A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Having received confirmation, Chen Wanxing took her leave. Before she departed, Manager Zhang specifically instructed her:

"If you really want to help Miss Amber, perhaps you could go and talk to the master. He doesn't like the second and third masters, so naturally he doesn't give their servants a friendly look."

"But I don't have much contact with the people at the old house, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help in this matter."

"Uncle Zhang, please don't say that. You've already helped me a lot by telling me so much about the inside story."

By the time the carriage returned to the courtyard in Baishi Lane, it was already dusk. The lanterns under the eaves were lit, their warm, dim light dispelling the gloom at the entrance.

Hearing the commotion, Granny Li came out to greet her. As she handed Chen Wanxing a hot towel to wipe her face, she said in a low voice, "Miss is back. This old servant just entered the house not long ago."

Chen Wanxing nodded and walked straight into the study.

"How is Granny doing?" Chen Wanxing took a sip of hot tea, dispelling some of the chill of the autumn night, and asked directly.

Granny Li shook her head slightly: "This old servant wandered around Osmanthus Lane for half a day, but the Zhou family guarded their gates tightly, and I was unable to find out any specific information about Miss Amber."

The old servant, using his slicked-back hair, struck up a conversation with the old women in the neighborhood, only vaguely learning that the Zhou family had apparently consulted a doctor a few days ago, and that Amber hadn't been seen leaving the house since.

She paused, then remembered something else and added, "However, this old servant met a purchasing woman from the old mansion at the alley entrance."

I handed her a few copper coins, and she then mentioned that her third master had been in a very good mood lately.

It seems they've set their sights on some respectable woman and intend to take her into their household as a concubine. They've instructed their servants to prepare for the arrival of the new bride. I wonder if this news is related to Miss Amber.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wanxing's eyes suddenly turned cold, and a chilling smile appeared on her lips.

She put down her teacup and clearly and concisely told Granny Li what she had learned from visiting the two stewards that day.

Chen Wanxing's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet study, "Amber was presented as a gift to the Third Master by her relatives. She refused, so the Zhou family won't even let her leave the house."

Granny Li nodded gravely, "Miss's analysis is correct; that's probably the situation. But..."

She hesitated, but ultimately didn't say anything to persuade the girl not to get involved.

Chen Wanxing stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the deep night, as if she could see through the darkness and witness the torment that Amber was going through.

"You can go down now, I'll think about it."

The flickering lights in the study illuminated Chen Wanxing's serene face.

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the table unconsciously, her brain racing, mentally analyzing all the information, the stakes, and the possible reactions.

Go directly to the Third Master? No, that's not an option.

For a helpless commoner like her to go to his door and ask him to give up the concubine she had his eye on was simply a pipe dream.

Judging from the descriptions given by the two stewards, this third master was neither intelligent nor upright.

If he sees that she is quite beautiful and becomes emboldened by lust, and then thinks that as long as he prevents her from sending a message to the capital, and then forcibly detains her, that would truly be walking into a trap, leading to utter ruin.

The risk is too great, and the chance of success is extremely slim.

She knew all too well how attractive her looks were, and how much power a person with a little influence could have in this dog-eat-dog world.

Having finally escaped from the Marquis's mansion, she didn't want to fall into a den of wolves right after escaping a dangerous situation; she couldn't afford to take any risks at all.

So, where does the key to breaking the deadlock lie?

Chen Wanxing pondered Steward Zhang's words in her study. The master and his two younger brothers had a strained relationship; perhaps she could use this to her advantage.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Chen Wanxing got up.

She took out the set of clothes she had kept at the bottom of her trunk from the wardrobe: a pink shirt with a stand-up collar, front opening, and wide sleeves, embroidered with subtle patterns in gold, light blue, and royal blue threads, and a gold-embroidered horse-face skirt made of imperial blue brocade.

It was also paired with a hooded fleece cape, the outer layer of which was made of heavy, thick satin in a twilight gray color, with a crisp texture and excellent drape.

The inside is lined with a layer of light and warm cloud-like velvet, and the brim of the hat is trimmed with a circle of rich and white snow fox fur. The collar of the cape is adorned with a red gold engraved cloud-shaped button, which is connected to a detachable black brocade ribbon with long tassels hanging from the end.

This outfit was also a reward she received. Before the young lady got married, according to the customs of Kyoto, she had to stay in the family temple for half a month to pray for blessings, and she had to hand-copy two copies of the "Longevity Sutra", one to keep at her parents' home and the other to be sent to her husband's home.

However, for such formalities, a maid would usually be found to take the place, mostly the young lady's personal maid. But because Chen Wanxing had good calligraphy and was favored by the young lady, this task fell to her.

This outfit was a gift from the young lady, and that cape is from the same thing.

Chen Wanxing's copy of the Longevity Sutra won the favor of the eldest daughter's husband's family. Just then, someone from the servants came to deliver winter clothes, and the lady was so pleased that she gave the cloak to Chen Wanxing.

However, the clothes were too gorgeous, and it would be presumptuous for her to wear them in the mansion, so she never had the chance to wear them after she got them, and they were just kept in a chest at the bottom of the trunk.

After choosing her clothes, Chen Wanxing took out a filigree and jewel-encrusted gold phoenix hairpin from her spatial storage and put it on her head. Her whole demeanor was calm and composed, and she looked very noble and dignified.

She did not go directly to the Zhou family, but instead took Yunzhu and Granny Li with her to the old residence of the Marquis.

Although the vermilion gate at the entrance of the old house is old, it still looks impressive, and there are six servants standing or sitting at the entrance chatting.

They were dressed in blue robes, and stopped to talk when they saw a carriage approaching.

The carriage stopped, the driver placed the saddlebags, and Li Mama and Yunzhu got out of the carriage first, followed by Chen Wanxing, who was wearing a veiled hat, who got out of the carriage with Li Mama's help.

Seeing that they were unfamiliar faces, the gatekeeper adopted a somewhat arrogant expression and lazily asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Granny Li stepped forward and handed over a pre-prepared visiting card, her tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Please inform him that an old friend of mine in the capital, Madam Chen, has important business to discuss with you, sir."

The visiting card was simple, only stating "Respectfully presented to my old friend Chen in the capital," but it was written on the finest gold-flecked paper.

The gatekeeper took the visiting card, weighed the paper in his hand, and then looked at Chen Wanxing, who was wearing a veiled hat, and Yunzhu, who was standing properly. Li Mama's arrogance softened a bit, but she still looked puzzled: "An old friend from the capital? What brings you here? The master usually doesn't receive guests."

Chen Wanxing then slowly spoke: "This concerns the Marquis of Kyoto's residence. Please be sure to inform him, young man. The master will understand once he sees this."

As she spoke, she gestured for Granny Li to show off a jade pendant that was placed in a brocade pouch with a corner peeking out. This was the jade pendant that Amber had entrusted to someone to give her, which belonged to the young master.

Although the gatekeeper did not know the specific origin of the item, the jade pendant looked very expensive, and upon hearing that it involved the Marquis's residence in the capital, he dared not be negligent any longer and hurriedly said, "Please wait a moment, I will go and inform them right away."

After saying that, he took the visiting card and the jade pendant and hurriedly ran towards the inner courtyard.

Chen Wanxing stood quietly outside the door, calmly surveying the old mansion of the Marquis.