Chapter 11 (1/2)

t.i.tle: The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir

Chapter: 011 out of 513 - Improving the quality of life

T/N: Here's an extra chapter. I had extra free time today. Thank you Mezhanos and Dragon_Reader for writing reviews on Novel Updates!

Ji Man wiped her tears and said with a bitter laugh, ”This servant has been locked in the confinement courtyard by the marquis. How could my days be good? The residence's servants act respectfully in front of their superiors and step on those below them. If there isn't someone managing them, they don't follow the rules. Every day, they only give this servant leftover rice and vegetables. This servant only stole a chicken from the kitchen yesterday and accidentally started a fire that almost became a disaster because this servant was starving.”

Wen Wan furrowed her brow. ”No matter what, you're still the marquis's concubine. There's no reason for you to be eating leftover food. If this news spread, people will laugh at the marquis for not being able to support a concubine!”

Ji Man lightly nodded and kowtowed to Wen Wan again. ”Madam, you have a good temperament. It's so much better than this servant's temperament. You'll probably be with the marquis for a lifetime. But if your temperament is too good, there will inevitably be sly servants that think you're easy to bully and act without propriety.”

These words were magnanimous and fitting to the occasion. Wen Wan repeatedly nodded as she heard these words. In her mind, she thought that Nie Sangyu wasn't as rude and unreasonable as she had heard from rumors. At the very least, her current words were reasonable. Even if Nie Sangyu was a confined concubine, she couldn't allow the servants to bully her.

”I understand. I'll speak with the people in the kitchen later. You can go back to your room now. I'll just treat it as if it was an accident that started because the food was too dry.” Wen Wan said.

”Thank you very much, Madam.” Ji Man followed traditional etiquette by kowtowing again.

Wen Wan turned around and left the courtyard. She called Tan Xiang over and went to the kitchen next.

Muxu slipped back into the courtyard and hurriedly went over to help Nie Sangyu stand up. ”Master, what did you say to Madam? Madam looked so angry.”

Ji Man faintly smiled. She pulled Muxu inside the room, closed the doors, and finally said, ”Do you understand what advancing by retreating means?”

Muxu blankly looked at her.

Ji Man knocked her forehead and quietly said, ”Those servants are clearly bullying you because the marquis is giving me the cold shoulder. They're intentionally not giving us food. Otherwise, how could there always be so little food when you go there so early each time? They think that I won't be able to complain because I'm being confined, so I told Madam that I was the one that stole the chicken.”

Muxu jumped in fright. ”You… It's a crime to steal. You told Madam…. What if she…”

”She won't.” Ji Man shook her head. ”First of all, Madam has a kind nature. And, even if she wants to put me on the spot, she wouldn't use this issue against me. She would only help me hide this secret. Otherwise, if the news that the marquis's concubine stole a chicken spreads, it would be humiliating for the marquis's entire household.”