Fanfiction System in the world of Eastern Fantasy

"Uhh… she is… well… she is…" As Qin Wei seemed extremely stressed and looked like a guilty husband, caught while he was cheating with another woman, Jiang Ni sat up on her knees.

She turned her head with languid grace, brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear before replying with a faint frown. "Jiang Ni," she said. "Personal maid to the young master. And if I remember correctly, aren't you a battle maid? Who are you to burst into his chambers without permission, like that?"

Roulan's nostrils flared. Her voice sharpened like the edge of a drawn blade as she said, "I am his protector."

Jiang Ni rose from the bed, slow and deliberate, her gaze never leaving Roulan's. "With me at his side," she said smoothly, "he doesn't need another protector."

Roulan stepped forward, her boots inches from the bed. "I was appointed by the Li Patriarch. That's more than your self-declared title. And while Lady Xue is away, I'm also the acting lady of Moonvilla. No one approaches the young master without my permission, certainly not some stranger walking in unannounced."

A brief silence followed her statement.

Qin Wei, caught between them like a scroll about to be torn in two, felt the cold sweat form on his back. For a second, he felt as if he was caught in the middle of a battle between a tiger and a phoenix.

"Ahem… Ladies." He cleared his throat. "Calm down for a second. Let me introduce you to each other properly."

Both pairs of eyes flicked toward him in unison.

Qin Wei first looked at his protector, "Roulan, this is Jiang Ni, my personal maid. She's been with me since childhood. She's also a disciple of Blossom Valley Sect, but…" he added quickly. "At the moment, she returned to my side."

Roulan's brow twitched. Her eyes narrowed slightly, observing the lady.

"She'll be staying here from now on," Qin Wei went on. "According to the rules you recited to me, I'm responsible for her housing and provisions."

Then he turned to Jiang Ni, his gaze a little softer now. "And Jiang'er… this is Roulan. She was assigned by my father-in-law. I trust her more than anyone in this clan."

He let the words settle, then added, "So, like it or not… I expect you two to get along. Both of you are on the same side anyway."

Jiang Ni crossed her arms under her chest, chin lifted high as her lips curled into a sneer in response to the introduction.

"Hmph. I can take care of young master on my own," she said, voice sharp and dismissive. "We don't need outsiders sticking their noses in. Young Master can request the Li Patriarch to dismiss her. And if he insists on keeping her, then it will confirm that this woman is not Young Master's protector but a prison guard."

Roulan's eyes flared at her comment. She took a step forward, the silk hem of her robe swishing with purpose. "Outsider?" she echoed coldly. "You're the outsider here, Jiang Ni. Everyone in this residence serves the Li Clan, even the young master himself, whether by blood or bond. You're the only one with no ties."

Qin Wei rubbed his temples, feeling the pressure climb like steam in a kettle.

Roulan's gaze then turned to him, her voice firm. "And don't forget, young master, the rules of the clan are clear. While you're allowed to bring in maids as you like, if they are above rank five, their stay must be approved by me."

Qin Wei's brows drew together. He remembers that rule very well, and he would want to keep her away, too, but his body just doesn't listen. The original Qin Wei was quite close to Jiang Ni after all.

As he doesn't want to disappoint her by just admitting it right away, he faked his displeasure by clicking his tongue. "But Jiang Ni isn't just some maid. She's family. You can't treat her as just some maid."

Jiang Ni turned, her expression softening in an instant. Her voice dropped to a tender coo as she leaned in. "Oh, young master… I'm so touched."

Qin Wei visibly flinched.

Her tone was sweet, but a little too sweet to the point that it slightly made him uncomfortable.

He took a quick step back and cleared his throat. "That said… Yes. We should follow the household rules."

Jiang Ni blinked, caught off guard. "Young master?"

He gave a helpless shrug, forcing a bitter smile. "Jiang'er, you forgot that I'm just a matrilocal husband here," he said quietly. "I don't have the right to make decisions on residence or personnel. And in Li Xue's absence, she has the right to make the decisions." He tilted his head toward Roulan.

Jiang Ni's expression changed to something colder as she turned to face Roulan again. Her lips pressed together for a moment.

"Fine," she said finally. "What do I have to do to stay?"

Roulan crossed her arms slowly, her expression, although unreadable, her chin tilted, but her gaze steady. "It's nothing excessive. I'm not an unfair person," she began, maintaining an authoritative tone. "But if you want to stay, there are rules that you must follow, that's all."

Jiang Ni raised a brow but said nothing.

"First," Roulan continued, "you're not allowed to remain in the young master's residence past midnight. Whether you warm his bed or not," she added without flinching, "your place, as a maid, is in the servants' quarters. That's the rule for everyone."

Jiang Ni's fingers twitched.

"Second. Your clothing. I don't care how free you were in the Qin Clan, but here, you wear standard maid attire during daylight, simple hanfu, no ornaments or distractions. Regardless of what Young Master gives you as a gift, you cannot wear it within the premises of Moonvilla. You can only wear it when you step outside of Moonvilla. Even if you want to guard Young Master past midnight, you can only guard him outside, never inside."

Jiang Ni's smile tightened, but she said nothing.

"Last but not least," Roulan said, her tone dipping further as she continued, "until I decide you're trustworthy, you are not to take the young master anywhere alone. If I'm unavailable, one of our own will accompany you. No exceptions. As long as you follow these three rules, you can continue serving Young Master within Moonvilla. If I see you break these rules, you will be subjected to punishment on your first and second warning. Then, expulsion on the third."

Silence lingered in the room like thick fog for a while.

Jiang Ni's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze locked on Roulan. The tension pulsed for a bit until Jiang Ni gave a half-shrug. "Alright," she said. "I agree with the rules."

Qin Wei stood off to the side, observing them both. He seemed like he was at the center of it all, but somehow also the one with zero power to do anything. To get that power, he either had to become stronger or become a significant person to the Clan.

To become stronger, he had a long way to go, but to become a significant person, Qin Wei was confident that he could become one as long as his talismans were well-received by the public.

Moments after the verbal standoff diffused into an uneasy silence, Qin Wei asked about it, whether his father-in-law had come to a decision or not.

Roulan adjusted the folds of her sleeve and stepped closer. Without a word, she pulled out a rolled parchment, bound with a gold-inked Li Clan insignia, and handed it to Qin Wei.

"From the Patriarch," she said plainly, but her eyes lingered on his face, studying him.

Qin Wei's expression lit up instantly, almost forgetting whatever the tension transpired in the room just a moment ago.

"Ah! Finally, the father-in-law replied."