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墨書 Inktalez
Rui'er’s thoughts were unknown to Luofu. In her eyes, Rui'er was no different from the other maids in the household.
The Luo Family was not particularly wealthy, merely well-off. There were only a dozen or so servants and maids in the household. During Luofu's childhood, she often followed her brother around causing mischief until she was ten, when her parents confined her to the house and hired a nurse to teach her the rules of the Daughter's family. Later, an engagement was arranged with her future husband. At that time, her fiancé had already become a Top Scholar. Although she knew that there would be no issues like those between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law after she married, her parents were increasingly strict with her over the past two years, fearing she might embarrass herself due to ignorance of proper etiquette.
Since childhood, she had been pampered by her parents and doted on by her brother, and with so many servants and maids at home catering to her, Luofu lacked any conversational skills. In short, she was a simple-minded person who did not think deeply about things and did not consider others' feelings; she was a typical Sister-in-law who did not pay attention to conversational techniques. This made her very different from someone like Rui'er, who had to learn to read people's expressions and navigate life with a keen mind.
Different life circumstances naturally led to different personalities. Luofu did not understand Rui'er’s thoughts because she lacked Rui'er’s personal experiences. When speaking, she naturally only considered her own perspective and never thought about whether her words might be misinterpreted by Rui'er. Furthermore, as an elder sister, she would not concern herself with the thoughts of a maid; it was instinctual and natural for her. Rui'er only knew that Luofu was born as the elder sister of the Luo Family but never considered that such a Sister-in-law would be ignorant of worldly affairs, unaware of life's hardships, and unable to comprehend Rui'er’s struggles as a poor girl forced into servitude.
Luofu did not understand Rui'er, so she could not grasp what the darkness in Rui'er’s eyes represented.
Rui'er did not understand Luofu either, which is why she was so intent on wishing misfortune upon Luofu.
Rui'er paid little attention to Luofu's words yet took them to heart one by one. However, before encountering that person, all her displeasure and resentment remained hidden within her. Like seeds buried in winter soil, they quietly awaited the arrival of spring and a chance to break through the surface.
Rui'er supported Luofu out of the main hall and into the side hall, where Guanyin of Childbirth was enshrined. Luofu's Sister-in-law was kneeling devoutly inside. Not wanting to disturb her, Luofu asked Rui'er to place some snacks and fruit on the stone table while they waited quietly.
In the center of the courtyard stood an ancient Peach Tree over a hundred years old instead of the usual cypress trees found in temples, perhaps symbolizing blooming and bearing fruit. Luofu gazed at the Peach Tree in a daze when suddenly she heard that voice again.
"Remember, before Chen Time, you must not look in a mirror!"
She lightly bit her lip and glanced around until her gaze fell upon an Old Beggar leaning against the wall.
Such Old Beggars could be found in almost every temple—some silent and unassuming while others were eccentric; ultimately, they were just seeking alms to get by.
After observing the Old Beggar for a moment, Luofu instructed Rui'er to bring some pastries for him. The Old Beggar accepted the pastries and opened his mouth towards Luofu; she vaguely heard that same voice again.
"Remember, before Chen Time, never look in the mirror!"
Luofu frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased. She turned around and looked at Sister-in-law, who was still devoutly praying in the main hall.
Rui'er brought the pastries to Old Beggar. When she saw him reach out to take them, she couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain. It wasn't that she thought there was anything wrong with giving the pastries to Old Beggar; rather, his outstretched hands reminded her of her former self.
As she placed the pastries by Old Beggar's feet, she inexplicably took out two pieces of her own scattered Silver from her pouch and placed them next to the pastries. Then she stood up, intending to return to Luofu's side.
"Is your wish to make Madam disappear? Do you want to be the Madam of the Luo Family?" Old Beggar raised his downcast eyes, calm and unperturbed. "But even if Madam disappears, what difference does it make? You are still you, that wild girl from the countryside. Even if Luo Ping is the Second Wife, it won't change your fate. If I were you, I would rather replace Sister Two; her future husband is a Fourth-Rank Official."
"What are you talking about?"
Rui'er’s expression changed.
"The secret of how Old Beggar is in your heart," Old Beggar said as he picked up the two pieces of scattered Silver. "In light of you giving these Silver Coins to Old Beggar, I also want to help you a bit. Go back now. When you figure out what you truly want, come find Old Beggar at Yun Family Gathering's City God Temple. Remember, it must be before Chen Time. If you miss it, you'll never have another chance to change your life."
With that, Old Beggar took the pastries and wobbled away.
Rui'er stared at Old Beggar's retreating figure for a long time before suspiciously returning to Luofu's side.
Seeing Rui'er’s unusual expression, Luofu recalled the strange words that had been repeatedly echoing in her ears and asked, "What's wrong? Did that crazy Old Beggar say something strange to you?"
Rui'er turned pale and hurriedly replied, "Nothing! Absolutely nothing!"
"Rui'er, don't be afraid. There are many old beggars like this in various temples, and some of them can be quite superstitious. If you believe what these beggars say, you'll end up giving them more than you intend. If you don't believe, then it doesn't matter. Life will go on as it should."
Luofu's words were meant to comfort Rui'er, but when they reached Rui'er's ears, they took on a different meaning, especially the last sentence, which made Rui'er feel that Luofu was warning her not to have any improper thoughts about her brother and to behave herself as a maid in the Luo Family.
Initially, Rui'er hadn't taken the old beggar's words to heart; instead, it was Luofu's statement that triggered her nerves. She secretly bit her lip and firmly etched the words "City God Temple" into her mind.
Upon returning to Ruo Mansion, Rui'er felt as if everyone in the Luo Family was targeting her, perhaps influenced by the old beggar's words. After dinner, the servants and maids laughed and left as usual, leaving behind a messy dining room and kitchen for her alone. Distracted, she accidentally broke a plate and was scolded by the old chef for half an hour. Not only did he deduct most of her monthly allowance, but he also punished her to kneel in the courtyard for an hour.
Kneeling in the courtyard, Rui'er looked down at the cracks between the bricks while holding the broken pieces of the plate in her palm. Her mind kept replaying the old beggar's words:
"Is your wish to make Madam disappear?"
"You want to make Luo Family's Madam disappear?"
"What difference would it make if Madam disappeared? You would still be you, that wild girl from the countryside. Even if Luo Ping is the Second Wife, she won't be able to take your place."
"If you want me, you might as well replace Sister Two; her future husband is a Fourth-Rank Official."
...
Fourth-Rank Official! Fourth-Rank Official!
All that filled Rui'er's mind were those four words. Even though she was just a country girl and merely one of over ten maids in Ruo Mansion, she understood what being a Fourth-Rank Official's wife meant. If she truly became this Fourth-Rank Official's wife, not only would Master and Madam treat her with respect, but even Luo Ping would have to look up to her.
If she became the wife of this Fourth-Rank Official, what would her parents' expressions be like when she returned to the countryside?
Rui'er was looking forward to it.
The warm blood intertwined with the cold bowl pieces, bringing her a sense of pleasure. She lowered her head, kneeling for that hour, and then quietly cleaned up the Kitchen. Under the satisfied gaze of the old Chef, she obediently withdrew. But no one noticed that at this moment, Rui'er’s gaze resembled that of a wolf—a vicious wolf eager for revenge and bloodshed.
Rui'er changed into a black outfit, covering her face with her hair, and silently slipped out through the back door along the wall of Ruo Mansion. The street was eerily quiet, not a single person in sight. Keeping her head down, she quickly made her way toward the City God Temple. When she was still some distance away from the City God Temple, she spotted the Old Beggar.
As Rui'er was sizing up the Old Beggar, he also lifted his head. Their eyes met, and Rui'er couldn't help but shiver.
Why did it suddenly become so cold?
She tightened her body as she approached the Old Beggar, seeing a face covered in wrinkles.
White—when she was at Yong'an Temple, she hadn’t paid attention to the Old Beggar's appearance. After all, at that time, he was just an old man begging in her eyes, and half of his face was covered by hair, making it hard to see clearly. Now, however, half of his face was exposed, revealing a birthmark the size of an infant's fist covered in lumps that looked exceptionally terrifying!
Rui'er involuntarily took a few steps back. The Old Beggar let out a light grunt and said, looking at her fear-filled eyes: "Miss, have you thought it through?"
Rui'er nervously swallowed. She didn’t want to look at the Old Beggar’s face, but her gaze seemed to be glued to that birthmark and couldn’t move away.
"I... I just came to see you; I... still need to think about that matter."
The Old Beggar smiled strangely: "No rush, no rush; you can take your time thinking. There’s still some time until Chen Time."
The Old Beggar reminded Rui'er once again. She clearly remembered that at Yongan Temple, the Old Beggar had told her that the opportunity to change her fate only came once and could only be before Chen Time.
Her palm still throbbed with pain, a reminder to Rui'er that she did not want to be a maid, nor did she want to spend her life as someone who could be freely scolded and beaten in the eyes of others. If she could change her fate, if she could become the wife of the Fourth-Rank Official, she would do anything, except give up her life.
Taking a deep breath, she shifted her gaze from the Old Beggar's birthmark to his murky eyes. "Were your words true at Yongan Temple? What exactly do you have in mind that can allow me to replace Luofu and become the Fourth-Rank Official's wife?"
"The Old Beggar never deceives people. There is indeed a way to replace Luofu. It just depends on whether you have the courage," the Old Beggar grinned, and his black birthmark seemed to shift, faintly resembling a face—a terrifying ghostly face with a smile.
Rui'er lowered her head and thought for a moment. "I have the courage, but I don't know if your method will work."
"Whether it works or not, young lady, you'll find out if you give it a try," the Old Beggar said as he unsteadily got to his feet and leaned closer to Rui'er. "You must remember, if this succeeds, there will be a rule you need to follow from then on."
"What rule?"
"Before Chen Time every day, do not look in the mirror!"
Rui'er was taken aback and instinctively asked, "What will happen if I do look?"
The Old Beggar chuckled, narrowing his eyes. "If you look, you will see something more terrifying than a ghost!"
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