Ye Chutang's question was met with an evasive answer from Shuang'er.
"This servant was sent by the madam to attend to the young miss."
Ye Chutang raised a brow, her smile not reaching her eyes.
"So, if the madam wishes to know what I do every day, you’ll report every detail?"
"The madam is the head of the household. If she asks about the young miss, this servant naturally wouldn’t dare conceal anything."
"And what if your deeds of servitude were in my hands?"
Shuang'er was momentarily at a loss for words.
Ye Chutang waved her hand dismissively. "Go to the madam and have her hand over the deeds for all three of you."
"Yes, young miss."
Not long after Shuang'er left, Dan'er finished arranging everything.
She prepared some pastries and candied fruits, then washed fresh fruits and placed them before Ye Chutang.
"Does the young miss intend to use the kitchen?"
Ye Chutang picked up a grape and popped it into her mouth.
It wasn’t the season for grapes, so these must have been rushed from the south.
To prevent spoilage, they had been picked when only half-ripe, making them rather unappetizing.
After one bite, she lost interest and turned her gaze to the respectful Dan'er.
"I’ll answer your question after dinner."
"As the young miss commands. Will the young miss be changing before going shopping with the second miss?"
Ye Chutang was still dressed in coarse clothing, starkly out of place in the luxurious Ningchu Courtyard.
She nodded. "Heat some water. I’d like to bathe."
Who would choose rough fabric when soft silk was available?
Dan'er worked efficiently, soon filling the bathtub behind the screen with warm water.
She adjusted the temperature and scattered flower petals into it.
"Young miss, allow this servant to assist you."
Ye Chutang had no desire to be seen naked and waved her off.
"I’ll manage on my own. Guard the door."
Though Dan'er found it improper, she didn’t disobey.
She closed the chamber door and stood sentry outside.
Ye Chutang eyed the crude soap and hair-washing cakes with disdain before retrieving shampoo and body wash from her space.
After bathing, she dressed in local fashion—a silk undergarment and a dudou.
She then called Dan'er back in to help dry her hair.
Dan'er caught the pleasant fragrance lingering on Ye Chutang’s skin and hair, her surprise evident.
This wasn’t the scent of soap or hair cakes!
Ye Chutang studied Dan'er’s reflection in the bronze mirror.
"Do you serve the madam or me?"
Dan'er carefully toweled Ye Chutang’s hair, answering without hesitation.
"Whoever holds this servant’s deed owns this servant’s loyalty."
"Honest, aren’t you? How did you end up here?"
"My brother needed silver for his wedding, so my father sold me into the Minister's Mansion for ten taels. I became the young master’s chamber maid."
Having read historical romances, Ye Chutang knew many wealthy young masters started bedding women as early as twelve.
She felt no pity for Dan'er’s plight.
Compared to being sold to a brothel, serving as a chamber maid in a noble house was a blessing.
"If you’re Ye Anzhi’s chamber maid, you can’t possibly be loyal to anyone but the madam."
Once Ye Anzhi married, Dan'er would likely be promoted to concubine.
Dan'er set down the towel and rolled up her sleeve.
Her slender arm was covered in whip marks.
The scars, old and new, revealed a history of abuse.
Suddenly, she knelt before Ye Chutang and whispered urgently, "If the young miss can save me from this torment, I’ll repay you with my life!"
The entire Minister's Mansion was under the madam’s control.
The sudden return of the young miss was the only variable.
Dan'er had sweet-talked the madam into letting her apply as a maid for Ningchu Courtyard.
If she wasn’t chosen, she lost nothing.
If she was, she could observe the young miss’s character and see if there was a chance for escape.
To her luck, the young miss not only dared to defy the madam but even the master couldn’t control her.
So, she laid bare her truth, begging for a chance to live.
Ye Chutang studied Dan'er’s resolute expression, her lips curving slightly.
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you out? Earn favor with the madam?"
She wouldn’t trust Dan'er just because of her sob story.
Dan'er shrugged. "Death would be a release for me."
Last time, she’d nearly been beaten to death and saw no reason to live.
As she prepared to jump into a well, she overheard the madam ordering the master to bring the young miss home.
Though she didn’t catch the reason, it gave her a reason to cling to life.
Ye Chutang saw the flicker of hope beneath Dan'er’s despair.
So, she offered her a chance.
"If you want me to save you, prove your worth first."
Dan'er said, "I’ve been in the Ye household for over three years as the young master’s maid. I know many secrets the young miss might find interesting."
Ye Chutang was indeed intrigued, but before she could ask, she heard Shuang'er’s footsteps.
She helped Dan'er up. "My hair isn’t dry yet. Continue."
Dan'er knew she’d gambled right. A faint smile touched her lips, her tone lighter.
"Yes, young miss."
By the time Shuang'er entered, Dan'er had resumed her deferential demeanor.
Shuang'er handed over three deeds of servitude.
"From now on, Shuang'er belongs to the young miss. I’ll never betray you."
Ye Chutang took the deeds, her gaze sharp and icy as she studied Shuang'er’s pledge.
"Then swear it. If you betray me, may your bowels rot and your family perish."
Fetching the deeds from Kong Ru shouldn’t have taken more than two incense sticks’ time.
Yet Shuang'er had been gone for twice as long.
Clearly, Kong Ru had given her additional instructions.
At the mention of a blood oath, Shuang'er paled and dropped to her knees.
"Young miss, spare me! I can swear on my life, but not my family’s."
Ye Chutang smiled. "How filial of you. Rise—I was only testing you. Don’t take it seriously."
She then waved the deeds.
"Your life is in my hands now. I doubt you’d dare betray me."
She didn’t expose Shuang'er, intending to use her to uncover Kong Ru’s schemes and feed her false information.
Shuang'er exhaled in relief. "The young miss is wise."
"Take the grapes outside, chill them in the well, then peel and deseed them."
Though the grapes weren’t the best, they’d make decent honey-sweetened iced juice.
"This servant obeys."
Once Shuang'er left, Dan'er whispered, "Young miss, be careful. The madam has designs on you."
Ye Chutang studied her reflection in the mirror, lips parting slightly.
"What does she want from me?"
It was uncanny—the original owner of this body looked exactly like her.
But their demeanors were worlds apart.
The original had been timid and meek; she was decisive and ruthless.
The fusion of their spirits had birthed a new presence—gentle yet unyielding, compassionate yet fierce.
Dan'er switched to a dry towel, continuing to dry Ye Chutang’s damp hair.
She shook her head.
Just as she was about to say she didn’t know, she recalled something odd Ye Anzhi had said while whipping her days ago.
