Chapter 059: Naughty Girl, You’ve Got Some Nerve

The candle flickered uncertainly, casting a dim light across the modest room. Jin’er and Madam Lin sat at the table, reminiscing about the past. When Jin’er recounted her days as a poison slave, forced to test deadly toxins, Madam Lin was overcome with sorrow, unable to stem her tears. She grasped Jin’er’s left hand, hesitated, then untied the silk scarf around her wrist. Upon seeing the grotesque scars, she burst into anguished sobs.

“Princess... how many venomous creatures must have bitten you to leave so many wounds? Oh, how cruel...” Madam Lin wept as she tremblingly retied the scarf, her heart aching with unspeakable pain.

How she wished to bear these sufferings in Jin’er’s stead. Jin’er was barely ten, just a child—how could anyone be so ruthless?

“Madam, please don’t cry. I don’t hurt anymore; it’s all in the past,” Jin’er tried to comfort her, but emotion caught in her throat. She had suppressed her feelings until now, but suddenly the dam broke; her lips quivered, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

She had never spoken of those humiliations to anyone. Now, seeing Madam Lin so distressed, Jin’er felt a strange warmth—someone cared for her so deeply. Such tenderness was... happiness.

They embraced and wept together for a long while before slowly calming themselves.

“Princess, don’t be sad. It’s all over now. I believe you’ll have a good life from now on. You’re so beautiful—when you grow up, you’ll be a breathtaking beauty. Nobles and princes will be at your feet!” Madam Lin declared with certainty.

Jin’er forced a bitter smile. “What does it matter if I marry a noble? Even joining the imperial family—my mother was adored once, but her glory lasted only a few years before tragedy struck. Tying your fate to another is always precarious, especially in an age where men are expected to have many wives and their fickleness is taken for granted.” Her voice was laced with scorn and contempt.

Madam Lin was taken aback, understanding some but not all. “But it has always been this way. Women have always belonged to men; the head of the household is always a man.”

Jin’er tilted her head stubbornly. “Not me! I won’t stand for such indignities. I’d rather stay single all my life.”

Madam Lin chuckled, “Silly girl, who stays single forever? Girls are meant to marry when they grow up. What a strange idea you have!”

Jin’er laughed, “Alright, alright, you wouldn’t understand anyway. Let’s drop this topic—it’s late, we should sleep.”

Madam Lin smiled and made the bed for her, then prepared to help her undress, but Jin’er stopped her. “Madam—no, Aunt! I can do everything myself now. You don’t need to help me anymore. I’m no longer a princess. Please treat me as your own niece, won’t you?”

Madam Lin frowned thoughtfully, then smiled and nodded. “To have such a pretty and well-mannered niece is a blessing.”

“And to have such a wonderful aunt as you, Madam, is my blessing as well,” Jin’er replied.

The two exchanged smiles and settled into their beds. Madam Lin extinguished the lamp and lay down, her heart still restless. The princess had survived against all odds—truly a miracle. Perhaps Her Ladyship’s spirit in heaven could finally be at peace...

———————————————

The next day, Jin’er officially became a servant in the Liu household, assigned to the menial duties room.

Madam Lin was reluctant to let her go, but all the female attendants were already in place around the masters, so Jin’er had no choice but to accept a temporary hardship. Fortunately, the others treated her kindly, recognizing her as Madam Lin’s niece.

Jin’er, once a princess, had learned self-sufficiency during her time as a poison slave, so tasks like sweeping the courtyard, washing clothes, and hanging laundry were easy for her; she worked quickly and efficiently. Yet Madam Lin’s heart ached to see her so.

One day, as Jin’er was sweeping the courtyard, Liu Zhang suddenly appeared out of nowhere, leaping beside her with a loud shout. Jin’er jumped in fright, dropping her broom.

“Young Master, what are you doing?” Jin’er asked, hand pressed to her startled heart, a touch of irritation in her voice.

“Nothing, just saying hello,” Liu Zhang replied with a grin, his round eyes fixed on Jin’er, seemingly never tiring of the sight.

Jin’er pursed her lips and ignored him, picking up her broom to resume sweeping.

Seeing her indifference, Liu Zhang grew anxious.

“Hey, play with me. If you cheer me up, I’ll ask Mother to move you out of the menial room. How about it?” He raised his brows triumphantly.

Jin’er showed no excitement, not even glancing at him as she swept. “Thank you for your kindness, Young Master, but I rather like the menial room. I haven’t thought about leaving.”

“What? You like the menial room?” Liu Zhang exclaimed, as if facing an alien.

After a moment, he closed his gaping mouth and grabbed Jin’er’s hand, pulling her insistently. “I don’t care! You’re going to play with me, regardless!”

“Young Master, let go! If I don’t finish my tasks, I’ll be punished!” Jin’er struggled free, quickly jumping aside and eyeing him warily.

He looked clumsy and childlike, but was surprisingly persistent.

As she had this thought, his eyes widened and he lunged at her again.

“Ah!” Jin’er cried, hurrying away. He chased her, and soon they were playing cat and mouse around the courtyard.

Despite his plumpness, the “cat” had impressive stamina—he chased her until she was breathless and weak-kneed, yet she couldn’t shake him off.

Damn it, she didn’t want to be the mouse!

Finally, Jin’er could run no more. She wrapped her arms around a thin tree, panting, glaring at him. “Don’t... don’t chase me anymore. I can’t... I can’t run...”

Liu Zhang caught up, smiling smugly. “Hmph! Anything I set my sights on can’t escape my grasp!”

He was sweating and short of breath, but still less exhausted than Jin’er—he was used to wild games.

Catching Jin’er wasn’t difficult for him; his legs were longer for one thing. But he deliberately kept just behind her, chasing for the fun of it.

Liu Zhang stood there chuckling to himself, but Jin’er was in no mood for amusement. “Who are you calling your prize? You’re the prize yourself!”

Liu Zhang was jolted by her insult. “I’m not a prize!” he protested, then realized something was off.

“It’s rare for the Young Master to have such self-awareness,” Jin’er said, struggling to hide her laughter as she turned away.

“You—you—you’re insulting me in a roundabout way?” Liu Zhang sputtered, pointing at her.

“Please don’t wrong me, Young Master. I said nothing. Wasn’t it you who declared yourself not a prize?” Jin’er glanced at him, lips curving in a half-smile.

Liu Zhang’s round face reddened. He wanted to explain but couldn’t find the words, and was so flustered he grew tongue-tied.

Just as Jin’er was about to walk away, Liu Zhang stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

“Naughty girl, you’ve got guts. In this whole household, only you dare defy me. Have you considered the consequences? I’ll give you one more chance—come play with me by the pond. Will you go or not?” Liu Zhang threatened, fists clenched, glaring.

“Young Master, why not find someone else? I really can’t leave,” Jin’er replied, frowning, resigned.

Liu Zhang gritted his teeth, incredulous that she wouldn’t budge, and finally pulled out a delicate slingshot from his pocket. He picked up a small stone, aimed at Jin’er. “Will you go or not?!”

Jin’er rolled her eyes, exasperated by his persistence and stubbornness. Did he really have nothing better to do?

As Jin’er wrestled with how to respond, a soft chuckle sounded nearby.

“Usually, I see servants bullied by the Young Master until they’re running for their lives. This is the first time I’ve seen the Young Master so riled up by a servant, haha...”

Jin’er turned at the voice and saw a handsome, elegant man. He wore a blue robe, a bamboo flute at his waist, and held a folded white fan, tapping it idly against his palm.

“What’s it to you?” Liu Zhang snapped, though his bravado faded in his eyes.

“Boy, if you don’t go see your tutor soon, your father may resort to family discipline. I just came from him—he’s free now,” the man said calmly.

At this, Liu Zhang frowned and lowered his head, hesitating. His father was usually busy and paid him little mind, but if he was idle and caught him, there would be no mercy. Better to face the tutor now.

With this thought, Liu Zhang put away the slingshot, glared at the man in blue, and said to Jin’er, “Wait for me. I’ve got plenty of time!” With that, he turned and ran toward his study.

At last, Jin’er could breathe easy. She turned to thank the man in blue, but her gaze lingered on his face.

She stared at him, her brow furrowing deeper and deeper.