After what felt like ages, the door creaked halfway open. Huang Yaning saw a round-faced woman standing behind it, with a slightly plump man lingering further inside.
“Auntie, hello! I’m from the village—”
Before she could finish, the woman’s eyes widened dramatically, as if shocked beyond belief. Huang Yaning knew her visit might be abrupt, but this reaction seemed excessive…
Still, having knocked, she couldn’t just walk away now.
“Auntie, I have a favor to ask. Could I—”
She wanted to request entry, but the door slammed shut with a sharp thwack, leaving her literally “with dust on her nose.”
“Husband—!”
Auntie Zhao scurried to her spouse. Though chatty and fond of gossip by nature, she was fundamentally honest. The moment she opened the door to see Feng Liuya—the very girl Madam had ordered them to monitor—standing there, her conscience prickled with panic. Had the girl discovered their mission? In her fluster, she’d reflexively shut the door.
“Wife, what happened? What did the girl say—?” Uncle Zhao gripped her hand, whispering urgently.
Having heard the knock, he’d followed curiously and also spotted Feng Liuya. His heart still pounded from the encounter.
“Don’t just stand there! What did she want—?” he pressed.
Finally collecting herself, Auntie Zhao recalled, “She said… she needed our help with something…”
The couple exchanged bewildered glances.
Ultimately, Uncle Zhao made the call: Madam’s orders were too secretive for the Fengs to know. Besides, getting close to Feng Liuya was their objective. Now that the girl had come willingly, turning her away made no sense.
After brief hesitation, they invited Huang Yaning inside.
Initially, Huang Yaning planned to outright pay the Zhaos to take her to the capital. But their odd behavior—especially Auntie Zhao’s terrified first glance—set off alarm bells.
Uneasy, she changed tactics. She claimed to be chronically underfed and wished to use “her mother’s” secretly stashed coins to buy daily meals here.
The money recovered from the Zhangs, plus what she’d scavenged from Young Madam Li and Feng Sanya, was already hidden securely in the mountains. With frugality, it could fund her capital trip—and more than cover meals with the Zhaos.
She trusted that village gossip would confirm her “mother” served as a wet nurse in a wealthy household. Combined with the Fengs’ recent notoriety, the couple would likely pity this “starved child” without suspicion.
As expected, the Zhaos readily agreed. The arrangement was settled.
…..
Dark clouds loomed overhead, fat raindrops pelting down in a noisy pitter-patter.
The winter storm plunged temperatures further, chilling limbs to stiffness for those standing too long outdoors. Yet not a single servant in Haitang Courtyard dared complain—all kept their heads bowed at their posts, scarcely breathing lest they provoke the sixth young miss.
The tension stemmed from Sheng Mingzhu’s impending birthday on the fifteenth of December—now barely a fortnight away. In previous years, Madam would have begun preparations a month prior, ensuring lavish celebrations. Last year’s banquet had outshone even New Year festivities!
Though the estate had weathered recent turmoil, matters had since stabilized. With the sixth miss’s leg nearly healed, surely it was time to plan her birthday…
Yet inexplicably, Madam seemed to have forgotten entirely. The oversight left Sheng Mingzhu in a foul temper.
Today’s lunch from the kitchen had been hurled against the wall, along with a shattered porcelain vase. Terrified servants tiptoed around their duties.
Now, hearing the young miss was hungry again, head maid Yun Jin had just been dispatched to fetch pastries…
Yun Jin approached Sheng Mingzhu’s chambers, a tray-bearing maid trailing behind. The door guards hastily lifted the curtain for them.
Inside, multiple silver-brazier charcoal pits blazed, swathing the room in oppressive warmth.
Pausing by a brazier, Yun Jin gently patted her clothes to dispel the chill before taking the tray and dismissing the maid—who fled with a grateful curtsy.
Steeling herself, Yun Jin rounded the partition into the inner chamber. There sat Sheng Mingzhu, clad in a thin plain jacket, fury twisting her features.
“Young Miss, the osmanthus glutinous rice dumplings are ready…”
Despite Yun Jin’s softened tone, a torrent of abuse greeted her:
“Who wants this? Are you brainless? Do I look like I have an appetite?
“I didn’t send you for my sake—!”
Yun Jin dropped to her knees, still clutching the dessert bowl. “This lowly one is foolish. Please don’t upset your health, Young Miss…”
“Useless! Not even fit to carry Tao Mama’s shoes!”
Sheng Mingzhu’s chest burned with stifled rage. Venting it risked angering Mother, yet keeping it in choked her.
She had no competent help left.
Yun Jin was dull-witted and awkward, incapable of pleasing.
Qing Tian had seemed clever once, as had second-tier maids Tian Zhang and Qiong Lou with their honeyed tongues. Yet all had proven disloyal—conniving social climbers who dared resent their mistress!
Only recently had Sheng Mingzhu realized: the servants’ change began after her leg injury.
When Fifth Brother threatened to beat her courtyard staff, she hadn’t intervened.
Not that she’d done wrong! Servants deserved punishment when their mistress suffered.
Back then, fear and anger had consumed her—how could she spare thought for pleading on their behalf? Besides, Fifth Brother never actually struck Haitang Courtyard’s people!
That these lowlifes dared hold grudges—preposterous!
The injustice stoked fresh fury and self-pity.
Had Qing Tian known Sheng Mingzhu felt wronged, she’d have scoffed inwardly:
“Pfah! You got hurt because of us?
“You were framed—by Tao Niang, the prime suspect you defended!
“We loyal ones nearly got beaten for nothing, while you stayed silent. Have you no heart?”
Many in Haitang Courtain shared the sentiment, though none voiced it openly.
Thus, only simpleton Yun Jin remained genuinely devoted—ironically, the very girl Sheng Mingzhu deemed too stupid to be of use.
