People, can't you live your life properly? You must rely on your status to act recklessly, drag others down, and ruin another woman's life forever.
If a woman like that didn't belong to the Pei Family, Qu Fulan could have poisoned her directly.
Returning to the small courtyard, Hai Xia came up directly: "Sister Haitang, how is the Second Miss doing? Mrs. Pei asked you to look after her, is she all right?"
Qu Fulan adequately showed a guilty expression: "My medical skills are not sufficient; I couldn't diagnose her symptoms."
Upon hearing this, Hai Chun sneered: "Just a mere maid, truly thinks she's a doctor!"
Ever since the first refusal to switch beds, and later realizing Haitang was her biggest rival, Hai Chun had been utterly unhappy with Haitang.
But her sister advised her not to provoke Haitang, saying she's currently favored by Mrs. Pei. Hai Chun wouldn't listen to her sister, always feeling gratified by mocking Haitang every now and then.
However, Haitang never paid attention to her, treating her like air. Instead, it was Hai Xia who clashed with her sharply. True to form, as soon as she finished speaking, Hai Xia retorted.
Hai Xia: "Did we talk to you? No! So, please shut up. If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute! You're not a maid; you're a pig?"
Hai Chun's face turned ugly from the rebuke, she was about to say something, but recalled her sister's repeated warnings and immediately turned away.
Just wait and see, although Yueyuan sister does not favor her now, her sister has a way, soon she'll become a second-tier maid, and then she'll deal with these two girls!
On the other side, Hai Xia started to comfort: "Sister Haitang, don't feel guilty. Even the mansion's doctors couldn't diagnose, so there's no need for you to blame yourself."
Qu Fulan: "Mm."
That evening, Qu Fulan lay in bed pondering a question.
The novel is limited, life is unlimited, regarding the plot; she can refer to it but must not overly rely on it. Adaptability is key.
Fortunately, Heaven bestowed her a space, helping her a great deal; otherwise, in this ancient society that chews people up, she, being a lowly slave, could be crushed like an ant with just a pinch of someone's fingers.
Though the space is great, it doesn't make her omnipotent. She still needs to find ways to rid herself of this slave status.
Regarding this, Qu Fulan had thoroughly analyzed the original plot.
Mrs. Pei is a kind person. If she could accumulate certain virtues, seeking Mrs. Pei's consent for a release might very well be agreed upon.
The precondition is she must become a close maid to Mrs. Pei to grasp the opportunity to earn more merits.
As for why she didn't rely on the male protagonist Xiao Shiqing to escape slavery despite transforming into the female lead, there are reasons. In the book, the original female lead relied on the male lead to do so, but the outcome...
Qu Fulan did not wish to repeat others' lives; she wanted to plan her own life.
The next day.
Hai Xia, as usual, went out and returned bringing the latest news from the mansion.
"It's said the Second Miss was tormented all night yesterday, and screams of collapse filled the entire third chamber until morning, only then did it quiet down, allowing the Second Miss to finally fall asleep."
Since the tormented wasn't someone from their family, Hai Xia spoke with a somewhat spectator mindset regarding others' affairs.
Everything was within anticipation, yet Qu Fulan showed an expression mingled with surprise and slight sympathy: "What a pity."
Hai Xia: "Isn't it? It's said she scratched her own face, uncertain if it would leave scars. Tut-tut-tut, what a karmic retribution it must be."
After last night's events fermented overnight, with so many people in the Pei Mansion, many must have been aware of what happened. Hence, Hai Xia could gather the information so thoroughly.
The doctor also said the Second Miss's symptoms were bizarre, making treatment impossible, and even he wasn't sure when the rashes would vanish.
But the doctor also mentioned, unless there were herbs from the snowy mountains at the borderlands, as recorded in medical books, such herbs could cure many stubborn ailments and wounds from arrows and knives. Border soldiers have been saved many times by these snowy mountain herbs, heavily relying upon them.
Yet these snowy mountain herbs are hard to find, not something to have on demand.
Now, it seems fortune alone can decide the Second Miss's fate.
After learning the result, Yueyuan and Hua Hao initially stunned, felt a retributive catharsis pass through their hearts.
"Maybe it's the karma from her past deeds now befalling her." Yueyuan sneered coldly.
Hua Hao remained silent, her expression also somewhat pleased.
Back then, before the Second Miss was married and learned household management from the Second Madam, she sought connections for her father in official circles, sending a maid who had just reached marriageable age and was betrothed to her father's colleagues to become a concubine, leading to the maid's tragic death within a year.
From then on, they realized that a servant's fate, good or bad, wholly depended on the master's whim, even though they are now Mrs. Pei's senior maids and treated fairly, they wouldn't dare act arrogantly.
Now witnessing another similar fate narrowly avoided, their innermost disdain couldn't help but surface, although they are helpless.
At least this time, Heaven had eyes to prevent another tragedy.
Other maids may aim to climb into the master's bed and switch places, but that's their affair. They only know they'd rather be a poor man's wife than a rich man's concubine.
...
Days passed by, and soon Hai Xing's day to leave the mansion arrived.
The Pei Mansion has an unwritten rule that maids preparing to wed can ask for a favor from their master.
As long as the request isn't excessive, masters will fulfill it amid the joyful occasion.
Hai Xing had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Her family's situation wasn't good; an elder brother hasn't married yet and a younger brother still needs support, her family needs her contributions to survive.
Now that she's leaving for marriage, her family will lack this aid, bringing hardships. When she joins her husband's family, she'd be burdened, unable to hold her head high.
Only if her sister took her place could her home situation maintain, and she could appear dignified at her husband's house.
Hai Chun had long been aware of her sister's plan, so she had been enduring Hai Xia and Haitang for all these days, waiting for today; her good days would arrive, while at the same time, theirs would end.
Hai Xing knelt solemnly to kowtow to Mrs. Pei: "Thanks to Mrs. Pei's generosity, this servant has enjoyed dignity in the mansion for years, yet hasn't repaid Mrs. Pei's kindness. Now about to leave the mansion for marriage, my heart is guilty, therefore hoping for my sister Hai Chun to fulfill my unfinished wishes; I wish for Mrs. Pei's approval."
At this moment, several senior maids stood next to Mrs. Pei, including Haitang. Yueyuan sister instructed her to come over, saying things would be arranged after Hai Xing left and once she kowtows to Mrs. Pei.
Unexpectedly, Hai Xing did such a thing.
Yueyuan's face changed.