Chapter 65: Nanny Gui's Death

The woodshed reeked—rats in the dark gnawing wood—night sounds—chill in the chest.
Gui huddled alone. Years as favored nanny—second and third branches paid respect—life better than many common folk. Easy down from luxury—hard up from ease—she was no low maid for a woodshed.
Thin clothes held no cold—but heart colder. Four maids locked with her—Yue's maids dosed dumb—live or not unknown—Qing's maids sold to ninth-grade brothel—Ren's cruelty—Gui feared her own end.
Ren would not spare her—witness to Qing's shame—key player—Shen Miao was the target—Qing ruined instead—such a woman—no mercy.
*Tap, tap, tap*—footsteps outside—clear in night.
Gui stiff—stared at the door blind with fear.
Hope or doom—behind the door—Ren's silencer—or a thread of life?
Steps unhurried—death drum on her heart—fat body melted—sweat—shaking.
*Creak*—door opened.
Green lantern in hand—ghost color—demon light here. Gui looked up—a figure in white cloak—entered—shut the door.
Only green glow—will-o'-wisp. Cloak fell—young fair face—Shen Miao.
Slender girl—round gentle features green-lit—strange calm—cloud-light brow—hell's collector—hard to meet the eyes.
Gui blank—then joy: "Miss!"
Lantern on floor—Shen Miao knelt before her—smile: "Nanny—all right?"
"Miss—you came! This old servant knew you'd save me! Miss is kind—would never abandon me!" Lifeline—Gui seized her skirt—tears—twelve parts wronged—Miss most trusted kin.
Shen Miao glanced at the gripping hand—smile: "Nanny suffered here."
Gui paused—studied her. Warm smile—calm—no ripple at her plea. Horror—years at side—cannot read her mind now. "This old life served Miss loyal. Wolong—I stumbled on it by accident—Miss—I am clean!"
"Nanny truly takes me for hope." Shen Miao sighed. "But how save you? In this house who hears me? East wing orders—what power have I to refuse?"
"Miss has ways!" Gui urgent. Logic said Fifth alone could change nothing—Shen Xin away—second and third only polite—yet survival clung to Fifth—would not let go. "Beg Old Madam—or write Master—his word—they must obey!"
Eyes bright—hope on Shen Miao.
Soft laugh—shake head—slow: "Father's word could save you. But—why?"
Gui frozen.
"Why should I run and scheme for a servant?" Voice faint mock—green fire—she did not see Gui at all.
Panic—never expected this. Watched her grow—recent cold only child temper—knew Fifth soft—Wolong even heart-talk—reuse her—why new face?
Someone poisoned Miss—Guyu and Jingzhe—always against her—now she fell—they surely slandered.
"Miss—this old servant since your birth—years alone with you when master and madam away—" sob—"Miss remembered—fever night—rain—ran for doctor—injury ever since—"
Every line old kindness—eyes on Shen Miao. First branch heavy on grace—military house—repay debt—Gui traded debt for mercy.
Head bowed—light smile—no touch of moved—as if story amused. Soft: "Nanny was good to me once—how did I—and my branch—treat Nanny?"
Gui hesitated: "Master and madam excellent—Miss excellent—face and silver—never scolded—"
"More—" Shen Miao took the words—"your son—grandson—helped where I could. West yard—you alone biggest—not servant but kin—trust, closeness, always you—is it not?"
"Yes." True—Fifth young easy coax—Gui ruled her word—half master of west yard.
"Then I treated you so well—why betray me?"
Light sentence—Gui in memory—soul scattered. "What!"
"No surprise face—" smile—"when I learned your heart—I was surprised a thousand—ten thousand times more."
"Miss—someone slanders—never betrayed—impossible—believe me!" Fast—panic passed—grievance sky-high—prove loyalty.
"Enough." Wave—impatience faint. "Wolong—food in meal—aphrodisiac incense—Second Aunt's skill—called you trusted."
Word by word—last syllable—Gui could not speak.
Blank horror at Shen Miao.
"Nanny likely illiterate—mantis catches cicada—yellow bird behind—you served two masters—which wins—Second Aunt or me?"
"You—did you—" hard words.
"Yes. Me." Voice low—only Gui heard. "Victim should be me—why Eldest Sister—no accident—all my doing."
Guessed one thing—heard another—Gui terror—girl half-kneeling smiling—eyes green-beast bright—night terrible—white tender face—how so awful?
After woodshed she had wondered the swap—maybe Fifth—absurd—knew her weight—fool soft—could never—now admitted bare—another would be stupid proud—she dared not see Fifth ordinary again.
"Miss—" mouth open—nothing—if Fifth knew—no rescue.
"Second Aunt fierce—valued you—after this—no future—pity." Pity real-sounding.
Fear of Ren—hope from Fifth—kowtow—bang bang—"Save this old life—not mean harm—Second Madam threatened son and grandson—forced—for master and madam—for years serving—save me!"
Head on floor—once Fifth's respect would never allow—now—Ming Qi empress—officials knelt—traitor slave—not worth it!
"Tonight I came—repay years of grace." Sudden.
Joy burst—loud: "Knew Miss kind—virtue—Buddha bless—enemies die bad!"
Amused inside—Gui's fence-riding breathtaking.
Louder: "More—Wolong heart-talk—from then I knew—only Nanny truly good to me."
Gui blank—hate then soothe—hope anyway—"Yes—only Miss—loyal forever!"
Outside—a bump—Gui jumped—looked—black—nothing—turned back pitiful: "Miss—take me out—dark damp—old bones won't last—"
"Fear not—won't last long—you're nearly dead."
"What?" Blank up—"don't understand—"
"Outside—Second Aunt's man—found me visiting—no road left for Nanny—yes?"
"Don't—" sat up—unease—meaning unclear.
"Don't understand?" Head tilted—"what did Nanny shout—remember?"
Gui thought—face white.
Loud: *Only Miss—loyal to Miss alone.*
To coax Fifth—to save— but Ren's man hears—Qing swapped with Fifth—suspicion—how foreknow—unless Gui told Fifth—plotted together—fits.
Not truth—in Ren's ears—truth.
Before fear—again soft: "My gift of gratitude—well received?"
Gui stared—all night led by nose—believe her speak—roles reversed—Fifth unfathomable—turn face—purpose unknown.
"One purpose—send Nanny on the road." Smile guessed her thought.
Tremble—want cry scream—no sound—infant became girl—other face never seen—want fight—beast eyes—only shake.
"Shen house keeps no traitors—ghost on yellow road—revenge—I fear not—fight again." Colder than smile: "Not I failed you—you failed me."
"Pity son and grandson—Second Aunt finishes clean—reunion soon."
"No—" snot and tears—"save them—"
"Traitor—not worth my effort. Doing nothing—is my greatest mercy."
Lean close—childhood whisper tone—flat: "For ten years master and servant—I came last look."
"Nanny—safe journey."
Pretty smile on small face—cruel enough to stop hearts.
Gui tried speak—Shen Miao stood—cloak—white sweep like funeral paper—green lantern out—door shut—dark—despair flood.
Outside Bailu and Shuangjiang exhaled—helped her away.
After—bushes—a woman watched her back—the shut door—hate on face.
……
Rain several days—sky cleared.
General's house seemed calm—east wing medicine smell—recent storm remembered.
Qing's mind slowly returned—not mad at every face—Ren locked Caiyun Garden—fear suicide—always watching—house affairs to Chen Ruoqiu—Ren rarely left—Fifth had quiet days.
Yet things moved. Days later Gui executed—crime: collude with villains—harm Qing. None spoke Qing's matter to Fifth—not settled—Rongjing words made them fear—dare not touch Fifth—dared touch Nanny Gui.
By law beating death—big crimes rod—small poison cup—deed in master's hand—life death ignored.
Gui died ugly—limbs broken living—no whole bone—seven holes blood—horror—bearers dared not look—Ren ordered Fifth collect corpse.
Xianglan: "Madame says—Gui erred—still Fifth's servant—burial Fifth arranges—corpse in west yard—go see."
All wanted Fifth panicked—Gui was confidante—tragic death—grief expected.
Ren thought Fifth would blame herself for Gui. That day before all west yard—Fifth lifted white cloth—looked—no flinch.
Xianglan startled—Fifth cold shouted: "Gui bullied up and down—slave over master—arrogant—such servant—even without crime—west yard would not keep. See clear—copy Gui—same end!"
Most west yard were second-third eyes—Gui alone ruled—Gui dead—Fifth so cold—fear rose.
Xianglan reported Caiyun—bad.
"Trapped!" Ren—cup fell—shards.
"Caiju puzzled."
Ren gritted: "Gui was raft—wretch long wanted her gone—used our hand—west yard awe—clever abacus!"
Not fool—Qing matter—mother lost calm—spy saw Fifth visit Gui—heard loyalty—Ren sure Fifth and Gui swapped Qing—hate flood—Fifth untouchable—Gui movable—cruelest death—expected Fifth break—Xianglan report—played by Fifth.
Her trap—borrowed knife—Fifth best player.
Years smooth rear court—Gui's concubines tamed—repeated loss to yellow-haired girl—rage.
"Letter to Prince Yu delivered?"
"Yes—but master will rage if he knows."
Gui hid from Yu—hope Yu never learns—Ren wanted Yu know now—capricious—cheated under nose—must die.
Even fight with Shen Gui—revenge Qing—Fifth threatened whole house—dare threaten Yu?
"I want her—no grave!" Teeth.
……
"Miss chess again." Bailu shook head—"Alone—what fun?"
"Else what?" Shuangjiang glanced—"House arrest—yard locked—days empty."
"Hush—" Bailu small—"confinement hurts—don't anger her."
Shuangjiang muttered: "Our Miss wouldn't anger."
Long since anger—barely any feeling. Old Fifth fool-soft—clear joy sorrow—now maids cannot read her. Growth slow—Fifth changed one night—from weak to flat—none know how.
"Bailu." Shen Miao called—Bailu answered.
"Gold box in silver jewelry chest—pawn when you can."
"Yes—" pause—"yesterday pawned one—last chest."
"No matter—useless soon. After—give note to Jingzhe—send Guyu in."
Bailu left puzzled—urgent silver—for what?
Pleasure Tower—Dingjing's largest—center of wealth—opposite a row of pleasure houses—banquets then flowers upstairs—top pure courtesans—middle famous—bottom ninth-grade dens—no "tower"—only "class" or "pit."
Sanfu Class opposite Pleasure Tower—lowest—labor clients—dying girls thrown—beggars take—for rape or sell clothes—hell beside Pleasure Tower's polish.
Window seat—white sleeves spotless—young man frowned at Sanfu—new girl thrown—struggle—jealous mistress sells pretty maid.
"Cruel." White man shook head—pity tone—no move to help.
Opposite purple youth poured wine flat: "Man entered Prince Yu's mansion—found or not—unknown."
"Then?" White turned.
"Keep looking." Crooked smile—beauty—lute girl wrong note.
"Xie San—charm grows—how do I live?" He sighed playfully—also handsome—beside purple—lazy nobility—sun eyes—eclipse all beside.
"Gao Yang—you like—I grant a roomful?" Xie glance.
"No—" Gao Yang waved bitter—"beauty from afar—no energy. You—" sip wine—"youth should have roses—Ming Qi would flock."
"Rose confidante—" Xie smiled—"maybe pink skeleton."
"Don't frighten—" Gao Yang pointed across—"girls cute—not skull talk."
Xie looked—stopped—black eyes surprise.
"Why him?"