Chapter 4

After I told her, Zhou Wanrong fell silent. Like a piece of wood drained of life, she did nothing but sit by the window and cry.

I had no idea what to do with a delicate young lady like her. Once her tears ran out and she remembered the child in her belly, I thought she might pull herself together. So I kept my head down and worked.

An extra person in the house or not, life had to go on. I simply told Xiaohua to keep an eye on her aunt.

Three days later, I shouldered my chest and caught a ride into town on the village headman’s donkey.

For one thing, I had to see whether any of the women who had booked me were ready to give birth. Delivering babies was how I earned my silver.

For another, I wanted to ask about the Yongning estate.

In Lin’an, no one heard more news than the street vendors.

Whatever household their customers bought for, there was always time between choosing goods and haggling to repeat a scrap of news picked up who knew where.

Butcher Wang’s muscles bulged as she swung her cleaver, smashing through pork bones with loud cracks. It did not slow her gossip one bit.

She casually mentioned that the West Market would be lively today.

Apparently, a maid who had come with the marchioness at her marriage had tried to climb into the marquis’s bed while her mistress was giving birth!

The furious marquis had ordered the shameless girl beaten and sold.

“Later today, at the servant broker’s in the West Market. Finish your shopping and you can still catch the show.”

At last, a way forward! I thanked her hastily and raced to the West Market.

Sure enough, a bedraggled maid stood outside the broker’s shop, blood still seeping through her clothes around her lower back and buttocks.

When the broker saw me approach, his shrewd eyes rolled toward me.

“Don’t let her appearance put you off, madam. Nothing serious. She’ll be fine in a few days. All her limbs work—she can do plenty around the house.”

I made a show of listening closely.

“How so?”

The shifty-eyed, rat-faced fellow leaned close and lowered his voice.

“You look to be a midwife. You must know how things are in grand households. This one…” He winked. “Well, that sort of business. But here’s the honest truth: she can read!”

I sucked in a breath, wondering whether I had brought enough money, though I kept my face blank.

“If she’s so good, why have you still got her standing outside? Don’t try to fool me. I’ve asked around. This is a servant who betrayed her mistress!”

As expected, his face fell. He gave a couple of rueful laughs.

“Rich families don’t want trouble with the Yongning household. But what do common folk like us care? Besides, to tell you the truth, their steward specifically said she wasn’t to end up anywhere too comfortable.”

After a fierce battle over the price, the broker reluctantly agreed to hand her over for ten taels.

I dragged the money from my purse, my heart twinging with pain.

I silently resolved to get it back from Miss Zhou later.

Ten taels was no small sum.

If we scrimped, it would keep Xiaohua and me for a year!

The maid did not react to being sold. She stood there as if all hope had died.

Another mouth to feed at home, but at least Zhou Wanrong would have someone to look after her.

Though judging by the girl’s numb expression, it was hard to say who would be looking after whom.

I pondered it for half the journey before quietly telling her that her young mistress was alive.

Arms, legs, belly, all in one piece.

Her eyes lit up. Ignoring her injuries, she wrested the basket from me and even tried to take my wooden chest.

All at once she flew along as if her feet had wheels of wind and fire. She looked so delicate, so unused to hardship, yet she walked miles of hill paths without a complaint or a rest.

Sweat streamed off her the whole way, but her eyes never lost their light.

I was terrified. How could I suggest stopping? She might hoist me onto her back. I could only lower my head and keep walking.

Luckily, Sister Li was not home yet.

That spared me having to think up another story.

The instant I opened the door, the maid darted past me. She set down the basket and saw Zhou Wanrong sitting lifelessly by the bed.

Tears sprang to her eyes.

“My lady!”