Wang Chong didn't draw his sword to inspect it, smiling. "Thank you, Sister Su. I've intruded long enough; I should return to the inn, bid farewell to the brothers of the Chrysanthemum-Killing Alliance, and set off for Chang'an."
Su Luo Yan waved her hand slightly. Soon a maid quietly approached, carrying a small bundle on her shoulder.
Wang Chong glanced over, slightly surprised to find it was not Liu Xian but Yu Zao—her brows and eyes alluring, her every glance and movement full of charm, a youthful yet imperious presence. He glanced back at Chu Qiuzi, but this Sister Chu seemed unconcerned, so he said nothing. He took the maid gifted by Su Luo Yan, the newly gifted long sword, and left with Chu Qiuzi in a graceful departure.
After leaving the garden Su Luo Yan had borrowed, Wang Chong asked, "Why is it Sister Yu Zao?"
Yu Zao smiled demurely. "Liu Xian told my mistress she didn't want to leave, so I told my mistress I was willing to serve you, young master, and thus they switched attendants."
"Young master, do you find Yu Zao unsatisfactory?"
Wang Chong chuckled. "She's wonderful."
Among Su Luo Yan's Eight Maids, Jiang Zhu'er and Yu Zao were the fairest. Especially this sword-lending Yu Zao—not yet fully grown, but bold in bearing, spirited and heroic, with a pair of fox eyes that were exceedingly seductive.
Had he been on a campus, his admirers would likely have lined up to the neighboring district—something he never dared hope for. But now...
Someone was giving her away for free!
And she was volunteering herself.
That was just perfect!
Yu Zao pressed her lips in a slight smile, recalling not long ago when Liu Xian had spoken disdainfully of Wang Chong among the maids:
"'My mistress has found some poor third from who knows where—his scholar's attire is worth at most two or three ounces of silver, and it even smells faintly musty, who knows how long since he last bathed. Am I to go suffer with him?'"
"'And she told me: no need to be so fearful, I won't beat or scold you without cause. Truly the household of a minor family, actually trying to lay down rules for me, threatening and beating me.'"
"'I finally entered the Su household with difficulty; as long as I strive, I may yet join the Eight Maids. Even if my mistress gives me away, it ought to be to a great household in Chang'an, to be a top senior maid. I'm not going—I'll go weep to my mistress and make her withdraw her order!'"
Yu Zao happened to pass by then and nearly laughed out loud. She at once goaded Liu Xian: "Yu Zao also thinks it's a shame for Sister Liu Xian. I have some standing before my mistress and am willing to speak up for you."
Although Liu Xian had uttered "wild words," the Su household's rules were strict, and they truly wouldn't tolerate such arrogance from a maid—she was only talking, not daring to actually go before Su Luo Yan to beg her mistress to withdraw the order. But Yu Zao was different; as one of Su Luo Yan's Eight Maids, her status stood a notch above the other servants, and she truly had a say before Su Luo Yan. Liu Xian was delighted at once and indeed followed Yu Zao to see Su Luo Yan.
Having received Yu Zao's "secret coaching," Liu Xian threw herself to the ground wailing, begging Su Luo Yan to withdraw the order. Su Luo Yan at the time was nearly driven to lose her composure, while Yu Zao beat the drum at her side: "Sister Liu Xian is unwilling to go; even if my mistress orders her by force, she will surely bear resentment in daily service, and if she neglects her duties, wouldn't that displease Young Master Wang? It would be better to let Sister Liu Xian remain by my mistress's side. Yu Zao is willing to share my mistress's worries and undertake this assignment in Sister Liu Xian's place."
The strange look on Su Luo Yan's face was like frost and snow; even as bold as Yu Zao was, she asked herself she would not forget it in twenty or thirty years. Her heart was over ten parts anxious, twenty or thirty parts uneasy, and fifty or sixty parts unsettled.
Su Luo Yan asked at once, "You brought Liu Xian over, but Jiang Zhu'er didn't see, did she?" Yu Zao said with a beaming smile, "Yu Zao is willing to brave fire and water for my mistress, to go by Young Master Wang's side as a trusted attendant." Su Luo Yan snorted coldly twice, pondered a moment, then agreed and sent Liu Xian away.
Liu Xian didn't know and couldn't fathom why Yu Zao was willing to make such a great "sacrifice." Her wits were simply addled, so she couldn't think too much, and she went off happily.
Seeing Yu Zao brought only a small bundle and not the long sword she had borrowed from him that day, Wang Chong asked casually, "Why didn't you bring that sword?"
Yu Zao replied, "That belongs to the Su household; this servant naturally cannot take it away."
Wang Chong chuckled, handed her the long sword in his hand, and said, "This sword is yours. When I need it, I'll borrow it from you again."
Yu Zao took the long sword with a smile, biting her lip to hold back her laughter, and asked, "Young master, who made your scholar's attire?"
Wang Chong answered, "I bought it casually at a small town; it fits well enough."
Yu Zao said softly, "Young master's clothes ought to be sewn by this servant's own hands. I only learned half a day ago that my mistress gave them to you, young master. With everything so rushed, there truly wasn't time. Once we're on the road, this servant will find a few feet of cloth and remake them for you."
Wang Chong nodded, not minding at all—he had truly never enjoyed such treatment.
Yu Zao's words reminded Chu Qiuzi, who thought to herself, "How did I not think to make an outfit for Young Master Wang? That was my oversight. A little later I'll ask my junior sisters to help, and tonight we'll finish one."
The three returned to the inn. The Five Beauties of Qingcheng looked at their second senior sister with extremely ambiguous eyes. Chu Qiuzi didn't explain; she only asked and learned that the junior she had summoned had already arrived, so she brought the person to Wang Chong.
The youth was born into poverty. Though he had some talent, somewhat better than ordinary people, and was willing to work hard, he could never grasp the essence of the Qingcheng Sect's martial arts. After learning two sets of fist and foot techniques and one set of swordplay, he was sent down the mountain. As a lay disciple, without anyone's backing, that would be his lot for life—at most, when older, he could guard homes for others and earn some silver.
When summoned by Chu Qiuzi, he was quite eager. Seeing Wang Chong, he didn't look down on him like Liu Xian did; he bowed respectfully. Hearing this senior of their sect introduce to Wang Chong: "Wang Dong is my late Senior Uncle's grand-disciple, making him my junior nephew of the sect. He is honest and hardworking. His family is nearby, and for now he hasn't found work. From now on, please look after him, young master."
Seeing this youth of fourteen or fifteen, with coarse hands and large feet and an honest face, Wang Chong took a liking to him. "Still, I ought to thank Immortal Sister Chu."
Chu Qiuzi knew the inn was full of prying eyes; she exchanged a few words with Wang Chong, then left first.
Wang Chong glanced at his personal attendant and his close-in maidservant, feeling quite relaxed. He thought to himself: "I've only been transmigrated here for a few days, and already I've become an upper-class person. That's not too shameful for a transmigrator."
He told the two to wait for him, then went first to bid farewell to Qin Han and the others. Qin Han's injury wasn't actually as severe as the rumors, but he dared not take it lightly; he needed to recuperate in Pengshan County for a while. Hearing Wang Chong had come, he grabbed Wang Chong, quite reluctant, and said: "How hateful that Qian Luo Yi—he couldn't kill White Chrysanthemum himself, and in jealousy and resentment he actually dealt me this vicious blow."
"I can't return to Chang'an for now; I'll meet up with Young Master Wang in Chang'an later." With that, he clapped his hands, and a servant came forward presenting a wooden box. "I've heard Brother Wang Chong has no lodging in Chang'an. This is the deed to a small residence, fully furnished. Though modest, it can serve as your temporary foothold. We are brothers with deep affection; I beg you not to decline."
…Qin Han: Qian Luo Yi is truly overbearing; Wang Chong could actually hold his own against this vicious man—worth making a great gift to befriend…
…Liu Xian: Yu Zao is usually clever and thinks herself smart—how did she suddenly become foolish? She went to that poor third's side, and a position among the Eight Maids is now vacant; perhaps I could rise to it…
…Yu Zao: What good luck—Sister Jiang Zhu'er happened to be off doing other things; otherwise such a fine opportunity might not have fallen to me…
Chapter 28