When the embroidered mandarin duck and butterfly wedding quilt was halfway finished, Madam Chen instructed them to make matching pillowcases. Jin Niang sighed in relief: "This should be easier."
Madam Chen smiled. "Once the major pieces are done, the smaller ones become much simpler. Tackle the difficult tasks first, and you'll find the rest more manageable."
"That's true. If you'd asked us to embroider the wedding quilt last, we'd have lost patience by the end," Jin Niang agreed. When pressed for time, intricate work only grows more tangled like a ball of thread.
The needlework room was often dull, but today was payday, offering Jin Niang some consolation. Back in Jiangling, she'd thought one tael of silver per month was substantial, but now in Bianjing, she realized how small that was compared to others—like her elder sister's husband, who earned thirty-five strings of cash monthly.
Just as Jin Niang received her wages, the Eldest Miss also received dowry gifts from the Han family. Since the Han household was in mourning, they had sent the gifts early. Remembering how Jin Niang had faced Second Miss Zhou's scolding on her behalf, the Eldest Miss summoned her for a reward.
"Come see how I embroidered this pouch," the Eldest Miss said, beckoning as Jin Niang entered.
Jin Niang observed the pale pink satin pouch adorned with pea-green butterflies. Though the color pairing struck her as odd, she held her tongue and merely smiled. "What a coincidence—I'm embroidering butterflies too."
Realizing they were working on her wedding quilt, the Eldest Miss blushed. "You've all been working so hard lately."
Jin Niang shook her head. "It's our duty, my lady."
On the Eldest Miss's desk sat a red lacquer tray painted with golden crabapple flowers, displaying delicate pearl hairpins, silk flowers, and velvet blossoms. "Pick any two you like," the Eldest Miss offered.
The pearl pins were the most valuable, each worth over a string of cash, while the silk and velvet flowers were ordinary. The Eldest Miss had clearly inherited First Lady's shrewdness. A custom-embroidered wedding quilt from a regular workshop would cost over ten strings of cash, with the plainest starting at eight. Yet Jin Niang and the others had spent half a year embroidering one for a mere nine strings in wages. Madam Jiang then graciously rewarded them with ten strings, leaving them grateful—never mind that the pillowcases, curtains, and bed canopies were practically done for free.
But Jin Niang bore no resentment. Without this journey with Madam Chen, she would never have learned such things.
Jin Niang declined politely. "I couldn't possibly accept."
"Then I'll choose for you," the Eldest Miss insisted, picking up a pair of rose-shaped pearl pins. "These suit your refined nature. Take them, or I'll be cross."
Reluctantly, Jin Niang accepted. Xiahe fetched a small redwood box to store them, and as they chatted, the conversation turned to the Han family's dowry gifts.
Chun Lan remarked, "Old Madam Han visited our household just last month and seemed quite well. How could she pass so suddenly?"
"I heard her maternal family was implicated in some trouble," the Eldest Miss replied, now privy to such matters through assisting Madam Jiang.
Chun Lan served a cup of pine needle tea and added, "They say Seventh Young Master's mother was Old Madam Han's niece, but she died young. With the old lady gone, who will look after him now?"
Before the Eldest Miss could respond, Xiahe returned with the box. Jin Niang excused herself, uninterested in distant noble affairs far removed from her humble life. She locked the pearl pins away in her chest with two copper padlocks.
Resuming her embroidery, she was interrupted within an hour by Si'er whispering, "Sister Jin Niang, Yan Hong is being sent away."
"What?" Jin Niang gasped.
"It's true," Si'er confirmed. "They say her illness is too severe and might spread to the masters. First Lady and Elder Master Zhou decided to send her to the estate in Daming Prefecture to recuperate."
Daming Prefecture, also called Northern Capital Daming, was where Lord Zhou had served before his capital appointment.
"How did you hear this?" Jin Niang asked.
"Granny Mei mentioned it. She's escorting Yan Hong and asked me to mend some clothes for her," Si'er explained.
With the needlework room busy on dowry items, servants often sought Si'er for repairs—she'd learned from Jin Niang and could handle basic stitching.
Jin Niang handed Si'er a string of cash. "Give this to Granny Mei. Ask her to look after Yan Hong—it's the least I can do."
Si'er was stunned. Jin Niang always sent her wages home and pinched pennies, yet here she was spending freely for Yan Hong's sake. She agreed.
Granny Mei, a lowly servant with scant earnings, was overjoyed at the windfall. "Don't worry, Miss Si'er," she vowed. "Even First Lady instructed us to treat Yan Hong well."
Si'er smiled. "We’re all servants here—no sense making life harder for each other."
That night, under Bianjing's unrestricted curfew, Yan Hong was escorted out by the matrons. Madam Jiang sighed at her dazed state but had no choice—better this than letting her cause a scene before the Wang family's visit. Originally, Madam Jiang had planned to send Yan Hong back to Jiangnan to recover and marry, but Elder Master Zhou insisted on Daming Prefecture to avoid gossip.
As the carriage wheels rumbled into the distance, Yan Hong's grip on her handkerchief finally loosened.
On the Double Ninth Festival, Bianjing's temples held vegetarian feasts, drawing crowds to scenic spots like Cangwang Temple, Four Li Bridge, Sorrow Terrace, and Liangwang City for banquets and revelry.
Second Master Zhou and his wife hosted a banquet outside the city, inviting everyone to relax for a while. Even the sewing room staff were fortunate enough to join the outing, as while other servants had moments of rest, the sewing maids worked tirelessly day and night. Thus, Madam Jiang specifically instructed that they be allowed to come along.
Jin Niang sat in the carriage, her spirits lifted. "This is the first time I’ve left the city since coming to the Zhou household."
Any break from labor was enough to lift their moods—understandably so, given how exhausted everyone had been lately.
Madam Chen rubbed her eyes. As an experienced embroiderer, she had once been full of boundless energy in her youth, but now, with age, her back and legs ached, and the carriage ride left her dizzy.
She sighed deeply and said to the three sewing maids, "You should make the most of your youth and hone your skills. At my age, I can hardly endure the strain anymore, and my eyesight is failing too."
"You’re right," Jin Niang and the others replied.
But after these words, Qin Shuang'er lowered her head. She was already fifteen, yet her future remained uncertain. The Eldest Miss seemed to favor Jin Niang, while Second Miss Zhou had Qiaolian currying favor. The Third Miss and Fourth Miss were still too young—she simply couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
But what could she do?
Would she really have to return to Jiangling next year?
No. Never.
Soon, they arrived at the outskirts, where Madam Jiang and her daughters-in-law escorted the old madam forward. The gathering spot bustled with activity, with vendors—young women and elderly matrons—hawking food from their baskets.
The Zhou family rarely ate outside food, deeming it unclean, so they didn’t buy any. Jin Niang would have liked to try some, but she couldn’t stray from the group and simply followed Madam Chen with her head down.
Along the way, Madam Jiang ran into relatives from her maiden family, and the group entered an inner room, leaving Jin Niang and the others free to wander—though Madam Chen warned them not to stray too far, lest they be abducted.
Despite being in the imperial capital, where the abduction and sale of women and children was harshly punished, such crimes still occurred, making vigilance necessary.
"Don’t worry, we’ll just walk nearby and won’t go far," Jin Niang assured her.
Madam Chen, too tired to move, waved them off.
Jin Niang strolled around, feeling the weariness of recent days melt away. At a turn in the path, she spotted Mistress Zhu from the second branch, who recognized her, and the two struck up a conversation.
"I heard you’ll return home after completing your service next year?" Mistress Zhu, who usually only spoke to her own maids, found it refreshing to chat with Jin Niang, as there were no conflicting interests between them.
Jin Niang smiled. "Yes, after finishing this year and one more, once the Eldest Miss is married, we can go home."
Mistress Zhu, charmed by Jin Niang’s plump yet lively demeanor, couldn’t help but feel fondness. "How wonderful to reunite with your family—something I can only envy."
Then she asked, "How old are you?"
"Fifteen (by Chinese reckoning)."
"That’s the age to start considering marriage. You must choose carefully—don’t be shy. If you blindly trust matchmakers, you’ll regret it." Mistress Zhu sighed softly.
Jin Niang didn’t press further. She had heard how matchmakers could spin lies, turning the dead into the living, and how many marriages had been ruined by their deceit. But marriage was the last thing on her mind—if only one could remove weddings and childbearing from life’s obligations, time and space would no longer feel so restrictive.
The mood grew heavy, so Jin Niang changed the subject. "I heard you’re from Bianjing. Do you know about the Embroidery Academy?"
Mistress Zhu, sharp as ever, smiled. "Of course. Are you thinking of applying?"
"I’m just curious. I have no home in the capital."
"Here’s an idea," Mistress Zhu offered. "Since I’ve had little contact with the outside world since marrying in, you could consult a broker. They know everything—job openings, housing, you name it."
Jin Niang’s eyes lit up with realization. Truly, worldly wisdom was its own form of knowledge, and every person had something to teach.
She thanked her profusely. "Mistress Zhu, I’m grateful."
Mistress Zhu waved her handkerchief dismissively. "It’s nothing. I haven’t really helped you much."
After bidding farewell, Jin Niang wandered further. The open countryside was vast, broadening her view. A crowd had gathered to watch something, and she drew closer—a group of young men were playing polo.
Leading the charge were Second Young Master Zhou, Zhou Cunzhi, and Third Young Master Zhou, Zhou Shenzhi. Though the second young master was scholarly, he was also skilled in horsemanship, riding with vigor, while the third young master swung his mallet confidently, looking assured of victory. Both wore red tunics, as did three other youths behind them.
One boy, about eleven or twelve, stood out—his bright eyes and striking features, enhanced by the red attire, made him exceptionally handsome. Jin Niang had thought Second Young Master Zhou was the most attractive person she’d ever seen, but this boy, if he grew up without losing his looks, might surpass him.
Polo, however, was beyond her understanding. Her mind drifted to finding a broker later. Meanwhile, Qin Shuang'er, leveraging her social skills, had pushed to the front, where Nanny Lin pointed out the players, eager to show off her knowledge.
"See, those are Young Master Yan, Young Master Yan, and Young Master Xian of the Jiang family. Young Master Yan is the clan leader’s son, while the other two belong to Sixth Master Jiang."
"And who are they playing against?" Qin Shuang'er asked.
Nanny Lin replied, "The one leading the opposing team is quite distinguished—the son of the Prefect of Kaifeng. If not for Second Young Master Zhou, he wouldn’t have bothered playing with us."
Though Jin Niang didn’t grasp the game, she enjoyed the spectacle. Still, she wondered—why wasn’t Third Young Master He participating? Such events were normal for socializing, after all.
Third Young Master He was not ignorant of these matters, but his nature was inherently somewhat prideful. Though he was the son of a prefect, making him quite distinguished in the provincial capital, in the imperial capital, he was hardly noteworthy. Despite Zhou Cunzhi's warm regard for him and his own admiration for Zhou Cunzhi's scholarly talents—their private friendship being quite close—he still refused to play the role of another man's foil.
Moreover, he had heard rumors about his second cousin's temperamental nature. While maidservants were beneath notice, if she carried such a disposition into his household in the future, wouldn’t she grow unbearably domineering?
As these thoughts occupied him, the polo match came to an end.
Jin Niang, having wandered outside for some time, was now ravenously hungry. Seeing Madam Chen beckoning, she hurried back, realizing she had been away too long, and followed Madam Chen into the side chamber.
Just then, a commotion broke out nearby. Jin Niang entered to find Zhou Qinzhi, Madam Wu’s son, his face flushed red, seemingly choking on food. Madam Wu was frantic, at a loss for what to do, while the wet nurse patted his back and even attempted to pry his mouth open...
This was a classic case of choking, requiring the Heimlich maneuver. Jin Niang glanced at Fourth Miss Zhou, who, though anxious, showed no intention of stepping in to help. Seeing the child’s condition worsening, Jin Niang immediately stepped forward and said, "Second Lady, my younger brother once choked like this, and my father saved him this way. May I try?"
Madam Wu, desperate for any solution and recognizing Jin Niang, quickly agreed. "Go ahead."
Madam Jiang, however, was hesitant. If someone from their side intervened and the second branch’s only son died, the responsibility would be unbearable. Thus, she cautioned, "Jin Niang, are you certain?"
"First Lady, there’s no time to delay," Jin Niang replied, pushing the wet nurse aside. Knowing the child was over a year old, she positioned herself behind him, placed a fist two fingers above his navel, and thrust upward. A piece of candy clattered to the floor, and the child burst into loud sobs.
Jin Niang exhaled sharply, her own tension melting away as the crowd sighed in relief.
Earlier, Madam Jiang had feared Jin Niang might inadvertently harm the second branch’s heir, leading to blame falling on their household and sowing discord. But now that Qinzhi was safe, she was happy to extend goodwill, pulling Jin Niang closer and asking, "How did you muster such courage?"
Jin Niang scratched her head. "I’m usually not brave at all. But this was a matter of life and death. Had I not seen my father save my brother, I might have hesitated. But since I knew what to do, I couldn’t stand by."
Truthfully, she hadn’t overthought it. Ordinarily, she considered herself someone who minded her own business, far from being a meddlesome do-gooder. Yet when lives were at stake, and she possessed the means to help, how could she not act?
As the child’s cries subsided, he peeked out curiously from his mother’s arms. Madam Wu, her relief palpable, regarded Jin Niang with newfound appreciation.
"You’ve done well, child. We owe you greatly."
Jin Niang shook her head. "It was nothing. I only did what anyone would."
Madam Wu smiled. "Nonsense. You saved Fourth Young Master, and I must reward you. Name your desire, and it shall be granted."
Jin Niang had acted without expectation of reward. She wasn’t one to preach, but she believed in acting according to one’s conscience, without seeking repayment. Still, faced with Madam Wu’s insistence, she glanced up and replied, "The Records of Curiosities you gifted me last time was invaluable. From it, I learned to make bamboo fiber garments, which later helped others. If you would, I’d love a book on floral and avian illustrations, to better my embroidery for Eldest Miss."
With that, she retreated, avoiding the spotlight. She had no wish to be seen as a loyal servant, lest she be bound to the Zhou household indefinitely.
Fourth Miss Zhou observed Jin Niang, still unaware she was a fellow transmigrator, but impressed nonetheless. No wonder she managed to rise repeatedly in her past life—she’s extraordinary. While others sought silver, Jin Niang asked for books. And Madam Wu, who disdained materialism, was delighted by the request.
"Wonderful! Even if I don’t have such a book at home, I’ll have it procured for you," Madam Wu declared.
Soon after, Second Master Zhou rushed in, prompting the women to withdraw discreetly. Jin Niang caught a glimpse of him comforting Madam Wu before averting her gaze.
In gratitude, Second Master Zhou sent a lavish meal to the embroidery workshop. Jin Niang dined with Madam Chen and the others by the pavilion, the murmur of flowing water adding to their contentment.
Madam Chen chuckled. "Jin Niang, we’re all benefiting from your deeds today."
"Please don’t say that. My heart was in my throat the whole time. I’m just relieved the ladies didn’t blame me," Jin Niang demurred.
Madam Chen privately lamented Jin Niang’s missed opportunity. Had she asked for money, she’d have secured her future beyond the Zhou household. Though Lord Zhou held only a fifth-rank post, his position was influential, and the family was wealthy. Other officials’ households might be far less generous—some even miserly.
Youthful naivety, she sighed.
On the return journey, Madam Jiang took her newly returned second daughter aside. "You’ve seen that girl now—a rare blend of loyalty and righteousness. After how you treated her, she still—"
"Mother, she’s cunning! She fainted at the gate on purpose. I didn’t even punish her harshly. Since when can’t I discipline a servant? Yet you shipped me off to Grandmother’s!" Second Miss Zhou retorted defiantly.
Madam Jiang couldn't get through to her: "Don’t think you can just beat servants as you please. If you push them too far, they might poison you or set traps behind your back. Do you really think you’d escape unscathed? As the saying goes, 'Courtesy is not extended to the commoners.' Those of us in higher positions must always maintain some decorum, but they have nothing to lose. I’ve spoken with Madam Chen—Jin Niang’s father was once an imperial guard, and her mother is famously fierce. In fact, her parents never wanted her to become a servant; she only came to learn needlework from Madam Chen. Look at her—though she’s a maid, she’s literate, and today, out of all those people, she was the only one brave enough to step forward and save your cousin. Your aunt is so grateful to her, and yet here you are, still causing trouble."
Second Miss Zhou listened intently. Truthfully, she didn’t have any deep-seated grudge against Jin Niang. It was just that every time she saw Jin Niang’s composed and unyielding demeanor, she felt the maid didn’t act like a servant should. If a servant didn’t behave like one, naturally, she wanted to discipline her—otherwise, she’d only grow more unruly.
But now, Jin Niang had become the heroine who saved Fourth Young Master. If Second Miss Zhou continued to scheme against her in secret, Jin Niang might turn to the Second House for help.
Though Second Master Zhou didn’t hold as high an official rank as her father, the Second House was wealthy and generous. When her elder sister married, their mother had even taken out her hidden savings for the dowry. When it came time for Second Miss Zhou’s own marriage, she’d still need her uncle’s help to prepare her trousseau. She couldn’t afford to offend the Second House.
That wretched girl was nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Second Miss Zhou fumed silently.
Meanwhile, back in the needlework room, Jin Niang received a gift of gratitude from the Second Lady that evening. Among the presents were two illustrated volumes—painted by none other than the Hanlin Academy’s court artists, works that weren’t even easily found in the market. Tucked inside one of the books was a banknote worth fifty strings of cash.
What an unexpected windfall! With this money added to her savings, she now had a full hundred strings of cash. And with the Second House as her backer, even if Second Miss Zhou returned home, she wouldn’t dare humiliate Jin Niang as she had before.
