Volume 1, Chapter 9: A Brawl Among the Maidservants

"Why are you all still standing there? Is Concubine Lu the one paying your wages? Don't forget, even though you are maids of the Marquis's estate, everything you eat and use is provided by the Young Mistress! Your indentures are also in her hands. If we are beaten to death here in Red Plum Court today, do you really think you can escape punishment?" Zizhu shouted loudly.

"The Young Mistress will surely sell you off or have you killed. Who told you to eat and drink at the Young Mistress's expense, yet refuse to stand by her side?" Lanzhu also screamed.

She had no choice; she felt that these maids and the old nurse were acting with genuine cruelty. If she didn't call for reinforcements, they would certainly be beaten to death.

After these words were shouted, the maids who had been merely watching the spectacle grew uneasy. After all, with their indentures held by someone else, their very lives were in others' hands. If something truly happened and the Young Mistress held them accountable, they would face dire consequences.

The maids hesitated for a moment before rushing forward to assist Zizhu and Lanzhu. In any case, they had to offend either Concubine Lu or the Young Mistress. Since they were doomed regardless, they might as well vent their frustrations first.

Nanny Feng and Lu Hongzhao’s personal maids had always acted with an air of superiority, relying on the favor of Concubine Lu to bully them frequently. Now, they had nothing left to lose. With this in mind, they began tearing at the hair of Lu Hongzhao’s maids and scratching Nanny Feng’s face.

With the addition of the smaller maids, the tide turned instantly. Nanny Feng and Lu Hongzhao’s head maids were pushed to the ground, their hair disheveled, clothes in disarray, and their faces marked with scratches, looking utterly wretched. They were shocked and furious, but under the siege of the crowd, they struggled to rise and retaliate.

"You base wretches, how dare you strike us! Do you have a death wish?"

"Ouch! You little vixen, I’ve marked you! Just you wait..."

Lu Hongzhao’s maids and the nurse cursed, but they could only struggle on the floor, watching helplessly as they were besieged by the very maids they used to bully. Seeing that the situation was favorable, Zizhu and Lanzhu joined the fray, targeting the most arrogant maids and finally venting their long-held anger.

Amidst this chaos, Lu Hongzhao turned pale with rage. She never imagined things would reach this point. Pointing at the maids, she shouted with a trembling voice, "Stop it, all of you! I am a concubine; how dare you hit my maids in front of me? Do you want to die?"

However, the maids paid her no mind. Zizhu shouted aloud, "Sisters, thank you all for your righteous help today. I will surely remember this kindness. Rest assured, once this is over, I will report to the Young Mistress and have you transferred out of Red Plum Court. Don't hold back now—keep hitting!"

The maids, hearing this, felt their morale soar and continued to press their advantage. Having already offended Concubine Lu, their only path to survival was to serve the Young Mistress and cling firmly to her side.

Lu Hongzhao trembled with fury on the sidelines. She had never imagined she would lose so much face in front of these servants. She screamed, "You lowly maids, how dare you treat me this way! One day, I will have you all cut to pieces!"

Her threats held no power now; the maids showed no intention of stopping. Only after Nanny Feng and the three head maids were beaten to the point of exhaustion did Zizhu and Lanzhu order the others to stop.

"Take Concubine Lu into the room. The Young Mistress said that since she is carrying the heir's child, she must take good care of her pregnancy. She is not to leave the room for these coming days, so as not to disturb the fetus!" Zizhu directed the maids to haul Lu Hongzhao inside while rubbing her own injured arm.

Lu Hongzhao struggled desperately, but being outnumbered, she was forcibly pushed into the room. "You dare treat me like this! I won't let you get away with it!" she continued to shriek from inside, her voice filled with rage.

Lanzhu sneered, "Concubine Lu, you had better rest well. It is not your place to command the affairs of the Marquis's estate."

Zizhu and Lanzhu then instructed the maids to keep a close watch on Concubine Lu and her entourage, forbidding them from stepping a single foot out of Red Plum Court without the Young Mistress's permission. Afterward, they returned to report, feeling uneasy. After all, Concubine Lu was the apple of the heir's eye; they didn't know if their actions would bring trouble to their mistress.

However, thinking of their mistress's formidable display earlier—even daring to strike the heir himself—they figured that merely beating the maids and the nurse from Concubine Lu’s courtyard should be fine, right?

...

Shi Qingqian took Hongzhu to the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion. Mo Yun, Mo Yu, and the estate manager, Steward Li, were talking outside the Prince’s bedroom. They fell silent as they saw Shi Qingqian approach.

"Young Mistress, the Old Madam told us you have a method to treat the Prince. Is it true?" Steward Li limped forward, bowed to Shi Qingqian, and asked.

In the original story, this Steward Li appeared to be an ordinary manager of the Prince's mansion, but his true identity was that of a deputy general who had retired from the Zhenbei Army due to injuries. Back in his prime, he had charged across the battlefield and earned great achievements, but a leg injury forced him to leave military life and take up the role of steward.

Using the rigorous discipline and brilliant strategy he had honed in the military, he managed the Prince's mansion flawlessly. Order was maintained within, and the servants performed their duties without lapse. The mansion's defenses were like an impregnable fortress; no movement escaped his notice, and no outsider with malicious intent could hope to breach his defenses.

Of course, those who gained entry from within were a different matter. Like her—Steward Li could rack his brains forever and never guess that the person who broke into the mansion would be a gentle and virtuous woman.

Shi Qingqian curtsied slightly to Steward Li and nodded gently. "Yes, I can treat the cold toxin. I am ninety percent certain!"

Steward Li looked at her with a hint of scrutiny. "Are you certain?"

"Steward Li, the Prince's illness is already critical. If my estimation is correct, he has at most three months to live. Trust me, and he has a chance; doubt me, and he is certain to die," Shi Qingqian said calmly. She wasn't worried about whether Steward Li believed her, because the Prince of Zhenbei had no other choice.

Steward Li pondered for a moment before saying, "Young Mistress, it is not that I do not trust you, but the Prince's safety is of paramount importance; I must be cautious. Since you are so confident, I will cooperate with you fully."

Although Steward Li harbored doubts about Shi Qingqian's abilities, everyone else had said the Prince's condition was beyond saving, so he had no choice but to trust her and take the gamble.

Shi Qingqian nodded slightly. "With your word, Steward Li, I am reassured. I will first examine the Prince's specific condition before making further plans."

Entering the Prince's bedroom, Shi Qingqian carefully observed Qin Mojue's complexion, his breathing, and the subtle reactions of his body before finally taking his pulse. After the examination, she had a more precise judgment.

"The cold toxin has penetrated the organs, causing blood stasis and blockages in the meridians, which is why the Prince remains comatose and his condition has worsened."

"Can it be cured?" Steward Li asked nervously.

"It can, but the treatment will take a year or more. The necessary medicinal herbs are also very expensive!"

Upon hearing this, Steward Li, Mo Yun, and Mo Yu were initially overjoyed, but then they all frowned.

"What is it?" Shi Qingqian asked, confused.

"The Young Mistress may not know, but the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion has no money!" Steward Li said, embarrassed.