Chapter 55 Thought Too Much
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When Abbess Sun walked over, the maid who was sitting at the corridor sewing socks hurriedly waved at her. Abbess Sun immediately lightened her steps and sat down at the corridor.
“Is the mistress asleep?” she asked in a low voice.
The maid nodded.
“Miss’s health is not good, her energy is low, and she needs to nap for half an hour during the day,” she said, her hands still working with the needle and thread.
Abbess Sun responded with an “Oh.”
“But she is getting better. With gradual care, she will only get better and better,” she said with a smile. “It’s all worth it for Madam Zhou’s sincere prayers back then.”
The maid nodded again.
“If only Madam Zhou were still here, she would be so happy,” she said with a sigh, glancing back into the room.
What a clever child, and such a remarkable one too.
“Those two children have already been sent away,” Abbess Sun said. “They’ve gone to the Bao-yuan Mountain Temple. I once practiced Daoism with the abbess, so you can rest assured.”
Which reassurance was this?
The maid kept her head down, busy with her needlework, and responded with a sound of acknowledgment.
After praising her needlework a couple of times, Abbess Sun took her leave. The maid held her needlework in a daze for a moment, hearing rustling sounds coming from inside.
“Miss.” The maid quickly put down her needlework and went inside.
Cheng Jiao-niang was already sitting up on the couch.
The maid helped her settle down, drink a cup of water, and then helped her comb her hair.
“Miss, the abbess said that those two children have already been sent away,” the maid said.
Cheng Jiao-niang acknowledged with a sound, her head lowered as she looked at her book.
The room was quiet and still.
“Do you feel that those two children are very pitiable?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
“No, pitiful people often have something despicable about them. They thought they had everything arranged well, but what if? What if something happened to you…” the maid said, her voice trembling.
She dared not continue, nor even think about it. She had been having nightmares every night because of this.
“If it really came to that, none of us would be able to survive,” Cheng Jiao-niang said with a slight smile.
For a mistress like her to be humiliated, such a disgraceful matter, the Cheng family would certainly silence all who knew about it.
“That’s why those two children are definitely keeping a close watch outside. If they really couldn’t summon you all, she would rush in,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The maid responded with a sound of acknowledgment.
“Speaking of which, what they did was indeed quite commendable,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, holding her book. “These two children are quite clever.”
The maid seemed a bit puzzled and looked at Cheng Jiao-niang.
“So, do you like those two children?” she asked.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked up at her.
“I’m a fool, not a lunatic,” she said.
The maid couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Miss, you’re teasing me again,” she said.
“I’m not teasing you. I’ve said before, I’m very petty,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, turning a page in her book. “How could I possibly keep people who have deceived, trampled, and used me by my side?”
Indeed, those who had deceived and trampled on her were no longer alive.
These two children were merely sent to another temple, which was truly fortunate for them.
The maid lowered her head and responded, “Yes.”
“Miss, we’ve just bought some fish. How would you like it prepared?” she asked, her tone light and cheerful.
“What kind of fish?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
“Bighead carp,” the maid replied.
“What else is in the kitchen?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked again.
“There are some scallions, eggs, and the mushrooms and wood ear fungus we picked from the mountain yesterday,” the maid said, counting on her fingers. “And two gourds…”
“That’s enough,” Cheng Jiao-niang interrupted her. “Let’s make fish soup.”
The maid nodded happily, kneeling properly, ready to listen and remember carefully.
As night fell, Chen Shao, finally waited for the steward to return and explain the details.
“Fortunately, Shi’liu-niang* remembered hearing someone call the maid by name. When this name was mentioned, it was lucky that a server also heard it. Because the maid had brought food from home, the server was upset and remembered it,” the steward said with a sigh.
Does this count as being blessed by heaven?
Chen Shao stroked his beard and thought, such a coincidence, within a coincidence.
“So, did you find out which family the lady is from?” he asked.
“At the time, there were only two young masters in the private room,” the steward replied.
Young masters? Didn’t his father say that the maid was serving a lady? And that she was only fourteen or fifteen years old? How did she turn into a young master?
Chen Shao frowned.
“Fortunately, these two young masters are also well-known figures in the capital,” the steward continued. “One is the Sixth Young Master of the Zhou family, and the other is the Lame Young Master Qin. As for Ban Qin, the server didn’t know which family she was from.”
The Zhou family, the Qin family.
Chen Shao was silent for a moment.
“In that case, we can find out by using my name card,” he said.
The steward understood this well. Since these two families were not ordinary commoners, it would be inappropriate to inquire about their maid directly. Using the master’s name card would make it much easier. He responded and turned to leave immediately.
After drinking and riding horses, Young Master Qin took a bath and changed clothes before lying down to rest. The murmured conversations of the maids outside disturbed him.
“Who did you say came looking for whom?” he asked through the curtain.
The maids quickly came over and knelt outside the curtain.
“It was someone sent by Master Chen Shao, asking if there is a maid named Ban Qin in our household. It’s quite strange; we don’t know the reason.”
Young Master Qin suddenly sat up.
“Who? Chen Shao?” he asked. “Ban Qin?”
The maids were surprised by his tone and hesitated for a moment before lifting the curtain.
“Yes, it’s Master Chen Shao’s name card. They are asking whether Ban Qin is a maid of ours,” the maids said seriously.
Young Master Qin was silent for a moment and reached for the cane beside the bed.
“Go to the Zhou family,” he said.
Now?
The maids looked outside in surprise.
Zhou Liu-lang, looking energetic and drenched in sweat from practicing martial arts, walked in when his father called him.
“It’s getting cooler, with the wind blowing,” Madam Zhou said with concern, urging the maids to bring a towel to wipe him off.
Master Zhou waved his hand impatiently.
“Leave,” he said.
Madam Zhou, not daring to disobey, left with the maids.
“Father, what’s the matter?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
“The maid you brought back is quite unusual,” Master Zhou said.
Zhou Liu-lang frowned.
“Her demeanor and mannerisms are indeed a bit unusual, but it doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary,” he replied.
The Zhou family members were straightforward in their speech. After saying this, he looked at his father.
“Father, if there’s something to say, just say it,” he said.
“Just now, someone from Master Chen Shao’s household came,” Master Zhou said.
Zhou Liu-lang’s eyes brightened. Such a high-ranking official came to visit their family? Could it be related to the matter of appointing the Crown Prince?
As the Emperor grew older and weaker, the selection of the Crown Prince was imminent. With two imperial princes and various factions in the court, many were hesitant and avoid the contentious task of choosing sides, as it brings both benefits and risks. However, the Zhou family saw this as a golden opportunity.
Unfortunately, as military officials were considered low-ranking and the Zhou family’s position was among the lower ranks of military officials, if it weren’t for the foresight of their grandfather who made a name for himself when he came to the capital, it’s likely that the Zhou family would be unknown in the vast capital. Thus, at such a crucial time, no one reached out to them, leaving their eager enthusiasm with nowhere to be expressed.
Unexpectedly, instead of being overlooked, they were visited by such a high-ranking official.
“Could it be that Master Chen Shao has already made his choice?” Zhou Liu-lang couldn’t help but feel excited, his eyes shining. “Which side is he on?”
His expression showed that he was ready to roll up his sleeves and follow whichever side, eager to jump into action. Since ancient times, wealth and honor are sought in risky ventures. Being overly cautious and fearful of danger might not ensure safety; a bold endeavor, regardless of success or failure, would be exhilarating.
Master Zhou chuckled at his son’s expression but then recalled his own excitement upon hearing the steward deliver the name card earlier.
“Liu-lang, you’re overthinking it,” he said, shaking his head. “The Chen family came to inquire about a maid.”
Translator’s Note:
Shi’liu-niang（十六娘）: Shi’liu（十六）in Chinese means sixteen, so this refers to the sixteenth daughter of the family.
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