Chapter 156: Jia Mu Sends Qingwen

Jia Jing listened but didn't mind, his expression unchanged, and said:

"Hmm, perhaps the old lady has something on her end; we'll talk when she arrives!"

As soon as the words fell, Yuan Yang appeared leading a maid carrying a bundle, dressed in a light‑green courtyard silk jacket and red shoes, walking into the room one after another.

The maid, looking only in her teens, was born graceful and clever, her face like a lotus, features like a painting, somewhat resembling Lin Daiyu yet with a distinct charm.

She had narrow shoulders, a supple snake‑like waist, fair and delicate skin, and slender, narrow willow‑leaf eyebrows.

Under her finely arched brows were a pair of handsome eyes, flashing a lively light between a smile and a smirk, like spring water just melting, yet like autumn frost not yet solidified.

With a delicate nose and cherry‑like mouth, her nails painted a rose‑red rouge, her face now showing a hint of yearning and timidity.

Yuan Yang walked up to Jia Jing, bowed once, and with a gentle smile greeted:

"Lord!"

Jia Jing nodded, set down his chopsticks, his gaze calm as he looked at the two, and asked:

"Yuan Yang, you don't serve the old lady; why do you have time this morning to come to me?"

Yuan Yang's delicate face bore a smile; after yesterday's private conversation with Jia Jing, she felt a bit closer to him.

She replied:

"The old lady instructed me to bring a maid to the Lord."

"The old lady said you are busy daily with military and household duties, very hard‑working, and that having only Xiangling and Xiaohong to attend you is rather insufficient."

"She specially asked me to select an outstanding maid for you, to help with your daily life."

Yuan Yang's words made the little maid carrying the bundle behind her roll her eyes silently.

What? The old lady saw the Lord's side was thin and sent herself over.

Clearly, the old lady in the morning remembered Bao Er Ye's injury and intended to send herself to his courtyard.

So, after Yuan Yang's sister admonished her, saying the Lord isn't easy to manage at the mansion, and recalling the old lady's frailty yesterday, having sent calming incense out of filial piety, she should instead send a maid to look after the Lord.

The old lady thought it over for a long time, then finally changed her mind and offered herself to the Lord.

How did it become, in Yuan Yang's sister's mouth, that it's the old lady caring about the Lord!

Jia Jing furrowed his brows at the words; Jia Mu had been so angry with him yesterday she got a headache, and today she could send him a maid?

This sounds so unbelievable!

Perhaps Yuan Yang heard his words yesterday, went back and somehow persuaded Jia Mu, which is why Jia Mu is now sending a maid.

While speculating about Jia Mu's intention, Yuan Yang had already pulled the bundled maid to Jia Jing's side and introduced her:

"Lord! This is Qingwen, originally bought by the Lai family to honor the old lady, and she has been serving the old lady for several years."

"The old lady said she is skilled with needlework, dexterous, and can serve people, so she sent the maid to let the Lord see her."

Jia Jing, hearing this, did not think further, cast his gaze at Qingwen, looking at the maid who in the original work was the head of the Twelve Golden Hairpins and the second volume.

Qingwen at this moment lowered her head, her eyelids drooping, her lashes trembling occasionally, clearly not calm inside.

Since returning to the mansion, Jia Jing had never seen Qingwen before; perhaps he had glimpsed her in Jia Mu's room but paid no attention.

His impression of Qingwen mainly came from the original work: her good looks, skill at needlework, fiery temper, fierce purity, and famous scenes like Qingwen tearing a fan.

Now, looking closely,

just from outward appearance she is indeed a few shades more refined than ordinary maids.

Her slender oval face, fair delicate skin, and especially the smoke‑like eyebrows like Lin Daiyu added an extra touch of outstanding temperament.

No wonder later generations called her "Qing as Dai's shadow, Xi as the hairpin's counterpart."

In terms of looks, Qingwen indeed resembles Daiyu in some ways, but lacks a few signs of frailty and has a few more sharp edges.

Their ultimate fates are similar: one dies after tears run out, the other is driven out of the Jia Mansion by Lady Wang and ends up crying for her mother all night at her brother‑in‑law's house before dying.

Clear moon is hard to meet, colorful clouds disperse easily. A heart higher than the heavens, yet a lowly body; graceful and clever, inviting resentment. Longevity and early death often stem from slander; a sentimental young master clings to memories in vain…

Qingwen's tragic end bears some of her own responsibility.

She lived fully and passionately, with sharp edges exposed, fiery and pure, yet failed to understand human malice, chose self‑preservation, and concealed her brilliance.

However, compared with those who speak all the good words yet commit the worst deeds, Qingwen's death still feels somewhat regrettable.

This maid, though, is loyal, can be put to use, and pairs well with Xiangling—one fierce, one gentle—a good match.

While Jia Jing was pondering, Yuan Yang gently smiled and said:

"Lord, Qingwen has been diligent and responsible in the mansion these years, and her character is very straightforward and pure."

"She can be overly upright at times, unable to tolerate hidden corruption. Please, Lord, be more tolerant…"

Yuan Yang pre‑emptively gave her little sister a warning in front of Jia Jing, lest Qingwen's fiery temperament later clash with him.

Jia Jing nodded, pretended to have an epiphany and said:

"That's it! I wondered why the old lady suddenly thought of sending me a maid, and now I see she specifically chose a 'fierce' young girl to deal with me!"

Hearing this, Yuan Yang couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth and said:

"Lord, you're joking! The old lady didn't mean that."

"She only knows that ordinary maids might not catch the Lord's eye, so she sent the most clever and outstanding one from the house to you."

Yuan Yang spoke flattering words to Jia Mu, also to ease the tension between the generations caused by yesterday's household discipline.

Meanwhile, Qingwen, taking advantage of Jia Jing and Yuan Yang's banter, secretly lifted her eyes to glance at Jia Jing, the increasingly renowned master of the mansion.

Her understanding of Jia Jing mostly came from conversations among the maids and yesterday's harsh household ruling.

Although on the way here, Yuan Yang repeatedly told her the Lord is a good master, no need to worry.

Yet her heart, regarding the fate after this journey, held both yearning and a touch of fear.

The yearning stems from the fact that now no maid in the whole mansion wishes not to enter the Lord's quarters; she also hopes, seeing this as a genuine chance for a maid to ascend in one step.

The fear, however, is that the Lord's strong and strict temperament may be hard to serve.

Moreover, she was sent in by the Lai family; yesterday the Lai family had been severely rebuked by the Lord, and she wonders whether he will hold a grudge against her as a Lai family entrant.

Qingwen, carrying various complex thoughts in her heart, furtively glanced at Jia Jing, only to discover that Jia Jing was also looking at her at that moment; her heart panicked, and she quickly lowered her head.

Jia Jing noticed Qingwen's flustered state, but remained expressionless, merely asking in a low voice:

"How many years have you served before the old lady, and what do you usually do?"