Chapter 36 - ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 36
Not long after, the news reached Li Suwan’s ears, and she immediately felt dizzy, almost stumbling. She grasped Lady Li’s sleeve, her face pale, and said in disbelief, “Mother, you want your daughter to serve that Li Zhizhi as a maidservant?”
Lady Li also felt a pang of sympathy and replied, “That’s what the Taoist said.”
“Is there really no other way?!” Li Suwan screamed. She couldn’t bear the thought of bowing down to Li Zhizhi, her emotions running high. “I am the one born with the phoenix destiny, aren’t I? She should be the one serving me as a maidservant!”
Lady Li furrowed her brow and said, “Do you think I want this? But your father is determined to believe that Taoist. What can I do? If he insists on sending you back, what then?”
Upon hearing this, Li Suwan finally calmed down. Lady Li embraced her and comforted her, saying, “Don’t worry, it’s just a temporary measure. Outside the house, you’re still the esteemed Miss of the Li family. As for inside the house, no one dares to say anything. Your mother has given the order, and anyone who gossips will have their tongues cut out and sold.”
Li Suwan still felt wronged and cried, wiping her tears. She said, “Is this how my life will be from now on?”
Lady Li continued to soothe her, “Silly child, don’t get so worked up. Don’t forget, in a few days, you will come of age, and I have arranged for the Princess to crown you. She will personally preside over your coming-of-age ceremony. That’s a tremendous honor.”
Upon hearing this, Li Suwan stopped crying, and Lady Li wiped her tears with a handkerchief. She scolded gently, “You have accepted the Princess as your godmother. Your status will rise significantly. Li Zhizhi won’t even be worthy of carrying your shoes. In a couple of years, I will arrange a good marriage for you. If you truly marry into a prestigious family, then you will be a true phoenix.”
Li Suwan was moved by these words, and her eyes glowed with joy. Lady Li gently patted her hand and said, “My child is the real phoenix. Even though your father may be foolish, we still rely on him as our main support. In the future, we can only count on you and your wisdom. You must endure hardships and rise above them to become someone great.”
Li Suwan nodded emphatically and said, “Yes, Mother, I understand.”
…..
Shu Yue Pavillion.
The moonlight was pure and bright, casting its gentle glow all around. The window was half-open, and beneath it, there were gardenias arranged. The subtle fragrance wafted in with the night breeze. Li Zhizhi sat on a couch, with a needle and thread in her hand, embroidering.
Haitang entered carrying a wooden basin, and Yulan quickly directed her, saying, “Put it down over there.”
Haitang was puzzled and asked, “What’s going on? I’m here to help Miss Li wash her feet.”
Yulan giggled and said, “Someone else will take care of that for you. Just wait and see.”
Haitang, still not understanding, asked, “We have a new person in our courtyard?”
Yulan, with a mischievous smile, replied, “Yes, we have a new arrival, someone you’ve met before.”
As Haitang remained baffled, they heard faint footsteps outside. The person would take a few steps, then pause, hesitating, walking back and forth slowly, making everyone impatient.
Is this the new servant? She seems to be quite unfamiliar with the rules, Haitang thought to herself. So she decided to open the door, leaned out to take a look, and saw the newcomer’s face clearly. She exclaimed, “Miss Wan’er?”
Li Suwan was standing by the door, seemingly lost in thought. When Haitang shouted her name, it startled her, and she quickly snapped back to reality. She then gave her a stern look and said, “What are you shouting about?”
Haitang immediately fell silent and anxiously watched her. Just then, someone lightly tapped her shoulder, and when Haitang turned around, it was Li Zhizhi who had come out. She called out, “Young Miss, Miss Wan’er is here.”
“I know,” Li Zhizhi smiled, her eyes shining brightly. She said, “I’ve been waiting for you, sister. I thought you might not come tonight.”
Li Suwan glared at her with resentment, but Li Zhizhi acted as if she hadn’t noticed and casually assessed her. She expressed surprise, “Did you come alone, sister? I thought you might bring a few servants with you, after all…”
She tilted her head, her eyebrows curved like a crescent moon, and her lips curled up. Her voice floated lightly as she asked, “Do you know how to serve people, sister?”
Haitang finally reacted at this moment, letting out a soft gasp. She looked at Li Suwan in disbelief, then at Li Zhizhi, questioning if she had misunderstood.
Of course, Li Suwan couldn’t possibly bring anyone with her tonight. Having her own servants, who usually attended to her, watch her serve Li Zhizhi would be more embarrassing than just killing her! Just to make matters worse, two other maids were curiously staring at her, as if they were enjoying the show. Li Suwan felt extremely embarrassed and angrily scolded, “All of you, get out!”
Haitang shrunk her neck and whispered, “Miss, the old lady said the kitchen has prepared sweet soup for you. I’ll go check.”
Yulan had initially wanted to stay and watch the show but when she met Li Zhizhi’s gaze, she obediently retreated. Li Zhizhi was not worried about anything else, but Yulan and Haitang were, after all, servants. If they angered Li Suwan, she might hold a grudge and cause trouble for them in the future, which wouldn’t be good.
With only the two of them left, Li Zhizhi turned to Li Suwan with a gentle smile and said, “Sister Wan, please.”
If Li Suwan didn’t know how wicked her true nature was, she might have thought she was a well-behaved and sensible younger sister. She looked at the open door, bit her lip, and stepped into the room.
Shuyue Hall was very small, and the room looked quite narrow. It had almost nothing except for a white porcelain vase with a slender neck on the table, containing a few gardenia flowers. It was plain and simple, in stark contrast to her Purple Wisteria Garden. Li Suwan finally felt some comfort in her heart.
Li Zhizhi sat down at the edge of the bed, looked at her, and urged with a smile, “What are you still dawdling for? Sister Wan, it’s time for you to work.”
Li Suwan turned her head, full of unwillingness, and asked irritably, “What do you want me to do?”
Li Zhizhi raised her eyebrows slightly and, after pretending to think for a moment, said, “I’m getting ready for bed. Would you be so kind as to wash my feet for me, sister?”
Li Suwan’s face turned green in an instant, and she couldn’t believe it. “You want me to wash your feet? Li Zhizhi, you’re going too far!”
“Oh my,” Li Zhizhi said, appearing very puzzled. “How is that going too far? Does Sister Wan not wash her feet before going to bed every day?”
Li Suwan naturally had to wash her feet, and not only that, when she washed her feet, she had to be attended by two maids, one to rub her feet and the other to massage her legs. However, she never expected that Li Zhizhi would make her do such a humiliating thing. She thought at most she would assist her with changing clothes or combing her hair. She even considered using the opportunity to pull Li Zhizhi’s hair as a secret act of revenge, so she wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant again.
But now, she was being asked to wash her feet. How could Li Suwan possibly agree to that? She became so angry that her face turned red, and she angrily said, “Impossible! I’m going to tell my father and mother that you are deliberately trying to make things difficult for me!”
As she spoke, she turned to leave, but Li Zhizhi didn’t seem to be in a hurry at all. She just smiled and said, “Sister Wan’er, have you thought it through? If you dare to step out of this door today, don’t expect Princess Yongning to help you with your hairpin.”
This statement seemed to strike a nerve with Lisuwon. She suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at Lizhizhi with a mixture of shock and doubt. Lizhizhi leaned against the couch and said with a smile, “Sister, you don’t know yet, do you? The reason Princess Chang agreed to help you with the hairpin is because of me.”
“Impossible!” Lisuwon’s face showed astonishment, and she shook her head, saying, “My mother said she begged Princess Yongning for it. What does it have to do with you?”
Li Zhizhi smiled and said, “If you don’t believe me, you can go and ask your dear mother. See how she responds to you.”
Li Suwan suddenly remembered the drastic change in Mrs. Li’s attitude towards Li Zhizhi in recent days and said, “I will go and ask Mother.”
Li Zhizhi propped her chin with one hand, her smile softening her eyes, dimples appearing on her cheeks. She said, “Sister, don’t you understand? I told you, if you step out of this door today, your chances of becoming a lady-in-waiting will be ruined.”
She continued, pretending to be distressed as she furrowed her eyebrows and said, “I don’t want to do this to you, but…”
Li Suwan was so angry her hands were trembling, and she exclaimed, “Li Zhizhi, you’re deliberately making things difficult for me!”
Li Zhizhi suddenly burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling, resembling spring flowers. Although she was sitting, her posture exuded a carefree and contemptuous air, and she said lightly, “Now you realize it, huh? How do you define making things difficult? Sister, I’m just here to humiliate you.”