The sixth year of Baoyuan, summer, the residence of the Marquis of Dingxi.

The morning rain had been falling for quite some time. It was mealtime, and the maids and serving women hurried back and forth, all holding umbrellas. Garments of various colors mingled with umbrellas of every hue, resembling a cascade of rainbow clouds, punctuated by the laughter and complaints of stepped-on shoes and splashed skirts. The aroma of food, even through the fine tableware, wafted along the corridor. Standing in the corner of the walkway, a small maid couldn't help but sniff the air and swallow hard.

The young maid was perhaps fourteen or fifteen, dressed in the simple blue coarse-spun tunic and trousers—the standard uniform for the lowest tier of servants at the Marquis of Dingxi’s residence. What set her apart, however, was the scarlet sash tied around her waist, a color reserved only for second-rank maids in the household.

This contrast of plain blue against vibrant red drew the eye, yet the constant stream of people passing by paid her no heed, treating her as if she were mere air.

The maid balanced a basket in each hand, rubbing her stomach and gazing longingly toward the kitchen entrance. Gradually, the flow of people thinned.

A stout, plump woman emerged, closely followed by four or five older female servants, all jostling to hold an umbrella over her head.

“I tell you all to keep your wits about you. You’ve worked here for years, don’t disgrace yourselves. Do what you must, and keep your hands off what isn't yours. Keep your eyes open, I’m warning you…” The woman spoke slowly, her voice carrying a distinct arrogance. She paused here.

As soon as she stopped, the servants behind her froze, smiling obsequiously and flattering her with their gazes.

“…If anyone causes me to lose face, don’t blame me for disrespecting them. It won’t be just one person sent packing. If you come crying to me later that your whole family has no livelihood, I won't be responsible.” The woman said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, lifting a hand slightly to gesture toward them. Two bangles of pure gold gleamed on her plump wrist.

“Mistress Dong, you needn't worry. We are old women; how could we possibly do anything improper?” a broad-faced matron chuckled flatteringly.

“Indeed, indeed. If we need Mistress Dong to teach us such simple things, we might as well leave this place now,” others chimed in agreement.

This was Mistress Dong, the stewardess in charge of the main kitchen of the Marquis of Dingxi’s residence.

The little maid bit her lower lip, then rushed out from the corner of the walkway, stepping directly into the path of the group despite the pouring rain.

Mistress Dong was just forming a satisfied smile, ready to offer a light jest, when someone suddenly stood before her. Running hastily, the girl splashed a spray of water that left a dark mark on Mistress Dong’s pale blue patterned skirt.

“Oh, you’re asking for death!” the women beside her cried out. A glance at the newcomer’s plain blue attire prompted one of them to raise her hand and slap the girl across the shoulder.

These women were sturdy; the young maid staggered from the blow, and the baskets fell to the ground.

“Hey, isn’t that…” Mistress Dong peered closely at the person standing before her, especially noting the red sash, and her expression faltered.

The woman who had struck the blow now saw the girl clearly and gasped in shock. She was a third-rank, rough-duty servant; this second-rank maid from the main quarters was not to be trifled with. Instinctively, her legs buckled.

“It’s Ah Hao,” Mistress Dong said, drawing out the name in a drawn-out tone.

Hearing the name Ah Hao, the servant who had bent her knees immediately straightened up, let out a sigh of relief, and glared at the maid as if she had been the one frightened.

Ah Hao stood in the rain, quickly becoming saturated. Her hair plastered to her scalp and face, making her appearance even more wretched.

“Mistress Dong, I, we are here on behalf of the Eldest Young Mistress…” she stammered, her voice trembling.

“The Eldest Young Mistress? Does she have an instruction?” Mistress Dong asked, her expression turning sweetly amiable.

“The Eldest Young Mistress asks if this month’s regular allowance has been dispensed yet?” Ah Hao managed to say, lifting her head to look at Mistress Dong. Her small face was pale, whether from fear or the deluge, it was hard to tell.

Mistress Dong’s expression turned icy.

“? Have you forgotten the provision for Qiutong Courtyard again?” she remarked dryly.

The servants, initially fearful upon hearing the maid’s grievance and seeing Mistress Dong’s cold face, had been preparing to beg for forgiveness, but hearing this unexpected question, they immediately laughed again.

“She truly deserves a beating,” one woman raised her hand and lightly mimed slapping her own face, saying with false vexation, “I completely forgot!”

Saying this, she looked at the little maid and slightly bent her body in a shallow bow.

“Mistress, strike me. I heard Third Miss caught a chill and became flustered, rushing to procure the light food and fruits she needed. I am old, useless, incapable of handling things, remembering one thing and forgetting another…” she said, smiling wryly.

The little maid dared not strike her.

“Mama jokes. Of course, Third Miss’s health is the priority…” she murmured, biting her lower lip.

A smile reappeared on Mistress Dong’s face, only to vanish into coldness once more.

“Are you all fools? The young mistress is standing in the rain.” she said.

At these words, the surrounding servants seemed to finally notice that the girl before them was drenched like a drowned chicken. They rushed forward to hold an umbrella over her.

“Coming out in this weather…”

“Couldn’t one of you just send a word…”

“The young mistress ran here herself…”

They all spoke in chorus, their voices brimming with concern and sympathy.

“No matter how busy you are, do not neglect your duties. If this happens again, do not blame me for showing no mercy,” Mistress Dong said, shaking her head and smiling at the women.

The servants swore profusely that they never would.

“Then I shall take my leave,” Mistress Dong said, glancing back at Ah Hao. “Ah Hao, if you lack anything, come tell me.”

Ah Hao nodded and thanked her, shivering uncontrollably.

Once Mistress Dong departed, the servants in the courtyard returned to their chatter, moving from praising a delicious dish and doling out a few coins, to gossiping about which maid had made the shoes worn by Sibao at the gatehouse. It was only when Ah Hao followed them inside that one of them seemed to notice her presence.

“The young lady hasn't left yet?” she asked.

Ah Hao looked down at her empty baskets.

“Oh dear, we should have sent someone personally. It’s raining, the roads are bad; how could we let the young lady carry it herself?” the woman laughed, turning to order the others, “Old ones, did you hear? Hurry and prepare what is needed, and send it to the Eldest Young Mistress.”

Scattered, laughing replies echoed from within the room.

“I…” Ah Hao hesitated, wanting to speak again, but the woman pushed and pulled her out the door.

The courtyard gate slammed shut. The rain grew heavier. Ah Hao stamped her feet, balanced the basket on her head, and hurried down the path.

She passed through one gate after another, crossed a narrow alley, and in the distance, she could see a small courtyard standing amidst the misty rain, surrounded by a few scattered flowering trees, otherwise barren, looking profoundly lonely.

A red umbrella floated toward her from that direction.

“A’Ru!” Ah Hao called out, quickening her pace.

Under the red umbrella on this side stood a girl the same age as her, dressed in a simple white under-robe covered by a blue beijia over a gray cloth skirt. This entire ensemble of subdued colors lent her an air of solemnity unbefitting her years. Seeing the maid approaching through the downpour, she too sped up.

“Going out without an umbrella, running in the rain! Why didn’t you borrow one from anyone…” She finally managed to cover the rushing girl with her umbrella, looking at the completely soaked girl with a face full of distress and anxiety, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her face.

“I run fast, I’m not afraid,” Ah Hao said with a cheerful laugh.

With only one umbrella, this child must have been afraid it wouldn't be enough; A’Ru felt a pang of sadness.

“Hurry and change,” she said, reaching out to pull Ah Hao along, but then she saw Ah Hao’s empty baskets, and her expression stilled. “Sis, they still haven't…”

“Sis, they said they’d send someone over right away,” Ah Hao quickly said, feeling ashamed and guilty for not completing her errand.

A’Ru sighed.

‘Right away’ probably meant waiting two or three days…

“Sis, you’re out. Did the Young Mistress…” Ah Hao rushed to ask again.

“The Young Mistress is asleep. I was worried about you, so I came out to check,” A’Ru replied.

Talking between themselves, the two reached the front of the courtyard. The wall was somewhat mottled, bearing a faded, paint-chipped plaque that read 'Qiutong Courtyard.' With a creak, they pushed the gate open and stepped into the dwelling.

After changing clothes inside, A’Ru brewed a bowl of ginger soup and brought it out.

“Sis, we’re almost out of ginger. Save it for the Young Mistress,” Ah Hao declined.

“Drink it. The Young Mistress isn’t lacking for one bowl of ginger soup,” A’Ru sighed. “The most important thing is that we must all stay well. Otherwise, who will the Young Mistress rely on…”

Saying this, tears welled up in her eyes.

Ah Hao said nothing, took the ginger soup, and drank it down in large gulps.

“Sis, don’t worry. We will all be fine. When the Eldest Young Master returns, tell him the Young Mistress has recovered her health, and he will surely take us out,” she said, smiling.

A’Ru looked at her, a bitter curve to her lips.

“Let’s hope so,” she murmured softly.

A moment of silence fell in the room.

“I’ll go boil some water. When the Young Mistress wakes up, she can wash up,” A’Ru stood up, breaking the oppressive quiet.

Ah Hao nodded, turning to the small, worn table to fix her hair using the bronze mirror. Just as she tied the final hair tie, a piercing scream echoed from outside, immediately followed by the clatter of a copper basin hitting the floor.

The sound was sharp and grating, chilling to the bone.

Ah Hao shivered violently, then dashed out. She saw A’Ru sitting on the threshold of the main room, trembling and letting out sharp, repeated shrieks.

“Sis, what happened?” She rushed over, reaching out to steady A’Ru while instinctively looking upward.

A piercing cry tore through the rain and mist.

“Young Mistress, Young Mistress,” Ah Hao cried out, scrambling into the room.

Following A’Ru’s line of sight, she could see a pair of feet suspended in mid-air, clad in shoes embroidered with winding lotus patterns. Looking higher, there was a white gauze skirt and a dark blue round-collared embroidered robe, leading up to a stark white face with the tongue slightly protruding.

“Quickly, take her down,” A’Ru, who had partially recovered from the shock, lunged forward and grabbed the dangling legs, pulling them up.

Ah Hao cried and rushed to help, finally managing to lower the person hanging from the beam.

“She’s… she’s not… breathing…” A’Ru tentatively reached out to check the woman’s breath, her face immediately turning ashen.

“Young Mistress…” Ah Hao burst into loud sobs, collapsing onto the body lying on the floor. “How could you be so foolish!”

The woman on the floor lay motionless. If not for the bluish tinge from suffocation, she could easily have been mistaken for someone asleep.

“Quickly, go tell the Marquis and—” A’Ru, being slightly older, stood up and rushed out.

The door was slammed open with a loud bang. Ah Hao’s crying suddenly stopped. She covered her mouth with her hand. The open door let in gusts of wind and rain, and apart from the swish of the storm, there was no other sound. The simple, snow-cave-like room felt even colder.

Ah Hao’s breathing grew ragged. She suddenly dared not look at the body on the floor. With another clank as the door shifted, she let out a shriek and bolted out into the rain.

A streak of lightning suddenly illuminated the sky, followed by a booming thunderclap that seemed to tear the heavens apart.

Ah Hao, who had just run out of the courtyard, collapsed onto the ground, utterly stunned into unconsciousness by the fright.

At that very moment, the person lying on the floor inside the room moved their hands. Then, the entire body convulsed as if struck by a spasm. The hand that had been dangling at her side suddenly shot up and waved, as if trying to grasp something, while a hacking sound emerged from her throat. Simultaneously, a white box materialized directly above her head and smashed down, hitting the abdomen of the person on the floor with precision and force.

“Ouch, my mother!” The person on the floor let out a sharp cry of pain and abruptly sat up.