Chapter 5: Seeking Refuge
That evening, she waited until dusk before her mother finally returned from Uncle's place.
She hurried forward to help her mother change clothes. "What did Uncle say?" she asked, her brows tinged with anticipation.
"After all, we are family," her mother replied, removing her sleeveless vest and changing into a silk gown. "Your uncle has already sent someone to summon Zuo Junjie. As for the maids, wives, and servants in the household, your aunt will help keep them in line so they don’t spread nonsense. You can rest assured and stay at Azure Cloud Temple for a while to clear your mind."
But how could gossip be stopped? It spread like the wind.
Still, with the elders stepping in, this matter should pass soon.
She returned to her room.
Her senior maid, Yi Tong, and Yu Wei were sitting in the main hall doing needlework, while the younger maids like Zhe Liu and Jian Cao gathered around them, either helping to separate threads or winding them, chattering noisily and creating a lively atmosphere.
When they saw her enter, they all stepped forward with smiles to greet her.
As she looked at the familiar faces before her, her heart turned cold at the thought of the undergarment her mother had thrown at her.
Her mother had once taught her that a husband might drift apart from her for the sake of the family or a concubine, but these people around her depended on her for survival—their lives, honor, and disgrace were tied to hers. If managed well, they would be the most loyal and devoted.
She believed she had treated them well and couldn’t fathom why any of them would betray her.
That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Yi Tong, who was on night duty, draped a robe over her shoulders and brought over a lamp. "Miss, what’s troubling you?"
Under the lamplight, Yi Tong’s eyes were filled with concern.
She remembered asking Yi Tong a few days ago if she would be willing to accompany her to Nanjing.
Yi Tong had shyly lowered her head. "I’d like to stay in Huayin."
She had laughed and asked, "Who is it? Before I leave, I’ll make sure to arrange it for you so you won’t be left disappointed."
Yi Tong had smiled bashfully. "You wouldn’t know him, Miss. He’s an outsider. My parents have already agreed. We’re just waiting to inform Fifth Madam."
Could it be Yi Tong?
Betraying her for a man?
She quickly dismissed the thought.
It couldn’t be Yi Tong.
Yi Tong had served in her room since she was seven. They had grown up together, their relationship that of both servant and friend. She even entrusted Yi Tong with the keys to her storeroom—Yi Tong was the person she trusted most. If she couldn’t trust Yi Tong, who could she trust?
Or was it Yu Wei?
Yu Wei had a father who was addicted to alcohol and gambling. He had even sold Yu Wei’s mother for drinking money. After Yu Wei was promoted to a second-tier maid and received a monthly allowance, he often came to her for money. Once, when Yu Wei refused, he had threatened to sell her younger brother.
Betraying her for money?
She quickly dismissed that thought too.
It couldn’t be Yu Wei.
Yu Wei would be going to Nanjing with her.
With luck, Yu Wei might even be taken in as a concubine or, at the very least, become a stewardess.
How much money would it take for Yu Wei to abandon her plans for Nanjing?
Or was it Zhe Liu? Jian Cao?
As soon as the thought arose, she shook her head fiercely.
What was wrong with her?
She was seeing problems where there might be none.
If she kept suspecting everyone, she’d drive herself mad before she even found the traitor.
Her strange behavior worried Yi Tong. "Miss, would you like me to read a few pages of Garden Husbandry to you?"
Garden Husbandry was a book on landscape gardening.
She was to be married into the Jiangnan region and had specifically taken it from her father’s study, afraid she might embarrass herself by not understanding the layout of southern gardens.But today, under the dim lamplight, the very thing that had filled her with anticipation just yesterday now tasted bitter.
"No need!" She turned her back to Yi Tong. "Go to sleep quickly. We have to leave for Azure Cloud Temple early tomorrow morning."
Yi Tong had never once disobeyed her. With a gentle acknowledgment, she carefully lowered the bed curtains for her.
She lay awake, watching the sky gradually lighten before rising to dress and accompany her mother to Azure Cloud Temple.
Located fifty li from the city at the foot of Qixia Mountain, Azure Cloud Temple was nestled among ancient trees and surrounded by distant peaks—a tranquil retreat perfect for escaping the summer heat. The abbess, Guo Hui Da Shi, was a kind-faced, approachable woman in her fifties. Upon hearing she had suffered heatstroke, Guo Hui brought her homemade Liuhua decoction. Learning she would stay at the temple for some time, the abbess assigned two young nuns to help clean and prepare their quarters, frequently visiting to discuss Buddhist scriptures and teachings. Meanwhile, her maids Lü'e and Hanyan, honored to have been chosen from among the servants to stay at the temple, attended to her with meticulous care, anxious to avoid any oversight.
Such days should have been leisurely and utterly pleasant.
Yet she couldn't stop thinking about that matter. Restless and sleepless, she occasionally dozed off only to be tormented by nightmares—standing alone amidst a crowd of men and women, young and old, being cursed, accused, even pelted with stones.
After barely five or six days of this, she had visibly wasted away.
Bi Bo's family grew worried and tried to console her with words.
At first she listened patiently, but soon grew irritated: "Housekeeper, rather than spending effort on this, you might as well go back and inquire about affairs at home."
To her surprise, after some thought, Bi Bo's family actually agreed: "Then I'll slip back quietly to look around!"This instead made her uneasy: 'But if someone notices.'".."
"Don't worry, Ninth Young Miss," Bi Bo's family reassured with a smile. "I won't enter the estate—just walk around the city in coarse clothes to catch any gossip before returning."
She praised Bi Bo's family for handling matters prudently.
After informing Guo Hui Da Shi under the pretext of reporting her illness to the madam, Bi Bo's family left the temple at dawn for the city.
That evening, they returned beaming: "Ninth Young Miss, the city is perfectly calm." Unable to contain their joy, they added in a hushed tone, "I even happened to meet Xiu Zhu's family and had her pass a message to Fifth Madame. Fifth Madame said she'll send someone to visit you in a few days to explain everything in detail."
Xiu Zhu's family was another stewardess highly trusted by her mother.
Overjoyed, she finally slept soundly that night.
Within two days, Xiu Zhu's family arrived."These herbs are either for clearing heat and relieving summer heat, or for regulating qi and blood. The usage instructions are written on them." She smiled as she handed over a blue cloth bundle, then dismissed Lü'e and Hanyan, speaking succinctly, "The eldest madam is ill, and Young Master Zuo has been anxious, staying at our residence to offer constant care. The maid Zhe Liu from your quarters suddenly developed alternating chills and fever. Several physicians were called, but none could cure her. Soon after, Yi Tong, Yu Wei, and Jian Cao also began feeling unwell—it’s likely a virulent disease. The Dowager has moved them all to the estates outside the city and invited Taoist priests from Nine Immortals Temple and monks from Splashing Cloud Temple to perform ritual ceremonies. Following the renowned physician Ma Boju’s advice, they’ve sprinkled saltpeter powder where you lived. When I left, the Dowager instructed me to tell you to stay here peacefully for a while longer and return only after the saltpeter scent has dissipated."
She was both shocked and relieved.
Shocked because even her mother’s personal intervention had failed to uncover the truth, and several of her capable maids had been implicated. Relieved because her uncle had finally restrained Zuo Junjie, and the Dowager had stepped in—seemingly to protect her...
"Then has it been determined who’s behind it?" she asked urgently.
"Madam Five didn’t specify the details. I don’t know either."
As Xiuzhu's family spoke, Hanyan entered.
"Everything has been packed, and the vegetarian dishes from the nunnery have been delivered."
The two maids still didn’t know why she had come to Azure Cloud Temple.
Xiuzhu's family immediately dropped the subject.
She had Bi Bo's family accompany Xiuzhu's family for a meal while she sat by the window, staring blankly at the silver-edged weeping willows outside.
After seeing Xiuzhu's family off, Bi Bo's family softly comforted her, "Miss, since the Dowager has intervened, we’ll be able to return soon!"
"Don’t try to console me," she murmured, still gazing out the window. "I’ve been learning household management from Mother for three or four years now—I understand some things. Moving them to the estates outside the city means either they couldn’t uncover anything and resorted to interrogation, or they’re covering for each other, making it impossible to investigate... Whatever the reason, it pains me deeply..." Tears welled in her eyes.
Bi Bo's family didn’t know how to respond.
After a long silence, she muttered, "We’ll know more when Xiuzhu's family returns next time!"
But to their surprise, Xiuzhu's family never came back.
Not only did Xiuzhu's family not return, but Bi Bo's family was also replaced by Housekeeper Chen.
"Madam Five has urgent matters requiring Bi Bo's family’s assistance, and the Ninth Miss cannot be left unattended even for a day." Housekeeper Chen, who usually treated her with utmost respect, gave a perfunctory bow, her smile not reaching her eyes. Behind her stood seven or eight burly women. "The Dowager has instructed me to serve the Ninth Miss for the time being!"
Housekeeper Chen was the most trusted aide of her aunt, just as Bi Bo's family was to her mother and Mother Li was to her grandmother.
Something felt wrong.
Her stay at Azure Cloud Temple wasn’t exactly honorable—the fewer who knew, the better. Why send so many people? Even if her mother needed Bi Bo's family back, why not ask her grandmother to send Mother Li instead? Why involve the eldest branch in the affairs of the fifth branch? Moreover, the women accompanying Housekeeper Chen were all strong and unfamiliar—clearly not ordinary servants, nor those who typically worked in the inner quarters.
Something had happened at home.
And the situation was unfavorable to both her and her mother.She quickly realized the gravity of the situation. Straightening her back and slightly raising her chin, she fixed Housekeeper Chen with a haughty, condescending gaze, hoping to intimidate her. "I have the nuns from the temple and two maidservants here. There's no need to trouble you, Housekeeper Chen."
"Ninth Miss, this won't do!" Though Housekeeper Chen wore a smile, there was no trace of a servant's deference. "If the Dowager finds out, she'll blame me for failing in my duties." With that, she shot a meaningful glance at a horse-faced matron nearby.
Immediately, two matrons seized Bi Bo's family.
Her face paled.
"Ninth Miss!" Bi Bo's family shot her a warning look, signaling her not to lose her temper—Housekeeper Chen had the upper hand with numbers, and it was unwise to provoke a confrontation now. "Since Fifth Madam has business to attend to, I'll take my leave first." Then she added meaningfully, "By my reckoning, Wu Laoye should have received Fifth Madam's letter by now. You should wait patiently for a few days."
Housekeeper Chen remained silent and took a few steps back.
She could only watch helplessly as Bi Bo's family was forcibly escorted out of Azure Cloud Temple by the two matrons.
※
Dear sisters, I've seen all your comments in the discussion section. Though I haven't replied to each one individually, your enthusiasm has truly touched my heart. Here, I bow deeply to thank you all for your unwavering support!
O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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