19 Eavesdropping
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Living in the eastern courtyard, Rui’an Residence was not far from Liufang Cottage. When the mistress and her maid arrived, Magpie was persuading Yuliuzhu to try on the jewelry sent by Shen Linlang’s people. The jewelry was in exquisite boxes, all newly made, excellent both in style and materials.
Yuliuzhu showed little interest in the jewelry, fidgeting with the pieces as if lost in thought.
“Miss, don’t you like these?” Magpie asked, puzzled, sensing something was off with her in recent days.
She picked up a hairpin set with a ruby but put it down without trying it on.
When she heard Xia Chan delivering a message from Shen Qinglu outside, her delicate brows furrowed.
“What are they here for?” Magpie sensed her dislike for Shen Qinglu and naturally did not think well of her.
But since the visitors had arrived, it was inappropriate to keep them outside.
As Xia Chan entered, she presented the untouched bundle and conveyed Shen Qinglu’s message: “Earlier, the eldest miss gave two sets of clothes to cousin miss, who remembers her kindness. Coincidentally, the elder madam made this red outfit for cousin miss, so she wanted to return the favor.”
In the past, Yuliuzhu would never have accepted, but now, recalling how Yu Qingxue had been kind to her in a previous life, she hesitated before saying, “Cousin is thoughtful.”
Magpie was surprised she didn’t refuse but still followed her wishes and accepted the gift. Turning, she saw Shen Qinglu staring at the jewelry box, her expression slightly changing. Hastily, Magpie closed the box and found a place to store it.
Shen Qinglu stood there dumbfounded, apparently unaware of the deeper meaning behind the action.
She busied herself unpacking the bundle, but upon a quick glance, frowned.
The fabric of the clothes was good, but the style was outdated—several years old-fashioned. Because it was rushed, aside from small embroidered patches at the collar and cuffs, there were no other embellishments. Moreover, the clothes smelled strange, as if infused with some odd fragrance. She leaned closer to sniff, frowning even more tightly.
Such clothes were unworthy of Yuliuzhu’s attention, let alone anyone else’s.
Yuliuzhu said, “Set it aside for now. I’ll try it on when I have time.”
Shen Qinglu, knowing the full state of the clothes, thought that if anything was amiss, it would not be immediately apparent.
The hot potato had been handed off; she would watch and wait.
The incident occurred late at night. It was said that Magpie developed a fever and rash overnight. An elderly midwife immediately diagnosed it as chickenpox, causing quite a stir.
Shortly after the doctor arrived, Magpie was sent to the estate, along with several maids who shared her quarters.
“Fortunately, it was discovered in time, so it likely hasn’t spread,” Shen Linlang told Madam Xie early the next morning with lingering unease but some relief. “Thankfully, Tang’er has already had the pox, so she’s not afraid.”
Shen Qinglu sat obediently nearby, seeming half to understand. “When I delivered the clothes to cousin Tang’er yesterday, Magpie was fine. How did she suddenly get sick?”
“What clothes?” Shen Linlang asked quickly.
“Red clothes,” Shen Qinglu responded evasively.
Madam Xie then looked toward Xia Chan, who hurriedly recounted the events.
“Cousin remembered the eldest miss’s kindness and hurried to return the favor without even opening the bundle.”
“You’re such a thoughtful child,” Shen Linlang sighed, her gaze toward Shen Qinglu filled with pity.
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For some reason, Madam Xie’s heart skipped a beat.
Just then, Yuliuzhu arrived.
Shen Qinglu looked disappointed and asked her, “Why haven’t you worn the clothes I gave you?”
Yuliuzhu replied, “Mother Qin just took the clothes to have them altered.”
“I can wear your clothes; why don’t your clothes fit me?” Shen Qinglu’s little face fell, teetering on tears. “Do you not like them?”
Her expression was like a child eager to share something but rejected by her playmates.
Yuliuzhu felt increasingly uncomfortable and could only explain, “I haven’t tried them on yet, so I don’t know if they fit. Mother Qin said she would alter them, so I let her take them.”
Madam Xie’s heart beat even faster upon hearing this.
After Shen Linlang and Yuliuzhu left, Madam Xie had Shen Qinglu practice calligraphy while she herself went out with Nurse Li.
Unbeknownst to them, behind an unclosed window stood the very person who was supposed to be practicing calligraphy.
Deep, calm, and sharp as a sword about to be unsheathed, emitting a mournful sound in anticipation of the coming slaughter.
That was the impression Xia Chan had of Shen Qinglu at that moment.
“Miss, are you sad?” Xia Chan asked.
Shen Qinglu twisted the corner of her mouth, her dark eyes revealing a trace of mockery.
*
When the closed door was pushed open from outside, a cold breeze swept in, scattering sparks and ashes from the fire basin. The clothes inside were nearly burned to nothing, the remaining red as vivid as flames.
“Mother, why are you here?” Yu Qingxue looked up and met Madam Xie’s grim face, her own expression changing as she signaled Mother Qin to leave.
“What are you burning?” Madam Xie stepped closer and asked.
Lowering her eyes and feigning sorrow, Yu Qingxue replied, “An old garment I haven’t worn for years. I didn’t expect moths to have eaten it. It made me sad, so I burned it—out of sight, out of mind.”
Madam Xie didn’t press further but instead recounted an incident from many years ago.
“At that time, the family was poor. Every penny was precious. Your eldest brother attended school daily, and in the coldest weather, without a new cotton-padded jacket, he might not have made it through. I bit my tongue and scraped together silver to buy him a decent new coat.
“One snowy day, your brother came home through the storm, his clothes soaked. To dry them for him to wear to school the next day, I hung the coat over the fire basin at night. But when I stepped out to fetch some coal, the coat slipped into the fire and burned a large hole.”
She fixed her gaze on Yu Qingxue, disappointment filling her eyes.
Yu Qingxue bit her lip, neither looking at nor responding to her.
After a long silence, Madam Xie sighed deeply.
“You’ve always been stubborn since childhood, never yielding to your eldest brother. If it was food or belongings, you never let him have less; if you felt slighted, you had to make it right.”
“Mother, what are you trying to say? I remember nothing of those days,” Yu Qingxue said, clenching her palm. In truth, she remembered everything clearly.
She remembered that because she lacked decent new clothes, she hardly left the house all winter and was mocked by several peers nearby.
And no one could help her with those humiliations.
The fire in the basin crackled on, slowly devouring the remnants of red.
The entire room was filled with a strange, unsettling odor.
Madam Xie sighed again. “Qingxue, even if A’li isn’t your own daughter, she’s your blood niece, and you—”
“Mother, look at me. I am your own daughter, and my life is ruined. If you don’t believe or help me, I have no choice but to die.”
Saying this, Yu Qingxue suddenly leaned toward the corner of the table, as if to strike it.
Madam Xie grabbed her, eyes filled with pain and struggle. “Do you want to tear my heart apart? Qingxue, whatever I promised, I will fulfill. Once Tang’er’s marriage is settled, I will go to your eldest brother and sister-in-law to make amends.”
“Mother!” she cried loudly, throwing herself into Madam Xie’s arms.
Mother and daughter wept together, filling the room with sorrow.
After an unknown length of time, Madam Xie wiped her tears and stepped out, Nurse Li close behind her. Hearing a loud noise inside, Mother Qin quickly entered the room.
Outside the Calm Heart Courtyard, silence deepened.
No one saw Shen Qinglu and Xia Chan slip out from behind the house, disappearing beyond the gate shortly after.
The two walked far, stopping only when hidden by a rockery and tall trees.
“Miss…” Xia Chan was still stunned, clearly not yet recovered from overhearing the secret beneath the window.
Shen Qinglu looked at her calmly. “You heard everything, didn’t you?”
She nodded instinctively.
“Xia Chan, you must help me.”
“Miss, I—”
Shen Qinglu grasped her hand, her dark eyes like a vast black net, leaving no escape. “Helping me is helping yourself. Cousin miss of the Yu family cannot do many things. Only the true eldest miss of the Yu family can help you find your sister.”
She seemed utterly bewitched, shaken and stirred, gazing at the girl blooming like peach and plum blossoms before her. In her mind echoed one phrase: This is the true eldest miss of the Yu family!