Chapter 18: Standing on the Same Boat

At this moment, Su Yue was truly afraid. She obediently served by Dan Tai Jing’s side, carefully grinding something. Madam Xu stood nearby with a stern expression, while Su Xin had already gone down to the corridor.

Su Yue knew that Su Xin had gone to keep watch over others, ensuring that nothing spoken in this main room would be leaked outside.

Since it was summer, the sun had already risen by this time. Su Yue felt sweat pooling in her palms. To be honest, she had never taken the Third Miss seriously before, but for the first time, she found her truly terrifying. Those eyes seemed capable of piercing through one’s very thoughts.

Back when Ye Shi was still a concubine, Su Yue had looked up to the Third Miss. She had a loving mother and had always lived smoothly, often with a gentle smile on her face. But ever since Lady Dong’s death, Ye Shi was promoted, and Su Yue was sent over by Ye Shi herself, she no longer respected the Third Miss. After all, she was just a child, like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.

Su Yue thought the Third Miss, Dan Tai Jing, was foolish. Did she really believe Ye Shi would treat her well? What a joke!

Ye Shi had been treated almost like a servant when serving Lady Dong, so she bore a grudge. When the Fifth and Sixth Misses were regarded as inferior, they hated the Third Miss bitterly.

When Ye Shi, the Fifth Miss, and the Sixth Miss rose in status, the Third Miss’s good days were over.

In Su Yue’s eyes, if the Third Miss had some self-awareness, kept a low profile, and tried to curry favor with Ye Shi, perhaps her life would be easier. But the Third Miss never managed to do either.

At the academy, the Third Miss always stood out alone. Even the Sixth Miss’s schemes couldn’t surpass her, which only deepened Ye Shi and the two ladies’ resentment.

Yet the Third Miss remained oblivious. Despite the Fifth Miss pushing her into the water, she never clarified the situation and acted mute. What kindness was that? If it were her, she would have gone all out, causing a ruckus with Ye Shi and the Fifth Miss. After all, she was already in this state; what did she have to lose?

As Su Yue pondered this, Dan Tai Jing had already begun to write on the pristine rice paper. Su Yue, illiterate, stared eagerly at Madam Xu.

“The Third Miss believes you are telling the truth,” Madam Xu said, and Su Yue exhaled deeply in relief.

But before she could finish that breath, Madam Xu added, “The Third Miss wants to know what exactly you reported to Madam at the time.”

Sweat returned, sticky and clammy in Su Yue’s palms. She lifted her head slightly and saw the Third Miss casually stroking the orchid embroidery on her sleeve. Su Yue lowered her head again. This was clearly an unspoken ultimatum.

Her heart pounded like a drum. She had no way out. The master had taken her body that day, but the next day, he left with the Third Miss to the Great Buddha Temple and disappeared frequently afterward. Even Ye Shi couldn’t find him. Was she supposed to wait anxiously in the outer study? If so, she’d likely be beaten to death by Ye Shi before she even arrived!

Madam Xu seemed to see through Su Yue’s thoughts. With a sincere tone, she said, “I know what you’re thinking. But let me tell you, anyone who tries to stand on two boats ends up falling into the lake—none escape unscathed. It’s better to stay on one boat and survive.”

“You know what kind of person the Third Miss is, and what Madam is like too. The Third Miss is giving you a chance. Think carefully. If you refuse to speak, fine—I’ll take you to Madam’s Pure Serenity Chamber. From then on, whether you live or die has nothing to do with Pear Blossom Courtyard.”

Madam Xu was blunt, cutting off Su Yue’s escape. If Su Yue didn’t want to die now, she’d know which path to take.

Gritting her teeth, Su Yue finally knelt and, once brought before Dan Tai Jing, clearly recounted every task she had done for Ye Shi. Dan Tai Jing’s mind was as clear as a mirror. She only wanted to see if Su Yue would wholeheartedly stand with her. She didn’t expect loyalty from someone like Su Yue; they were always fair-weather friends, choosing sides based on self-interest.

Today, she was stronger than Ye Shi, so Su Yue would stand with her. But when her own position became precarious tomorrow, Su Yue would jump ship without hesitation.

Dan Tai Jing listened quietly as Su Yue finished, quickly jotting down a few words. Madam Xu immediately said, “The Third Miss says that as long as you obediently serve her in the future, she will help you become a concubine. But if you show even a hint of disloyalty, she won’t hesitate to expel you from the Dan Tai Mansion, no matter if you are the master’s attendant or not.”

Madam Xu looked at Su Yue with a warning in her eyes. “You know the Third Miss’s status is no longer ordinary. Even the master often mentions her. Whenever he returns to the mansion, he visits the Third Miss. If the Third Miss tells him you’re not diligent, do you think he’ll choose a mere maid over his own daughter?”

Su Yue immediately thought of the master’s current attitude. Ever since the Third Miss fell into the water, his treatment of her had changed. The valuable items once in the Third Miss’s room were returned by Lady Ye’s husband. The master frequently showed concern for Pear Blossom Courtyard’s affairs. Even yesterday, the Third Miss brought back fabric, which was not only for Madam and the two ladies but also for their errand maids. Now, everyone in the household seemed eager to serve in Pear Blossom Courtyard.

Su Yue’s eyes darted around, then she knelt and kowtowed, “I will obey the Third Miss. If the Third Miss says east, I will not go west. I will no longer report to Madam about the Third Miss’s affairs.”

Dan Tai Jing smiled faintly, wrote again, and seemed much more at ease. Madam Xu glanced at the writing and frowned slightly, unsure of the Third Miss’s intentions but still read the message aloud: “The Third Miss wants you to go to the Pure Serenity Chamber immediately and tell Madam exactly what happened at the academy and why the Third Miss returned early.”

Su Yue was stunned. She hadn’t paid attention to such matters. In her mind, the Third Miss’s injury was deserved—no need to analyze further. It had to be the Fifth Miss’s doing. But now she didn’t understand what exactly had happened at the academy, nor why the Third Miss insisted she report it to Ye Shi.

Dan Tai Jing put down her brush and sat down; the pain in her leg still lingered. Madam Xu took Su Yue away to have Su Xin explain clearly what had happened at the academy, then sent Su Yue to report back.

Madam Xu turned back and, seeing Dan Tai Jing, worriedly asked, “What is the Third Miss doing? If Ye Shi finds out about the Fifth Miss’s deeds at the academy, it might harm the Third Miss. And if the Third Miss insists that Su Yue tell the truth, isn’t she just harming herself?”

Dan Tai Jing smiled faintly and reassured Madam Xu, “Just watch and see.”