Blossom

Soon, the carriage to pick up Miao Ansu and Ji Hong arrived.

Ji Hong helped Miao Ansu into the carriage and lifted the curtain, only to find the maidservant who had boldly shouted about "using ghosts" in Cassia Fragrance Courtyard sitting inside.

She knelt with a cheerful smile to welcome Miao Ansu and Ji Hong: "The Young Lord said I should serve Second Madam from now on."

Ji Hong couldn’t help but sigh in relief and laughed, "No wonder you pulled me to find Ji Hong!"

While others suspected ghosts and hid indoors, she had knowingly sought help from Second Madam, who was resting in Du Ruo’s room—turns out she was someone arranged by the Young Lord.

Ji Hong sat closely beside her, chatting in hushed tones.

The maidservant told them, "Liu Hong fell down the stairs, broke her neck, and was left paralyzed—only her eyes could move. Out of mercy, Second Master gave fifty taels of silver and had her parents take her home. The Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital say someone in her condition might live three to five years if the family spends money like water, otherwise, she’d last no more than fifteen or sixteen days. As for Miss Du Ku from the Duke’s household, she suddenly fell gravely ill and was moved by the Duke to the heated room in the east of the rear garden. Rumor has it several Imperial Physicians were called, but none could help. The Duke has already instructed Lü Zheng’s family to prepare burial clothes in advance."

Miao Ansu exchanged a glance with Ji Hong, feeling a pang of emotion.

Song Han was quick to lose his temper with those around him, while Song Mo ensured those who helped him were well taken care of. The contrast was stark. Song Han would never surpass Song Mo in this lifetime.

She quietly settled into Song Mo’s farmstead.

Within days, news arrived of Liu Hong and Du Ruo’s deaths.

Ji Jing spat on the ground, cursing, "Serves them right."

But Miao Ansu disagreed.

Though Liu Hong and Du Ruo had acted wrongly, without Song Han and Song Yichun—the true culprits—what could these powerless women, whose contracts were held by others, have done?

The thought left Miao Ansu seething with indignation.

Why should Liu Hong and Du Ruo die while Song Han and Song Yichun continued to live in pleasure?

Since this was Song Mo’s farmstead, Miao Ansu asked the Manor Head, "May I see my family?"

The Manor Head smiled. "The Young Lord has already instructed that you may go wherever you wish. However, it’s best not to venture too far, lest someone stirs trouble and forcibly sends you home. Then our Young Lord’s influence would be out of reach."

Miao Ansu quickly replied, "I understand. I only wish to see my elder brother—to send word home and ease my parents’ worries."

This reason was hard to refuse, so the Manor Head sent someone to deliver the message to the Miao family.

The Miao family was shocked and immediately sent Miao Anping to accompany Miao’s mother to visit Miao Ansu.

Before even steadying herself, Miao’s mother anxiously asked, "Why have the Songs sent you to a farmstead? What about your daily needs? Will they divorce you?"

Miao Ansu felt as if she had been stabbed.She simply broke down in tears before her brother and mother: "Song Han is utterly shameless. He actually had an affair with Father's bedroom servant. That little wench Liu Hong, to curry favor with Song Han, even stood guard outside while he was committing adultery with Father's servant. Even during the banquet for Prince Liao, his lustful nature remained unchanged. After the Young Lord accidentally discovered them, not only did he refuse to admit his wrongdoing, but he even tried to beat me in front of the Young Lord and the Duke, claiming I was unvirtuous for not covering up for him, which led to the Young Lord's discovery. Fearing Song Han might fly into a rage and beat me to death, the Young Lord had no choice but to send me to this farmstead. Brother, you must stand up for me! I can't just take this beating for nothing!"

Miao Anping and their mother exchanged uneasy glances. After a long silence, Mother Miao said awkwardly, "A married daughter is like spilled water—how can we, her natal family, interfere in her affairs? You know what happened last time—your brother went to Four Alleys to confront them on your behalf, and what was the result? He was beaten by the Duke of England's Mansion guards and still suffers from back pain, needing medicine every day. All our savings have gone into his treatment..."

Miao Ansu was furious, her heart aching, but she had no choice but to play along with her mother and brother.

"Precisely because of that, I came to discuss this with Brother!" she said, full of grievance. "Last time, Brother made a scene for me but gained nothing, and it's weighed on my mind ever since! But this time is different. When the Young Lord caught Song Han in the act, Prince Liao was also present. And not long after, Liu Hong broke her neck, Du Ruo died of illness, and I moved to this farmstead. Tell me, if this gets out, who can accuse us of extortion like last time? Moreover, the Young Lord promised that I could stay here as long as I wished. With his backing, Song Han can't touch me. If you two make a fuss, Song Han will have no choice but to pay you off!"

Mother Miao felt uneasy, sensing there was more to this than her daughter let on, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

Miao Anping, however, brightened. "This is a great idea! Song Han's servant is gone, the Duke's servant is dead, and you're staying at the Song family's farmstead instead of returning. We can claim Song Han's adultery with his father's servant drove you out of Four Alleys, and we'll squeeze a hefty sum out of him!" He clapped his hands. "Sister, you've finally used your head this time!"

Miao Ansu smiled faintly.

But Mother Miao worried, "What if Song Han sends men to beat us out like last time?"

"This time is nothing like last time," Miao Anping said confidently. "Last time, we were in the wrong—he fooled around with your dowry servant, and our family gave him a hard time, so of course he wouldn't back down. But now, you're staying at the Young Lord's farmstead, arranged by Madam Dou. How can he force you back? As long as you refuse to return to Four Alleys, Song Han's scandal will never die down, and he'll have to pay us off!" Growing excited, he conspired with Miao Ansu, "I think we shouldn't bleed him dry all at once. We should take it slow—ask for a little money today, a little more tomorrow—and let him support us from now on."This matter was indeed the right call to involve her brother!

Miao Ansu nodded.

Miao Anping still had some concerns and said, "I'm doing this to stand up for you. Don't you dare change your mind halfway and go back to Song Han in Sitiao Hutong!"

"I won't!" To reassure her brother, Miao Ansu added, "I'm counting on you to share some of the silver you squeeze out of Song Han with me!"

Hearing this, Miao Anping immediately grew tense and said, "At most, you'll get ten percent! I need to hire people to help smear Song Han's name and others to demand the silver. If Song Han gets furious and refuses to admit it, I might even end up in Shuntian Prefecture's jail with just a single accusation from him. All you have to do is sit comfortably at home and wait for the silver..."

But Miao Ansu wanted more than just to ruin Song Han's reputation.

She bargained with Miao Anping: "Forty-sixty split! Otherwise, I won't admit that moving to the farmstead was because Song Han angered me."

"At most, twenty-eighty split!" Miao Anping retorted. "Otherwise, the numbers won't add up for me."

After much back-and-forth, they finally settled on a thirty-seventy split.

Both Miao Ansu and Miao Anping were pleased with the outcome.

Miao Anping didn't even stay for lunch. Leaving their mother behind to keep Miao Ansu company, he immediately returned to Daxing County.

Miao Ansu had a guest room prepared for her mother.

Her mother was displeased and said, "Since my son-in-law won't be coming anyway, I might as well stay with you."

Last time she visited Sitiao Hutong, she had pretended her hair was messy and asked Miao Ansu's maid to redo it for her. In the process, she had "accidentally" walked off with one of Miao Ansu's gold hairpins and a pair of gold-inlaid jade gourd earrings.

If her mother had asked right away why she had moved to the Song family's farmstead, Miao Ansu might have turned a blind eye and let her stay in her room. But this time... she was determined to distance herself from her mother—Song Han was unreliable, and Song Mo couldn't support her forever. The Miao family only cared about money. If she didn't start planning for herself now, she would have no way out.

Ji Hong felt that since Miao Ansu was already in such dire straits, alienating her family would leave her with no support at all.

She advised Miao Ansu, "Miss, why don't you give your mother some of your old clothes and jewelry to take back? It would save face."

Miao Ansu shook her head. "Greed is a bottomless pit. Besides, I've already decided to divorce Song Han. If I don't take advantage of still being the Second Madam of the Song family to gather some resources now, how will we survive in the future?" She then wrote a letter and handed it to Ji Hong. "Ask Eldest Sister-in-law to send someone to accompany you to Sitiao Hutong to move my trunks here. Use this chance to quietly gather my valuables and have Eldest Sister-in-law keep them for me. Otherwise, if they're brought here, my brother might take them."

Ji Hong couldn't hold back her tears.

With dangers ahead and wolves behind, the Second Madam was truly in a difficult position!

Weeping softly, she made her way to The Duke of England's Mansion.

Dou Zhao was also pondering the matter.

Liao Wang had caught Song Han in a compromising situation with the Duke of Yingguo's bedroom servant—what a perfect opportunity!

Song Mo, considering the bigger picture, was unwilling to move against Song Han. But after Song Han had framed Song Mo like this and gotten off scot-free, Dou Zhao wasn't about to let it slide.

However, she hadn't yet decided how to deal with Song Han.Upon reading Miao Ansu's letter, she nearly burst out laughing and immediately summoned Jin Gui and the Yin sisters. She said to Ji Hong, "These two personal maids of mine are skilled in martial arts. Not just women, but even three or five strong men wouldn’t stand a chance against them. I’ll have them accompany you to Four Lane Alley to fetch the belongings. If anything happens, just give them your orders."

Ji Hong had initially been a bit nervous, fearing Dou Zhao might not want to get involved. Hearing this, she was overjoyed and curtsied to Dou Zhao, then flattered Jin Gui and Yin Gui with endless "sister this, sister that" as they headed to Four Lane Alley.

Song Han was in a foul mood, brooding over how to bring Miao Ansu back.

Her sudden move to the farmstead without a proper reason would surely invite gossip. The only proper lady in the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion was Dou Zhao, who was more likely to smear his reputation than help cover for him.

When he heard Ji Hong had come to move Miao Ansu’s belongings, his temples throbbed with rage. He lashed out with a kick, shouting, "You insolent wretch! Have you forgotten who feeds and clothes you? How dare you come here to take things—"

But before his foot could land on Ji Hong, a young maid darted forward, grabbed his ankle, and yanked hard, sending him tumbling face-first into the dirt.