The birds flew by the Zhi courtyard, on the entrance of the courtyard was Zhi Ruo eating breakfast and having tea. Ravel beside her refilling the cup from time to time. Both perked up when they heard footsteps comming to the courtyard.
"Leave," Zhi Ruo waved her hands.
"Yes master," and obediently, Ravel took all of the containers and left.
Only the tea cup was left, the faint herbal smell emitted from the cup. Zhi Ruo took her mask and put it on. The figure of the maid bringing a tray of food was seen. Her body was trembling, but she didn't dare drop the food.
"This lowly nubi greets the first Xiaojie..." Loud as a whisper, the maid greeted.
"Stand up," without being told twice the maid stood up and sat down on the ground when Zhi Ruo pointed down. "Eat," it was like routine by the third time. With no will power left, the maid obediently ate the food that she brought.
Zhi Ruo sipped the tea as looked at the maid's appearance. There was eyebags under her eyes, her lips were pale, and she could see that the maid tried to hide it with red lipstick or tint. "what's with the commotion last night?" Zhi Ruo tentatively asked. The maid paused to answer.
"The warehouse was set ablaze last night," the maid slowly began. She stared at the food that was beautifully decorated with poison. " I did not hear anything, other than the fact that something important was at that warehouse. I- I think there would be shortage of food in these coming weeks due to that fire."
"Hmm."
"Ah co-concubine Liu Su Yang was livid when she heard that the warehouse was set ablaze. The concubine, and second concubine Liu Bai Pan is on bad terms for some unknown reasons, this nubi doesn't know much!" The maid suddenly paled. "First Xiaojie, the second concubine also sent me to tell a message." Trembling to her bones, the maid informed Zhi Ruo.
"She would like to visit first Xiaojie formally, and...she also wants to talk about something."
"Oh? What businesses does she want with me?" Hearing what the maid had said, she has a vague guess to what that concubine wants.
"I-i Don't know, nubi was only sent to tell the first Xiaojie this..." Helplessly the maid answered.
"Then. Go back and tell her to formally write a letter to me stating what she wants, also tell her to not waste my time." The tea had turned cold. "The letter should be personally handed by her, tut tut, the second concubine doesn't even have proper etiquette. Truly a very...." Zhi Ruo gazed upon the wide eyes of the maid. "Unique person!" She smiled, and ended sarcastically.
"This nubi will relay the message." The maid bowed and knowtowed once, before Zhi Ruo dismissed her.
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"-Is what the first Xiaojie said." The maid sat infront of a voluptuous woman who was dressed in bright green brocade.
The lady has intricately chiao mei (painted brows), and skin that was painted white. Her downward eyes was glinting with viciousness as she listened to what the maid had said.
"What do we do second concubine?" The maid timidly asked. She found that the second concubine, is less scarier than she was used to. Compared to Zhi Ruo, it was like comparing a tiger to a domestic kitten.
"I have showed kindness to her, and yet this is how she repays me? I may be new but it doesn't mean I don't see her situation." Liu Bai Pan gritted her teeth. "Now that Liu Su Yang is on the move, my position is gonna–" Liu Bai Pan doesn't even dare continue.
"Fine! So be it, Ningning go write me a formal letter. I'll deliver it personally," she shouted at the maid. Who nodded and scurried off.
"If only that warehouse didn't burn down, now Liu Su Yang is suspecting me for arson." Liu Bai Pan bit her nails in annoyance. "Master has also been bedridden and hasn't visited me once since I got carried in the Liu Fu. Oh what do I do.."
She stood up, the dress clung on her as she looked out the window anxiously. "That Zhi Ruo better make use of herself. Those meals that I sent better not been eaten in vain."
After two insence has passed, and the maid returned back. Behind her was a mama, and a steward of the Liu Fu. "Second concubine, I wrote the formal letter. And this mama and steward is here to hand out some books about etiquette." The maid announced to the figure eating biscuits while laying.
"Leave the books there, you read them to me later." Liu Bai Pan waved her hands dismissively to the mama and the steward. Who both shot her looks of contempt when they saw how she received guests. Nonetheless they left after leaving the books.
Liu Bai Pan watched as the servants leave, she sneered. "Pretentious bastards!" She grabbed the books and threw it on the table near her. "They know I can't read and yet they still send me these! It would be better to get me a tutor and yet-!" Her face morphed in embarrassment when she noticed the her maid was still in the room with her.
"second concubine the letter..."quietly the maid handed the letter she wrote.
Harrumphing she took the letter in contempt. "Let's go," she maid her out of the room.
"Second concubine! Aren't you gonna read what's the content of the letter?" Panicked the maid called after. "Also please dress appropriately!"
"I will but waste my time prepping myself up just for a abandoned Xiaojie, no need to trouble myself! That girl ia not worth it." The second concubine sneered as she walked.
The maid paled, but decided to follow the second concubine anyways. The maid who was chosen to wait on the second concubine naturally has some knowledge as to what was appropriate and was not. And the actions of the second concubine is very rude, not only was the first formal letter not written by the concubine, the concubine was not dressed appropriately for the situation.
If others know the second concubine's action, they would criticize the concubine and spit on the Liu' name. Her actions were that of a country bumpkin.
'give a bumpkin some nice clothes to look good, but the bumpkin is still a bumpkin.' the maid could not help but lament in her heart.
They soon approached the Zhi courtyard, the courtyard was barren but it was peaceful. With the letter in hand the second concubine did not wait for anyone and directly knocked on the pillar.
"Zhi Ruo! I came with the letter!" The concubine shouted outside. Her crude actions made the maid cringe.
"Second concubine please watch yourself!" The maid could not help but berate the concubine.
She shrunk her head when Liu Bai Pan glared at her.
"Lower your voice Wu Bai Pan, we are not on a brothel." A cool voice bellowed behind the paper doors.
The concubine, upon hearing her maiden name blushed with embarrassment. It was apparent that Zhi Ruo did not consider her to be part of the Liu Fu. "I came to hand you the letter, would you know talk to me?" She gritted her teeth, and asked.
The second concubine Liu Bai Pan looked around, she did not want to remain any longer in the Zhi courtyard. It reminded her too much of her dirty past.
"Hand the letter over to the maid, I want to read what you have personally written as our first formal exchange." Zhi Ruo instructed.
While the maid panicked, because it was not a letter personally written by the concubine. Liu Bai Pan was seething at Zhi Ruo's attitude. She cursed Zhi Ruo in her heart, before deciding to follow her words.
The maid opened the door and directly handed the letter to Zhi Ruo whow as sitting and drinking tea.
Zhi Ruo knew that Liu Bai Pan was illiterate, she knew full well that it was not a letter written by her but by the maid that handed her the letter. Glancing at the contents inside the letter, she unhurriedly threw it in the table.
"Then come, and sit " Zhi Ruo finally invited them to step inside her house.
Liu Bai Pan smiled smugly, and unceremoniously sat down beside Zhi Ruo. The maid had to pull her sleeves and drag her in front of Zhi Ruo.
Zhi Ruo did not have to say anything, but her stare made Liu Bai Pan blush in humiliation.
"Daughter, tell mother, was it you that burned the warehouse down?" Without waiting anything, Liu Bai Pan quickly got to ask Zhi Ruo. Hoping that Zhi Ruo would say something that she can use against her.
"First Xiaojie." Zhi Ruo sipped her tea as she corrected Liu Bai Pan.
"What?"
"Do not call me daughter, you are not my mother. Do not call me child, you are not a parent. Call me First Xiaojie, because you are just a mere concubine. Disregard your etiquette again in front of me, and this conversation will end." For every word that Zhi Ruo uttered, Liu Bai Pan's face morphed in anger.
"You!-" Liu Bai Pan gaped in anger when she heard Zhi Ruo.
"Also warehouse? Are you aware of what you are saying?" Cutting Liu Bai Pan off, Zhi Ruo narrowed her eyes at her. "What are you trying to say? Stop trying to waste time and hurry up to the point." Zhi Ruo was amused, but she didn't show it.
Liu Bai Pan gulped, she did not know that the useless trash of the Liu Fu was this arrogant. Even when she worked at the brothel, she knew about Liu Zhi Ruo. The girl was infamously useless, and yet....
"You stupid girl ah! Is this how you treat the person giving you meals?! Have I sent all those food in vain?! Where is your respect!" Liu Bai Pan shouted, beside her the maid trembled in fear.
"Respect? Show me a dignified person and ill show my respect." Zhi Ruo sneered, but they can't see it due to her mask. "Meals? Really? That's your leverage? Let's count shall we. You sent three meals, lunch, dinner and breakfast. All of which I did not ask for, nor did I need any of it."
Seeing Liu Bai Pan being quiet Zhi Ruo continue. "Three meals, and then you came to talk. Judging by the way you walked in, it is apparent that you want something from me. I'm not born yesterday, even a child would know." Tapping the table Zhi Ruo sets aside the cold tea.
"I'll repeat this again, tell me what you are hear for and don't waste my time." Zhi Ruo growls.
"Eep-" the maid bit her tongue, and Liu Bai Pan's face turned red from anger.
"Tell me, you were that set the warehouse on fire right? It was you right?" Liu Bai Pan, had an anxious look on her face. And she was clearly trying to get an affirmation from Zhi Ruo.
Although it was Ravel who set the warehouse on fire, it was true that they commited the arson. But now way would Zhi Ruo affirm with anything.
"Are you trying to make me say that I did it? The trash of the Liu family! Hah! Who would've known that she set a large fire on the warehouse and not get caught! Do you even know how stupid you are sounding right now?" Zhi Ruo was smiling under her mask clearly amused, but her tone was dreadfully cold.
Upon hearing what she sounds like, Liu Bai Pan decided to change tactics. "No no, you are mistaken. You see your second niang is in danger right now, your first naing is accusing me of setting the warehouse on fire you see. This niang is hoping that you will take the blame for me." Liu Bai Pan's face bloomed as she tried to appease Zhi Ruo.
"I will promise you, after you get out of the punishment this niang will ask master Liu to get you a new courtyard and new attendants! Look at you not even a maid is attending to you. After you do what this niang says, I promise you that I'll give you whatever you want." Liu Bai Pan mocked Zhi Ruo, but she did not forget to sugiar coat her words.
Zhi Ruo stayed silent, and Liu Bai Pan seeing the girl being silent thought that she succeeded. Her mouth ran as she tried to convince Zhi Ruo who stayed silent watching in amusement as the concubine spouted sugar coated nonsense.
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