Chapter Three: Hypocrisy

Old Lady Chen told the story with embellishments, and Lady Yang sat in her chair eating fruit, fixing her with a cold stare.

“What meal did you serve her this morning?”

“Porridge, and a small plate of pickles,” Old Lady Chen answered, her voice trembling.

Lady Yang’s gaze grew icier. “Say it again?”

“That’s the usual breakfast…” Old Lady Chen didn’t even finish before Lady Yang kicked her hard.

“You wretched old crone! At a time like this, you’re deliberately causing trouble? The whole family is waiting for her to recover so we can present her to the Zhang family. Who wants a sickly girl who can’t even stand on her own? And you—you serve her thin gruel and salty vegetables to disrupt my plans? Your brain must be so full of fat, it’d be better fed to the dogs!”

“Madam, please spare me!” Old Lady Chen knew she’d brought this upon herself and knelt, gritting her teeth in pain.

“I was wrong, Madam. I was foolish and didn’t understand your good intentions. But the Second Miss, who used to be so docile, is now picking faults. She keeps threatening to kowtow to you, scaring me. Madam, you must do something!”

“I don’t need you meddling in my affairs. Get out!”

With that, Lady Yang spat out a curse, and Old Lady Chen scrambled from the room as fast as she could.

Lady Yang scoffed and spat to the side. “My good mood for the morning is utterly ruined!”

“Please, madam, don’t be angry.” Madam Huang poured her some tea, smiling as she comforted her. “It’s not worth getting upset over an old servant. They’re used to taking their share from the kitchen, so they’ve grown bold. It’s my fault for not keeping them in line. No matter how wrong the Second Miss may be, it’s not their place to gossip.”

“That wretched girl—how has she grown so bold?” The thought of Xu Ruojin made Lady Yang’s anger flare again. If not for her husband’s strict orders not to have the girl killed, Lady Yang would have wished her dead long ago.

Still, her husband had foresight, otherwise how would they have gained an engagement with the Zhangs?

Lady Yang considered for a moment, then commanded, “Go check on that girl and bring her to me.”

“Is the Second Miss even well enough to get up yet?” Madam Huang’s words only made Lady Yang sneer.

“She claims she wants to come kneel before me, doesn’t she? Then she can crawl if she must!”

Xu Ruojin was quietly eating her meal, not concerned whether Old Lady Chen would report her.

Before her was a bowl of porridge with minced meat and greens, an egg roll, a steamed bun, and a small flower-shaped bun—all smelling delicious.

Chuncao nibbled her bun, stealing glances at Xu Ruojin from time to time.

Xu Ruojin was entirely absorbed in her food, devouring it like a wolf starved for days, not leaving a single crumb behind.

After finishing her meal, Xu Ruojin wiped her mouth, took a sip of water, and looked at Chuncao, meeting her curious gaze.

Chuncao, caught, lowered her head in a hurry. But Xu Ruojin said directly, “If you want to ask something, just ask. Frankly, there’s only the two of us here—there’s no need for secrets.”

“I just think you’re not at all like the rumors say,” Chuncao replied.

“Rumors?” Xu Ruojin was surprised, then gave a bitter laugh. “I didn’t think someone as insignificant as me would inspire any rumors.”

“It’s only since word spread about your engagement to Young Master Zhang that people started talking.”

“That explains it.” Xu Ruojin thought of the young master of the Zhang family, and her hands itched with the urge for revenge. Patience, she reminded herself—revenge is best served cold.

Chuncao finished her bun and continued, “I haven’t been in the Xu household a year yet; before this, I worked in the gardens. The others say that you, Second Miss, never lose your temper, speak softly, and never complain about food or clothing. Many have never even seen you in person.”

“But everyone knows that the Lady… doesn’t treat you well.” Realizing she’d touched a sensitive topic, Chuncao quickly changed tack, “But I think you do have a temper—just not as they imagine.”

Xu Ruojin smiled bitterly at her memories. Chuncao was being tactful. Not picky? No temper? How could the former her dare to be picky or angry? Her treatment didn’t even compare to the family dog kept by the third young master.

After a moment, Xu Ruojin said, “She didn’t have a temper before because she didn’t have the right to. You saw this morning—even the old woman who serves meals could throw her weight around, chin up, acting superior. Who would fear her anger?”

“She?” Chuncao was confused, but Xu Ruojin nodded firmly.

“Yes, her—the former her. But things are different now. Now, we must strive to live well. We can’t drift aimlessly anymore. Enduring leftover scraps and scorn is one thing, but now it’s a matter of life and death. How can I not have a temper?”

Chuncao was utterly lost. “I don’t quite understand.”

Xu Ruojin didn’t plan to explain further. Instead, she asked, “Do you have any family left?”

“No,” Chuncao shook her head. “I was sold off as a child, again and again…”

“Then from now on, we’ll share our fate, for better or worse,” Xu Ruojin said. She didn’t expect Chuncao’s loyalty overnight—she couldn’t even ensure a full meal yet, so what could she use to win a person’s heart?

Everything would have to wait and see.

No sooner had they finished speaking than footsteps sounded at the gate.

Chuncao hurried out and returned, flustered. “Second Miss, you need to come out—it’s Madam Huang!”

“How could I let the Second Miss come to me? I should come to pay my respects to her,” Madam Huang said with a smile, though she remained standing in the courtyard.

Xu Ruojin walked slowly toward the door, sifting through her memories of this woman.

A smiling tiger—deceitful, ruthless, wicked to the core.

With these words flashing through her mind, Xu Ruojin’s smile only grew.

It’s said you should never offend a villain, and least of all the minions of a villain!

“To think that Madam Huang would come to see me—I’m truly honored. Please, come inside and have a seat.”

“Oh, having the Second Miss come out to greet me—I hardly deserve it.” Madam Huang stepped forward, supporting Xu Ruojin and surveying her carefully. “I’ve been so worried about you these past days. Now that I see you safe and sound, my heart can finally be at ease.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Xu Ruojin replied, making as if to bow, but Madam Huang stopped her, surprised by the Second Miss’s polite manners.

In the past, she was timid as a mouse and would hide at the sight of anyone…

“I worry for you because you are the Second Miss, but in the end, it’s the lady of the house who cares for you most—her own daughter. She sent me to check on you. If you’re well enough, perhaps you could go see her?”

Hearing this, Xu Ruojin’s heart skipped a beat.

Lady Yang wanting to see her so suddenly—Old Lady Chen must have told on her.

“Mother is up already?” Xu Ruojin feigned surprise.

Madam Huang paused, and Xu Ruojin smiled even more brightly. “I was just thinking of visiting Mother, but Old Lady Chen brought breakfast and said Mother doesn’t rise early, that she’s busy these days and doesn’t want me disturbing her. She said Mother didn’t want to see me… But I know Mother loves me best! Madam Huang, please wait while I wash up and change into clean clothes.”

Xu Ruojin ignored the flash of anger on Madam Huang’s face and turned to Chuncao. “Come, help me inside and bring out that blue jacket.”

Chuncao hurried to comply, supporting Xu Ruojin as they went inside.

Madam Huang’s smile only faded once Xu Ruojin was out of sight.

She hadn’t expected Old Lady Chen to take such liberties on Madam’s behalf. Clearly, these people needed to be put in their place—if she kept turning a blind eye, she would be the first held responsible when something went wrong.

But…the Second Miss’s transformation was astonishing.

Could nearly drowning really change one’s temperament so drastically?

She was almost unrecognizable.