s household, the madam would recall her when embroidering her daughter’s wedding trousseau.

Thinking this way, her mood lightened considerably.

Jin Niang also wondered whether she should tell the others but shook her head. Given her current situation, she could barely protect herself. Revealing this to others would only betray Yan Hong’s trust.

As soon as she entered, she saw Qin Shuanger surrounded by a crowd. Upon asking, she learned that the second madam had commissioned her to embroider a scene of *Three Virtuous Mothers Instructing Their Son*. Jiang Shanjie added, “The second madam is so generous—she paid five hundred coppers straight away!”

Five hundred coppers—that was nearly half a month’s earnings.

Jin Niang thought to herself that there would always be people in this world who were quicker with news and solutions. Qin Shuanger had already secured her escape route. After all, the second madam was pregnant in middle age, and the notoriously flirtatious second master treasured her beyond measure. By working for the second household, even the madam couldn’t easily reassign her.

But that was Qin Shuanger’s own skill. Jin Niang stepped forward to congratulate her, saying, “Perfect timing—I’ll borrow this opportunity to offer you the golden kumquats I just received. May all your wishes come true.”

Qin Shuanger smiled. “Thank you, thank you. I was just lucky. Your skills are excellent too—if the second madam asks, I’ll definitely mention you.”

“Oh, then I’ll thank you in advance,” Jin Niang replied, though she knew full well Qin Shuanger wouldn’t actually praise her in front of the second madam. As the saying goes, craftsmen of the same trade are natural rivals—just as Jin Niang wouldn’t recommend Qin Shuanger to others either.

Qin Shuanger inwardly breathed easier. Unlike Jin Niang, who rarely stepped out except to deliver clothes or take measurements, she went through lamp oil quicker than anyone. She spent her days networking and holding her tongue, then worked late into the night to catch up. This opportunity came from one of her connections.

After learning that Fang Qiaolian had taken a godmother, Qin Shuanger had done the same. Unlike others, she had money—her mother had given her ten strings of cash when she left home, and after a month or two at the Zhou household, she had saved another two taels and a string. So, she spent a string to "adopt" a godmother, who then devised the plan to approach the second madam. She even gifted the choice fabric remnants she had secretly hoarded.

But she would never reveal these tricks to anyone.

Compared to Qin Shuanger and Jin Niang, who had their own plans, Fang Qiaolian was laid up with raging fever the next day, claiming it was a chill. Jin Niang saw through it but still took care of her, even fetching a pot of hot tea from the neighboring kitchen.

“Last time, I heard Lan Xue say that ginger tea drives out chills—drink it, sweat it out, and you’ll recover. I spent a few coins to get this for you. Drink it when you can.”

It seemed everyone was desperate to avoid being sent to the elder aunt’s household. But in ancient times, a chill was no joke—it could be fatal. Maids like them couldn’t easily summon a physician, and leaving the inner quarters was difficult. If they fell seriously ill, they might even be sent away to recuperate.

Fang Qiaolin took a sip of the hot tea, feeling much warmer. She wanted to say something but only mumbled a few incoherent words before falling silent.

Just as Jin Niang turned to leave, she softly said, “Thank you.”

While the other three had already devised their plans, Jiang Shanjie only learned about the situation after the Lunar New Year celebrations, through a fellow villager who worked as a servant in the third household and secretly informed her.

She knew full well that the elder aunt had a terrible reputation among the servants—harsh and miserly. If she were sent there, she had no idea what would happen.

Returning to the embroidery workshop, Madam Chen shot her a reproachful look. “Shanjie, where have you been wandering off to? Look at Jin Niang—she saw I was overwhelmed and even helped me make two embroidered forehead bands for the madam. Second Young Master Cun is about to be betrothed, and I’m swamped with his clothes and shoes. Qiao Lian just recovered and is already helping, yet here you are…”

Qin Shuanger, now busy with the second household’s orders, ignored the scolding entirely.

Jiang Shanjie glanced at the others. Jin Niang was skilled and diligent—the elder aunt would probably choose her. She had little to worry about.

Jiang Shi thought the same. “Back when she was unmarried and spoiled by the old madam, she even demanded to manage the household. Now that her husband’s family has fallen, she returns to her maiden home and still tries to lay claim to what’s rightfully mine.”

If the elder aunt asked directly, Jiang Shi would refuse. But if the old madam intervened, she couldn’t say no.

Though Yan Hong was on good terms with Jin Niang, she couldn’t openly advocate for her either. “Delaying won’t solve anything. You didn’t send anyone before, hoping she’d take the hint, but now she’s brought it up again. Madam, you must decide soon.”

Jiang Shi realized her sister-in-law had grown cleverer. No matter how angry she was, she only took her grievances to the old madam, forcing her to speak up. There was no way to refuse now. Before, Jiang Shi wouldn’t have feared a confrontation, but now, with her son’s betrothal negotiations at their most delicate stage—to the daughter of the Grand Minister of Justice—not a whisper of scandal could escape from the household.

Otherwise, why would Sister-in-law Wu take the initiative to help celebrate Auntie's birthday? She just wanted to keep her in good spirits and stop her from being resentful these days. But she really thought everyone was backing down because they were afraid of her.

"Which of the girls should we send?"

Yan Hong knew this was also a test from the mistress, so she carefully replied, "Honestly, they all have their specialties. When our young mistress gets married, there'll be so much work to do—these few hands won’t even be enough."

"That’s exactly what I think," said Jiang Shi. She’d paid for these girls herself, so she was naturally reluctant to give any away.

Yan Hong continued, "Qin Shuang’s already working for the second madam, so it'd be rude to pull her away now. Let’s leave her be."

Jiang Shi nodded. "I agree."

"As for Jin Niang, she’s quick and never cuts corners—her stitches are flawless. We should keep her for our young mistress’s dowry."

"True. That velvet headband she made me was gorgeous. I know her well. What about the other two?"

Yan Hong pondered. "One’s down with a cold. That leaves only Shanjie. She’s the one who does those detailed landscapes—pavilions, towers, mountains, rivers—all suitable for men’s garments."

Having laid out the pros and cons, Jiang Shi considered briefly and said, "Then send Shanjie over. We can’t send someone who’s ill—the aunt might think I’m deliberately slighting her and stir up more trouble."

The news was quickly relayed to the sewing room by Yan Hong. She told Chen Niangzi, "Auntie will be staying with us from now on. The old madam said her wardrobe isn't complete and asked for a seamstress to be assigned to her. The mistress picked Shanjie—said she’s careful and sweet-natured."

Even though Chen Niangzi had chewed Shanjie out earlier, she now felt a pang of worry for her. The aunt had a reputation for being tight-fisted and mean—no one wanted to serve such a mistress.

But servants must obey their masters. Steeling herself, Chen Niangzi entered the sewing room, where everyone was busy. Reluctant but resolute, she called Shanjie out. Moments later, Shanjie came back looking crushed, like she might burst into tears.

Jin Niang glanced up; her heart ached for her. There was an unspoken sense of shared vulnerability among them.

A couple of servants hauled Shanjie’s things to the aunt’s quarters, while the others each gave her a handkerchief as a farewell gift, comforting her that she’d return someday.

"Please put in a good word for me with Chen Niangzi," Jiang Shanjie pleaded.

Jin Niang reassured her, "Of course we will."

Little did they know, when Jiang Shanjie went to pay respects to the aunt, to everyone’s surprise, the aunt gave her a plate of sweets and treated her kindly. Mei Pan’er, standing nearby, finally relaxed. Her mother had clearly demanded the best seamstress, yet when someone else arrived instead of Jin Niang, she hadn’t flown into a rage.

The aunt, Madame Zhou, pulled her daughter aside and advised earnestly, "In this Zhou household, everyone has a pair of calculating eyes. If I were weak and easily bullied, they’d never take my concerns seriously. I knew your eldest aunt wouldn’t willingly part with a good maid. If I’d asked directly, she’d have found me bothersome. So I had your grandmother speak for me, pretending to demand the best. When she palmed off a lesser one, she’d fear my displeasure. By holding back, I even came off as gracious. You’re too soft-hearted, but in this world, unless you’re a saint all your life, the moment you falter, people will blame you."

"So I’ll teach you this—start off as the hardass. That way, when you do something kind, people will be grateful instead."