The Scheming Minister's Kitchen Maid

CHAPTER 2

5

　　

He Xu was a very difficult person to serve.

 

He was demanding and had a sharp tongue. He would resort to personal attacks at the slightest displeasure.

 

But for the sake of Big Brother Cui, I gritted my teeth and persevered.

 

After half a month, Big Brother Cui finally wrote back.

 

[Xin Xi, the neighbor's wife has run out of food, and my kerosene lamp is also out of oil. When will you send the money back?]

 

Seeing the letter, I was anxious.

 

It took me almost two months to get here, and I've been in the Mansion for another two months.

 

I've been eating well and dressing warmly, and I've even gained a bit of weight lately. But my Big Brother Cui...

 

The more I thought about it, the more upset I became. I remembered the steward saying that wages would be paid after three months of service, and it was still ten days away. I was so anxious that I started to cry.

 

Just then, He Xu happened to be taking a day off. When he wasn't attending Court, he liked to stay in the courtyard and train his eagle.

 

He and his eagle, staring at each other, would spend two or three hours just staring. Perhaps my crying was a bit loud, and He Xu heard me.

　　

“Did you cry because you're ugly?”

 

I looked up in a daze, suddenly remembering that the frame of He Xu's mirror was made of gold.

 

I was afraid it would rust, so I breathed on it and wiped it for half an hour.

 

He must have misunderstood…

　　……

I cried and unfolded the letter for him to see.

“Master, can I get some advance wages? Don't worry, I'll still work hard, it won't be for nothing…”

He Xu closed his eyes and rested, lazily saying.

“Your family is gone, what do you need wages for? Is the Mansion lacking food for you?”

That was indeed not the case.

He Xu's diet was exquisite, with ten dishes every meal, but he ate little, and basically all of it was given to me.

I briefly told him about Brother Cui's situation, and He Xu remained silent for a while after listening.

He seemed to think of something, chuckled softly, and said with a mischievous smile.

“Without some money, people really aren't willing to wait.”

Before I could understand the meaning behind his words, he instructed.

“Go, give twenty taels of silver to Tonghua Village, and send a few bags of white flour as well.”

I was deeply moved, tears welling up in my eyes.

“Master, you are different from what people say, you are truly a good person! I'll work like a horse and a cow to repay your kindness!”

He Xu clicked his tongue, clearly more interested in the rumors than my repayment.

“What do they say?”

I tilted my head and scratched my head.

“It's not nice, I won't tell you.”

“It's alright, this official has a broad mind, I'll take it as entertainment.”

I thought about it, they say a Prime Minister's stomach can hold a boat.

Although the Master is not a Prime Minister, he is such a high-ranking official, he shouldn't be petty.

So I poured out the rumors like beans.

“They say you are greedy, even worse than Zhou Baopi, even if a swallow flies over your door, you'll pluck two feathers to make a fan.”

　　

He Xu raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

“They also say you cheat and deceive, abusing your power to bully people. Whenever someone asks you for help, you open your mouth wide like a lion, as long as you get the money, you can turn black into white, and even change a death sentence to exile.”

He Xu smiled gently.

Seeing that he wasn't angry but rather happy, truly taking it as entertainment, I became even more excited.

“They also say those girls climb into your bed not because they like you, someone like you is impossible to be liked, they climb into your bed just hoping to marry in and squander your fortune, eat and drink from you, and enjoy a comfortable life for the rest of their lives!”

Hearing this, He Xu's brows furrowed high, he slowly opened his eyelids.

“It's fine to scold this official, but wanting to spend this official's money? Dream on.”

　　

I nodded in agreement, “Yes, dream on! They are not worthy of you!”

He Xu gave me a wry smile, and started walking out of the courtyard.

He had already stepped half his leg out of the yard, then turned back to look at me with a smile.

“Hei Zi, do you know why this official is paying you in advance?”

I said devoutly, “Because you are kind-hearted!”

“No, because you're ugly. Someone as ugly as you, without some money to attract attention, you'd really have a hard time getting married.”

Then, without looking back, he left.

I scratched my head, bewilderedly asking the shadow guard hiding in the tree.

“What did the Master mean, I don't understand?”

　　

The leaves rustled, and after a long while, a low voice came down.

“Hei Zi, the Master is petty, from now on, tell less of the truth.”

6

　　

He Xu really is petty.

Just because I told a few truths, he ignored me for half a month, preferring to throw away his food rather than give it to me.

He was already stingy with his words, and now he doesn't speak at all.

Even when I served his meals, he wouldn't say what he wanted to eat, instead whispering in Black Eagle's ear and letting Black Eagle point it out to me...

But I'm not angry, because the guard who went to deliver the silver to Brother Cui finally returned.

“Brother Sun, how is Brother Cui doing? Did the neighbor lady help take care of him?”

Guard Sun looked at me, touched his nose, and chuckled dryly.

“He's being taken care of… exceptionally well, Miss Hei, don't worry.”

　　

“That's great, Brother Sun, thank you! Master specifically requested beef jerky today, I made extra, you've worked hard guarding at night, take this jerky!”

Guard Sun took the jerky, his lips moved, looking like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

“What is it, Brother Sun? Is there something wrong with Brother Cui?”

“Miss Hei, working here... isn't easy, keep that silver for yourself. That Mr. Cui looks strong, no matter what kind of work he does, he can still support himself, right?”

I grinned at Guard Sun, “Brother Sun, you don't know, Brother Cui is a scholar, he can't do any manual labor. But I have the strength! I'll serve the Master well and earn more money, and when we save enough, when Brother Cui passes the Xiucai exam, our lives will be better.”

Guard Sun didn't say anything else and went inside to report.

When it was time for dinner that night, He Xu surprisingly gave me the leftover food again, and even said kindly.

“Hei Zi, eat more pig brains to nourish your brain, I'll have the kitchen make some tomorrow.”

The Master is friendly with me again, I'm happy, eating with grease all over my mouth.

“Okay, I understand, thank you, Master.”

7

　　

There were so many people who came to the mansion to give money that He Xu was annoyed.

“You go guard the courtyard door. For matters under five thousand gold, don't bother this official.”

I gasped in disbelief and looked at He Xu, who was lying in a rocking chair playing with the eagle.

“Five thousand gold?”

My goodness.

This world is truly unfair.

Some people struggle just to have enough to eat, while others line up to deliver five thousand gold and can't even be bothered to accept it.

As more people were rejected, they started to think of ways around it.

“Miss, here are five hundred taels, please keep it.”

　　

I looked blankly at the kindly woman in front of me, carefully pushing the silver back.

“Auntie, I don't need it, I have my monthly salary, I'm not changing jobs…”

The woman, upon hearing this, suddenly started to cry.

“Miss, please, if you think it's too little, here's more.

Please, say a good word for us in front of the Master. My unfilial son really didn't kill anyone, it was those lowly people who ganged up to extort him...

I'm begging you, saving a life is better than building seven pagodas, please, miss, please…”

The woman knelt on the ground, grabbing my pants and kowtowing repeatedly, not forgetting to stuff a stack of banknotes into my skirt.

I had never seen such a scene before, I was terrified, squatting on the ground with my legs spread apart, pulling the banknotes out from my crotch and stuffing them back into the woman's arms.

　　

“Auntie, I don't want it, I really don't want it. You should give this money to the people your son beat to death, maybe they won't sue your son…”

The woman, whose face had been full of kindness just moments ago, changed her expression, spitting and saying fiercely.

“Those lowly people don't deserve it, a bunch of ants, they dare to fight us, our Taiwei Mansion will play with them to the end!”

Her expression changed extremely quickly, the veins on her hands bulging.

Fearing she would turn against me and hit me, I grabbed the door frame and dashed into the mansion.

“Well, Auntie, the master should be eating soon, I have to go serve him, he can't do without me…”

As I ran towards the inner courtyard, the leaves on the trees rustled repeatedly.

As I approached the gatehouse, the shadow guard lowered his voice.

“Hei Zi, I knew you wouldn't take her money. You really didn't disappoint the master!”

I tilted my head to look up at the tree, realizing belatedly that the shadow guard had actually been watching me?

Seeing him about to leave, I jumped up and hugged the shadow guard's black boot to show my loyalty.

“Brother Shadow Guard, the master... was he afraid I'd quit, so he had you follow me?”

　　

“I won't, I'm wholeheartedly loyal to the master. He gave me my silver in advance, I'll be his ox and horse for the rest of my life…”

Five taels of silver a month! Where else can I find such a good job?

That woman offered a lot of money, but her emotions were unstable.

Mother said, I must work for someone with stable emotions.

Although the master's words are harsh, his emotions are very stable. I have never seen him lose his temper.

I can't let the master misunderstand. If I'm dismissed, Brother Cui will definitely scold me.

The shadow guard tried several times to pull me away, but couldn't budge, looking at me incredibly.

“Hei Zi, how are you so strong?”

I scratched my head, anxious to cry, “Brother Shadow Guard, you must tell the master, I truly only have eyes for him…”

　　

The shadow guard pulled his foot twice more, giving up, and threw down a piece of gauze, saying helplessly,

“Alright, put this on quickly, and go serve the master.”

8

　　

While serving He Xu his meal, I stared intensely at him.

Logically, with this kind of stare, even the village oxen would have kicked me by now.

But He Xu is incredibly thick-skinned; not only is he not embarrassed, but after taking a couple of bites, he raises his eyebrows and glances at me.

“What are you looking at? Even if you keep staring, you won't grow into this official's appearance.”

　　……

　　

I chuckled, and flatteringly tore a chicken leg for him, “I know, Master, you're the most handsome…”

He Xu didn't take the chicken leg, looking wary, “Whether this official is handsome or not has nothing to do with you. You're not allowed to climb into my bed!”

“No, no, that's not what I meant. I only have Brother Cui in my heart. I wanted to tell you that I won't change jobs.

Even if others offer more money, I will diligently serve you, and be your ox and horse.”

He Xu scoffed, “Who is so foolish to pay a high price to get you to change jobs?”

“Really! That woman today wanted to give me five hundred taels! But I didn't take it! I know I'm capable, strong, and the city's nobles like me.

But I'm not fickle. I only have you in my heart, I'm devoted to you until death!”

This is a line I heard from a playhouse while buying vegetables a few days ago.  

Even the lady who was singing was moved to tears, it must be touching.

He Xu's eyebrow twitched, and he continued to drink his soup.

“Hei Zi, use fewer words if you don't know how to use them properly. And, your gauze fell off, cover it properly!”

　

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