Chapter 10: Misfortunes Come in Threes

Chapter 10: Misfortunes Never Come Alone

“She…” Gu Yu was about to sneer, but suddenly felt a sharp twist at her waist. She faltered mid-sentence and quickly changed the subject. “It’s pitch black outside. For the sake of the Spring Equinox, I’ll reluctantly help you this once.”

Gu Yu knew the one who had twisted her was Chunfen. Though she couldn’t quite grasp what Chunfen was thinking, she’d always been a woman of plans. The madam had once praised her for being calm and calculating—following her lead was surely the right choice.

“Both of you, I beg you…” Mu Jin clutched her collar in panic.

“Stop being so melodramatic,” Gu Yu snapped, yanking at Mu Jin’s waistband and twisting it hard. “Consider yourself lucky I’m even being polite.”

Mu Jin cried out in pain and hastily reached to cover herself with her outer garment.

While the two struggled, Chunfen had already changed into her own clothes and stepped forward to help.

Mu Jin, caught between the two, was utterly helpless and could only let them take control.

Once everything was arranged, Gu Yu and Chunfen flanked Mu Jin, helping her sit down on the rattan chair Chunfen had just vacated.

Gu Yu seemed unusually pleased, arranging Mu Jin into a semi-reclined posture and fussing over her skirt, showing no trace of earlier impatience.

Wearing those clothes, Mu Jin’s mind was in turmoil, as if needles pricked her back. She leaned against the chair, letting them arrange her but not daring to even glance at herself.

“Master Painter Chen, everything is ready,” Chunfen said with a bright smile, looking at Chen Huazhu.

Chen Huazhu’s body stiffened at the sight, his expression uneasy.

Gu Yu stepped forward and exchanged a smile with Chunfen. “Master Chen, this place is yours now. We’ll wait outside.”

“Wait,” Chunfen said thoughtfully, lighting a candle, then the two left together.

The wooden door closed again.

Inside the small storage room, the candle flickered, leaving only Mu Jin and Chen Huazhu.

Chen Huazhu set down his brush, picked up the candle, and approached the rattan chair. His gaze roamed over Mu Jin, carefully examining every detail.

Mu Jin had never been alone with a man like this before. His intense gaze made her restless and shy, her hands nervously clasped, unsure where to place them.

After a long moment, Chen Huazhu seemed to have seen enough and returned to his painting.

Mu Jin breathed a quiet sigh of relief, thinking this was simply part of the process to capture a lifelike portrait, and didn’t dwell on it.

Night deepened, time stretched on, and Mu Jin grew increasingly anxious and restless, feeling as though years had passed.

Finally, Chen Huazhu gently set down his brush.

Mu Jin relaxed somewhat, stretching her stiff shoulders before pushing herself up.

She moved to change back into her own clothes to return to the courtyard, pondering how she should explain this to the Ninth Miss.

Lost in thought, she glanced down at her attire and suddenly screamed in shock, her mind a chaotic blur. Clutching her chest, she dashed toward the curtained doorway.

Chunfen and Gu Yu pushed the door open just in time, their faces lighting up as they took the painting from the table and examined it carefully.

They exchanged satisfied smiles.

“Master Chen’s skills are truly exquisite, reaching the pinnacle,” Chunfen praised, handing the painting to Gu Yu. “You take it back for now.”

“You always have a way,” Gu Yu said happily, taking the still-damp painting and hurrying off.

“Thank you so much today, Master Chen,” Chunfen said with a warm smile, bowing slightly.

“No need for thanks, Miss Chunfen. Helping others is helping oneself,” Chen Huazhu replied with a polite bow. “If the opportunity arises, please say a good word for me with your Second Miss.”

“Of course,” Chunfen laughed softly. “With your talent, you’ll surely make a name for yourself in the capital. Just don’t forget us when that happens.”

“Oh, Miss, you flatter me…”

While the two exchanged pleasantries, Mu Jin had changed back into her clothes and stumbled out, her face pale and dazed.

“You’re out?” Chunfen greeted her cheerfully. “Don’t blame me—I had no choice. Everyone in this household knows the Ninth Miss treats her servants well. I was afraid you’d change your mind, so I had to resort to this plan. I’m sure you understand.”

Mu Jin hugged herself, trembling, tears streaming down her face.

The silk and satin were thin and translucent, almost see-through. So garments made from this fabric always had a layer of plain silk beneath. The inner silk hung gracefully, while the outer satin flowed elegantly, swaying beautifully with each step. This delicate fabric was beloved by the ladies of the capital.

But the dress Mu Jin had been wearing moments ago was made only of the outer layers of silk and satin, leaving her body almost bare in front of Chen Huazhu—and worse, it had been captured on the painting.

The inner silk layer was still on Chunfen, who had never removed it when changing clothes earlier.

Mu Jin wasn’t in the mood to listen. She stared at the table. Only a few brushes and a stack of blank paper remained; her painting was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is the painting?” she demanded, glaring at Chunfen.

Even clay figures have a temper—Mu Jin was truly furious.

If anyone else saw that painting, she would rather die than live. She couldn’t care about anything else now; even if it cost her life, she would fight to reclaim and destroy that painting.

Chunfen gently patted her shoulder in consolation. “Mu Jin, don’t worry. Gu Yu and I will hide the painting well. No one else will see it. You have the deed, right? When the Ninth Miss lets you leave the mansion, I’ll return it to you.”

Mu Jin, desperate, grabbed Chunfen’s hair and hissed, “If you don’t give me back that painting, I’ll fight you to the death today—both of us will perish!”

Chunfen’s head tilted awkwardly under the pull, but she seemed unfazed, speaking calmly. “I advise you to let go. Don’t get violent. If Gu Yu sees me unhappy, she might take the painting and show it to the servants. What will you do then?”

“You!” Mu Jin’s eyes reddened with shame and anger, but in the end, she weakly released her grip.

Chunfen slowly smoothed her tousled hair, covering her mouth to smile. “It’s not so bad if the servants see it. At worst, they’ll gossip. If you have a thick skin, you can survive. But if your parents or siblings see it—tsk, who knows what would happen.”

With that, she picked up the silk and satin dress, sighing deeply as if weighed down by countless emotions, then slowly left.

Mu Jin stood there, tears falling again, her expression bleak and lost, overwhelmed by despair.

Misfortunes truly never come alone.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she failed to notice Chen Huazhu had been shamelessly scrutinizing her ever since Chunfen left.

When she finally snapped back to reality, she found Chen Huazhu standing close before her, leaning in near.

(End of chapter)