Part8 (1/2)
We have seen the worse of Feng Jin and wouldn’t see Mr Almost-Rapist again. He has made some servants for Shang Guan Jing and we get to see them today, This is a short story of about 10 chapters so there isn’t much room for development for side characters but even in this short time, I really like his bubbly maid. She cracks me up everytime she worries that she will be thrown into the furnace because while Shang Guan Jing thinks that she means it figuratively, we know that the threat is quite literal. Ha-ha. Have a great weekend!
Chapter 4 (Part 2)
From the moment she wakes up in the next morning, Shang Guan Jing can summarize her feelings with one world – odd.
Over the last 24 hours, she has encountered aggressive oxens, waking up in different beds, fighting with a mysterious man in black which somehow morph into a fight of total despair. On top of all these, there is now a stranger at her bedside who claims to be her maid,
”Good morning Young Mistress! My name is Zhu Yu and I have just turned 16.”
”Master has informed me that Young Mistress will be staying in the bamboo house and that you will be my Young Mistress from now on.”
”My job is to look after your needs and Young Mistress can rest a.s.sured that I will clean, clean, clean the house until it is spotlessly clean. I will prepare food and drinks for you - please tell me your favorite food - so that you have a most comfortable stay.”
”Oh yes! Master has some summer fabrics whose colours look lovely on you. When you have time, shall I arrange the seamstress from East Village to make some new clothes for you? She has very nimble hands and she makes incredibly lovely dresses.”
And she drones on and on.
For as long as she can remember, Shang Guan Jing has been taking care of herself and it feels unnatural to have a maid hanging over her shoulder, doing things for her that she would usually do so herself. ”Thank you but I do not need new clothes and I will eat whatever is available. Please don't call me Young Mistress as I'm just your Master's guest.”
”Young Mistress … Young Mistress …” In less time than it takes to flip a page, Zhu Yu's face has collapsed. Fat tears trickles down her cheeks and her face is so screwed up that you can probably find more lines on her face than on a steam meat bun.
”Wait, what is going on?” Shang Guan Jing is up in a jiffy and puts her arms around Zhu Yu comfortingly. ”Please don't cry!”
But the little maid is beyond consolation and bursts out crying ”Woo-hoo! If Young Mistress does not want me, Zhu Yu will be useless! Woo-woo! Master is going to tear me up and burn me in the furnace! Woo-woo! I am so pitiful! Please Young Mistress, please do not turn me away! I promise I will be very obedient! Please keep me in your service?”
”Err….. Sure, But you must stop crying. I need you around, of course I do.”
Zhu Yu is so overwrought that mucus is now flowing down her chin. ”Woo-woo-woo! Do you mean it? Please do not pull my leg Young Mistress.”
Shang Guan Jing a.s.sures the poor girl that she does not go back on her words and in a jiffy, the young girl is all smiles again.
Gee, that is fast…
”Oh my G.o.d! Young Mistress has been bitten by insects!” In spite of her puffy eyes, Zhu Yu manage to crack open her eyes by one millimeter wider. ”Look at all the red marks on your neck! I will go get some cream for you this instant!”
As the maid dashes out of the room, Shang Guan Jing tries to recall how she could have gotten these marks. She has noticed them when she was changing earlier but she has no idea how she got them. The marks are roundish and some are tinged with bruises, which makes them unlikely to be insect bites. She could have gotten them in the fight yesterday night – although they don't look like fight marks either. But beyond that, Shang Guan Jing cannot think of how else she could have gotten the marks.
When she leaves her room after breakfast, she nearly ran into a tall, lanky servant who is sweeping the floor right outside her door. Zhu Yu tells her that the servant's name is Ah Niu and that he has been a.s.signed to handle the menial ch.o.r.es in her bamboo wing.
So it is not her imagination that there are servants in the house, just that they have all conveniently disappeared last night?
She tries to digest all the oddities and walks on until she finds Feng Jin in his garden. He is standing beneath some vines where a few varieties of gourds are growing (from the same vine?). He seems to have recovered and is back to his normal, gentle self.
As she nears him, Shang Guan Jing senses a black presence in the shadows. A memory of a swordsman in black comes to mind and she realizes that it is the same man whom she has fought with last night!
Shang Guan Jing draws her sword and is standing between Feng Jin and the man in the next instant. Feng Jin is delighted that she has joined him and smiles behind her. ”Good morning. Have you had breakfast?”
Shang Guan Jing chance a look at him before swinging around to eye the stranger warily. ”Yes, I have eaten. Do you know this man?”
Feng Jin apologizes for not being able to make proper introductions last night and beckons for the man in the shadows to step forth. ”Yan Ying, you have frightened my guest. Your sudden appearance must have lead her to think that you are a villain here to wreck damage. How do you intend to atone for your sins?”