Wanqing said, “I guess I can tell you something about that girl, Rosecloud, but don"t overreact.”

Xue Dongting frowned, curious. “Overreact about what?”

“As a matter of fact, Rosecloud and Song Yuming have something of a history.”

Xue Dongting was astonished. “How so?”

“Rosecloud is not a maidservant from the Zhang family, but a daughter from a family from Clearcreek Village. She fell in love with the son of Blacksmith Li and privately decided to marry, but for some reason the two families disagreed. They were going to elope, but the day before, Blacksmith Li"s wife found out about it somehow and went to see Rosecloud"s family, who scolded her severely. Blacksmith Li"s son ignored her after that, on behalf of his parents, and married some other girl. The story spread all over Clearcreek Village, have you not heard about it?”

“I see. I"m new here and haven"t met very many people, how could I have heard it? But what does all this have to do with Song Yuming?”

“The whole fracas ruined Rosecloud"s reputation, the whole village was talking about it. But you know, when it rains it pours. Rosecloud"s father was furious, and one stormy day he went out to sea, fis.h.i.+ng. He wanted to give Rosecloud a better dowry so she could marry into a good family and show that Blacksmith Li, but turns out he went out to sea but never came back!”

“Ah!” Xue Dongting gasped. “He didn"t come back?”

“Must have hit some rough seas and capsized.”

Xue Dongting couldn"t help but knit her brows, thinking about how Song Yuming had said he wanted to go back out to sea in the spring. She couldn"t get it out of her mind. No matter how strong Song Yuming was, he was no match for the rough heavy waves out at sea. She wasn"t about to let him go out to sea now.

Wanqing had no idea what was on little sister"s mind and continued her story. “Poor Rosecloud, her mother died young, leaving only her older brother and his wife, and her dad. Her brother and his wife were domineering, and how with her father gone, what place was there for her at home? Her sister-in-law was anxious to get her out of the house, and an older man with a lame leg sent betrothal gifts, so her sister-in-law took charge and wanted to marry her off. What a miserable lot for the poor girl, first abandoned by her lover, then her father dies, then later forced to marry someone like that. It was a dark time for her. One day she dressed nicely and called for a ferryboat at the river, and once the boat was out in the middle of the river, she hardened her heart and leapt into the river.”

Xue Dongting nodded, already knowing what happened next. “It was Song Yuming"s boat?”

Wanqing laughed. “You"re still the clever one. I haven"t even finished the story and you already know the ending. The boat she hired that day was none other than Song Yuming"s boat, and it was Song Yuming who jumped into the river to save the drowning girl. It was a busy day on the river that day and many people on various boats saw it. Your Song Yuming hauled her back on board and after much effort finally revived her. As for how he revived her… you can probably guess.”

Xue Dongting curled her lip but was silent. She knew how one could revive her. It was recorded in medical books like The First-Aid Compendium, Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold, and The Common Pursuit of Longevity. He must have given her mouth-to-mouth.

Wanqing continued, “Ever since that day, Rosecloud"s reputation has been even worse. She was not only abandoned, but also tried to drown herself and was saved by a man. The village was all talking about it, and her brother and sister-in-law made even more of a stink about it, but this girl seemed resigned to misfortune. She neither cried nor complained. She ran by herself to the Zhang family and indentured herself and gave the money she had sold herself for to her brother and sister-in-law, completely cutting ties with her family. And so she became the Zhang family"s maidservant.”

Xue Dongting gave a short nod. “I see. So how did she become one of Lady Yu"s trusted followers?”

“As a matter of fact, she"s not really that close to her. One with the Zhang family she kept scrupulously to her duties, originally doing some manual labor in Lady Yu"s quarters. Lady Yu saw she was skilled and clever and spoke politely, so she took her in to wait on her. Every day she stood at the ready to serve tea and one day Lady Yu joked that she should be sent to the squire"s quarters to serve him, but as soon Rosecloud heard that she was so scared she dropped her tea tray. Maybe that"s why Lady Yu started to take notice and felt the girl could be used, since she knew the girl didn"t want to go to the squire"s quarters. She"d found her weak spot, hadn"t she? So sending her to wait on me was only so that the girl could keep an eye on me.”

Xue Dongting sneered, “So that"s how it is. So Lady Yu is using her authority instead of doing you a favor! So if Rosecloud doesn"t do what she says she will be sent to Squire Zhang"s quarters, or perhaps… marry her to a pageboy or something. In any case, Rosecloud has indentured herself, she has no say of her own. No matter how well you treat her, it won"t be able to overcome Lady Yu"s coercion… Rosecloud is reluctant to marry, could she still have feelings for that Blacksmith Li"s son?”

Wanqing gave an odd look and slowly shook her head. “I thought about that too, at first, but I don"t think so.”

Xue Dongting suddenly had an idea and blurted out, “Do you think she has feelings for Song Yuming…”

Wanqing gave a short nod. “One day I was chatting with the matron about you, saying you had married that fisherman in the village, Song Yuming. Rosecloud was there and she was dumbstruck when she heard that and fumbled with the tea cups and knocked one over, splas.h.i.+ng tea all over my skirt.”

Xue Dongting knit her brows and said wearily, “I never knew Song Yuming had so many romantic entanglements! I thought Rosecloud looked uncomfortable just now when she saw me!”

Wanqing chuckled and jabbed her in the forehead. “You devilish girl, you"re complaining but in your heart you must be so proud of yourself! Who cares about Rosecloud, she can"t steal your Song Yuming. I saw how he looked at you at the banquet. He was just itching to get you in his arms. You don"t know how much he loves you.”

Xue Dongting shot back, “Sis, don"t exaggerate so much! You don"t know how he treats me normally. He"s always teasing me!”

“Is that so? Well that"s easy, I"ll have Matron settle it for you. Now that you have her backing, would he dare tease you?”

Xue Dongting said wearily, “Sis, can we be serious for a minute?”

“Have I not been serious? I think Rosecloud is great, and she"s smitten with the man who saved her life. Why not go talk to Matron and have Rosecloud given over to Song Yuming as his concubine, then she won"t have to do what Lady Yu says anymore. She"d be on our side through and through. As for me, I"m not scared of Lady Yu"s plan to harm my own flesh and blood. What do you think about my idea?”

Xue Dongting gnashed her teeth and stamped her foot. “Sis, say it again! Say it again your scheme. I wash my hands of the matter, lest I become the b.u.t.t of more of your jokes!” She got up to leave.

Wanqing hurriedly pulled her back, laughing. “Alright, little sis, I just said one little thing and you fly off the handle like that? If one day Song Yuming really does take a concubine, what will you do?”

Xue Dongting gave her a cross look, but she was thinking how could Song Yuming take a concubine? He said himself he would pester her for the rest of her life.