The Little Bedmaid Just Wants to Get By - Chapter 4 Part 1

As always, Guan Yuan stared at Dou Zhao with her watery eyes, then racked her brains for a decent answer.

If she replied honestly that she didn’t even want to stay, would the Second Master be merciful and let her go?

Ptui! Ptui! What was she thinking? Perhaps he would let her go, but only after beating her bloody with twenty floggings.

Should she betray her conscience and give a similar reply? That she respected him, or that she had gotten used to working here and didn’t want to leave? No, no way! If she did that, then she wouldn’t be able to leave if the opportunity came up in the future.

What to do? There’s no time!

While she was fretting, Dou Zhao sighed after waiting a long time for her reply. “Forget it, you don’t need to reply. I already know.”

“…?” Guan Yuan was baffled.

What is it that you know? 

I don’t know how you know what you know?

Hurry and tell me what on earth is it that you know?

Dou Zhao looked at her impassively. “You’re still here because you’ve shown some self control over the years. Continue to pay more attention in the future. If you don’t restrain yourself well, know that I will not be forgiving.”

Guan Yuan widened her eyes even more.

What?

Control? Control what? Control my hand so that it doesn’t shake when I serve tea? 

And I have to restrain myself? Restrain what? Restrain myself from fighting back?

Guan Yuan wanted to cry. This man, can you be more specific when you speak? Who knows what you mean when you speak in riddles all the time?

Seeing the way she swallowed her words, Dou Zhao silently decided that he had to get her to leave as soon as possible. It would be too late once there was a mistake.

After everyone had been interrogated, Dou Zhao said with a stern face, “I now know why all of you have decided to remain here. Since there are no other intentions, then while you are in Chang Zhi court, you must follow my rules.

“Guan Hai”

“Yes, my Lord!”

“I dislike maids who can get blown over by the wind. From tomorrow onwards, you are to supervise the new arrivals. They must run ten rounds around the courtyard every morning, and their meal portions should increase each day. If they are still this frail and sickly after a month, then send them back where they came from.”

“Understood.”

The maids who heard this felt that the sky was caving in.

It was at this moment that they understood why the maids at Chang Zhi court looked sturdier than others. So it was a request by their master. But if they became that way too, what was the point of trying so hard to be transferred there?

Cai Ju and Cai Mei were already crying on their knees. “Second Master, it took the Grand Lady a lot of effort to raise us to look like this. If we were to eat more and get tanned, how would we be able to face the Grand Lady in the future?”

Dou Zhao’s face grew sterner. “If you can’t bear to part from this appearance, then you may return.”

“But Second Master…”

They wanted to continue pleading their case, but Bi Xin stopped them. As she blinked at them, she said, “Since we have become the Second Master’s maids, we should listen to the Second Master’s instructions. You are too ignorant.”

Seeing her confidence, the two of them knew that she must have other plans. They stopped crying and replied quietly, “Yes.”

That night, Cai Ju and Cai Mei ran crying to the Grand Lady, saying that they wanted to return.

When the Grand lady asked why, they recounted Dou Zhao’s unreasonable words and actions, adding, “Grand Lady, we know why you sent us over. We want to serve the Second Master well too, but it looks like the Second Master isn’t interested in people like us. Perhaps he…he…If that’s the case, it would be better for us to continue serving the Grand lady.”

Hearing this, the Grand Lady hit the armrest in anger. “Tell that rebellious grandson to come here!”

This time, Dou Zhao received a good, sound scolding.

The Grand Lady said, “I meticulously picked these girls out for you. They starve all day, not daring to eat too much, and not daring to stay out in the sun for even a moment too long. How could the girls I raised like flowers withstand being tormented this way by you? If you don’t like them, you could return them to me directly! You don’t need to bend over backwards to slap me in the face!”

Dou Zhao hastily explained, “Your grandson wouldn’t dare. I merely thought they looked too thin and weak, and wouldn’t be able to work well.”

The Grand Lady refuted, “Are they going to fetch water, carry rice sacks, or swing a sledgehammer? How strong do they need to be? Wasn’t there this girl in your court, Guan Yuan? She was quite pretty, but you’ve ruined her the same way.”

Dou Zhao replied awkwardly, “Well, not quite. Although frail women are considered beautiful now, I think that being healthy is good too.”

“Then why haven’t you taken her yet?”

Dou Zhao was at a loss for words. The Grand Lady glared at him. “I know you’re just pretending.”

Then she sighed. “Zhao-er, if you really don’t like women, it’s not that I can’t accept it, but you should at least have a descendant! As long as you can give me a great-grandson, you’re free to go out and be with a hundred men if you want to.”

Dou Zhao was thunderstruck.

After a long while, he finally replied, “Grandmother, you are mistaken. I don’t like men. It’s just that I haven’t met a woman that I like.”

The Grand Lady’s expression finally eased slightly. She cajoled, “What does it matter whether you like her or not, how many people can find someone they truly like? Since you like women, then just take one that’s pleasing to the eye for now so that we can dispel the rumours and save your old man some face in the imperial court.”

Dou Zhao was once again speechless.

The Grand Lady thought a bit more, then hardened her stance. “Forget it, I don’t want to pressure you. I’ll give you half a year. Within half a year, either take one of the maids to your bed, or marry a proper wife. If not, don’t even think of seeing me anymore.”

Dou Zhao was silent for a long time. Eventually, he acquiesced. “I understand. I will resolve this matter as soon as possible so that Grandmother doesn’t have to worry.”

At this, the Grand Lady finally revealed a smile. She gently patted Dou Zhao’s hands. “Grandmother has your best interests at heart. Once you have a woman in your bed, you’ll know how good it is!”

Remarkably, Dou Zhao’s face turned slightly red.

“Another thing, you’re not allowed to torment these maids. Such a tender bunch, how could they bear it? Take your time to look through them and pick one. In terms of looks and character, some of them are even comparable to noble ladies. As for their other good traits, I’ll leave it to you to discover them slowly.”

“As Grandmother wishes.”