Nanny Wang returned to Luo Huaimeng’s courtyard and called Honghua before her.

“Honghua, you must always remember that Er Yitai has shown our family a debt of gratitude as weighty as a mountain. Your mother is still in good health now and can serve Er Yitai for a few more years. When the time comes that I can no longer serve her, you must take my place in this work. Do you understand?”

Honghua replied listlessly: “Mother, you’ve spent your whole life serving others — that’s one thing. But why would you want our family to do this work for generations to come?”

Nanny Wang shot her a glare. “Look at you — lazy, unmotivated, good-for-nothing. If it weren’t for Er Yitai taking you in here to work as a favor to me, who knows where you’d be scraping by right now? A person must learn to be grateful, and must also know her own place. Look at yourself — what great things do you think you could accomplish? In this courtyard, no one bullies you, the food is good, the clothing is decent, and when the mistress is in good spirits she even gives out rewards. Yes, it’s lowly work waiting on others, but we’re earning our keep with our own two hands — what’s wrong with that? What’s shameful about it?”

“Alright, alright, you’ve said all that ten thousand times already. My ears are practically growing calluses from hearing it.”

“I’m afraid you won’t take it to heart.” Nanny Wang tapped her on the forehead. “The times are so turbulent now. Being able to get through a single peaceful day is already something to be grateful for.”

Honghua said worriedly: “Right now in the Shi Mansion, Second Young Master rules with an iron fist. We follow Er Yitai — won’t we be implicated? If the Young Marshal never comes back, if something happens to him out there, then Second Young Master will become the master of Bei Di, and dealing with us would be as simple as crushing an ant.”

Nanny Wang sighed. “Since we are Er Yitai’s people, our lives and deaths are tightly bound to hers. Er Yitai has shown our family such trust and regard — even if we were to be executed together in the future, I would not blink an eye. This life of mine has long belonged to Er Yitai.”

“Mother, why don’t we flee while we still can?” Honghua seemed not to have taken Nanny Wang’s words to heart.

“Flee? Soldiers are everywhere right now — where would you flee to? Besides, Er Yitai is still here. How could we be cowards?” Nanny Wang looked at her daughter with some irritation. “Don’t say such things again.”

Honghua gave a vague sound of acknowledgment, but her eyes held unmistakable reluctance.

After leaving Nanny Wang’s room, Honghua went straight back to her own quarters.

Nanny Wang, being a trusted confidante, had her own private side-room. Honghua, on the other hand, was crammed in together with a few young maids who did the sweeping and cleaning.

Because of Nanny Wang’s standing, others went out of their way to please Honghua — but Honghua did not take them seriously.

As night fell, Honghua tossed and turned on her bed. Outside the window, it seemed as though some bird was calling.

Seeing that everyone around her was asleep, she climbed out of bed.

She dressed and opened the door; the sound grew louder, and listening carefully, the bird’s call seemed to echo the sounds of “Honghua, Honghua.”

Honghua walked to the small door beside the side room. This door had once allowed servants to pass freely in and out, but after the Shi Mansion was sealed off, it had been locked, with guards posted outside day and night.

The moment Honghua reached the door, it swung open. She gave a start and was just about to step back when a low voice from outside said: “Honghua, don’t be afraid. I have something I want to tell you.”

Honghua leaned out to look. By the light of the moon she recognized the visitor — it appeared to be Qiucao, one of Shi Guang’s concubines.

Qiucao smiled at her. “Come outside to talk. It’s not very convenient here.”

For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, Honghua listened to Qiucao’s words and, as if compelled by some invisible force, stepped through the small door.

Qiucao led Honghua along until they arrived at a small courtyard. A lamp burned inside, its pale yellow light illuminating the two women’s faces, each lost in her own thoughts.

“Honghua, it was Second Young Master who sent me to find you.” Qiucao settled herself in a chair and looked Honghua up and down.

Upon hearing this, Honghua’s face instantly flushed red, and her eyes held a trace of barely concealed anticipation. “S-Second Young Master wants me for what?”

Qiucao smiled. “Second Young Master thinks you’re beautiful and skilled at embroidery, and he happens to be in need of exactly such a woman as a concubine.”

Honghua could hardly believe her own ears. “Qiucao, what are you saying?”

“Yes, you heard correctly. Ever since Second Young Master saw you that time, he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about you. That’s why he specially sought me out to ask your thoughts on the matter.” Qiucao’s face wore a smile, but her eyes held not a trace of warmth — as though she were merely going through the motions. “Honghua, you truly are blessed. You’ve caught Second Young Master’s eye just like that.”

“Is this really… truly Second Young Master’s intention?” Honghua’s heart was leaping wildly in her chest, her face flushed crimson, her eyes filled with an almost frenzied joy.

Qiucao said: “You can see the situation for yourself. Right now, virtually all of Shun Cheng is under Second Young Master’s control. In the future, the master of Bei Di will surely be him. If you marry Second Young Master as a concubine, you will one day be the concubine of the Marshal himself. You know better than anyone how glorious Er Yitai and San Yitai once were.”

Honghua suppressed the wild joy surging within her. In her mind, she was already envisioning a future of silk robes and jade adornments.

She was different from Nanny Wang. She had no wish to be a servant her whole life. But she had never imagined that the one to take notice of her would be Second Young Master himself.

“Honghua, Second Young Master gives you his word that once he becomes Marshal, he will ensure both you and your mother live the finest of lives.”

Honghua, her face still flushed, said: “I — I need to ask my mother’s opinion.”

“You really are a foolish girl. Your mother belongs to Er Yitai, and Er Yitai is the Young Marshal’s mother — of course she would never allow you to marry Second Young Master.” Qiucao said earnestly: “Your mother’s heart is set entirely on serving Er Yitai. She has never once thought about your future. If something were to happen to Er Yitai, your mother would probably want to drag you along to die with her.”

Honghua thought of the words Nanny Wang had spoken earlier, and they struck a chord. She knew her own mother better than anyone — she truly would pull her along to die alongside Er Yitai.

She was still young. She did not want to die. She still wanted wealth and splendor.

Qiucao studied her expression carefully. Seeing that Honghua’s face was full of longing, she knew this little maid had been completely taken in.

“Honghua, what do you think?”

Honghua said shyly: “I — I don’t think I’m worthy of Second Young Master.”

“Second Young Master has set his eyes on you, which means he has honored you. There’s no question of being worthy or unworthy.”

Hearing this, Honghua’s face grew even redder.

Qiucao smiled. “In that case, I’ll go report back to Second Young Master and tell him you’ve agreed.”

Honghua offered no objection, but lowered her head with a bashful flush.

Qiucao went on to tell Honghua more about Shi Guang, and with every word Honghua grew more yearning, her maiden heart nearly flying off to his side entirely.

The first time she had seen Shi Guang, she had been captivated by his handsome appearance. But she knew that a lowly maid like herself could never aspire so high — and so, even after such thoughts had taken root, she had quietly swallowed them back down.

Qiucao took Honghua’s hand warmly and sat talking with her, every bit the picture of a close and understanding elder sister. Under Qiucao’s gentle coaxing, the last traces of Honghua’s wariness dissolved completely.

“Sister.” Qiucao addressed her as family outright, which made Honghua feel both awkward and overjoyed at the same time. In that moment, she was already thinking of herself as the future concubine, the Marshal’s favored consort.

Qiucao smiled. “From now on you are Second Young Master’s woman. Your loyalties must lie with him — you must not have divided allegiances.”

Honghua nodded shyly. “Sister need not say it — that goes without saying.”

“Whatever happens on Er Yitai’s side and the Young Mistress’s side, you must tell me the moment you learn of it.” Qiucao guided her gently. “Second Young Master prizes loyalty above all else. As long as you act in his interest, he will never treat you poorly. You’ll have your own courtyard and maids, and whatever you want, he’ll give you. On the other hand, if you are not of one mind with him, he will only feel contempt for you — and may even cast you aside. Do you understand?”

Honghua nodded quickly. “I understand, Sister Qiucao.”

“Our Second Young Mistress is the sort who never concerns herself with household matters. She just reads and writes all day. Second Young Master has no feelings for her either — they haven’t even shared a room to this day.”

Honghua was stunned. “Can that really be true?”

“Before the Second Young Mistress married in, she had someone on the outside she was attached to. She and Second Young Master are not of one heart at all. How could a woman like that ever win Second Young Master’s love?”

Honghua lowered her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly said: “Sister Qiucao, there is something I’m not sure whether I should tell you.”

“What is it? Go ahead and say it. I’ll make sure it reaches Second Young Master’s ears, and he’ll remember you for the service.”

Honghua said: “Today I followed my mother to the Young Mistress’s courtyard, and I overheard their conversation.”

Knowing this might be sensitive information, she instinctively lowered her voice: “The Young Mistress is pregnant.”

Qiucao gave a start. “Is this true?”

“Absolutely certain.” Honghua spoke with great conviction. “No wonder Er Yitai guards the Young Mistress like a precious treasure, and often has my mother boil all kinds of nourishing soups. But only a few of her trusted people know about this. Among the people in our courtyard, only Xiangxiu and Nanny Wang know — I only overheard it by accident.”

Qiucao’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Do you know how far along she is?”

Honghua shook her head. “I only heard them talking about the pregnancy, but they didn’t say exactly how far along. Though looking at the Young Mistress’s belly, it’s still quite flat — it probably hasn’t been more than three months. It’s a pity for this child, being born in such troubled times, with a war going on and its father’s fate still unknown. Even if it’s born, it may end up being a posthumous child.”

Honghua had been talking away to herself for quite some time, but noticed that Qiucao had been silent throughout. She asked carefully: “Sister Qiucao, did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

Qiucao snapped back from her surge of elation and gave Honghua a smile. “No. You have rendered a service.”