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After observing her for a while, Zhao finally found the chance to ask, “Chunxiu, what exactly happened?”
“Wu Meixue…” Chunxiu began, but then remembering that Zhao wasn’t Ji Rong, quickly changed the subject and evasively replied, “It’s nothing—just curiosity. I peeked for a bit.” Then, glaring at Zhao, she added, “And it’s your fault! If you hadn’t suddenly appeared, they wouldn’t have noticed.”
Zhao looked aggrieved. “How is this my fault? I didn’t know you were spying on them while they bathed!” She muttered under her breath, “You really are something, sneaking around like that. Thank goodness no one else was there, or who knows what rumors would spread.”
Chunxiu turned away, ignoring her. Seeing this, Zhao sighed quietly, took out a lunchbox from the kitchen, arranged the dishes on the table, and handed over a set of chopsticks and a bowl. “Let’s eat.”
Just as Chunxiu was about to take the utensils, her entire body shuddered as a sudden realization struck her mind. She abruptly stood up and asked, “Can we leave the mansion at this hour?”
Zhao didn’t understand why she suddenly asked this and casually replied, “If Chief Steward Lin gives you a pass, it shouldn’t be a problem. But why leave now? Besides…” Before she could finish, Chunxiu had already rushed off without looking back.
Chunxiu hurried through the dark to Chief Steward Lin’s quarters. He was drinking wine when he heard incessant knocking outside. Irritated, he called out, “Who is it?”
An urgent voice came from the other side of the door, “Chief Steward Lin, it’s me, Chunxiu. I have an urgent matter to discuss with you.”
“At this hour? What could possibly be so urgent?” Grumbling, Lin reluctantly got up. As soon as he opened the door a crack, Chunxiu pushed her way in, startling him. Bewildered, he demanded, “What do you think you’re doing?”
Chunxiu didn’t beat around the bush and cut straight to the chase, “Chief Steward Lin, I urgently need to leave the mansion. Please lend me a pass.”
“A pass? Now?” Lin stared at her as if she were some strange creature, then shook his head firmly. “According to mansion rules, servants can only leave on the first and fifteenth days of the month, or with written permission from their master. You don’t meet either condition. How can I let you leave?”
Chunxiu pleaded desperately, “But this is truly an emergency! Please, Chief Steward Lin, make an exception for me.”
“No!” Lin rejected her outright. “Today is the ninth day of the first lunar month. Come back in six days for your pass.”
“Six days will be too late!” Without waiting for Lin to process her words, Chunxiu dropped to her knees and begged, “Chief Steward Lin, please—I’m begging you. This matter is extremely urgent. Please grant me a favor.”
Lin remained resolute. “The law of the land and the rules of the household must be upheld. No one can break the mansion’s regulations. Go back!”
No matter how much Chunxiu pleaded, reasoned, or threatened, Lin refused to budge. Finally, he sternly warned, “If you keep pestering me, don’t blame me for being harsh.”
Chunxiu was beside herself with anxiety. This matter had to be resolved as soon as possible—a delay of even one day meant greater danger. But she couldn’t explain the situation to Lin. What was she to do?
“Enough. Leave now,” Lin said as he moved to shoo her away. In that moment, Chunxiu spotted the pass hanging on a nearby shelf. Gritting her teeth, she snatched it and dashed out.
“Stop!” Lin never expected Chunxiu to be so bold. His shouts only made her run faster. Being overweight, Lin couldn’t catch up with her speed. By the time he reached the gate, the guards informed him that Chunxiu had already left with his pass. Furious, he cursed, “That wretched Feng Chunxiu! How dare she steal a pass to leave the mansion. What urgent matter could it be? I bet she’s gone to meet her lover. Such shamelessness! Tomorrow, I’ll report her to Second Mistress, punish her severely, and kick her out of the mansion!”
Little did Lin know that as he cursed Chunxiu, a pair of eyes was watching him from the shadows…
Once outside the governor’s mansion, Chunxiu hurried toward Shuangqiao Village. She ran with great urgency, frequently glancing behind her as if afraid of being followed. After finally reaching Shuangqiao Village, she bypassed the Feng family residence and instead headed toward Changshi Alley. She stopped at a house with an osmanthus tree planted by the gate and began pounding on the door.
After a while, someone holding an oil lamp came to open the door. Upon seeing who stood outside, they exclaimed in surprise, “Miss Feng! What are you doing here?”
Chunxiu caught her breath and asked, “Wu Lausan, tell me—does Meixue have a plum blossom tattooed on her left shoulder?”
“A plum blossom?” Wu Lausan replied, bewildered. “No, Meixue doesn’t have any tattoos. Why do you ask?”
Chunxiu ignored him, muttering to herself, “So I wasn’t mistaken. She doesn’t have it—it’s not her. She isn’t Meixue.”
Wu Lausan waited for a while but received no further explanation. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked again, “Miss Feng, what’s going on?”
Chunxiu raised her head and smiled faintly, “You’ll understand soon… very soon.”
Under the cold moonlight, the smile on Chunxiu’s lips appeared eerily unsettling, sending a wave of foreboding through Wu Lausan.
Meanwhile, Zhao waited anxiously in the room all night. By the time dawn broke, Chunxiu still hadn’t returned. Growing worried, she decided to go out and inquire. But before she could take more than a few steps, she saw a group of familiar dancers gathered together chatting. Lady Sun was among them. Spotting Zhao, they beckoned her over. “Sister Zhao, come quickly!”
“What are you all talking about?” Zhao asked. Before her words faded, one of the dancers leaned in conspiratorially, “Sister Zhao, didn’t you share a room with Chunxiu last night?”
“Yes, why?” Zhao nodded.
“Then do you know why Chunxiu stole Chief Steward Lin’s pass to forcibly leave the mansion?” Lady Sun’s words shocked Zhao. “Such a thing happened?”
Seeing Zhao’s reaction, Lady Sun frowned. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”
Zhao steadied herself and explained, “I only know that Chunxiu left in a hurry during dinner last night. She asked me if it was possible to leave the mansion and then disappeared for the entire night. But I never imagined she’d dare steal Chief Steward Lin’s pass—it’s madness!”
Another dancer chimed in, “Exactly! I just saw Chief Steward Lin heading to Yuxiu Pavilion earlier. He looked absolutely livid.” Then she added, “Looks like Chunxiu’s headed back to the firewood shed.”
Another woman shook her head. “Forcibly stealing a pass to leave the mansion isn’t a minor offense. In my opinion, this time she might not even be able to stay in the firewood shed.”
Lady Sun agreed, “Precisely. In the past, Ji Rong could plead on her behalf to Master Li Jiancheng. But now that Ji Rong’s gone to Hedong, there’s no one left to protect her.”
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