Earlier, in the Jinhua Hall, Madam Chen and Nanny Wu had a conversation.
“Have they been properly settled? Is that girl truly as beautiful as they say?”
“Yes, Madam! Everything is arranged. In this old servant’s eyes, she is no less than the cousin from the Third Branch. If Madam is curious, since they haven’t yet gone to rest, why not summon her now?”
“Forget it. They’ve been on the road so many days, there’s no need to rush.” Madam Chen sighed. “My younger sister was truly unfortunate—she bore a son and daughter, yet passed away so early. If only I had a son…”
She broke off mid‑sentence. Nanny Wu quickly stepped forward to comfort her: “Nothing in life is ever perfect. In this servant’s view, Madam is the most blessed of all. Though Second Young Master is not your own, he honors and respects you deeply.”
Madam Chen gave a cold snort through her nose, closed her eyes, and said no more.
The next morning, Xu Shuyao woke early. It was still only the hour of the hare, yet in summer the days were long, and already a pale light showed at the window lattice.
She glanced up at the canopy and remembered—this was no longer her embroidery room in Huzhou, nor the cramped boat cabin she had grown used to these past days.
Her lips curved faintly. Looking down, she noticed damp marks on the pillowcase. Touching the corner of her eye, she wondered in surprise: had she been dreaming again?
Last night, in a haze, she seemed to become a child once more, surrounded by noise, struggling to return. The dream was vague, pieced together only from impressions of past dreams. The last time she had dreamt like this was after her mother’s death.
“Miss!” A voice interrupted her thoughts. The green curtain was lifted, and a girl of fifteen or sixteen appeared—her other maid, Qiaowei.
Qiaowei was well‑featured, with large, lively eyes and a fine figure. She helped Xu Shuyao dress and wash, moving deftly and quietly.
For over a month, Xu Shuyao had managed everything herself. She was not accustomed to a life of complete service, but she knew better than to reject the maid’s goodwill. It also gave her a chance to observe Qiaowei closely.
The more she watched, the more astonished she became. The girl truly lived up to the name “Qiao” (clever). Not only was she skilled at dressing hair and choosing clothes, but her taste was also impeccable. From the few trinkets in the jewelry box, she selected pieces that were neither ostentatious nor inappropriate.
Xu Shuyao recalled what Huixiang had said the night before: “Sister Qiaowei is a second‑class maid by Madam’s side…”
Most maids entered service at eight or nine, and by twelve or thirteen were already promoted. Qiaowei was fifteen, yet still only second‑class. Such maids did not usually serve closely at their mistress’s side.
Watching her bend, her figure full and striking, Xu Shuyao suddenly understood why such a talented maid had not risen higher, and why she had been sent to serve her instead.
Her thoughts stirred. Looking at the girl in the mirror as she arranged her hair, Xu Shuyao asked: “Did Aunt say how long you are to stay with me?”
Qiaowei answered smoothly, without pause in her hands: “Second Madam told me to serve Miss well from now on.”
Concise and steady—very good. Her temperament seemed sound. As for the rest, time would tell.
That day, Qiaowei styled Xu Shuyao’s hair in the double‑bun worn by unmarried girls. Yet her method was different: the hair was not tied high, but coiled into two rounded knots, with a jade tassel ornament on one side.
Because she was still in mourning, Xu Shuyao’s clothing remained plain in color. She wore a white blouse with subtle patterns, paired with a lake‑blue skirt—clothes from the previous summer. Fortunately, they had been made slightly larger at the time, so now they fit perfectly, though the style was no longer fashionable.
Before long, Xu Shuheng arrived with the maids. Xu Shuyao asked Nanny Zheng to remain in the courtyard with two attendants, while she herself took her younger brother, accompanied by Qiaowei and Yuzhu, to pay respects to her aunt.
The sky was already bright. They walked along the stone path. It had rained the night before, but now the sun was shining. The ground still held a trace of dampness, and the trees beside the path dripped with dew, fresh and green. A few pomegranate blossoms had fallen onto the grass, vivid red against lush green.
Xu Shuyao breathed in the fresh air after the rain, following Qiaowei with a touch of nervousness. Compared to last night, something seemed to be missing. Glancing sideways at Xu Shuheng—his back straight, silent—she realized she had not taken his hand. At seven years old, the boy already had his own resolve.
As she and Nanny Zheng had said on the boat: once they entered the Duke Cheng’s mansion, they must be cautious in everything. This was not their own home, where they could act freely under the protection of father and elder sister. Now their father was gone, leaving only his sister. As the only male among them, Xu Shuheng would become the support for his sister and nursemaid. He had to be stronger, more like a man. Holding his sister’s hand for comfort no longer suited him.
Xu Shuyao smiled faintly, her unease easing somewhat.
Soon, they reached Jinhua Hall, where Madam Chen resided. The maids outside lifted the curtain for them. Inside, several people were already seated. At the head sat a woman of about thirty, still graceful, dressed in a pale golden jacket patterned with persimmon calyxes, her hair in a peony bun adorned with jade and gold ornaments. Her features resembled Xu Shuyao’s late mother. Knowing this must be her aunt, Xu Shuyao quickly led her brother forward to pay respects.
Madam Chen helped them up, drew them close, and examined them carefully. Her voice carried both reproach and genuine concern: “At last you’ve arrived safely. If you had delayed a few more days, I would have sent someone to fetch you.”
Xu Shuyao blushed: “It was thoughtless of me, troubling Aunt with worry. But at the time, circumstances left us no choice.”
She did not speak of their hardships, and Madam Chen did not press in such company. Still sighing, she heard her niece continue: “I thought if Aunt sent someone, it would cause much commotion. Just then, I heard that the second son of Marquis Qingyuan was passing through Huzhou with his guards. We boarded the ship that followed theirs. With imperial soldiers ahead, bandits would hardly dare to act under their eyes.”
Her words made everyone in the hall exchange glances.
“You mean Cousin Wang, the Left Lieutenant of the Imperial Guards?” asked Third Miss Xiao Jinshan, a year younger than Xu Shuyao.
Madam Chen scolded her daughter with a glance, but Xu Shuyao answered softly: “I did not know the gentleman’s exact name. Only that several ships left Huzhou together, and the second son’s men secured the first. Everyone rushed to board the one behind, so I decided to come to the capital at once.”
“So you and Cousin Wang didn’t even exchange a word!” Xiao Jinshan teased.
Xu Shuyao smiled awkwardly but admitted: “Almost exactly so.”
The room burst into laughter. Madam Chen chided her daughter: “You think everyone is as shameless as you? To travel under another’s protection is already a blessing—don’t imagine more than that.”
Then she praised Xu Shuyao: “You were clever. That was a wise choice. Even if I had sent someone, it would not have been as safe as traveling with them.”
Xu Shuyao breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Madam Chen introduced her to the sisters present. Just as they finished exchanging greetings, a maid at the door announced: “Second Young Master has arrived!”