Chapter 12: Throwing Herself Into the Well

"Whew, whew."
Back at home, Xue Rui was as exhausted as a dead dog, collapsing right onto the table.

Madam Liu hurried over with a cup of tea. Seeing her son’s disheveled clothes and messy hair, she asked worriedly, "What happened? Did you get into a fight?"

"No, no, I just thought someone might be following me, so I ran a bit faster… gulp, gulp."

Catching his breath and taking a couple more gulps of cool tea, Xue Rui finally felt a little better. After that bout of strenuous exercise, he had nearly reached his physical limits. Had he not eaten an extra half-bowl of rice at lunch, he doubted he’d have made it home at all.

Madam Liu looked him over carefully, and, seeing that he was unharmed, finally inquired about his day at the Astronomical Bureau.

Not wanting to worry her, Xue Rui chose to recount only the amusing parts. Hearing that he had made friends with several officials' sons right on his first day, Madam Liu was immediately delighted. More friends meant more opportunities; if her son’s path grew broader, she would worry less.

"By the way, that Peng Ying didn’t give you any trouble, did he?"

As she listened, something began to feel off. Peng Ying was supposed to be his rival, yet her son hadn’t mentioned him at all—quite suspicious.

"How could he not? I couldn’t answer his questions, and he rapped my hands with the ruler a few times. See for yourself."

He held out his hand for her to inspect.

Madam Liu examined it for a moment. Indeed, his palm was red and faintly swollen, blood almost seeping through. Only then did she believe him.

"Your father always told you to read more, but you never listened. Now look—first day at the bureau and your hand’s already like this. Who knows how much more hardship you’ll have to endure? And your master, too, not even protecting you. Look at what they’ve done to my son… oh."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, her heart aching for him.

Xue Rui felt a pang of guilt—his little lie had ended up making his mother cry. He hurried to change the subject. "Mother, I wanted to talk to you about Master."

Distracted, Madam Liu wiped her eyes and asked, "What about him?"

Xue Rui recounted what Hu Zhong had said about his father’s safety. At once, Madam Liu broke into a relieved smile, clasped her hands together in prayer, and said, "Amitabha, may the gods and buddhas above watch over us. It’s enough that your father is unharmed—may he return home soon. And may the buddhas also protect your master with health and a long life. I promise I’ll visit the temple and offer incense in thanks."

"And Master wants me to go to his house every day from now on to study astronomy and the calendar. I might be home late."

"Then you must study hard," Madam Liu admonished him earnestly. "Your father said he only learned half of what your master knows, and already made a name for himself at the bureau. If you manage to learn even a tenth of it, Peng Ying won’t be able to trouble you anymore."

"Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll study hard."

Seeing that he’d managed to get through the conversation, Xue Rui let out a sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to ask what was for dinner, a heavy pounding sounded at the courtyard gate.

"That’s not the right knock!"

Xue Rui’s heart skipped a beat. The knock was different from the secret signal he’d agreed on with Uncle Zheng—it was urgent and forceful, as if the visitor wanted to smash the old door down.

"This can’t be good," he thought. Snatching up a piece of firewood, he told his mother, "Mother, go inside and hide. Don’t come out unless I tell you."

"I—I’m not afraid!" Madam Liu’s voice trembled, betraying her fear, but still she grabbed a wooden stick and followed closely behind her son.

Xue Rui crept to the gate and peered through the crack. Outside stood an old man—he was taken aback for a moment.

"It’s Steward Zhou…"

He turned back to his mother.

Steward Zhou’s full name was Zhou Ming, the butler of the Xue family estate, usually responsible for affairs in the outer courtyard and the farm. Since mother and son had been driven out of the Xue residence, they hadn’t seen Zhou for a long time. Who knew how he’d found their new address?

Zhou was generally kind and showed proper respect to their branch of the family—not a thoroughly wicked man.

Still holding the stick, Xue Rui slid back the bolt and opened the gate.

Zhou Ming was just about to knock again when the gate swung open, leaving his hand suspended awkwardly in midair.

"Steward Zhou, what are you doing here?"

Xue Rui made no effort to hide his hostility, scrutinizing the old man before him.

Zhou Ming, seeing the weapon in his hand, took two instinctive steps back and bowed at the foot of the steps. "Your humble servant Zhou Ming pays respects to Madam, young master."

"Don’t call us that. We don’t deserve it. Who told you where we live?"

Madam Liu stepped out, hands on her hips, and questioned him directly.

With a bitter smile, Zhou Ming replied, "If I may, Madam—since the day you left with the young master, the master instructed me to keep an eye on you, to make sure nothing untoward happened. When I saw you’d found this place, I simply reported back to the house."

Madam Liu snorted. "Watching us, or watching over us? They’re just afraid if we disappeared, the Embroidered Guards would come demanding us and, unable to present us, the family would be accused of harboring a criminal. Isn’t that right?"

"This… Madam, you misunderstand."

Zhou Ming was left speechless, clearly caught out by her accusation.

"So the Embroidered Guards have come to the house for us?" Xue Rui pressed, frowning.

"No, young master, you’re mistaken." Zhou Ming waved his hands hastily, then called out to the alleyway, "Bring her in, quickly!"

Soon, two servants from the Xue household arrived, carrying a makeshift stretcher fashioned from a door plank, upon which a young girl lay.

She was deathly pale, her breath faint—clearly at death’s door.

Mother and son’s faces changed dramatically. They both recognized her: it was Susu, the maidservant from their branch of the family.

Susu had been born into a good family; when she was seven, her father had sold her to the Xue estate. Over the years, she’d grown clever and diligent, earning Madam Liu’s deep affection—almost like a daughter.

Half a month ago, when Xue Rui and his mother were driven from the house, Susu had wanted to follow, but her contract was held by the old matriarch, and the eldest aunt had forced her to stay.

Who could have imagined that after so short a separation, Susu would end up like this?

Seeing her lying there unconscious, Xue Rui’s anger flared. He seized Zhou Ming by the collar and demanded, "What happened to her?"

His ferocity frightened the two male servants, who quickly moved aside, not daring to utter a word.

"It’s not my doing, young master, please don’t be angry!" Zhou Ming covered his head and begged for mercy. "I don’t know much about the inner quarters. All I heard was that the mistress said Susu pined for her old masters, refused food and drink, and this morning, in a moment of despair, threw herself down the well. Luckily, the young master was up early and raised the alarm in time. She was pulled out, and the doctor said her life is not in danger, though she hasn’t woken up since. Out of pity, the mistress ordered me to bring her here to you."

"Pity? What a sham! She’s just afraid the girl will die in the courtyard and upset the old lady. That black-hearted witch!"

Madam Liu couldn’t help but curse in her rage.

Xue Rui ignored Zhou Ming and rushed to check on Susu.

Taking the chance, Zhou Ming said, "Now that I’ve delivered her, I’ll return to the estate and report back. Farewell, madam, young master."

With a signal to his two companions, the three of them slipped away without another word.

"Susu, wake up, my child—why did you lose hope…"

Madam Liu called for a long time, but Susu didn’t stir. Tears streamed down her face.

Xue Rui was busy too—listening for a heartbeat, checking her pupils, pinching her philtrum—but no matter what he tried, Susu remained unresponsive.

"Mother, should I try mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?" he asked gravely, seeing no other way.