Chapter 33: Freedom

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Although she had not brought much luggage when she came, this time it was being sent back in cart after cart. The luggage would go ahead, while she herself would remain for one more day before leaving.

Snow had fallen for several days in succession, yet had suddenly ceased.

From early morning, a dense fog had risen, shrouding everything in a hazy blur.

The windows were thickly covered with beads of condensation, and even the heavy cotton curtains were somewhat damp.

Autumn Moon brought in the boiled medicine and found Shen Quanyi with her sleeves rolled up, personally gathering the charcoal ashes from the floor. Madam Liu stood beside her, so frightened and flustered that she did not know whether to help, but Shen Quanyi stopped her with a gesture.

“Madam, take your medicine first.”

Shen Quanyi rose and dusted the ashes from her hands. Madam Liu hurriedly dampened a handkerchief with hot water and offered it to her.

Autumn Moon carefully served Shen Quanyi the medicine. Its bitter taste spread through her mouth, reaching all the way to the root of her tongue. Autumn Moon then personally brought her some clear tea to rinse it away.

Shen Quanyi picked up several candied fruits from the little jade dish and tossed them into her mouth.

Only then was the taste of the medicine barely concealed.

“Even while it is being boiled, that medicine smells terribly bitter,” Autumn Moon muttered softly.

Shen Quanyi raised her brows, unconcerned. “A tonic is always like that.”

Autumn Moon nodded. A few days earlier, Shen Quanyi had specially summoned a physician, who prescribed several nourishing tonics. After falling ill so often, she had decided it was time to take proper care of her health.

Once Shen Quanyi had taken the medicine, Autumn Moon carried the bowl out. Madam Liu, waiting by the door, caught the scent of the medicine. A strange light flickered through her eyes, and she unconsciously looked toward Shen Quanyi, who was reclining on the couch.

By coincidence, she met Shen Quanyi’s gaze.

In an instant, she felt that all the thoughts hidden in her heart had been seen through. She instinctively bent down and knelt, pressing herself motionless against the floor.

“Madam Liu, I know you are quick-witted. But before this, I tolerated you because you had no truly malicious intentions, and because Autumn Moon regards you as half a mother. That does not mean I can indulge everything you do.”

Shen Quanyi’s tone remained calm. She lifted her eyelids slightly and cast a cold, downward glance at Madam Liu kneeling on the floor. Her lofty, commanding posture placed Madam Liu under immense pressure, leaving her even more anxious and unsettled.

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“Everyone wishes to rise higher in life; there is nothing wrong with that. But you should not have used your methods against Autumn Moon.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Quanyi stepped down from the couch and slowly walked over to Madam Liu. She bent forward, drawing close to the kneeling woman.

Madam Liu raised her head tremblingly. That beautiful, delicate face had taken on a frighteningly vicious cast, and the murderous severity emanating from Shen Quanyi made her shudder.

“Please spare me, Mistress. I… I truly had no other choice.”

With that, Madam Liu lowered herself to the floor and struck her head against it repeatedly. She lived beneath Madam Zhang’s oppressive authority, trembling in fear every moment lest her life be taken without warning. That was why she seized every opportunity to escape Madam Zhang’s control.

“Do not let there be a next time.”

Shen Quanyi regarded Madam Liu coldly. Autumn Moon had always been extremely cautious in her work. Besides, she had previously served in the front courtyard, and on that day, when she knowingly did what she should not have done, it had been entirely due to Madam Liu’s instigation.

During these days, Madam Liu had constantly played the weakling while displaying before Autumn Moon the tenderest maternal affection.

Watching Madam Liu, Autumn Moon had been moved to tears countless times. In the end, she had willingly allowed herself to be used as a weapon, and had probably still felt sorry for Madam Liu.

Madam Liu could not stop trembling. The doors and windows of the inner room were tightly shut, yet for some reason she still felt sinister drafts sweeping across her back, a chill that seemed to penetrate straight into her bones.

Shen Quanyi raised a hand and rubbed the space between her brows. Then she said casually, “I never knew you possessed such an ability, Madam Liu. Just by smelling it, you can identify the medicine.”

The atmosphere in the room turned completely frigid. Madam Liu wished desperately that a crack would open in the floor so she could crawl inside and hide.

Shen Quanyi had abruptly torn through the thin veil of secrecy. As Madam Liu listened, her mind grew hazy and heavy, turning into a muddle. Her eyes and ears seemed to blur until she could neither see nor hear clearly.

“With such an ability, and yet confined here with nowhere to use it—would that not be a waste of your talents?”

The situation suddenly took an unexpected turn. Madam Liu blinked her sore eyes and looked up to find a gentle smile already resting on Shen Quanyi’s face.

But Madam Liu had always been clever. In an instant, she understood what Shen Quanyi meant and lowered her head again.

“I do not understand your meaning, Mistress. I have always been dull-witted and disliked by others. I fear I would be unable to serve you and might only cause you trouble. I humbly beg you to allow me to remain here at the estate.”

Madam Liu had the courage to refuse, but Shen Quanyi merely curled the corners of her lips. As her eyes shifted, darkness surged through them. She immediately seized the teacup on the table and hurled it at Madam Liu.

Madam Liu had no time to dodge. The cup struck her body. It did not hurt much, but it soaked most of the front of her robe.

Her heart lurched, yet she still did not dare move. The hand hidden within her sleeve clenched tightly into a fist.

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“You are a clever woman, Madam Liu. If I had not known you possessed such an ability, that would be one thing. But now that I do know, how could I possibly feel at ease?”

Shen Quanyi smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. Her tone was mild and gentle, yet her words made it seem as though one had fallen into an icy cellar.

“You do not wish to remain with me. In that case, I am afraid you cannot remain at the estate either.”

Madam Liu’s scalp prickled, and her breathing quickened until she felt almost suffocated. Never had she imagined that she would one day regret her ability to identify scents so bitterly.

She could not speak. She did not know what she could possibly say.

Shen Quanyi did not speak either.

After a long silence, Madam Liu resigned herself to her fate. Gritting her teeth, she kowtowed several times with resounding blows.

“I am merely a dull and insignificant servant, yet to receive your favor is a blessing. I am willing to spend the rest of my wretched life serving you.”

Madam Liu had submitted, but Shen Quanyi knew that she had done so only because circumstances had forced her hand. Her expression softened slightly as she stepped forward and patted Madam Liu on the shoulder.

“Seeing you like this makes me feel rather reluctant to be harsh. If you follow me, your contract of servitude will go with me to the residence. Perhaps one day you may regain your freedom. Would that not be better than remaining here at the estate until you die?”

Madam Liu suddenly raised her head. Tiny sparks of light glittered in her eyes. Shen Quanyi’s words had struck directly at her deepest longing. She was unwilling to remain a slave—or rather, no one was truly willing to be one.

It was as though she had finally been able to breathe again. Her body went limp, and she collapsed onto the floor, gasping rapidly.

“If that day truly comes, I will repay your kindness by serving you as an ox or a horse in my next life.”

There seemed to be a trace of genuine feeling in those words. How strange.

Shen Quanyi lowered her head and looked at the hopeful light in Madam Liu’s eyes. The corners of her lips slowly lifted, forming a gentle and captivating smile, while her bright eyes curved into delicate crescents.

“Madam Liu, you do know how to jest. Even now, you are exhausting every means to carve out a path by which you need not remain someone’s slave. How could you possibly be willing to serve me as an ox or a horse in your next life?”

Madam Liu parted her lips, but it was as though something had lodged in her throat. Not a word came out.

Shen Quanyi was right.

She was unwilling.