A maidservant sold to a wealthy household would receive a sum of silver, and if she managed well, she could earn rewards from her master in addition to her monthly allowance.
Shen Xixi was speechless. This man wanted to sell her off and still expected her to give him money every month. What a beautiful dream.
“With my face like this, who would want such an ugly maidservant!”
“Don’t worry, Prefect Shen’s family shares our surname. My father once saved his father’s life. They’ll surely take you in for my sake. With luck, they might even cure your face!”
Shen Xixi: “…”
So she was being treated like a child being fooled. Well, the original owner was indeed just a child.
Soon, Shen Xixi’s attention was drawn to the scenery along the way. This stretch of road felt increasingly familiar.
When they arrived outside Prefect Shen’s residence, the building was so familiar it made Shen Xixi frown.
In the original owner’s lost memories before the age of six, she had lived here until she was six, after which she was sold to traffickers by a servant of the household.
Shen Zhiqiou didn’t notice her unease. To him, Shen Xixi was still just a child, and it was normal for her to follow him obediently in an unfamiliar place.
Moreover, in his view, sending her to the Shen residence was a good opportunity.
“Who are you? Who are you looking for?” The gatekeeper saw an old man in a long gown knocking at the door.
“I’m Shen Zhiqiou, a clansman of the prefect. In fact, I’m his uncle on his father’s side. I’m here on urgent business!”
“What uncle? I’ve never seen any uncle of the master. Go away, our master isn’t home!”
The gatekeeper recognized this as someone seeking favors and immediately waved them off.
“Brother, please make an announcement. My father once saved the prefect’s entire family!” As he spoke, he slipped a handful of copper coins into the other’s hand—at least twenty or thirty.
“The master really isn’t home. Only the mistress is here. I’ll speak to Mama Fang. If she refuses to see you, don’t blame me!”
The gatekeeper’s attitude softened considerably. After all, the story sounded plausible, and the old man’s attire suggested he was a scholar, unlikely to lie for no reason.
The gate closed as he went to report.
“Be sharp later. If you can stay with the Shen family, your future will be bright!”
He turned to Shen Xixi and muttered about rules and etiquette.
Shen Xixi didn’t hear a word, because next to the entrance of the Shen residence was a posted notice.
The drawing on it depicted Shen Xixi from six years ago, with words offering a thousand taels of silver for information leading to the beloved daughter.
However, six years ago, Shen Xixi had suffered greatly in the hands of traffickers. The once chubby little girl had become so emaciated by the time Shen Da Shan rescued her that she was almost unrecognizable. This was why Grandpa Shen hadn’t recognized her.
So the original owner was actually the child of this family.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Mama Fang finally came out, though her attitude toward the two was quite cold.
She led them to the flower hall: “Wait here for now. The mistress has just finished her midday meal and is resting. It will likely be one or two shichen before she has time to see you.”
“Ah, thank you, Nanny Fang.” Shen Zhiqiou breathed a sigh of relief. At least they had gotten in.
He perched on the edge of a chair, not daring to move recklessly.
He didn’t touch the pastries or tea brought to them, afraid of being looked down upon.
“Sister, I need to use the restroom,” Shen Xixi said to a maidservant at the door.
“I’ll take you there!” The maidservant glanced at another, then led Shen Xixi to the latrine.
“Sister, please wait outside. It might take me a while!” Shen Xixi pretended to be embarrassed and entered the latrine alone.
She had been brought to the servants’ latrine. After climbing out through a side window, she moved across the rooftops like a nimble cat, heading toward a familiar courtyard.
“Useless! Why didn’t you finish her off back then? That damned girl—where am I supposed to find that little wretch now?” From inside the room came the sound of an angry teacup being smashed.
Selling a maidservant to a wealthy family would fetch a sum of silver, and if the maidservant fared well, she could receive rewards from her masters in addition to her monthly allowance.
Shen Xixi was momentarily speechless. This man wanted to sell her and still expected her to give him money every month; he certainly had high hopes.
“My face looks like this. Who would want such an ugly maidservant!”
“Don’t you worry. Prefect Shen’s family and ours are from the same clan. Back then, my father even saved his father’s life! He will surely take you in for the sake of my reputation. If you’re lucky, he might even have your face cured!”
Shen Xixi: “…”
So she was being treated like a child to be swindled. Well, it made sense, as the original owner of this body was indeed just a child.
Soon, Shen Xixi’s attention was drawn to the scenery along the way. This stretch of road was becoming more and more familiar.
When they reached the gates of the Shen residence, the architecture was so familiar it made Shen Xixi frown.
In the memories the original owner had lost from before the age of six, she had lived here until she was six years old, after which she was sold to human traffickers by a servant of the house.
Shen Zhiqiou did not notice anything unusual about her. In his eyes, Shen Xixi was bound to be just a child; it was only natural for her to follow him obediently in a strange place.
Furthermore, in his view, sending her to the Shen residence was a good outcome.
“Who are you people? Who are you looking for!” The gatekeeper at the entrance saw an old man in a long robe knocking.
“I am Shen Zhiqiou, from the same clan as the Prefect. By lineage, I am even his cousin-uncle! I have come this time on urgent business!”
“What cousin-uncle? I’ve never seen any cousin-uncle of the Master. Leave quickly, our Master is not at home!”
The gatekeeper saw this as someone coming to take advantage of their wealth and immediately waved them away.
“Little brother, please report our arrival. My father saved the lives of the Prefect’s entire family back in the day!” As he spoke, he stuffed a handful of copper coins into the other man’s hand—at least twenty or thirty of them.
“The Master really isn’t in. Only the Madam is here. I will mention it to Mama Fang. If she won’t see you, don’t blame me!”
The gatekeeper’s attitude improved significantly. After all, the story was quite detailed, and seeing that the old man was dressed as a scholar, he likely wouldn’t lie without cause.
The main gate closed as he went to report.
“Be a bit sharper later. If you can stay with the Shen family, your future prospects will be great!”
Turning back, he began muttering instructions about rules to Shen Xixi.
Shen Xixi couldn’t hear a word he said because, right next to the entrance of the Shen family home, a notice was posted.
The portrait on it depicted the Shen Xixi of six years ago. It spoke of searching for a beloved daughter and offered a thousand taels of silver for any clues.
However, six years ago, Shen Xixi had suffered greatly at the hands of human traffickers. The originally chubby little girl had become so thin she was unrecognizable by the time Shen Da Shan saved her. This was also why Grandpa Shen had not recognized her.
So, the original owner was actually a child of this family.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Mama Fang finally walked out, though her attitude toward the two was very cold.
She led them to the flower hall. “Wait here for now. The Madam has just finished her midday meal and has lain down to rest. It will be about one or two shichen before she is free to see you!”
“Ah, thank you, Nanny Fang.” Shen Zhiqiou breathed a sigh of relief; they were finally inside.
He sat on the edge of a chair, not daring to move much.
He didn’t even touch the snacks and tea provided, fearing he would be looked down upon.
“Sister, I need to relieve myself!” Shen Xixi said to a maidservant at the door.
“I’ll take you!” The maidservant glanced at another one, then led Shen Xixi toward the latrine.
“Sister, please wait outside. I might be a while!” Shen Xixi acted embarrassed and entered the latrine alone.
She had been brought to the latrine used by servants. After climbing out of a window on one side, she moved across the rooftops like a nimble cat, heading toward a familiar courtyard.
“Useless! Why didn’t you just kill her back then? That cursed girl… where am I supposed to find that little wench now?” The sound of a tea bowl being smashed in anger echoed from inside the room.