Yao Danxing grew up in the red-light district and mingled in the streets from a young age, witnessing the ugliness of the world and becoming familiar with the coldness and warmth of human relationships. She lived in the most despicable and filthy place, but her mother, Qinglian, insisted on educating her with the most proper and traditional etiquette and thoughts of a well-bred lady, constantly cultivating her elegant sentiments and temperament. This made Yao Danxing develop a cunning and eccentric personality, and also made her good at hiding her inner thoughts. At a young age, she knew how to play along and force a smile. So, although she was very unwilling to change her name, she remained calm, smiled sweetly, and showed her love and approval for the new name.
The snowstorm had subsided considerably, and the carriage continued forward. Yao Chutong leaned against the corner of the carriage and drifted off to sleep.
A chance encounter leads to a profound connection.
The carriage soon arrived at a courtyard, where servants were already waiting with bright red lanterns. Upon seeing Xie Linghui, they hurriedly came forward. Xie Linghui had an old woman lead Chu Tong to rest, then took Steward Hong and Juan Cui to a side hall. The old woman, seeing that Chu Tong's cloak was exquisite and seemed to belong to the second young master of the Xie family, naturally dared not neglect her. She settled her in a warm pavilion and had a maid bring her refreshments, tea, hot water, and towels. Nothing more was said that night. The next morning, Chu Tong followed Xie Linghui into the carriage, which sped towards the capital. They were already quite close to the capital, and after changing horses several times along the way, the carriage entered the city gates at dusk.
Along the way, Chu Tong couldn't help but lift the curtain to look outside. She saw that the streets of the capital were bustling with activity, and the shouts of vendors were endless. The stalls were filled with all kinds of goods, a dazzling array. Chu Tong craned her neck to look around, thinking to herself: Good heavens! No wonder the old men who come to the brothels to spend money say that the capital is prosperous. After seeing it today, it is indeed true! Although the streets of Nanhuai are also very lively, they still lack the grandeur of the capital.
As they looked around, the carriage slowly drove into a secluded alley and stopped at a side gate. Inside, the buildings stood tall and imposing, their eaves reaching towards the sky, exuding an air of grandeur. A servant lifted the carriage curtain, and a group of people stood at the gate to greet them. As soon as Xie Linghui alighted from the carriage, the people waiting at the gate surrounded him and ushered him inside. Juan Cui said to Chu Tong, "Second Master needs to go to the study to give a reply; let's go report to Second Madam first." She then took Chu Tong's hand and led her inside, where the two boarded a small sedan chair.
Yao Chutong lifted the sedan curtain and looked out. The scenery inside the mansion was even more extraordinary. The main rooms were tall and magnificent, with carved beams and painted rafters. The winding corridors and spacious side rooms were exquisite. The rocks were craggy, and the lush green pines were still covered with snow. The lake was frozen, and an old man in a straw raincoat was fishing alone in the snow, like a figure from a painting. Servants moved about in twos and threes in the garden, their manners impeccable. After walking for a while, the sedan chair entered a moon gate. Juan Cui smiled and instructed Chu Tong, "After you kowtow and ask her questions, you will officially stay in the Xie family mansion. The Second Madam is an extremely kind and beautiful person. You saved the Second Master's life, so she will surely reward you handsomely." Then she led Chu Tong out of the sedan chair and directly into a courtyard. Two maids were carrying a bucket of water in the courtyard. When they saw Juan Cui, they hurriedly put down the bucket and lifted the felt blanket on the door, smiling and saying, "Sister Juan Cui is back!" Juan Cui asked, "Is the Second Madam in?" The maid nodded and said, "The Second Madam is not feeling well and is resting on the couch. She has sent everyone away, leaving only Pearl to massage her legs."
Standing at the door, Yao Chutong was greeted by a fragrant aroma. Stepping into the room felt like entering a warm, spring-like world, a dazzling display of gold and splendor. A maid led her to a side room, where she sat on an embroidered stool and waited, then offered her a pastry. Yao Chutong, still somewhat dazed, held the pastry. The experience felt like a dream; from the moment she entered, everything she saw was luxurious and exquisite, the servants respectful and attentive. Chutong knew she had entered the home of an extraordinary wealthy family. Thinking of her mother's dying words, Chai Shou's hand gripped her arm tightly, and he gritted his teeth as he said, "Daughter, listen carefully. The mansions of princes and nobles are pits of fire, wealth and glory are but a dream. Never listen to a man's sweet talk, or else... or else I'll be your fate!" Chu Tong stared blankly for a moment, then snorted, thinking: What do I care about your wealthy and powerful family? I'll go and see for myself. If I don't like it, I'll just break up with you and leave. I'll still be my Yao Danxing, won't I be just as happy? With this thought, she calmed down, ate her snacks in a few bites, and then peeked out through a small crack in the curtain.
It was already dusk, and the sky was completely dark. Chu Tong, being a child at heart, couldn't stand the loneliness. Seeing that no one was in the main hall, she went out and looked around. She noticed various pastries on a small plum blossom-shaped table in the corner, all of which she had never tasted before. Her mouth watered, and she pulled out a small handkerchief from her bosom, picking out the most colorful and uniquely shaped ones and wrapping them inside. When Chu Tong was up to mischief, she was always very observant. Suddenly, she sensed a dark shadow flash past the window. Panicked, she quickly covered herself with the handkerchief and hid behind the curtain.
Not long after, the door slowly opened, and a person walked in quietly. Yao Chutong held her breath and looked out through the gap in the curtain. She saw that the person was dressed in black and carrying a sword. After entering the room, he walked straight towards the Second Madam's bedroom.
"Thief!" Yao Chutong was startled. The snacks in her arms rolled all over the ground. She ran out in a panic, but suddenly felt a numbness in her leg and fell to the ground with a cry of "Ouch!"
"Who goes there?" Hearing the noise, Juan Cui rushed out, only to find the hall empty except for Chu Tong lying on the floor. Chu Tong struggled to get up, but before she could speak, Juan Cui swayed a few times and collapsed, landing squarely on top of her. Chu Tong's face turned pale with fright. The room was pitch black, with only a single candle casting a dim light. Chu Tong felt that her left leg had completely lost feeling, and Juan Cui was lying on top of her, her life hanging in the balance. Terrified, she collapsed to the floor, her body limp.
"What exactly happened?" A melodious female voice rang out, followed by the tinkling of jade pendants. Chu Tong was about to turn her head to look when a voice came from above her head: "Lin Ji, it's been a long time."
The footsteps stopped. "Who are you?" The pleasant female voice suddenly turned cold, filled with intense wariness.
"Haha, who am I? Second Madam Xie seems to have a bad memory, but I know your background perfectly well." The voice rang out again, tinged with resentment, and sounded like a deep, resonant young man. Chu Tong lay prone on the ground, her face turned away from the two behind her, thinking: This is bad. Second Madam is out; she'll definitely see the scattered pastries. If she investigates who took them, it'll be disastrous. Yao Chu Tong felt a little uneasy, but then she thought: Don't worry, don't worry, I'll just say I saw the thief, and when he knocked me down, I accidentally knocked over a few pastries. That lie will cover up the whole thing. Thinking this, she felt a little smug, then thought: This thief's background is unknown; he seems to know Second Madam. I'll remain silent and observe the situation to avoid being implicated. With that thought, she didn't dare move, pricking up her ears to listen to their conversation.
"'Lin' is a prominent surname in the Southern Yan royal family. More than a decade ago, Prince Ping of Southern Yan had a favorite concubine, exceptionally beautiful and talented, and remarkably intelligent. Due to her lowly birth, the young prince bestowed upon her the surname Lin, and she was named Consort Lin. Later, when Southern Yan went to war with the Central Plains, Consort Lin caught the prince's eye and was sent to the Xie family in the Central Plains as a spy." The voice paused, then became even colder and more disdainful, "Unexpectedly, this vile woman gradually forgot the young prince's kindness and became greedy for wealth and glory. Not only did she spread false information when the young prince of Northern Liang returned to the capital, severely damaging Southern Yan's elite assassins, but she even ruthlessly murdered her sworn brother!"
"Shut up!" The Second Madam slammed her hand on the rosewood tea table beside her, her tone icy cold. "What do you know? You greenhorn, do you even know what happened back then? What right do you have to come here and accuse me? It was all because Lin Xihe was heartless and ungrateful to me!" The Second Madam took a deep breath, as if trying to calm her anger, but her voice grew even more agitated. "Back then, he loved me dearly, showering me with favor. But not long after, he fell for that vixen Fang Hongxiu! To win her favor, he ordered me to be demoted to the empress's quarters." "I suffered endless bullying from the servants in that mansion... I had no choice but to beg to come to the Great Zhou as a spy, otherwise I would have gone mad if I had been trapped in that back mansion!" The Second Madam took a deep breath, her tone still sinister. "Now that I'm doing well, that heartless man sent someone to ask me to do things for him. When I refused, he drugged me, trying to expose my identity! What right does he have? What right does he have!" With a "crack," the Second Madam tore off a string of beads from her wrist, and the large pearls fell to the ground with a clatter, making everyone's heart jump.
Yao Chutong thought to herself: What Southern Yan, Northern Liang, and the Little Prince? There is indeed a Northern Liang kingdom in the north of the Great Zhou, and a Southern Yan kingdom in the south, and they've been fighting for years. Where did the Second Madam come from? Then she sighed inwardly, "This Second Madam and my mother are both in the same boat! But my mother committed suicide after being abandoned by her husband. Look at the Second Madam, tsk tsk, she's so self-reliant! If only my mother were half as strong as her..."
The young man was stunned, and after a long while he said, "Even if the King of Pingliang wronged you, why did you kill your sworn brother? When you fell out of favor, he helped you in every way. When you came to the Great Zhou, he secretly helped you to get the high position you have today. How could you bring yourself to do it?"
The second wife's tone was unusually calm: "He was indeed very good to me, but he was ordered by Lin Xihe to force me to submit. I had no choice but to take action."
"You mean he died a worthy death?" the boy scoffed dismissively.
"It's either him or me who dies." The second wife's voice remained calm.
"What an ungrateful and shameless woman! Today is your death day!" the young man roared, then drew his weapon and slashed at the second wife.
"A mere trick." The second madam snorted, and with a nimble movement, the young man's sword missed its mark.
"This petty trick is more than enough to deal with a wretch like you." The young man sneered, his swordplay becoming increasingly fierce, each move potentially fatal.
"What is your relationship with Yun Zhongyan?" After a few moves, the Second Madam's expression turned serious. Although the young man was not old, he had an excellent foundation and was skilled in transformation. For a time, he was able to fight her to a standstill. The Second Madam was afraid that such a sound would attract the servants, so she became anxious.
"It is indeed my master! You have taken his life, so I will take your head as a sacrifice!" The young man gritted his teeth and spat out these words, his sword aimed straight at the second madam's vital point.
"Good, very good." The second madam sneered, casually picking up a whisk from the jade bottle and using it as a weapon to defend against the boy's attack.
Yao Chutong lay on the ground, having heard everything clearly. Now, hearing the two fighting again, she couldn't help but lament inwardly: "Alas! Swords have no eyes; if these two fight like this, I might get stabbed!" But then she remembered that Juan Cui was still on her body, at least she had a human shield. Slightly relieved, she cautiously opened her eyes a crack and saw the two locked in combat right in front of her. The young boy, despite his young age, possessed remarkable swordsmanship. Yao Chutong felt sword energy whistling overhead, and she immediately closed her eyes in fright, but couldn't help opening them again.
The second wife was extremely anxious. With dinner time fast approaching, and Xie Chunrong scheduled to dine at her place, she was in a completely helpless situation. In her panic, she lost her composure, and the young man seized the opportunity, stabbing her in the shoulder with his sword. She let out a cold snort and stumbled backward, bumping into the curtain beside a pillar. A cry of "Ouch!" was heard as a young maidservant fell to the ground.
The second mistress was startled and immediately recognized the little maid as Pearl, who had massaged her legs in the room earlier that day. It turned out that when the second mistress went out, Pearl was making tea in the room, and then, unable to resist her curiosity, she came out to watch. She had witnessed everything that had just happened, and when the two started fighting, Pearl became frightened. Taking advantage of the intense fight, she disregarded her surroundings and shuffled step by step to the door to call for help. Unexpectedly, the two continued their fight, and in her panic, she hid behind the curtain like Yao Chutong, only to be suddenly bumped out by the second mistress.
"You bastard! Die!" The boy raised his sword high and slashed down. With a "thud," a head rolled to the ground, spinning several times, blood splattering everywhere.
Yao Chutong felt a burning sensation on her face, and her body trembled slightly as she narrowed her eyes to slits. The young man stood there dumbfounded, still holding his sword, while the Second Madam sat half-sitting on the ground, clutching the body of a young maid. The maid's head lay rolled not far from Yao Chutong, her expression one of utter terror. An ordinary little girl would have screamed and fainted at the sight, but Yao Chutong had witnessed Mo Yuan's gruesome death a few days prior, so she managed to maintain her composure, though her stomach churned, and she nearly vomited.
"You...you're so cruel!" The boy's words sounded like a dream.
"Hmph! She saw what just happened, she'll die sooner or later!" The Second Madam's tone was indifferent, yet it revealed boundless killing intent. Upon hearing this, Yao Chutong's hair stood on end. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, thinking to herself: Good heavens! If she knew I also saw what happened, wouldn't she want to take my head too? I absolutely cannot admit to knowing what happened. If anyone asks, I'll deny it to the death, saying that the man in black punched me unconscious, and I'm completely out of it, fast asleep!
Taking advantage of the boy's distraction, the second mistress pulled a hairpin from her hair and threw it towards his heart. Unable to dodge in time, the boy was struck in the left chest. He groaned and staggered backward. Just then, the door was pushed open, and a maid stood in the doorway, saying, "Second mistress, the food in the kitchen is ready... Oh my god!" Upon seeing the scene inside, the maid turned pale and screamed, "Help! Help! Something terrible has happened! Someone has died! Help!"
People swarmed in from all directions. Seeing that things were not going well, the boy leaped out of the window and escaped into the night.
At this moment, the Second Madam collapsed to the ground with a cry of "Ah!" The old woman and maids rushed into the room. Seeing the situation, they all turned pale and hurriedly surrounded the Second Madam. "Quick! The Second Madam has fainted! Go and fetch a doctor!" "Pinch her philtrum! Quickly, get a hot towel!" "Quickly inform the master, a villain has entered the Xie residence!" Everyone was busy and frantic. Yao Chutong slightly lifted her eyelids and saw the Second Madam looking like a frail, pitiful blade of grass, being carried into the inner room by a sturdy old woman. She sighed inwardly: This Second Madam was just gritting her teeth, using him to kill someone without batting an eye, and now she looks so weak and frail. She's a better actress than I am!
Just as she thought of this, she felt a lightness on her body. Juan Cui was moved aside, and then a pair of hands lifted her up, fingers probing below her nostrils, and then shouted, "These two girls are still breathing, quickly take them out!"
Several maids and servants carried Chu Tong and Juan Cui to a side room. They pinched their philtrum and Hegu acupoints, and sprayed water on their faces. Chu Tong felt the old woman's hands pinching her painfully. She wanted to pretend for a while longer, but at this moment she had to "leisurely wake up." She opened her eyes in a daze, and the people next to her clapped and laughed, "Finally, one of them is awake!" Yao Chu Tong glanced sideways and saw that Juan Cui was still unconscious, but her face was rosy and her breathing was even, so she seemed to be alright. Just then, the curtain was lifted and a handsome young man walked in. Yao Chu Tong looked closely and saw that the person was Xie Linghui.
Xie Linghui waved away the others, walked to Juan Cui's side, checked her pulse, and said happily, "It was just a sleeping acupoint, nothing serious." He moved a chair and sat down in front of Chu Tong, asking, "I heard what happened in that hall just now?"
Yao Chutong's palms were slightly sweaty, but she didn't show it on her face. She said, "I was waiting here for the Second Madam to summon me. Then I peeked out from behind the curtain and saw a man in black with a sword push the door open and come in... I was scared and tried to run out for help, but then my legs went numb and I fell to the ground. Everything went black and I didn't know anything... Then I woke up and found myself in this room... Second Master, what happened outside?"
Xie Linghui frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "It's alright, just stay here and don't go out." After saying that, he got up and walked out.
That night, the Xie mansion was brightly lit. Yao Chutong overheard the maids whispering among themselves that robbers had broken in, intending to steal the Second Madam's priceless luminous pearl. The maid, Pearl, had loyally protected her mistress, dying while shielding her from a sword. The Second Madam had adopted Pearl as her goddaughter, giving her a proper burial and providing her family with eighty taels of silver as compensation. Pearl's parents received the money and left, profusely grateful. The thieves had vanished without a trace, and the servants were searching everywhere. However, the matter was considered closed. The head matriarch of the mansion strictly forbade anyone from speaking a word about it again, or they would be punished with a beating.
Yao Chutong thought to herself, "What stealing the luminous pearl, loyally protecting the master? That man in black wanted to chop off the Second Madam's head, and Pearl was unwillingly made a scapegoat—that's the real story." Thinking this, she suddenly realized that the Xie mansion seemed to be fraught with danger, and couldn't help but shudder. Thinking of her miraculous escape from danger, she felt overjoyed and danced with delight.
Just as she was feeling happy, the curtain was lifted and a dignified and beautiful head maid walked in. She smiled slightly at Chu Tong and said, "You must be Chu Tong. The Second Madam has woken up and wants to see you."
Yao Chutong was stunned.
Yao Chutong was extremely unwilling at this moment, dragging her heavy legs forward step by step. She wished the short distance from the side room to the Second Madam's bedroom would never end. A maid led her to a beaded curtain, smiled slightly, and said, "The Second Madam is resting on the couch. You may go in." Yao Chutong nodded obediently. The maid opened the curtain, revealing a beautiful woman lying on the couch in front of her. She had fair skin, a full figure, a delicate nose, and cherry lips. Her complexion was slightly sallow, but beneath her arched eyebrows were a pair of captivating phoenix eyes, brimming with a hint of authority, clearly indicating a formidable person.
The moment Chu Tong's eyes met those of the Second Madam, she felt as if her soul was being stolen by those phoenix eyes. She quickly lowered her head, thinking to herself: This Second Madam is truly a beauty. No wonder the Second Master is so handsome. If she were to become a prostitute in Nanhuai, my mother's reputation for beauty might not be preserved! Chu Tong thought this, but her movements were swift and decisive. She knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Chu Tong greets the Second Madam."
The second wife coughed a few times and smiled, "Good child, lift your head and let me see you."
Yao Chutong had been in brothels since childhood and knew best how to deal with high-ranking officials and nobles. She would go up to those dressed in fine clothes and say auspicious words in exchange for tips. She was also very good at reading people's expressions. She raised her head, looked down, and smiled slightly, her expression obedient and docile.
The second madam smiled and said, "What a lovely girl. Come here." Chu Tong was taken aback and quickly glanced up, only to see the second madam smiling and beckoning to her, "Come on, come here quickly." Chu Tong couldn't help but shiver, but she didn't show it on her face and slowly shuffled over. As soon as she got close to the second madam, she smelled a sweet and unique fragrance that was indescribably comforting.
"I heard it was you who saved Hui'er." The second madam gently grasped Chu Tong's hand.
"Chu Tong just happened to be there." Chu Tong lowered her head, afraid that the second madam would suddenly exert force and crush her hand to pieces.
"Whether it's a coincidence or not, you are Hui'er's benefactor." The Second Madam smiled warmly. "You saved Hui'er's life, and I must reward you handsomely. I heard that your parents died early and you have no one to rely on, so you can stay in our Xie family from now on. I guarantee you will never have to worry about food or clothing. You are a meritorious person, and everyone in this house will look up to you. But if you don't know your place because of this, the Xie family will have its own way of dealing with you!" The Second Madam's tone suddenly turned stern at the last sentence.
"Yes, yes, Chu Tong wouldn't dare." Yao Chu Tong hurriedly kowtowed, but was stopped by the Second Madam, who sighed softly, "Looking at your obedient and clever appearance, you'll follow me from now on and take Pearl's place. Pearl was indeed a kind and considerate person by my side, but I never expected that she would do this for me..." At this point, the Second Madam frowned, and tears rolled down her cheeks. The maids hurriedly surrounded her, offering handkerchiefs to comfort her. Chu Tong didn't care about the beauty's tears. Hearing the Second Madam's words, she felt a sense of desolation before her eyes and cursed inwardly: You witch! You killed Pearl, and now you want to harm me! Do you want me to take a sword for you again in the future? To hell with it, I'm not doing this losing business. Thinking of this, she raised her head, only to find the Second Madam's phoenix eyes staring at her thoughtfully. A chill ran down her spine, and she quickly forced a smile, saying, "Just now, Chu Tong was so happy to hear that she was following Madam that she momentarily lost her composure. Following Madam is a blessing Chu Tong has accumulated over many lifetimes. Madam is so beautiful and kind; seeing you reminded Chu Tong of her deceased mother… I… Waaah! Waaah…" Halfway through her sentence, Yao Chu Tong suddenly hugged the corner of the bed and burst into tears. Her heart was filled with grief and indignation: Heavens! What sins did I commit in my past life! To be stuck here! Who knows when this vixen might kill me to silence me! I'll really be going to the underworld to see my mother! The more Yao Chu Tong thought about it, the more heartbroken she became. Her cries were truly heart-wrenching, echoing through the heavens, leaving everyone speechless.
The second madam comforted Chu Tong for a few moments, and Chu Tong, knowing she shouldn't go too far, forced herself to stop crying. Seeing that she was feeling a little better, the second madam said to the maid beside her, "Bring over a few pieces of the newly made pastries today, put them in a box, and give them all to her as a reward." After saying that, the second madam casually asked, "When the thief broke in last night, you happened to be in the main hall. You weren't hurt by the villain, were you?"
Chu Tong said respectfully, "Madam, at that time, I heard a noise outside and just saw a man in black come in. Just as I was about to call for help, Sister Juan Cui rushed out, and then a small stone hit me, and I passed out."
The second madam nodded, not pressing for further details. She took a piece of osmanthus cake from the plate in the maid's hand and handed it to Chu Tong, saying with a smile, "Here, have a snack."
Chu Tong was so nervous that she couldn't eat anything. She forced a smile and took a bite, but it tasted bland. Just then, the beaded curtain was lifted, and a maid came in and said, "Master has arrived."
Upon hearing this, the second madam's expression changed slightly. She hurriedly said to the maid beside her, "Hanxiang, take Chutong to the inner room. Don't let her wander around. Give her some candy." Hanxiang nodded and led Chutong into the inner room. The room was even more luxuriously furnished. By the south window was a large carved nanmu bed, with a bright red floral curtain hanging from a copper hook. Purple felt strips were laid on the kang (heated brick bed), and a large embroidered stool beside the bed was covered with a gold-centered, green-shimmering satin cushion. The four walls were exquisitely crafted, with zithers, swords, vases, and incense burners all attached to the walls, covered with brocade cages and gauze, adorned with gold and pearl glitter. After taking a few steps, Chutong suddenly felt her legs go weak. Looking closely, she realized that the floor was covered with a light pink long-haired carpet, which felt like walking on cotton under her feet. Chutong was stunned, thinking to herself: My goodness, such wealth and extravagance cannot be matched by ten wealthy merchants from Nanhuai!
Seeing Chu Tong's expression, Han Xiang smiled and said, "From now on, you'll be following Madam and staying in this room every day. It's nothing special." Then she had Chu Tong sit on the embroidered stool, took a treasure box from the small table, and handed it to her, saying, "Madam loves these candied fruits and pastries, so we have more of these things in our room than in other rooms." Chu Tong nodded. Suddenly, she heard the Second Madam calling Han Xiang's name from outside. Han Xiang responded and said, "You sit here properly and don't touch anything. I'll be right back." With that, she went out.
As soon as Hanxiang left, Chutong immediately stood up, hurriedly looking around. Seeing a carved wooden window on the south wall, she thought to herself, "This second madam is a beautiful snake. Staying by her side will kill me at any moment. I might as well take this opportunity to escape through this window and never come back. This room is full of jewels; I could take a little and enjoy it for a lifetime." Having made up her mind, Chutong went straight to the dressing table, opened the drawer of the dressing case, and saw a dazzling display of gold. The little girl immediately beamed, muttering, "A basket full of gold and silver treasures! This trip to the treasure mountain wasn't empty-handed after all. Humph! Besides, the second madam did something shameful that frightened me. Taking some of her treasures is her compensation." As she spoke, her hands were busy, picking up several pieces of what looked like expensive jewelry and putting them into her bosom. Suddenly, she discovered that the bottom drawer was securely locked with a Pisces lock, so she had to stop. Thinking that these few treasures were enough, she ran to the wall, opened the window, and prepared to jump out. But then she thought again: what rare treasures were locked in that drawer? Could it be a priceless luminous pearl? If it were truly that rare thing, even seeing it once would make her life worthwhile. Thinking this, Chu Tong looked back, her heart itching with desire. She listened intently for any unusual sounds outside, then returned. Staring at the drawer for a few moments, she suddenly remembered that she used to hide copper coins in a locked box, the key either always on her person or hidden under the bedding. So she went straight to the Second Madam's bed, lifting the layers of bedding and searching high and low.
Just then, footsteps sounded. Chu Tong quickly jumped out of bed, pretending to admire the jade screen standing beside the bed. Han Xiang came in with a bowl of hot soup, smiling, and said, "You little girl, you're so lucky! Madam wants some soup, and she asked me to bring you a bowl too. Madam is chatting with Master outside and asked me to tell you not to go out, just stay inside." Chu Tong nodded repeatedly in agreement. After Han Xiang left, she hurriedly returned to bed to continue examining the screen. As she touched it, Chu Tong suddenly touched a protrusion on the bedpost. She looked closely and saw that the bedpost was carved with a lifelike crane, and the protrusion was the crane's eye. Chu Tong looked closely and found that the crane eye was carved in a particularly unique way. So she pressed it with her hand, but the eye did not react at all. Just as she was about to put it down, she suddenly had a bright idea. She twisted the crane eye hard and heard a "click" sound, as if something had unlocked a lock. Then the bed board next to her sank down with a "bang", and a body covered in blood and dirt came into Yao Chu Tong's view.
This was a shocking sight, and Chu Tong couldn't help but gasp softly. The person lying in the hidden compartment under the bed had disheveled hair, making their face unrecognizable, and a large bloodstain on their chest; they were clearly dead. Chu Tong was stunned by the scene before her, only remembering her predicament when she heard footsteps outside the door. But it was too late; someone had already lifted the curtain. In a panic, Chu Tong scrambled under the tablecloth of the rectangular table beside her, peering through the gaps, trembling like a leaf.
A pair of black satin figure-eight shoes appeared before Chu Tong. The person wandered around the room a couple of times before disappearing without a trace. Chu Tong opened her eyes wide and peeked out through the gap in the tablecloth. Just then, a pair of hands like eagle claws grabbed her arm tightly from behind and yanked her out from under the table. Chu Tong gasped when she saw who had grabbed her. It was an extremely ugly old woman. Although she was dressed in fine clothes, half of her face was covered in sores. She grinned, revealing a half-broken, yellow front tooth, making her look terrifying and sinister.
Just then, the Second Madam's melodious voice came from outside, asking, "Granny Zhao, what's wrong inside?"
Granny Zhao reached out and grabbed Chu Tong by the neck, speaking in a hoarse voice, "Master and Madam, everything is fine inside. A little maid accidentally broke a bottle, and I'm disciplining her." Her voice was rough and hoarse, a world apart from that of the Second Madam.
"Don't make things too difficult for that little girl. Just let her know she was wrong," the second madam said. "My husband and I are going to the garden to admire the plum blossoms. We'll have dinner at the Luoying Pavilion in the east tonight. I'll leave the things in the house to you."
"Please rest assured, sir and madam," the old woman Zhao replied, but her grip on Chu Tong tightened. Chu Tong felt as if an iron ring was tightening around her neck, making it difficult to breathe and causing her to convulse. The pain was indescribable. She struggled desperately, her mind filled with only one thought: "It's over. Looks like I'm destined to play chess with the judge of hell today!" Gradually, Chu Tong's vision blurred. She could only see the ugly old woman grinning maliciously. Chu Tong's fingernails scratched bloody marks on the old woman's hands, and she cursed viciously in her heart: "Damn you! Before I die today, I'll remember your face clearly, and when I become a vengeful ghost, you'll be the first one to come for me!"
Chu Tong struggled so violently that Granny Zhao had to press her down onto the offering table. At that moment, as her body twisted violently, the button around Chu Tong's neck came undone, and the jade plum blossom hanging on her chest jumped out. Granny Zhao trembled violently upon seeing the jade plum blossom, her hand trembled, and she released Chu Tong's neck.
The long-awaited fresh air entered Chu Tong's lungs, and she coughed loudly, her body collapsing weakly to the ground.
"Tell me! Where did you get those plum blossoms?" Granny Zhao grabbed Chu Tong's arm, her voice trembling with excitement.
Chu Tong was coughing terribly and hated her to the core, so she wouldn't answer her question. She just pretended not to hear. Granny Zhao reached out and gently stroked the plum blossom, a strange light flashing in her eyes. She chuckled and said, "Little girl, if you obediently tell me where this plum blossom is, I'll spare your life."
Upon hearing her words, Chu Tong's mind raced with a thousand schemes. After catching her breath, she raised her eyes and said to Granny Zhao, "I'm thirsty and want some water."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mama's smile suddenly turned sinister, and she tightened her grip on Chu Tong's hand. "Ouch, it hurts so much!" Chu Tong's voice was still a bit hoarse as she grimaced and said, "Mama, I was just frightened, and now I'm trembling and my whole body aches. I can't remember anything from before! If you let me drink some hot tea to clear my head, and then eat some pastries, I'll be able to remember everything clearly and tell you everything from before."
Granny Zhao snorted and sneered, "I knew you wouldn't dare to play any tricks." Then she picked her up like a chick and carried her to the table, took a teacup, and poured her a cup of tea.
Chu Tong held the cup in her hand, taking small sips, her eyes darting around. Granny Zhao, clearly impatient, snatched the cup away and asked, "How did Yu Mei end up on you?"
Chu Tong didn't answer her question. Instead, she reached into the eight-treasure box, took a piece of walnut pastry, and crunched it in her mouth. She praised, "This pastry is really sweet. Don't worry, Granny, I'll tell you everything after you finish this pastry."
"You ignorant fool! How dare you try to play tricks on me!" Granny Zhao sneered, stepped forward and twisted Chu Tong's ear. Chu Tong immediately burst into tears from the pain, repeatedly begging for mercy, "I won't dare! I won't dare! Granny, spare my life!"
Granny Zhao snorted coldly, released her hand and said, "Now tell me everything you know, or I'll have a thousand ways to deal with you!" After saying that, she sat on the embroidered stool, her turbid eyes fixed on Chu Tong.
Chu Tong covered her ears, quickly calculating in her mind. Then, imitating the storyteller in the storytelling hall, she began to vividly recount her experience of wandering in the wilderness and then seeing the dilapidated temple. She described every scene in great detail, often exaggerating and embellishing several parts just to buy time. Granny Zhao was extremely impatient, but afraid of missing important points, she had no choice but to patiently listen to Chu Tong's rambling.
When Chu Tong started talking about how a group of people entered the dilapidated temple, Granny Zhao's face lit up. She grabbed Chu Tong's hand and asked eagerly, "You said a young master entered the dilapidated temple. What did the young master look like? Was he tall or short, fat or thin? What was he wearing?"
Actually, the firelight was dim that night, and Chu Tong hadn't clearly seen the face of the person who came into the dilapidated temple. However, seeing Zhao Mama's anxious and focused expression, she decided to make up a story. She took a sip of tea and said in a high-pitched voice, "Speaking of that young master, he is truly exceptionally handsome, no less than the second young master of our Xie family, he..." Just as she finished speaking, Zhao Mama suddenly shuddered, her eyes widened, and she fell forward stiffly, landing squarely on top of Chu Tong. Chu Tong couldn't withstand Zhao Mama's weight; with a cry of "Ouch!", she was pinned to the ground. Luckily, there was a carpet beneath her, otherwise she would have been seriously injured.
Chu Tong scrambled and crawled, finally managing to push Zhao Mama away and break free. Then, she tentatively leaned forward and poked Zhao Mama's body, calling softly, "Zhao Mama? Zhao Mama?" She saw that Zhao Mama's eyes were tightly closed, her face was ashen, and she was already unconscious.
Chu Tong sighed deeply, got up from the ground, and muttered to herself, "Thank goodness, I'm lucky. That old hag suddenly had a seizure and fainted. If I don't leave now, when will I?" Chu Tong glanced back at Zhao Mama lying on the ground, kicked her hard, and cursed fiercely, "You damn old hag, how dare you harm me! This is your retribution!" Not satisfied with just one kick, she kicked her four or five more times before stopping, muttering, "I'd better slip away quickly while no one's around. If someone comes later, or if that old hag wakes up, things will be really bad." She walked towards the window as she spoke.
She had only taken a few steps when Chu Tong suddenly heard a soft cough behind her. She shuddered and broke out in a cold sweat. She turned around abruptly, only to find that there was no one behind her.
"Could it be an illusion?" Chu Tong looked around warily, then turned away and muttered to herself.
Then the coughing sounded again, and she stopped and slowly turned around. She saw the corpse lying in the dark compartment under the bed slowly sit up. His movements were slow and stiff. He coughed as he stretched out his arm and slowly crawled out of the compartment.
Absurd and childish wedding night
Yao Chutong's scalp tingled instantly. She thought to herself, "What bad luck! I don't know what misfortune I've run into lately; all I've encountered are dead people or resurrected corpses. When I get out of here, I'll have to find a temple to pray to and donate plenty of money." As she thought this, Chutong grabbed the hot soup Bailing had brought and took a large gulp as if venting her anger. Just as she was about to leave, she found her legs becoming weak and powerless, and a sudden, sharp pain shot through her chest. The pain was excruciating, as if a thousand tiny insects were gnawing at her heart. She collapsed to the ground, too weak to even cry out in pain, feeling as if her very soul was being forced out of her body by the unbearable agony.
The "corpse" had slowly crawled out of the hidden compartment. It rested for a moment, its hands on the ground, before groping its way towards Chu Tong. In the flickering candlelight, the "corpse" was covered in blood, its disheveled hair hanging to the ground. With each step, it emitted heavy breathing, creating an indescribably eerie scene. Chu Tong was terrified, but she was already tormented by excruciating pain. Ironically, she hoped the "corpse" would reach her quickly and kill her instantly; anything was better than dying in this agony.
Finally, the "corpse" crawled to Chu Tong's side, grabbed her wrist, felt her pulse twice, and muttered, "She really has been poisoned by the Fragrant Soul Powder." With that, the "corpse" suddenly struck, pressing several acupoints on Chu Tong's body before slamming his hand into her chest. With a "whoosh," Chu Tong coughed up blood, immediately feeling much lighter, and the excruciating pain in her chest lessened considerably. The "corpse," having seemingly exhausted all his strength, sat on the ground, coughing violently, then tilted his head back, gasping for breath.
After a while, the "corpse" turned its head and said, "Hey, little girl, go get me a glass of water." The voice was deep and pleasant, and Chu Tong immediately recognized it as the young man who had assassinated the Second Madam in the front hall. At that moment, the candlelight shone on his face, revealing that the young man's face was covered in blood, but his eyes shone like two beams of cold lightning, full of spirit.
Chu Tong had been huddled to one side, only wanting to gather her strength and find an opportunity to run away. She was taken aback when she heard the boy's request, but then she remembered that he had just helped her heal her pain, and she felt a little grateful. She immediately got up and walked to the table, accidentally kicking Zhao Mama's hand. Zhao Mama let out a low groan, and Chu Tong was immediately startled and took several steps back.
“You don’t need to be afraid.” The voice of the “corpse” echoed softly from behind Chu Tong. “She fainted because I injected a poisoned needle into her body. She won’t wake up for at least two hours.” Chu Tong hummed in agreement, poured him a glass of water, and handed it to him. The boy took the water, took out a pill from his pocket, put it in his mouth, swallowed it with water, and then sat cross-legged, remaining silent.