Chapter 818 The Stepping Stone
In the twelfth lunar month, the cold wind was biting. Lin Yuesha sat by the window and felt the cold wind seeping into every nook and cranny, so cold that she couldn't help but shrink her neck.
“Miss, people from Helian City have come to take us away. Granny Hua asked me to bring you your clothes.”
After Yun Ge finished speaking, she placed a red gauze dress on the table, then turned around and picked up a food box. She glanced at Lin Yuesha, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
"Don't call me Miss anymore, just call me Yunduo. Otherwise, when you go to Helian Cheng's mansion, you should change how you address me. If you are exposed, it could cause serious problems."
Lin Yuesha reminded Yun Ge that she didn't have such a strong sense of hierarchy, and that the form of address had to be changed.
"yes."
Yun Ge covered her mouth with her hand. No wonder the master didn't let her serve the young lady. She couldn't keep things to herself and easily blurted out whatever came to mind.
"Shall we wear this?"
Lin Yuesha weighed the dress in her hands; it was so light it was almost weightless. Fortunately, it had a silk lining, so it wasn't too revealing.
"Yes, and..."
Yun Ge put away Lin Yuesha's coat. They couldn't bring these thick clothes with them on their trip to Helian City's mansion to perform songs and dances.
"You're going without any clothes, just wearing this?"
Lin Yuesha pushed open the window, and a cold wind raged, making the window frame sway left and right, producing a loud noise.
The cold in Jinyuguan is comparable to that of the North. If you go out wearing a thin gauze dress, you will freeze into an icicle before you can even open your mouth.
Although Lin Yuesha was from the north, even in the poorest times her family had thick coats to keep warm, as she was not resistant to the cold.
"Among all the newcomers in Yunzhao Pavilion, I'm the only one who's been here for just over six months."
The other sisters had long since adapted to the cold. Although the cold allowed them to maintain good manners, if they hunched over, tiptoed around, or acted without any decorum, Granny Hua would beat them with a ruler.
"Clouds, we're mostly indoors, so we'll just have to endure the cold for a little while. Just bear with it."
Like the northern regions, Jinyuguan has heated walls and heated brick beds. With fires burning inside, it's not too cold even when wearing thin gauze dresses.
"Oh well."
Lin Yuesha had no choice but to grit her teeth and change into the dress. This dress belonged to Yunyan; the two were about the same size, and it fit her perfectly.
The skirt is decorated with flowers and pearls, and gold thread outlines the slender waist, creating a beautiful curve.
"Yun Ge and Yun Duo, hurry up!"
Downstairs, her sisters called out to her, and Yun Ge quickly replied, "We're coming down right now!"
In her haste, Lin Yuesha carefully put away the scrap paper with the melody written on it and hurriedly opened the food box.
"Is this all you're having for breakfast?"
Inside the food box were only two scallion rolls, a small dish of pickled vegetables, and a small cup of tea.
Not letting people eat their fill in this freezing weather is like trying to ascend to heaven!
"This is all we have."
Yun Ge nodded, broke open the scallion rolls, put the pickled vegetables inside, and wrapped them in oil paper.
There's no time to go now, so I'll have to eat on the road.
"The sisters' dresses are all custom-made, according to the size of a day's hunger, so before going out, Granny Hua will not let us eat our fill."
If it weren't for the fact that they didn't even have steamed buns when they went to Helian Cheng's residence this time, and that they were given an extra bite to eat in case they were too hungry while dancing and their stomachs made rumbling noises, which would be unseemly.
"These scallion rolls are smaller than mung bean cakes, I can eat them in one bite."
Lin Yuesha touched the small gap in front of her waist. She was a little thinner than Yunyan, so eating a full meal wouldn't have much of an impact.
"We can only wait until we go to Lord Helian's residence to find an opportunity."
The two said they would leave from Yunzhao Pavilion.
The cold wind was biting like a knife. Lin Yuesha remembered Yun Ge's reminder that she could not shrink back and run away like a coward. From the door to the carriage, she let the cold wind assault her, stood tall and walked with a fearless stride.
Helian Cheng's residence was not far from Yunzhao Pavilion. The carriage from Yunzhao Pavilion was welcomed in through the side gate, and a steward came to explain the rules to everyone.
"The backyard is where distinguished guests rest; it is a forbidden area of the mansion, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed to wander around there."
The girls from Yunzhao Pavilion had been here before. Granny Hua and the manager were familiar with each other, and the rules remained the same as before, except that the manager emphasized that there were distinguished guests present.
"Manager Helian, just who is this distinguished guest?"
Many of the sisters from Yunzhao Pavilion came because of the distinguished guest. They were very concerned after receiving the news, especially since Yunxu and Yunyan were not there. With no one blocking their way, it would be a great blessing if they were chosen.
"Are you allowed to pry into the affairs of our distinguished guests at will?"
The steward glared with his triangular eyes and said, "Don't blame me for not reminding you, our distinguished guest is even more important than us adults. You commoners shouldn't even think about trying to eat swan meat."
The honored guest is a swan; the rest are toads.
The manager's refusal to reveal the guest's identity only fueled everyone's curiosity.
“There are few people in Jinyuguan who are more important than Lord Helian. Judging from what the steward said, the guest’s identity is extraordinary.”
Among the girls of Yunzhao Pavilion, there was one with a clever mind named Yunluo. The more the manager said this, the more curious everyone became.
Although the steward warned everyone, he also informed the distinguished guests that they would be staying in the inner courtyard.
"Behave yourselves and don't have any improper thoughts. If you cause trouble, don't blame me for standing by and doing nothing."
Granny Hua looked around and warned everyone with a serious expression, but the girls kept their heads down and didn't say a word, no one took it to heart.
The opportunity to get close to influential people is too tempting for them; with a bit of luck, they can turn their lives around and become someone of high status.
"Alright, everyone, take a break."
Granny Hua glanced at the sky; it was still early. Lord Helian would be hosting a banquet for his guests at dusk.
As soon as Granny Hua left, the dozen or so girls exchanged glances in tacit agreement and then fell silent.
"I need to go to the outhouse."
After less than fifteen minutes, Yunlu couldn't hold back any longer and stood up first.
"Yunluo, you didn't drink any tea this morning, what's wrong with you...?"
Yunxiang immediately stepped forward to expose her. She shared a room with Yunluo and knew that Yunluo was a troublemaker. She suspected that Yunluo had ulterior motives for making an excuse to leave at this time.
Even if Yunxu and Yunyan didn't come, with Yunduo around, only a noble person with poor eyesight would take a liking to them.
Besides, he's a nobleman who's seen all kinds of beauties. Yunxiang knows her own limitations and doesn't expect to find a way out here. She only hopes not to be implicated by Yunluo.
"When a person has to relieve themselves, what can I do?"
Yunlu didn't care, stood up, and pushed the door open to go out.
"Sister Yunxiang, did Yunlu really go to the restroom?"
To ease the tension, Yun Ge asked in a low voice.
"I don't know, but I guess so."
Yunxiang shook her head, hoping that Yunluo would be sensible and not wander off into the forbidden area of the mansion.
Yunluo was like a stepping stone; after an hour, he still hadn't returned, and everyone was starting to get anxious.
"It's just going to the toilet, it shouldn't take an hour. Yunluo hasn't come back for so long, could it be that she can't find her way?"
"How could that be? It's not like this is our first time here."
The group huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, their minds heavy with worry.
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