Embroider Maiden looked puzzled. “Why not go to Taizhou Prefecture for help? The people from Chengji Blacksmith Shop have all scattered. Where on earth can we find other outposts of the Bright Mirror Division at a moment like this? The Yan Prince’s Residence must have some way to get in touch with the County Princess right away.”
Wu Wei’s eyes gleamed with approval. She explained softly, “We’ve helped the County Princess once, and that’s our personal connection with her. What does it have to do with the Yan Prince’s Residence? They’ve already given us our reward in silver—everything that was due. That previous matter is settled between us. Zhang Kuan isn’t sure if I’m really connected to the Yan Prince’s Residence, which is why he hasn’t passed judgment on me yet. He probably hasn’t sent anyone to check, or there would have been some news by now. That crafty old fox is testing who can hold out longer. If we go begging the Yan Prince’s Residence for aid, we’d be playing right into his hands. Even if we got the Prince to send someone to plead for us, Zhang Kuan would use the chance to probe around with a few questions, and my cover would be blown. Once he has no more doubts, we might escape this time, but what about next time?”
Embroider Maiden nodded in sudden understanding. Then she frowned, looking troubled. She wasn’t afraid of hardship or long journeys if it meant saving Weiwei. Worst case, she could go all the way to the capital herself. There had to be a way.
But who knew how many days that would take? The thought of Weiwei locked up in a place like this for months made Embroider Maiden’s heart ache.
Wu Wei asked, “Do you still have the gold leaves the County Princess gave you?”
“Yes!”
“Go home and find a piece of cloth. Trace the pattern of the gold leaves onto it with ink. Then find that skinny waiter at Hundred Flavors Building—the one about my height, with a mole on his chin. Give him some silver and ask him to make another run to the same place as last time. Hundred Flavors Building sends account books to the capital every year. All the checkpoints and city gates along the way are already greased. It’ll go smoothly without a hitch. It’s just smuggling a piece of cloth; he’ll agree.”
Embroider Maiden’s eyes lit up again. “I’ll go home and do it right away.”
“Give him no more than ten silver taels. Choose your words carefully—say you’re running an errand for someone. Don’t flash your wealth. We need to make our money last, living modestly but steadily.”
Hearing “make our money last, living modestly but steadily” come from Wu Wei’s mouth surprised Embroider Maiden a little.
The two women exchanged smiles. Before they could say more, the sound of a jailer’s footsteps approached. The jailer said to Embroider Maiden, “Time’s almost up.”
“Got it. Just a few more words, then I’ll go.”
Embroider Maiden’s eyes filled with reluctance. “Apply the powder from the green porcelain bottle three times a day. Take the pills from the white porcelain bottle three times a day too. Cover up at night so you don’t catch a chill.”
Wu Wei opened her mouth, then finally just said, “All right.”
Embroider Maiden packed up the empty food box and folded Wu Wei’s dirty clothes neatly to take with her. The jailer unlocked the cell door to let her out and quickly locked it again. Embroider Maiden and the jailer soon vanished from Wu Wei’s sight.
The moment Embroider Maiden’s figure disappeared, Wu Wei’s expression collapsed. She flopped weakly onto the bedding with a soft groan.
How could she not be in pain? She had just been hiding it to spare Embroider Maiden the worry.
Embroider Maiden felt their time together had been far too short. Outside, Eldest Sister Li had been pacing like ants on a hot pan, circling the ox cart countless times and glancing toward the jail every few moments. When she saw Embroider Maiden emerge, she slapped her thigh and hurried over.
“Oh, heavens above! How did it take you so long? If you hadn’t come out soon, I would’ve called for help!” Eldest Sister Li grabbed Embroider Maiden’s arm and looked her up and down several times. Only when she saw that Embroider Maiden was unharmed did she relax.
Embroider Maiden managed a smile at last. She apologized to Eldest Sister Li and explained, “Weiwei woke up. I watched her eat and helped her change clothes before coming out. I’m sorry you had to wait so long, Eldest Sister.”
“Weiwei’s awake? That’s wonderful! Thank the heavens, thank the heavens.”
Eldest Sister Li took the empty food box and put it on the ox cart. She turned back to help Embroider Maiden into the cart and make sure she was seated steadily. Then she asked, “Sister, where to now?”
Embroider Maiden had planned to stay at an inn in the county seat for a few days to make visiting Wu Wei easier. But remembering Wu Wei’s instructions right before she left, she said, “Let’s go home. I need to head to Hundred Flavors Building tomorrow, so we’ll go back today.”
“Sure thing! I’ll bring you again tomorrow!”
…
By the time Embroider Maiden and Eldest Sister Li returned to the little courtyard halfway up the mountain, night had fallen. Third Ya was already asleep. Da Ya was adding water to the cistern above the woodshed, and Er Ya had finished sweeping the yard. She sat on a folding stool, hugging Doggy as she waited for her sisters before bed.
At the sound of the ox cart, both girls stopped what they were doing. Er Ya dashed to the door and peeked through the crack. Recognizing Eldest Sister Li’s figure, she cried out excitedly, “Mama?”
“Yes! Er Ya, open the door quick. We’re back!”
Er Ya flung the door open and ran to help Eldest Sister Li lead the ox cart in. Da Ya came down from the steps and held the courtyard gate wide. Together they unloaded the cart. Eldest Sister Li took the ox to the back hill to graze, while Da Ya and Er Ya pulled the cart into the yard and stowed it.
“Embroider Maiden Sister, how’s Weiwei Sister?” Da Ya asked.
“She’s doing all right. She woke up, and we talked for a bit.”
“That’s great! Embroider Maiden Sister, you must be hungry. I’ll go make you some food!”
“Thank you.”
While Da Ya cooked, Eldest Sister Li took a quick bath. After dinner, she took her two daughters back to the west room. Embroider Maiden followed Wu Wei’s instructions. She found the cloth Gao Ningxue had sent before, cut off a piece, and used the gold leaves dipped in ink to trace the pattern onto it.
Before bed, she also applied some herbal medicine to the soles of her two feet.
The next day, Embroider Maiden went with Eldest Sister Li to Hundred Flavors Building again. Using the excuse Wu Wei had suggested, the waiter agreed readily. He even said her timing was perfect—the accounts office was just about to send someone to the capital with the ledgers, departing in a few days.
Worried that Eldest Sister Li might wear herself out, Embroider Maiden didn’t mention going back to the county seat. They headed straight home.
Every three days after that, Embroider Maiden and Eldest Sister Li would make a trip. They’d get medicine from Returning Spring Hall, buy some food from Hundred Flavors Building and pick up any news, then deliver it all to the County Yamen Jail.
Embroider Maiden heard from Wu Wei that during this time, Zhang Kuan had questioned Wu Wei once more, probing indirectly about various matters. Wu Wei had deftly deflected him.
In the blink of an eye, a dozen more days passed, and Second Lady Liu went into labor.
Embroider Maiden stood in the yard, her eyes reddening several times as she listened to her second sister’s heart-wrenching screams from inside the house. Two hours later, Zhang Shuisheng arrived with the old doctor from Returning Spring Hall. Even a tough man like him panicked at Second Lady Liu’s cries. He grabbed the old doctor and pleaded desperately for help.
The old doctor arrived at the delivery room door carrying his medicine box, his expression grave. But Old Lady Zhang blocked his path.
Zhang Shuisheng went to his mother, eyes red-rimmed. “Mother, Weiwei said we can’t avoid doctors out of superstition. Let the old gentleman in, please.”
The old doctor added, “Old Madam, a healer’s heart is like that of a parent. I’ve practiced medicine for half a lifetime. I know what I’m doing.”
Embroider Maiden came to the delivery room door too, gazing at Old Lady Zhang with pleading eyes.
Old Lady Zhang hesitated for a long moment before lifting the door curtain to let the old doctor inside.
Basin after basin of bloody water was carried out and dumped into the slop bucket. Embroider Maiden boiled water, Zhang Shuisheng hauled it, and Old Lady Zhang went in and out repeatedly, delivering fresh water and emptying the used.
Another hour of ordeal passed. A baby’s lusty cry finally shattered all the anxiety and tension. Embroider Maiden and Zhang Shuisheng rushed to the delivery room door. The old doctor emerged first, wiping his sweat.
Zhang Shuisheng and Embroider Maiden spoke at once. “Old sir, how’s Second Niang? How’s my second sister?”
The old doctor wiped his brow. “Do you have paper and brush? I’ll write a prescription. Shuisheng, take it to the nearest apothecary. I’ve given Lady Zhang some pills I had with me.”
Embroider Maiden’s heart clenched. “Old sir, what’s wrong with my second sister?”
“The baby was big. It took a lot out of her. Lady Zhang lost a lot of blood and qi. She needs immediate tonics to replenish her and careful nursing.”
Second Lady Liu had given birth to a plump, fair-skinned baby boy. Old Lady Zhang was overjoyed and gave the midwife another two taels of silver.
…
Embroider Maiden held a tray with freshly simmered chicken soup and a bowl of thick medicinal broth. For a moment, she wasn’t sure which one her second sister should drink first.
Second Lady Liu leaned against the kang, her face pale. She grinned at Embroider Maiden, picked up the medicine bowl, and drained it. “The soup can wait. Life comes first.”
Embroider Maiden set the tray down and sat quietly on the kang, taking Second Lady Liu’s hand.
“Where’s the baby?”
“Old Madam took him to the east room. She said to rest now and bring him back when it’s time to nurse.”
“And your husband?”
“He went to see off the midwife and the old doctor from Returning Spring Hall. Second Brother-in-law told me to let you know he’ll grab a few more doses of medicine from Returning Spring Hall on the way and buy some live fish from the market. He’ll be home before dark.”
Second Lady Liu patted her now-flat belly, still shaken. “I thought I wasn’t going to make it. That midwife just kept yelling at me to push, not caring how much pain I was in! Thank goodness the old doctor from Returning Spring Hall slipped two slices of ginseng under my tongue, then did acupuncture and fed me pills. That got the qi in my chest flowing again. Otherwise…”
“It’s a day for celebration, Second Sister. Don’t talk like that. The old doctor said you should stay in confinement for the full two months to recover properly. That’s the important thing.”
Second Lady Liu let out a sigh. She eyed Embroider Maiden, whose face was still streaked with soot she hadn’t had a chance to wash off yet. Speaking slowly, she said, “In the past… I always heard the elders say that giving birth is like taking a trip through the gates of hell. I half-believed it, wondering: What woman doesn’t give birth? They all do it, and families bustling with seven or eight people under one roof still manage to thrive just fine, right?”
Embroider Maiden looked puzzled as she gazed at her second sister. Then she heard Second Lady Liu continue. “All these years, I’ve wanted nothing more than to have a few children of my own. I’ve tried every folk remedy and homemade method out there. I’ve begged the gods and burned incense without end. Only today do I finally understand—heaven kept me from having children too soon because it was protecting me. If not for Weiwei… I’m afraid they’d have carried me out feet first by now.”
“Second Sis… it wouldn’t come to that. Brother-in-law is a good man.”
“I’m not saying he’s a bad one. It’s just that he doesn’t understand. If Weiwei hadn’t spotted months ago that my belly was bigger than most pregnant women’s—and instructed me on what to eat and use, told me to walk more and not laze in bed, then nagged your brother-in-law over and over to fetch a doctor—would I even be sitting here talking to you right now?”
Second Lady Liu patted the back of Embroider Maiden’s hand, her voice heavy with meaning. “My in-laws are good people—the very best kind. You couldn’t hope for a finer family. But getting them to fork over real silver and gold? That pains them, and who could blame them? It’s only human. It’s just like I used to think: Women are meant to bear children, so why make such a fuss about it? Only when it was my own turn to endure did I grasp the true suffering involved. Third Maiden, our family back home offers no real support, and we’re no delicate flowers from noble houses or rich merchant clans. Even if we did find a match, it’d be no better than my in-laws—and that’s on a good day. At your age, after all those messy heartaches from before, landing a decent family sounds even tougher.”
“Second Sis, I…” Embroider Maiden started to say she had no intention of marrying, but the words caught in her throat.
To her surprise, Second Lady Liu went on. “I see Weiwei doesn’t seem keen on marriage either. She’s no ordinary woman—regular families wouldn’t be worthy of her. And at her age, finding a man around the same years would just mean stepping in as a stepmother. I think you two are just fine the way you are.”
Supportive sister