Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Terrifying Maid, Wei Qingmei

Gu Dao was sleeping soundly, fueled by the wine he had consumed, when he was jolted awake by Yuan Cong, who was wielding a rattan switch as thick as a finger.

The strikes were ruthless, leaving a large, bloody welt on his backside.

"Grandmaster, I only skipped class to have a drink; was this really necessary?" Gu Dao huddled in the corner, holding a quilt with one hand to ward off the switch while frantically rubbing his rear with the other.

Yuan Cong, knowing his student would try to flee, had long since had the doors and windows barricaded. He was so infuriated that the rattan in his hand trembled, his expression that of someone performing a righteous act of purging his own kin.

"You scoundrel! I’ve ignored your usual antics because you’re young and restless, but a person must have a bottom line. Do you know your mistake?"

Seeing that Yuan Cong was genuinely incensed, Gu Dao felt a prickle of fear. Yet, upon careful reflection, he couldn't recall doing anything so heinous as to invite divine wrath. Was there some misunderstanding?

He quickly asked: "Old man, please speak clearly. What exactly happened? I’ve been behaving myself lately; I really haven't caused any trouble."

Yuan Cong’s lips quivered with rage. "You dare quibble? Then tell me, what is this about the girl from the Wei family?"

The Wei family? Gu Dao only knew one person with that surname.

"Wei Qingmei?" he asked tentatively.

Yuan Cong raised the switch and lashed out, roaring, "Scoundrel, so you admit it..."

*What did I just admit to?* Gu Dao wondered, raising his quilt to defend himself. He had been blindsided earlier, but now that he was prepared, there was no way he would just stand there and take a beating.

After a chaotic scuffle, Yuan Cong was left panting for breath, leaning on the rattan switch, too exhausted to even scold him further. Only then did Gu Dao help him into a chair and say, "Grandmaster, you’re at such an age, why are you still so hot-headed? It’s one thing if your beating doesn't hurt me, but what if you tire yourself out?"

Gu Dao prattled on, while Yuan Cong fumed, thinking, *If you hadn't dodged, would I be this exhausted?*

Gu Dao continued: "I only had a verbal spat with Wei Qingmei; I didn't do anything to her. Where is this fire coming from?"

Yuan Cong laughed in anger, gasping, "Heh, didn't do anything to her? Her grandmother is in the parlor right now, having personally delivered her granddaughter to you. She said you are free to do with her as you please."

Gu Dao was left stunned. A grandmother personally delivering her own granddaughter to someone else’s house and saying they could do as they pleased? Was she even her own kin?

Then it hit him—the situation had spiraled out of control.

He quickly explained his feud with Wei Qingmei, including the incident at the tavern where he and Dong Kuo had mocked her.

Yuan Cong slapped him on the head, shouting indignantly, "You fool! You can joke about anything, but how could you mock the Wei family’s reputation for keeping their word?"

Gu Dao felt aggrieved. How big of a deal could this be? "Grandmaster, wasn't it just some petty squabbling? Why does the Wei family take it so seriously?"

Yuan Cong looked at Gu Dao, his complex expression turning to one of helplessness. He sighed: "It seems you truly do not know."

Then, Yuan Cong told him the story. During the years of war between the Great Qian and the Northern Di, Gu Dao’s maternal grandfather was once trapped beyond the Great Wall, and the imperial court had no troops to send. Gu Dao’s grandmother begged the Wei family for help, and they agreed. To honor that promise, the three sons of the Wei family led their retainers beyond the wall and rescued him.

But of the three sons who left, only half of them returned. Two of Wei Qingmei’s uncles died in battle, and her father lost his legs, leaving him a broken man.

Upon hearing this, Gu Dao’s head throbbed. He had essentially driven a knife into the heart of his family's benefactor. This wasn't something he could dismiss with "I didn't know." If not handled properly, he would be social pariah. In other words, anyone could doubt the Wei family's integrity, but the Xu family could not. The Xu family owed the Wei family two and a half lives. If one counted up to Gu Dao’s generation, it was two and a half lives plus the life of his grandfather. Since the Xu family was gone, Gu Dao was their closest living kin. The values of this world dictated that he could not treat this lightly. Otherwise, he would be truly despised by all.

"It’s all that girl’s fault for having such a sharp tongue and hanging around Gu Ling. It’s not entirely my fault," Gu Dao reasoned to himself.

Yuan Cong ignored his ramblings and led Gu Dao to the parlor.

Wei Qingmei no longer wore her sharp-tongued expression, and her face lacked its usual brightness. She stood there like a walking corpse. Princess Jinse was keeping a small, thin old woman company, while Yuan Cong’s concubine, Yun Xiang, sat by, carefully tending to them.

The old woman had been smiling kindly, but the moment Gu Dao appeared, her eyes turned cold and her aura shifted violently. A wave of murderous intent surged toward Gu Dao.

Yuan Cong quickly spoke first: "Sister-in-law of the Wei family, I have already punished the boy. It was merely a child's jest; please do not take it to heart."

Yuan Cong might be ruthless when disciplining Gu Dao, but when it mattered, he was willing to swallow his pride to protect him.

The old woman’s face remained as gloomy as a winter sky; Yuan Cong’s words did not clear the clouds. Her voice sounded like metal grinding against metal: "That is your business. I have delivered the girl; the three-month term as a maid starts now."

As she spoke, she stared at Gu Dao like a wolf eyeing its prey. She emphasized every word: "The Wei family keeps its word. Regardless of gender, regardless of age, regardless of status."

This was clearly aimed at Gu Dao. He forced an awkward smile and asked cautiously, "Old Madam, is it too late for me to apologize?"

The old woman ignored him, stood up, nodded at Yuan Cong, and left with a trembling gait. The moment she crossed the threshold, Wei Qingmei collapsed to the floor, her face pale as a sheet, sobbing silently. It was clear she had been severely disciplined by her grandmother before arriving.

After seeing the old woman off, Gu Dao returned to find his path blocked by Wei Qingmei: "This servant greets the young master. Please, sir, instruct me on what I must do."

The despair in her tone could reach the rafters. Gu Dao thought, *Do I even dare use you as a maid?*

"Miss Wei, at the end of the day, this was just a war of words. I have a loose mouth and shouldn't have mocked your family’s principles. I apologize." He added, "Why don't you head back home?"

Gu Dao didn't want to be a social outcast; he still intended to make his mark on this world. He couldn't challenge the fundamental values of this society before he had even begun. Thus, he lowered his stance, hoping to send this "plague god" away.

To his surprise, Wei Qingmei shook her head firmly, saying in a cold, hard voice: "The ancestral teachings of the Wei family: descendants of the Wei clan must keep their word."

Gu Dao thought, *I know, you don't have to repeat it.* He was about to try a different approach, but Wei Qingmei continued: "If the task remains unfinished and death ensues, the descendants shall continue it. Those who do not strive to the end shall be expelled from the Wei clan. The Wei clan may perish, but our principles shall never die."

She shouted the last sentence at the top of her lungs. Gu Dao felt a chill run down his spine. This was no family motto; it was a manifesto for extremists.

He realized the brilliance of the Wei ancestors—it was the very thing that ensured the family’s enduring legacy. Keeping one's word was a moral standard. By taking it to the extreme, the Wei family had forged an impenetrable suit of moral armor. The Emperor would favor them because loyalty, too, was a promise. The commoners would respect them.

And now, Gu Dao hated them. He was trapped in a moral snare: if he didn't let Wei Qingmei keep her word, he was undermining the Wei family’s principles—and given their extremist nature, she might even kill herself. But if he treated her as a maid, the Wei family would keep their word, but he would become a man who returned kindness with ingratitude.

His grandfather still owed them two and a half lives—who knew if that had even been repaid?

Gu Dao sighed: "I am more wronged than Dou E. If this were June, it would surely snow."

He had transmigrated, yet hadn't seen a cent of the wealth his mother left behind, only to be oppressed by the Gu family. And now, trying to find some peace, his loose mouth had saddled him with his grandfather’s debt. And he couldn't just ignore it.

"Young Master Xiu Zhi, who is Dou E? And why would it snow in June?" asked the little Princess Jinse, curious.

Gu Dao had forgotten that this world didn't have "The Injustice to Dou E," and she wouldn't understand the reference. "Children shouldn't ask about adult matters. Go back to sleep," he said, using a tone one would use to soothe a child.

Princess Jinse wasn't having it. She puffed out her pink cheeks and grumbled: "Young Master Xiu Zhi, we haven't even had dinner, why would I go to sleep? You must be muddled from the wine."

Gu Dao looked at the sky; it hadn't completely darkened yet. But as he looked at the little princess, an idea struck him. "Jinse, Wei Qingmei is a capable maid; why don't you let her serve you?"

Though innocent, the princess wasn't easily fooled. She shook her head frantically: "Young Master Xiu Zhi, don't try to harm me."

Wei Qingmei gave a cold laugh and spoke with bitterness: "Young Master Gu, I am your maid; naturally, I can only serve you. Otherwise, how can it be called keeping one's word? Are you trying to force me to my death?"

She brought up death the moment she opened her mouth—truly a family of extremists. It was clear she realized the predicament he was in. She hated Gu Dao for the words he had spoken to Dong Kuo: "Does the Gu family’s promise depend on gender?"

She had nearly been expelled from her family because of it, and her grandmother had sent her here to be a maid. But she wouldn't let Gu Dao off easily. She would force him to be an ungrateful wretch, despised by all. By insisting on serving him, she was backing him into a corner.

Gu Dao wanted to settle the matter. Even though it was born of ignorance, it had indeed gone too far. He said as calmly as he could: "Miss Wei, I didn't expect things to turn out this way. But there's no need for this to continue. I can apologize, I can have my elders explain, or if you need any compensation, just name it."

Wei Qingmei looked up at Gu Dao, her eyes flashing with hatred. A cold sneer curled her lips: "Fine. Give the position of the Gu family’s heir to Brother Jiuzhang. Can you do that?"

Hearing this, Gu Dao looked at her, his eyes filled with mockery. He had never expected this demand. So, this world had "love-struck fools" too.

Princess Jinse covered her mouth, staring at Wei Qingmei in shock, as if looking at a rare beast. How could such a thing be possible? To have a millennium-old family change its heir? Even the Emperor wouldn't dare say such a thing lightly. Had Wei Qingmei gone mad?

Yuan Cong, who had left, returned, clearly having heard the demand. His gaze became heavy and dark, like endless storm clouds, with lightning ready to strike. Wei Qingmei didn't dare meet his eyes, but she turned her head away stubbornly and gave Gu Dao a mocking look.

Gu Dao quickly grabbed Yuan Cong’s wide sleeve, preventing the brewing storm. "Grandmaster, I will resolve the affairs of us young people myself."

Yuan Cong looked at Gu Dao, a flash of guilt passing through his eyes. An outsider dared to force him to give up his position as heir. One could only imagine what this child had endured within the Gu family.

"The Wei family is not invincible. I do not owe them favors; if I want to crush them, I can."

Gu Dao quickly coaxed him. "Yes, yes, I know you’re powerful. There’s steam-pot chicken tonight; why don't you go check on that? I’ll teach her how to do her job."