Chapter 62: Would You Like to Learn Martial Arts? I Can Teach You

The next morning, after Jin’er had washed and dressed, she headed to the servants’ quarters. She was just about to pick up a broom to sweep the courtyard when the steward stopped her.

“From today onward, you won’t be working here anymore. Go and serve the Eldest Miss instead,” the steward said with a faint smile.

The other maids nearby all turned to look at Jin’er in astonishment, their eyes full of envy and jealousy.

“Having someone backing you really is different. She’s already landed herself in a good spot...”

“Exactly...” The maids whispered among themselves, clearly reluctant to accept it.

Jin’er heard their words but paid them no mind. She only repeated in surprise, “Me? Go to the Eldest Miss?”

“Yes, the master gave the order last night. Hurry along; the Eldest Miss is waiting for you.”

“Oh, alright.” Jin’er nodded, turning away under their envious and jealous gazes.

The master gave the order last night? It must have been at the Eldest Miss’s request. Although the First Madam had passed away, the master doted on his eldest daughter. That was why, even after she had repeatedly scolded the Second Young Master, the Second Madam could do nothing about her.

But why would she want Jin’er transferred to her side?

Pondering this all the way, Jin’er couldn’t make sense of it. Unknowingly, she had arrived outside the Firefly Pavilion where the Eldest Miss resided.

“You’re Jin’er, right? The Eldest Miss is waiting for you inside. Go on in,” a maid at the gate said to her with a smile.

Jin’er returned a mild smile, then stepped inside without further hesitation.

The Firefly Pavilion was not large, but it was lush with flowers and greenery, with pavilions and water features all in their proper places. It was not lavish, but there was a quiet elegance in its simplicity.

As Jin’er walked in, she took in the surroundings, and before she knew it, she had reached the foot of the steps outside the main hall.

“You’re here?” A pleasant voice suddenly called out. Jin’er snapped back to her senses and turned to see the Eldest Miss standing atop the steps, idly playing with a soft whip in her hand, her expression half smiling.

“Jin’er pays her respects to the Eldest Miss,” Jin’er said, lowering her gaze in salute.

“Mm. From now on, you’ll stay by my side. Wherever I go, you’ll go. Understood?” Liu Ying smiled faintly at her.

Jin’er was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, “Yes, I understand.”

“Come, accompany me to practice martial arts.” With that, Liu Ying descended the steps, passing Jin’er by and heading outside. Jin’er hurried after her.

Liu Ying’s training ground was in a secluded corner of the Liu family’s back garden. At its center was a spacious platform like a ring, surrounded by racks of weapons, training dummies, and stone tables and stools for resting. Nearby were three small rooms: a rest area, a kitchen for boiling water and making tea, and a storeroom.

This place had been built specifically for Liu Ying by her father, clear evidence of his affection for his eldest daughter.

Jin’er went to the kitchen to boil water, brewed tea, and set it on the stone table, then stood by and watched Liu Ying practice on the platform. She began to imagine herself as nimble as a swallow, wielding a long whip with grace and strength, leaping and spinning through the air...

She was utterly unaware of the longing and admiration in her eyes, nor did she realize that her little thoughts had already been noticed by the Eldest Miss.

Liu Ying wiped the fine sweat from her brow and, seeing Jin’er gazing at her in a daze, couldn’t help but smile as she walked over.

It wasn’t until Liu Ying was nearly in front of her that Jin’er snapped out of her reverie and quickly poured a cup of hot tea for the Eldest Miss.

Liu Ying sat down on a stone stool, sipping her tea.

“Eldest Miss, do you always practice here alone?” Jin’er couldn’t help but ask, glancing at the spacious training ground.

“Yes. My father knows I love martial arts, so he had this place built for me,” Liu Ying replied with a happy glow in her eyes.

Jin’er nodded, a wave of loss rising in her heart. “It must be wonderful to have a father’s love,” she murmured.

Her voice was soft, but Liu Ying heard every word. She looked at Jin’er in puzzlement and saw her head lowered, a trace of melancholy on her face.

“Does your father not love you?” Liu Ying asked curiously.

Jin’er bit her lip and shook her head. “I have no father. But my mother loved me very much. She’s gone now, too.” As she spoke, Jin’er felt her nose sting, so she tilted her head back to force the tears away.

Liu Ying’s brows knitted together, realizing she’d asked a foolish question. If Jin’er had loving parents, how could she have ended up as a little maid here?

She walked over and placed a comforting hand on Jin’er’s shoulder, gently consoling her, “We’re actually not so different. I only have my father; my mother passed away long ago. I miss her very much...” Meant to offer comfort, Liu Ying found herself growing sad as she spoke.

Jin’er had nearly forced back her tears, but upon hearing those words, she could hold back no longer and began to weep.

“Hey, don’t cry.” Seeing Jin’er so heartbroken, Liu Ying panicked, trying to comfort her but not knowing what to say.

In the end, she simply sat down at the table, lay her head on her arms, and began to cry herself—louder and louder. For years she hadn’t cried from missing her mother, but seeing Jin’er’s tears made her heart ache unbearably.

Jin’er gradually calmed down, puzzled by Liu Ying’s heaving shoulders and even louder sobs. She couldn’t understand why the Eldest Miss was suddenly so distraught.

“Hey, stop crying,” Jin’er said, touching her shoulder. “I’ve stopped, so you can stop too.”

In that moment, Jin’er forgot her status and Liu Ying’s, thinking only that they were two friends bound by similar fates.

Liu Ying looked up, seeing Jin’er’s tear-filled eyes filled with compassion, and her heart trembled faintly. In all these years, aside from her father, she had never seen such a look from anyone else.

She sniffed, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and stood up, smiling at Jin’er. “Do you want to learn martial arts? I’ll teach you.”

Jin’er was startled, then quickly nodded with a happy smile.

Liu Ying laughed and took Jin’er’s small hand, leading her onto the training platform.

“I’ll teach you the basics first—the horse stance. Watch my movements closely...” Liu Ying demonstrated as she spoke, and Jin’er did her best to copy her, crouching down.

She had always admired others’ martial prowess, not realizing how hard it was to learn—harder even than studying medicine. Even the first step had her silently groaning.

“Hang in there. It’s tough at the start for everyone. But you’re better than I was—I could barely manage when I first started,” Liu Ying said with a smile of approval.

Jin’er’s legs trembled uncontrollably, her teeth clenched, too exhausted even to reply.

Persevere—no matter the pain and fatigue, she would persevere. Once she mastered martial arts, she wouldn’t be so easily bullied again!

After quite some time, Jin’er couldn’t bear it any longer. Her legs gave way, and she plopped down on the ground.

“Ow! My legs, my back...” Jin’er cried out, making a face that was irresistibly endearing.

Liu Ying couldn’t help but burst out laughing. It seemed that from now on, her martial practice would never be dull again.

After a while, Jin’er recovered her strength and struggled to her feet.

“Let’s keep going,” she said determinedly, raising her arms, bending her knees, and resuming the stance.

“Not bad. Here, I’ll practice with you.” Liu Ying smiled, moving beside her and crouching down as well.

The two of them practiced together, resting and training, until the morning quickly passed.

“That’s enough for now. Time for lunch, let’s stop here.”

Jin’er nodded and followed Liu Ying off the platform. Going down the steps, her legs gave out, and she nearly fell to her knees.

Liu Ying caught her in time. “Careful! No more practice today—you need to take it slowly, or you won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow.”

Jin’er replied a little reluctantly, then steadied herself and turned to Liu Ying, speaking earnestly: “Thank you, Eldest Miss, for teaching me martial arts. I’m truly grateful.”

Liu Ying found her seriousness a bit awkward, so she laughed and walked on. “No need for thanks. Even with my meager skills, I get to be a teacher, and that makes me happy enough. Besides, having someone to practice with makes it much more enjoyable.”

The truth was, though Liu Ying loved martial arts, she wasn’t fond of hardship. With her instructor coming only once every three days and no one to supervise her, she usually stopped as soon as she got tired. After all these years, she hadn’t progressed far.

Jin’er smiled quietly at her words and said nothing more, following her in silence.

Despite her misfortunes, she always seemed to encounter kindness—first Nangong Che, then Xiao Jiu, then Mo Yan, and now Liu Ying. Perhaps Heaven wasn’t so heartless after all.

“Come, sit and eat with me,” Liu Ying said, taking her seat at the table and turning to Jin’er.

“Me? Is that appropriate?” Though she felt much closer to Liu Ying after the morning, she was, after all, still just a maid.