Chapter Six The New Little Maid

  I finally have the chance to see my current appearance. After Ling Yi left yesterday, a servant girl brought over various items, including clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, and of course, this copper mirror that's now in front of me.

  I thought that Gu Qingying, who was loved to death by Ling Yi and should have been resurrected, would have a stunning face, but the face in the mirror didn't bring me much shock. It's beautiful, but not breathtakingly so. I'm relatively satisfied with this level of beauty. A face that's too stunning would be a huge obstacle on my future path to survival. Although I say that, I still feel a little disappointed deep down, but reason ultimately triumphed over the small vanity in my heart as a woman. I began to carefully examine myself.

  The delicate face has eyebrows, eyes, and nose all in the right place, with a complexion that is slightly pale, not the rosy and healthy glow I liked in my previous life. This body is too slender, paired with a head of smooth, waist-length black hair, at first glance, it's like a weak willow swaying in the wind, pitifully beautiful. Maybe men in ancient times all had a strong desire to protect, why did they all like this kind of Lin Daiyu-like figure? Is it because she was only 17 or 18 years old and her body hadn't fully developed yet?

  I slightly furrowed my brow, but it was okay because the original delicate and slender temperament of this body had faded a lot due to my occupation. However, I still didn't like it. I thought about my previous life's body that was full of vitality from insisting on exercise - sturdy and even arms, 34-inch chest, slender yet curvy waist, those buttocks, long and powerful legs... I pursed my lips. Fortunately, this skin was smooth and delicate, unlike the slightly coarse pores I had after years of outdoor activities. Never mind, I would remake this body according to my preferences and create another Fang Ning Xi.

  A knock at the door was followed by a clear voice: "Madam, are you up?"

  "Ah, come in." I was surprised it wasn't Jin Niang.

  A nimble and agile figure flashed in, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a round face and a pair of bright big eyes, curved eyebrows, upturned nose, cherry small mouth, the whole face and facial features were all rounded and lovely, very likable.

  She smiled sweetly as soon as she saw me, put down the copper basin in her hand, and chuckled: "Madam is up early, the castle owner ordered Yuwei to serve Madam from today on, come, let me help you with your hair."

  Ruo Wei's gentle and kind attitude immediately gained my favor. I handed over the wooden comb in my hand, smiled and asked: "How old is Ruo Wei this year?"

  "Madam, Rong Yu will be fifteen this month."

  "Oh, how long have you been in Furong Fortress?" I didn't think Ling Yi would be so kind and agree to my two conditions at the same time. Who knows if this little girl is also here to spy on me?

  "Back to Mrs. Fu. Yu Wei is the one who came to the castle last year." Yu Wei replied innocently, without noticing my probing.

  "Is there anyone else at home?"

  "Returning to the lady, if there are no more relatives at home. Last year's flood in our hometown. Ru Wei followed the villagers to escape and arrived here. Happened to meet the castle owner opening the door for porridge. The housekeeper saw that Ru Wei's hands and feet were still quite agile, so she kept me here."

  "So it was like that. Was it the castle owner who personally arranged for you to come here?" I continued to ask her with a smile.

  "Really!" Yu Wei's voice was somewhat puzzled: "I was just wondering. In the past, whenever there were any changes or arrangements, it was always Manager Zhu who came to inform us. This time, it's actually the Lord of the Manor himself who has come."

  Ruo Wei suddenly paused, as if she had suddenly remembered something. She hastily changed her words and said: "Returning to the mistress, it was arranged by the castle owner himself."

  I couldn't help but chuckle, this naive little girl still hadn't changed her habit of interacting with people from her hometown, completely without any guard against others, with a carefree and innocent look, she would forget her own identity after speaking a few more sentences, yet constantly reminding herself that the strict rules of Furen Fortress really didn't suit her. It seemed that she should be someone who knew nothing, and wouldn't be Ling Yi's second spy arranged by his side again.

  I smiled warmly and said, "Yuwei, from today on you're a member of my household. You don't have to say 'Reporting to the mistress' before every sentence. It's tiring for you and it sounds weird to me too."

  "Good!" Yuwei exclaimed: "I'm always forgetting, so I often get scolded by Zhu Niangniang. Now it's all good! You're really a great person, not a bit of pretence, no wonder the castle owner treats you so well."

  I couldn't help but laugh, so that's how people outside see it. As a wife who hasn't stepped out of the house in four days after getting married, I should be quite mysterious to everyone, and I have no idea how Ling Yi covered it up.

  My head tightened, I hastily raised my eyes to look in the mirror, a complex hairstyle had already been done. I frowned, was I supposed to walk around with this style? Thinking again, forget it, since I'm going to make a deal with Ling Yi, I'll just play along and adapt to local customs, playing my role well.

  After finishing washing and dressing, with Yvette's help, I put on the layered skirt, took a look in the mirror, and indeed, three points for looks and seven points for dressing up. After this effort, originally eight points should be ten points now. I pouted at myself, trying to get used to this appearance.

  "Alright, Rowena, why don't we go out for a walk now?" I suggested with a smile.

  "So early and you're already going out, madam?" Ruo Wei was somewhat surprised.

  Of course, I have to get out. Eighty-one days is a long time, but every day that passes means one less day, if I don't seize the opportunity to find an escape route and make an escape plan, won't I end up as meat on the chopping board?

  "I've been here for four days and still haven't seen what's outside, this castle mistress of mine is really not doing her job." I looked at her with intentional reproach.

  "Oh, no wonder the castle owner hasn't been seen for days." Rowan looked at me with a hint of realization, her expression somewhat ambiguous. I was taken aback and suddenly lost my smile, this little girl didn't even know what she was thinking about, really clever beyond her years.

  I smiled and pinched her cheek, not explaining, and led the way out of the room. Yifu hurried to follow behind me, repeatedly saying: "Madam, let me guide you, this Furuo Fortress is too big, I also spent three months figuring out the directions."

  As soon as I stepped out of the house, there was a garden in the shape of a circle. In the garden, there was a huge banyan tree that I hadn't noticed before. Under the tree were stone stools and tables. The branches and leaves of the banyan tree were lush and dense, with several branches stretching diagonally to the windowsill of the house on the left. Looking out the window, it turned out to be a study. Inside, there was a set of red wood furniture, with the four treasures of the study on the desk, and rows of books densely arranged on the bookshelves against the wall, interspersed with some antique decorations. On the walls were hung calligraphy and paintings, but no one was in sight.

  "Is this the castle owner's study?"

  Rou Wei lightly smiled and said: "Is that so? Hasn't madam ever gone before?"

  I was right, this garden is indeed Ling Yi's residence. Then where did he stay for the past two nights? I shook my head, it has nothing to do with me. Continuing to walk out, passing through a sedan hall, outside is a large garden, the surrounding houses are densely packed, the terrain is slightly uneven, but the garden in the middle is built according to the terrain, creating mountains and rivers, plum blossoms, banana trees, wisteria, and osmanthus flowers are cleverly distributed among them, natural and elegant, like a painting.

  After passing through another corridor, I walked out of the garden's main gate, and what was in front of me suddenly left me stunned.