Yun got up early and heard the noise next door. She put on her cotton-padded coat and went out. She walked to the door of Shui Ling's house and looked at a basket that Zhang Mama was pointing to. Sure enough, there were some high-quality red charcoal inside.
"Oh my, how come there's red charcoal here? Zhang Mama, did you go to the front yard to get it?" Yun Shi was surprised to see red charcoal in Shui Ling's room.
Lying inside, Shui Ling overheard Zhang Mama and Yun Shi's conversation. She felt anxious; she should have gone out last night to hide the basket of charcoal, but her legs were too weak. And that Qiu Mama wasn't clever either; she hadn't even tied her up to hide the charcoal.
Before she was even born, people from outside had already come in without a second thought. That's how lowly a concubine's status was; even the old woman guarding the garden didn't respect her, and she could come and go as she pleased in the room.
"Oh, Madam Ji is burning red charcoal here, she's truly a blessed person." Zhang Mama had gone to the South Courtyard on behalf of Shui Ling yesterday but hadn't gotten any benefits, so she was naturally unhappy and her tone was rather sarcastic.
Yun followed Zhang Mama in and saw Shui Ling lying on the bed with her hair disheveled. She found it amusing, but put on a concerned expression and asked, "Sister Ji, is your leg injury any better?"
Suppressing the hatred in her heart, Shui Ling gritted her teeth and said, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Yun. I'm much better now." Shui Ling knew that the old woman in front of her was the one who had caused her fall. It was hateful that she was powerless and penniless and could only pretend to be nice to this woman.
"Aunt Zhang, could you please fetch my breakfast for me? I have trouble walking and can't go to the kitchen." Seeing Aunt Zhang's expression, Shui Ling knew that she must think she had a benefactor and this was the perfect opportunity to get her to do something.
Sure enough, looking at the afterglow of the burning red charcoal in the basin, Zhang Mama began to calculate what benefits she could gain from the water chestnut, so she quickly said, "Okay, I was just going to get the meal anyway, so I brought it back with Madam Ji."
When Madam Yun saw Zhang Mama immediately hug Shui Ling's leg, she curled her lip in disdain, sneered, and then turned and left.
After the two of them went out, Qiu's mother was ostracized by Zhang's mother at the door before she could come in to see Shui Ling.
"Madam Ji, should we replace this brazier with a new one?" Qiu's mother had received Lingxiu's red envelope, and being an honest person, she naturally remembered to take care of Shuiling.
"Aunt Qiu, why didn't you come in and take that basket away last night? They saw it lying there." Shui Ling was already feeling resentful, and seeing Aunt Qiu, whom she could vent her anger on, she couldn't help but complain a bit.
“It was my oversight. Madam, let me fetch some hot water for you to wash your face,” said Mama Qiu.
"Mm," Shui Ling replied, feeling a little better. She watched as Aunt Qiu carried the basin out, realizing that it was this basket of charcoal that had slightly changed everyone's attitude towards her. It seemed that power was indeed a good thing, and money was the touchstone for paving the way.
Meanwhile, when Madam Yun returned to her room, she was still furious about what she had just seen in Shui Ling's room. Last night, she had only seen two figures leave Shui Ling's room, but she hadn't been able to see clearly who they were.
Yun felt that this matter should not be taken lightly, so she stood up, left the Chrysanthemum Garden, and went to Wu's side.
"What? You said someone sent her red charcoal?" When Madam Wu met Madam Yun, she was eating red date, white fungus, and glutinous rice porridge.
“Yes, I saw a figure come out of her room last night. There was no light at the time, so I couldn’t see who it was. This morning, I went to her room again and sure enough, I saw a basket of red charcoal.” Yun replied, standing by Wu’s dining table.
"Who exactly is it? Who would help her?" Wu asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Princess Wu, I think that Mama Qiu knows. Why don’t you call her over and ask her?” said Madam Yun.
After thinking for a moment, Wu shook her head and said, "That person obviously didn't want anyone to know that she helped Shui Ling. Otherwise, why would she go under the cover of darkness?"
Wu Shi initially thought it might be Lan Qin or Si Hua, but she immediately denied it. If they really wanted to send it, they wouldn't have done so in secret.
"Alright, I understand. Yun, you go back first and continue to keep an eye on her. I'll take some people to check on her later," Wu said.
After Lady Yun left, Hongying served Lady Wu some more and asked, "Princess, who dares to openly oppose the Consort? Lady Fucha? Lady Nian?"
Madam Wu shook her head and said, "Today, let's catch them red-handed. Since they're so eager to hide it, let's force them to confess."
Hongying said, "Why don't you just ask that Aunt Qiu directly, instead of going through all this trouble?"
“I’ve asked Aunt Qiu, but all she knows is who she is. But if we make a scene, we can take this matter to the Prince’s door and let him know,” Wu said. “If Lanqin won’t be the villain, then I’ll be the villain for her. That girl is really hateful. If she’s allowed to get away with this so easily, then all the pretty and clever maids will follow suit.”
“You’re right, Princess. I also think we shouldn’t let her off too easily,” Hongying said.
After finishing her breakfast, Lady Wu had Hongying get ready. She put on a black mink cloak, and then, accompanied by two maids and two maids from outside, she set off in a grand procession to the Chrysanthemum Garden.
Meanwhile, Shui Ling, having washed her face with Qiu Mama's help, got down from the bed and sat at the table in the room to have breakfast. Zhang Mama brought the breakfast back to her, thinking that when the benefactor who helped Shui Ling reappeared, she could also get some benefit.
Shui Ling noticed that the breakfast Zhang Mama had prepared today was better than usual, consisting of blood-nourishing porridge and easily digestible pastries. When Zhang Mama went to collect the food, she also noticed the improved quality, further solidifying her belief that she had received help from a benefactor.
Shui Ling pondered to herself, "Is the Fujin (principal wife) showing me such goodwill because she's taken a liking to me? Does she want me to help her deal with the South Courtyard?" But Shui Ling knew her own limitations very well. Therefore, Shui Ling still felt it was best to avoid the Fujin; doing so would only lead to a terrible end.
Just then, footsteps sounded. Shui Ling heard them, but they were too deep in her ears to be heard. It wasn't Yun Shi, nor Qiu Mama, nor Zhang Mama. Who could be coming here at this hour?
With a click, the door was pushed open forcefully.
"Search!" a woman's voice rang out.
Shui Ling was taken aback. She recognized the voice; it was clearly Wu Shi from the West Courtyard!
Before she could speak, Madam Wu, supported by her maid, stepped into Shui Ling's bedroom.
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