Love at First Sight – Chapter 13: Kindness Without Reason

That night, it wasn't just the people in the front court who had a restless sleep—even those in the back courtyard were uneasy, their hearts filled with apprehension. Though they could hear the chaos from the front, no one knew exactly what had happened.

By early morning, the news had already spread like wildfire. The tale grew in the telling: the assassin had ultimately escaped capture, Miss Wen had been abducted and broke down in tears, the prince himself had comforted her, dismissing all the servants so they could be alone, and the two did not return to their rooms until nearly midnight.

The maids, eunuchs, and guards delighted in gossiping over the incident, each one embellishing the story further. Inevitably, this chatter reached the ears of Lady Tian and Lady Li.

Lady Tian had not seen the prince for three months and missed him dearly. Lately, she had been in low spirits, especially when she thought of Lady Li. Though Lady Li had also gone some time without being summoned, at least she had been called upon once before.

Lady Tian had noticed that since the arrival of this so-called “head maid,” Zun You had not set foot in the back courtyard even once. Twisting her handkerchief between her fingers, she lamented her own youth—barely eighteen, still in the bloom of life—and resolved that she could not remain passive any longer. If she did, how would she ever have her day in the sun?

“If His Highness favors this Wen Yueqing, then I'll simply draw closer to her and cultivate a good relationship. Perhaps then I'll have more opportunities to see him. If nothing else, being often in her company might prompt her to put in a good word for me.”

Lady Tian’s plan was sound, and she was one to act on her ideas. She quickly instructed her maid, Qiao’er, “Go fetch the bird’s nest we bought from outside the residence the other day. We’re going to pay a visit to Wen Yueqing.”

“But miss, we only have three taels left. That bird’s nest was so hard to come by, and you rarely allow yourself to enjoy it,” Qiao’er protested, heart aching at the thought. After all, her mistress had spent a lot of money on it, and as a concubine, her monthly allowance was meager.

“Just do as you’re told. If you can’t part with such a trifle, how will you ever accomplish anything great?” Lady Tian replied with a gentle smile, her voice calm and unhurried—a woman who knew how to keep her composure.

“Yes, miss, I’ll go right away,” Qiao’er responded, ceasing her objections and hurrying out.

Lady Tian sat before her mirror, carefully adorning herself. Her looks were not as dazzling as Lady Li’s, but her gentle elegance and delicate features bestowed her with a quiet allure all her own.

She applied only a light touch of makeup, wore a simple silver hairpin, and added a pink plum blossom hair ornament—nothing ostentatious, as this was her first meeting with Wen Yueqing, and she did not wish to appear too bold.

By midday, accompanied by Qiao’er, Lady Tian arrived at Wen Yueqing’s small pavilion. At the door, she called out, and Tong’er tiptoed out to greet them.

“Are you here to see Sister Qing?” Tong’er asked, unfamiliar with the two visitors.

“Yes, I heard Miss Wen was frightened last night, so I brought a little something to check on her,” Lady Tian replied with a soft smile.

“You must be Lady Tian…?” Tong’er looked closely at her attire—modest, yet made of fine silk. Clearly not a maid, and the only mistress in the residence she hadn’t met yet was Lady Tian.

“That’s right. Is Miss Wen available to see me?”

“Sister Qing is still asleep; she returned late last night. If you don’t mind waiting, you’re welcome to come in and sit for a while.”

“Of course, I have nothing pressing. I’m happy to chat with you while I wait.” With that, Lady Tian and Qiao’er entered the hall.

Tong’er found her polite and pleasant—so much more agreeable than the sharp-tongued Lady Li. If Lady Tian could befriend Sister Qing, that would be a good thing. Cheerfully, she brewed a cup of tea.

The two chatted idly for some time. When Tong’er was about to check if Wen Yueqing had awakened, she heard voices approaching in the courtyard.

Lady Li’s disdainful voice rang out, “Cuier, just look—she’s living in a loft now. That head maid is nearly on my level.”

“Nonsense, miss. She’s only a servant; how could she compare to you? This is nothing but an old, shabby, abandoned building,” Cuier quickly replied.

“Hmph, then she and this place are a perfect match. I say this suits her just fine.” Lady Li covered her mouth, giggling.

Inside, Lady Tian exchanged a knowing glance with Qiao’er. Lady Li’s sharp tongue was no secret. Seeing Tong’er so agitated, Lady Tian remained seated, silent.

Lady Li and Cuier swept into the hall. Tong’er ignored them, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Noticing Lady Tian’s presence, Lady Li felt a bit uneasy. “What are you doing here?”

She had come to enjoy the spectacle, having heard that Wen Yueqing had been abducted and cried her heart out on the rooftop the night before. Imagining her panic and distress made Lady Li want to laugh. She thought she simply had to see for herself—if Wen Yueqing had been scared out of her wits, all the better. But Lady Tian’s presence puzzled her.

Lady Tian rose with a gentle smile and curtsied. “Greetings, Sister Li. I came to visit—Miss Wen has been here some time, and I haven’t yet met her.”

“Oh? Then you should take a good look. Our household’s head maid is quite sharp-tongued; I’ve had the pleasure myself,” Lady Li said with feigned helpfulness.

“You jest, Sister,” Lady Tian replied simply, unwilling to be drawn into her provocations.

Seeing that Lady Tian would not rise to the bait, Lady Li was displeased. She glanced around and sat down, then turned to Tong’er. “Why isn’t Wen Yueqing down yet? Are we supposed to wait here for her?”

Tong’er thought to herself, Who asked you to wait? You barged in uninvited, acting as if anyone wanted you here.

“Sister Qing is still sleeping and won’t be up for some time. If you’re in a hurry, perhaps you’d like to come another day,” Tong’er replied, her tone curt.

“And that’s appropriate, is it? A maid sleeping in late, neglecting her duties? Such sloth should be punished severely,” Lady Li snapped, her eyes wide with indignation.

“That’s none of your concern,” Tong’er retorted, though her voice faltered—after all, Wen Yueqing was just a maid, and it was improper for her to sleep in.

“Who is making such a racket downstairs, waking me up?” Wen Yueqing’s voice, tinged with the gruffness of someone newly roused, called from above.

At that, Tong’er hurried upstairs to report what had happened.

“What a nuisance, it’s Lady Li again. She must have nothing better to do, coming here to create a scene. And now Lady Tian too, acting so eager for no apparent reason,” Wen Yueqing grumbled, annoyed. She only wanted to be a proper head maid, live quietly until she turned twenty-five, and then leave the household. Was that really too much to ask?

She instructed Tong’er to help her wash and dress with care. Today, she was determined to properly meet these two ladies.