Chapter 18: Conquest

Late at night, the world was quiet and cool as water.

Jade Jingliang escorted Shen Qinglu to the entrance of Rui’an Residence and only left after watching her go inside.

She gently pushed open the door to the left wing, carefully slipping inside. The door creaked softly as it opened and closed.

The room was silent, everything blurred in the dim light. On the small bed in the outer room, a figure lay beneath the covers, the shape unchanged from when she left.

She tiptoed closer, bending to look down at the person on the bed.

“Xia Chan.”

No response came.

She stood there for a long while before undressing and lying down. Yet she did not fall asleep quietly; like a crouching hunter, she waited patiently for something, completely still.

After about half an hour, a faint sound came from the small bed in the outer room—someone sighed softly.

No more words were spoken through the night, until dawn’s first light.

The servants rose early, busying themselves with their tasks.

Qiu Lu brought some items over and spoke with Xia Chan at the door.

“The matriarch instructed last night that from now on, the young lady will stay at Rui’an Residence, and her allowances will be the same as the eldest miss’s. Here are the items for this month; I brought them to you first.”

Xia Chan thanked her, expressing how much trouble she had caused.

Qiu Lu smiled faintly, with a hint of sentimentality. “I was worried about you before, afraid you wouldn’t have an easy time at Jingxin Institute. Now that you’re back, I feel much better.”

They had both served closely with the Xie family, standing as equals, and their friendship was not shallow. Though they still worked in the same courtyard, their statuses had clearly diverged.

“But the young lady is unlike others. Following her means no future for you—I truly feel sorry for you. When masters fight, it’s always us servants who suffer.”

“I think it’s quite good. The young lady is easy to serve; maybe this is my blessing.”

“You have to think more openly. Knowing you think that way puts my mind at ease.”

Qiu Lu’s words were kind, though her gaze was filled with sympathy.

Xia Chan said no more, took the items, and turned to leave—only to suddenly notice a pair of black, glistening eyes watching her from behind a half-open carved window.

She quickened her pace into the room, arriving before Shen Qinglu.

Shen Qinglu did not turn around. “I know the household talks behind my back, calling me a fool, saying I shouldn’t be alive. You were supposed to serve Grandmother, but I took you here. Are you willing?”

“Miss, rest assured, I serve willingly.”

“Why?” Shen Qinglu slowly turned, looking at her seriously.

If last night was a test, now was the moment of truth.

Her eyes were gentle as when they first met, neither avoiding nor hiding.

“If I speak, please don’t be angry.”

“Go on.”

“I have a younger sister. When she was two, she fell seriously ill and her brain was damaged. When she was five, our parents took us to the town market. I was careless and lost her; we never found her again.”

Her meaning was that she would not despise Shen Qinglu, even to the point of considering her a sister, though she could not say so openly because of the master-servant distinction.

The water in the silver basin had grown cold, no longer fit for washing. She waited a long time for Shen Qinglu’s reaction, feeling a faint disappointment. Just as she prepared to fetch fresh water, she heard Shen Qinglu say, “I said before, following me may be your blessing. When I have the means, I will help you find her.”

“Miss, you… what did you say?”

Years ago, someone saw her sister being taken onto a horse carriage. The whole family searched for a long time but never found her. Her mother fell ill from the grief and died young; her father broke his leg while rushing at night to find her sister. It was because of treating his leg that she sought the help of the Yazi, who then sold her into the Jade Mansion.

She had held onto the pain of her sister’s abduction for many years, secretly searching but to no avail.

“Miss, do you truly wish to help me?”

Shen Qinglu met her gaze and asked instead, “Xia Chan, can I trust you?”

She saw through the disguise before her. Her heart raced fiercely, but after a brief moment of thought, she made a solemn decision. “Rest assured, Miss, you will be my only master from now on. I will serve you alone.”

Shen Qinglu was pleased. Her dark eyes were like a shadowy river under the night, slowly flooding, as if to engulf and swallow whoever looked too long.

“Then it’s settled.”

*

Stepping outside, the cool air made her shiver, but quickly refreshed her senses.

The moon had shone brightly last night; today the sky was clear and bright. Such an ordinary day was the tomorrow that those who had died yesterday longed for.

Since she was alive, she would live well.

Shen Qinglu thought so as she turned into Lady Xie’s room.

The meal was richer now, with more meat; she still ate heartily. In Lady Xie’s eyes, there was both relief and hidden guilt.

After the meal, Lady Xie asked her to go to the storeroom to choose some fabric.

Lady Xie’s storeroom was sparse, with few pieces of cloth, mostly in dark colors. She selected the only red bolt and another green one.

Returning with the fabric, the room held not only Lady Xie but also Shen Linlang and her mother, Yu Liuzhu.

Before entering, she heard Shen Linlang’s clearly displeased voice. “Mother, do we really have to let Ali go?”

“The Hou family specifically mentioned that if Ali isn’t allowed to go, it might not be proper,” Lady Xie frowned deeply, her expression full of inner conflict.

Earlier, the brave and resolute Hou family had sent an invitation for a meeting three days hence, conveying Madam Mu’s message.

Madam Mu said both families had few young ladies; the Mu family's daughters were too young to entertain Yu Liuzhu. She had heard Lady Xie was raising her granddaughter nearby and suggested they bring Shen Qinglu along so she could keep Yu Liuzhu company.

The proposal was reasonable and sensible but inevitably aroused suspicion.

“But Ali is not like others. What if something goes wrong? What then?” Shen Linlang’s concern for Shen Qinglu was apparent, but inwardly she doubted.

Although her daughter did not want to marry into the Mu family, a household of such rank would surely never accept the daughter of a disgraced official.

“Mother, don’t worry. I will watch over Ali carefully,” Yu Liuzhu said generously, but Shen Linlang understood her true intent and felt both compassion and resentment.

“Mother, I wonder, did that child Alin mention Ali when he returned?” Shen Linlang’s words were subtle but implied Mu Lin’s unusual interest in Shen Qinglu, blaming Lady Xie for keeping her so close.

Lady Xie understood but could say nothing, only pleading gently to Shen Linlang, “Ali is grown now; she can’t stay home forever. It’s better to let her show herself more. You might have to worry about her affairs in the future.”

Shen Linlang’s dissatisfaction deepened but she hid it. Just as she was about to speak, her gaze caught Shen Qinglu entering, whose dark eyes met hers, conveying silent grievances and unbearable pain.

In an instant, she felt a wave of sorrow herself.

Enough.

This child was truly innocent and pitiable.

“Mother, rest assured. I am her aunt, and I will care for her.”

Yu Qingxue arrived just then and heard these words.

Knowing she was too late to intervene before Lady Xie, she feigned gratitude towards Shen Linlang, thanking and pleading repeatedly, adopting the guise of a devoted mother.

To Shen Linlang, such behavior was childish and infuriating. The more she listened, the more annoyed she became, nearly changing her mind. Several times, words caught in her throat, only to be swallowed back when Shen Qinglu’s gaze met hers.

Shen Qinglu remained unmoved by her insincere expressions. When she heard that someone was making new clothes for her, a faint emotion flickered in her otherwise hollow eyes—part mockery, part caution.

The clothes were made swiftly; having been sleepless for two days and nights, she and Nurse Qin rushed to complete a new outfit.

Wrapped in bright red cloth, the new garment’s rich red fabric gleamed smoothly, clearly of fine quality. When Nurse Qin placed the bundle on the table, her movements were careful and deliberate, as if afraid to soil it, yet her eagerness betrayed her.

Shen Qinglu’s eyes flickered.

“Ali, this was made by your mother’s own hands. It’s your favorite color. Try it on and see if it fits,” Yu Qingxue gently coaxed, forcing a smile she believed to be kind.

Seeing Shen Qinglu’s dull, wooden expression, deaf to her words, she grew annoyed but suppressed her irritation and urgency, turning to Xia Chan. “You help Ali change into the clothes.”

“Miss,” Xia Chan reluctantly obeyed and called out softly.

Shen Qinglu remained motionless, like a wooden doll.

“Miss…”

Suddenly, Shen Qinglu screamed, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at Yu Qingxue. “Don’t hit me! Don’t hit me, you wicked woman!”

Fearful she might call Lady Xie, Yu Qingxue quickly backed toward the door.

Xia Chan tactfully interceded, “First Eldest Madam, the young lady seems confused again. When she recovers, I will help her change. What do you think?”

“Then remember to dress her. If anything is wrong, send it back, and I will have it altered.”

After saying this, she dared not look into Shen Qinglu’s frighteningly dark eyes and hurried away with Nurse Qin.

As soon as they left, Xia Chan prepared to open the bundle.

“Don’t!” Shen Qinglu immediately stopped her.

Startled, Xia Chan asked, “Miss, is there something wrong with this?”

Whether it was right or wrong, Shen Qinglu did not know and would not try it herself.

If the garment were to be tested, there was a more suitable person for the task.