Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Promotion
Pei Ji’an said, "I have no impression, but Grandson finds Haitang to be a good girl. I wonder if Grandmother is willing to let her go?"
The sudden words made Qu Fulan lose control of her expression in an instant.
Choose her?
Why?
However, before she could figure out why, the old lady had already spoken.
"Why not? Haitang was originally my second choice for you, so if you find her suitable, it couldn’t be better."
Pei Ji’an took in Haitang’s astonished expression but still remained calm, saying, "Grandson thanks Grandmother." With that, he stood up and added, "It’s getting late. Grandmother should rest early, and Grandson takes his leave."
After Heir Pei left, Qu Fulan continued to massage the old lady’s shoulders. However, the old lady held her hand, instructing her to take good care of the Princely Heir in the future and dismissed her as well.
Qu Fulan tucked the quilt around the old lady, quietly exited, and closed the door behind her. Turning around, she saw Heir Pei’s tall figure standing in the courtyard.
Clearly waiting for her.
The man held one hand behind his back, slightly raising his head to watch the birds sleeping under the tree.
The caged birds were confined all day for people’s amusement, long accustomed to the human scent, and didn’t panic even when approached, thus showing no signs of waking.
Qu Fulan walked to his side and gently curtsied, "My lord."
"Earlier, I saw displeasure on your face. Are you unwilling to be my handmaid?" His voice was calm, standing with hands behind his back, not turning around.
Qu Fulan lowered her head, her tone humble, "The servant was just surprised, not displeased."
Only then did he turn around, looking directly at her.
"Is that so?"
Qu Fulan really didn’t understand why he would say that, so she could only reply, "Yes."
Heir Pei laughed softly and then took long strides, walking away.
Though he said nothing further, Qu Fulan knew she should follow.
Heir Pei’s Lixiang Courtyard was next to the old lady’s Fushou Hall, reachable through a small path by merely crossing a gate.
Seeing he had no intention of pausing, and with the gate almost in sight, Qu Fulan had to speak up, "My lord, should I move over tomorrow?"
"No need to trouble. It has already been arranged."
Not only were her things prepared, but even the place she would stay in Heir Pei’s courtyard was ready.
It was a single room, simply furnished, yet elegant rather than shabby.
This was the first independent room she had since coming to this world.
Even the old lady’s chief maids shared rooms, while she got one to herself.
No wonder so many competed to be Heir Pei’s maids; the treatment was indeed different.
Furthermore, by Pei Mansion’s rules, she had directly gone from a second-rank maid in the old lady’s courtyard to a first-rank maid before Heir Pei, a real promotion.
Purely from the standpoint of promotion, she was pleased.
But in truth, this sudden change had caught her off guard.
Without any sign, she had become Heir Pei’s maid with no preparation.
Her plan wasn’t like this.
Now that the plan was suddenly broken, she felt lost and uncertain, not knowing what path to take next.
Originally, she only needed to wait six months to become the old lady’s maid, then spend a year or two to accumulate sufficient deeds, and craft a very moving excuse to leave. The kind and generous old lady would surely agree to free her contract by then.
But now, how could she seek freedom from Heir Pei?
He wasn’t like the old lady, with a kind heart, a typical ’comply and you prosper, defy and you perish’ type.
That night, Qu Fulan was sleepless.
Similarly sleepless was Hai Yue.
When the housekeeper went to pack Haitang’s clothes, everyone knew clearly that Haitang had become the Heir’s personal maid and had moved overnight.
No one knew others’ thoughts, but Hai Yue felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, spreading suffocating discomfort throughout her body.
Despair, pain, jealousy, resentment—all kinds of emotions mixed in her heart.
For a moment, she almost wanted to rush to ask the old lady why she wasn’t chosen, what she did worse than Haitang?
Ask the old lady why she favored one over another?
She even wanted to recklessly recommend herself in front of the Heir, saying she was better than Haitang in every way, begging the Heir to choose her.
But in reality, all she could do was fantasize; how could she have such a right?
All night long, Hai Yue’s heart was filled with dissatisfaction and resentment, until dawn.
Qu Fulan awoke with panda eyes, shocking even herself in the mirror. Though she drifted into sleep late in the night, it was a restless slumber, which was the most exhausting kind.
After washing, she needed to greet Heir Pei.
Matters had reached this point, and one night of confusion was enough; she must replan her path based on the actual situation.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way; every cloud has a silver lining.
Arriving at Heir Pei’s chambers, she took a deep breath before raising her hand to knock.
She hadn’t served as a first-rank maid but had seen how Hua Hao and others attended to the old lady, with specific maids for clothing, face washing, and hairdressing—eight principal maids with clear duties.
Now, Heir Pei had only one maid, suggesting these tasks would fall to her.
It seemed less free than being a second-rank maid.
After knocking twice on the door, there was no response inside.
Heir Pei couldn’t be sleeping so soundly, right? Just as she was about to knock again, she heard a voice from behind.
"Miss Haitang, the Heir is already up. He’s practicing swordplay in the bamboo grove at the back and said to find him there when you’re up."
The speaker was the housekeeper of Lixiang Courtyard.
Qu Fulan hurriedly thanked her and went towards the back hill.
So it was she who woke up late, already derelict on the first day...
Climbing over the hill, a bamboo forest came into view. As the distance closed, she indeed heard the sound of sword practice inside.
Approaching, she saw a pavilion and stood underneath, waiting.
Today, Heir Pei wore a purple noble attire, graceful as jade. Whether sensing someone’s arrival or his practice time was up, he finished a neat sword move, tossing the sword aside casually.
Before Qu Fulan could be surprised, a guard suddenly appeared, caught the sword, and vanished.
Additionally, three more people appeared one after the other—one brought a basin, another placed a tea kettle in the pavilion, and the last wiped the stone table and chairs.
Heir Pei took a wet towel, wiped his face and hands, and tossed the towel back into the basin, with that person retreating.
The others also quietly retracted.
Watching these people who sprang out and disappeared gradually, Qu Fulan could only think of one phrase: well-trained.
Pei Ji’an walked into the pavilion, gesturing for her to sit, "Sit."
With that, he arranged his robes and sat down first.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Qu Fulan sat down as well.
She thought he asked her there to make tea, yet before she could act, he had already taken up the tea kettle to brew tea himself.
As Qu Fulan watched in bewilderment, he spoke.
"Do you know why I chose you as my maid?" he asked.