Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Qin Shuanger noticed that Jin Niang had not declined the gift of a fan case from the eldest young lady. Once Chun Xing left, she feigned amusement and said, “How did you become so familiar with the people in the eldest young lady’s quarters?”

“I don’t know either. I’ve never even been to her quarters—it’s beyond me,” Jin Niang replied with a smile, feigning confusion.

Qin Shuanger was furious inside. You, Wei Jin Niang, aren’t even an attendant maid to the eldest young lady—why are you trying to take my place? But she was someone who rarely showed her anger, even when seething.

Jin Niang and the others worked hard on making clothes, doing more than usual, but no one scolded or punished them. Even Madam Jiang remarked that they were working hard and had an extra dish added to their meals, so the treatment was quite decent. But Shanjie’s situation was far worse. When she rushed back during lunchtime at the sewing quarters, everyone was shocked.

“Shanjie, why are you here at this hour?” Jin Niang quickly put down her bowl and asked, “Have you eaten? Would you like something? I can ask Xiao He to bring you another dish from the kitchen.”

It had been nearly a month since they last saw each other, and Shanjie looked sallow and drained of color. Once known for being sharp-tongued and articulate, now she could only weep.

Jiang Shanjie sat down, still sniffling. “No, really, no need.”

Jin Niang and Fang Qiaolian exchanged glances, both puzzled. At that moment, Qin Shuanger was out and Madam Chen wasn’t around either. They assumed Shanjie might be looking for Madam Chen.

But instead, Shanjie rolled up her pant leg. “Look. I knelt all night yesterday—my knees are almost ruined. She doesn’t slap us, but whenever we do something she dislikes, she makes us kneel on broken porcelain in her room. Yesterday, I was just a little late bringing her water for her chamber pot duties, so she punished me. I know she was just upset because she lost at gambling and took it out on me.”

Jin Niang frowned. “Should we tell Madam Chen?”

“Yes, go talk to Madam Chen,” Fang Qiaolian agreed.

Shanjie shook her head. “It won’t help. As long as the mistress doesn’t hit our faces, who will stand up for us? Not even Madam Chen—my own parents wouldn’t dare interfere here.”

Jin Niang asked curiously, “You’re a seamstress—why are you responsible for her chamber pot duties?”

“The mistress drinks constantly at night, complaining of heartburn discomfort, and has to urinate often. It takes two or three people to attend to her at night. During the day, I have to keep cutting and sewing clothes, undergarments, and sanitary cloths. She had her period for over ten days this month and made me wash the blood-stained ones too. The family-born servants get some coins as rewards, but I haven’t received a single coin. She even scolds me for not doing well enough. Once, when a lotus seed from her silver ear fungus and lotus seed soup fell on the floor, she made me pick it up and eat it.” Although Shanjie’s family wasn’t well-off, she had always supported herself as an embroiderer and had never suffered such humiliation.

Before, it was only her dignity being trampled upon. Now, kneeling on broken porcelain made her life unbearable.

Jin Niang and the others listened in outrage. Just then, Qin Shuanger returned and overheard everything. Everyone drew different conclusions from the incident.

Shanjie couldn’t stay long. Despite her aching knees, she hurried away. Jin Niang thought to herself that the mistress targeted people selectively. If she provoked collective anger, it might be better. She gave small rewards to the family-born servants but tormented the bought maids relentlessly, keeping the two groups divided and unable to unite against her.

What a vicious, calculating woman.

Later, Jin Niang told Madam Chen everything when she came. After thinking carefully, Madam Chen said, “Since she only makes them kneel in private, it means she fears others finding out about her cruelty. At least there’s no real danger to their lives. Don’t worry—when we have a major embroidery project, I’ll use the opportunity to speak to the First Madam.”

Only then did Jin Niang set the matter aside and return to work. When Shanjie visited again a week later, Jin Niang told her, and Shanjie whispered, “Buddha be praised.”

Then Qin Shuanger chimed in, “Don’t worry. We’re all from the same hometown—we’ll naturally help each other.”

Jin Niang was speechless. This Qin Shuanger was such a credit-grabber. She hadn’t said a word when Jin Niang spoke to Madam Chen about Shanjie’s plight, yet now she tried to claim credit when thanked.

Jin Niang wouldn’t tolerate her. With a sardonic smile, she said, “Last time when I helped Shanjie talk to Madam Chen, you didn’t say a word. Now you’re talking about helping? Aren’t you ashamed?”

“I talked to her privately—you wouldn’t know,” Qin Shuanger narrowed her eyes.

Jin Niang rolled her eyes, even more exasperated by this shameless opportunist.

**

A warm spring breeze blew gently as Jin Niang walked toward the eldest young lady’s quarters to deliver the fan case. Along the way, she passed a woman wearing a silver-red luo jacket with gold patterns, a pleated high-waisted skirt embroidered with diamond-shaped floral motifs, and a matching silk sash. Her hair was styled into a small coiled chignon tied with red silk ribbons, adorned with a gold peony comb and twin-flower silver-gilt hairpins. Her beauty was strikingly delicate yet radiant.

After the woman left, Jin Niang asked a maid nearby who she was. The maid laughed. “Good thing you don’t know her—that’s Concubine Miao. She’s been confined for her pregnancy and hardly ever goes out.”

So that was Concubine Miao—the mother of the Fourth Young Lady. No wonder she was so beautiful.

With that thought, Jin Niang quickened her pace to the eldest young lady’s quarters. The eldest young lady had just returned from visiting Old Madam Han, where she had gone to deliver Buddhist scriptures. Seeing Jin Niang arrive, she mused to herself: In terms of figure and appearance, Qin Shuanger is far more comely.

That’s just how people are—they assume those who are more beautiful must also be kinder.

Jin Niang, with her simple twin buns and dull, worn-out clothes, seemed rather unremarkable in comparison.

Yet the fan case she presented was nothing short of breathtaking. On smooth pink satin, she had embroidered cherry blossoms in the same hue—a cascading yet delicate design that exuded the vibrancy of spring.

"I've long heard praises of your needlework, and now I see they were well-deserved," the eldest young lady remarked with delight, immediately instructing someone to place her gold-leafed fan inside.

Jin Niang smiled. "I'm glad it pleases you, my lady."

The eldest young lady added, "What an original idea! Most embroider cherry blossoms on white fan cases, but you paired pink with pink without making it look overwhelming."

"This humble maid recalled a line from Ouyang Jiong's *Spring's Radiance*—'After rain, mountain sakura blaze red in full bloom'—so I embroidered it this way," Jin Niang explained.

The eldest young lady was pleasantly surprised. "You’ve had schooling? You even know Ouyang Jiong's poetry?"

Jin Niang nodded. "My parents had me taught a few characters haphazardly, nothing more."

Literate, skilled in embroidery, and tactful in speech—the eldest young lady was thoroughly charmed. "In that case, do stay for tea. Let’s talk properly."

"This humble maid would love to keep you company, but I have much work waiting and must hurry back. I wouldn’t want to waste your tea." Jin Niang dared not draw too much attention here, knowing the head maidservants in the lady’s quarters were not to be trifled with.

Disappointed, the eldest young lady rewarded her with a pair of golden lychee-shaped earrings and instructed, "You must come and chat with me often from now on."

Jin Niang smiled in agreement.

Leaving the eldest young lady’s quarters, she ran into Yan Hong, who sighed in relief upon seeing her. "The First Madam has gone to the old lady’s place, and all the maids followed. Just now, someone delivered fruits, and those easily tempted rushed off. I need someone to deliver something to the Second Master’s household—could you help?"

"Of course." Jin Niang was glad for the chance to move around; staying cooped up in the sewing room all day was stifling.

The Second Master’s household resided in the western courtyard. Passing the old lady’s courtyard led to the front garden, with its towering flower trellises and craggy artificial hills. As Jin Niang navigated the rockery, she overheard voices and quickly hid inside.

Peering through a crevice, she recognized Concubine Miao from earlier that morning, speaking to a matron servant. "You’re truly unlucky. Your daughter finally became a personal maid and won the eldest young master’s favor, yet now he’s at death’s door."

"My daughter was forced into marriage by a local tyrant. Thanks to you, she entered the eldest young master’s service and earned his regard. It’s just her poor fortune," the servant said, wiping tears.

Concubine Miao sighed. "With no children all these years, what will become of her once the eldest young master passes?"

The servant lifted her head. "Please, help her, Concubine."

"Then you must do as I say." Concubine Miao beckoned the servant closer, whispering inaudibly.

Jin Niang couldn’t make out their words. After the exchange, one hurried east while the other leisurely headed toward the main household.

To be safe, Jin Niang remained hidden for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, her legs numb by the time she emerged, her heart pounding with fear. Though she had written plays, real intrigues were entirely different—who wouldn’t be terrified and want to flee upon encountering such cunning?

Anxious to deliver the item and return quickly, she was surprised by the second madam, Wu Shi’s kindness. Perhaps due to Jin Niang’s plain attire, Wu Shi gifted her a spring-green lined jacket, a teal threaded skirt, and a pair of satin shoes.

"This humble maid thanks the second madam for your generosity." Jin Niang bowed sincerely.

Spring attire shouldn’t be too heavy, but evenings were still chilly—the thin padded jacket would be perfect.

Observing Wu Shi’s quarters, Jin Niang noted the lotus-patterned windows inlaid with glass, the tortoiseshell-patterned rug, the sandalwood table with a fluted vase holding peach blossoms, and the exquisite Eight Immortals table draped with a gourd-and-vine table cover—a display of sheer opulence.

Wu Shi waved her off casually, but as Jin Niang turned to leave, a young married woman hurried in.

This was the wife of Zhou Duzhi, the eldest son of the Second Master’s household, known as Madam Duzhi.

She announced to Wu Shi, "Madam, the eldest young master... he has passed."

This outcome had long been anticipated. Wu Shi had initially gotten along well with her stepson, but after bearing her own child, their relationship soured. Since falling gravely ill last year, his condition had worsened over the past six months. Now that he was truly gone, Wu Shi was filled with bittersweet sorrow.