Chapter 3, The Loyal Herbs

"Ah, you girl, haven't you seen that the Third Lady's hair is all wet!" Xu scolded Baicao and instructed her to fetch a cloth to dry the Third Lady's hair, then turned and walked towards the tea room: "Third Lady, change into a dry outfit. I will go and fry you two poached eggs to have with it, and later I will buy you a bowl of chicken soup dumplings from the back alley."

Bai Cao replied bluntly: "I am not afraid of being beaten. If he dares to come and demand it, I will hang myself with a rope."

Cen Sanniang sneered coldly, pouring a basin of cold water over him: "What can I do? What is wrong with being a concubine? Just look at the concubines in the neighboring courtyard, enjoying a life of luxury and comfort. My fourth uncle's wife is renowned for her generosity and wisdom, and even though my fourth uncle has taken six wives, I have never seen her frown. Besides, if you become a concubine, you can still support me and the wet nurse to live a better life. Here I am, hanging by a thread, not earning a single tael of silver, and yet I have to pay for the bedding and hire someone to take you to the potter's field. Am I not at a loss?"

The Fourth Master wished to take the maid Qiu Yun, who was part of the dowry of the Fourth Madam. Unexpectedly, she was of a fiery temperament; upon being called, she refused to let the Madam be put in a difficult position and dashed headfirst into a pillar, resulting in her death.

Baicao happily agreed

Bai Cao was stunned for a moment and actually began to consider: "If I were to become a concubine, I would receive four taels of silver as my monthly allowance. If I were to die, Miss San would still have to buy a mat and hire someone to throw me into a mass grave... Rather than seeking death, it would be better to be a concubine. At least I could save the monthly silver to give to Miss San."

Bai Cao opened her almond-shaped eyes wide, filled with endless surprise: "I knew that San Niangzi would have a good solution."

Cen Sanniang's eyes were slightly red as she glared at Baicao and scolded, "You have signed a death contract. If I do not allow you to die, how dare you take it upon yourself to seek death? Whether or not to send you as a concubine is also my decision. What nonsense are you thinking about all day?"

In the blink of an eye, Baicao had completely forgotten about the Fourth Master’s teasing, joyfully counting the copper coins as she exited the courtyard. Her carefree demeanor made Cen Sanniang extremely envious

Xu's concern warmed Cen Sanniang's heart, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly: "Don't forget to drizzle some soybean oil!"

"Buy three bowls and bring them back. You and your mother can eat together as well," instructed Cen Sanniang.

While Xu was instructing Cen Sanniang on the use of various herbs, she tidied up the table, took out the needle and thread, and prepared to mend the blue-green robe adorned with butterflies.

I recalled the autumn clouds in the neighboring courtyard..." Bai Cao stood up and said hesitantly

Cen Sanniang could do without them, yet as long as they stayed by her side for a day, they would be loyal to her and serve her well. Cen Sanniang had no doubt that if they were left with nothing, Nurse Xu and Baicao would still ensure she was fed before they went to beg for food.

Cen Sanniang felt a slight tremor in her heart as she recalled that scene; in two lifetimes, it was the first time she had witnessed such a thing. She no longer wore a stern face to scare Baicao, but instead pouted and said: "Fourth Uncle is entirely focused on his painting, and he wouldn't care if you dirty your clothes. Rest assured, even if he had such thoughts, he would never think of asking his niece for a maid to be his concubine; our great-grandmother still has her dignity to uphold. You, from now on, should temper your temper and cause me less trouble!"

"Third Young Lady, please do not frighten this servant," Bai Cao softened her voice to plead with her

It is. A weight was lifted from Baicao's heart, and a smile could not help but appear on her face

The leaves of the plum tree appear particularly lush and green after being washed by the rain. Behind the tree stands a snow-white plaster wall, with a thick layer of green moss growing on the blue stone foundation, exuding an ancient charm

Xu Shi was the maidservant of Li, the mother of Cen San Niang, who accompanied her as part of her dowry. Previously, she had married a servant from the household, but their child passed away just three days after birth, leading her to become the wet nurse for Cen San Niang. After her husband died, she devoted herself entirely to staying by Cen San Niang's side

Bai Cao's face was filled with shame as she lowered her head to admit her mistake: "I was wrong. Third Young Mistress's reprimand is justified. I will never act on my own accord again; from now on, everything will be decided by Third Young Mistress."

Go buy chicken soup dumplings. You broke my breakfast, and I am still not full

Baicao was nervously brushing her hair, feeling anxious inside: "What did the Fourth Master say, Third Mistress?"

Cen Sanniang had already retracted her smile, her hair slightly dampened by the misty rain, and she ignored her: "I am hungry"

"Then do you dare to deliberately smash the food box?" Cen Sanniang raised her voice.

At the age of five, Baicao's family suffered a flood and sold her to a broker, who was then bought by the Cen family to serve as a maid. Years passed, and Baicao had long forgotten the circumstances of her own family, considering the Cen family as her own home, with no thought of redeeming herself to become a free person.

As Cen Sanniang just entered the courtyard, Baicao, who was hiding behind the door, quickly closed it and followed her, asking repeatedly: "Did the Fourth Master say anything, Sanniang?"

Hearing the commotion, Cen Sanniang and Baicao squeezed at the door, peering through the crack. A mat made of reeds was being carried out from the back door, revealing a head of disheveled black hair and a half-bloody face. When Xu Shi arrived, the two turned around, both horrified, their faces as pale as paper.

Cen Sanniang gazed absentmindedly at the old plum tree in the corner of the courtyard

Seeing her like this, Cen Sanniang was at a loss for words. If she were to hold Baicao's hand and say that all beings are equal, and that they are good sisters, Baicao would probably think she was possessed. Cen Sanniang could only sigh and say: "Get up. But from now on, you must not act willfully. Fortunately, it is Fourth Uncle; if Fourth Aunt were to see this, you would certainly receive a good beating as punishment!"

The Xu family and Baicao, like everyone in this era, have a deeply ingrained concept of master and servant, and they are loyal.

The golden-orange fried egg, cooked to a perfect medium, was drizzled with soy sauce, emanating an enticing aroma. Cen Sanniang cheered and took the chopsticks, eagerly digging in.

Bai Cao is only one year older than Cen San Niang. At fourteen, her body resembles the earliest tender shoots sprouting from the branches in spring; when touched, her fresh skin can produce moisture. Her round face, still retaining the baby fat, is complemented by a pair of large apricot-shaped eyes, making her look endearingly innocent and charming

Cen Sanniang felt irritated at the thought of these four characters, so she turned her head away and no longer looked.

Cen Sanniang was truly hungry, and she quickly devoured two fried eggs. After putting down her chopsticks and wiping her mouth, she smiled and looked at Baicao, saying, "Oh, if our Baicao could become the concubine of my fourth uncle, it would be a great joy!"

If Master Si were not so muddled, if Master Si truly had the intention... a sense of helplessness arose in Cen Sanniang's heart

Xu's finger fiercely pointed at the forehead of Baicao: "What if the Fourth Master takes this opportunity to demand you? Or if he hardens his heart and decides to punish you, what will San Niangzi do?"

Seeing that Cen Sanniang was deliberately ignoring her, Baicao pouted in grievance and quickly knelt down on the ground: "This servant was wrong, this servant should not have intentionally smashed the food box at the feet of the Fourth Master."

Xu carried in a fried egg, the large bosom beneath her light blue cloth shirt subtly rising and falling, quite enchanting

Cen Sanniang was momentarily taken aback. In an instant, a feeling of sourness surged in her chest

This loyalty often reminds Cen Sanniang that she has a bowl of rice, and even if she can eat more than half of it, she must set aside a small portion. One portion for her wet nurse, Xu, and one portion for Baicao

Living under someone else's roof, one cannot act entirely according to one's own whims. Cen Sanniang feels no sense of security at all

Cen Sanniang helped her thread the needle, feeling somewhat emotional: "Today I am truly afraid..."

Bai Cao's face instantly turned red, her almond-shaped eyes seemed ready to burst into flames: "Who would want to be his concubine... If he wants to eat tender grass, he should not be afraid of biting into iron thorns and hurting his mouth! Third Lady, you shouldn't joke about me like this!"

Without power and influence, one cannot live in a despicable manner, leaving only a bit of strength and the determination to seek death. Cen Sanniang, filled with sorrow, looked at Baicao with disdain and scolded, "Stubborn fool, is hanging yourself the only solution you can think of?"

If there were a thigh to hold onto, how wonderful it would be to live carefree like the grass. The third house once gave a contract of servitude and drove away several servants, and it is said that none left without crying as if the sky were about to fall. Without the protection of a master, survival becomes difficult. One of them dashed out of the gate and died from a collision. Cen Sanniang seems to have understood something. In this era where people can be bought and sold like livestock, freedom is actually a higher-level need. For the lowest class of commoners who have no land and no money, merely surviving is the primary concern.

Cen Sanniang thought that if she were the Fourth Master, she would also be willing to open the door to the backyard every day to admire flowers that were different from those of the women in her own courtyard