Chapter 021: The Bodhisattva Manifests

When Bixi brought the breakfast in, Fu Zhen had already been sitting at the table, sulking for a long time.

Bixi started observing her as soon as she entered.

At first, Fu Zhen didn't pay attention, but after finishing a bowl of chicken soup, she noticed Bixi's eyes widening even further with her peripheral vision. She couldn't ignore it, so she put down the bowl and said, "Is there a flower growing on my face?"

Bixi hurriedly shook her head. "No flowers, but there is something else on the young lady's face."

"Oh?" Fu Zhen picked up a yam cake with interest, "Tell me, what is it?"

Bixi, looking at the yam cake that had already disappeared in two bites, unconsciously widened her eyes a bit more. "It's, it's like the big-headed, big-mouthed thing from the deity pictures we hang during New Year's, the one with eyes under its arms!"

Fu Zhen paused and considered: "Taotie?"

"Yes, yes, Taotie!" Bixi clapped her hands, "That character is so complex; I've never been able to make it out, but the young lady is smart. They say that Taotie brings great fortune, and now the young lady looks very fortunate."

Eating well is a blessing!

Who knows how much trouble they've gone through over the years to help her eat a little more, how many ways her mother and others around her have thought of.

This yam cake, she could hardly finish half a piece before, but now she had already wolfed down three pieces in one sitting!

Fu Zhen smiled.

"Young lady," Bixi stared at her face again, "Actually, besides that Tao... the young lady has gained many things on her face, no, on her body, all over! All over! Things this servant has never seen before. They say the Bodhisattva at Baihe Temple is very efficacious. You went to the temple yesterday; could it be that the Bodhisattva revealed itself?"

Fu Zhen nodded solemnly: "It was indeed the Bodhisattva's revelation. The night before, I even dreamed of our family's old Uncle Grand Tutor speaking to me!"

"Really?" Bixi was astonished, "You dreamed of the Grand Tutor in person? What did he say?"

"He said, Zhen'er, the Bodhisattva cannot bear to see you and your mother bullied by bad people, so your death has been averted, and you can live a long life now.

"But starting today, you must properly manage the inner residence for your mother, restore order, and discipline all the unruly people to ensure that the reputation our Fu Family ancestors earned remains untarnished, or it would be a disservice to the Bodhisattva!"

Bixi was all tense: "Did the Grand Tutor truly tell the young lady that?"

"Is there any doubt?" Fu Zhen said earnestly, "Didn't you hear I hit the Second Miss yesterday? If it weren't for the Grand Tutor's order, why else would I dare to hit them yesterday? Where would I get the strength to hit them?

"This residence is the former home of loyal ministers and virtuous officials. Living here, we should be thinking about how to keep the household prosperous and stable, contributing to the court and common people. How could we only be thinking about profit, scheming, or even engaging in things like reversing black and white, ignoring rules and laws? Would that be worthy of the Grand Tutor? Of our Fu Family ancestors?"

Bixi, with her simple-minded nature, had originally been sent by Mrs. Fu to be Fu Zhen's playmate. But over time, other maids got married, and since there wasn't much to do around the courtyard, she was promoted to the position of a lead maid, mainly to keep Fu Zhen company and occasionally help Ziyan manage the house.

How clever could a little maid like her become?

Hearing Fu Zhen's vivid tale, she immediately believed it.

After gathering her thoughts for a while, she suddenly puffed out her chest: "The Grand Tutor was indeed wise, no wonder he could be the Grand Tutor! He, in his wisdom, sees everything happening in our household clearly from heaven!

"Those who are always scheming against others, engaging in sneaky and unorthodox ways to bully people—Miss, you're right, we must deal with them harshly! We can't live in the Grand Tutor's house and let them act evil, bringing shame to him!"

"Have you ever been bullied?" Fu Zhen asked her.

"Of course!" Bixi was excited all over, "Everyone in our courtyard has been bullied! Last month, Cai Xia by Second Miss's side kicked the vegetables sent by the head chef's courtyard to us. When I went to pick them up, she even stepped on my fingers! Ziyan also received slaps from the Second Miss."

Fu Zhen stopped chewing.

"Aren't the servants on the Qiluo Courtyard side under mother's direction?"

"What power does Madam have? The name registry is in the old lady's hands!"

The old lady!

Suddenly an unpleasant memory flashed through Fu Zhen's mind.

Two months ago on the Lantern Festival, the whole family went to pay respects to the old lady of the Fu family and had a reunion banquet. As usual, the young men and women of the family would prepare poems or homemade dishes to show their filial piety.

Fu Zhen steamed a basket of dim sum in the shapes of jade rabbits and peonies, but before the banquet was over, the old lady clutched her throat and couldn't breathe. After an investigation, it turned out the basket of dim sum Fu Zhen had prepared contained peanuts, something the old lady strictly avoided!

Fu Rou loudly accused her of having a cruel heart, trying to harm her grandmother by giving her peanuts.

The old lady punished Fu Zhen to kneel in the Buddha hall all night, in such cold weather! Mrs. Fu pleaded, injuring her forehead, and was forced under the old lady's implicit threats to trade six thousand taels to buy a three hundred mu estate hastily sold by others in the southern suburbs to take Fu Zhen back to her room.

Later, Fu Zhen was ill for many days and shivered with fear at the mention of going to the main house.

This illness led Mrs. Fu, feeling exhausted and frustrated, to take her to Baihe Temple to draw lots.

Fu Zhen was never favored by the old lady since childhood. This time, with great sincerity, she wanted to repair their relationship and show goodwill for her mother in the main house. How could she intentionally include peanuts to harm the old lady? Each ingredient and step was personally handled by her, ensuring no mistake was possible.

Now too much time had passed to trace the clue and uncover the real culprit.

But what about the estate worth five thousand taels?

Fu Zhen tapped her fingers on the table, then picked up the bowl to sip the soup.

Bixi, watching her with eyes burning brightly, prompted Fu Zhen to say, "In the future, when you've been wronged, you must tell me. Don't hide anything you see or hear from me, also, there will likely be more people coming to our courtyard, you must keep a good watch over everyone for me.

"In our courtyard, rules not previously established must now be set, understand?"

"This servant understands!" Bixi nodded heavily, "This servant will never defy the young lady! Just like last night, this servant will staunchly guard this gate! Honestly, this servant has long wanted to act as the Grand Tutor mentioned! Just didn't dare..."

"Hush!"

Fu Zhen covered her mouth before she finished speaking: "Most importantly, you absolutely must not let a third person know about things like last night.

"Among the matters I entrust to you, unless permitted by me, not a word is to be said outside, including to mother, to avoid worrying her. Remember that, will you?"