Chapter 10 — A Will to Live Beneath the Desire for Death

In response to Ye Chutang’s question, Shuang’er avoided giving a direct answer and replied lightly,
“Your maidservant was sent by Madam to serve the Eldest Miss.”

Ye Chutang raised her eyebrows, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“So, if Madam wants to know what I do every day, you all report back to her in full detail?”

“Madam is the head lady of the household. If she asks about the Eldest Miss, your maidservant naturally wouldn’t dare hide anything.”

“And what if I held your indenture contract?”

Shuang’er was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Ye Chutang waved her hand. “Go fetch Madam. Have her hand over the indenture contracts for you three.”

“Yes, Eldest Miss.”

Not long after Shuang’er left, Dan’er finished tidying everything up.

She brought over some pastries and candied fruits, washed some fresh fruit, and placed them in front of Ye Chutang.

“Does the Eldest Miss plan to inspect the small kitchen later?”

Ye Chutang picked up a grape and tossed it into her mouth.

It wasn’t grape season. These had clearly been rushed up from the south on fast horses.

To keep them from spoiling during transport, they were picked while still only half-ripe—sour and not very tasty.

She lost interest after just one and looked at the dutiful Dan’er.

“I’ll answer your question after dinner.”

“I await your orders, Eldest Miss. Will you be strolling around with the Second Miss later? Should I prepare a change of clothes?”

Ye Chutang was still dressed in rough cloth, completely out of place in the lavish, elegant Ningchu Courtyard.

She nodded. “Go boil some water. I want a bath.”

Who would wear scratchy fabrics when soft silks were available?

Dan’er was quick with her hands. Before long, the water was boiling and poured into the tub behind the screen.

She adjusted the temperature and scattered fresh rose petals into the water.
“Eldest Miss, shall I assist you with your bath?”

Ye Chutang had no interest in letting others see her naked. She waved her off.
“I’ll do it myself. You stand guard outside the door.”

Though Dan’er found it improper, she didn’t disobey Ye Chutang’s wishes.

She closed the door to the bedchamber and stood outside like a gate guardian.

Ye Chutang eyed the coarse soap and shampoo cake with distaste, then pulled out shampoo and body wash from her space.

After bathing, she followed local customs and donned a silk undershirt and a bellyband.

She then called Dan’er back in to help towel-dry her hair.

Dan’er, inhaling the pleasant scent from Ye Chutang’s hair and body, looked surprised.

This wasn’t the smell of soap or shampoo cake!

Ye Chutang looked at her through the bronze mirror.
“Do you serve Madam loyally—or me?”

Dan’er continued carefully drying her hair, answering without hesitation.
“Whoever holds my indenture contract, that’s who I serve.”

“You’re honest. How did you end up in this household?”

“My brother needed money for his wedding, so Father sold me to the Prime Minister’s manor for ten taels of silver. I became the Young Master’s bed maid.”

Ye Chutang had read enough historical novels to know that in ancient times, young masters in wealthy families started acting like breeding studs from age twelve.

She didn’t pity Dan’er’s situation.

Compared to being sold into a brothel, becoming a concubine’s maid in a noble house was practically a blessing.

“If you were Ye Anzhi’s bed maid, then there’s no way you’d be loyal to anyone but Madam.”

Because once Ye Anzhi married, Dan’er would most likely be elevated to concubine.

Dan’er set down the towel, rolled up her sleeve.

Her slender arm was covered in lash marks.

The mix of old and new scars showed she had long been suffering abuse.

She suddenly knelt in front of Ye Chutang and lowered her voice.
“If Eldest Miss can save me from this fire pit, I’ll repay you with my life!”

The entire Prime Minister’s manor was under Madam’s control.

The recently returned Eldest Miss was the only variable. Madam had been tricked by flowery words into letting her enter the Ningchu Courtyard to select a maid.

If she hadn’t been chosen, she would’ve lost nothing.

But since she was chosen, she decided to observe Ye Chutang’s character—to see if there was hope for salvation.

Turned out she was lucky. Not only did the Eldest Miss dare to stand up to Madam, even the Lord couldn’t do anything to her.

So she laid everything bare, gambling for a chance to live.

Ye Chutang looked at Dan’er’s resolute face, her pink lips curling into a smile.

“You’re not afraid I’ll sell you out to Madam and earn her favor?”

She wouldn’t be swayed by Dan’er’s sob story.

Dan’er said indifferently, “Death would be a release.”

Last time, the Young Master had almost beaten her to death. She thought she wouldn’t survive.

Just as she was about to jump into a well, she accidentally overheard Madam instructing the Lord to bring back the Eldest Miss.

Though she hadn’t caught the reason, she couldn’t bear to die just yet.

Ye Chutang saw the flicker of a survival instinct beneath Dan’er’s suicidal resolve.

So she gave her a chance.

“If you want me to save you, show me your worth.”

Dan’er said, “I’ve been in the Ye household for over three years. As the Young Master’s bed maid, I know quite a few secrets. The Eldest Miss may find them interesting.”

Ye Chutang was interested and was about to ask more when she heard Shuang’er’s approaching footsteps.

She helped Dan’er up. “My hair isn’t dry yet. Keep going.”

Dan’er knew she had won her gamble. Her lips curved ever so slightly, and even her tone grew lighter.

“Yes, Eldest Miss.”

By the time Shuang’er entered, Dan’er had already returned to her respectful demeanor.

She handed Ye Chutang three indenture contracts.
“From this day on, Shuang’er is yours, Eldest Miss. I will never betray you.”

Ye Chutang took the contracts and looked at Shuang’er, sharp and cold.

“Then swear this: if you betray me, your guts will rot, and your entire family will die.”

It shouldn’t take more than the time of two incense sticks to fetch a contract from Kong Ru.

But Shuang’er had taken two full ke.

Clearly, Kong Ru had instructed her quite a bit.

Hearing the poisonous oath, Shuang’er’s face changed and she immediately knelt.

“Please forgive me, Eldest Miss. I can swear on myself, but I can’t drag my family into it.”

Ye Chutang chuckled. “Didn’t expect you to be so filial. Get up, I was just testing you—don’t take it to heart.”

She waved the contracts in her hand.
“Your life’s in my hands now. I doubt you’d dare betray me.”

She didn’t expose Shuang’er’s duplicity—she intended to keep her close, spy on Kong Ru’s schemes, and feed her false information to strike back later.

Shuang’er exhaled in relief. “You are wise, Eldest Miss.”

“Put the grapes outside into the well water to chill, peel them, and remove the seeds.”

Though the grapes weren’t very tasty, mix them with some honey and serve chilled—they might make decent grape juice.

“As you wish, Eldest Miss.”

After Shuang’er left, Dan’er softly warned,
“Be careful, Eldest Miss. Madam is plotting something against you.”

Ye Chutang looked at the woman in the bronze mirror, her pink lips parting slightly.

“What could she want from me?”

It was quite the coincidence—her predecessor looked exactly like her.

But their auras were completely different.

The original was timid and cowardly. She was decisive and ruthless.

Combined, they became a balance of softness and strength.

Capable of gentleness or cruelty. Compassion or severity.

Dan’er swapped out for a dry towel and continued drying Ye Chutang’s half-damp hair.

She shook her head.

Just as she was about to say she didn’t know, she suddenly remembered something Ye Anzhi had said while whipping her a few days ago…