Returning to Lanxi Courtyard, Yueyao didn't mention the incident and just taught Brother Zheng how to recognize characters as she had the day before. When Yueyao came out, she saw Hua Lei's complexion was downcast and asked curiously, "What happened?"
Hua Lei looked at Yueyao and after a while, she said, "Miss, the two Personal Maids beside the Fourth Miss were ordered by Madam to be beaten with twenty heavy boards. The four Second-class Maids around her were all sold off." Hua Lei was simply saddened by the proverbial rabbits grieving for the dead fox; their mistress had made a mistake, but they were the ones to suffer. The lives of servants were at the mercy of their masters.
Yueyao fell silent upon hearing this. Heaven may have the virtue of valuing all life, but this wasn't something she could intervene in. Even in her past life, Hua Lei's accidental death and her own death at the hands of Madam Lian Mo had occurred. It wasn't her problem now, and she had no right to interfere.
Seeing Yueyao's troubled expression, Hua Lei realized she had spoken out of turn, "Miss, it's my fault. I shouldn't have mentioned such things." The Miss recited scriptural texts daily and should not be burdened with such matters. Although she knew well that a servant's life could end in a moment, she had always managed to keep her composure. However, among the punished maids was a cousin who had grown up with her. Now being sold off without knowing where she might end up, Hua Lei was very saddened.
Yueyao shook her head, "It's alright." But she knew very well that without external support, her fate would be no different from that of those maids. Therefore, she needed external help, and this help had to make the Lady family wary.
It was not until Yueyao had calmed down that she looked at Hua Lei's expression, "What's wrong? Do you have a relative among them?" There were surely many who were affected this time. Hua Lei's relatives in the mansion were also numerous; it was certain that some had been involved.
Hua Lei wore a worried look, "It's my Second Uncle's youngest daughter, we're the same age. She was a Second-class Maid in the Second Young Lady's courtyard and got implicated inadvertently."
Yueyao heard that Hua Lei's Second Uncle was in charge of the Lian Mansion's outer estate, managing the horses, and he was strapped for cash. Although he loved his daughter dearly, there was nothing he could do but grieve over such an incident, "I'm powerless in a situation like this. Go to the Silver Box and take twenty Silvers. Let that be your token of sentiment." This sentiment could only be regarded as Hua Lei's, not hers. Otherwise, she would be going against the Lady family. Even her grandmother wouldn't spare her if she found out.
Upon hearing this, Hua Lei knelt on the ground at once, "Thank you, Miss." Twenty Silvers might not be enough to redeem her cousin, but it would ensure she could live well.
The next morning, Hua Lei went to find her Second Uncle. As soon as Hua Lei left, Yueyao turned to Nanny Deng and said, "Nanny, send someone to check if Hua Lei's Second Uncle is truly trying to rescue his daughter."
Nanny Deng understood the young lady's intention at a glance. Twenty Silvers meant little to their miss but were a substantial sum for those struggling with thankless tasks outside. If Hua Lei's Second Uncle took the money without attempting to help his daughter, then he was unreliable.
Meanwhile, the unconscious Yuehuan opened her eyes, staring blankly at the carved bed she was lying in. She had seen such ancient beds, designed for young ladies of reputation, when traveling. These carved beds were supposedly worth millions now.
Thinking of the hefty value, Zhou Qing couldn't help but survey everything around her: the room had a springtime screen, ancient Eight Immortals tables and chairs. The room was filled with antiquated and traditionally styled furniture.
While Zhou Qing was pondering whether all this was real or fake, she saw a young girl in an Indigo dress and a Maid's hairstyle calling out, "Sister Hong Mei, the miss has woken up, quickly go tell Madam that the Fourth Miss is awake."
Zhou Qing's mind went blank. What did she mean by 'the Fourth Miss is awake'?
When the Maid saw her miss's bewildered look, she became worried and said, "Miss, what's wrong with you? Miss, please speak?"
Zhou Qing looked at the person before her in shock. She was wearing a long gown with an overcoat and her hair was styled in traditional double buns. Standard ancient attire. What was happening? Where was she?
At this moment, Zhou Qing was not in the mood to admire the furniture. Looking at the Maid in front of her and then glancing around the room filled with old furniture, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. She couldn't help but pinch herself hard - it hurt, it really hurt. The pain proved she was not dreaming, and even though she didn't follow those novels about rebirth and time travel, under the barrage of time-travel dramas in recent years, she could guess that she had traveled back in time. She had landed in ancient times. Heaven had not let her die but had thrown her into a corner of ancient times.