Xianglan stole a glance outside and saw maids and matrons moving about in the distance. Suddenly, she noticed Xiao Juan approaching from afar, a white cloth tied around her waist as she carried a large presentation box. A flicker of joy rose in Xianglan’s heart, and she opened her mouth to call out, but Xiao Juan turned onto the corridor with the box and disappeared from view. Disappointment washed over Xianglan, yet there was nothing she could do.
She stood by the window for a while, fearing she might be discovered, then turned back and found an old cushion to lean against the wall as she sat down. An ordinary woman might have been frightened out of her wits by such sudden misfortune, but Xianglan had experienced dramatic rises and falls in her previous life—family confiscation, exile, and heart-wrenching separations. Coupled with her resilient nature, she now gathered her strength and began carefully feeling for the items on her person.
She retrieved a dozen copper coins, a small piece of broken silver, and an old silver hairpin from her hair. Finally, she took off the green jade pendant hanging from her neck—the very jade frog Song Ke had given her. She had originally kept it in a box, but when returning home to visit her parents, she had hesitated and, as if guided by some unseen force, ended up wearing it around her neck. It had been there for quite some time.
Xianglan gently stroked the jade frog, thinking to herself, "I don’t know when Zhao Yuechan plans to sell me off. With my face covered in injuries, I doubt I’ll fetch a high price or be sent to a decent place. If no one comes to rescue me, I must keep these items safe—they might be used to bribe someone and save my life." She carefully concealed the belongings close to her body, then leaned back, closed her eyes to rest, and silently recited scriptures.
She had no idea how much time had passed when she curled up on the cushion and drifted into a fitful sleep. She woke to the gnawing pangs of hunger and the sharp, unbearable pain in her face. Peering through the door crack, she realized it was already past noon. By then, everyone had finished their meals, and the courtyard was eerily quiet, bathed in the harsh, white sunlight with not a soul in sight.
Xianglan sighed silently, walked to the water vat, and scooped up a ladle of cold water to drink. Glancing down at her reflection, she saw that her face had swollen even more, her cheeks now bruised a ghastly shade of blue and purple. As she stood there in a daze, she suddenly heard a soft voice calling from outside the door, "Is anyone in there?" A handkerchief holding a few pieces of pastry was slipped through the gap under the door.
Xianglan hurried over and peered through the crack to see Tinglan standing outside, her face filled with anxiety. It turned out Tinglan had heard the commotion the previous night and learned that Xianglan had been punished and marked for sale by Zhao Yuechan. Though she pitied Xianglan’s plight, she also feared her mistress’s tyranny. Remembering the bond she shared with Xianglan, she had secretly brought some food.
Like a dying person glimpsing a ray of light, Xianglan pressed against the door and pleaded in a low voice, "Tinglan, Tinglan, I beg you—I have a jade pendant here. Take it and go—"
But Tinglan, already terrified out of her wits, interrupted, "Xianglan, bringing you food was already a tremendous risk. I can’t get involved in anything else. Take care of yourself—I have to go." With that, she hurried away.
Xianglan let her head thud heavily against the door, the spark of hope that had just ignited in her heart extinguished as suddenly as it had appeared. Slowly, she crouched down, picked up the pastries, and placed a small piece in her mouth, letting it soften before swallowing it gradually. Tears welled up and streamed down her face. In her heart, she understood that Tinglan had already gone to great lengths by risking the delivery of food, and it was only natural that she couldn’t offer further help. Yet, Xianglan couldn’t suppress her disappointment. The tears flowed into her mouth, bitter and acrid.She had originally entered the mansion because her parents intended to marry her off to the son of a respectable servant of the Lin family. Unwilling to accept this fate, she had entered the household seeking an opportunity to free herself from servitude. But once she arrived at the Lin residence, she realized how little control she had over her own life. As a servant with no one to rely on, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and endure humiliation at every turn. First, Cao Lihuan had bullied her relentlessly, and it was only through careful scheming that she managed to escape that predicament and was assigned to Lan Yiniang’s quarters. She had hoped for a few peaceful days, intending to find a well-connected senior servant as a patron. After enduring a few more years, she could finally secure her freedom and leave the mansion. But who could have predicted another unforeseen calamity?
At times, she felt she could no longer endure it and that death would be a cleaner escape. Yet, after gritting her teeth, she found she could still swallow all the bitterness, clinging desperately to that faint glimmer of hope.
Hugging her knees, she thought carefully for a long time. Suddenly, she remembered that Chunling had been suffering from a cough these past few days and went to the small kitchen every day after meals to brew medicine. Chunling, seeking convenience, often passed by this small room. Though Chunling was not particularly friendly toward her—there was even a hint of animosity between them—Xianglan knew she had to try regardless.
Xianglan huddled in the corner, patiently waiting. As dusk fell, Chunling indeed approached from a distance. Overjoyed, Xianglan hurried to the window and tossed out small pieces of charcoal she had found in the cabinet. Two pieces hit Chunling in succession.
Startled, Chunling stopped and looked around. Xianglan quickly threw another piece, which struck Chunling squarely on the shoulder. Seeing Chunling glance in her direction, she whispered, "Chunling, Chunling, come closer. It’s me, Xianglan."
Chunling widened her eyes in surprise and hesitantly approached. "Xianglan?" she said softly. "Yingshuang and the others said you were ill and had gone home..." As she drew nearer, she caught sight of Xianglan’s badly swollen face through the torn window paper and gasped in shock. "You... what happened to you...?"
Xianglan quickly motioned for her to be quiet, tears streaming down her face. "Dear sister, I’ve been wrongly accused. Da Nǎinai has locked me up, and I’m about to be sold off. I beg you, save me!" She handed out the jade frog and said, "Please take this to the Reclining Cloud Courtyard and give it to Eldest Master Song. Ask him to buy me... Under my bed, there’s a box with two taels of silver and a hairpin. Take them all, I beg you. Just help me this once, and I will never forget your great kindness, even if it costs me my life!"
Chunling hesitated. "You said you were wrongly accused. Of what?"
Xianglan gritted her teeth. "My crime is that Eldest Master intended to promote me, so Da Nǎinai decided to sell me off."
With those words, Chunling understood. Her heart sank, and she felt the weight of the responsibility she was being asked to bear. As she hesitated, Xianglan continued, "Dear sister, I only ask that you give this jade pendant to Eldest Master Song Ke and beg him to buy me. Don’t let Da Nǎinai sell me to a brothel..." With that, she knelt down. Chunling couldn’t see what she was doing inside the room, but she could hear the sound of "thump, thump"—Xianglan was clearly kowtowing.
Just as Chunling was about to speak, she spotted Yingshuang and the others approaching from a distance. Clutching the jade frog tightly, she hurried away. Back in her room, Chunling sat on her bed, her heart still racing.She truly didn't like Xianglan very much. Priding herself on her competence, she aspired to stand out among the maidservants. In Qin Shi's quarters, there were too many capable people, making it difficult for her to rise above the rest. Now that she was serving by Qinglan's side, she was relied upon for everything. Unexpectedly, Xianglan had appeared out of nowhere. Although Xianglan didn't compete with her, her amiable nature made her popular among the younger maids, and she had even caught Lin Jinlou's eye, which made Chunling somewhat jealous. But now, seeing Xianglan in such a state... Chunling shuddered slightly. It was as the saying goes: "The common man is innocent, but his treasure makes him guilty." For a maidservant, it was better to have ordinary looks like hers. After all, she wasn't a malicious person, and her past jealousy toward Xianglan had now turned into pity. Even she had to admit that Xianglan's character and temperament were likable—humble, gentle, and unassuming. She avoided petty conflicts and never gossiped or stirred up trouble. Whenever someone asked for her help, she always did her best to assist.
However, when it came to helping Xianglan deliver the jade frog to the Reclining Cloud Courtyard... Chunling hesitated. She was genuinely afraid of Zhao Yuechan and didn't want to bring trouble upon herself. Yet, when she recalled Xianglan's tearful plea—"Please don't let Da Nǎinai sell me to a brothel"—her heart wavered. She barely slept all night, and by the next morning, she finally gritted her teeth and thought to herself, "Xianglan is truly detestable. She annoyed me back in the quarters, and now she's given me such a difficult task. But if I don't help her this once, how could I live with myself for the rest of my life?" Clutching the jade frog, she headed to the Reclining Cloud Courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, she saw a maid watering flowers and asked, "Where is Suju?" The young maid recognized Chunling and knew that she and Suju—Lin Jinting's bedchamber maid—had entered the household together years ago and shared a close bond. She smiled and said, "The Third Master just woke up. Sister Suju is attending to him." With that, she went inside to fetch Suju.
Suju came out smiling. "What brings you here?"
Chunling stepped forward with a smile. "I've come to ask a favor of you. With Lan Yiniang recently passed away, there's a lot to handle in the quarters. I was hoping you could help me with some needlework when you have time."
Suju replied, "That's no trouble at all. Just wait a moment. After the Third Master leaves for the academy, you can tell me in detail."
Chunling quickly asked, "Is the Third Master going to the academy with Song Ke?"
Suju nodded. "Exactly. Song Ke just arrived, and they're both inside right now."
At that moment, they saw Song Ke walking out while turning back to say, "Xiuhong, hurry up. I'll wait for you outside."
Seeing this, Chunling felt as if she had found a treasure. She nudged Suju and said, "You should go back inside to attend to them. I'll wait for you." Once Suju had gone inside, Chunling quickly moved closer to Song Ke and held out the jade frog in her palm, whispering, "Song Ke, Xianglan asked me to bring this to you. She said she's been wrongly accused by Da Nǎinai and locked up. In a few days, she'll be sold to a brothel. She begs you to buy her freedom."
Song Ke's face immediately darkened as he took the jade pendant. He had only heard recently that Lin Jinlou had taken a liking to Xianglan and had been meaning to ask for her, but Lin Jinlou was away. He never expected to receive such news today. "Where is she locked up?" he asked.
Chunling replied, "In a small room at the Hall of Knowing Spring... Song Ke, I risked my life to bring you this message. Please act as if I was never here!"
Song Ke hurriedly assured her, "Of course. I would never reveal this." Chunling bowed slightly and quickly left.Song Ke pondered for a moment, then stepped outside and beckoned his personal servant Ludou over. He took out a tally and instructed, "Go to the accounts office and tell them I need to withdraw one hundred taels of silver." After a brief pause, he added, "Make it three hundred taels instead. Go quickly and return promptly." Ludou accepted the order and departed with the tally, which we shall set aside for now.
Meanwhile, Huamei had taken the account book home and passed the night without incident. The next day, her father urged her to return to the Lin residence, saying, "Staying home for one night without reason is enough. You should go back now. Although the Eldest Master is away, lingering at home will invite gossip from the household. Now that our family’s circumstances have improved, and your brother is under the care of Master Lin Jinlou in the army, you must serve with utmost diligence."
Huamei sneered, "Don’t forget that our family’s better days came from you selling your own daughter."
At these words, her father hunched his shoulders and fell silent. Huamei’s original surname was Du, and her father, Du Yu, had once held the seventh-rank position of Battalion Commander. However, he was impeached for embezzlement, lost his black gauze hat, and was further implicated in cases of reckless disregard for human life. After exhausting the family fortune to save his life, the entire household was registered as military dependents. To secure the family’s future, Du Yu gave his eldest daughter, born of a concubine, to a high official as a concubine. She was later transferred to Lin Jinlou, becoming his Bedchamber Attendant. This girl was Huamei.
Du Yu harbored some guilt toward Huamei and, relying on her for the family’s prospects, chose to turn a deaf ear to her retorts.
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