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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Space

As Haitang approached step by step.

The two maids swallowed nervously, instinctively retreating a few steps until they bumped into a chair and stopped.

"What are you doing rummaging through my bed, hmm?"

"N-nothing... we, we..." The maid suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "We saw that your bed was a bit messy, so we wanted to tidy it up for you!"

The other, taking her cue, immediately chimed in: "Yes, yes, we were tidying up your bed, now that it's done, we have to get busy!"

With that, the two of them slunk away.

Qu Fulan walked over to her bed without expression, straightening the disturbed bedding.

Trying to steal from her? Dream on.

Because she had a special space.

The only function of this space was to store things. The reward money from Yueyuan, others thought she put it in the cabinet, but that was just a diversion; she actually put the money in the space.

Though the space was good, it couldn't solve her current problem.

She had become a maid, and one sold under a death contract. If she didn't find a way to change her status, she'd be a slave for life.

As for how to change her status, by combining the plot with reality, she had a long-term plan in mind. But before implementing this plan, she needed an opportunity.

That day, she was tending the tea stove again. It wasn't supposed to be her shift today, but another sister was ill, and she was covering for her.

Hai Chun and Hai Xia returned from their outing. They were the ones who tried to steal Qu Fulan's money that day. Perhaps unsatisfied with not getting the money, they couldn't help but scorn her.

"Isn't today not her shift? Why is she still sitting here watching the tea stove? Is she trying to show off her diligence? Always showing off!"

"Exactly, when we all leave, leaving her alone in this room will be more fun."

Qu Fulan didn't mind the gossip of the two little maids.

In fact, they weren't wrong; to create her so-called opportunity, she really was showcasing her "diligence."

The two little maids only muttered a few words before wandering off again.

Who knows how long it took, but footsteps sounded outside the tea room.

Qu Fulan estimated that the time she was waiting for had come, but continued to fan the fire without looking up, saying to the person entering: "This pot of tea will be ready soon, please wait a moment."

After speaking, she didn't hear a response, so she "confusedly" looked up.

She saw Yueyuan standing at the door.

Qu Fulan hurried to stand and said, "Does Sister Yueyuan have any instructions?"

Seeing her anxious expression, Yueyuan guessed that the last incident had impacted her significantly and that this child was probably afraid of her by heart, so she smiled and said, "I heard that you started working before your injuries healed. Why are you in such a hurry? You should be resting in bed."

Qu Fulan replied honestly, "My injuries are fully healed. I can work without any problem."

Upon hearing this, Yueyuan found it amusing. She feared becoming useless and the mansion selling her off.

For servants, being sold to the Pei Mansion was considered lucky; otherwise, being sold to some brothels would ruin their lives.

"You don't need to be busy anymore. Put down your work and come with me to see the old lady."

Qu Fulan asked, "Why does the old lady want to see me?"

Yueyuan replied, "The old lady has her reasons for seeing you. She wouldn't call you without a purpose. Follow me."

Qu Fulan responded with an "oh" and added, "But about the tea stove..."

Yueyuan said, "You don't have to worry about it; someone else will come to manage it. Just follow me. Being summoned by the old lady is a great blessing not everyone gets."

To ensure there is always hot tea, there is more than one tea stove in the tea room. Ideally, at least two maids should be guarding it.

Currently, only Haitang was in the tea room, indicating someone was slacking off.

However, Haitang didn't complain about the other maids' laziness, which satisfied Yueyuan. Some things they could see for themselves, and it was up to them to decide, without unnecessary complaints.

Qu Fulan put down the fan, hurriedly tidied her clothes, and then followed Yueyuan.

Yueyuan noticed all of this and only felt this girl was honest and trustworthy, far better than those lazy ones.

Just outside the door, they ran into the two little maids, Hai Chun and Hai Xia, each holding a flower, with a few more worn in their hair, looking quite ridiculous.

Yueyuan's face immediately turned cold: "The mansion's flowers are allocated. Even the ladies have to follow the rules to get them. What are you two? How dare you pick flowers without permission?"

The two maids paled upon seeing Yueyuan. They were taught the rules upon entering the mansion and knew that one couldn't easily pluck any flower or grass, or else it would cause chaos.

The two maids assumed that since the emperor was far away, occasionally picking a few flowers wouldn't matter. They didn't expect to be caught by the senior maid.

They immediately knelt, begging for forgiveness.

"We, we are picking for the first time. Sister, please forgive us this once!"

Yueyuan sneered, "First time? Do you think I'm as easy to fool as you are?"

"It's really the first time, please forgive us just this once!"

Yueyuan called out, "Where is Mrs. Zhou?"

Mrs. Zhou, who managed the maids, stepped out: "What instructions does Miss Yueyuan have?"

In Pei Mansion, a first-class senior maid held a higher position than regular maids, even higher than ordinary young ladies, so they were also known as 'Deputy Miss.'

Thus, Mrs. Zhou addressing her as Miss was well within the rules.

Yueyuan said, "These two maids have been slacking off and forgot their tasks. Now they picked flowers without permission. Take them away, give them twenty slaps each, dock two months' salary, and send them to clean night pots."

Cleaning night pots was a dirty and tiring job usually done by the older maids, who had the strength to lift heavy loads. The mansion generated a lot of night soil to be disposed of daily, requiring significant effort.

Young maids were typically spared this task as they served in the master's quarters and could advance to second-class maids. Doing such tasks would taint their image in front of the master.

Only the maids who committed offenses were sent to the restroom, which was a truly arduous punishment.

Hai Chun and Hai Xia immediately panicked, continuously bowing and begging for mercy.

"Please forgive us this once, Sister. We won't dare next time, please have mercy! Please have mercy!"

But even with their foreheads bleeding from bowing, Yueyuan's eyebrows didn't twitch, and someone quickly stepped forward to hold the two maids down, delivering harsh slaps.

As Qu Fulan followed Yueyuan, she could still hear the pitiful cries of the maids being punished.

There was not a trace of sympathy in her eyes.

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