"Yes, Mother, just wait right here!"
Thinking of the ten taels of silver she would soon have in her hands, Madam Li was overjoyed. She found a clean spot and sat down to wait.
Biyun Pavilion.
Not long after breakfast, Lingfu came in to report that Doctor Lin had arrived.
"Doctor Lin, you’ve come so early—have you eaten yet?"
Doctor Lin smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Miss. I have already eaten at home. How are you feeling today?"
"Er..."
Wu Weiwei turned around slowly, still feeling somewhat stiff.
"I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to come a few more times, Doctor Lin," Wu Weiwei said, feeling embarrassed.
"It’s no trouble. This condition cannot be rushed. I expect that after two or three more massages, your ailment will be cleared up."
Although Doctor Lin spoke with tact, Wu Weiwei felt a flush of embarrassment on her face. In her heart, she cursed that "dog of a man," the Heir. Who would have thought that someone who usually carried himself with the cool, untouchable air of a mountain peak could be so relentless in bed?
The two moved to the bed in the inner chamber. Wu Weiwei removed her outer robe, and Doctor Lin stood by the bedside to begin the massage.
An hour later.
Linghe saw Doctor Lin out of the courtyard. Just as she turned to head back, she noticed a strange young maid peering and poking her head around the courtyard entrance.
"Hey, tall one! Help me call Wu Weiwei out. I have something to discuss with her."
Hearing herself addressed as "tall one," Linghe was so angry she laughed. Looking at the maid before her, who was somewhat pretty, a flicker of recognition crossed Linghe’s mind. This was the maid who had been chosen to serve the Fourth Young Miss just yesterday. She remembered her because the girl had been standing directly in front of her in line. Linghe had noticed her casting frequent glances at her mistress, so it seemed the girl knew who Wu Weiwei was, though whether the mistress knew her was another matter.
Such an ill-mannered and rude girl was not worth her attention. Linghe cast a sidelong glance at her, then turned, closed the gate, and headed back into the inner courtyard.
"Hey! Hey... How can you be so rude? I only asked you to call someone!"
Looking at the tightly shut gate, He Yaya wanted to rush forward and pound on it, but she was afraid that if she made a scene, her act of sneaking over would be exposed. The Dingguo Marquis Estate had its rules; as a maid from an outside courtyard, if she were caught idling in another master's quarters, she would surely have her wages docked. If Wu Weiwei reported her to the Marquis’s Lady, she feared she would be punished.
Linghe entered the courtyard and saw Lingfu and Wanqiu airing out quilts. The mistress had just finished her massage and was sleeping in the room. By the time the morning passed, Linghe had forgotten the small incident entirely.
He Yaya waited outside for a long time, but when no one appeared, she returned to the Fourth Young Miss's courtyard in a huff, completely forgetting that her mother, Madam Li, was still waiting at the back gate for Wu Weiwei. It wasn't until evening, when He Yaya finished her chores and remembered her mother, that she discovered Madam Li had already left. The old gatekeeper, Chen, told her that Madam Li had stood guard at the back gate for the entire day, only to be chased away by Steward Li.
Because of this, He Yaya added this new grudge to her list of grievances and blamed it all on Wu Weiwei.
"Fine, Wu Weiwei. You think you’re something special just because you became the Heir's bed-warmer? How dare you refuse to see me! Just wait—once I become the Heir's woman, I’ll make you pay! You low-class trash!"
He Yaya walked inside, grumbling and cursing all the way.
As for the peddler's wife, Madam Li, she had been seething with resentment ever since that day. She didn't know if her daughter Yaya had failed to deliver the message, or if the message had been delivered but Wu Weiwei was simply putting on airs and refusing to see her. After returning home, she took her frustrations out on Wu Heran, scolding and beating him at every turn, returning to her usual shrill and vicious self.
On this particular day, Madam Li beat Wu Heran over a minor issue, and the little boy finally fought back and fled the house.
"Run then! If you’re so brave, don't you ever come back, you little wretch! So, you think you’ve got backing now that your sister is a concubine at the Marquis’s Estate, eh? If you’ve got the guts, don't you come back tonight! See if I even care..."
Madam Li watched his small frame run away and did not pursue him. Five-year-old Wu Heran escaped the He household with only one thought in his mind: he didn't want to stay with the He family anymore. His sister was at the Dingguo Marquis Estate, and he was going to find her.
By the time Wu Weiwei received news that her brother was no longer with the He family, three days had already passed.
It was a bright, sunny day. Wu Weiwei had just finished serving at Qingsong Courtyard and was passing through the garden on her way back to her own quarters when a young maid suddenly rushed in front of her.
"Concubine Wu, I am He Yaya, the youngest daughter of the He family from the outskirts of the capital. Could I have a word with you?"
Wu Weiwei almost jumped in fright when someone rushed at her, but when she recognized the girl and heard "He family," it finally clicked. The girl was wearing a clove-purple dress with a dark butterfly pattern and had her hair in the popular double-bun style. Her brows and eyes were three parts similar to Madam Li's; while her features were not outstanding, she was somewhat pretty. She was the daughter of the woman to whom the original host had entrusted her brother, Ranran.
Wu Weiwei had only been to the He house twice: the first time when the original host left her brother there, and the second time when she visited to check on Ranran while he was sick and warned Madam Li. She had seen He Yaya once during that first visit, but because it was rushed, she only had a vague impression. During the second visit, it was late, and all of Madam Li's children were asleep, so she hadn't taken much notice.
He Yaya stared directly at Wu Weiwei.
"Speak. What is it?"
Hearing Wu Weiwei's question, He Yaya stole a cautious glance at her and whispered, "Your brother... he’s gone missing!"
"What did you say?"
Wu Weiwei stepped forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Are you joking with me?"
"What are you doing? You’re hurting me..."
He Yaya winced in pain, struggling for a long while but failing to break free from Wu Weiwei’s grip.
"How could Ranran go missing? Did you do this on purpose?"
She had visited her brother only recently and had brought plenty of fine things for Madam Li, hoping that once the Heir was less busy, she could find an opportunity to suggest bringing Ranran into the estate. She never expected that after only a few days, the He family would have lost him.
Wu Weiwei’s aura changed in an instant, and her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched into fists.
"No! My mother only hit him a few times, and your brother ran away from home himself. Th-then that night he..."
"He what?"
Wu Weiwei’s gaze turned icy; she stared at He Yaya as if she wanted to kill her. Intimidated by her sharp, piercing presence, He Yaya swallowed hard.
She stammered, "Ra-Ranran didn't come back that night. It’s been three days since he went missing..."
"Three days? He's been missing for three days, and you're only telling me now? You took my money—is this how you He family people handle things, huh?"
Wu Weiwei raised her eyes, a murderous glint flickering within them.
"How can you blame me? I came to Biyun Pavilion to find you that day, but your maid wouldn't even let me in!"
Having said this, He Yaya finally found her excuse. If Wu Weiwei hadn't been unwilling to see her, her mother wouldn't have taken her frustrations out on her brother when she returned home, and Wu Heran wouldn't have run away and ended up lost.
But Wu Weiwei had no time to argue with her now. She warned, "From this moment on, you had better pray that Ranran is safe. If anything happens to my brother, I will never forgive your He family!"