Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In bone-weighing, what was weighed was a person’s birth date.

The year, month, day, and hour of one’s birth each had a different weight. Add them together, and that was a person’s bone weight.

Although Fu Qiu had managed to enter Jiang Manor, she was only a servant. Getting hold of other people’s birth dates would be exceedingly difficult.

After thinking it over, she came up with a plan, but it was not something she could act on right away.

If strange incidents started happening the moment she entered the manor, any steward with a functioning brain would drag her out for interrogation first.

Weighing the pros and cons, Fu Qiu decided to lie low for a while.

She had heard that the young lady born of the madam would be moving into her own courtyard next month, and the stewards were currently selecting servants for her. When the time came, a whole batch of new people would enter the manor. No matter what happened then, suspicion would not fall on Fu Qiu first.

Time passed quickly. Fu Qiu received her monthly wages and handed every last coin over to Madam Zhou.

One and a half strings of cash. Madam Zhou counted it again and again before finally, with obvious reluctance, picking out ten coins and returning them to Fu Qiu.

“Go ask around the whole city if you like. In the first month, who doesn’t take every coin? It’s only because I’m softhearted, considering you’ve still got a lame husband at home to support…”

Fu Qiu lowered her head and agreed, while Madam Zhou continued prattling on.

At some point, a little girl in fine clothes had appeared in the courtyard. She was as pretty and delicate as carved jade, but her brows were knit, her lips pressed together, and her eyes were full of confusion.

Madam Zhou’s mind was entirely occupied with the money she had gotten for nothing, and she did not notice what was happening outside.

Without a change in expression, Fu Qiu shifted slightly to the side, blocking Madam Zhou’s line of sight.

The little girl hesitated for a moment, then found a doorway and continued heading out.

After humoring Madam Zhou with a few more words, Fu Qiu made an excuse to take her leave and went after the child.

That had to be one of the young ladies.

If Fu Qiu could escort her back, she might be able to maneuver herself into serving at her master’s side.

Fu Qiu had long strides and soon caught up to her, but she did not act at once. Instead, she followed at a distance neither too close nor too far.

The little girl walked farther and farther into the secluded parts of the manor, until at last she stopped by an unguarded wall.

There was a dog hole there. Crawling through it would lead to a narrow alley outside the manor.

The little girl crouched down and was just about to crawl through when Fu Qiu grabbed her by the back of her collar and lifted her up.

“Where might you be going, young miss?”

The little girl froze at first. Then, once she realized what was happening, she let out a howl and began to cry loudly enough to shake the heavens.

“Let me go! You wicked woman!”

Fu Qiu had never taken care of children before. At a complete loss, she froze on the spot-just in time to be caught red-handed by the nursemaid and the senior maid who came rushing over.

The nursemaid clutched her chest, both shocked and furious.

“Heaven strike you dead! Child snatchers dare to barge right into the manor now?!”