“Guess what I’ve brought for you?” Zhenzhen pushed open the door and walked in with a small soup bowl.

Seeing Rongrong awake and in better spirits, Zhenzhen’s earlier worries seemed to have vanished.

Rongrong, still groggy from lying in bed for a while, heard Zhenzhen’s voice and saw her bright, cheerful face.

It made Rongrong feel much better.

“Why are you coming so late? I thought you’d already gone to bed.”

“I was about to, but the Young Master stayed in the study after dinner, and I had to serve him supper and help him change clothes before coming back,” Zhenzhen explained.

She entered the inner room, took off her cloak, and placed the soup bowl next to the charcoal stove.

She rubbed her hands together to warm them; her fingers, exposed and red from the cold, looked like white onions.

Rongrong, having spent most of the day in bed, had become familiar with the original owner’s memories.

Although Young Master Xie Yuanchu and his wife, Lady Wang Yilan, weren’t affectionate, Xie Yuanchu always respected his wife and never openly contradicted her.

Rongrong wondered why, after having dinner with Lady Wang, he had returned to the study so late.

Could it be that Zhenzhen’s meddling had actually succeeded?

Zhenzhen, seeing Rongrong’s confusion, smiled triumphantly and said, “After dinner, the Young Master went to the Eastern Palace to report to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince kept him there for a long discussion, so he returned too late to go to Rongkang Courtyard.”

The Crown Prince…

Thinking about the distant, hazy figure, which felt so disconnected from her yet filled her thoughts whenever she closed her eyes, Rongrong felt a sharp pang in her heart.

Her smile faltered, leaving her face an odd mix of grief and confusion.

Fortunately, Zhenzhen didn’t notice Rongrong’s expression.

After warming her hands, she carried the soup bowl to Rongrong.

“I didn’t want to wake you, but this is a rare treat. Drink it quickly; it might help you feel better tomorrow!”

“I’ve been lying here all day, so I’m not sleepy at all. What’s this special treat?”

“Milk and bird’s nest, very nourishing. The young master specifically saved this for you,” Zhenzhen said.

Even though Zhenzhen and Rongrong, being senior maids, often see bird’s nest—a precious delicacy—they never get to eat it.

Xie Yuanchu was generous but wouldn’t usually reward maids with such extravagant items; they might receive small trinkets like carved wooden items or hairpins.

This bowl of milk and bird’s nest was indeed a special exception from Xie Yuanchu.

If it were the original owner, they would have been deeply moved, believing Xie Yuanchu was truly fond of them.

However, Rongrong knew it was a reward given because the original owner had nearly frozen to death.

Xie Yuanchu wouldn’t blame Wang Shi, and once this life-threatening issue was settled, it would be considered resolved.

Seeing the bird’s nest, Rongrong’s resolve to buy her freedom grew stronger.

In her past life, she had enjoyed undeserved luxuries, which led to her tragic end.

Even though she was still somewhat confused in this life, she knew she had to take her second chance seriously.

So she smiled and shook her head. “If it’s something the young master doesn’t need, it should be returned to the kitchen. There’s no reason for it to be brought to me.”

Zhenzhen insisted, pushing the bowl toward her. “Why worry? I brought this directly from the study. There was no one along the way who would have seen it. Even if someone did, it was a gift from the young master, so it’s perfectly proper.”

“The young master’s wife oversees the household. If you bring me the bird’s nest, she would definitely know about it.”

Hearing this, Zhenzhen looked helpless. “You’re really something… This time, she has truly scared you.”

Rongrong didn’t argue further but followed Zhenzhen’s lead. “After facing death, of course, I’m scared. Zhenzhen, you’re my best friend. I’m going to tell you something from the bottom of my heart. I’ve decided to buy my freedom and leave the household. Even if life outside is tough, at least I’ll be alive.”

“Are you serious?” Zhenzhen looked at Rongrong in shock.

Rongrong responded with a look, not words.

After a moment of silence, Zhenzhen finally said, “Well, you still have family outside. It’s probably better for you to leave.”

Before Rongrong could reply, Zhenzhen started calculating. “I’ve saved up eight taels of silver, and with what you’ve saved, it should be about enough.”

“No need to use your savings. I’ll figure out how to get the money for the ransom,” Rongrong said, touched by Zhenzhen’s offer.

She quickly declined, feeling that it wasn’t right to use Zhenzhen’s hard-earned money. “You should keep your money. You might need it for your own ransom in the future!”

“You’ve forgotten. My indenture is different from yours. Your parents signed a contract for you to be a servant, which only cost six taels from the Duke’s residence. Mine is a death contract, and it requires a hundred taels to redeem!”

A hundred taels was a lifetime’s worth of savings for a common family.

Even as a senior maid in the Duke’s residence, with a monthly salary of just one tael, saving up that much would take an incredibly long time.

Zhenzhen, seeing Rongrong’s changed expression, couldn’t help but laugh. “Why are you looking at me like that? I don’t want to redeem myself at all. Even if it were a thousand taels, it wouldn’t concern me.”

After a pause, Zhenzhen added, “Eight taels is nothing. Once I become the Young Master’s concubine, I’ll receive ten taels of monthly allowance, and the Young Master is so fond of me that I’ll probably receive many other gifts!”

Hearing this, Rongrong felt a mix of emotions and didn’t know what to say.

She was indeed short on money, but since Zhenzhen insisted, she decided to hold off for now.

She could save up as much as possible and borrow the rest from Zhenzhen if needed, with proper documentation.

“Anyway, you’re leaving the residence soon and don’t need to worry about that woman from Rongkang Courtyard. Just eat this bird’s nest,” Zhenzhen said, seeing Rongrong finally smile as she handed the soup bowl to her.

Since it was prepared for Xie Yuanchu, the bird’s nest was of the finest quality, made with golden nest swallows and fresh milk, and stewed to perfection, rich and smooth.

But as soon as Rongrong took a bite, she spat it out.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?” Zhenzhen asked in alarm, quickly taking the bowl from Rongrong and wiping her mouth with a cloth.

“I can’t stand the smell of the milk. I’m sorry for wasting such a good thing you brought,” Rongrong said with guilt, tears silently streaming down her face.

In her past life, she always used bird’s nest soup and milk every day, even up to her death.

If she hadn’t eaten that bowl of bird’s nest soup, perhaps she wouldn’t have died, and her child would still be alive!

Zhenzhen said impatiently, “What does it matter if it’s wasted or not?” She quickly cleaned up the mess from the floor with a dustpan and broom she grabbed from the corner.

“I’m suddenly feeling a bit tired. I want to lie down first.”

“Okay, you rest. I’ll sleep in your room tonight. If anything happens, just call me. I must cure your illness within ten days.”

“Why?”

“The young master said he’s going to a hot spring villa in the countryside in ten days. I’ll have to go with him. If you’re still sick by then, how can I be at ease?”

“The hot spring villa?” Rongrong became alert. “Will the young master’s wife go?”

“The young master wants to relax, so he won’t take her along. He said he’s taking me along for a good time,” Zhenzhen said with a proud look, clearly looking forward to the trip.

Seeing Zhenzhen’s eager expression, Rongrong felt heavy-hearted.

Xie Yuanchu had always intended to keep these two maidservants, and since there were the lord and lady of the house and a jealous wife, his behavior was restrained.

If he only took Zhenzhen to the hot spring villa, perhaps… was he planning something?

She could see Zhenzhen was willing, but things between a master and a maidservant weren’t as simple as cooking rice.

The past experience of Jing Rong was a lesson.

But if she spoke directly, Zhenzhen, with her deep affection for Xie Yuanchu, would surely not listen.

It’s tough being a concubine, but as Zhenzhen said, she couldn’t guide her to a better path.

Zhenzhen was different from her; she lost her parents at a young age and had no relatives left.

Xie Yuanchu and the original master were probably the best people for her.

But Xie Yuanchu could take care of Zhenzhen, while she couldn’t.

If she stopped Zhenzhen from becoming a concubine, could she make Zhenzhen’s life better?

It’s best to let things happen naturally.

Since Rongrong had only known Zhenzhen for a day, she decided to be cautious, listening more and speaking less.

“Rongrong, are you unhappy?” Zhenzhen noticed Rongrong’s silence and, with a playful tone, grabbed her sleeve and shook it.

“No,” Rongrong said, wishing to stay as far away from Xie Yuanchu as possible.

“Actually, I did ask the Young Master to take you with him. But this time, there are not just people from the Duke’s residence but also important people from the Eastern Palace.”

Important people from the East Palace?

Rongrong was taken aback, staring at Zhenzhen. “The Crown Prince is going to the Duke’s hot spring villa?”

“Yes,” Zhenzhen confirmed. “The Young Master is very close to the Crown Prince. Since he’ll be away from the capital for a while, he wants to catch up. The Crown Prince is bringing the young imperial grandson with him. Since the child is young, the Young Master is afraid you might pass your illness to him, so he’s not taking you along.”

The Crown Prince… the imperial grandson…

From the original owner’s memories, Rongrong knew that while there was no Crown Princess in the East Palace, there was a four-year-old imperial grandson.

Four years old… If she hadn’t died in her previous life, her child would be around that age.

At that time, there seemed to be no other women in the East Palace, so could this imperial grandson be her child?

The thought seemed absurd to Rongrong, but she couldn’t dismiss it.

It couldn’t be.

She remembered the excruciating pain she felt and knew her child had probably died with her.

Yet, another voice in her mind argued that she survived, so perhaps the child did too.

The child had a dragon’s bloodline, which was far superior to hers.

Rongrong remembered the calls for “Mother” from her chaotic dreams.

This vivid memory made her believe that her child was still alive, or at least living in some other form.

She had to see the imperial grandson.

“Zhenzhen, the Young Master is going to the hot spring villa in ten days. If I recover in the next couple of days, can the Young Master take me along?”

“So you finally admit it?” Zhenzhen teased. “I knew you were just jealous.”

Rongrong realized she was being misunderstood as being jealous, but she didn’t bother to correct it.

She only pleaded, “Last time, when the Young Master was away, I almost lost my life because of that woman from Rongkang Courtyard. I survived only thanks to your care. If both the Young Master and you are not around, I’m really worried she’ll come after me again.”

Hearing this, Zhenzhen also felt troubled. “You’re right, but your illness is so severe. It’s not something that can be cured in just a couple of days.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll go out tomorrow to see a doctor and get a prescription,” Rongrong said.

“Well…” Zhenzhen finally agreed, “I’m looking forward to going with you. You must recover quickly.”

After making this plan with Zhenzhen, Rongrong went out the next day to consult a doctor in the capital.

The doctor confirmed it was a cold, but with the severity of the chill, prescribed medicine.

Rongrong followed the prescription closely, taking nine days’ worth of herbs in just three days.

In her previous life, Rongrong had learned basic medical knowledge and understood that controlling the dosage was crucial.

Too little wouldn’t cure the illness, while too much, though effective, could harm her health.

Determined to recover quickly, Rongrong paid no attention to the potential harm.

After such intense treatment, she indeed regained her health in three days.

Seeing her back to normal, Xie Yuanchu was pleased and, without waiting for Zhenzhen to bring it up, mentioned the trip to the hot spring villa himself.