zChapter 976 - Wang Chuan Employs a Strategy (1/2)
These words left Liu shi in a daze, as she practically did not dare believe her own ears, asking: “What did you say?”
That maidservant repeated herself: “A servant came from master’s side saying that master will be spending the night in the head madam’s room and will not be coming over here.”
“That old hag!” Liu shi’s face immediately changed upon hearing this. The teacup that she had been holding was smashed on the ground, as she gnashed her teeth. “Wasn’t she still sick during the day? How is it that she could get husband to stay the night? As I see it, her illness was fake and was for the sake of getting some sympathy from husband.”
Chun Tao quickly agreed, saying: “It must be that she faked her illness to have master stay the night. Thinking about it, master has been spending every night over here, and the head madam must have lost her patience. Concubine mother, should we think of something?”
Liu shi waved her hand and dismissed the servant who had come to deliver the news. She then stood up and looked at the bed with the sheets that had already been prepared. For the sake of adjusting the mood, red candles had been set around the bed in anticipation of the husband coming over; however, who knew that he would be stolen away by that old hag, the head madam.
She felt that things were unjust and knocked over a couple candles to vent her anger. Looking down at the candles at her feet, she felt that destroying them out of bitterness was too much of a waste, thus she bent down and personally picked them back up. She then turned to say to Chun Tao: “Go and call housekeeper Qi over. Just say that the brazier in the room is not burning brightly. Have him take a look at what’s going on.”
Chun Tao smiled at Liu shi and quietly said: “Madam, don’t worry. This servant will go immediately and will have the girls in the courtyard rest if they don’t have much to do.”
Liu shi nodded and sat back down on the bed. Watching Chun Tao leave the room, she began to tidy her hair and changed into some thinner clothes. “Zhu Xinjie, if you won’t come, don’t blame me if someone else does.”
In the end, Wang Chuan had left the manor. She had gone out before it got dark and bought some of the pastries that Zhu Kongyue loved to eat the most. When she returned, she happened to see Liu shi’s personal maidservant, Chun Tao, speaking with the housekeeper. Chun Tao looked naturally charming, and her eyelashes were fluttering madly while speaking. The housekeeper also looked to have a clear understanding. As the two spoke, the housekeeper went through the motions of leaving the gate to the servants, as he would be going to concubine mother Liu’s courtyard to fix a brazier. He then followed Chun Tao and left.
Wang Chuan blinked and felt that these two were a little too brazen. Flirting so openly in the front yard under the eyes of so many people? But looking at the others, she found that nobody else found it strange, as they just carried on with whatever they should be doing, thus she knew that this was the result of some seeing what she wanted to see. In truth, they were just carrying out their normal duties.
She continued to feel that something was off and decided to stealthily follow along. What sort of person was Wang Chuan! She was one of Feng Yuheng’s personal maidservants, and she had been trained by the Yu Palace. If she wanted to tail a couple people in the Liu manor, it would be as easy and deciding to do it. Walking at the front, housekeeper Qi and Chun Tao did not notice that someone was following along behind them. On the way to Liu shi’s courtyard, when they passed through the winding hall, housekeeper Qi reached out and pinched Chun Tao, which aroused a cry from Chun Tao. Following this, she shot him a glare and said: “Why are your hands so disobedient? We’re almost there. Are you not afraid of being discovered by concubine mother Liu?”
“What is there to fear?” Housekeeper Qi was full of confidence, “It’s not like it’s the first time. How many times have I seen your cute little expressions, Chun Tao? To speak of you and concubine mother Liu, my heart favors you; however, there’s nothing that can be done about it. She’s the master. If I don’t take good care of her, it would be hard to speak to her about taking you in.”
Chun Tao let out a “pft” sound, “You old thing, you want to take me in? Getting some enjoyment is fine, but concubine mother Liu has said that she will find you a good way out in the future. No matter what, I won’t fall into your hands.”
Housekeeper Qi heard this and slightly snorted, “Don’t get too optimistic. It’s possible that you might need to beg me to take you in! Forget it, forget it, you’re still a tender young girl. Compared to the feelings of Liu shi, you’re quite far off. Recently, Liu shi has obtained quite a few nice things. If I take good care of her tonight, I might be able to gain some benefits. This is all thanks to master spending the night with the head madam!” As the two spoke, they increased their pace.
Wang Chuan frowned while listening from behind and thought to herself, the eldest young miss, Zhu Kongyue, really was completely correct. Sure enough, Liu shi was not someone easy to take care of. She actually set her sights on the manor’s housekeeper. She sneakly followed along behind and saw that housekeeper Qi had entered Liu shi’s courtyard. He went through the motions of talking about the brazier before Chun Tao retreated from the room. She even gently closed the door. Not long later, the candles inside were lit, and Liu shi’s laughter could be heard…
Wang Chuan curled up the corners of her lips and very quickly retreated from the yard. Turning around, she followed Chun Tao, who was also heading out. She continued following until she saw Chun Tao reach the stove. There, she saw Chun Tao ask for hot water from the servants inside. Her mind went to work, and she also entered. Seeing Chun Tao holding the kettle of hot water, she looked at the empty stove and said with dissatisfaction: “Isn’t this the hot water that was prepared for the eldest young miss? Why was it given to someone else?”
The servants in the kitchen quickly said: “Nobody ever came from the eldest young miss’ side. It just so happened that someone from concubine mother Liu’s side came and asked for it, thus it was given to Miss Chun Tao. Miss A-Chuan, if you want it, I will boil some more for you.”
“Isn’t it still here?” Wang Chuan pointed at the kettle that Chun Tao was holding and said: “Since it was boiled for the eldest young miss, I have now come to fetch it, thus it naturally should be given to me. As for concubine mother Liu’s side, just boil some more.”
“On what basis?” Chun Tao glared at her and said to Wang Chuan: “I came here first. This kettle doesn’t have your name written on it. Why should it be given to you? You just claimed that you wanted it first, so that’s the case? Where’s the proof?” She held the kettle in one hand and rested the other hand on her hip, taking on a bit of a bossy look. If this was in the past, the servants from a concubine’s courtyard would never have dared to oppose a servant from the daughter of the first wife’s courtyard; however, Liu shi had recently caused some waves, and Zhu Kongshan had found a pillar of support in the capital. Secondly, Wang Chuan was a new arrival, while Chun Tao was someone who had been in the manor for a long time. How could she possibly think well of a maidservant who had just come in. She had entirely believed that newcomers would be easy to manipulate, thus she decided to put on these airs.