Chapter 82: Heartfelt Conversation
“Could it be that these people aren’t deaf? How are they going to serve their masters by moving so slowly?”
Bai Luochu sneered in her heart. She was able to guess their thoughts as they entered the residence when her uncle’s family was in charge. It wasn’t strange for them to think that he was the true owner of the residence.
However, Bai Luochu wasn’t in a hurry to bring these servants under her control. Her return to the general's residence wasn’t to get involved with a battle of wits or guts with these insignificant people. The person she was waiting for had yet to return and as such, she was going to allow these servants to hop around for a few days. No matter what, they were merely grasshoppers. They wouldn’t be able to hop around for long after she was done with them.
The servants who were kneeling in the courtyard didn’t utter a sound but they were mocking Bai Luochu in their hearts.
Just an orphaned daughter who couldn’t die. A jinx who caused her parents’ death. After spending such a long time outside, how dare you return and scream at us? Heh, wait till your lord uncle and his family comes back. The Young Lady will definitely tear up your face!
“I shall settle with Uncle Liang’s arrangements. Go and do whatever you’re supposed to be doing. Now that I’m back, I won’t feed the slackers.” Bai Luochu originally wanted to reach out to pick up her teacup. However, she realized that after she returned to the residence, no one bothered to serve her a cup of tea.
Uncle Liang naturally noticed Bai Luochu’s action and a fire ignited in his heart. He yelled at those servants, “What are you doing? All of you knew that the Young Lady was coming back but none of you prepared hot tea for her?! You’re a waste of space here in the general’s residence!”
The only response he received was the twitching of their mouths. It was obvious that they didn’t put Bai Luochu in their eyes.
Just as Uncle Liang was going to yell at them again, Bai Luochu gestured for him to stop.
“All of you can leave. There is nothing else for you to do here. Don’t be lazy in the future.” Bai Luochu waved her hand and dismissed all these servants.
The moment they received Bai Luochu’s order, all of them scattered like birds and beasts into a forest. They returned to the side room to continue whatever they were doing.
Uncle Liang saw what Bai Luochu did and he couldn’t understand her actions. “Young Lady, that was obviously the best opportunity to beat them up. Why did you let them off so easily?”
The corner of Bai Luochu’s mouth curled upwards and she replied with a question of her own, “Uncle Liang, did you forget what I said yesterday?”
When Uncle Liang heard the question, his eyes drooped as he started to recall the words Bai Luochu spoke to him the day before.
“Young Lady, seeing that your lord uncle and his family won’t be around these few days, why don’t you hurry up and establish your position in the residence? Can’t you retrieve your things another day?”
“Uncle Liang, these slaves were all brought in by my uncle and even if I spent a few days to bring them under my control, some ingrates might return to his side the moment he returns. There is a saying, ‘To capture the bandits, one has to first capture the chief’. If I don’t completely overturn my uncle’s position, how can I take back the general's residence? Isn’t that right, Uncle Liang?”
There was a smile on Bai Luochu’s face but her eyes were cold and dark. A ruthless light flashed through them.
When Uncle Liang looked into her eyes, he was shocked and it was like a bucket of water was poured over him. He immediately came back to his senses.
When Bai Luochu saw that Uncle Liang understood the meaning behind her words, she asked Uncle Liang to wait outside as she gave Cai Ling some instructions.
The moment the order for Uncle Liang to leave came out of Bai Luochu’s mouth, he didn’t hesitate and left the courtyard. However, he felt a sense of discomfort in his heart as the Young Lady was completely different from the innocent and kind-hearted one in the past. Right now, the young lady was vicious and ruthless. Uncle Liang no longer bothered with the changes in her personality and he blamed it on her experiences. Young Lady changed so much due to her encounter with misfortune. It’s natural for her personality to change drastically...
“Mistress, do you have any instructions for me?” When Cai Ling saw Bai Luochu dismissing everyone, she understood that Bai Luochu had important matters to inform her.
“Do you understand where you are right now?” In the end, Bai Luochu was still unable to completely trust Cai Ling. If this servant girl had carelessly joined the Palace of Brilliance Resurgence, it was better for her to be sent back now. It would allow Bai Luochu and Cai Ling to both escape from trouble and misfortune in the future.
“I know. Commander Ying mentioned that the Palace of Brilliance Resurgence isn’t an ordinary place. The moment it is established, there will be plenty of challenges and dangers during the developmental stage.”
“Are you still willing to join us?” Bai Luochu’s brows arched upwards as she was doubtful. Even if Cai Ling was an orphan, she shouldn’t behave like this.
“This servant grew up in the wild without parents and had always lived a carefree life. I possess no weakness and will never be threatened by anyone. This is naturally the reason Commander Ying accepted this servant into the Palace of Brilliance Resurgence. Also, this servant does not wish to live a poor life where I have to fight over food with the dogs. When Commander Ying rescued this servant, I was about to be sent to the mountain bandits as a sacrificial wife in order to trade for peaceful days for my village.”
Why! Who gave them the authority to do that?! None of them showed any kindness to a servant like me but the moment trouble came knocking at the door, all of them chose to sacrifice me.
“It was at that moment that this servant understood that lowering one’s presence wouldn’t be enough. People will try to step over my head anyway. Thus, I felt the need to grow strong. Strong enough so that no one will be able to beat me… No one will ever be able to take advantage of me again!”
“This servant understands that my words may sound like a joke to Mistress, but they convey my true feelings. This servant hopes that Mistress will allow me to continue to be of service. This servant will prove my worth.”
As soon as Cai Ling finished speaking, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed with a loud ‘thud’.
Bai Luochu was shocked to discover the little servant girl’s aspirations. Bai Luochu liked her more and more as she quickly helped Cai Ling up.
“Doesn’t Mistress think that I’m a joke? When this servant said the same thing to the other sisters who had joined the Palace of Brilliance Resurgence, all of them laughed at me for overestimating myself.” She almost choked as she spoke.
“How can sparrows and swallows know the ambitions of the great swan? They simply want to find a safe place to live out the rest of their days. Do you know why I chose you to come with me?” Bai Luochu asked.
“This servant doesn’t know.” Cai Ling looked at Bai Luochu and shook her head.
“Because you were the only person who dared to look directly into my eyes. It’s not easy for someone to possess such courage towards the unknown. My return to the general’s residence is the same as stirring up a huge wave in a stagnant lake. If my attendant is a coward, I will probably have to fight this battle myself. It will be difficult for me to achieve anything. As you have seen, there is no one I can trust in the general’s residence...”