Character Index
Zhao Wei: The former Minister of War, he held a leadership role among his generation (Wenyuan's uncles). He played an important role in leading his cousins to change allegiance to Wenyuan from the Grand Duke. He was stripped of his position and exiled from the capital due to corruption charges, which he accepted in exchange for Wenyuan's tacit agreement of protection for the rest of the Zhao clan.
Zhao Mingfang: A member of the Zhao clan who had a lot of ambition but little power or ability to follow through, he tried to screw Kayla over multiple times with varying success in order to gain power, with his final attempt to testify against Kayla to the Imperial Investigator Bureau resulting in the death of him, his brother, and his brother-in-law, as the Bureau's interests were aligned with Kayla's.
Zhao Mingfu: Mingfang's younger brother who had helped in his plots, he was poisoned by Hu Qing along with his brother on Kayla's orders after offering to testify against her to the Bureau.
Zhao Yihui: One of Wenyuan's uncles who holds some influence among his generation, he switched allegiances to Kayla along with Zhao Wei but remained distrustful of his nephew.
Zhao Yuanji: A mid-ranking official and one of Wenyuan's uncles, he switched allegiances to Kayla along with Zhao Wei, and is more level-headed than most of his cousins.
Zhao Ke: A low-ranking official and one of Wenyuan's uncles, he switched allegiances to Kayla along with Zhao Wei.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Kayla's right-hand man and close friend. He is the rightful heir to the Liang household but was usurped by his older brother while still an infant.
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, an ambitious and charismatic man who is currently the primary contender to the throne.
Matron Li: An older female servant who was sent to the Zhao household in order to protect Wenyuan's father Zhao Kangyu on the orders of Empress Zhao (Empress of Emperor Gaozong, grandfather to the current Emperor). She has watched Wenyuan grow up and is loyal to him. She also bears a grudge against the Grand Duke for the death of her daughter at his hands.
Accountant Wu: The accountant of the Grand Duke, introduced this chapter.
Chujiao/Jing Shuyou: Cousin of Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong, she was sent to infiltrate the Zhao household at a very young age and became Wenyuan's personal serving girl. She received a gift of red jade and the name Chujiao from the Imperial Princess.
Sun Zhong'e: One of Kayla's employees, a middle-aged woman who uses unorthodox healing magic (the magic itself is not unorthodox, just that she uses it for healing).
Yan'er: A young prostitute who saved Hu Qing when he was cornered by the Grand Duke's assassins.
Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong: Son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, he had sought revenge against the Grand Duke for the extermination of his clan and eventually teamed up with Xianchun and Kayla. Due to Kayla's interference, his family was cleared of false charges and he was reinstated as a noble.
Ke Yongqian: One of Kayla's employees who has primarily worked with Hu Qing. He chose to stay on as an employee after Kayla's arrest despite most of the others taking off.
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather, he stashed Kayla in prison for the immediate aftermath of the Grand Duke's death to benefit Kuang, who he had secretly teamed up with. He also claimed to have engineered Kayla's arrest in order to protect her from having this used against her in the future by forcing the palace to clear her name.
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Zhao Wei frowned from the other end of the communication device as he listened to his cousins ramble on.
“I’m telling you, Mingfang and Mingfu were definitely killed! Even Mingfang's brother-in-law died!” Zhao Yihui hissed. “This nephew of ours is dangerous! Dangerous, I’m telling you!”
“Exactly! Cousin, we listened to you and helped him all the way, we were even involved in Uncle’s death–what will we do if he ends up trying to silence us?” Zhao Ke chimed in.
“Enough,” Zhao Wei harshly cut them off. “That’s enough from all of you.”
His cousins settled into uneasy silence.
“So? What do you want to do? He’s already tied down all of you with your complicity,” Zhao Wei said icily. “Did you not know what kind of person he was before you joined in with him? Don’t play the fool. We didn’t switch sides in hopes of a softer hand, we did so for survival. And you’re all making your chances a lot worse by discussing these matters so brazenly. He put surveillance wards on your home–what makes you think he took them off?”
“This magic device is secure,” Zhao Yuanji replied.
“There is no such thing as a secure device,” Zhao Wei said firmly. “We’ve chosen our path. Now we must walk it. If he killed Mingfang and Mingfu, you look the other way. Is that so hard to understand?”
“Those two didn’t even know anything worthy of concern, and he killed them. What makes you think he’d spare us?” Zhao Ke asked.
“People kill for less,” Zhao Wei replied. “If you want to survive, remain useful. What else can you do?”
“He’s right,” Zhao Yuanji said, letting out a sigh. “Even if they didn’t know anything worth testifying about, Mingfang and Mingfu crossed the line at the wrong time. They were practically begging to be made examples of. We, on the other hand, wrote petitions for his release. There’s nothing similar between us, and no indication that Wenyuan would harm us. What have we to fear for? There’s no point in debating the matter.”
“Exactly,” Zhao Wei said, cutting off Zhao Yihui before he could say anything more. “That’s the right spirit–the rest of you should adjust your mindsets properly as well. No matter your thoughts on the situation, Wenyuan is our new Lord, and he’s coming back. Prepare yourselves accordingly.”
The men exchanged looks of uneasy resignation before sharing a nod. They had no choice but to bear the consequences of their decision and hope for a good result.
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Kayla sat alone with her back straight, a perfectly poised expression on her face and hands folded in her lap. The carriage bearing the Imperial emblem moved through the center of the busy street, the sight of the Imperial Guards escorting her enough to part the crowd without needing force or announcements. The curtains were tied back so that Kayla’s identity could be glimpsed through the windows as they headed towards the Zhao clan.
They really made a spectacle of this, Kayla thought to herself. The Emperor or Empress Dowager, whichever one of them had arranged this, had evidently meant to send a clear message to the court about Wenyuan’s status. She doubted anyone would dare to carelessly voice any objections about the investigation results after such a show.
The carriage pulled to a stop before the Zhao household’s main gates, an Imperial Guard stepping forward to help Kayla down from the carriage. She walked towards the main courtyard, two of the Imperial Guards following two steps behind to ensure no last-minute issues arose. From afar, she saw Hu Qing waiting for her near the courtyard’s entrance. Though it hadn’t actually been that long since she had last seen him, Kayla felt a wave of relief and assurance the moment he came into sight. Hu Qing made his way over with a smile on his face.
“Welcome back, my lord,” Hu Qing said as soon as he came within earshot.
Kayla gave him a smile in turn. “Hu Qing, it’s good to see you again.”
Hu Qing’s eyes glinted with delight. “Likewise, my lord. Your clan members are waiting for you.”
Kayla’s smile sharpened. “Then let’s not make them wait any longer.”
Hu Qing entered before her, stepping aside with a small inclination of his head to let Kayla and the Imperial Guards through.
“My lord,” a familiar voice rang out. Zhao Yuanji came forward to greet her, several other members of the Zhao clan in tow.
“Uncle,” Kayla greeted him in turn. She glanced through the courtyard. Everyone she had summoned the night of the Grand Duke’s death was there, as well as every person of note within the Zhao clan. All together, there must have been about forty people standing there.
She swept her gaze over all of them before turning her attention back to Zhao Yuanji, who had evidently been chosen as their representative.
“Please allow me to extend congratulations for your release and appointment as the head of household,” Zhao Yuanji said politely.
“Thank you, Uncle. Your well wishes are gratefully received. I must thank you all for coming here today,” Kayla replied in a friendly tone.
“Not at all, it is our honor to welcome our new lord,” Zhao Yuanji said. “All of us sincerely anticipate your appointment as Marquis. It is well-deserved, considering all the contributions you’ve made to the court.”
“It’s all thanks to the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s magnanimity and benevolence,” Kayla said, before turning to address the group. “As I am still inexperienced, I will be relying on everyone's support and guidance in order to fulfill the palace's high expectations. I’ll be in your care.”
She kept her words brief and polite to avoid giving any of these old foxes too much information while netting them in as much as she could. Bringing up the palace was just to drive home the point that Kayla's position was as solid as a rock. No matter their ambitions or disagreements, or even the suspicious deaths that were inextricably tied to Kayla, she was the only person eligible to hold this seat.
“We’re honored to help however we can,” Zhao Yuanji replied, the others quickly murmuring their agreement.
“I’m very grateful,” Kayla said. She turned her attention to one of the older men who had shuffled two steps forward, moving on to a more personalized approach. "Great-Uncle, thank you for taking the trouble to come all this way."
The meet and greet went on for a short while longer as the Zhao clansmen gave their greetings and congratulations one by one, their polite smiles not quite hiding the hopes and fears beneath their masks.
“Then we won’t intrude on your rest any longer,” Zhao Yuanji said as the last few greetings were completed. “Please call upon us at any time if you have any orders to convey.”
“Thank you for your consideration, I will be sure to do so,” Kayla replied.
The group dispersed quickly. It was evident that many of them had been unsettled by the sudden changes in the Zhao clan’s leadership, and the deaths that had occurred had not served to quell any worries. Rather than to congratulate her, most of the Zhao clansmen had shown up for the chance to get a better grasp of Kayla’s personality.
“Gentlemen, thank you for your hard work,” Kayla said to the two Imperial Guards. “Please accept this as my thanks.” She gestured to Hu Qing, who reached out with two bags of silver.
“You’re too kind, Minister. We couldn’t possibly accept such overwhelming generosity,” one of the guards replied.
“Please, I insist. Use it to take the others out for drinks,” Kayla prompted. “I’ve received a great deal of help from you all, at least let me do this much.”
“Then we’ll gratefully accept,” the guard replied. The two bowed and took their leave.
“It seems that the palace placed quite some emphasis on your release,” Hu Qing said, glancing after the guards before turning back to Kayla. “You’ve lost weight, my lord. Rough time in prison?”
“It wasn’t so bad for the most part, I’m actually not sleep-deprived for the first time in months,” Kayla replied. “But I certainly had more than enough of being stuck in a holding cell. Thanks to you guys, I was able to make it out so quickly.”
“It’s only a pity we couldn’t move faster,” Hu Qing said. “A lot has happened while you were gone.”
“Tell me about it,” Kayla replied. She listened intently as Hu Qing gave his report in a lowered voice.
“Are we short on manpower now that so many people have left?” Kayla asked as Hu Qing finished up.
“Not for the moment,” Hu Qing said. “It certainly eases up the budget a little bit.”
“See if you can find and train a few more–not a lot, quality over quantity,” Kayla said. “Of the ones who were willing to stay, you’ll need to take a few with you when you’re reinstated.”
“Guys like these are hard to come by, I’m not about to poach the few that we have,” Hu Qing said.
“Trust me, you’ll need them more than I do,” Kayla assured him. The two of them began heading into the Inner Quarters, where the household staff were gathered in the largest courtyard. At Kayla’s request, the household guards had been scheduled into a separate meeting. There was way too much to work with there, and Kayla would have quite a lot to pick through. For one, at least some of the guards had been complicit in the Grand Duke’s crimes, and some of them had been involved in the attempts on Kayla’s life through deliberate neglect of duty if not active participation.
“I’ll have to make your reinstatement happen soon, my wedding is in two months. There’s a lot I’ll have to take care of before that,” Kayla said.
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“Two months? Are they ignoring the mourning period?” Hu Qing said in surprise.
“I’m not going to observe the mourning period, as per the Empress Dowager’s wishes. Instead, I’ll be investigating the Grand Duke. That, too, will require me to work quickly,” Kayla said. “The Third Prince has snatched up our opportunity in the provinces, so I won’t even bother trying to get that back. We can’t and won’t be competing with him. Rather, we’ll have to focus our energy on what we have before us.”
“What a bummer,” Hu Qing grumbled. “After you set all that up, he’s the one to benefit.”
“Well, it will have to happen at someone’s expense. I don’t intend to take a disadvantage lying down, so the price will have to come out of someone else’s pocket,” Kayla said. The two fell silent as Kayla stepped into the inner courtyard.
“We humbly greet the Lord,” the servants and staff said in unison as Kayla entered, Hu Qing standing behind her with a hawkish eye on them. This group was even tenser than the Zhao clansmen. Wenyuan’s relatives had done little to help him, but Wenyuan’s isolation meant they had also done little to harm him on a personal level. The servants, on the other hand, had all but ignored Kayla’s presence for the last few months to please the Grand Duke. They had much more reason to be afraid.
“Please be at ease,” Kayla said, scanning the crowd. “As you all must have heard by now, the Emperor has instated me as the new head of the Zhao clan, and thus the head of this household. There will be a brief transition period during which I will be relying on your support as I adjust to the role.”
“It would be our pleasure,” one of the senior servants hastily replied on behalf of the others.
“There will be some personnel changes, as well as adjustments to how the household is run, but it should not adversely affect most of you, and we will take care to minimize inconveniencing you all,” Kayla said. She swept her gaze over them steadily, not lingering on the ones she knew to be pieces of shit. Replacing all of them at once was impractical and unnecessary, and would only create loose ends that necessitated a lot more trouble. Ruthlessly tossing out the small few would be more than enough to set an example.
There was palpable relief in the air at Kayla’s announcement.
Good, let your guards down, Kayla thought with satisfaction. The ones she needed to get rid of needed to be bound to silence before they were let go, and she had no intention of giving them a mind to run.
“Matron Li, could you please step forward?” Kayla continued.
Matron Li complied, her eyes filled with relief when she got close enough to see that Kayla was still in good health.
“From today on, Matron Li will be taking the position of Housekeeper,” Kayla announced. “Her title, pay, and authority will change accordingly. I expect everyone to show her due respect.”
There was a chorus of acceptances from the crowd. No one was surprised that Matron Li would be promoted, though perhaps they hadn't expected she would be promoted to the position of Housekeeper, or that Chujiao had not returned.
Matron Li was the perfect choice for Kayla. The older woman had ties to the Empress Dowager, but her personal loyalties were with Wenyuan. It was the perfect way to demonstrate goodwill to the Inner Palace while protecting Kayla's own interests.
“Housekeeper Li and Accountant Wu are to remain, everyone else may return to their duties,” Kayla said. The servants and staff were more than happy to obey. Accountant Wu came forward, the semi-permanent concerned frown on his face even more pronounced than usual.
Kayla waved for them to join her as she headed to the Grand Duke’s study. It was her study now, but it didn’t feel like it.
“Housekeeper Li, Accountant Wu, I’ll be relying on the two of you a great deal in the upcoming period of time,” Kayla said.
“Of course,” Housekeeper Li said sincerely, Accountant Wu nodding along. “We’re truly glad to see your safe return.”
Kayla gave Housekeeper Li a smile.
“Thank you. But it’s not quite over yet. The investigation against the Grand Duke’s crimes is going to continue–and I’ll be heading it,” Kayla said. “Do you understand the situation now?”
Housekeeper Li and Accountant Wu exchanged an uneasy glance before nodding.
“Accountant Wu, search and seizure is also a possibility. We need the accounts to be cleaned up and in order for when that happens,” Kayla said to him. “Untangle everything of the Grand Duke’s accounts from the Zhao clan’s, and also make sure that each individual’s accounts are clearly distinguishable.”
“Understood, my lord,” Accountant Wu said, balking a little at the enormous task.
“My employee Sun Zhong’e will be helping you out with this,” Kayla said, glancing at Hu Qing. He gave her a small nod to affirm the woman’s availability.
“As you wish,” Accountant Wu replied. Kayla nodded at him.
“Excellent. You may go now.” She turned her attention to Housekeeper Li, giving the woman a weary but genuine smile. “Housekeeper Li, there’s a lot of work for us to do.”
The older woman's eyes crinkled with a smile. "At your service, my lord."
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Kayla rubbed at her temples, heaving a deep sigh. After a lengthy discussion with Housekeeper Li, there was now a whirlwind of tasks piled up before her.
“One step at a time,” she muttered to herself. “Slow and steady wins the race.”
“I’ve sent out the orders,” Hu Qing announced. He had actually watched his posture for once while Housekeeper Li was in the room, but reverted to his usual slouching and lounging about on the couch. He seemed entirely unaffected by their new environment.
It didn’t feel right to be using the same study as the Grand Duke, much less using the same rooms. This was where Wenyuan had endured countless acts of abuse and humiliation, and a vault full of dangerous information was right beneath her feet. But it was the head of household’s quarters, and there was little Kayla could do about the matter. Her only relief was that the whole place would soon be shut down for investigation.
“Is that the couch from my old room?” Kayla asked, finally taking notice.
Hu Qing’s smile widened as Kayla gave him an approving grin. The subtle tension in his shoulders seemed to melt away at the tacit confirmation that their relationship wouldn’t be changed by the new formalities.
“I’m glad you noticed! It looks pretty similar to the old one, so I switched it out in the middle of the night without alerting anyone. The servants didn’t even notice it was different but couldn’t stop getting the feeling that something was off,” Hu Qing said gleefully.
“You should move it a few inches in a random direction every few days or so,” Kayla remarked, instantly regretting her suggestion. She was the one who would be tripping over it all the time, not the servants.
Hu Qing cackled at the thought of it. His mirth faded as his gaze fell on the side of Kayla’s head again.
“What? You’ve been glancing at me since earlier,” Kayla said.
“I noticed earlier when I was standing behind you, it’s been bothering me,” Hu Qing said.
“What?” Kayla asked.
“Did you get hurt? The skin behind your jaw looks different,” Hu Qing said. “Behind your ear also. What the hell happened?”
This guy is really way too observant. For some reason, Kayla had felt as though she needed to keep the whole ordeal a secret, a feeling that she couldn't shake even now.
Kayla glanced around, instinctively gesturing for Hu Qing to lower his voice even though they were alone.
“A warning from the Inner Palace,” Kayla said. “It’s basically to say that if I don’t listen, then what do I need these ears for? I was lucky they stopped with just one side.”
Hu Qing’s frown deepened. “What the–did they cut you as a threat? You didn’t mention this earlier!”
“Just a small cut behind the ear,” Kayla said. “Don’t bring this up to the others for the time being, it’s not a big deal.”
The more people knew about the tension between Kayla and the Empress Dowager, the more tense the relationship would become. It was a dangerous cycle that she didn’t plan on feeding into.
“What kind of warning is it to cut up someone who doesn’t even have the strength to truss a chicken?” Hu Qing muttered discontentedly before giving Kayla an inquisitive look. “So how are you going to deal with the Empress Dowager then?”
“We’ll have to appease her properly, but there’s only so much we can do to indulge her. Let's just take some preparatory measures in advance,” Kayla said. “Speaking of which, where is that girl who saved your life the night before?”
“Ah, you mean Yan’er,” Hu Qing said. “She’s at the safe house. Why?”
“I predict that the Empress Dowager will be looking for her,” Kayla said. “Unless we intend to keep her away from the outside world forever or marry her off to one of you, then there’s no way to keep her out of the palace’s reach forever. We can’t block what’s going to happen, but we can prepare for it.”
“What do you want to do then?” Hu Qing asked. “Send her out of the capital?”
“That won’t work. The Empress Dowager’s reach extends far beyond the capital. We’d be much better off having her work as a double agent instead,” Kayla said.
“Isn’t that quite dangerous?” Hu Qing pointed out. “I mean, she only got dragged into all this because she saved me, I can’t let her come to harm as a result.”
“That's true, but it's the most plausible option. If you don’t want to do that, then we’ll think of something else. But the Empress Dowager is skilled at playing the long game, there’s no telling how long Yan’er will need to lay low for,” Kayla said. “As I said before, the other option would be for one of you to marry her so that the palace can’t make too overt of a move.”
“Is that–is that the only other option?” Hu Qing asked.
“Not necessarily, we can try thinking up some more,” Kayla sighed. “But keeping her in the safe house won’t work forever.”
“What about adoption?” Hu Qing asked. “What if I…adopt her as a god-daughter or a younger sister?”
“Those two options aren’t even in the same generation,” Kayla said. “But it is an idea. Alternatively, we can have someone else adopt her–someone tied to us. I haven't had the chance to think about this properly yet. How about this, let’s talk this over with the others and then decide. I don’t want this to end up creating more difficulties for you when you’re reinstated either. Worse comes to worst, we’ll go through a few extra steps and change her identity. But we’ll take good care of her no matter what, so don’t worry about that.”
Hu Qing nodded. “Of course.”
“Now, let’s talk about business,” Kayla said. “I need to speak with Xiang Daozong as soon as possible. How soon can we arrange a meeting?”
“I’ll have Ke Yongqian send a messenger right away,” Hu Qing said, already reaching for his communication device.
“Great. Tell him to prepare himself properly–I’m taking him to see Wei Guang,” Kayla said.
Hu Qing frowned at Kayla in disbelief. “Wei Guang? But why?”
“I still need Wei Guang,” Kayla replied. “I'm hardly pleased with his actions, but he’s an important ally. Personal feelings aside, I need him professionally. But from now on, I won’t engage with him on anything but my own terms. Letting him take the lead only invites trouble.”
“Isn’t connecting him to Qu Boyo–Xiang Daozong inviting trouble?” Hu Qing pointed out. “Don’t forget what kind of person Xiang Daozong is. He is not a man of honor, creating ties between him and Wei Guang is only going to cause more problems for us in the future.”
“He’s also a maternal nephew of the Emperor. Even if I don’t connect the two, one side or another will reach out without my interference. That just leads me in a beholden position–those who act first have more control. I have plenty with which to smear his name at this point, but given his personality, that might not be enough. I need to create more leverage over Xiang Daozong,” Kayla explained.
“Would he feel beholden to you though? You have shown him mercy in the past, but that hasn’t stopped him from creating trouble for you at every turn,” Hu Qing said.
“I know. But he’s not talented in politics, or in improvisation. Simply put, he can't keep up with the other players. He doesn’t have the skill to succeed but has more than enough when it comes to creating problems, but the Emperor made him my responsibility–I can’t be the only one to bear this burden. I’ll tie Wei Guang down with this while selling it as a favor,” Kayla said. “Wei Guang is the real objective here, not Xiang Daozong.”
“Selling Xiang Daozong to him as a favor?” Hu Qing asked.
“Exactly. I’m going to make Xiang Daozong his problem, and he’ll have to thank me for it,” Kayla said with a note of satisfaction in her voice. “If I’m going to continue collaborating with Wei Guang, then our relationship will have to change. Not just leverage over Xiang Daozong–I need more leverage over Wei Guang as well.”
Hu Qing smirked at her words before glancing down at the communication device. “The message has been delivered,” he reported. “It seems like your cousin was quite eager to reply.”
“I’m not surprised. All of this must have left him quite short-winded,” Kayla muttered.
“He can meet with you at your earliest convenience,” Hu Qing said.
Kayla smiled, a sharp glint in her eyes. “Excellent.”
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Cultural Notes
羽翼未丰/Feathers on [my] wings are incompletely grown: An Ancient Chinese proverb used to describe someone else or yourself as not being completely prepared or not having come into one's own yet. When used as a self-descriptor, it is often used to signal humbleness.
承蒙抬爱/Receiving your help and care: An Ancient Chinese proverb that shows gratitude for acknowledgement, recognition of talent, and support, especially when you receive help for taking a step upwards in life. This is often used for one's elders, even if they haven't actually done much to help, and is often spoken out of politeness to express appreciation for every drop of support.
笼络人心/To net in people's hearts: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to gain other people's favor through kindness, flattery, or favors for one's personal gain and influence.
不打扰您休息/Stop disturbing your rest: A Chinese saying that's commonly used as a polite way to say you're taking your leave. A shorter form is "不打扰您了/Stop disturbing you", often used in the context of "Thanks for your help! Then I'll stop disturbing you."
出类拔萃/Stand out from the rest: An Ancient Chinese proverb that is the equivalent of both "quality over quantity" and "cream of the crop."
夺丧/To take one's mourning period: An Ancient Chinese concept in which an official is ordered to delay or forego a mourning period because he is needed in the court. For example, a general who's father died while he's still fighting a war might have his mourning period "stolen" by an Imperial Edict that orders him to keep going, or an official who's responsible from preventing the Yellow River from flooding is ordered to forego mourning for his mother in order to complete the construction of a dam due to his expertise. Hu Qing assumes that Kayla's marriage falls under this category.
管家/Housekeeper role in Ancient China: Not all that different from the role of a Head Butler in a Western setting, the role is usually held by a man. Female housekeepers are relatively hard to come by.
手无缚鸡之力/Hand that lacks the strength to truss a chicken: A mildly derisive way to refer to people (especially scholars) who lack physical strength and self-defense abilities. It's often used when labeling someone as not a threat, and someone who picks on such a person is also thought less of for it, being seen as picking on the weak and defenseless. For example, a commonly seen trope is a military officer snapping at a strategist to shut up, saying that "I'll let you off the hook, or they'll say I'm bullying a scholar without even the strength to truss a chicken."
养女/Adopted daughter: A common way to raise someone's status in Ancient China. Since marriage alliances were common, it would not be uncommon for someone to gift their "daughter" (aka a pretty girl they've claimed as their goddaughter) or "niece" to an ally as a concubine. The famous beauty Diao Chan in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms who played an important role in the downfall of the tyrant Dong Zhuo helped her adoptive father Wang Yun to take down Dong Zhuo by causing discord between him and his foster son Lu Bu.
这俩都不是一个辈分的/These two are not even in the same generation: A casual phrase used to signify disbelief or exasperation at cross-generational arrangements. A related term is 辈分真乱/The generations are a mess [to sort out]. An example might be if a young woman's nosy relative tries to pair her up with a man significantly older, to which others might use this phrase in response. Another example might be if someone starts listing random people they would be willing to date, and include their friend's uncle as well as sister in the list, inciting this response in outrage. Since large extended families means that it's possible to have uncles and aunts who are younger than you, it can genuinely be hard to keep track sometimes. Your aunt's boyfriend might be five years younger than you, but still holds higher seniority on account of generation.
成事不足败事有余/Not enough ability to succeed but plenty enough to fail: An Ancient Chinese saying that is often used to speak of someone derisively or in a derogatory fashion, meaning that they can't accomplish anything but are good at causing more trouble.
他还得谢谢咱呢/He even has to thank us for it: This sentence is a lot more casual and colloquial than the rest of Kayla's speech, and is a phrase that is more popular in modern Chinese internet spheres. Notably, it has smug undertones and uses 咱, a term for "us" that's more common in Northern and Northeastern China that has been popularized by the internet through memes and pop culture, markedly departing from the more standardized form of speech that Kayla usually uses, hence Hu Qing's amusement.