Qin Shi ordered Cao Lihuan to move out. Since Hui'er had been beaten and was bedridden, Cao Lihuan had no choice but to personally pack her valuables and fine belongings. She had originally intended to pocket a few valuable items from Gauze Snow Dock on her way out, but unexpectedly, Mama Han arrived in person with a team, carrying an inventory book to account for all the curios and furniture in Gauze Snow Dock. Cao Lihuan seethed inwardly but put on a righteous front, saying to Xianglan, "That old hag Qin is rotten to the core! What kind of person do they take me for? I have the utmost integrity—I wouldn’t stoop to such petty, thieving acts. I’d rather starve on the streets than take a single thread from their household!"
Xianglan lowered her head and left with a cold smirk. Granny Liu tugged at Xianglan’s sleeve and said, "Now that she’s moving out of Gauze Snow Dock, my days will be easier. After all, my duty is just to watch over the courtyard—where she goes is none of my concern. But you, you’ll still have to endure her temper."
Xianglan smiled and replied, "Not for much longer. At most, six months, and she’ll be married off."
Cao Lihuan had often complained about Gauze Snow Dock being cramped, but compared to her new quarters, it was a palace. The small courtyard on the west side of the estate was tiny, and the house was somewhat old. Though the windows had been re-papered and repairs made, it still lacked brightness. The furniture inside was outdated, and if not for the incense burning, a faint musty odor would have been noticeable.
Cao Lihuan’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Xianglan and Huairui kept their heads down, silently packing, not daring to say a word. Just then, Siqiao was helped in to pay her respects to Cao Lihuan. Cao Lihuan glanced at Siqiao and, finding her plain and unremarkable, felt displeased. Upon learning that Siqiao had been bought from outside and that her family was nearly all dead, Cao Lihuan gritted her teeth in silent fury, thinking, "I had hoped to ask the Lin family for a maid before my wedding—preferably Huairui, whose grandfather manages a shop and could be squeezed for money. Failing that, even Xianglan would do—she’s hardworking and obedient. But instead, they foist this useless girl on me! Hui’er said she can’t handle any tasks properly and is utterly dim-witted. What a headache!" Without even lifting her eyelids, she dismissed Siqiao with a few curt words.
After tidying Cao Lihuan’s bedroom, Xianglan returned to her own small room. Upon entering, she saw Siqiao lying on the bed, moaning. She hurried over and found Siqiao pale, covered in a sheen of sweat, her lips cracked and dry. Xianglan sighed inwardly, turned to pour a cup of water, and returned softly, saying, "Drink some water. We’ve just moved in, so there’s nothing hot yet. I’ll boil some later and make you tea."
Siqiao whispered, "Water is fine," and struggled to gulp down the entire cup.
Xianglan carefully pulled down Siqiao’s pants and gasped at the sight—her buttocks were bruised black and blue, streaked with blood, and swollen badly. She thought, "They really went hard on her this time. Any worse, and she might’ve broken bones—could’ve ended up crippled for life."
Siqiao asked tearfully, "H-how bad is it?"
Xianglan reassured her, "It’s nothing serious, just flesh wounds. Once we apply some medicine and you rest for a few days, you’ll be fine. Wait here—I’ll get the ointment." She slipped into Cao Lihuan’s room and quietly took half a bottle of the medicinal oil left over from Hui'er’s treatment, then gently applied it to Siqiao’s injuries.Siqiao kept moaning in pain, her hands gripping the pillow tightly, her lips pale from the agony as beads of sweat rolled down in streams. Xianglan, always tender-hearted, felt even more pity seeing her like this and said, "Bear with it a little longer. Once the medicine takes effect, you'll feel better."
Siqiao remained silent for a long while. Only when Xianglan had finished applying the ointment and stood up to leave did she notice that Siqiao was already drenched in tears, her sobs soaking the pillow. Yet she bit her lip, refusing to make a sound. Xianglan sighed and sat back down, saying, "You... you must be more careful from now on. Miss Huan is sharp-eyed. If you keep your head down and work diligently, things won’t go too badly for you."
Siqiao sobbed, "It's all my fault! If only I hadn’t been greedy for that pair of silver bracelets, thinking it harmless to echo a few careless words. Who knew it would come to this..."
Xianglan shook her head repeatedly and lowered her voice. "Gossip about the masters is not something to spread lightly."
Through her tears, Siqiao whispered, "I know that now... but it's too late..."
After offering a few more words of comfort and seeing Siqiao still weeping, Xianglan had no choice but to pick up the water bucket and step out to fetch water. Just two turns from the courtyard was a well. As she struggled to haul the bucket up, she suddenly felt the weight lighten. Turning her head, she saw Song Ke standing behind her, reaching out to help with the pulley. He smiled at her, his eyes gleaming with a warmth that carried an unspoken tenderness. Startled, Xianglan loosened her grip and stepped back. Song Ke’s hand slipped as well, and with a loud clatter, the bucket plunged back into the well.
Xianglan retreated another two steps. Though Song Ke often smiled, this particular smile was different—it was as if... as if it belonged to Xiao Hang, her husband in her past life. Xiao Hang had smiled just like that, the corners of his lips lifting slightly, his eyes crinkling with warmth. He had been a serious man, and such smiles were reserved only for their private moments, his gaze brimming with affection—she had loved his smile most of all. On their wedding night, when he lifted her veil, she had looked up and met that very expression.
Now, though it was a different man, the smile felt achingly familiar, as if her husband had returned from the dead and stood before her once more.
From the moment Song Ke first laid eyes on Xianglan, he had felt an inexplicable familiarity, an urge to draw closer to her. Her eyes were strikingly beautiful, like polished agates, but what captivated him most was the depth within them—twin pools one could lose themselves in. He remembered, in his past life, when he had been gravely ill, his wife Madam Shen had gazed at him with those same eyes, firm and unwavering, repeating over and over, "You will recover. Just endure a little longer. Once we cross this mountain, we’ll find the best physician for you!"
The two stood by the well, locked in silence. Song Ke felt his heart pounding erratically in his chest. Knowing he shouldn’t stare so openly, he forced himself to look away and turned silently to reel the rope, helping Xianglan draw the water up again.
Steadying herself, Xianglan inwardly scolded, "Chen Xianglan, wake up from this daydream! Xiao Hang... he’s long turned to dust. The man before you is Young Master Song Ke—don’t mistake his identity!" Composing herself, she straightened her skirts, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, Young Master." Then she reached for the bucket.Song Ke blocked her way and said, "The bucket is too heavy, let me carry it for you."
Xianglan hurriedly tried to take it back, saying, "This really isn't proper!"
But Song Ke insisted on lifting the bucket and said to Xianglan, "Come on, I'll just carry it part of the way for you." He quickened his pace, then turned back to smile at her. "I've told you before—if you feel indebted, just make me a case for the Four Treasures of the Study as thanks."
Looking at his smile, an inexplicable warmth surged in Xianglan's heart. This young man's mannerisms were so similar to Xiao Hang's—so much so that it reminded her of the purest and most serene years of her past life. Back then, she and Xiao Hang were newlyweds, deeply in love, composing poetry together, adorning flowers, and competing in verse. They were inseparable, even through exile and hardship, supporting each other through life and death. But her reincarnated life had long buried the noble and elegant lady Shen Jialan of the past. Now, she was trampled into the dust, struggling to survive, and the harsh years had left her weary. Song Ke carried a shadow of what she yearned for, yet he was a lofty young master, while she was just a lowly maid.
Xianglan kept her head down as she followed behind Song Ke. After turning a corner, she said softly, "You can leave me here. Thank you, Master Song."
Song Ke frowned slightly at her distant attitude but knew it wouldn't be proper to accompany her further. He set the bucket down, his lips moving as if to say something, but no words came out. He could only watch as Xianglan struggled to drag the bucket away, step by laborious step.
When Xianglan returned to the small courtyard, Cao Lihuan had already grown impatient, calling for water to wash up. Xianglan placed the kettle on the stove but was somewhat distracted. Once the water boiled, she first brought a basin of hot water to Cao Lihuan, then prepared a pot of tea and delivered it to her room. Only then did she take the remaining water back to her own quarters, wringing out a hot towel to wipe Siqiao's face and helping her take some medicine. Siqiao kept muttering about her regrets, and after offering a few words of comfort, Xianglan reminded her of some things to keep in mind while serving Cao Lihuan. Siqiao immediately took Xianglan as a confidante, affectionately calling her "little sister" over and over. After lunch, Siqiao fell into a deep sleep, and Xianglan took out the green jade frog Song Ke had given her from her bundle. She held it in her palm, gazing at it for a long time before silently putting it away.
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