Gu Ying said again, "The monthly allowance for Yin Lan and Yin Zhu comes from auntie, and it's five taels of silver each month. I won't mention it for now, but there will be rewards later if you serve me well."
Yin Lan and Yin Zhu smiled and said, "Thank you, Second Miss."
Gu Ying went on, "As for Qingfeng, although she hasn't been in my courtyard for long, she is careful and diligent in her work, and does things steadily in a way that pleases me. Therefore, I will also give her two taels of silver from my private funds as a subsidy, apart from the monthly silver given publicly, which will be calculated separately. Qingfeng, are you willing?"
Qingfeng's eyes lit up, and her heart fluttered quickly.
Even Gu Wan only got two taels of silver as monthly allowance in the Gu family, yet a maid like her from Twilight Snow Studio could get so much money...
"Second Miss, I'm willing! I'll never forget Your kindness and generosity even when my teeth fall out!"
Gu Ying looked at her barely contained excitement with an indifferent expression. Indeed, no one could escape the temptation of money.
If she gave Qingfeng even more, Qingfeng might even betray Madam Liu to serve her instead.
Unfortunately, Qingfeng had plotted against her time and again in her previous life, and even put drugs in her calming tea. No matter what, she would never let Qingfeng off in this life.
After dealing with Qingfeng, it was Ming Yue's turn.
Ming Yue had already nervously pursed her lips, her hands clenched around her waist, and her heart thumping quickly.
"Ming Yue," Gu Ying glanced at her.
"Young... Young Miss," she said excitedly. The Young Miss had given Qingfeng a monthly allowance, so she certainly wouldn't shortchange her. She just didn't know how much the Young Miss would give her.
"You just arrived here recently, yet made a mistake with my hair. I spared you because you were sent by Eldest Aunt. So this time, you'll still get the original monthly allowance given publicly. I'll increase it when you improve later," said Gu Ying.
Ming Yue's face turned pale. The world spun around her as she stood there in shock. "Young Miss, I still have a sick mother at home to support..."
Gu Ying sneered inwardly at this maid's habitual lies and pretense of pitiful circumstances. She maintained her composure and just looked at Ming Yue calmly. "When you serve well, I'll naturally not stint on your silver. But with your current mediocre service, if I give you a raise, how can there be rules and order in Twilight Snow Studio?"
"That's right," Qingfeng chimed in smugly. "Sister, just wait a little longer. Our Young Miss is generous. She definitely won't shortchange you in the future."
"Yes... I understand," Ming Yue suppressed her emotions as her small face quivered. She lowered her head resentfully.
Yanzhi had made mistakes, so of course there would be no rewards.
Gu Ying deliberately sighed and looked at her disappointedly. "Yanzhi, take care of yourself. I'll deal with you properly when we return to the residence."
Yanzhi immediately knelt down, wiping her tearful eyes. She cried pitifully, "This slave has made mistakes and is willing to be punished. As long as the Young Miss doesn't drive me away, I'm willing to do anything!"
Gu Ying pretended she didn't want to hear her sly words anymore. She waved her hand in disappointment and told Yanzhi to leave.
Yanzhi cried out in utter fear, "Young Miss! I really know my mistakes now!"
Seeing Yanzhi being dragged away miserably by Yin Zhu, Ming Yue narrowed her eyes imperceptibly.
...
After leaving the Young Miss's tent, Yanzhi drooped her little head dejectedly, looking utterly crestfallen.
Qingfeng gave Yanzhi a mocking glance. She returned to the tent happily to prepare lunch for the Young Miss.
In the afternoon, if the Young Miss was fine, she would have to return to the hunting grounds. After all, the Young Miss had gained face there, so the entire Gu family was benefiting too. She didn't dare to be negligent.
Meanwhile, Ming Yue took the chance to pull Yanzhi to a secluded grove and poked her brow. "Are you really so willing to be driven out of Twilight Snow Studio by the Young Miss?"
Yanzhi lifted her head with eyes brimming with tears. She looked as if the sky was falling down.
"Sister Ming Yue, I grew up with the Young Miss since I was little. I don't want to leave the Gu residence. I'm an orphan who was bought into the Gu family as a child. If I'm driven out, I won't even know where to go..."
Ming Yue's eyes glinted sinisterly. "If you're sold to another family as a servant, that's still fine. But if you meet a heartless old lady matchmaker, you might even be sold to a kiln!"
Yanzhi shuddered in fear upon hearing this. She hurriedly grabbed Ming Yue's sleeve tightly and shook her head forcefully. "Sister Ming Yue, I don't want to go to a kiln! Please help me! I don't want to be sold! No!"
Seeing Yanzhi crying messily, Ming Yue sneered inwardly at her foolishness and pathetic state. On the surface, she pretended to be a caring older sister. "Alas, I do want to help you. It depends on whether you'll listen to me in the future."
To the current Yanzhi, no matter what Ming Yue said, she could only nod obediently. "I'll listen to sister in everything! As long as sister can help me, even if it's telling me to die, I'm willing!"
Seeing Yanzhi's foolish and pitiful appearance, Ming Yue scoffed. Why did Qingfeng get better treatment than her as soon as she entered the Second Miss's courtyard?
She was clearly prettier than Qingfeng, and her hands and feet were more nimble than Qingfeng's. But for some unknown reason, this usually dull-witted Second Miss seemed to be possessed, and actually treated Qingfeng like a mistress!
Why?
Weren't they both from the Eldest Madam's courtyard?
Why could Qingfeng get such a high monthly allowance?
Why could Qingfeng live in such a nice room?
Why were the fabrics of Qingfeng's clothes so fine?
Thinking of all this, Ming Yue wished she could tear Gu Ying and Qingfeng into halves. But as a lowly servant, she was powerless and insignificant. She had no way to deal with Gu Ying for the moment, but this didn't mean she was helpless against Qingfeng.
Thus, she pretended to be even kinder to Yanzhi. "Yanzhi, you were only punished by the Young Miss for damaging Prince Li's bow—"
Yanzhi hurriedly nodded. "Yes..."
"What if the LiWang Bow wasn't actually damaged by you?"
Yanzhi stared wide-eyed, shocked to the point she almost couldn't control her voice. "What?"
Ming Yue pressed Yanzhi's hand down forcefully and pinched her fiercely to calm her down. "Why are you screaming? Do you want everyone to know the LiWang Bow was damaged?"
Yanzhi hurriedly shut her mouth foolishly.
Only then did Ming Yue breathe a sigh of relief. She glanced coldly at Yanzhi, a frosty smile on her lips. "Just listen to me on this matter. I guarantee the Young Miss will keep you and drive out the real culprit who damaged the LiWang Bow."
Yanzhi blinked innocently. "Sister Ming Yue, if you can really help me in this, I'll listen to you in everything in the future."
Ming Yue's vanity was greatly satisfied. She lifted her chin arrogantly. "Go back first. You should return too."
After Ming Yue left, Yanzhi wiped the tears squeezed from the corners of her eyes. She blinked and the grief on her face instantly vanished. She tiptoed towards the Young Miss's tent.
Gu Ying had just applied medicine on her wounds, changed into hunting attire, and taken out that dagger to examine it carefully on her palm.
