Chapter 10 - Change

Chen Fang and Zhang Lan were smiling at each other when they heard Jiang Ruan. They directed their eyes towards the entrance and saw three approaching silhouettes illuminated from their backs. Although the leader’s slim figure was nestled under a loose-fitting jacket, she seemed immaculate. The sunlight glowed on her pale skin, as if within a night, her facial features had become more defined. Her pupils were no longer lifeless like in the past. They were similar to an ancient well without ripples. Yet, the edges of her eyes showed an indescribable charm. Her gaze was akin to flowing spring water. Her unsophisticated manners were no longer visible, while a captivating vigor was present. Jiang Ruan raised her brows. Even though her clear voice was pleasant to the ears, it was laced with a penetrating coolness, “Auntie Lan?”

Zhang Lan recovered her senses abruptly and even Chen Fang, who was beside her, was jolted from her reverie and glared at Jiang Ruan with a mixture of jealousy and anger. It was as if this utterly pathetic daughter of an official, who did not possess any pride or dignity, had transformed into another person. As Jiang Ruan’s gaze skimmed over her, she felt her soul depart from her body.

“Miss, you’re back.” Although Zhang Lan worded her speech in this manner, her body hadn’t moved at all. She merely tapped her legs tiredly, “Today, after resolving all the frivolous matters in the residence with much difficulty, I finally managed to clear some free time so I thought of visiting you. It has never crossed my mind that you might not be around. I looked and looked for you everywhere and sprained my leg as a result. Therefore, I have been resting here for a bit. Miss, I hope that you can excuse my lack of manners.”

Lian Qiao watched the scene with a pair of furious eyes. On the surface, one would not be able to nitpick any faults with Zhang Lan’s words, but she was brazenly humiliating Jiang Ruan. She was merely a servant, yet she sat when her mistress was standing. She really did not have any respect for authority at all. At first, Lian Qiao wanted to rebuke her, but she changed her mind suddenly when she observed Jiang Ruan’s gaze. Therefore, she stood quietly beside Jiang Ruan with Bai Zhi without a word.

Jiang Ruan smiled lightly, “Auntie Lan, you are taking this too seriously. You have been breaking your back over this residence’s matters, striving to perform to your utmost duty. Of course, you should rest properly. I feel really apologetic that you have been working so hard because of me. Why not let me massage your leg? Then perhaps, you will feel more comfortable?”

At the beginning, Jiang Ruan’s reply sounded very pleasing but after Zhang Lan listened to the rest, her expression changed completely. When Jiang Ruan finished talking, she stood up immediately, “Miss, what are you talking about? You are my mistress and I am your servant so I do not deserve your good fortunes. You terrify me.”

Jiang Ruan eyed Zhang Lan. Her tone carried a hint of mild surprise, “Auntie Lan, unexpectedly, you can stand up now. I am relieved to see that you are perfectly fine. Otherwise, if anything untoward were to happen to you, I really would not know what to do.”

Zhang Lan seethed with hatred. Jiang Ruan’s earlier words seemed to stroke her ego, but if the second half of her speech reached outside ears, she would have to face the consequences. In this world, there was definitely no logic in a master massaging the legs of a servant. Even if her superior hinted at treating Jiang Ruan harshly, if this matter was spread around, people would only say that a servant like her took advantage of her master and brought shame to the high official’s residence.

The best way to carry out the orders was to act in a way that did not allow any room for blame, and at the same time, make things difficult for Jiang Ruan in every way. She never thought that a seasoned veteran like her could be similarly counter-attacked by someone younger than herself. After thinking about this, Zhang Lan sized Jiang Ruan up again. Jiang Ruan merely smiled faintly and stood quietly on her spot. No one could see through her. At that moment, a hint of terror surfaced in her heart. Her opponent was merely a young girl of ten. How could she lead her to feel fear? Was she possessed by an evil spirit?

Chen Fang, who was at her side, could not guess Zhang Lan’s thoughts. She only felt that this usually weak master, who was vulnerable to bullying, seemed rather imposing today. Although the accessories that Jiang Ruan wore could not surpass hers, it was rather difficult to conceal her beauty. Her appearance was lively and pretty. As Chen Fang began to feel enormous jealousy, she spoke thoughtlessly, “Miss, your body must have recovered well to be able to go around everywhere. I think that you can start sewing embroidered handkerchiefs tomorrow. You should be able to finish them by the end of this month.”

When Jiang Ruan was first sent to the residence, Zhang Lan mentioned that everything in the countryside could not compete with the comfortable lifestyle in the flourishing capital. Thus, Jiang Ruan would need to attend to many chores personally. Usually, Jiang Ruan was not required to chop firewood or work at the field, but Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao were constantly used as slaves. The two maids’ perfectly fine hands were already callused at such a young age. Jiang Ruan did not fare any better than them. Although she did not need to work in the field, she still needed to embroider twenty handkerchiefs every month so that she could hand them over to the residence to pay for her own living costs. Twenty pieces were not a small number so Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi also helped a little. However, their combined efforts were barely enough to make the numbers. Because the embroidery patterns were complicated, it strained their eyes to work on them one after another, especially when it was close to the New Year and the twenty pieces were increased to thirty pieces. The work was hard to handle.

Jiang Ruan smiled thinly, “Of course.”

Chen Fang wanted to embarrass Jiang Ruan at first, but she never thought that she would be so agreeable. Facing such a tactful retort, Chen Fang gritted her teeth, “Then, you should work hard. You should be mindful of the time. When it arrives and you are unable to complete your embroidery, there will be problems.”

Jiang Ruan raised her eyebrows, “Auntie Lan, the important matter that you came here for today was about the embroidered handkerchiefs?”

Startled, Zhang Lan laughed, “Look at this old servant’s memory. Since the residence is sending food supply to the manor, I wanted to ask if you wanted to deliver any letters to Master and Mistress?”

Letters? Jiang Ruan’s fingertips trembled slightly. Too much time had passed that she had almost forgotten that over the several years that she had lived in the residence, at the end of every year, she would write letters to Jiang Quan and her elder brother. The content of the letter was nothing more than to hope that they could bring her home. Year after year, the letters were akin to a rock sinking to the bottom of a large ocean. There was no reply. The only reply that ever came was the grievous news of her elder brother, Jiang Xin Zhi’s death in the battlefield. Actually, after his death, her life no longer contained any hope.

As someone who had passed away once, she could look at things more clearly in comparison to the past. She would no longer entrust her hope to the cold and ruthless Jiang Quan. Rather than being resigned to her fate, why not initiate an attack? As for the letter, there was no need for it. Jiang Quan would not read it. In the end, it would fall into the hands of Jiang Su Su and her mother and would be no more than a laughing stock for their tea sessions.

“Father is busy with official matters. There is no need to write this year,” Jiang Ruan looked at her nails, “Auntie Lan, I don’t have any letters for delivery.”

Zhang Lan was stunned. Every year, Jiang Ruan would write some letters to be sent home. The servants were well aware that the letters were of no use. No one would give up hope on their own accord, but Jiang Ruan did not wish to send any letters now. Was she really disheartened and no longer bore any hope?

Zhang Lan looked at Jiang Ruan doubtfully. Yet, she did not sense anything amiss. Reluctantly, she assured herself. Regardless, the more demoralized Jiang Ruan was, the easier it was to report to her superior. To her, it was quite a good matter. She chuckled, “Since it is so, then I shall go and arrange the food supply that would be delivered to the manor. I shall take my leave now.”

After Zhang Lan and Chen Fang left, Bai Zhi spoke with uncertainty, “Miss, why don’t you want to send letters anymore? Don’t tell me that you are acting in a fit of pique?”

“The days are very valuable. I don’t have any spare energy to be peeved about my father,” Jiang Ruan sat in front of the table and looked at the face of a pale girl in the rust-stained copper mirror, “We are heading back soon. Why do we need to send letters? If there is anything I want to say, it’s better to say it directly to them face to face.”

“We are returning?” Lian Qiao’s eyes brightened, “Miss, did you think of a way to return?”

Jiang Ruan reached out and stroked the cracked edges of her copper mirror, smiling faintly. Of course, she would have a way. But before her departure, there was still a debt she wanted to claim.