The maid lowered the bed curtains and saw Ban Qin sitting quietly in the outer hall.
The young girl was no longer crying, but her expression was still uneasy, her gaze restless. Upon seeing the maid, she quickly bowed in greeting.
“Miss is asleep.” The maid returned the greeting hurriedly and knelt down beside her, observing her closely. “She has a habit of taking short naps.”
Ban Qin lowered her head.
“Yes, yes,” she murmured. “I know…”
As soon as the words left her lips, tears welled up again and fell uncontrollably.
“You… would you like to freshen up and change into some clean clothes?” the maid asked softly while studying Ban Qin.
Ban Qin glanced at herself. Though she had changed before attempting to hang herself, the ordeal had left her clothes in disarray. Lowering her head, she caught sight of the maid’s pristine, plain hem out of the corner of her eye. It wasn’t just the clothing—this maid carried herself with grace and spoke with warmth.
Ban Qin lowered her head further, feeling even more ashamed.
“Th-thank you,” she murmured, her voice trembling.
“You’re about the same size as me,” the maid quickly noted her unease and shifted the conversation. “There’s no need to go back for your clothes. If you don’t mind, you can wear mine for now.”
“N-no, how could I ever mind? It’s you who shouldn’t mind me.” Ban Qin’s voice wavered, her head still bowed.
“Alright, no need to be so formal,” the maid said with a smile, gently patting Ban Qin’s arm before standing up. “I’ll go have them heat some water. Just wait here for a bit.”
Ban Qin quickly answered, watching the maid step out. Suddenly remembering her manners, she hurriedly called out her thanks.
This girl may have been a servant in name, but she clearly wasn’t born into servitude—at least, she hadn’t been trained as one.
The maid gave a small smile, signaling her to relax.
“Just listen for Miss,” she said in a hushed, amused tone. “She won’t sleep for long.”
Ban Qin immediately responded with a soft “Yes.”
The maid looked at Ban Qin, now dressed in fresh clothes, and let out a soft murmur of admiration.
“It fits perfectly,” she said with a smile, stepping forward to help adjust the fabric. Noticing the dark bruise around Ban Qin’s neck, she subtly tugged the collar up to cover it, pretending not to pay it any mind.
Ban Qin lowered her head. She couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling, but the tears threatened to fall again.
“Come, sit down. I’ll help dry your hair,” the maid said cheerfully, gently pushing her to sit before shaking out a towel and beginning to pat her hair dry.
At first, Ban Qin hesitated, unsure if she should accept the kindness. But refusing outright felt impossible, so she eventually sat still, quietly drying the other side of her hair herself.
The maid kept up a light conversation, speaking in a warm, steady rhythm. Slowly, Ban Qin found herself feeling just a little more at ease.
“Who did you serve in your household before?” Ban Qin hesitantly asked.
She hadn’t particularly meant to ask this question—she simply wanted to say something, anything.
“Me?” The maid smiled. “I served the old master in my family.”
The old master?
Ban Qin was about to respond when a voice came from the inner room.
“Ban Qin.”
It was Cheng Jiao-niang calling her.
Two voices answered at once.
The maid glanced at Ban Qin, who quickly lowered her head in nervousness.
“Miss is awake. I’ll go check on her first,” the maid said with a small smile, patting Ban Qin’s shoulder lightly before heading inside.
Ban Qin stared blankly at the swaying curtain for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
Inside the room, Cheng Jiao-niang finished a cup of water, and the maid reached out to take the empty cup from her.
“I’ve made taro porridge. Would you like some?” the maid asked.
“Did you add lotus root?” Cheng Jiao-niang inquired.
The maid nodded.
“Then I’ll have a little,” Cheng Jiao-niang said with a nod.
The maid acknowledged the request and left the room.
Now, only Cheng Jiao-niang and Ban Qin remained inside.
Ban Qin had kept her head lowered the entire time. Now, hearing the maid leave, she couldn’t suppress her trembling once again.
“You know, I used to be unaccustomed to speaking. Now, I simply don’t like to,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
“I… I know,” Ban Qin answered hoarsely.
The moment she spoke, tears welled up uncontrollably. She didn’t dare cry out loud, forcing herself to hold it in. Her already bitten lips cracked open again, fresh blood seeping out. No longer able to restrain herself, tears streamed down her face. She hurriedly wiped them away in a fluster.
Cheng Jiao-niang watched her in silence for a moment.
“Do you wish to come back?” she asked.
Anyone with dignity wouldn’t dare say yes. But…
Ban Qin prostrated herself on the ground.
Once, she had recklessly followed her heart and made a terrible mistake.
So why couldn’t she cast aside her pride just as recklessly—this time, to pursue what she truly wanted?
“I wish to come back,” Ban Qin sobbed, bowing her head to the floor.
“Then come back,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Ban Qin looked up in disbelief, her tear-filled eyes blurring the lady’s expression before her.
“But I don’t need too many people by my side,” Cheng Jiao-niang continued.
Ban Qin bit her lower lip, not daring to speak.
She had said what she wanted to say. No matter the outcome, she was ready to accept it.
“You will go to the other house,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The other house?
Ban Qin hesitated, momentarily unable to process the words. She lifted her head to look at Cheng Jiao-niang, confusion in her eyes.
The door was knocked on, and when Jin Ge’er opened it, he was surprised.
“Ban Qin, you’re here again!” he exclaimed excitedly.
The maid stepped down from the carriage, smiling as she tossed him a packet of candied fruits.
Hearing the commotion, the young maid also came out. Just as she was about to greet them, she saw the maid helping another girl down from the carriage.
“No need for introductions—you all know each other, right?” the maid said with a smile, gesturing toward Ban Qin.
The young maid and Jin Ge’er stared at Ban Qin, momentarily stunned.
Ban Qin hadn’t been in the Cheng household for long—by the time the young maid arrived, Ban Qin had already left, and her memory of her was faint.
As for Jin Ge’er, he had never met her at all.
“You are… Ban Qin?” The young maid was momentarily stunned before recognizing her.
Hearing this, Jin Ge’er also suddenly realized.
“Oh! You’re the Ban Qin who used to serve our lady but then ran off with someone!” he blurted out.
Ban Qin’s face turned deathly pale as she lowered her head.
The maid quickly raised her hand and smacked Jin Ge’er.
“What nonsense are you shouting?” she scolded, glaring at him. “Ban Qin belongs to the Zhou family. Returning to where she came from is only natural.”
Jin Ge’er realized he had spoken too bluntly and awkwardly scratched his head, falling silent.
“M-my sister also asked me to thank you!” Jin Ge’er suddenly thought of a way to recover from his blunder and quickly spoke up. “It was because she remembered your kindness that she asked me to take care of our lady.”
Ban Qin forced a smile.
“Your sister is…?” she asked.
“Chun Lan! Chun Lan, who serves Fourth Young Master. Didn’t you help cure his illness?” Jin Ge’er explained.
She could treat illnesses?
As expected of someone who had once served their lady—both the young maid and the other maid turned to look at Ban Qin in a new light.
Ban Qin might not be skilled in much else now, but she had certainly improved in reading people’s expressions. She forced another weak smile.
“No,” Ban Qin said, looking at Jin Ge’er. “I didn’t cure Fourth Young Master’s illness. It was our lady who did. Everything I did, our lady taught me.”
Jin Ge’er was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood.
“This is the house our lady bought,” the maid said, pulling Ban Qin aside. She clearly didn’t want to call her by name, so she simply refrained from addressing her. “Jin Ge’er’s been bored living here alone, so you’re here to help him, tidy up, and clean.”
She paused for a moment, then gave Ban Qin’s book a playful tap, leaning in a bit closer.
“Jin Ge’er is young and doesn’t always know what he’s saying, so please be patient with him,” she said with a smile.
Ban Qin shook her head, stopping her from saying more.
“I understand,” she said. “As long as I listen to our lady, it’s the right thing to do. I won’t overthink it. The truth is the truth. If I can’t accept that and still worry about what others say, how can I ever move forward?”
The maid smiled softly and patted Ban Qin’s hand.
“That’s right,” she said with a laugh. “You’re also called Ban Qin, so you are no ordinary person too.” She covered her mouth, chuckling. “Oh dear, I’m praising myself again. Don’t laugh at me.”
Ban Qin smiled, though it was still a bit timid, the unease in her eyes had lessened considerably as she watched the maid board the carriage and leave.
“I have rice cooking in the pot; it’s just enough for the three of us,” the young maid said, smiling as she called to Jin Ge’er. “Go gather some firewood.”
Jin Ge’er nodded and was about to go, but Ban Qin quickly stepped forward.
“I’ll do it,” she said, stepping into the courtyard.
The maid smiled and followed, while Jin Ge’er walked behind, turning to close the door.
Having two extra people made things livelier, but…
“So many Ban Qins,” the young boy scratched his head, a troubled look on his face. “How should I address them?”
