Chapter 100: Temporarily Residing Among the Elite

Qing Rou had long been plagued by illness, and within the princess’s residence, the medicine cabinet was stocked with more comprehensive remedies than even the largest apothecary in the capital, Jihuai Hall. After resting for a night, An Yi accompanied Qing Rou to finish breakfast, administered acupuncture, and then went to the pharmacy to prepare the medicine. Purple Yan followed closely behind, assisting her.

An Yi paid no mind to Princess Lanyi’s order to have two of her attendants watch over her. She knew they would not harm Qing Rou, so she was unafraid of their surveillance. Her true adversary was An Qinghe, and this time she would be far more cautious—she would not repeat past mistakes that led to heavy losses.

“Miss,” Fang Rong entered and glanced at Purple Yan. “Shan Gu and Lu Po are waiting outside the second gate; they wish to see you.”

Fang Rong was officially An Yi’s personal maid, which allowed her entry into the inner courtyard. Shan Gu and Lu Po, as the rough laborers who drove the carriage, were relegated to the servants’ quarters outside the second gate.

Though Shan Gu and the others had completed their mission of escorting An Yi to the capital, once she entered the princess’s residence, they understood the perilous nature of such noble households. Reluctant to leave An Yi alone, they had decided after discussion to have Fang Rong remain to protect her.

Shan Gu and Lu Po needed to return to Zhengzhou and naturally wanted to bid farewell to An Yi, but when Fang Rong arrived, they were stopped. While the other maids might not restrain them if they tried to force their way in, Shan Gu and Lu Po could not reveal their martial arts skills, so they patiently waited while Fang Rong sought An Yi’s permission.

An Yi opened the drawer containing zhishi fruit, saying, “Purple Yan, please bring them in.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Purple Yan’s eyes, but she bowed her head and replied softly, “Yes.”

An Yi took a handful of zhishi from the drawer, weighed out three qian on a copper scale.

Fang Rong watched Purple Yan enter and frowned slightly.

Purple Yan smiled courteously at Fang Rong and greeted her, “Sister Fang Rong.”

Fang Rong’s smirk was ambiguous; she held no fondness for the princess’s household. Though the nineteenth lady had kindly helped their county lord, the household treated her as if she were some thief.

Standing silently to the side, Purple Yan carefully noted the names of the herbs An Yi gathered.

Once all the medicine was prepared, Purple Yan returned with Shan Gu and Lu Po.

“You two, please leave. We have matters to discuss with our lady,” Lu Po said bluntly when the two maids did not leave on their own.

Purple Yan and Red Yan exchanged glances, then looked at An Yi, who lowered her eyelids slightly and ignored them. Gritting their teeth, they withdrew quietly. Officially, they were maids serving An Yi and could not openly spy, though their conduct was already quite blatant.

Shan Gu said, “Miss Nineteen, Lu Po and I plan to return to Zhengzhou tomorrow. Fang Rong will stay to serve you.”

“No need. Let Fang Rong return with you,” An Yi said. She had already imposed on three martial experts on the road, and that was more than enough.

“Miss, you cannot discard me. I wish to stay and serve you,” Fang Rong glanced toward Red Yan and Purple Yan outside the door. “Though I may be simple, you cannot have new maids and forget the old.”

An Yi was momentarily taken aback by Fang Rong’s unexpected humor. She was pleased; having a trusted companion in this unfamiliar capital was a blessing.

Fang Rong’s presence was a surprise to An Yi, who was confined within the princess’s residence and unable to go out. Fang Rong, responsible for gathering intelligence at their branch office, needed no prompting to discreetly inquire about news.

Though Fang Rong could not leave the residence, she quickly befriended the servants inside and collected a mix of useful and trivial gossip. In the evening, she recounted these tales to An Yi, who spent much time with Qing Rou.

Aside from the typical intrigues of concubines vying for favor in various households, the servants frequently discussed the “Ten Young Masters of the Capital.” These ten young men were authoritative figures, ranked by lineage, character, talent, and appearance, ranging in age from sixteen to twenty. All were unmarried royal or official scions; once betrothed or married, they would be replaced by others selected by the elites. Corresponding to them were the “Ten Beauties of the Capital,” young women equally distinguished in family background, virtue, talent, and beauty. This tradition dated back to the previous dynasty, inspiring many romantic tales.

An Yi had little interest in the amorous affairs of these young nobles. Though she intended to use influence to bring down An Qingzhi, she did not plan to rely on her beauty to tempt these scions of nobility. Thus, she never asked which households these young men belonged to. She found the concubine rivalries more engaging.

Fang Rong did not elaborate, so An Yi remained unaware that among the Ten Young Masters, at least two were known to her, including her beloved elder brother, An Kang, also called the talented and handsome Young Master Boning by the servants.

On the eleventh day of the ninth lunar month was the sixtieth birthday celebration of the Dowager Marchioness of Dingyuan. Qing Ke and the Marchioness, childhood friends, brought their wives and daughters to the banquet. An Yi, relieved of accompanying Qing Rou, stole a rare moment of leisure.

In the backyard of the Qiushuang Studio grew banana and parasol trees. An Yi reclined on a shaded chaise, enjoying a gentle breeze. Fang Rong sat nearby, deftly peeling a pear with a small knife, then handed it to An Yi. “Miss, have some pear to quench your thirst.”

An Yi opened her eyes, accepted the pear, and bit into it. The produce within the princess’s residence was indeed superior—sweet and juicy. After finishing, she took the wet cloth Fang Rong offered to wipe her lips and hands, then smiled and asked, “Why aren’t you off listening to gossip today?”

“I must serve you, Miss,” Fang Rong replied with a smile.

“With Red Yan and Purple Yan here, you needn’t fuss over me,” An Yi said. Though she had not officially taken Red Yan and Purple Yan into her service, the beauty recipes and skincare formulas she had shared had earned their genuine affection. When Fang Rong tended to her, she no longer watched her so closely.

“Miss, I am your true maid. They are not. They serve the princess’s household.”

“While we remain here, they serve you. Once we leave, it will be your task alone. You should enjoy this lightness while you can.”

“Knowing you care for me, Miss, I will go play now and let Red Yan come attend you,” Fang Rong said, grabbing a pear without peeling it, nibbling as she walked away.

An Yi watched her leave and closed her eyes again, pondering. She had been in the capital for half a month, gathering snippets of gossip from various households, yet never heard Fang Rong mention anything about the General An Qinghe’s family.

Could it be that An Qinghe’s roots were too shallow, the princess’s household disdainful of any association, leaving the servants unaware or unwilling to speak? Or perhaps Fang Rong deemed the family unimportant? She resolved to ask Fang Rong about it when she returned. That An Qinghe, who had taken a new wife and now leveraged her family’s influence to rise swiftly, was surely prospering.

Before Fang Rong returned, Qing Rou came back, furious, shouting from afar, “Sister Luo, where are you? Come out quickly!”

An Yi opened her eyes and rose to meet the hurrying Qing Rou. “What’s wrong? Has someone wronged you?”

“You did,” Qing Rou stamped her foot in indignation.

“Me?” An Yi was puzzled. They had met peacefully that morning. Why the sudden accusation? “When did I harm you?”

“I lost at backgammon,” Qing Rou pouted, clutching An Yi’s sleeve. “I beat you every time we played. Tell the truth—did you let me win because I am the county lord?”

An Yi chuckled, “I didn’t hold back. I’m new to backgammon; losing to you is normal. Today’s loss means you met real experts. Who were they?”

“Senior Min, Li Ying, Zhang Miao, the Wu sisters, the Zhou sisters...” Qing Rou counted off names, “They often play backgammon and pitch-pot at gatherings.”

“If they play often, they’ll naturally be better. Play with them more, and you’ll surely win someday.”

Qing Rou smiled brightly and nodded vigorously. “I never went out before; that’s why I lost. Thanks to Sister Luo curing my illness, I can go out now. Thank you.”

“My success owes to your courage and endurance,” An Yi said softly, watching Qing Rou’s face grow plumper.

Because of her chronic nausea, Qing Rou was scorned by other noble girls and kept at a distance even by her royal cousins. She rarely left her room and made few friends.

Though cold by nature, An Yi had taken pains to coax and encourage the pampered Qing Rou to cooperate with treatment. After a few days, Qing Rou regarded An Yi as a close confidante, abandoning formal address to call her Sister Luo.

Princess Lanyi, seeing Qing Rou’s health improve thanks to An Yi, tacitly allowed the familiarity.

“The Qing family descends from warriors—blood, not tears. This suffering is nothing,” Qing Rou declared proudly.

After some idle chat, An Yi escorted Qing Rou back to the Jingyi Courtyard, played a game of backgammon with her, and after dinner returned to Qiushuang Studio.

Fang Rong had already returned and was drying An Yi’s hair after her bath.

“Did you hear any interesting news today?” An Yi casually asked.

“They were gossiping again about the Ten Young Masters and Ten Beauties, but you don’t like that, and you fell asleep after a few words,” Fang Rong replied.

“Those young lords and ladies rely on their family’s name to flaunt themselves. Many flattering tales are likely fabrications by their admirers. I prefer stories about those who build their achievements through their own efforts,” An Yi said, lowering her eyelashes, which trembled slightly.

If she could, she would avoid hearing about An Qinghe altogether—that cruel man, no different from the shameless one from her past life, disgusted her. But vengeance for her mother and brother was inevitable. She had to wear a mask and play along.

Fang Rong said nothing, pondering An Yi’s words. Both master and maid were lost in thought as the candle flickered softly. Footsteps approached, and Red Yan entered carrying a tray.

“Miss, here is your supper,” Red Yan smiled.

“What is it?” An Yi asked.

“Rock sugar bird’s nest soup,” Red Yan placed the tray on the table and handed the bowl to An Yi.

An Yi barely frowned. She disliked eating before bed but knew Princess Lanyi had insisted the kitchen prepare night suppers for Qing Rou, who never forgot her friend.

An Yi sipped twice, then set the bowl down.

“Who gets the reward tonight, Miss?” Red Yan asked expectantly. Bird’s nest soup was prized for nourishing yin, moistening dryness, boosting qi, harmonizing the middle, and beautifying the skin—the last the greatest allure to women.

Knowing that bestowing treats was an honor for the maids, after days of testing their obedience, An Yi no longer minded their drinking from her bowl. She smiled lightly, “Since you brought it, you shall have it.”

“Thank you, Miss,” Red Yan happily drank the soup.

While drinking, Red Yan shared news: “Miss, my eldest master returns tomorrow.”

An Yi had learned from Fang Rong’s gossip that this eldest master was among the Ten Young Masters and the most sought-after by Zhuang Manru, the third daughter of the Minister of Personnel, who admired him deeply.

The next afternoon, the eagerly awaited eldest master returned home. After greeting his parents, he carried small gifts purchased on the street to visit his cherished sister, Qing Rou.

Qing Rou had just awakened from a nap, about to drink her ginseng stomach tonic, when Qing Xi arrived. She leapt up joyfully, running toward him, “Brother!”

“Careful, don’t fall,” Qing Xi steadied her and helped her sit on the bed. Seeing her rosy complexion, no longer the gaunt and sallow figure from three months ago, he felt relieved and surprised. Noticing the soup on the table, he asked, “What is this?”

“Ginseng stomach tonic, Sister Luo prescribed it,” Qing Rou said, downing the bowl in one gulp.

“Bring the rinsing pot,” Qing Xi knew she often vomited after eating.

“No need, Brother. I’m cured and don’t vomit anymore,” Qing Rou smiled sweetly.

“Which famous doctor healed you?” Qing Xi asked eagerly.

“Sister Luo healed me,” Qing Rou’s eyes shone.

Qing Xi’s expression remained unchanged, suspicion flickering in his gaze. The woman called Sister Luo was young and female—could her skill surpass that of the Imperial Medical Bureau’s doctors? He did not believe it; something was amiss.

Qing Rou snatched the small bamboo box from his hand, opening it to reveal several tiny clay figurines. “Such cute little dolls!”

“Do you like them?” Qing Xi smiled indulgently, pleased by her delight. His efforts in choosing these gifts had not been wasted.

“I do!” Qing Rou nodded vigorously, holding up a plump figure in a red jacket and skirt. “Brother, may I give this to Sister Luo?”

“If Brother gives it to you, it’s yours to give to whomever you wish,” Qing Xi said with a gleam in his eye. He planned to meet this Sister Luo to see who she truly was—someone who had won over his sister enough for her to part with her favorite doll.

“Gan Cao, deliver this doll to Sister Luo,” Qing Rou ordered.

Gan Cao accepted the doll and left.

“Sister, I have some matters to attend. I’ll join you for dinner later,” Qing Xi said.

“Go ahead, Brother,” Qing Rou agreed simply, trusting him without suspicion.

Qing Xi hurried after Gan Cao. “Who is this Sister Luo? Why is she here? How long has she stayed?”

“Miss Luo is the princess and county lord’s physician, met on the road half a month ago,” Gan Cao answered honestly.

Qing Xi frowned deeply. “What has she done these past days? Whom has she contacted?”

“Miss Luo needles the county lord daily, chats and plays backgammon and pitch-pot with her. She hasn’t gone out or leaked news. The princess assigned Red Yan and Purple Yan to attend her. No abnormalities have been found. Miss Luo is skilled and kind; the county lord likes her very much,” Gan Cao said. Having been treated by An Yi’s medicine for recent pimples, she naturally spoke well of her.

Qing Xi narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing. This Miss Luo was no ordinary person to have tamed so many. “Where is she staying now?”

“At Qiushuang Studio.”

“Good. I’ll deliver this doll to your Sister Luo on behalf of Rou Rou. You return and serve the county lord well. Don’t speak about anything before her, understand?” Qing Xi said sternly.

“Yes, sir,” Gan Cao lowered her head, handing the doll to Qing Xi.

Clutching the doll and full of suspicion, Qing Xi went to Qiushuang Studio, but An Yi was not there—she had gone to the pharmacy. He hurried there but found no one.

A maid guarding the pharmacy said, “The princess just sent for Miss Luo.”

Qing Xi thought a moment and did not seek her at Lanyuan. With three days to stay at home, he had time.

Princess Lanyi, who had not menstruated for over a month and suspected pregnancy, had prepared to invite the imperial physician for confirmation. But after drinking ginseng chicken soup, she suffered severe abdominal pain and heavy bleeding like a broken dam, chills to her knees—she feared miscarriage.

Shaoyao, seeing the princess’s pale, near-fainting state, panicked and forgot to notify the prince consort, the young master, and the county lord, rushing instead to find An Yi directly.

An Yi took the princess’s pulse—deep, thin, and forceful—and thought to herself, “No miscarriage.”

“Not miscarriage? Then what is this bleeding?” Princess Lanyi pressed her abdomen, pale-faced.

“Not hemorrhaging either. You have had no menstruation for a month, causing blood to stagnate and block the passage. With medicine to clear it, the pain will cease,” An Yi explained simply, sitting to prepare a prescription. “Princess, I will fetch the medicine now.”

Princess Lanyi nodded slightly.

At this moment, Qing Ke, Qing Xi, and Qing Rou received the news and hurried over. Qing Xi arrived first, exchanging a brief glance with An Yi at the door.