Chapter 57

Mo Qi saw that Shen Wei had agreed, and her face immediately lit up with a smile.

She quickly said “Ah” and placed the fan aside, then bowed to Shen Wei before retreating… After a short while, the curtain was lifted again, and Shui Bi entered. Compared to before, she seemed much quieter now. Once the curtain fell behind her, she lowered her head and walked up to Shen Wei.

Without saying a word, she knelt before Shen Wei.

Shen Wei observed Shui Bi but didn’t speak. She picked up the fan on the table and gently waved it, then continued flipping through the book that had been set aside.

The room fell into a deep silence, and no one spoke.

After a long pause, Shui Bi could no longer stand the silence and slowly raised her eyes to glance at Shen Wei’s calm face. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and spoke, “Madam, I know I was wrong.”

Shen Wei still didn’t look up from the book, but she heard the words.

She turned another page, then spoke indifferently, “Do you know what I asked Steward Shi to tell you the other day?”

When Shui Bi heard this, her face showed no surprise. Over the past few days, she had thought it over and realized that Madam’s attitude toward her had truly started to change after that day at Bao Ru Zhai. She remembered that look Shen Wei gave her before entering the room that day… Even though time had passed, she could still tell that Shen Wei had been upset.

Yes…

Since Steward Shi had sent her to serve Shen Wei, no matter what, she was her mistress.

Her mistress hadn’t spoken, but she had taken matters into her own hands, not considering the potential risks… It was only natural that she would be angry.

Shui Bi lowered her head again, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and her voice became quieter. “That day, when you asked Steward Shi for someone loyal only to you, I… failed to do that.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Wei finally looked up at the kneeling figure in front of her. Observing Shui Bi’s expression, she closed the book in her hand and spoke, “I know you’re capable. If you were to be compared to others, it would be a waste of your talent…” Her tone was calm, her voice unchanged. After a brief pause, she added, “If you truly feel that serving me is beneath your abilities, I can tell Steward Shi to send you back.”

Hearing this, Shui Bi’s expression changed for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, she shook her head.

When Madam had sent her to serve the wife of the Duke of Rong, she could not return without further instructions. At first, she thought Madam had sent her here to monitor the Duke’s wife and that she would eventually return to her master’s side. But now…

She remembered her master’s actions that night. It seemed that when her master said “protect,” she genuinely wanted her to stay by the Duke’s wife’s side to protect her.

But she had reacted too late.

Shui Bi lowered her face, her expression becoming respectful, and her voice filled with humility, something she had never shown before. “Madam, since I was ordered to serve you, I am now yours. I’ve thought it over these days, and I won’t allow anything like that to happen again.”

After speaking, she bent down to give a deep bow and added, “Madam, please forgive me this once. I will serve you properly from now on.”

Shen Wei did not speak immediately. She simply looked down at Shui Bi, still kneeling on the ground. After a long moment, she finally spoke, “You know that since you’ve followed me, there’s no going back. From now on, you should rid yourself of any thoughts of leaving. You need to understand that there is no such thing as ‘I can only be with one person.’ Even though I think highly of you, it doesn’t mean I absolutely need you.”

After she finished speaking, Shen Wei leaned over to help Shui Bi up. Looking at her eyes, Shen Wei spoke once more, still indifferent, “I can tolerate people around me who lack ability, but I absolutely cannot tolerate someone who betrays me. Shui Bi, do you understand?”

Shui Bi hadn’t expected Shen Wei to say such words.

She had thought that the recent coldness from Shen Wei was simply meant to make her recognize her current situation, perhaps a few tactics typical of an inner-court lady.

But now, hearing these words, she realized that Shen Wei wasn’t joking. If she ever betrayed her again, Shen Wei would certainly not keep her by her side. And at that point, what would become of her? She would never return to her master’s side, and even the Jinjiang Tower might not accept her.

Shui Bi didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt a chill. She stared at the woman in front of her and remembered that Steward Shi had once warned her to be extra cautious around this woman. At that time, she had thought he was exaggerating… But now, she understood that Madam of the Duke of Rong was far from someone to underestimate. She had long known what happened to those abandoned by their masters, and her recent silence was merely a chance to give her another opportunity.

If she doesn’t seize this opportunity, then with her personality, she will absolutely never tolerate her again.

Shui Bi didn’t say anything, she couldn’t say anything. Under Shen Wei’s gaze, she finally bent her back and lowered her head, speaking in a tone of respect and submission that she had never shown before, “Yes, this servant understands.”

Seeing this, Shen Wei didn’t say anything more. What she had said earlier was not false. Although she did think Shui Bi was useful, she was not indispensable. If Shui Bi ever made the same mistake again, Shen Wei wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of her… Now, she could only hope that Shui Bi would think clearly.

With that thought, Shen Wei helped Shui Bi up and then calmly said, “Go.”

After she said this, she noticed Shui Bi’s gaze on her and added, “From tomorrow, you will return to serve me again.”

Shui Bi finally let out a sigh of relief when she heard this. She gently replied and, after bowing, began to leave. However, when she reached the curtain, she couldn’t help but glance back. The woman on the soft couch had resumed reading, her posture naturally composed, and her face still bore the usual calm expression.

But it was this very woman who made her feel fear…

This kind of fear was something she only used to feel when facing her master.

For some reason, she suddenly thought that perhaps her master’s different treatment toward the wife of the Duke of Rong might not be a bad thing. There were very few women who could match her master. Even if there were one or two clever ones, they all seemed to lose their wits when facing her, like that Miss Yang.

But this woman, her calm demeanor, her methods, if she could stay by her master’s side in the future, things might turn out differently? Shui Bi thought this and lowered her head, clearing her thoughts before the gaze from Shen Wei could reach her, and she exited through the curtain.

—-

By mid-June, Shen Wei, due to the intense heat, became more and more reluctant to move.

Although ice was replenished every day in the mansion, the ice in a large household like the Duke of Rong’s wasn’t abundant. With so many masters, there was only so much ice. If it was used up in the morning, it would naturally be gone by evening. Shen Wei could buy more ice from outside, but doing so would attract attention.

After finishing dinner, Shen Wei, dressed in a light green outfit and matching silk pants, sat on the soft couch, fanning herself.

Qiu Huan, standing beside her, also held a fan. Even so, Shen Wei still broke out in a thin layer of sweat. Seeing this, Qiuhuan gently spoke, “It’s only June. If it’s like this in July, how will the master sleep at night?” She then added, “Would you like me to have the servant’s quarters prepare more ice for you? Or should I secretly send someone to fetch some from outside?”

Hearing this, Shen Wei shook her head. While she was in charge of the household, and could take as much ice as she wanted, she believed that if the higher-ups had no rules, how could she expect those below her to behave properly? The more one was in charge, the more one needed to set a proper example, so that the subordinates would respect them.

As for buying ice from outside, it would be fine once or twice, but if it happened too often, people would notice.

However, Qiuhuan’s point was valid…

Shen Wei thought about this and felt the heat rise in her chest again. She stopped thinking about it and leaned back against the pillow, feeling the evening breeze from outside, continuing to fan herself. After a short while, Shui Bi came in, holding a redwood tray. On the tray was a bowl of cold soup and a purple sandalwood box.

Since Shui Bi had returned to serve Shen Wei, her personality had become much more restrained.

At first, she didn’t get along well with Qiuhuan and the others, but after Shen Wei had used both kindness and severity, the servants realized that she couldn’t tolerate any disrespect. Now, they got along much better. Seeing Shui Bi enter, Qiuhuan even got up to greet her. After placing the cold soup on the table, she asked, “What’s in the box? It looks quite valuable.”

Although Shen Wei didn’t speak, her gaze was fixed on the box.

Shui Bi smiled and replied, “This servant doesn’t know. Earlier, when I went to the door, I happened to see Ming Lu, who had just returned after accompanying the eldest young master. He said this was something the eldest young master specially found for you, saying you would definitely like it…” After saying this, she noticed that Shen Wei had paused in fanning, so she added softly, “The eldest young master hasn’t forgotten you even while working with the Crown Prince outside. He treats you very well.”

Qiuhuan also smiled and added a comment.

Shen Wei listened to the two maids but didn’t say anything. She simply looked at the box and then spoke, “He has good intentions.”

After speaking, she set her fan aside and took the box. When she opened it, there was a piece of red silk inside, and resting on top of the silk was a jade pendant.

The jade looked like ancient jade, with patterns carved on it, resembling a phoenix. What was even more remarkable was that the jade was cool to the touch, which helped to calm the heat in Shen Wei’s chest.

Qiuhuan, unaware of the special qualities of the jade, smiled and said, “This jade looks precious, but the eldest young master really is something. He’ll be back in a few days, so why not just wait until then for him to give it to you personally? I wonder how many horses he had to tire out to bring this over.”

Shui Bi, who had seen more of the world, spoke softly, “I’ve heard that there are jade pendants in this world that change temperature based on a person’s body heat. The jade pendant you’re holding, madam, should be one of those. These kinds of jade pendants are rare, and the eldest young master must have spent a lot of effort to find it.”

In fact, Shui Bi didn’t learn about this kind of jade from others, but she already knew that her master possessed such a jade pendant.

This jade pendant was originally part of a pair, which held great significance. When she first saw it, she couldn’t help but pause for a moment… She truly hadn’t expected that her master would entrust this jade pendant to the wife of the Duke of Rong.

But the moment of shock was fleeting. That night, she had realized that the wife of the Duke of Rong was different from the master, though she couldn’t yet understand what the wife of the Duke of Rong thought about it.

Shui Bi couldn’t help but glance at Shen Wei as she thought of this.

Although Shen Wei had sensed the unusual nature of the jade pendant when she first held it, she hadn’t anticipated that it would be so precious. In her past life, she had read about such things, but she had never seen one in person. While she wasn’t sure how Lu Qi Huai had obtained it, the jade pendant felt like a timely blessing to her.

With this jade pendant, this summer would be much more comfortable for her.

She handed the pendant to Qiuhuan, who helped her put it on. Once the pendant touched her skin, the previous heat gradually dissipated…

When Qiuhuan first put the pendant on, she also noticed its unique properties and couldn’t help but exclaim, “The young master really has a thoughtful heart. I’ve never even heard of such a jade pendant. Perhaps even the empresses in the palace don’t own one.”

Now that the heat had dissipated, Shen Wei’s mood was much calmer. Hearing Qiuhuan’s words, she lowered her gaze to the pattern on the pendant. She ran her fingertip over the design, and upon seeing the vivid phoenix, she couldn’t help but frown. “This jade pendant is beautiful, but it’s still a little bold.”

The rules of this era were strict, and if others found out she was wearing such a pendant, it could cause trouble.

Shuibai quickly spoke up, “This pendant is meant to be worn close to the body, and it’s usually hidden by clothing, so others won’t see it… Besides, this is the young master’s kind intention.”

Qiuhuan also chimed in, “Yes, if the young master knew that the precious item he sought with such effort was tucked away, he would surely be heartbroken. Also, Madam, you’re so sensitive to the heat. It’s a rare treasure, so why deprive yourself just because of some rules?”

Listening to them, Shen Wei didn’t argue further. She would truly feel reluctant to hide the pendant. In the end, she instructed the two of them to keep quiet about it to avoid causing a stir.

Both maids understood the importance of the matter and quickly agreed.

—-

Perhaps because of the jade pendant, Shen Wei felt much more at ease in the following days. Even when there was no ice around, she no longer felt irritable.

Today, the weather wasn’t as hot as it had been in previous days. Having spent a long time indoors, Shen Wei remembered the lotus seed cakes that Li Shi had sent her the day before. She decided to take Shui Bi and a few other young maids outside to gather some lotus flowers and seeds.

The maids below saw that she was in a rare good mood and quickly prepared everything.

Shen Wei was supported by Shui Bi as she walked outside.

When they reached the spot, there was no need for her to do anything. Shen Wei watched as a few young maids cheerfully picked lotus flowers and lotus pods while she leaned against the fence.

There was a box of fish food by the fence, and as Shen Wei looked at the koi below, she became interested. She threw some food into the pond, and the koi leapt out of the water to fight for the food, creating a lively and interesting scene. Her smile deepened as she watched.

However, before she could enjoy the moment, she heard voices from behind.

That slightly sharp voice could only belong to Wang Shi. Since Prince Jin’s visit, Wang Shi had regained some of her previous energy. With her newfound vitality, she often made sarcastic remarks to Shen Wei whenever they met.

As Shen Wei listened to the voice behind her, she counted to three in her head, and just as she reached “three,” Wang Shi’s voice rang out. “Elder sister-in-law, you’re willing to go out today? If I had known you’d go out, I would’ve taken you earlier… You have no idea how lively it is outside today. The wife of the Minister of the Household is celebrating her birthday at Jinjiang Building, and it’s quite a grand event.”

“Jinjiang Building has some new attractions that have attracted many of the royal grandsons and nobles. The minister’s wife had to book a month in advance to get a table…”

After finishing her previous remarks, Wang Shi looked at Shen Wei’s figure, seemingly feeling a mix of regret and mockery. She continued, “It’s a shame that you stay indoors every day and don’t know how much the outside world has changed.”

Who knows more about Jinjiang Building than her?

It was her idea, and even if she didn’t go out, she could still be aware of the situation there. As she heard Wang Shi’s words, Shen Wei found it amusing… She smiled, threw another handful of fish food into the pond, set the box aside, and turned around.

She took the handkerchief Shui Bi handed her and wiped her hands, glancing at Wang Shi once more. Seeing Wang Shi’s uncomfortable expression, she lightly laughed, “Second younger sister-in-law, since you like it there so much, you should visit more often.”

Once the words left her mouth, Shen Wei didn’t care to say anything else to Wang Shi. She glanced at the young maids, who had finished picking, and said, “Well, it’s too hot today. I should head back…” With that, she turned and, with Shui Bi’s help, made her way back to Taoran Studio, leaving Wang Shi and her maids behind.

Wang Shi watched as Shen Wei left, her face still showing displeasure.

This woman, who had once loved excitement but couldn’t handle provocation, now seemed unbothered by anything. Wang Shi couldn’t help but wonder what had changed, but thinking about her upcoming meetings with the minister’s wife, she forced a smile back onto her face.

Now, Qi Xuan was increasingly favored by Prince Jin, and her status in Bianliang city also rose along with it.

Let Shen Wei be pleased for now. One day, the Duke of Rong’s residence would be under her control. When that time came, she would enjoy the rewards… Thinking of this, she no longer paid attention to Shen Wei’s attitude. She watched as the woman walked through the small path, assisted by her maid, and headed towards the west courtyard.

—-

When they returned to Taoran Studio, several little maids, according to Shen Wei’s instructions, took the lotus flowers and seed pods to the small kitchen to make lotus seed cakes and lotus porridge. Meanwhile, Shen Wei was served by Shui Bi, who helped her freshen up before she sat back on the soft couch.

The room still had ice in it. As Shui Bi gently waved the fan, she said to someone, “A few days ago, I went to Jinjiang Tower. It’s much livelier there now, compared to before. Steward Shi said this is all thanks to you. He even praised you a lot.”

Hearing this, Shen Wei only gave a faint smile. She leaned against the cushion behind her and, after flipping a page of her book, said to Shui Bi, “It’s just a matter of mutual benefit between him and me.”

After she spoke—

She noticed a chill from the jade pendant hanging on her neck and asked, “Has the eldest son mentioned when he will return?”

Shui Bi continued fanning, but her voice remained respectful as she replied, “A few days ago, the eldest young master sent a letter. He should be back tomorrow.”

Shen Wei had only asked out of casual interest, and hearing this response, she didn’t comment. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that every time she inquired about Lu Qi Huai, Shui Bi’s attitude seemed overly respectful… This level of respect wouldn’t be strange from other maids, but Shui Bi’s personality?

Shen Wei raised her eyes to look at Shui Bi.

Shui Bi noticed her gaze and paused in her fanning, but still asked as usual, “Madam, is something the matter?”

Shen Wei looked at Shui Bi, whose face was as calm as usual, and her eyes showed no other emotions. Perhaps it was just her imagination… With that thought, Shen Wei shook her head and said, “It’s nothing.”

She then lowered her head again to read her book, and the conversation ended there.