The next day.
Qu Fulan was undoubtedly to leave the mansion with the Third Young Madam.
The ladies of the Pei Mansion all traveled by carriage, while the men rode horses. The grand procession made its way to the Zheng Mansion.
This was the first time since coming to the ancient times that Qu Fulan had ever left the Pei Mansion.
The Pei Family occupied a vast area, with an extensive and elegant garden, pavilions and terraces, water pavilions and winding corridors, rockeries and jade trees, and pebbled paths stretching endlessly, the scenery breathtakingly beautiful.
But no matter how large the Pei Mansion was, to her, it was nothing more than a gilded cage.
For those who serve as servants and maids, they are not allowed to leave the mansion, partly to prevent them from escaping. Even though escaping would make them criminal slaves that could be dealt with by reporting to the authorities, it would be a hassle for the master's family.
Secondly, even if there was something to be done, there were fixed grooms and housekeepers to go out, saving trouble for everyone.
Qu Fulan rode in the same carriage as the Third Young Madam, so she could only kneel and not sit, feeling very uncomfortable.
However, Huan'er, the personal maid of the Third Young Madam, could sit, and this difference in treatment clearly showed that the Third Young Madam was deliberately targeting her.
But Qu Fulan really couldn't understand why she was being targeted by the Third Young Madam since she hadn't had any interaction or offended her before.
The Capital City was exceptionally noisy and bustling during the day, with crowds of people, a variety of street vendors, and an array of goods that left people dazzled.
Unfortunately, Qu Fulan could only hear all this and not see it, because she had to kneel facing the Third Young Madam and couldn't look out the carriage window.
Even so, she could feel that outside the carriage window was a world of freedom.
Listening to the commotion outside the window along the way, Qu Fulan's mood was very complicated.
Only after losing freedom does one know its value, so even briefly experiencing fresh air can stir excitement deep within one's heart.
Unfortunately, in this situation, she didn't even have the right to steal a glance.
In the end, her temporarily excited heart gradually calmed down.
She would wait, wait a year, two years, or three years. She believed she could accumulate enough merit to fully achieve freedom.
Xiao Shiqing took two years to get the original owner out, and now it would be normal for her to rely on her own strength and take two or three years as well.
Yao Xing had been observing the maid before her, noticing that the other party was remarkably composed, showing no hint of humiliation or grievance despite her making things difficult.
No wonder she caught the Old Madam's eye, and no wonder Heir Pei found her worth troubling himself with.
"How old are you this year?" Yao Xing asked lazily.
"This servant is thirteen this year."
"In just two more years, you'll be of age and will have to be paired with someone. Is there a groom you fancy in the mansion? Tell me, and I'll make the decision for you?"
"This servant only wishes to serve the Old Madam well. As for anything else, I have never thought about it."
Yao Xing immediately sneered. If she had mentioned a particular groom in the mansion, she wouldn't mind helping her out.
Claiming to want to serve the Old Madam well? It's nothing more than an excuse for wanting to rise above her station, waiting for a chance to climb into the master's bed.
This kind of maid is the most troublesome and the least likely to be kept around.
When they arrived at the Zheng Mansion, the ladies of the Zheng estate came out to greet them, and after a round of polite exchanges, they took their seats.
Someone noticed Qu Fulan.
There are always a few people in the world, blessed with an extraordinary spirit. They don't need to do anything, just by standing there— even in maid's clothes— they can attract a lot of attention.
"Where did the Third Young Madam find such a pretty little maid? She looks so endearing."
A lady couldn't help but ask.
Yao Xing looked over at the speaker and saw it was Mrs. Zhao, immediately responding with a smile, "Mrs. Zhao already has several maids as beautiful as flowers. Are you now interested in mine too?"
Mrs. Zhao laughed, "I just like to keep a few pretty maids around. They're pleasing to the eye."
Yao Xing then said to Haitang, "Mrs. Zhao is praising you, hurry and thank Mrs. Zhao."
Qu Fulan curtsied to Mrs. Zhao and then retreated behind the Third Young Madam.
Yao Xing smiled at Mrs. Zhao, "The little maid is out for the first time, inexperienced and quite unpresentable, I hope Mrs. Zhao will forgive her."
Mrs. Zhao, however, was extremely satisfied and didn't mind at all.
"Forgive, forgive. The little maid is not well-mannered. A good training session will fix that."
Yao Xing used a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, hiding a slight smile.
This Mrs. Zhao had reached the point of speaking freely in front of others.
But it didn't matter, for her family had a considerable background.
Yet no matter how extensive the background, Mrs. Zhao had no foundation, since she was a second wife whom Old Master Zhao only married after turning forty, and perhaps due to his age, they had no children after his second marriage.
Without children to rely on, Mrs. Zhao had to gather a few beautiful maids to win over her philandering husband, solidifying her position at home.
Old Master Zhao, now advanced in age, still continually brought young concubines into the house.
Apparently, Mrs. Zhao had taken a liking to Haitang.
Yao Xing lightly wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, her purpose in bringing Haitang was achieved.
From a childhood friend, she learned that Mrs. Zhao would attend the banquet today, so she planned early on to bring Haitang along.
Hai Yue didn't come either, it didn't matter, one after another.
The other ladies and girls who heard their conversation showed either sympathy, disdain, or amusement, for who in the noble circles of the Capital City didn't know about the Zhao family's affairs?
"Good child, come sit by me and let me have a good look." Mrs. Zhao said to Haitang.
Yao Xing didn't wait for Haitang to speak and said, "Go quickly, don't dawdle, truly you don't know the rules."
Qu Fulan lowered her eyes and walked over, sitting down in front of Mrs. Zhao.
"Good child, can you drink?"
"I cannot."
"That's no good, young ladies should know how to drink a little wine. This wine here is not harsh but rather sweet and mellow upon entry. You should try it."
With that, Mrs. Zhao handed her wine over to Qu Fulan.
Servants could not refuse wine offered by others, so Qu Fulan could only thank her, take it, and seemingly in sight of others, used a handkerchief to cover while gulping it down.
At least, that's how it appeared to others, but when she raised her head to drink while covering with the handkerchief, she actually poured the wine into a space.
Then she delicately wiped her mouth with the handkerchief, and others thought she had drunk it.
After all, she was just a maid, and the interest in watching soon faded, with most people looking away, except for two gazes burning into her like fire, watching without moving. She looked over calmly.
It was an unfamiliar mother and daughter.
They were staring at her with a complex and incredulous look.
Did they... know her?
Was this an encounter with a former acquaintance of the original owner?
Qu Fulan's heart tensed slightly, as she currently did not wish to meet any old acquaintances.
But things didn't go as planned.
"Greetings, Mrs. Xiao, I have something to discuss with Miss Xiao. May I take her away for a while?"
Miss Zheng appeared at some point, addressing the mother and daughter directly.
Xiao?
Xiao Shiqing's mother and sister?
Qu Fulan's heart trembled.