Chapter 953: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 953: A Match Made in Heaven, Abducted (2)
Hearing this, the maid was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and pleaded, "Miss, it was my fault! I won’t dare again. Please, Miss, don’t sell my family!"
Having served her mistress for years, no one knew better than her just how ruthless Fan Meijiao could be. When she was only eight years old, she had pushed a maid into the lotus pond and drowned her simply for displeasing her. After marrying her former husband, she had mercilessly kicked a concubine maid who was six months pregnant, causing her to miscarry, without even batting an eye. If she said she would sell her family to the mines, she absolutely meant it.
"Remember what you just said. If there’s a next time, I will have your entire family sold far, far away! Also, if those people are caught by the authorities and they drag you into it, you’d better not say anything that will bring trouble to me. Otherwise, no one will be able to save your family, not even your newborn nephew. Do you hear me?"
Seeing the maid trembling uncontrollably, Fan Meijiao's face flashed with satisfaction, her words laced with a heavy threat.
"Yes, yes, I will obey, Miss. If things go wrong, I will take full responsibility and never implicate you." The maid’s body trembled even more violently as she lowered her head to hide the resentment in her eyes, swearing an oath.
She didn’t care about her own life, but her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew were all slaves of the Zhao family. No matter what, she couldn't let her family suffer because of her.
Fan Meijiao was finally pleased. She glanced disdainfully at the maid kneeling before her and said, "Hmph, at least you know your place! Now go wait at the side gate. If there’s any definite news, come and report immediately."
"Yes, Miss, I’ll go right away!" The maid hurriedly responded, scrambling to her feet and bowing before quickly leaving.
Watching the maid's retreating figure, Fan Meijiao yawned, feeling sleepy. She decided to lie down and rest. She had to wake up early the next morning—she couldn’t afford to delay her trip to the temple, lest she anger the Buddha and risk losing her marriage proposal to the Mu family.
Thinking about the engagement ceremony, where she had caught a glimpse of that tall, handsome man through the screen, she blushed slightly, her eyes flashing with satisfaction.
Hmph, so what if she couldn’t become the wife of a top scholar? Marrying the second young master of the Mu family and becoming his second wife would only elevate her status. Let’s see who would dare look down on her then, calling her a lowly merchant’s daughter!
Meanwhile, Fan Meijiao’s personal maid quietly arrived at the side gate, where an old servant woman was dozing against the doorframe.
The maid walked up and shook the woman awake, snapping impatiently, "Miss gave you an order, and you’re here sleeping? If you mess things up, how will you explain yourself to Miss?"
The old woman was about to retort but immediately swallowed her anger when she saw that it was the head maid of her mistress. Smiling apologetically, she said, "This time of year makes people drowsy. I dozed off without realizing it. Please don’t be mad, miss!"
The maid didn’t actually have any issues with the old servant—her earlier words were just a passing remark. She had no intention of reporting her to Fan Meijiao for some petty gain, so she simply responded absentmindedly, "Just be careful. If the mistress sees you like this, no one will be able to save you."
"Yes, yes, you’re right, miss. Thank you for the advice!" The old woman was deeply grateful, secretly sighing in relief.
The maid gave a perfunctory nod, then cracked the side gate open slightly. Peering outside, she found the alley shrouded in darkness, completely devoid of people. Satisfied, she left the door slightly ajar and sat down on the nearby steps.
The old woman was talkative and, noticing the maid’s troubled expression, couldn’t resist asking with curiosity, "Miss, if you have something on your mind, you can tell me. Maybe I can give you some advice. After all, I’ve eaten a few decades more meals than you."
Hearing this, the maid forced a bitter smile but dared not say anything. She simply lowered her head and stared at the ground, lost in thought.
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