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

It's almost December now, and the cold is getting worse every day.

The howling north wind felt like tiny knives on my face. Even with the doors and windows tightly closed and thick cotton curtains drawn, wisps of cold air still seeped in, and my breath condensed into white mist.

Chen Wanxing rubbed her stiff and cold fingers and put down the pen.

Kaifeng Prefecture, being located further south than the capital, should theoretically be warmer than the capital.

However, back then, the underfloor heating was always running in the Marquis's residence. Even when one had to keep watch at the lady's bedside, the floor was always warm.

Perhaps because she's gotten used to warm environments, Chen Wanxing is now particularly sensitive to the cold.

She did want to imitate the Marquis's mansion and install a floor heating system in her room, but that would mean tearing down and rebuilding the house. Not to mention the cost, the sheer trouble of it made Chen Wanxing unwilling to do it.

She looked up at Yunzhu, who was still sitting on the small stool, helping Amber with her thread, and instructed her:

"Yunzhu, go and light the charcoal brazier. It's too cold to sit in this room."

Yunzhu responded and quickly got up to go to the storeroom to retrieve the brass charcoal brazier she had bought earlier.

Chen Wanxing then turned to Li Mama, who had just come in from outside, and added, "Mama, it's getting colder and colder these days. The winter quilts we prepared beforehand are probably not thick enough."

When you have some free time these next couple of days, go to the cloth shop and buy some new cotton. Make sure it's thickly stuffed so it'll keep us warm at night.

Granny Li readily agreed.

The charcoal brazier was quickly lit, and the orange-red flames leaped, bringing some warmth and gradually dispelling the chill in the room.

Chen Wanxing pulled her coat tighter, feeling the temperature gradually rising, and mentally calculated her expenses for the winter.

Firewood, cotton clothes, thick quilts—everything is an expense, and there's no room for slack.

With the cold weather, Chen Wanxing felt increasingly lethargic. She used to go out for walks every day, but lately all she wanted to do was crawl into bed.

Unlike her, Amber had been working on her fan painting all this time and hadn't dared to rest for a single day.

In fact, Amber has the money to pay back the pawnshop. She doesn't need to rush to finish her fan paintings. She can embroider two or three a month and earn two or three taels of silver, which is enough for her to live on.

But she was eager to save money and didn't want to be idle, so she continued to work overtime every day. Chen Wanxing tried to persuade her twice but failed, so she stopped interfering.

She figured that since she'd been so busy lately and hadn't mentioned going back for the jade pendant, she probably wasn't planning on going anymore.

Unexpectedly, when the half-month deadline arrived, Amber put down her embroidery and walked up to Chen Wanxing, her eyes sparkling.

"Sister Wanxing, half a month has passed. I've made up my mind; I'm determined to get that jade pendant back."

Chen Wanxing looked at her; the amber in front of her had a firm gaze, clearly the result of careful consideration.

"Are you really sure? This trip might not go smoothly, and you might even face some difficulties," Chen Wanxing finally confirmed.

Amber nodded, a faint smile even playing on her lips. "I've thought it through. No matter how difficult it is, it can't be harder than when I was locked up at home by my aunt and uncle. That jade pendant is mine; why shouldn't I take it?"

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Chen Wanxing stopped trying to stop her and stood up briskly: "Alright, since you've decided, I'll go with you."

She turned to Li Mama and instructed her to watch the house. Then she said, "Come, do our makeup. I'll just do it like I usually do when I go out. As for Miss Amber, make her face a little whiter and put on some lip rouge."

"And Yunzhu, go to the carriage shop now and rent a horse-drawn carriage to bring us back."

Seeing Chen Wanxing's methodical arrangements, Amber felt reassured.

After finishing her makeup, she returned to her room, opened her wardrobe, and changed into a brand-new lake-blue Hangzhou silk cotton dress with intertwined floral patterns. She also took out a lilac-colored satin cloak embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers.

Chen Wanxing then took out a hibiscus hairpin inlaid with tourmaline in red gold from her treasure box, and also took out the double-bead shrimp whisker bracelet that Amber had left for her and put it on Amber's head.

This attire is very respectable; it's meant to make a proper impression so that the people in the old house won't look down on you.

Moreover, the brighter the color of her clothes, the more it accentuated her deliberately white complexion, making her look even paler.

A blue-curtained carriage came to a steady stop in front of the imposing black lacquered gate of the old mansion of the Marquis. Amber slowly stepped out of the carriage with the help of Chen Wanxing.

Her steps were slightly unsteady, and she seemed to need Chen Wanxing's help to stand. Chen Wanxing was half a step behind, carefully supporting her with a respectful posture.

Although both of them wore veils, the servant at the door had seen Chen Wanxing before, so after Chen Wanxing gave his name, he immediately went in to announce his arrival.

This time, the master met them in a side hall next to the main hall, which was more formal than the flower hall where he met Chen Wanxing last time.

Upon entering the warm side hall, Amber, supported by Chen Wanxing, respectfully performed a full bow to the head of the table.

Her voice was slightly weak, but clear and proper: "This humble woman, Amber, has come to pay her respects to Your Excellency."

I have been back in Kaifeng for some time now. I was ill for the past few days and was unable to personally visit your residence to express my gratitude to the lord for saving my life that day; I was truly filled with remorse. Today, feeling slightly better, I have come to pay my respects and express my thanks.

When the master saw that they had come so solemnly and that he had mentioned his illness, his expression became slightly serious.

To be honest, this girl's status is quite awkward. She's just a maid, and one who's already left the manor. There's no need for him to curry favor with her.

However, the Crown Prince specifically arranged for her to stay in Kaifeng, which might mean he wanted her to be taken care of by their old family home. Since the Crown Prince still has feelings for her, perhaps she can return to the capital in the future.

I wonder if she's come here to cause some trouble again. Sigh, I hope she'll be sensible and not make any unreasonable demands.

Thinking of this, he nodded slightly: "Get up and speak. Since you are ill, just take good care of yourself. There's no need to rush these formalities."

Chen Wanxing added in a low voice, his tone carrying just the right amount of gratitude and lingering fear: "Reporting to the Master, Miss Amber has been depressed since leaving the Zhou family, and her illness has become quite serious, almost damaging her very foundation."

She has been recuperating for almost a month now before she can go out. She is deeply grateful for the master's kindness and insisted on coming to express her gratitude in person; I couldn't dissuade her.

Amber, at the opportune moment, revealed an expression of gratitude tinged with a hint of shame, and lowered her head slightly:

"I have come today to express my gratitude for your kindness, sir. Secondly, I do have a private matter that I would like to ask for your assistance."

As she spoke, her tone became hesitant, tinged with a hint of embarrassment at her words.

"Oh? What is it? Please speak freely."

Amber raised her eyes, a thin layer of tears welling up within them—not the sorrow of a loud, wailing cry, but rather the kind of tears she was trying to hold back, tears brimming with endless longing and grief.

"I dare to ask the magistrate to return the jade pendant that I presented as a token of my love."

Her voice trembled slightly, "That was a personal item given to me by the young master, and it is my only remaining possession now."

I was too ill to retrieve it in time, and now the thought of it tore at my heart. I beg you, Your Honor, to have mercy and return this item to me.

As she spoke, tears silently streamed down her face. She quickly wiped them away with a handkerchief, her demeanor both delicate and filled with a stubborn, deep affection.