“How did you know?” Jing’er blurted out instinctively, then immediately covered her mouth in panic. “There’s no such thing…”
Jing Wu cut her off: “They can’t hear.”
Jing’er turned to look at the others nearby, who showed no reaction, and only then did she feel reassured.
If word of the young miss’s elopement got out, she would likely be beaten to death.
Jing Wu looked at the person before her and continued, “Your young miss is eloping with her lover tonight. The next day, when the masters can’t find her, the first one to be punished will be you, her personal maidservant.”
Hearing this, Jing’er’s heart trembled. Indeed, if the young miss went missing, she would definitely be the first to be punished. Given the mistress’s temperament, she wouldn’t take her life but would only give her ten strokes of the rod and drive her out of the estate. Yet in this cold winter, how could she survive after being beaten?
But the young miss had said she would return her body-selling contract and take her along. Halfway there, she would let her go home.
“That won’t happen. The young miss promised me she would take me with her.”
Jing Wu chuckled softly and then spoke, “Is that so? If your young miss were to meet a good man, she would indeed take you along. Unfortunately, the man your young miss has met is not a good one.”
“What do you mean?” Jing’er looked up at her in surprise.
“That man is named Chen Sheng, right? Did he tell you he’s an orphan who grew up relying on the kindness of others and came here to study? Actually, that’s not true. His name is Chen Dayong. Back in his hometown, he has a wife, a son, a daughter, and a mother. It was his wife’s dowry that supported him to come here and study. He’s only eyeing the Shen family’s wealth, deliberately luring your young miss, so that after the deed is done, he can marry into the Shen family and take over their assets.”
Upon hearing this, Jing’er was shocked. Indeed, the master only had one daughter and had once mentioned taking in a son-in-law to manage the family business.
However, what the person before her said might not all be true. If the young miss didn’t believe it and offended the future son-in-law, and he refused to take her along, her life would still be in danger.
Jing Wu saw through her thoughts and smiled slightly. “Think again: if this man were reliable, why would he encourage your young miss to elope tonight? If you still don’t believe me, you can go to Chen Village to investigate.”
At these words, Jing’er suddenly understood.
Indeed, her master didn’t care much about family background; as long as the person had good character and was single, he would be willing to consider them.
Moreover, this future son-in-law was a scholar, and the master valued such talented students the most. What was he afraid of?
Thinking this, Jing’er immediately stood up and said to her, “I’ll go back and report this to the young miss. If what you said is true, I will thank you greatly.”
Jing Wu smiled at her, watching her leave before finally removing the protective barrier.
The others nearby could only see the two talking but couldn’t hear a word of what was said. Seeing the maidservant leave, they all grew curious about what had just been discussed.
When Jing’er returned to the Shen residence, she saw her young miss sorting through her jewelry, preparing for tonight’s elopement.
“Young Miss…”
“Jing’er, you’re back?” Shen Yulan looked at her with a bright smile. “Did you buy everything I asked for?”
Jing’er shook her head, hesitating as she looked at the young girl before her. “Young Miss, must we leave tonight?”
“Of course. I’ve already promised Chen Lang.”
“Miss, today when I went to the street, I met a master. She said that Young Master Chen is not an orphan—he has a wife and children at home. He is only coveting the Shen family’s fortune and deceiving you.”
Shen Yulan had a gentle temper. Seeing the maidservant like this, she didn’t get anxious, thinking she was just joking. She smiled and said, “Since when do you believe in such things? These charlatans are everywhere.”
“Miss, she is not a fraud. She even predicted that you would elope tonight. I clearly didn’t tell her anything.”
“So divine? If there is a chance in the future, I must meet her.” Shen Yulan laughed while packing her things.
Jing grew anxious. Worried for her own life and afraid her mistress would be deceived, she rushed forward and grabbed her hand. “Miss, you must believe me. Could you not leave today? First, send someone to check whether Young Master Chen has a wife and children before going. Besides, the master doesn’t care about family background. If Young Master Chen openly proposed to marry you, the master might not necessarily refuse. Why must he drag you into eloping?”
Miss Shen paused her packing, her eyes slightly dazed. “Yes, why is that?”
Then, she sat down and calmed herself for a moment, wondering if she had agreed too hastily.
Shen Yulan watched as the sky gradually darkened, the time to leave approaching. She sat before the dressing table, her heart in turmoil as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, the packed travel expenses beside her hand.
As the time agreed upon with Chen Sheng drew nearer, she twisted the handkerchief in her hand tighter and tighter, as if having made some kind of decision. She stood up and walked toward the outside.
The maidservant stood guard at the door. Seeing her mistress walk out empty-handed, she suddenly felt a wave of relief.
“Jing, go to the back gate and see if Chen Lang has come. If he has, tell him that the mansion is under strict watch today, and I cannot leave. Ask him to return for now.”
Upon hearing this, Jing immediately agreed and walked toward the back gate with cheerful steps.
Shen Yulan watched her walk away, then lifted her foot and headed toward the neighboring courtyard.
Outside, snow fell heavily across the sky. She stood before her mother’s door, without the slightest hesitation, and immediately knelt down.
Outside the back gate of the Shen mansion, a man was sneaking glances around, his eyes shifty.
He held an umbrella in his hand, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms, unable to suppress his inner complaints about why Shen Yulan hadn’t arrived yet.
Suddenly, he heard a sound from inside.
Chen Sheng immediately straightened up, rubbed his frozen-stiff face, and forced a gentle smile to greet the newcomer.
Unexpectedly, when the door opened, it was the maidservant who emerged.
His expression stiffened as he looked behind her and asked, “Where is your mistress?”
Jing looked at the person before her, lowered her eyes, and concealed her emotions. “The mansion is under strict watch today, and the mistress cannot get away. She asked me to tell you to return for now and contact you again in a few days.”
“What?” Chen Sheng was stunned by these words, losing his composure as he exclaimed, “I waited for her for so long, and she’s not coming?”
Hearing his suddenly raised voice, Jing immediately turned to see if it had alerted anyone else in the mansion. “The mistress truly cannot get away today. Please return, Young Master. If you disturb the master, you might get a beating.”
With that, she said no more to him, immediately closed the door, and went to find her mistress.
Chen Sheng stared at the tightly shut gate, angrily kicking the steps twice in frustration. However, he kicked too hard and hurt his foot.
The next second, he sat in the snow, clutching his foot and grimacing in pain, muttering under his breath, “That damned woman, making me wait so long in this heavy snow and still daring to play me. Once I get my hands on her, I’ll make her pay.”
While cursing quietly, he limped away from the back gate of the Shen residence.
In the courtyard, the personal maid serving Madam Shen, who had gotten up in the middle of the night, saw Third Miss kneeling at the door and immediately went to report to the resting madam.
Madam, draped in an outer coat, came out and, seeing her daughter kneeling at the door, helped her into the room with a heart full of pity.
Shen Yulan knelt in the room and recounted everything that had happened to her mother in detail.
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen was both furious and anxious. She scolded her daughter harshly and sent her back to her room to copy Buddhist scriptures a hundred times.
After Jing’er left, Jing Wu sat at the stall, waiting for the next destined person.
Before long, an elderly woman approached, sat down in front of her, and handed over ten copper coins.
“Master, please take a look. What’s wrong with my youngest son? He just won’t wake up.”