Chapter 28

Proofreader: Mim

The only good thing about Li Zhi’s transfer to Fufeng Courtyard was that she was now closer to Jia Sui. The two of them lived in the same courtyard, making it much easier to meet and interact.

However, Jia Sui was more worried than happy about this development.

“The young master’s courtyard is full of beauties. Some of them just want to live quietly and peacefully, but others dream of becoming his concubines. For those women, someone like you is nothing less than a thorn in their side,” Jia Sui said.

“Fortunately, while the young master does appreciate beautiful women, he’s merely admiring them from an artistic perspective. He’s never forced himself on anyone. You only need to be careful of the servants who have ulterior motives—especially Xunfeng,” she added.

Jia Sui continued, “Xunfeng used to be one of the madam’s personal maids. She was sent here to ‘educate’ the young master in the matters of adulthood and is already guaranteed to become a concubine. I heard that when she found out you were coming, she flew into a rage in private.”

“Fufeng Courtyard is big,” Li Zhi said, trying to console her friend. “As long as we don’t have to share a room, I’ll just keep my distance.”

Li Zhi thought to herself that there was no real conflict of interest between her and Xunfeng. As long as they weren’t placed in the same shared room, she could easily avoid her. Over time, Xunfeng would likely come to realize that she posed no threat.

But alas, what you fear most is often what comes to pass.

On her first day moving into Fufeng Courtyard, carrying her meager belongings, Li Zhi walked into the room assigned to her by the stewardess—only to be greeted by Xunfeng’s dark, stormy expression.

Ignoring Xunfeng’s fiery, piercing glare, Li Zhi silently unpacked her belongings.

The room fell into a suffocating silence, broken only by the weight of Xunfeng’s intense gaze burning holes into her back.

Finally, Xunfeng’s sharp, cold voice shattered the quiet atmosphere.

“This room was arranged specifically for you by the young master, wasn’t it? Moving into Fufeng Courtyard as a second-tier maid right off the bat… You must be thrilled.”

It became clear to Li Zhi that before her arrival, Xunfeng had enjoyed the luxury of a private room.

No wonder she’s angry. Sharing a room is definitely not as comfortable as living alone, Li Zhi thought sympathetically.

“A criminal’s daughter who caught the young master’s eye with her looks—don’t think you’ve suddenly climbed the social ladder!” Xunfeng snapped venomously. “The master of the household would never allow the young master to bring a woman with such a disgraceful background into the family. At best, you’ll remain nothing more than a nameless servant!”

The incessant noise grated on Li Zhi’s nerves. She sighed inwardly.

She figured Lu Congruan had likely arranged for them to share a room because Xunfeng’s room was spacious and warm, but he clearly hadn’t considered that the gentle and birdlike Xunfeng he saw in front of him might behave differently in private.

“What need do I have for a title or status?” Li Zhi said calmly as she straightened up and met Xunfeng’s furious gaze. “I only want to do my job—to clean and serve. I don’t need any status for that.”

“Stop pretending to be so virtuous!” Xunfeng scoffed. “If you were really so noble, you wouldn’t be strutting around in front of the young master like some showy peacock!”

Li Zhi was genuinely confused. Except for the day she had worn one of Xunfeng’s flashy dresses, she didn’t recall ever acting as the other woman described.

“You’re nothing but the daughter of a criminal, here to serve as a maid! Even I, a servant born into this household, have a cleaner background than you! I’m warning you: stay away from the young master and don’t tarnish his reputation!”

With that sharp warning, Xunfeng stormed out without waiting for Li Zhi’s response, treating her as though she were beneath notice.

Li Zhi dismissed the childish threats without a second thought. Such petty tactics to vie for attention wouldn’t even be considered noteworthy in a prominent household, let alone in her own fallen family.

She continued unpacking and organizing her bed with an unaffected state of mind.

——

In the days that followed, nothing particularly noteworthy happened.

Li Zhi continued her routine—spending her days attending to tasks in Fufeng Courtyard and her evenings helping out in Bamboo Courtyard.

The only difference was that, in Fufeng Courtyard, she was no longer required to do heavy labor or menial chores. Her sole responsibility was to serve Lu Congruan.

While Lu Congruan enjoyed surrounding himself with beautiful maids, he was, thankfully, an upright person. He never touched or teased her inappropriately.

Apart from being overly familiar at times, Li Zhi almost forgot that he had specifically requested her transfer to Fufeng Courtyard.

Before she realized it, ten days had passed since her arrival.

Spring was in full bloom, and the household had begun distributing the year’s spring attire. Lu Han, ever considerate of the servants, ensured that while the clothing styles were simple and plain, the fabric used was of the finest quality.

The clothing for those in Fufeng Courtyard, however, was noticeably more elaborate. Not only were the colors more vibrant, but the styles also kept up with the latest trends in the city.

When it came time to pick out her new clothes, Li Zhi purposely waited until the end. By the time it was her turn, the most eye-catching designs had already been taken. Left behind were two pale pink and one light lavender ruqun (a traditional Han-style dress) in plain, solid colors without any patterns.

[Note: The ruqun was a common form of Han-style clothing, featuring a blouse and skirt combination. During the late imperial era, clothing color and quality often symbolized status.]

The simple, understated designs suited Li Zhi’s tastes perfectly. She picked one pale pink set and one light lavender set and returned to her room.

That evening, as Lu Congruan returned from outside, the first thing he said was, “I heard today was the day new clothes were distributed, and you were the last to go—so you just took what was left over?”

The ever-attentive Xunfeng, who had stepped forward to greet him with a bright smile but received no acknowledgment, glared at Li Zhi with venom in her eyes.

“I had some tasks to finish, so I went a bit late,” Li Zhi explained. “Besides, it wasn’t really leftover—I happened to like what was left.”

“I brought back the other pink set for you,” Lu Congruan said casually. At his signal, the servant behind him stepped forward, holding the remaining pink ruqun and offering it to Li Zhi.

“Since you didn’t choose anything special, it doesn’t hurt to take another,” he added. “Now, go put it on—I’m taking you into town for a stroll.”

“Young master!” Xunfeng interjected sharply.

“You’re coming too,” Lu Congruan said. “Go get changed.”

Li Zhi didn’t particularly want to go into town with Lu Congruan, so she hesitated. Sensing her reluctance, he added, “Even if you don’t go, I’m still heading into town. Today is the monthly market day. If I’m going to shop, I need at least two maids with me.”

With his words leaving no room for refusal, Li Zhi had no choice but to comply.

Thinking that Xunfeng wouldn’t wear pale pink again since she was already wearing it that day, Li Zhi chose the pale pink ruqun from her new wardrobe.

When she stepped out of the room, her eyes met Xunfeng’s—and both fell silent.

Xunfeng, dressed in another fresh pale pink ruqun, looked as though she were about to cry from frustration. She turned abruptly and stormed back into the room without a word. Li Zhi and Lu Congruan waited a full incense stick’s time before she finally reappeared in a different outfit.

“What took you so long? You kept everyone waiting!” Lu Congruan said impatiently.

“I noticed a small tear in the hem after I changed…” Xunfeng said with reddened eyes, her voice full of grievance.

“Fine, fine, let’s just get moving. If we delay any longer, the market will be over!” Lu Congruan turned and headed for the courtyard gate.

Xunfeng quickly followed, casting a hateful glare at Li Zhi as she trailed behind.

The carriage was waiting just outside the mansion. Being the personal carriage of the only son of Mingyue Tower’s Commander, the carriage was naturally tall, imposing, and radiated an air of authority. Li Zhi followed behind Lu Congruan as he climbed into the carriage.

Pulled by four horses, the ride was smooth and barely perceptible. It wasn’t long before Li Zhi found herself in the bustling town center.

According to Lu Congruan, today was the monthly market day. The streets were packed with people, a sea of humanity, and the atmosphere was alive with noise and energy. On the wide streets, shops stood facing each other in neat rows, while street vendors were lined up in tidy arrangements. Meanwhile, itinerant peddlers carrying their wares on poles wandered through the alleys, calling out their goods for sale.

Li Zhi’s eyes darted around, captivated by the sights from within the carriage. When she stepped out, she was immediately swallowed up by the throng of people.

“You’ve never been to the Mingyue Tower marketplace, have you?” Lu Congruan asked, walking beside her with visible enthusiasm.

“This servant has only been to the streets on ordinary days,” Li Zhi replied.

“The market days are completely different from normal days,” Lu Congruan said. “Even reclusive tribes from the mountains will come to town to trade on days like this. When the crowds gather, not only does the atmosphere liven up, but there’s also a much greater variety of things for sale.”

Indeed, as Lu Congruan described, the bustling scene on the main street was nothing like the quieter days Li Zhi had experienced before. Some vendors, clearly ordinary townsfolk, simply laid a cloth on the ground and displayed a handful of miscellaneous items they wanted to sell.

Lu Congruan stopped at a stall selling silver jewelry.

“This one’s not bad,” he said, picking up a gold-plated silver hairpin.

Despite Xunfeng’s hopeful expression, he placed the silver hairpin into Li Zhi’s hair.

“You always dress too plainly. As a young woman, you should adorn yourself more,” Lu Congruan said. He then selected a few more hairpins and earrings from the stall and handed them to Li Zhi.

“This is too much. I won’t be able to use all of these. Why not share them with Sister Xunfeng…” Li Zhi said earnestly.

“She already has more than she could ever use. Don’t trouble yourself worrying about others,” Lu Congruan said, displeased. He pressed the package of jewelry into Li Zhi’s hands without giving her a chance to refuse.

Xunfeng’s face turned sour, her expression ugly.

Lu Congruan, thinking he was being generous, had inadvertently placed Li Zhi in an uncomfortable position, making her the center of unwanted attention. She could only sigh inwardly.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing to a crowd gathered not far away. She hoped to distract Lu Congruan before he bought her anything else.

“Ah, that’s the people from the Shengzi Temple performing free medical consultations,” Lu Congruan replied casually.

At the center of the crowd were a few young men and women dressed in white priestly robes. Their appearances were refined and elegant, and they sat at tables treating townsfolk. Among them was an elderly man with white hair and a long, snow-white beard that reached his chest. His complexion was ruddy, and his demeanor spirited.

Seeing that Li Zhi’s gaze was still fixed on the scene, Lu Congruan elaborated. “Shengzi Temple is the shrine located on Xian Naiyue Mountain (the sacred mountain). Its priests are usually reclusive and rarely seen in public. They only come down to the town on market days, once every three months, to offer free medical services and charity. If you’re interested, we can go over and talk to them.”

“Is that allowed?” Li Zhi asked, surprised.

“Of course. I even know one of them,” Lu Congruan said confidently.

Before Li Zhi could respond, Lu Congruan was already heading toward the tables where the priests were conducting consultations.

“Master Xia! It’s been a long time!”

The young man called Master Xia looked up and smiled when he saw Lu Congruan approaching. He stood up and greeted him with a bow.

“What brings Young Master Lu here today? Are you here for something in particular?”

“Just wandering the market—it’s lively as always,” Lu Congruan replied. He then gestured to Li Zhi. “This is a newly-arrived maid from my household, Li Zhi. And this is Xia Zheng, the esteemed priest of Shengzi Temple.”

“This servant greets the priest,” Li Zhi said, lowering her head respectfully as she curtsied.

“If Young Master Lu personally introduces her, she must be quite exceptional,” Xia Zheng said with a smile. “Does Young Master wish for me to read her fortune?”

Lu Congruan looked at Li Zhi, giving her the choice to decide.

Li Zhi hesitated before politely declining. “This servant appreciates the priest’s kind offer, but I prefer to keep the future a mystery. It’s the anticipation of what’s to come that gives life its flavor.”

Xia Zheng had only asked out of politeness, but when Li Zhi lifted her head, something in her demeanor caught his attention. His casual gaze sharpened, turning into a closer, more deliberate scrutiny.

“Young lady, you carry an air of nobility,” Xia Zheng said, his tone now serious. “It seems you are destined for an extraordinary fate. Are you truly uninterested in hearing about your fortune?”

Li Zhi firmly declined once more.

She believed that destiny was fluid and ever-changing. Even if someone could predict her current trajectory, her ultimate path would depend on the choices she made in the future.

“What do you mean by ‘extraordinary fate’?” Lu Congruan interjected, frowning. “You’ve never said anything like that about me!”

“Young Master’s fortune is different from hers,” Xia Zheng replied. “When I read your fortune, I saw that as long as you avoid those with a ‘Po Jun’ destiny, you’ll enjoy a life of wealth and comfort. But this young lady…” His gaze lingered on Li Zhi’s face, studying it carefully. “Though she is of humble standing now, she will one day rise to a position of unparalleled honor.”

“Thank you for your kind words, priest,” Li Zhi replied, her tone measured and respectful. “But this servant desires nothing more than a life of simple meals and quiet days.”

Xia Zheng saw that Li Zhi’s resolve was firm and did not insist further. However, a faint look of regret lingered on his face.

After a few more pleasantries, Lu Congruan bid farewell.

Before they left, Xia Zheng handed Li Zhi a red talisman. “This is a protective charm, a gift from Shengzi Temple to seal the bond of goodwill between us.”

It would have been impolite to refuse again, so Li Zhi accepted the charm with a polite smile and thanked Xia Zheng.

Throughout this entire conversation, the other servants—Xunfeng included—were practically invisible, treated as if they didn’t exist. While others might have been indifferent, Xunfeng’s displeasure was written all over her face.

After wandering the marketplace a little while longer, Lu Congruan led Li Zhi and the rest of the group into a grand restaurant with luxurious decor. The restaurant’s design seamlessly blended Han and Hu cultural styles, showcasing both elegance and a touch of frontier ruggedness.

As soon as they stepped through the doors, Li Zhi’s sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar figure.

Amid the cacophony of scolding and shouts, Li Jinzhi knelt on the ground, his head repeatedly striking the floor as he begged for mercy from a heavily-armored man seated at a nearby table.

——-

Contextual Notes:

1. Shengzi Temple and Xian Naiyue Mountain: The Shengzi Temple (Holy Son Temple) represents a place of both spiritual reverence and social outreach. Its isolation suggests a connection to purity and divine wisdom, while the mountain is a frequent symbol of transcendence in Chinese cultural and religious contexts.
2. Po Jun Destiny: The “Breaking Army” star (Po Jun) is one of the stars in Chinese metaphysics and fortune-telling, often associated with chaos, destruction, and misfortune. Avoiding someone with this destiny implies the desire to evade conflict or upheaval.
3. Hu-Han Cultural Fusion in the Restaurant Design: The description of the restaurant blending Han and Hu styles reflects the frontier setting of Mingyue Tower, where different ethnic groups and cultures interact. “Hu” often refers to non-Han Chinese ethnic groups, particularly those from Central Asia or the northern steppes. This blending of styles illustrates the diversity and cross-cultural interactions common in border regions during imperial China.

 

Translator’s Note: Bye see you next week !! Enjoy your weekend