Ravel was smart enough to catch on from all the words that Zhi Ruo had spoken. And he stood tall from beside his master all the while occasionally updating Zhi Ruo with each of the servants achievements in the past times that he had observed.
The servants were uneducated, but it doesn't mean that they aren't smart in their own way.
Years of being in their position, one can only survive if they are shrewd enough. It was clear to them that Zhi Ruo had planted Ravel to spy on them to see of they were worthy enough. A pleasant misunderstanding, though it was not far from the truth.
If Zhi Ruo knew of the things that they have made up, she would not care. Amused, she would be, but she won't spare a second glance at it. This was Ravel's job, he handles the servants.
The offers that Zhi Ruo had put in the table was generous enough, and they have no doubt that one way or another Zhi Ruo would fullfil the things that she promised. It was carved into their bones to trust in their masters, and trust they will. Especially since Zhi Ruo was so magnanimous with her words and offer.
As for regaining their freedom, one could dream about it. But dreaming upon it doesn't always mean that one wants it. If truly, they were able to make their own decision and regain freedom and control over their lives, what good would come from the outside world could offer?
Most, if not all of the servants that Zhi Ruo chose was birthed into their positions. Their parents were servants, and their children also has to bear such titles.
Their titles as servants protects them from not having a roof over their heads and they were fed enough for them not to complain. If they leave, having the title as servants revoked. They won't have any family to go to, nor would they know anyone from outside of the Ye clan as they have lived all their life inside the Ye clan's grounds.
But to them, to be able to have a chance on Cultivating was a opportunity they could not let go off.
So knowingly, Zhi Ruo had lit a fire under their bottoms. And of course the servants were eager to please the young miss after all that was said and done.
The servants were dismissed bit long after, ans Zhi Ruo called Ravel to her room to ask him for something.
Zhi Ruo explained to Ravel to take the token on his hands and go to craftmaster in the Sighted Valley, to asked brother Biān Fú to make something similar but nothing alike to the gold token on Ravel's hands. The tokens should be made out of wood, and silver, as it would be the theme of the lowest and the second lowest ranks perspectively.
The wood one should have a green tassel, while the silver one should have a blue tassel. For safe measures, Zhi Ruo took the storage ring containing all of her mother's dowry, and took out her jaded Tablet. The only thing that identified her as the young miss of the great Ye clan.
Ravel took the jaded Tablet with him, and went on with his official servants clothing with the golden token on his side. His long rose gold hair was turned into inky black, his eyes into the shade of witching hour. With his attire, he looked more of an consort of some historical drama's rather than a servant under a young miss.
Zhi Ruo rose from her seat then, as she have handled what needed to be handled in her new pavilion.
The next day came without much of a disturbance, rather than cultivating all night to breakthrough. Zhi Ruo cultivated her foundations more thoroughly, and she ended up opening her dimensions in doing so. Her dimensions were much more rich in Qi and she exhausted all her MP by just opening her dimensions as her regeneration of Qi was much more slower than her intake.
For the first time in a while Zhi Ruo slept normally, only to wake up two hours later at six am in the morning. Though at this point it should not be a night's rest but more of like a nap.
Although bleary-eyed, Zhi Ruo allowed the maid servants to dress her up. Not long after Zhi Ruo was dressed in a loose robe after having done her hair and took a bath. She promptly shooed oit her maids to do her routine by her own.
Inspite the fact that the maids were reluctant; and still very eager to please their young miss. They went to abide her orders and decided to went out sensibly make breakfast.
Zhi Ruo fiddled with her hair that— thankfully was simple enough to start her day with. She sat on her bed to pull out different products for her skin that she requested Ravel to hide on one of her drawers. She hummed a pleased tune when she realized her MP was back to full with an additional 10 points for her reservoir.
The power nap made wonders so it seemed.
Zhi Ruo chose some undergarments, and donned on one of her shirts and some caramel colored trousers. A robe of a shenyi that was covered in complicated flower embroidery was then put on over her initial clothing— note that she randomly picked the robe from a set. Zhi Ruo then records that the flower was probably something native to this world.
She finished it off with a sash that was caramel in color, the ends were not properly tucked away and it hang loosely on Zhi Ruo's frame reaching Zhi Ruo's knees. The grey ashed color of the flowers on her robe, and the caramel color of her trousers and sash completed the look.
Zhi Ruo took off the mask that the maids had given her earlier when they woke her up, and replaced it with a veil that covered her nose and down. As the knock of her breakfast rapt at the entry way of her bed chambers.
The maid servants entered in a orderly fashion as they brought her breakfast. And as soon as the maid servants left, Zhi Ruo made haste with her food. Finishing it without much of a thought on its taste.
The maid servants shared an awkward glace when they noticed that Zhi Ruo had taken it upon herself to dress up without their help. But a glance at Zhi Ruo's covered face told them that it was for the better.
Even Ye Kohaku and Ye Qing Qing did not dare take a look at their young miss's face. Nonetheless them, they were a but glad that their senior head servant Ravel told them to be mindful when they woke Zhi Ruo. Even going as far to tell them to take an extra mask when they tended Zhi Ruo.
Zhi Ruo took out a wooden sandal with heels as High as three centimeters in lieu of the embroidered shoes that the maid servants had prepared for her, and she went out to Huā Tián where Yu Zhúlín would be inevitably waiting. Her sandals clacked on the wooden floorboards of her pavilion. And that was the servants only indication that their young miss had left.
They all sighed when Zhi Ruo left, and not before long they went to scurry and do their duties.
It was 6 something in the morning but their were already deciples in the Huā Tián practicing. Zhi Ruo noticed Yu Zhúlín not long after, the guy was talking to someone as he waited.
Zhi Ruo's figure was soon noticed by the two men, and while they both greeted the young miss in front of them. None bothered her at the moment.
"Let's go, lest the sun is fully out and their would be many people entering the hunting grounds." Yu Zhúlín did not waste anytime as soon as he saw Zhi Ruo. Though he did glance at Zhi Ruo's weird clothing, noticing the lazy way she held herself.
But he held back his urge to open his mouth, having been taught a lesson many times in Zhi Ruo's presence. Plus, he wasn't really saying that Zhi Ruo looked bad. He just felt that it was unusual, seeing men clothing clashing with the feminity of the robe that Zhi Ruo wore. He thought that she looked regal in her way of clothing.
"I'm sure that the young miss knows by now. The Sighted Valley is situated along the border, where the line between the our country and line between the uncharted territory greatly blurred. " Yu Zhúlín spoke as they headed towards the entrance of the hunting grounds.
Zhi Ruo nodded, indicating that she knew this already. Zhi Ruo recently just learned that their were no other ways that anyone can enter the Sighted Valley but flying over different dimensional zones. Their were actually no designated entrance of the sighted Valley, only a path that people are used to using. But it is not even a usual path as one needs to travel through the sky.
If the people going to the Sighted Valley insist on going on foot, then they will need to pass numerous beasts territories and dimensional zones in order to arrive. Which means, it was greatly adviced to use air travel, in order to avoid anymore casualties. But even air travel doesn't guarantee your life, who knows what's lurking between the clouds.
"Unlike the fact that therw is no designated entrance of the Sighted Valley, there is a designated entrance and exit of the Hunting grounds." Yu Zhúlín gave a rundown to Zhi Ruo. "If young miss goes into a straight path, then the young miss could go into the uncharted territory if the young miss goes deeper. And the beast's ranks would go higher. So please be aware of this young miss."
Ever since Yu Zhúlín talked in a serious manner, he would now subconsciously call Zhi Ruo as 'Young miss' instead of Sister Zhi like most usually do. Not that Zhi Ruo minded.
Their steps came into a halt as they landed in front of a large stone tablet. It was as big as a basketball court and as high as a three story house. Their were not people around the humongous stone tablet, but their were names carved in it.
Zhi Ruo was surprised to see such a huge tablet, as it didn't look like it was carved, but was made naturally.
"This contains the rankings of the poeple that killed most in the hunting grounds. Though once the person had taken the surname Ye already, they won't appear on this stone tablet."
Both took a second to look at the names written on the stone tablets, and unsurprisingly enough. Zhi Ruo found some familiar names on it. Yu Zhúlín was number 35 out of 4000 or so people, while Tiān Dì was sitting comfortably on the top. His name was written in gold color.
Seeing this, she could not help but pucker her lips out in deliberation. It seems like Tiān Dì had the rights to question and tutor her after all.
It didn't change Zhi Ruo's mind though. That Tiān Dì still looked like a playboy that dresses a bit too loosely to be considered anything than lazily putting a drape over one's body.
"Do you guys have to change this manually?" She asked after a while.
"No, the stone tablet records and changes by itself." Yu Zhúlín answered. He then looked at the large clearing that was suspiciously looking a lot more like a path near the tablet. "That's the entrance young miss." He then motioned to it, as Zhi Ruo followed his gaze.
"...I'll be going then." Zhi Ruo gave her thanks and finally she walked towards the entrance.
Yu Zhúlín quirked his lips gazing at Zhi Ruo's retreating back, as if remembering something. "Please dont get lost! And please be back before the tournament!" He then called out afterwards.
Zhi Ruo waved her hand without looking back indicating that she heard him.
Yu Zhúlín heaved a deep sigh and patted his chest in reassurance. "God that young miss scares me." Before he himself returned.