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

Once she understood this, Linglong's leisurely mood of enjoying the scenery along the way vanished instantly.

This was hardly a homecoming; it was clearly an escort mission. She immediately abandoned any thought of stopping halfway and only hoped to arrive in Kaifeng as soon as possible.

The carriage swayed and rattled along the official road for more than a month, and Linglong felt as if all the bones in her body were about to be shaken apart.

Sitting in the cramped carriage day and night caused my legs to swell. If I couldn't make it into the city by night, I had to curl up in the carriage to spend the night, which was even more miserable.

As the sun began to set again, the guard on the carriage finally turned around and said in a deep voice through the curtain, "Ladies, we have arrived at Kaifeng."

Linglong's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled with those words. She almost couldn't wait to reach out and pull back the carriage curtain that had kept her isolated for more than a month.

In an instant, a street scene, unlike the grand and prosperous capital, but carrying the unique simplicity of an ancient city in the Central Plains, came into view.

"We've finally arrived."

As Linglong breathed in the air thick with the aroma of cooking, her fatigue from the past few days seemed to lessen considerably.

In stark contrast to her excitement, Amber, standing to the side, didn't even have the energy to lift the carriage curtain and take a peek.

The successive blows, coupled with more than a month of arduous travel, had already exhausted her mental and physical energy.

She slumped against the carriage wall, her face as pale as paper, her lips cracked, her breathing weak, and she exuded an air of decay and decline, clearly quite ill.

The journey was arduous, with almost no rest in between, as they were constantly on the move. Even when Amber fell ill, they didn't go to see a doctor.

The guard approached the carriage window, his brow furrowed as he looked at Amber. He said in a low voice, "Miss Linglong, as instructed, we must first escort Miss Amber to her relatives. However…"

He paused, clearly somewhat embarrassed: "I only know that her relatives should be working at the old house. As for their specific residence, I will have to go to the old house and ask the steward."

Linglong glanced at the barely breathing amber and said:

"Brother Guard, as you can see, Amber's condition is worrying to the elders in her family. They are all elderly members of the Marquis's household. It would be bad if people suspected that you didn't take good care of us on the way."

Her tone was earnest, and her reasons were sound: "Why don't we find an inn in the city to settle down first, so that Amber can rest properly for a couple of days and have a doctor examine her? Once her condition has stabilized a bit, you can inquire about the whereabouts of her relatives and send her there safely. Wouldn't that be better?"

The guard glanced at the sickly Amber, then at the composed Linglong, and after a moment's thought, said, "Very well."

The guard nodded. "Let's do as you suggest, young lady, and find an inn first."

The carriage came to a stop in front of the Laifu Inn in Kaifeng.

The group settled into two superior rooms. Linglong immediately paid out of her own pocket to ask the innkeeper to find a reliable old doctor.

"This young lady has been worrying too much, and the journey has been tiring, so she has been exposed to a cold. Her constitution is not bad, so I will prescribe some medicine. She should rest well for a while and she will recover. Remember not to overexert yourself or upset your heart."

When Linglong returned after escorting the old doctor, she saw a guard waiting at the door: "Since her life is not in danger, I will find out where her relatives live tomorrow, deliver her there, and then return to the manor to report."

Linglong opened her mouth, wanting to ask them for two more days' grace, but looking at the guard's cold and hard face, she ultimately didn't speak.

Amber may not have thought about the future yet, but if she were to go back with the title of a sinner, that would truly cut off her path to survival.

Linglong's gaze swept over the sleeping Amber on the bed. After all, they had grown up together since childhood, especially when she first entered the manor, Amber was already quite popular with Madam Li.

She was beautiful back then, and she had a good relationship with the young master.

She was the youngest among the servants in the Li family's courtyard, so she always got more candy and snacks. She wasn't stingy, and whenever she got something extra, she would share it in the courtyard. She also followed behind her every day, calling her "elder sister" this and "elder sister" that.

It was only after Li Shi appointed her as a concubine that their relationship began to become tense.

Thinking of this, Linglong's heart softened suddenly. Fine, she would help her one last time.

"Brother guard, please wait."

The guard turned around, his face showing a questioning expression.

Linglong concealed herself with her sleeve and secretly took out a five-tael silver ingot from her spatial storage, handing it over discreetly.

"Brother, you must be tired from your journey. Please have a cup of tea with this small token of my appreciation to help you relax."

The guard paused slightly, not immediately taking the item, but instead asked, "What does Miss Linglong mean by this?"

"I have a favor to ask, it's not something I want to make difficult for you," Linglong said, meeting his gaze. Her voice was low but clear.

"If Amber is expelled from the clan after returning this time because she has made a mistake, she will probably be unable to live or die in the future."

Her parents are far away in the capital; who will protect her then? She has served the young master for several years; the Marquis's mansion is kind and surely wouldn't want to see an old servant suffer such a miserable fate, lest it tarnish the mansion's reputation.

She paused, and seeing that the guard's expression had softened, she continued, "Could you please ask your elder brother to say something different when you send her back? Say that the lady, out of consideration for the loyalty of her family for generations, has shown her special favor by allowing her to leave the mansion and return home to marry as she sees fit, so that she can have a stable future?"

In this way, her relatives, grateful for the Marquis's kindness, will surely treat her well. You have thus enhanced the Marquis's reputation for benevolence; this does not hinder your duties and is a meritorious deed.”

The guard tightened his grip on the silver in his hand, then looked at Linglong's all-seeing eyes and pondered for a moment.

His orders were to ensure Amber left the capital, but the superiors hadn't specified what title to use. This clever young lady's words were indeed reasonable and wouldn't leave him without any benefits.

Besides, fortunes can change in an instant. Amber Girl's parents are still serving their master; if we do them a favor now, it might be for the best in the future…

He put the silver into his pocket, nodded, and softened his tone slightly: "I understand your kindness, young lady. I will do as you say."

"Thank you, Brother Guard." Linglong curtsied and bowed, feeling a weight lifted from her heart.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, steady footsteps echoed in the inn's corridor.

There was a knock on the door. Linglong opened it and saw the guards already dressed and standing outside. Their tone was as crisp as ever: "Miss Linglong, it's getting late. I'll see Miss Amber off now."

Linglong stepped aside to let him into the room. Amber on the bed was startled; after a night's rest, she had finally recovered somewhat.

She nodded to Linglong and let the guards help her up, half-carrying and half-supporting her.

Just as the guard was about to leave with his men, Linglong stepped forward, quickly stuffed a small, inconspicuous cloth bag into his hand, and whispered:

"Brother guards, you've had a long journey. This little bit of tea money is just a token of our appreciation. When we return to the capital, please report back and if the madam asks, just say that Linglong is doing well, so she can rest assured."

The guard paused, glanced down at the weight of the cloth bag, and did not refuse, but simply nodded slightly to acknowledge the favor.

Without saying another word, he helped the dazed Amber down the stairs without looking back.

Linglong stood at the door of her room, listening to the footsteps gradually fade into the distance until they disappeared into the inn's lobby. She slowly walked to the window facing the street and gently pushed it open a crack.

In the dim light of dawn, a guard deftly placed Amber into the waiting carriage at the door, then climbed onto the driver's seat himself and quickly disappeared from sight.

"It's better that they've left."

Linglong closed the window, shutting out the unfamiliar street scene and the past. She had done all she could. From now on, everyone would go their own way.

The room fell completely silent, with only the sound of her own breathing remaining. She looked around the guest room she was temporarily staying in and took a deep breath.

Now, it's finally time to wholeheartedly plan for herself. Her exquisite new life is truly beginning now.