Green Mountain
Chapter 258: Nanny 203

Chapter 258: Nanny 203

Outside Mingquan Garden, where the bluestone path was free of snow, Wang Gui pressed his forehead against the stones, feeling their icy touch as sharp as Daozi, nearly splitting his head open.

Wang Gui knelt there, waiting for Chen Ji to appear.

But Chen Ji did not show up for a long time.

Not far from Mingquan Garden was Qunfang Garden, where the maids lived. Hearing Wang Gui’s cries, several maids, dressed in their clothes, came out to see what was happening, crowding around the dormitory entrance.

In the deep, freezing night, the young maids’ hands turned purple from the cold and their noses bright red, yet they wouldn’t miss this drama for the world.

A slender maid squinted in the direction of the commotion, recognizing Wang Gui’s figure: "Isn’t that the Housekeeper?"

An older maid scoffed, "He’s no Housekeeper anymore, just call him Wang Gui."

The slender maid let out an "Oh": "Has Wang Gui been beaten and is now kowtowing to the Third Young Master? Look, there’s still blood on his back. If he keeps kneeling like this, I’m afraid he’ll freeze to death."

The older maid spit disdainfully to the side: "Serves him right! Over the years, apart from the young masters, Mr. Chen, and the ladies served by first-rate maids, whom hasn’t he taken advantage of?"

Maids in Chen Mansion were divided into three levels.

The first-grade maids served the family directly and had the highest monthly salary and status.

The second-grade maids were in charge of various chores in the mansion and managed seven or eight third-grade maids, living rather comfortably.

The most pitiful were these third-grade maids. Their monthly salary was meager, they lived crammed with twenty or thirty others, and when it came to marriage, they could only marry tenants from the Chen family’s lands or shop assistants.

At this moment, as Chen Ji was nowhere to be seen, the maids whispered to each other, "Strange, the Third Young Master has always been soft-hearted and weak. Wang Gui is begging him like this, why hasn’t he come out yet?"

The slender maid lowered her voice: "Maybe after two years studying medicine, he’s changed his nature?"

The older maid laughed sarcastically: "Impossible. It’s easier to change rivers and mountains than someone’s nature. A person’s temperament doesn’t just change on a whim."

She then turned to look at a young maid behind her who wore a simple pair of pigtails, her face still very youthful.

The older maid said to her: "Xiao Man, you used to serve the Third Young Master. Now that he’s back, why don’t you ask the Lady to assign you to him again?"

The pigtailed maid ’Xiao Man’ muttered quietly: "Sister Li Qiu, I don’t want to. Why should I suffer his uselessness every day?"

’Sister Li Qiu’ tapped Xiao Man’s forehead, annoyed: "You useless thing, if you return to his side, you’ll be a first-class maid again. Your monthly salary would increase by 300 cents. If you dislike him, just wait until you’re of age and marry out of the mansion. There’s a chance for a dowry, which is much better than marrying a tenant or a coachman."

Xiao Man looked down: "It’s not that I disdain him; it’s just painful to see him be so weak. Anyway, whoever wants to go can go. Even that increase of 300 cents in monthly salary isn’t worth enduring the frustration... Sister Li Qiu, I want to stay in Luocheng City, then I won’t have to serve anyone and can just end my days here."

"You won’t marry?"

"I won’t marry."

Sister Li Qiu whispered, "You don’t know, but the Third Young Master recently received 2,500 taels of silver from the newly established Preparation Bureau. His days are getting better."

Xiao Man’s eyes widened: "That much?"

Sister Li Qiu, while rubbing her freezing hands together and exhaled warm breath, casually said: "Now, serving the Third Young Master might be tough, but he’s soft-hearted. When you’re ready to marry, just ask him nicely, and you might get a generous dowry."

At that moment, one of the maids suddenly exclaimed: "Could it be that the Third Young Master really has changed his ways, and he’s determined to let Wang Gui freeze to death out here?"

Xiao Man pouted: "How could that be."

As soon as she finished speaking, the gate to Mingquan Garden creaked open.

Xiao Man quickly said: "See, I told you."

...

...

In the dark of the night, Chen Ji opened the courtyard gate, standing within the threshold wearing a large cloak, and asked calmly: "Housekeeper, why are you kneeling at my door in the middle of the night?"

Wang Gui hastily said: "I am no longer the Housekeeper, Third Young Master; just call me Wang Gui. I’ve come tonight only to ask for your forgiveness and to spare me, Third Young Master."

Chen Ji said indifferently: "Punishing you was Mr. Chen’s decision; coming to me is useless."

Wang Gui banged his head on the ground, the stone paving causing his forehead to bleed: "Third Young Master, you are merciful. All past mistakes were my fault. If you are angry, feel free to beat me. My elderly mother, seventy-six years old, is waiting for me to return to the capital to take care of her. If you do not forgive me, I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to fulfill my duties to her."

Chen Ji remained impassive.

In the Ning Dynasty, ruling the world through filial piety was an ancestral teaching. Even people like Official Liu and Wang Daosheng had to resign from official duties and return home to mourn their father’s death, wasting three years.

Wang Gui taking off his shirt in the cold winter to perform an act of repentance, in order to return to the capital to serve his mother, was a complete reversal, showing a willingness to risk his life in seeking righteousness.

If Chen Ji accepted Wang Gui’s act of contrition, it would become a tale praised among Confucian scholars, showcasing Chen Ji’s heart of benevolence and righteousness. If Chen Ji let Wang Gui freeze to death here, it would be seen as unkind, tarnishing the Chen family’s reputation.

Wang Gui was not truly seeking forgiveness for himself, but rather was performing a strategic self-harm ploy.

This ruse wasn’t meant for his own benefit; it was directed at Chen Liqin. Wang Gui was betting that Chen Liqin would be concerned about the Chen family’s reputation and would also consider the nurturer’s affections.

Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "Your desire to serve your mother is a true expression of piety and filial devotion. I am naturally willing to facilitate that."

Wang Gui raised his head, hope in his eyes: "Third Young Master, you forgive me? May I accompany you back to the capital?"