3. The Cuckoo

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In the chill of early spring, several charcoal braziers burned inside the room. The frost-covered charcoal was sufficient, warming the space to a temperature reminiscent of early summer.

Shen Qinglu remained with her head lowered, like a wooden doll emptied of its soul.

Yu Qingxue spoke at length, but seeing no reaction from her, her gaze gradually faded. Her expression was strange—sometimes frowning, sometimes pursing her lips.

After a while, unable to discern her mood, she quietly left.

The Jingxin Courtyard was quiet. Aside from the two mistresses, only two people remained constantly at her side day and night: Qin Mama, Yu Qingxue’s trusted servant, and a maid kneeling in the courtyard named Du Juan.

Qin Mama called Du Juan over and, after giving her some instructions, sent her to change into clean clothes before returning to attend to Shen Qinglu.

“Miss?” Du Juan’s voice was tentative, as if testing the waters. Noticing Shen Qinglu’s state was the same as usual, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and sat naturally at the table.

She first massaged her legs, numb from kneeling, then poured herself some tea. Still feeling thirsty, she ate several pastries from the table and then a pear.

Only after eating and drinking to her fill did she begin to work—slowly, but not tidying the room or organizing the cabinets. Instead, she opened the windows and removed charcoal from the braziers, extinguishing three of the four and leaving only one lit.

After putting away the charcoal, she glanced at Shen Qinglu with a look devoid of respect, as if looking at a lowly fool.

In truth, that was exactly what she thought.

What soul lost? She was clearly an idiot!

Her eyes betrayed a sneer of disdain. Suddenly, the puppet-like girl raised her head, her jet-black pupils fixed unblinking on her.

The hollow, eerie gaze sent chills down the spine.

Even seeing it every day, it still made her skin crawl.

“Miss, are you hungry? I’ll go make you some food right away!”

Having said this, she dashed out as if chased by a ghost.

The corner of Shen Qinglu’s eye twitched with a hint of mockery. She lifted her hand, examined it again, then touched her face, surveying the room with a sarcastic gaze.

A girl in the prime of youth had neither a dressing table nor a mirror in her room.

Through the carved window, she saw the swaying bamboo outside. Despite enduring the desolation of all things, the cycles of life and death, and the cold winter, the bamboo remained vibrant and full of life, which brought her a rare joy.

In a fleeting moment, she seemed to smell the fresh scent of bamboo.

With three braziers gone, the room’s temperature quickly dropped. Cold wind blew through the half-open window, making the inside no warmer than outside.

When the door opened from outside, a chill swept in, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. Her dark eyes turned toward Du Juan, who carried the meal.

Du Juan’s swift movements were because Jingxin Courtyard had a small kitchen.

Though Yu Qingxue lived in the Yu residence for over a decade, her meals and daily needs were kept separate from the Yu family’s. Those in the know praised her for her understanding and propriety.

She ate mostly vegetarian, with plain rice and boiled vegetables, no more than twice a day.

Shen Qinglu looked at the food without any emotion.

A bowl of rice, a plate of scallion tofu, and boiled cabbage. The tofu was stir-fried until crumbly and grayish, the cabbage soft and dull from little oil.

“Time to eat.” Du Juan placed the dishes on the table, her tone neither cold nor warm.

It sounded like an act of charity.

People would die if they didn’t eat.

Shen Qinglu would not go against her own life. Like a puppet on strings, she mechanically put the food into her mouth, mouthful by mouthful.

Seeing her eat all the food as always, Du Juan’s eyes showed a trace of contempt.

Not just the young mistress, even the maids around the eldest miss ate sparingly. Unlike this fool, who only knew to eat, eat, sleep, and then eat again.

As she tidied the dishes, she saw Shen Qinglu walk straight out, expressionless. She immediately rushed over to block her way.

“Miss, madam has instructed you to rest well and not go out again.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglu’s eyes moved slightly but remained fixed on Du Juan.

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Du Juan was intimidated by the gaze, inwardly cursing that the fool was only getting stupider.

After a while, Shen Qinglu turned decisively and returned to bed, lying down like a wooden doll.

*

The moon was bright and cold, the night cool as water.

Wrapped in thick blankets, Du Juan slept in the outer room, as if struck on the head by something. She blinked drowsily and seemed to hear the sound of a door opening.

“Creak.”

The door opened from inside. Cold air flowed in, and the moonlight shone on the figure entering, giving an otherworldly, ethereal impression, as if the person might drift away on the wind.

She was about to call out, but suddenly covered her mouth.

Could this fool be sleepwalking?

Qin Mama had warned that no mistakes could be made lately. It was said that people with sleepwalking episodes must not be startled, or they might die of fright. So she dared not cry out.

She quietly got up and followed silently.

Hearing the movement behind her, Shen Qinglu’s lips curved slightly.

Having slept enough by day, it was time to move about at night—to enjoy the scenery, stretch the muscles, find something to do. Otherwise, how dull and passive life would be.

She walked on steadily, stiff and dull, her posture straight. Though similar to her usual demeanor, in the night air, it was peculiarly eerie.

The more Du Juan watched, the more convinced she was the fool was sleepwalking, cursing inwardly and resenting serving such a mistress—no future, only worry.

When they reached near the Liufang Pavilion, Shen Qinglu stopped and looked toward the waterside pavilion across the water, where lantern light shimmered, creating a scene like a jade palace in the moonlight.

This was the East Courtyard, while Jingxin Courtyard lay at the west end.

East was the main, west the side—like the relationship between her and Yu Liuzhu.

Du Juan stood behind her, heart pounding as she watched Shen Qinglu take steps toward the water’s edge, hesitating whether to intervene.

“Grandmother…” Shen Qinglu murmured as she neared the water.

At hearing those words, Du Juan quickly suppressed her rebellious thoughts, heart pounding. If this fool had another accident, even if madam might be forgiving, the old madam certainly would not.

She rushed forward to grab Shen Qinglu.

But as soon as she touched her, Shen Qinglu turned swiftly and pushed her back, causing Du Juan to fall into the water.

The pond was not deep, but falling unexpectedly would cause panic and cries for help.

Hearing the commotion, the patrolling servants came running, first seeing Shen Qinglu standing motionless by the water, then Du Juan struggling in the water, all cursing their bad luck.

The noise quickly drew Xie Shi, who lived nearby.

By the time Xie Shi arrived, Du Juan had been rescued.

The spring water was still bone-chilling cold. Having been frozen once during the day while rescuing someone, Du Juan now shivered uncontrollably, her teeth chattering.

“Grandmother.” Shen Qinglu’s hollow eyes brightened again upon seeing Xie Shi.

Xie Shi noticed how thinly she was dressed, and that she was out so late. She hurriedly asked Du Juan, “What happened?”

Du Juan trembled as she explained haltingly, just as Yu Qingxue and Qin Mama arrived.

Without a word, Yu Qingxue took off her cloak and draped it around Shen Qinglu. “A Li, why are you out?”

Shen Qinglu did not look at her but gazed at Xie Shi. “I missed grandmother. I came to find you.”

Hearing this, Xie Shi’s heart tightened at the pitiful yet cautious joy on her face. “Child, rest well. When you wake, grandmother will come to see you.”

Shen Qinglu shook her head, seeming puzzled. “Cold. Can’t sleep.”

Cold?

Xie Shi instinctively glanced at Yu Qingxue, who confessed with guilt, “Mother, it’s my fault. I feared A Li might have a high fever at night, so I had the window opened for ventilation. Maybe a draft got in, making her feel cold. I’ll have them close it and add another brazier.”

After all, she was her most beloved daughter. Xie Shi could not blame her and instead turned her anger on Du Juan. “What about you? How did you fall into the water?”

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Du Juan’s eyes flickered with doubt as she looked at Shen Qinglu.

It was this fool who pushed her!

But could she say that?

Seeming to sense Du Juan’s dilemma, Shen Qinglu took the initiative to admit, “Grandmother, I pushed her.”

The shocking words stunned everyone.

Bathed in the mixed light of moon and lanterns, she was wrapped in Yu Qingxue’s moon-white cloak, a warm jade hue emanating from the glow, enhancing her uniquely beautiful features, especially her eyes. They shone black like the finest jet, full of concealed brilliance.

Was this still the same foolish cousin?

The servants looked at each other in disbelief.

Shen Qinglu showed no sign of realizing how shocking her confession was. She looked fondly at Xie Shi. “She pushed me, so I pushed her.”

“What did you say?” Xie Shi’s breath caught, anxiously asking, “A Li, are you saying you fell in because she pushed you?”

She nodded obediently, silent.

Xie Shi’s anger flared fiercely. Pointing at Du Juan, she shouted, “You wretched servant! How dare you bully your mistress like this!”

Yu Qingxue seemed to come back to her senses, disbelieving. “Du Juan, why would you do this? Your parents were my attendants; I even freed your brother from slavery. I trusted you to care for A Li. How could you?”

Du Juan wanted to protest but, hearing this, repeatedly kowtowed. “Old madam, madam, I was possessed by a devil. I deserve death! I deserve death!”

“Give me…” Xie Shi’s words of corporal punishment were cut short as she felt her sleeve tugged.

Shen Qinglu’s eyes were timid but showed concern. She looked pleadingly at Xie Shi. “Grandmother, don’t be angry.”

Xie Shi gazed at her, feeling only more pain and guilt. After a long moment, she relented, “Fifty lashes, then banish her to the estate.”

A servant took the order, gagged Du Juan, and dragged her away.

Du Juan was utterly broken, unwilling but silent.

As she was taken off, she strangely glanced back at the one whose fate was still uncertain. Shen Qinglu’s dark eyes held a faint blue glow, like ghostly flames.

“Ugh… hmm (ghost)…”

Everyone assumed she was struggling in her final moments, shouting incoherently, no one understanding her words.

Yu Qingxue was filled with guilt. “Mother, it’s my fault. I misjudged her. I thought she was good and devoted to A Li. Don’t worry, I will personally care for A Li from now on…”

Xie Shi looked at her with a complicated expression.

After a long pause, she said, “Qingxue, look how much this child resembles you. You are blood relatives. No matter how much sorrow you feel, you must take good care of her. If she truly recovers, you will have done right by her. Don’t you think so?”

“Mother…” Yu Qingxue broke down in tears, sobbing, “It was my negligence. I won’t let it happen again. I will personally care for her.”

“You can’t manage it all.” Xie Shi still worried for her daughter, beckoning two maids forward. “Find someone from the estate to help you. They might be inexperienced, but better than none.”

“They are your trusted servants. How can I accept that?” Yu Qingxue objected.

“Between mother and daughter, no need for formality.” Xie Shi pointed to the two maids and asked Shen Qinglu, “A Li, this is Xia Chan, and this is Qiu Lu. Choose who you want to have with you.”

Both were refined and well-dressed, appearing more dignified than many ladies in lesser households. Qiu Lu had an oval face and willow-shaped brows, her head lowered, avoiding Shen Qinglu’s gaze. Xia Chan had a round face and almond eyes, her look gentle yet tinged with sympathy.

Shen Qinglu made up her mind. “Xia Chan.”

At those words, Qiu Lu visibly relaxed.

Xie Shi smiled, “If you can say Xia Chan’s name, you must truly like her. Then Xia Chan will stay with you.”

Seeing the decision made, Yu Qingxue no longer argued. “Thank you, Mother. You truly care for us.”

Though the commotion had been loud, the Liufang Pavilion remained undisturbed. Even as everyone dispersed, the water pavilion was silent.

Shen Qinglu gazed at the pool of spring water, the ghostly fire in her eyes burning brighter than ever.