Chapter 15 Does the Censorate not provide food?

Si Niannian looked at Qiuyue with admiration and gestured for her to get up: "You're quite clever."

"Were you the one who rushed to deliver the message last night?"

Qiuyue nodded with a dry laugh: "Replying to Miss, it was this servant who went."

“Then I should thank you,” Si Niannian said with emotion. “If you hadn’t delivered the message in time, I probably would have been thrown into the lake.”

Qiu Yue lowered her head, not daring to look at Qiu Shuang's face, which was swollen like a pig's head, and said cautiously, "Serving the young lady is my duty, and I dare not ask for a reward."

"How can merit go unrewarded?"

Si Niannian chuckled and said, "Aunt Lai, go and get that double-ringed bracelet from the jewelry box."

Although the bracelet was made of silver, its craftsmanship was exquisite.

It's barely worth a few bucks among that pile of junk.

Si Niannian took the bracelet and personally put it on Qiuyue's wrist, saying slowly, "Take good care of them, and I won't mistreat you."

“I got a whole box of similar good stuff yesterday, and there will only be more in the future, you know what I mean?”

Qiu Yue was surprised by Si Niannian's generosity. After a moment of stunned silence, her face lit up with ecstatic joy: "This servant will certainly serve you wholeheartedly, Miss, and obey all your orders!"

Si Niannian gave a satisfied "hmm," ignoring Qiu Shuang's fixed gaze on the bracelet's hideous appearance, and waved her hand, saying, "Alright, go out."

Qiuyue happily touched the bracelet and ran away.

Qiu Shuang covered her face, hunched over, and walked very slowly.

Watching from the side, Lai's mother hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Miss, those jewels were just sent to you by Madam yesterday. Why do you need to take them out to give as gifts?"

The unfair distribution of rewards and punishments is one thing, and the value of the jewelry can be set aside for now; the key issue is...

Those pieces of jewelry were all worn by Song Qinghan.

If Song Qinghan saw the maid wearing her jewelry, wouldn't she be furious...?

"Mom is just too kind-hearted," Si Niannian said lazily, opening the food box. "Why bother?"

Autumn Moon received a series of rewards, while Autumn Frost was severely punished.

The two accomplices sent to monitor her are bound to fight amongst themselves; it's only a matter of time before they turn on each other.

Si Niannian didn't care whose fur was being bitten off.

Even if Song Qinghan punishes them in a fit of anger, it's their own fault for being disloyal, and Si Niannian is happy to see it happen.

Besides, what's wrong with the things Song Qinghan used?

She felt the tips weren't good enough.

Who would be so kind as to treat a pile of junk as a treasure?

Looking at the unchanging steamed buns, rice porridge, and pickled vegetables in the food box, Si Niannian couldn't help but laugh: "Are they really trying to save money to buy medicine?"

It's the second day, and Madam Song really doesn't intend to give her anything else to eat?

Seeing this, Lai's mother couldn't laugh anymore, but before she could speak, Si Niannian pressed the lid of the food box back down.

She was afraid that if she looked at those things inside any longer, she would feel like vomiting.

Si Niannian tapped her delicate, slender fingertips back and forth on the lid, and said without warning, "I heard that Mom's daughter was born with a disease?"

She went out last night to investigate Lai's mother's background, so it was very natural for her to bring it up now: "Is your illness any better now?"

Lai's mother was stunned for a moment, and then her eyes reddened.

She was unlucky; her husband died just six months after their marriage, and she struggled to give birth to his posthumous child while heavily pregnant, only to find that the child was a worthless girl.

Suffering and hardship are common for the poor.

Unfortunately, this only girl was born weak and relied on medicine to stay alive all year round. Although she was a teenager, her physique was thin and weak, and she would be out of breath after walking a few steps.

But such troublesome matters should not be mentioned to offend the master's ears.

Madam Lai forced a smile through her grief: "She was a little weak, but she still managed to grow up, which is a blessing for us, her daughter and me."

Si Niannian paused for a moment upon hearing this, then handed a black wooden plaque to Lai's mother, saying, "I have an old friend at Huaiyin Hall. Take this to find someone surnamed Xu."

Huaiyin Hall?

Even though Lai Mama was just a servant who did rough work, she had heard of the great reputation of Huaiyin Hall, which was the most expensive and best medical clinic in Yujing!

His medical skills are so superb that they are unfathomable; it is said that a single consultation is worth a fortune!

Moreover, the owner of Huaiyintang is a highly skilled physician, but his origins are shrouded in mystery and he has an eccentric personality.

Even if a high-ranking official came to their door seeking help, they would refuse to help if they disliked him even for a single word. However, the powerful and influential families of Yujing dared not offend them and treated Huaiyin Hall as an honored guest.

Lai's mother worked herself to the bone to save money so that one day she could take her daughter to Huaiyintang Hospital for treatment!

Lai's mother was so excited that her hands trembled as she carefully held the wooden plaque, stammering, "Young lady, you..."

“The doctor surnamed Xu is quite skilled,” Si Niannian relayed the words Lai’s mother had said to her when they first met, “Don’t worry, everything will be alright.”

Given what happened last night, she wouldn't mind doing this small favor.

But now...

Si Niannian stopped Lai's mother from kneeling down and kowtowing to her, pushed aside the unsightly food box on the table, and said calmly, "Can you do me a favor?"

Lai's mother wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded frantically: "Please tell me, young lady!"

As long as her daughter's illness can be cured, she would risk her life to repay the great kindness and virtue of Si Niannian!

Si Niannian found it somewhat amusing: "There's no need to go to such lengths, I just want to get out."

In broad daylight, Lai's mother was clinging to her so tightly that Si Niannian felt she wouldn't be able to get away without making things clear.

Just as Lai's mother was about to suggest informing the madam, Si Niannian said, "I don't want anyone to know."

Lai's mother froze, stunned: "This..."

"Mom, you know that my background isn't exactly pleasant."

Si Niannian shrugged and said, "They don't like me having contact with my old poor friends."

To be honest, then she won't be able to get out.

Lai's mother was struggling internally, but Si Niannian readily agreed: "Just tell me I'm asleep and can't get up, and I'll be back before sunset."

Si Niannian felt that no one would remember her.

However, given what happened last night, it's still necessary to keep an eye on the door.

After struggling for a moment, Lai's mother gritted her teeth and said, "Fine!"

"Please be careful when you go out, young lady. I will keep a close watch on the door and absolutely not let anyone in!"

Si Niannian smiled contentedly, stood up, and climbed out the window to leave.

Lai's mother staggered to the window, and when she looked again at Si Niannian, who had already disappeared, her face was filled with disbelief and shock.

Si Niannian just climbed over the two-zhang-high courtyard wall like that?!

She just passed by like that?!

Si Niannian had no time to pay attention to the shock behind her. After leaving the Song family, she put on her gauze hat and headed straight for the most popular restaurant in Yujing: Huajianfu.

Si Niannian skillfully made her way through the back door of Huajianfu and went straight up to the private room on the third floor, which required a month's advance reservation and was only open to distinguished guests.

A woman dressed in coarse cloth widened her eyes in surprise: "Ninth Miss?"

"How come you..."

Si Niannian took off her veil and said with a blank face, "Hua Niang, serve the dishes first."

The flower girl opened her mouth wide in bewilderment: "Huh?"

Wasn't he going back to the Song family to reunite with his relatives?

Surely a large censorate like this wouldn't starve its staff?

Si Niannian understood her surprise and sighed deeply, her words carrying a heavy weight: "You don't understand, really."

Nobody knows what kind of life she lived in the Song family!

From yesterday until now, all she's seen is steamed buns and pickled vegetables!

If she doesn't eat something else soon, she won't be able to keep up the innocent act anymore!

Si Niannian slammed her hand on the table in anguish: "Quickly!"

"Serve the food!"