Chapter 299
First, they orchestrated a rescue, then came to propose marriage. It all seemed well-planned.
But what did Li Mao intend to do with Chun Xing?
Seeing Bai Qingyan deep in thought, Chun Xing kowtowed again. “The sixth young master of the Chief of Staff’s mansion likes this maid, and this maid likes the sixth young master too! There is absolutely no conspiracy here. I beg you, young lady, please grant my wish! If you allow it, Chun Xing will repay you even if it means working herself to the bone!”
Snapping back to reality, she looked down at Chun Xing, who was kneeling and bowing on the ground. She hadn’t expected Chun Xing to say… there is absolutely no conspiracy.
She had underestimated Chun Xing. Chun Xing was much smarter than she had thought and clearly understood the situation.
Since Chun Xing understood, so be it… Everyone chooses their own path and must bear the consequences.
She added, “Do you know that you have signed the indenture, so your parents have no right to arrange a marriage for you?”
Chun Xing’s body trembled as she looked nervously at the young lady. “Young… young lady!”
“You are my personal maid, not an ordinary one. Either I find a suitable match for you within the Bai Mansion, or if you offend the master, you’ll be sold off. Keeping you alive would be an act of mercy.”
“Young lady?” Chun Xing couldn’t grasp her meaning.
“Since you wish to become another family’s concubine, to avoid any future ugliness between us, I can only sell you off with an excuse. At that time, your mother can buy you back, and your marriage will have nothing to do with the Bai Mansion.”
Bai Qingyan looked calmly yet indifferently into Chun Xing’s eyes.
Chun Xing’s eyes widened in shock. But if that happened… she would no longer be the Princess of Zhen’s personal maid! And upon marriage… the young lady certainly wouldn’t prepare a dowry for her!
“Since you say the Chief of Staff’s mansion chose you as a concubine for their sixth young master purely because they like you, not because you’re my personal maid, and without any conspiracy, then even if you no longer hold that status, they will still want you.”
“But, young lady, if I am sold… I will be tainted!” Chun Xing quickly crawled two steps forward. “I beg you, young lady, have mercy!”
Bai Qingyan looked at Chun Xing, who had always appeared honest and unremarkably clever. She finally realized… Chun Xing understood everything. She was playing dumb.
“Chun Xing, you are a bonded maid. It is inappropriate for your parents to arrange a marriage for you! You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You want to climb high yet use your status as the Princess of Zhen’s personal maid to elevate yourself. You can’t have all the good things in the world! Although I have always treated my maids well, I can’t let a maid overstep her bounds. Do you understand?”
Chun Xing trembled, her throat tight, suddenly thinking of Chun Yan.
Talking about relationships, the bond between the young lady and Chun Yan was deeper than hers. Yet, when Chun Yan made a mistake… the young lady punished her until she died in prison. Therefore, Chun Xing had always been cautious and never did anything to displease the young lady.
This step over the line didn’t harm the young lady; it was just an attempt to retain some dignity for having served the young lady as her maid. Was that too much to ask?
Seeing Chun Xing remain silent, Bai Qingyan called out, “Nanny Tong…”
Chun Xing’s body trembled, and she lowered her head even more.
Nanny Tong responded and entered. “Young lady…”
“Since Chun Xing’s heart is elsewhere, I, the Princess of Zhen, will not force her to stay! Tonight, you will stay in the woodshed. I won’t trouble Nanny Tong to call a broker into the mansion, and your parents can buy you back tomorrow morning,” Bai Qingyan decisively concluded.
“Young lady! Young lady, please allow me to keep my dignity! Please, young lady, let me keep my dignity!” Chun Xing cried out.
“Dignity is earned, not given by others! You didn’t want the dignity of being a legitimate wife, but now you’re asking for the dignity of a maid?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was calm. “I will not divulge your mistake to the outside world, but I will declare that the Princess of Zhen’s mansion will never employ you or your relatives again. Take care of yourself.”
Chun Xing wanted to plead further, but Nanny Tong grabbed her arm and dragged her out.
She looked coldly at Chun Xing, who knelt, refusing to stand, crawling towards her while crying. “Young lady! Please, young lady, have mercy on me! Give me a way to live!”
“Chun Xing, your ambitions are high. You have feelings for the sixth young master of the Chief of Staff’s mansion and wish to become his concubine. I won’t stop you. But since you both are in love, I’m letting your parents take you out of the mansion… Yet, you’re unwilling to take the way out I’m offering? This proves… you clearly understand why the Chief of Staff’s mansion wants you as a concubine!”
Chun Xing’s legs weakened, looking at Bai Qingyan’s cold and indifferent eyes, her cries halted.
“I can’t tolerate disloyal people by my side. If you were truly unaware, I could excuse your ignorance. But if you intend to feign ignorance and use me to seek a better future, that’s not acceptable…”
“Young lady! Young lady, this maid did not! I beg you, young lady, spare this maid!”
Nanny Tong, using great strength, dragged Chun Xing by her underarms, pulling her out.
“Young lady! Please, spare this maid! Considering Chun Xing has served you for many years without overstepping…”
“If you continue to make a fuss and disturb my mother, I will call the broker into the mansion.”
Before Chun Xing could finish, Bai Qingyan sternly interrupted, showing no mercy.
Chun Xing immediately fell silent, large tears streaming down her face.
But Bai Qingyan felt even colder. Chun Xing… indeed a clever girl, but her cleverness made Bai Qingyan’s heart even more chilled.
She prided herself on treating her maids and servants with utmost kindness. Yet, she had raised servants like Chun Yan and Chun Xing.
Chun Yan was genuinely foolish and did foolish things, but at least her feelings for King Liang were sincere.
Chun Xing was truly clever but still did foolish things because she assumed everyone else was a fool; she eagerly wanted to climb the social ladder.
Chun Xing, as such a maid, was more hateful than Chun Yan and needed more vigilant guarding.
Sending Chun Xing to the woodshed tonight and letting her parents take her back tomorrow, while spreading word that the Princess of Zhen’s mansion would never employ Chun Xing again, or anyone related to her, would make others speculate that Chun Xing must have committed a grave error.
Even if the Chief of Staff’s mansion still wanted Chun Xing, a maid expelled for committing an offense, they could do nothing with her beyond using her to spy on others’ affairs.
Fortunately, Bai Qingyan had never fully trusted Chun Xing, usually keeping her out of significant matters.
The news of Chun Xing being locked in the woodshed quickly spread through the Duke’s mansion, with everyone speculating about the grave error Chun Xing had made.