Kays Translations

Chapter 309: Chaos in the Inner Quarters

Early the next morning, a mist had fallen.

The newborn morning sun was not afraid of the mist and bravely scattered golden light across the earth. The tender leaves of early spring thrived under the nourishment of the sunlight. The morning mist, too, gradually dissipated under the sun’s rays, condensing into water droplets that fell into the soil, nourishing the land.

After breakfast, Zhu Ping’an began his morning reading and review in his room.

The marquis’ residence seemed a bit noisy today. While Zhu Ping’an was studying, he vaguely heard a commotion, as if something had happened.

Not long after, the second young lady of the marquis’ residence sent someone to deliver a set of books—the very set that had been thrown into the latrine by the bratty kid yesterday. Zhu Ping’an clasped his hands in thanks to the messenger and casually rewarded him with a small piece of silver.

The man accepted the reward with joy written all over his face and, as expected, became more talkative.

That was how Zhu Ping’an learned what had happened that morning. The night before, Li Yanzhou—Fatty Zhou—had done something outrageous. For reasons no one yet understood, he had dragged a young maid who served his father, the Marquis of Linhuai, into bed and forced himself on her through the night.

Then, early this morning, when the Marquis of Linhuai found out, he went completely berserk. It was even more explosive than when the brat had once mockingly asked Fatty Zhou, “Who are you?”

It was said that when the Marquis heard the news, he stormed out with a horsewhip without even getting properly dressed. With his fat body jiggling all over, he charged into Fatty Zhou’s room, pinned him to a chair, and swung the horsewhip, ready to beat his unfilial son to a pulp.

However, before the Marquis could land a blow, the old madam and the Main Madam arrived just in time to stop him. The old madam, weeping and sniffling, managed to rescue her beloved grandson, Fatty Zhou, from the wrath of the horsewhip.

“I’m going to beat him!”

“You’re not allowed to beat him!”

The old madam and the Main Madam blocked him, refusing to let him hit the boy. The Marquis, whip in hand, wouldn’t back down. The situation was a complete mess, and soon the entire residence descended into chaos.

While Zhu Ping’an was listening to the servants recount the story, Li Shu was also in her courtyard, spearing fruit with a toothpick and listening to her bun-faced maid tell her the gossip with puffed cheeks.

“Hehe, after all these years, it’s still the same. My aunt has her tricks, but she still can’t keep her cool,” Li Shu smirked after her bun-faced maid finished.

“Huh?” Hua’er widened her eyes at her mistress. “Miss, it wasn’t the Main Madam’s fault. It was Young Master Li Yanzhou who bullied Sister Hong’er. He’s awful—ugly face, ugly heart. Sister Hong’er didn’t want it at all, but he forced her. I heard she cried terribly.”

“The Main Madam even scolded the young master,” Hua’er added.

Li Shu looked amused as she glanced at the silly girl. Good thing this little fool followed her—if she were thrown into the inner courtyard of this residence, she’d be eaten to the bone.

The schemes in the inner residence were no less brutal than those on a battlefield. One didn’t need blades to kill, nor poison to harm. Smiles hid conspiracies, tears veiled tricks. The methods were countless and devastating…

Yet this silly girl perked her ears but noticed nothing.

“Miss, did I say something wrong?” bun-faced maid looked innocently at her lady, her round face full of confusion.

Li Shu rolled her eyes.

“Miss, it was Young Master Li Yanzhou, not the Main Madam,” Hua’er insisted with a pout.

“That idiot cousin was just being used…” Li Shu’s lips curled into a sneer, her watery eyes full of disdain.

“Huh?” bun-faced maid opened her mouth wide in surprise.

“What do you mean, ‘huh,’ you silly girl? Didn’t you just say that last night the Main Madam sent Hong’er to deliver ginseng soup to that idiot cousin?” Li Shu lightly tapped Hua’er on the forehead.

“Yes. I heard it from Liusu in the neighboring courtyard. She said the Main Madam sent Sister Hong’er to bring Young Master Li Yanzhou ginseng soup because he’d just finished the metropolitan examination and needed to restore his strength. But… but he’s still a bad person.”

The bun-faced maid held her forehead, nodding, then shaking her head in confusion.

“Hehe. Of all times to send it, why right before bedtime? You think that’s a coincidence?”

Li Shu rolled her eyes again and gave a cold laugh.

“But it’s still the young master who did something bad,” the bun-faced maid said, her cheeks puffed out in doubt.

“You think the Main Madam is some saint? Hong’er is one of the Marquis’s own maids. The Main Madam has maids of her own, so why send one who serves the Marquis to deliver the soup? That idiot cousin is stupid and nasty, but despite his big fat face, he’s timid as a mouse. Even if he had lustful thoughts, he normally wouldn’t dare touch one of the Marquis’s maids.”

Li Shu sneered.

“But he still bullied Sister Hong’er,” the bun-faced maid mumbled, still unsure.

“The problem lies in that bowl of ginseng soup. Who drinks ginseng soup right before bed? And who knows what the Main Madam put in it? No wonder he became so worked up.”

Li Shu glanced out the window, her voice cold and mocking.

Hua’er thought for a long moment, then shivered and pouted. “The Main Madam is terrifying… Isn’t she afraid the Marquis will find out?”

“Find out? After all that planning, do you really think she’d leave evidence behind? The traces would have been cleaned up long ago. And even if he did find out, so what? Would the Marquis truly fall out with her over a maid? Her natal family isn’t one to be trifled with. She was simply too impatient. Even if nothing can be proved, she’s left enough to arouse suspicion.”

Li Shu glanced at Hua’er and continued, “The Main Madam is vicious, but the Marquis is no saint either. If that idiot cousin violated a maid, they could simply give her a formal status afterward. So why did the Marquis fly into such a rage?”

“Ah? Miss, you mean the Marquis and Sister Hong’er also…” Hua’er stared with her mouth open, her whole bun-like face scrunched in disgust.

The Marquis had a thing with the maid, and then his son got involved too…

Ever since the Hongwu reign, the Ming had placed great emphasis on hierarchy and moral propriety. To Hua’er, the tangled affair inside the Marquis’s household was profoundly shocking.

“This house may look peaceful on the surface, but it’s filthy inside,” Li Shu said with contempt.

“The Marquis’ residence is scary. Miss, let’s go home,” the bun-faced maid was frightened.

“Finally scared, huh? You think everyone here is as simple as you? Everyone’s like a cunning fox. Better wise up, or you’ll be sold off without even knowing it.”

Li Shu glanced at her amusingly.

“But… how do I get wiser?” bun-faced maid puffed her cheeks, troubled. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Miss is smart! I’ll just stick with Miss!”

Saying that, the bun-faced maid quickly lifted the fruit plate and handed it to Li Shu with a flattering smile.

“You silly girl. At least you know how to make life easier,” Li Shu chuckled, picked up a toothpick, and popped a piece of fruit into her mouth.

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