Chapter 65 Though winged and trapped in a cage, my heart opens for my former master. ...
The surroundings were like looking at flowers through a fog, hazy and indistinct.
Su Jinxiu's eyelashes trembled violently, as if she was about to wake up, but in reality she had not escaped this nightmare.
A person dressed in fine clothes walked slowly closer, the hem of their robes brushing against the floor tiles with a rustling sound.
The figure was no longer as blurry as in the previous dream; it was Zhang Mingxu. He suddenly grabbed her neck and threatened, "Be smarter later. When you see your brother, you need to know what to say and what not to say."
A surge of grief and indignation welled up from the depths of her heart, and she somehow found the courage to be driven to the brink of despair. Even with her neck being choked, she still resisted with breathless shouts.
"Aren't you afraid of the old women's teachings anymore?" Zhang Mingxu, certain she was no longer afraid of death, loosened his grip and whispered in her ear, "But your younger brother's future can't be sacrificed, can it?"
Although the bindings around her neck were later removed, these words acted like invisible shackles, binding her tightly and leaving her with no strength left to struggle.
Having a weakness is the greatest happiness and the deepest pain for a person.
The scene abruptly shifts from the cold palace to a bright and beautiful courtyard, where the spring breeze is intoxicating and brings tears to one's eyes.
A familiar figure walked slowly towards them.
Under the warm sun, the young man wore a moon-white long robe, and a black belt accentuated his tall and straight figure.
"Sister, it's windy here, why don't you go back inside?"
Before she could finish speaking, he was already close by. But no matter how close he got, and no matter how hard Su Jinxiu opened her eyes, she could only see a blurry outline. But she knew in her heart that this person was someone she could rely on; this person was Wen Shiqin.
Her heart was pounding with anxiety; the pain from the bruises, the fear of being tortured and threatened, all choked her and wanted to burst out.
There seemed to be worry in the boy's eyes, but she could only manage an expression that was worse than crying, her voice as indifferent as the wind passing over the water: "It's alright, go back and get busy."
The cry for help in my heart pounded painfully in my chest, but all I could say was this one sentence, which I sent out lightly, feeling cold even to myself.
Only after the boy's figure had disappeared into the distance did she finally burst into tears, but that figure had already vanished into the depths of the mansion. Her pleas were ultimately in vain, like a stone sinking into the sea.
Su Jinxiu woke up with a start, panting. When she got up, she found herself lying on a spacious canopy bed, covered with a brocade quilt.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her trembling body, but tears still streamed down her face. Although the scene just now was a nightmare, the suffocating pain and the despair of hearing Shi Qin leave were too clear and too real.
Could it be...?
Su Jinxiu looked up and scanned the hall. The surroundings were spacious and magnificent, just like the bedroom in her dream.
Were they kidnapped and taken back to the Zhang family's bedroom again?
But this guess was quickly dismissed, for she struggled to her feet and walked to the window, gazing out at the courtyard. There, she saw a lush bamboo grove, with the sound of pine trees rustling in the wind, stretching endlessly. Maids stood guard in front of the courtyard, and guards patrolled outside. As she looked up, she saw morning birds fluttering by.
If I'm not mistaken, this place is located in a secluded mountain forest.
Once you're trapped in a cage, you can't escape even if you grow wings.
Su Jinxiu secretly sorted out her thoughts. Wasn't it Zhang Mingxu who went back on his word? He had already promised to let her go back, but for some reason he had locked her up in this mountain villa.
If she were imprisoned in the Zhang residence, Ying Bumei might be able to find her and fulfill their agreement. But this place is located in the mountains, and even she herself cannot determine the direction. There is only the sound of rustling pines outside. How could he possibly find this place?
Over the next two days, Su Jinxiu tried knocking on the door and calling for help, and also tried to escape by climbing out of the window, but she was blocked by the people guarding outside without exception.
Every day at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the two teaching nannies would appear on time to teach her to imitate the words, actions, and daily habits of that "Yan'er".
The old woman with high cheekbones held a ruler and beat her until her palms were red and swollen. Then she said in an icy tone, "Miss, don't make things harder for yourself. If you learn to behave properly, you will naturally be able to see the adults."
Although Su Jinxiu was resentful, she knew that what the old woman said was true. At this time, resisting would only increase her suffering, so she had no choice but to pretend to be compliant for the time being.
At dawn, under the waning moon, the nanny taught her, "The young lady's name is Chang Yueyan, the 'Yan' in 'a gentle smile'."
The nanny also said that Chang Yueyan was lively and cheerful, without any guile, and dared to love and hate. She preferred clothes in pomegranate red, willow green, and moon white. She loved to eat osmanthus cake and lotus seed soup, and had a habit of listening to music while dressing in the morning. In the afternoon, she would always cut roses under the window. She walked with light steps and a slightly bouncy manner.
"Yan-jie once saved you when you were still a commoner, but she unfortunately died young. You missed your wife dearly, so you came here to find her."
Su Jinxiu was currently imitating Chang Yueyan's light, quick steps as she trimmed the flowers by the window. Upon hearing this, she sneered inwardly.
If his love was truly deep, why would he seek solace in a substitute? If his affection was truly profound, why didn't he go with her?
Who is this hypocritical act for?
Though she thought this in her heart, her face remained tender. She turned her head, took out a pink handkerchief and pressed it to her lips, then handed the cup to the old woman: "Old woman Yan, you must be tired after standing for so long, have a cup of tea to relieve your fatigue."
Granny Yan paused for a moment, her gaze falling on Su Jinxiu, who was leaning against the windowsill.
The roses on the windowsill were trimmed in a neat and orderly fashion, making her smile even brighter. A beam of sunlight slanted in, illuminating the dim room, but she alone was bathed in a soft glow.
In a daze, it was as if I could see through her the lively and spirited Chang Yueyan from back then, with starlight in her eyes.
A hint of wistful melancholy flickered across Granny Yan's usually icy face as she sighed softly, "Miss..."
Su Jinxiu had realized in the past few days that Granny Yan was originally Chang Yueyan's wet nurse, and her feelings for her were far deeper than those for another nanny.
As soon as the other nanny went out to relieve her, and the door closed, Su Jinxiu knelt down on the ground with a thud.
Granny Yan hurriedly put down her teacup: "Miss! How could you kneel before me?"
Su Jinxiu had previously conspired with Ying Bumei, who also told him about Chang Yueyan's past with Zhang Mingxu. At that time, Zhang Mingxu was still a commoner, and Chang Yueyan rescued him from humiliation on horseback in the street. Later, Zhang Mingxu married another woman to climb the social ladder, and the two parted on bad terms. After he rose to a high position, he forcibly took Chang Yueyan back from her husband, who had already married her cousin.
As for Chang Yueyan's eventual drowning, whether it was due to the heavens being jealous of her beauty or the wickedness of people's hearts, Granny Yan must know better than anyone else.
Su Jinxiu looked up at her, her voice trembling, "Granny, Yan'er is so cold... Yan'er doesn't want to stay here. Wet nurse, don't you want me anymore?"
Granny Yan was instantly moved, tears streaming down her face. She bent down and reached out to wipe away the tears: "...Miss! You're back?"
If Su Jinxiu were to cry at this moment, her tears would be genuine.
The fear and turmoil of the past few days, coupled with the anxiety of not being able to sleep again about whether he would break his promise, and the fear of surviving and seeing Wen Shiqin again, all these emotions burst forth at this moment.
She cried pitifully and helplessly, covering her face with her hands, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Upon seeing this, Granny Yan immediately knelt down, embraced her tightly, and patted her back, choking back tears as she said, "My dear girl, how miserable your life is! If it weren't for the decline of our family... why would you have to suffer like this!"
Just two days ago, Granny Yan had used a ruler on her because she hadn't learned the rules well, and even punished her by not letting her eat. But now, in this huge cage, she was the only one with any warmth.
Using Chang Yueyan's identity, Su Jinxiu buried her face in Granny Yan's arms and wept bitterly. Granny Yan's heart was completely softened by her tears; regardless of whether she was really Yan'er or not, she could no longer bear to watch.
The matriarch of the Chang family had died early, and Chang Yueyan was raised by her, treated as her own daughter. That innocent and carefree girl, because of a moment of kindness when she saved Zhang Mingxu, was thus bound by a tragic fate. Those vows made with unwavering sincerity ultimately vanished, and she wept alone countless nights. Just when she was about to marry her cousin and live a peaceful life, even pregnant, she was taken back to the mansion by a heartless man who had become a high-ranking official, and forcibly aborted the child. She watched helplessly as the girl withered and faded away day by day.
Over the years, she had been forced to teach the women in the backyard who resembled the young lady, as Zhang Mingxu had requested. Su Jinxiu was the one she had seen who looked the most like her.
Su Jinxiu was still sobbing in her arms when she was suddenly pulled up by Granny Yan.
Granny Yan wiped away her tears and said in a deep voice, "Tonight at midnight, I will teach you manners again. This time, you must learn them well."
Seeing Yan Mama's expression, Su Jinxiu knew that her strategy to win her heart had succeeded. She nodded gently with tears in her eyes. Upon seeing this, Yan Mama turned and left without looking back once.
As night deepened, the young maidservant entered the inner chamber quietly. Seeing that the person on the bed seemed to be fast asleep, she gently lowered the gauze curtain, closed the window and door, and quietly withdrew to keep watch with the maidservants in the outer room.
As the stars shifted and the constellations changed, several crows flew overhead. Insects chirped in the forest, and the young maids, their necks hunched and clothes pulled tighter, leaned against the doorposts and fell into a deep sleep.
Su Jinxiu, who was originally "sound asleep" on the couch, suddenly opened her eyes when she heard the maid's snoring outside the door, her eyes showing no signs of sleepiness.
She quickly threw off the covers, got up, and grabbed the bundle beside her pillow. Silently, she opened the door, tiptoed past the two sleeping maids, and slipped out, stepping on their clothes.
Just as she stepped down the stairs, someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. Startled, she turned around, only to have Granny Yan cover her mouth.
"Come with me," Granny Yan said in a low voice.
Su Jinxiu crouched down to follow, and the two walked along the wall on a narrow path that could only accommodate one person at a time, with the stone path barely visible under their feet.
A strange sense of unease crept into her heart, because she didn't actually trust Granny Yan. Before the other woman arrived at midnight, she planned to escape on her own. In her mind, the person working for Zhang Mingxu might very well be deceiving her.
But looking at Granny Yan's back, she felt that she really wanted to let her go. Just as she was pondering this, the two of them arrived in front of a stone wall.
Granny Yan pushed open the small door for her, and as soon as Su Jinxiu peeked out, she seemed to smell the free and fresh air of the mountains and fields.
Just as Su Jinxiu was about to take a step, her wrist was grabbed by Granny Yan. Startled, she turned around and met a pair of eyes filled with complex emotions.
“Miss, this is Lord Zhang’s mountain villa.” Granny Yan’s voice was very low. “Although it is not far from Bianjing City, the path is winding. If you go out the door, head north. After passing the pine forest ahead, follow the stream for about half an incense stick’s time, and you will see lights. That is a small village. From the village, head east, and you will be able to go straight to Bianjing.”
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu felt a great weight lifted from her heart: "Thank you so much, Granny... Granny, please come with me!"
Granny Yan shook her head: "If I leave, everyone in the courtyard will immediately know that the young lady has run away. Those guards will chase after her on horseback. Can the young lady outrun a horse?"
"I will come to teach you the rules again tomorrow. I'll delay it for as long as I can. I hope you're still agile, and I hope God will protect you so you won't end up like our Yan-jie, who couldn't escape this cage. Go now."
She gently pushed Su Jinxiu. Su Jinxiu took a few steps and couldn't help but look back. Under the moonlight, the woman stood alone in the square doorway, looking exactly like the Chinese character for "prisoner".
The resolute look in Granny Yan's eyes as she closed the door stirred a strange sense of reluctance in Su Jinxiu's heart.
She took one last, deep look at the tightly closed courtyard gate, then, using the dim moonlight, she groped her way north. After all, escaping was the only thing that mattered at that moment.
But after running five or six steps, she spotted a blurry dark shape in the distance, like a parked carriage. Startled, she quickly turned and ran to the other side.
Just then, a cold, demanding voice came from the carriage.
"Where are you going, young lady?"
Author's Note: I'm so sorry to all my dear readers [pity]. Since this is my first book, I'm still better at writing the emotional parts, and I got a bit stuck on the transitions and haven't been satisfied with the results, so I've been revising. That's why I haven't been able to update daily for the past couple of days. DM me, Marseille…
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