Chapter 196: The Good Show Begins

The first light of dawn appeared, and the freezing rain had just ceased.

Late last night, a muffled clap of thunder suddenly rang out, bringing with it a sky full of thin, cold rain that fell until daybreak. After this cold rain, Beijing began to grow chilly, entering autumn completely.

In the center of Zhang Yunxiu's bedroom, on the camphor wood bed, Lvluo, her face flushed and clear tears hanging on her cheeks, was awakened by a chill.

Subconsciously, she murmured in her sleep and stretched out her hands to grope to the side.

But she only touched the empty bedding.

Startled, she opened her eyes and realized that Zhang Yunxiu was nowhere to be found.

Could it have been a dream? Hiss. No, this is the master's bed.

Moreover, the tearing sensation in her body and the memories of the passion between the two of them last night were all telling her.

This was no dream.

Last night, the two of them had truly and thoroughly been intimate all night long.

Zhang Yunxiu's burning body temperature, his sturdy chest, his rapid breathing... all of it remained fresh in her memory.

"Bad master... wanting to leave after eating his fill." Thinking of this, Lvluo understood something in an instant; she sat up, buried her head in her knees, and began to sob in a low voice.

Clearly, just last night, he was still calling her "little Lvluo."

This morning, as soon as she woke up, she couldn't find him; could it be that she was so annoying to him? Sitting alone on the bed feeling depressed for two quarter-hours, she struggled to get up and then searched for her clothes to put on. However, she discovered that her clothes had long been torn by Zhang Yunxiu until they were like a spider web.

In an instant, Lvluo's little face turned red enough to drip blood.

"Little Mistress, are you up?" Just then, a soft voice called out from outside the room.

Little Mistress? Lvluo was stunned; she didn't know it was calling her, so she didn't answer.

At this moment, the same shout came from outside again: "Mistress Lvluo, the young master asked me to come and ask if you are awake; if you are, let us serve you in bathing and dressing."

"Awake... I'm awake." Now Lvluo realized it was calling her and was about to answer, but thinking of her dirty, naked state, she changed her words: "Um, I'm not feeling well, you... you bring the clothes in first."

"Yes." The door was pushed open, and several maidservants entered, placed several sets of clothes by the bed, and then retreated.

Confirming that they had all left, Lvluo poked her little head out from the quilt.

She took a close look.

Not to mention the bodice and silk socks.

There were five sets of outer garments alone.

Among them were three slim-fit long dresses and two cotton robes.

The most precious one was the one in the center, a snow-white velvet long dress; she had seen it in a shop before, and it cost a full one hundred taels of silver.

Although she had previously been Xu Ruoxi's maid, she couldn't afford such clothes.

Seeing it now, her eyes went straight.

After simply cleaning her body, Lvluo proudly put on the long dress, like a victorious rooster.

She stood in front of the human-height bronze mirror and examined her body back and forth.

At this time, faint discussions could be heard from outside the door: "Lvluo really has good fortune; she's usually crazy and foolish, but in the blink of an eye, she's flown up the branch to become a phoenix."

"Hmph, isn't she just relying on being the head mistress's maid?" A sour voice rose, "If we talk about looks, or the assets of being a woman, what part of me is worse than her?"

"Hehehe, then tonight, you go climb into the young master's bed secretly."

"I will go, do you think I don't dare?"

"..."

Hearing the discussion outside, Lvluo felt as sweet as if she had eaten candied fruit.

She stared at herself in the mirror, having shed her youthful awkwardness, bit her lip, giggled, and then coiled her hair behind her head.

Then, holding her head high and chest out, she pushed the door open and walked out of the bedroom.

Outside, the maidservants who were still discussing stopped their chatter, looked at Lvluo respectfully, and said, "Third Mistress, we were all sent by the Second Mistress to serve you; from now on, we are at your command."

Lvluo scanned the circle, nodded slightly, and asked, "Where is the young master?"

"The young master has gone out," a maidservant with phoenix eyes and a slightly sharp tongue replied.

"Where did he go?!" Lvluo felt a panic in her heart and asked subconsciously.

"How would this servant dare to ask." "Oh."

Lvluo frowned and responded, and an older maidservant stepped forward and suggested, "Third Mistress, your small courtyard has already been designated; why don't you go take a look, and then wash up?"

"That will do."

By the time Lvluo finished all this, it was nearly noon. Yesterday, in order to cater to Zhang Yunxiu, she had gritted her teeth and held her ground, letting him toss her about as he pleased.

By the end, she felt as if her body were falling apart.

This morning, when she woke up, her status had suddenly risen, and the novelty surged into her heart, which was what kept her going. Now that she had finished everything and had no goal, Lvluo only felt dizzy and her stomach growled.

A sharp-eyed maidservant saw this and hurriedly went to call for someone to bring pastries.

Lvluo took a few bites before she felt she had recovered.

Afterward, she came to the guest table in her small bedroom and sat down, with the maidservants standing in a row before her.

Lvluo thought of Xu Ruoxi's manner, forced a look of dignity, and scolded, "From now on, if you work for me, you must follow the rules; otherwise, if you break the family law, I will not spare you."

"Yes," the maidservants answered in unison.

"Go down now; I will rest for a while, and you come call me in an hour."

"Yes."

The maidservants curtsied and then exited the room.

Lvluo was just about to take off her little shoes and lazily flop onto the bed to rest when a smiling voice suddenly sounded from outside: "You little lazybones, you still want to sleep at this hour."

"Young Mistress."

Lvluo looked up and saw it was indeed Xu Ruoxi walking in, holding her small belly. She stood up as if electrified, took a few steps forward, supported Xu Ruoxi, and led her to the guest table in the center of the room to sit down.

Scanning Lvluo up and down, seeing that she had shed her youthful awkwardness and gained the charm of a young woman, Xu Ruoxi nodded secretly in her heart.

Very quickly, a trace of bitterness welled up in her heart again.

Even the most magnanimous woman is unwilling to share her husband with another woman. Even if that woman is a good companion who has grown up with her, side by side, day and night.

"Little Miss, what is wrong?" Perhaps sensing the change in Xu Ruoxi's mood, Lvluo lowered her head, only lifting her eyes slightly to ask timidly.

"No—nothing is wrong!" Xu Ruoxi grabbed Lvluo's jade hand and made her sit down beside her, "From now on, don't call me Miss; you and I grew up together, and you are younger than me."

"Call me elder sister from now on."

"How could that be allowed?" Lvluo stood up abruptly.

"Sit down!" Xu Ruoxi pulled a stern face and said with a hint of a threat, "If you still acknowledge me as your Miss, call me elder sister from now on; otherwise, don't come looking for me again."

Lvluo grew anxious and instinctively wanted to shout "Miss," but upon seeing Xu Ruoxi's angry gaze, she changed her words, "Little elder sister."

"That's right." Xu Ruoxi smiled sweetly, stood up, looked around the room, and said, "This room was just tidied up; if you feel anything is missing, go out and buy it yourself."

"If you are missing any clothing, go buy that yourself too."

"I knew little elder sister loved me!" Lvluo grabbed Xu Ruoxi in a hug, full of smiles as she began to act spoiled in her arms.

Xu Ruoxi was caught between laughter and tears, and could only let this little girl hold her.

That evening, Zhang Yunxiu returned from outside.

At the dinner table, Zhang Yunxiu sat in the main seat, Xu Ruoxi and Zheng Xi'er sat on either side, and sitting opposite them was the timid Lvluo.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and comforted her, "No need to be nervous; from now on, you will sit here to eat. You are already very familiar with Ruoxi, and Xi'er is also a very good person, so relax."

"Thank you, Master," Lvluo said timidly, bowing her head toward the bottom of the table.

"Still calling him Master?" Zheng Xi'er blinked her almond-shaped eyes and teased.

"Sir," Lvluo corrected herself.

"Alright, alright, call me whatever you like." Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand impatiently and ordered everyone to pick up their chopsticks and begin the meal.

Seven or eight days passed after that.

Lvluo also gradually realized the transition from a maid to half a mistress, becoming much more easygoing.

On the other side, in Jinan Prefecture, Shandong, which was at the center of the storm, after these days of fermentation, dark clouds gathered, thunder rumbled, and a torrential downpour was ready to pour down at any moment.

(End of this chapter)