’The fan he carries? Made with GOLD filigree work.’
’And Maya—who supposedly doesn’t wear "excessive" jewelry in the eyes of common people who only value weight and size—is actually dripping in expensive items:’
’Expensive jade bangles on her wrists’
’Expensive jade hairpins in her hair’
’Expensive jade earrings’
’Expensive jade ring’
’Her robes are made from costly silk with intricate embroidery’
’The waist chain she wears is gold worked into artistic designs so fine that it’s clearly the product of master craftsn’
’People here don’t recognize the value because they only understand "bigger = more expensive."’
’But I’ve seen enough worlds, enough luxury, enough true artistry to know: that delicate gold work is MORE expensive than a chunky gold bar. The craftsmanship, the artistry, the skill required—that’s where the real value lies.’
’So this household is DEFINITELY not as poor as they appear to casual observers.’
Heena’s analysis turned back to Chen Yifan’s motivations:
’And here’s what I know for SURE: if Chen Yifan had truly loved Maya as passionately as the story claims—if he’d been genuinely devoted to her happiness above all else—he would NOT have waited so long.’
’He would have imdiately pushed for the old Master to divorce Maya. Used his official influence to pressure the situation. Created so scandal or leverage to force the separation.’
’But NO. What did he actually do?’
’He waited until he could arrange for the old Master to DIE. Then he helped Maya inherit everything. Then he "rescued" her from her tragic widowhood.’
’And you know what’s NEVER written in the original story?’
’It never says they actually MARRIED each other afterward.’
’The story ending just says: "Maya left her pitiful circumstances with the male lead and lived happily."’
’But there’s NEVER a wedding scene. Never a marriage announcent. Never any confirmation that Chen Yifan actually made her his legal wife.’
’So you know what I’m guessing?’
’This bastard never even MARRIED her properly. He probably just took her as a mistress or kept woman—enjoying her company and the inherited wealth without the social damage of marrying a widow from scandal.’
Heena’s expression remained pleasant and serene as Chen Yifan approached.
Chen Yifan approached with a pleasant smile and said courteously, "Oh, young girl, hello! May I greet you? I am Chen Yifan. It’s a pleasure to et you."
Hearing that greeting, Heena looked at him with a deliberately strange expression and said, "Well, Young Master Chen, first of all, it looks like you don’t have proper education."
Hearing that shocking statent, Chen Yifan paused mid-step.
"Excuse ?" He looked slightly taken aback, his polite smile faltering.
Seeing his confusion, Heena smiled sweetly and said, "Well, you called ’young girl’ when I am actually a ’young lady’ or more accurately, a ’young mistress.’ Perhaps you’ve forgotten that I am already married?"
She pointed deliberately at her hair, which was styled in the traditional married woman’s bun, and continued: "Even if you sohow don’t know who my husband is—which is frankly impossible given your position and connections—you should at LEAST be able to tell from just LOOKING at my hair arrangent that I am a married woman."
She tilted her head innocently.
"And yet you’re still calling ’young girl’ as if I were an unmarried maiden. So I thought that either you’re not well-educated in basic social protocols, or perhaps your eyesight is failing you. Which is it?"
Hearing that absolutely cutting criticism delivered in such a sweet tone, Chen Yifan looked at her with slight irritation and said, "It seems like you’ve eaten firecrackers today, young... lady. Your words are quite sharp."
Hearing that response, Heena covered her mouth and laughed—a tinkling, feminine laugh that sounded completely innocent.
"Oh my, Young Lord Chen, you really do joke quite a lot!" She lowered her hand and her expression beca more serious. "But it’s not that I’ve eaten firecrackers. It’s just that you seem unable to understand simple social conventions."
She looked at him directly.
"What exactly is the ANING of approaching and speaking privately with a young married lady without her husband’s presence or permission? That’s quite inappropriate, don’t you think?"
Chen Yifan’s expression shifted to slight annoyance. "Lady Maya was quite right about you—"
Hearing that reference, Heena interrupted with another laugh and said, "Oh my! Look at this! I just cannot understand how you even BECA an official when you can’t follow basic forms of address!"
The man looked at Heena with growing frustration. "Excuse ?"
Heena looked at him with wide, innocent eyes and said, "Well, you just called my mother-in-law ’Lady Maya.’ Perhaps you’ve forgotten that she is a MARRIED WOMAN and should be addressed as ’Madam Maya’ or ’Mistress of the household,’ not ’Lady’ like so unmarried girl."
She paused for effect.
"If you continue using such familiar and inappropriate forms of address, I really should inform my father-in-law about how you refer to his wife. After all, perhaps you’ve forgotten that right now you’re in OUR district, and no matter what you might think about our family’s status, my father-in-law still has considerable reputation and influence here."
Hearing that thinly-veiled threat, Chen Yifan looked at her with barely-concealed anger and said, "I have to say, you really DO seem to belong to a servant’s family background. Your manners are quite... crude."
That was ant to be an insult—a direct attack on Heena’s known origins as a forr servant.
But Heena just smiled and said calmly, "And I have to say that YOU don’t look much like a proper official should. Your conduct leaves much to be desired."
The System, floating invisibly beside Heena, looked at her with alarm and whispered in her mind: ’Host! You should act pitiful! At least pretend to be sweet and warm! What kind of confrontational approach is THIS?! You’re going to dig our grave faster than Maya ever could!’
Hearing that panicked criticism, Heena looked ntally at the System and muttered back in her mind: ’Oh, so you want to get on my knees and BEG for my life from this bastard? Is that what you’re suggesting?’
The System had no good response to that.
anwhile, Chen Yifan was regaining his composure and said in what he probably thought was a mature, understanding tone: "I have to say, young... mistress, looking at your situation, I can now understand why Lady—I an, MADAM Maya’s life must be so difficult in this household."
He was clearly trying to imply that if Heena (a forr servant) was this difficult to deal with, Maya must be suffering terribly.
But before Heena could respond to that implied insult, a new voice cut into the conversation.
"Instead of worrying about my stepmother’s supposed difficulties," Samuel said as he walked up to join them, "how about you focus on doing the WORK you’re actually paid for, Official Chen?"
Samuel’s tone was polite but had a definite edge to it.
"After all, our regional administrator would probably not be pleased to learn that you’re spending your official working hours having private riverside conversations with married won instead of attending to your governntal duties. Don’t you agree?"
Hearing that pointed criticism from Samuel, Chen Yifan looked like he wanted to argue back.
But suddenly, one of his household servants ca running up from behind and whispered sothing urgently in his ear.
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