The Hour of Xu.
Yao Zuizui attended to Xue Rui, helping him finish his meal and bathe before carrying him to bed.
Xue Rui was so lazy that he refused to even walk. Indoors, he relied on a wheelchair, and when he had to stand, Yao Zuizui had to support his entire weight. He truly spared no effort—except when it came to indulging himself.
However, Yao Zuizui didn’t wash his front today as she had yesterday. After scrubbing his back, she was ready to call it a night.
Unexpectedly, Xue Rui actually spoke: “Why aren’t you washing the front?”
Speaking was exhausting, but for the sake of comfort, he forced himself to utter a few extra words.
Yao Zuizui maintained the meekness befitting a maidservant and pretended not to hear.
Xue Rui, seeing that she ignored him, felt a pang of disappointment.
Talking was too tiring. He couldn’t be bothered to repeat himself.
Do it himself? Even more exhausting. Forget it.
And so, Xue Rui, left unsatisfied, was carried back to bed by Yao Zuizui.
Before leaving, she cast him a deep glance and shut the door behind her.
Xue Rui was puzzled by her final look—was there a hint of warning in it?
Never mind. Thinking was too much effort. He closed his eyes and began his favorite activity—sleeping.
===
Yao Zuizui closed the door and stepped out from behind the curtain, just in time to see Guigui waiting anxiously nearby.
“Guigui, I’m on duty tonight. It’s cold outside—you should go rest.”
Under the dim lamplight, Guigui’s eyes shimmered like rippling water, gentle and bright.
Yao Zuizui smiled. “Alright.”
Under Guigui’s gaze, Yao Zuizui disappeared from sight. A faint smile curled at Guigui’s lips.
But Yao Zuizui had no intention of obediently going to sleep.
She merely turned a corner, vanishing from Guigui’s view.
Pressing herself against the wall, she peeked out to observe Guigui, who still lingered by the door.
Just then, she heard a voice.
“Guigui? What are you doing sneaking around so late?”
Yao Zuizui turned to see Xue Qi, the eldest legitimate son of the second branch of the Xue family, standing behind her in a sapphire-blue robe, leering at her.
Though Xue Qi was fair-skinned and decent-looking, the dark circles under his eyes and his dissipated appearance made him repulsive at a glance.
He had been eyeing Guigui for a long time. Yao Zuizui remembered clearly—he was the one who had driven Guigui to her death!
Guigui had refused to submit to him, but he relentlessly pursued her until she had no choice but to drown herself in a lake.
However, because Yao Zuizui now inhabited this body, the Xue family believed Guigui had merely slipped into the water and fallen gravely ill.
Now that she had recovered, Xue Qi was back to harass her.
Yao Zuizui had no intention of being polite.
She gave a perfunctory bow and retorted, “What brings Second Young Master Xue to our courtyard? The young master is already asleep. He only ordered me to check the treasury inventory—lest thieves take advantage. As the saying goes, ‘Beware of thieves within the household.'”
Xue Qi was the epitome of a spoiled noble, spending his days in brothels and squandering money. The second branch’s allowance was never enough for him, so he often tried to extort Xue Rui, the favored son of Lady Xue, who cared little for his own affairs.
Xue Qi had profited greatly from this—until now.
Yao Zuizui’s insinuation infuriated him. “How dare you call me a thief?!”
Yao Zuizui yawned and shook her head innocently. “I never said such a thing. I was merely reminding Second Young Master to ensure the courtyard gates are secured. I didn’t mention you at all!”
“Know your place! In this household, who is the master? You’re nothing but a lowly servant!” Xue Qi jabbed a finger toward her face.
“Madam, why are you here so late?” Yao Zuizui suddenly looked past him, speaking sweetly.
Xue Qi’s legs trembled violently. He forced himself to turn around—only to find no one there.
Furious, he spun back, but Guigui had already vanished.
“Fine! What a sharp-tongued wench!” Xue Qi punched the wall. “Just you wait!”
After his empty threat, he hurried away, heart pounding. If Lady Xue really had come, he needed to leave immediately.
===
After toying with Xue Qi, Yao Zuizui returned to the night-duty room.
As soon as she entered, she saw Guigui, disheveled and weeping, rushing out of Xue Rui’s chamber.
Spotting Yao Zuizui, Guigui paused, tears streaming down her face.
“Have you come to mock me, sister?” Guigui dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, the picture of a weeping beauty.
“I forgot my handkerchief.” Yao Zuizui pointed to the one left on the stool and swiftly tucked it into her sleeve.
Guigui was too distraught to care. She sobbed quietly, afraid of disturbing the young master’s sleep.
“Guigui… the young master rejected me. What am I to do?” Guigui covered her face, weeping uncontrollably.
Moments ago, Guigui had slipped into Xue Rui’s room.
Xue Rui was fast asleep, his face bathed in moonlight, flawless as jade, his features like a painting.
To become his concubine would be the greatest fortune.
Trembling with excitement, Guigui peeled off her outer garments, then her underclothes.
Though the room was heated, it was still winter. The cold air raised goosebumps on her bare skin.
Nervous, she took her time undressing before climbing onto Xue Rui’s bed.
But she couldn’t slip under the covers—Yao Zuizui had wrapped Xue Rui up tightly like a dumpling, layer upon layer.
Guigui fumbled around, nearly in tears. There was no gap to squeeze into.
Worse, Xue Rui slept soundly, not kicking or turning, keeping the blankets firmly tucked.
Desperate, Guigui blew softly into his ear. “Young Master, let me in!”
Xue Rui, deep in slumber, didn’t stir.
Shivering, Guigui rubbed her arms and called again.
By the time she was nearly frozen, Xue Rui finally heard her pleading.
Frowning, he growled a single word: “Leave!”
Guigui flinched. Why wouldn’t he open his eyes?
If he saw her beautiful body, he wouldn’t say such a thing.
Biting her lip, she stared at him—but his eyes remained shut.
Guigui knew Xue Rui’s temper. Disturbing his sleep was unforgivable.
She remembered the last maidservant who had forced her way into his bed—banished to the countryside, married off to a peasant, doomed to a life of misery.
Xue Rui must not yet know the pleasures of the flesh. As his chambermaid, it was her duty to teach him.
Her delicate hand slid downward, groping through the thick blankets.
“Young Master, it feels wonderful,” she whispered, her voice dripping with seduction.
Finally, Xue Rui opened his eyes.
His clear gaze, reflecting the moonlight, held undisguised disgust. “Leave!”
The warning was unmistakable. Merely waking him was a grave offense.
Of course he knew it felt good—Guigui had made sure of that.
But he couldn’t be bothered to move.
No servant understood him like Guigui, who never demanded effort from him, handling everything perfectly.
Xue Rui missed her terribly, loathing the woman before him.
Guigui was wounded by his revulsion.
Nothing could be more humiliating.
A beautiful young woman, stripped bare, and he wouldn’t even glance at her?
Was she not attractive enough?
Impossible. Xue Qi and even the third branch’s master had hinted at their desires.
But she wanted Xue Rui—handsome, promising.
Unable to endure his contempt, she fled, wrapping herself in her clothes as she ran to the duty room, sobbing.
Even if Yao Zuizui witnessed her shame, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
Yao Zuizui sat beside her and sighed. “Go rest. I’ll take your shift tonight.”
Guigui, red-eyed, sniffled. “I just want to change my fate. Is that wrong?”
“I don’t want my children to be slaves like me. Is that wrong?” Her handkerchief was soaked with tears.
Yao Zuizui handed her a fresh one. “You’re not wrong. But changing your fate isn’t about sleeping with someone…”
Guigui laughed bitterly. “Guigui, don’t you understand? For women like us, besides beauty and marriage, what chance do we have?”
Yao Zuizui couldn’t meet her gaze, afraid of adding to her pain.
In Guigui’s world, she wasn’t wrong.
Women couldn’t hold office, enter politics, or earn scholarly honors.
Marriage was their only turning point.
Yao Zuizui didn’t preach her own beliefs. She only said, “But becoming the young master’s concubine is impossible.”
Guigui wiped her tears. “I don’t believe it. He’s just not grown yet… He’ll understand someday…”
Yao Zuizui nudged her out. “Go rest. Stop crying.”
Guigui nodded weakly. “Guigui, please… persuade him for me.”
“…” Yao Zuizui nodded vaguely, ushering her out.
Inside, Xue Rui’s soft snores rose in a rhythmic melody, amusing Yao Zuizui.
What a blissfully ignorant pig…
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