Chapter Seven: Choosing a Maid

“Sis, isn’t it just sending a maid over to help? What’s the big deal?”
“If word gets out that Mother goes back on her word, wouldn’t that be disgraceful?”
Wang Summer Lotus, standing nearby, added her support, her long legs slender and straight, her figure graceful as a willow.
Wang Spring Dawn, seeing things had reached this point, could only acquiesce, though for some reason her heart felt a faint ache, as if something inside was turning sour.

...

Front Hall.

Several constables sat in the front hall drinking tea, long swords at their waists and clad in black official garb, their presence commanding and fierce.
At their head sat a middle-aged man, eyes sharp and gaze penetrating. His strength had reached the ninth rank, the Bloodburning Stage. He was the captain of these constables—Shen Lian.

“The Wang family just took in a son-in-law yesterday, do you know who it is?” one constable asked, feigning secrecy.

“Oh, so the Wang family married off a son-in-law yesterday? No wonder the festive couplets are still on the door. I was wondering why they were hanging red after the old master just died.”

“Don’t keep us guessing—who is it?”

“A scholar from our very own Yanggu County, Su Yang.”

“The same Su Yang whose father owes two hundred taels of silver to the gambling house?”

“That’s the one. Truly a disgrace to scholars everywhere. Even if he passes the imperial exam in the future, his background will be enough to make people laugh!”

“If it were an ordinary man becoming a matrilocal son-in-law, it might be understandable. But a scholar? That’s just humiliating, ha!”

“And the Wang family’s young lady isn’t just lame—she’s also said to be terribly ugly. How could Scholar Su stomach it?”

The constables erupted in laughter. Though the Wang family was wealthy, they were not a top-tier household. There were many such families in Yanggu County. Since the marriage had been arranged in haste, not many knew the details.

“All of you, keep your mouths shut! Is Scholar Su someone for you to mock?”
Shen Lian’s brows drew together. At once, his subordinates fell silent, not daring to make another sound. Authority was not just in the title, but also in personal strength, especially that of a ninth-rank martial artist.

“Though Scholar Su has entered the Wang family as a son-in-law, he can still take the imperial exams. If one day he truly succeeds, he could become a high-ranking official over you all. Then, you’ll pay dearly for your words today.”

“You know well enough that trouble comes from the mouth. Get back to work.”

With Shen Lian’s warning, the hall fell silent, not a whisper to be heard. No one dared say another word now—doing so would be a direct challenge to Shen Lian’s authority.

...

“Gentlemen, thank you for waiting.”
Before long, Su Yang’s voice sounded from outside. Dusty and travel-worn, he entered. Shen Lian and the others rose, greeting him: “You must be the Wang family’s son-in-law, Scholar Su?”

“I am Shen Lian, captain of Yanggu County’s constables. I’ll be brief; there are several more households to visit today.”

“The Xiongnu have invaded the south, and local uprisings are stirring. We are here to conscript men or collect silver. Will your household provide manpower or money?”

Manpower, of course, referred to household servants. How many would depend on the county’s remaining quota. If only a few were needed and your household was lucky, you’d only provide one. If ten or more were required and your family was chosen, you’d need to make up the full number—even if it meant buying or sending your own sons.

But if you paid the silver, any shortfall in conscripts had nothing to do with you.

“It is our duty to serve the nation. Though this sum is modest, it can at least show my Wang family’s loyalty and patriotism.”

With that, Su Yang handed over a heavy bag of silver to Shen Lian.

“On to the next household.”

Shen Lian weighed the silver pouch in his hand and was quite satisfied, preparing to leave.

“Captain Shen, are you a ninth-rank martial artist?”
“Indeed.”

“To tell the truth, though I am but a scholar, I have a deep admiration for the martial path. Might I have an opportunity to visit you for instruction in the future?”

Shen Lian’s brows lifted slightly, understanding that Su Yang wished to form a connection. He nodded in agreement.

The king of hell is easy to see, but the little devils are hard to deal with—people like Shen Lian were those “little devils.” It never hurt to have more connections with such figures. In the future, he might gain access to official secrets or have small troubles taken care of with their help.

His own strength was not yet sufficient; having Shen Lian as an ally would at least add some weight to his backing.

After Shen Lian left, Su Yang returned to his courtyard. That afternoon, when Liu Wenxiang sent a maid to call him, he found all eight or nine of the Wang household’s servant girls assembled.

Except for Peach Blossom, they were all fresh and lovely—one could not help but wonder if the Wang estate was some kind of blessed ground for beauty.

Not to mention his mother-in-law: the personal maids of his wife and sister-in-law—Willow, Spring, and Summer—were each striking in their own way.

Even among the older housemaids, there were a few whose charm had not faded, women in their thirties, plump and full of allure.

As for these seventeen- or eighteen-year-old servant girls, it was needless to say—like the one beside Peach Blossom, slender and delicate, with large, soulful eyes that stirred a man’s heart with the urge to hold her gently and cherish her.

...

“My lady says, whichever one you fancy, you may choose,” said Willow, Liu Wenxiang’s personal maid.

Willow was about twenty-five or six, her figure mature and shapely, giving off a stern air characteristic of someone with a housekeeper’s authority.

Unlike Peach Blossom, Willow was tall, with two locks of black hair framing her face, adding a touch of charm.

Of the robust servant girls, Peach Blossom stared at Su Yang in nervous excitement. What if the young master didn’t choose her? After all, Sister Snow Swallow and Sister Plum Blossom were both prettier. She had no advantage at all, and men were known to be captivated by beauty.

The other servant girls, though they looked down on a son-in-law by marriage, still watched Su Yang with anticipation. Becoming his maid could well be a ticket to a better life. The young lady was unattractive; once the young master gained power over the household, he might well become master in all but name.

And if one bore him a son or daughter, from that day forward she’d be a mistress herself, free from chores like washing, cooking, and cleaning. Besides, the young master was a scholar—handsome, elegant, and full of youthful charm.

For a moment, all the servant girls looked at Su Yang with burning eyes.

“Among you, who was born in March? Step forward.”

At his words, only Peach Blossom and Plum Blossom took a step.

“Of you, who was born in early March? Step forward.”

This time, only Peach Blossom advanced. Plum Blossom sighed deeply, her rough little hands clenched in disappointment at missing her chance.

“Sister Willow, this girl and I are fated. I’ll choose her,” Su Yang said.

“Peach Blossom, to be chosen by the young master is a stroke of fortune. From now on, you must serve him with all your heart and never disturb his studies,” Willow said sternly.

“Sister Willow, Peach Blossom… Peach Blossom will do her best.”

At that moment, Peach Blossom felt her heart pounding, as if in a dream. She nodded solemnly, her resolve already set: in this life, she would follow the young master, come what may.