A Lady's Practice

Chapter 2: A Chilling Encounter

A thousand years ago, beneath the vast sky, stood the mighty kingdom of the Great Tong Dynasty.

It was the summer of the sixth year of the Bao Yuan reign, within the tranquil estate of the Marquis of Dingning.

The morning rain had been falling steadily for some time, and it was now the hour for the midday meal. Servants and maids bustled about with umbrellas, their colourful garments and parasols weaving together like a rainbow tapestry. Amid the lively chatter—complaints about who had stepped on whose shoe or splashed water on whose skirt—the delicious aromas from the kitchens could hardly be concealed by the exquisite utensils they carried. A little maid, standing under the eaves, sniffed the air and swallowed hard as the scent of food wafted past her.

This young girl, around fourteen or fifteen years of age, was dressed in the simple blue tunic and trousers that marked her as one of the most common maids in the household. Yet there was something unusual about her: she wore a red belt, a color reserved for second-rank maids in the Marquis's estate.

The striking contrast between the blue of her tunic and the crimson of her belt made her stand out, but those who passed by her didn’t spare her a glance. She was invisible to them, like the air they breathed.

The girl held a basket in one hand while rubbing her empty stomach with the other. Her eyes fixed longingly on the kitchen door. The flow of people began to slow.

A stout woman emerged, followed closely by four or five other matrons, each vying to hold an umbrella for her.

“Pay attention, all of you! How many years have you been here? Don’t forget your place. Do what’s expected of you, and don’t take what isn’t yours. Keep your eyes open!” The stout woman’s voice was calm, but there was an air of arrogance in her tone. She stopped walking.

The matrons immediately halted as well, their faces filled with flattering smiles.

“If anyone dares to disgrace me, don’t blame me for what happens next. Getting thrown out won’t just affect one person; it’ll ruin a whole family. And when that day comes, don’t come crying to me for help,” the woman continued, a faint smile playing on her lips as she pointed at the group with a chubby hand adorned with two gold bangles.

“Liu Mama, your words are always wise. We’re not young anymore; we know better than to act foolishly,” one of the matrons replied with a fawning grin.

“That’s right. If we still needed you to teach us, we might as well leave the estate now,” another added, echoing the first.

This was Liu Mama, the formidable head of the kitchen staff at the Marquis of Dingning's household.

The young maid bit her lip and darted from her corner, stepping into the rain and standing directly in front of the group.

Liu Mama had been about to make a witty comment when the sudden appearance of the maid startled her. Water splashed up from the ground, leaving marks on her fine, pale green skirt.

“Good heavens!” one of the matrons exclaimed, noticing the girl’s blue attire and raising a hand to slap her.

These women were strong, and the slap sent the girl staggering. Her basket fell to the ground.

“Wait, isn’t this…” Liu Mama squinted at the girl, her eyes focusing on the red belt. She hesitated.

The matron who had struck the girl quickly realized her mistake. Fear washed over her as she recognized the red belt—second-rank maids from the inner quarters were not to be trifled with. She immediately bent her knees in a submissive bow.

“It’s Xiao Zhu,” Liu Mama drawled, her voice softening as she spoke.

Hearing the name “Xiao Zhu,” the matron straightened, sighing in relief. She even dared to throw an irritated glance at the girl.

Xiao Zhu stood in the rain, her small frame quickly soaked. Her hair clung to her face, making her appear even more pitiable.

“Liu Mama, I... I’ve come on behalf of our young mistress…” Her voice trembled.

“And what does your young mistress need?” Liu Mama asked kindly, her smile as sweet as ever.

“She wishes to know if this month’s allowances have been distributed?” Xiao Zhu asked, her pale face looking up at Liu Mama, her expression uncertain—perhaps from fear or perhaps from the cold rain.

Liu Mama’s smile vanished instantly.

“What? Did you forget the autumn share for Qiu Tong Courtyard again?” she asked her tone now indifferent.

The matrons had been readying themselves to beg for mercy, but hearing this question, they instead broke into laughter.

“What a mistake! I should be punished,” one matron said, slapping her own cheek lightly in mock chastisement. “I was so focused on gathering the fresh produce for the Third Miss’s illness that I completely forgot!”

She directed her words at Xiao Zhu, bowing slightly as she spoke.

“Please, strike me, miss. I’ve grown old and useless. One thing drives out another in my mind. But you know how it is—when I heard the Third Miss had caught a cold, I lost my head,” she continued with a smile.

Xiao Zhu, of course, wouldn’t dare hit her.

“Don’t joke, Mama. The Third Miss’s health is the most important thing…” Xiao Zhu muttered, biting her lip.

Liu Mama’s face softened into a smile, but a cold glint remained in her eyes.

“Are you all blind? Can’t you see the girl standing in the rain?” she scolded.

As if suddenly noticing Xiao Zhu’s drenched state, the matrons rushed forward to shelter her with umbrellas.

“Oh dear, why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“You should have sent someone else to pass the message.”

“Our young miss herself coming out in this weather!”

The matrons cooed sympathetically, fussing over her.

“Make sure to take care of your duties. I won’t be so lenient next time,” Liu Mama warned with a shake of her head.

The women swore they would be more careful in the future.

“Well, I’ll be on my way,” Liu Mama said. She then looked at Xiao Zhu and added, “If you need anything else, just come to me.”

Xiao Zhu, trembling, nodded her thanks.

After Liu Mama left, the matrons resumed their chatter, gossiping about a dish the young mistress had praised and the money she had rewarded them with. They prattled on as if Xiao Zhu weren’t there.

“Why haven’t you gone yet, miss?” one of them finally asked when she noticed the girl was still standing there.

Xiao Zhu glanced down at her empty basket.

“Oh, don’t worry. We’ll have someone deliver everything to you. It’s raining heavily, and the roads are too rough. How could we let you carry it?” The matron smiled and turned to the others. “Ladies, let’s prepare the provisions for the young mistress.”

Laughter and murmurs of agreement filled the room as they bustled to obey.

Xiao Zhu hesitated, opening her mouth to speak, but the matron gently pushed her toward the door.

The courtyard gate closed with a soft thud behind her, and the rain fell harder still. Xiao Zhu lifted the basket over her head and hurried down the path.

She passed through several gates and crossed narrow walkways before a small, secluded courtyard emerged in the misty rain. A few flower trees dotted the area, their sparse branches making the place feel even lonelier.

A red umbrella appeared in the distance.

“Xiao Jia!” Xiao Zhu called out, quickening her pace.

Under the umbrella was a girl of her age, dressed simply in a white inner garment, over which she wore a blue vest and a grey skirt. The plainness of her attire gave her an air of maturity far beyond her years. Seeing Xiao Zhu soaked to the bone, she rushed toward her.

“Why didn’t you take an umbrella? You’re drenched! You could have borrowed one from anywhere,” Xiao Jia chided, heartache clear in her voice. She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and began dabbing at Xiao Zhu’s wet face.

“I ran fast enough. I’m fine,” Xiao Zhu replied with a playful grin.

But it was obvious Xiao Jia had given up her umbrella for her. The thought made her heart ache even more.

“Hurry inside and change,” Xiao Jia urged. However, her gaze fell on the empty basket. Her expression faltered. “So... they still haven’t sent it?”

“They said they’d send someone right away,” Xiao Zhu answered quickly, though she felt a pang of guilt for not completing the task.

Xiao Jia sighed.

Right away, it probably meant two or three days later.

“Why are you out here? How is our young mistress?” Xiao Zhu asked, her voice laced with concern.

“The young mistress is asleep. I was worried about you, so I came out to check,” Xiao Jia explained.

The two girls continued talking as they approached the courtyard. The worn walls bore a faded sign with the characters for Qiu Tong Courtyard. With a creak, the gate opened, and the two stepped inside.

Once inside, Xiao Zhu changed into dry clothes, and Xiao Jia brought her a bowl of ginger tea.

“Ginger is running low. You should save it for our young mistress,” Xiao Zhu protested, pushing the bowl away.

“Drink it. Our young mistress’s health won’t suffer for the lack of one bowl of ginger tea,” Xiao Jia sighed. “The most important thing is for all of us to stay well. Otherwise, who will take care of her?”

Tears welled up in Xiao Jia’s eyes as she spoke.

Xiao Zhu fell silent. The two girls huddled together, sipping the tea. The cold, desolate courtyard seemed even more isolated now. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and a grey fog clung to the trees.

It was said that the Marquis of Dingning’s third daughter had been sick for many years, and no doctor could find the cause. Many in the household believed it was an illness of the heart rather than the body. No medicine could cure her.