DBB – Chapter 8: Stewardship

Jinchao sat on the heated kang bed by the window, clad in her morning attire. She leaned against a large embroidered pillow, the soft cushion beneath her adorned with golden-threaded cloud and crane patterns. Before long, she heard the light patter of approaching footsteps.

She looked up and saw a head bowing low against the ground—hair tied in a simple twin-bun style, clean and unadorned. A steady and clear voice rang out, “This servant, Qingpu, greets Miss.”

In her childhood at the Ji family estate, Qingpu had always stood behind her. She had trained in martial arts, growing taller than most women, with surprising strength. If Jinchao wanted a bird’s nest from the treetops or a garland of fragrant locust blossoms, it was always Qingpu who scaled the branches with ease to fetch them for her. She had been a woman of few words—not the sharpest, perhaps—but unfailingly loyal and very good to her.

By now, Qingpu should be eighteen, well past the usual age for marriage.

Jinchao stepped off the kang and bent down to help her up. Qingpu was still the same as she remembered, but much thinner, her once-radiant face now sallow. Jinchao took her hand, causing Qingpu to stiffen in surprise. A mistress should not hold a servant’s hand—there were clear boundaries of rank and propriety.

Yet Jinchao did not let go. She traced the crisscrossing scars on Qingpu’s palm and asked, “How did this happen?”

Qingpu trembled slightly and murmured, “This servant was splitting firewood in the small kitchen—just a minor injury.”

Jinchao frowned. She had chopped firewood before—such wounds could not be from ordinary labor alone.

Her gaze sharpened. “Did Gu Lan mistreat you?”

Qingpu hesitated before answering, “Not exactly. It’s just that… since this servant has learned martial arts, Second Miss insisted I split the wood with my bare hands instead of using an axe. But I can manage it. Miss has a noble body, please don’t trouble yourself over my rough hands.”

Jinchao’s thoughts drifted back to their time at the Ji estate. She remembered Qingpu climbing trees to catch birds for her, getting caught by another maid and reported. Grandmother had punished her with two full days of kneeling outside in the cold. Jinchao had sneaked pastries—pine nut cakes, mung bean tarts, candied sesame crisps—stuffed in her sleeves to feed Qingpu. The girl had devoured them straight from her palm, not letting a single crumb go to waste.

A sudden ache gripped Jinchao’s heart. Her voice softened. “Do you resent me for casting you out?”

Qingpu shook her head with a faint smile. “Miss saved my life back then. This servant’s life belongs to you. Whatever you ask of me, I will do. How could I ever blame you?”

Yet Jinchao could not relax at these words. Though Qingpu remained Qingpu, the closeness of their past was gone. And truly, how could she not hold any resentment? Jinchao only hoped she would resent her a little less, so she could make amends over time.

After some thought, she said, “From now on, you will serve by my side again. Your wages will be set at a second-tier maid’s, but everything else will be according to first-tier status… Would you be willing?”

Qingpu immediately knelt and bowed deeply. “To serve Miss once more is this servant’s greatest joy!”

Her voice was firm, sincere. She had no family to return to—her father had been a gardener for the Ji family, a drunkard who beat her senseless when he was in his cups. One time, he had nearly killed her. Bruised and broken, she had been left for dead—until young Jinchao saved her with a single command. From that day on, Qingpu had pledged her unwavering loyalty.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Qingpu’s face before she leaned in slightly and whispered, “Miss, after spending a year in Cui Xuan Courtyard… this servant has seen things clearly. You must be wary of Second Miss.”

Jinchao, seeing the seriousness in her expression, only smiled. “I know. You’ve just returned—go and get some rest.”

No matter what, Qingpu’s loyalty to her was real.

Once Qingpu left, Jinchao sat quietly on the kang, contemplating the maids around her. To secure the outside, one must first secure the inside. If even her personal attendants were unreliable, how could she expect to navigate the greater struggles ahead? She needed to purge those who were disloyal.

Liuxiang was the first to go.

How could she not see it? The scalding hot water Liuxiang brought was enough to blister the skin—how could it possibly be for her washing? In broad daylight, the girl dared to act so brazenly. Meanwhile, Caifu had been bullied but did not dare to defend herself. How did I ever choose such a maid?

Liuxiang’s background needed investigating. Someone had to be sent to look into her origins.

Caifu, at least, was steady. With some training, she could be useful. Baiyun, on the other hand, lacked intelligence. The other two maids were still too young…

As she was sorting through these thoughts, Baiyun entered to announce that Tong Mama had arrived.

Jinchao’s spirits lifted. It must be regarding the household inventory. She was eager to know what possessions she truly had.

Tong Mama entered with a bright expression, wearing an extra gold hairpin today. She held a deep blue account ledger in her hands.

“…After a full day of work, everything has been recorded,” she reported.

Jinchao took the ledger and flipped through it, secretly stunned. She had known she owned many things, but not this much.

Antique paintings, porcelain wares, gold and silver ornaments—the sheer volume dazzled the eyes.

A full set of twelve golden “Five Blessings Longevity” hairpins, four silver headpieces inlaid with gemstones, seven pairs of jade bracelets, two boxes of yellow agate, five boxes of gold and silver floral hairpieces… Blue and white porcelain, red-glazed ceramics, cloisonné vases, white porcelain tea sets…

Item after item, the wealth added up. Her assets alone amounted to ten thousand taels of silver—equivalent to an entire year’s earnings for the Gu family.

Most of it came from the Ji family or from her grandmother’s monthly gifts. The Ji family was vast and prosperous—such things were trivial to them.

Tong Mama continued, “The New Year is approaching, and soon after, it will be Second Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony. Miss should prepare gifts for the occasion, as well as rewards for the household. This servant has set aside silver-engraved cloud brocades, a few gold-etched hairpins, and some fine inkstones—does Miss approve?”

Jinchao nodded absently. Indeed, the New Year meant social visits and gift exchanges. Moreover, she was already of marriageable age, yet no betrothal had been arranged. Her mother would certainly want her to mingle more with noble families.

Ji family, Yongyang Marquis’s household, the Song family in Sili Alley, and the Dingguo Duke’s family in Luoxian Alley… These visits would be unavoidable.

Tong Mama’s words reminded her of something else.

Her younger brother, Gu Jinrong, should be returning home soon.

Father had worried that raising him at home would spoil him. As the only son, he was overly doted on, so at eight years old, he had been sent to study in Qifang Alley, where two esteemed Hanlin scholars taught the sons of noble families. Even the heirs of the Zhenwei Marquis and the Dingguo Duke studied there.

Jinchao asked, “Since the New Year is near, when is Young Master returning?”

Tong Mama smiled. “In three to five days. Madam has already prepared a courtyard for him. This servant has set aside two fine inkstones—perhaps Miss can gift one to Young Master?”

Jinchao nodded. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

Yet she hesitated. A mere inkstone might not suit him. If he studied in Qifang Alley, he had likely seen countless fine ones.

She barely knew Gu Jinrong. They had lived apart for most of their lives.

She turned to Tong Mama. “Go ask Xu Mama. She raised Young Master—she will know his preferences.”

Then, lowering her voice, she added, “And find someone discreet to investigate Liuxiang’s background. Do not let word get out.”

Tong Mama started, but quickly bowed. “Understood, Miss. This servant will handle it carefully.”

Jinchao was satisfied. Tong Mama was competent—being Mother’s trusted servant, she deserved some trust in return.

But for Liuxiang’s origins… someone outside the inner courtyard might be better suited.

Liuxiang once mentioned a brother—a servant in the Yu household.

If she could find him, perhaps she could uncover the truth…