Chapter 66: With Child

Sanfu Class daily received girls—young or faded—entry meant no exit—despair and bleak end.
Today same.
Two fresh maids thrown in—among wilted women—green onions—wrong place.
"No grooming needed." Fat madam looked—"Pretty—soft skin—how long lasts—tea room."
Trembling—Yanmei and Shuibi—Ren sent to ninth-grade pit—served Qing since childhood—favored—never hardship—hell seen—tears gone—madam crushed hope: "Watch them—no suicide."
No death—only endless clients—world spun.
Outside Sanfu—a young man walked—young—not laborer's air. Door girl: "Wrong road, sir—this is Sanfu Class—upstairs is towers."
Meaning—his rank should not be here—poorest only.
"Those bore me." Low voice: "New girls today?"
Door girl understood—rich novelty—cheap play—smile: "Right place—two new—official house erring maids—served young lady—pretty—price bit higher."
"Show me."
Into tea room.
Sanfu lowest—not only labor—cheap girls. One tea—skill and soft tongue might earn pastry—silver never theirs—clients stingy—one copper more rare.
Today youth ordered tea and pastry—generous here—girls brought Yanmei and Shuibi—thin gauze forced—autumn shiver—barely cover—terror.
Door girl fawned: "Sir enjoy—I'll go." Passing maids—threat: "Serve well."
Alone—Yanmei hesitant—no move—small: "Sir—" humiliation deep—Caiyun favorites—whole house respected—now beds of thousands—Ren destroyed years in one throw—worse than enemy.
"Want to leave?" youth sudden.
Both blank—Shuibi doubt—Yanmei dropped kowtow: "If sir takes us—we serve life—repay forever."
Here worse than death—follow one man—better than pit.
Shuibi reminded—kowtow: "Save us—anything!"
Youth nearly choked tea—turned awkward. Mo Qing—Shen house outer guard—Shen Miao's order—how boudoir girl knew brothels—embarrassing—still obeyed.
"I buy your deeds—you need not follow—free."
Incredible stare—not pleasure client—looks not labor. Yanmei wary: "What must we do?"
"Simple. You were Second Branch legitimate miss's personal maids—how here?"
Shuibi bit lip—hate: "Expelled for fault—no fault—servants—master says so."
Still hid key—old feeling for second branch. "Do you hate?"
Silence.
Hate yes—poison cup fine—but this—living corpse—what crime—night none knew—Qing vanished—their fault—pity miss—all blame on them—only saints clean.
"You hate. Yanmei—sister second-rank maid in Second Madam's yard. Shuibi—you had many sisters in Caiyun."
Shock—he knew all. Yanmei sister Chuntao in Ren's yard—Shuibi lively—Caiyun sisters many.
"No free trade. I take you out—you feed me Second Branch news."
Heads up—Yanmei lost voice: "You strike at Madame!"
Investigated—want spies in second branch—cannot return—sisters still in Caiyun—whisper possible.
"What for?" Shuibi.
"Not your concern. Second Madam sold you here—worse than enemy—still loyal? Every man for himself—be faithful—no time—deal off—" stood to leave.
"Wait!" Yanmei—"We trade—take us—anything!"
"Yanmei—" Shuibi torn.
"How you served her—how she served you! He is right—stay here like sick women outside?"
Fast hard—sick women image—Shuibi shivered—"I agree too!"
"Deal." Mo Qing satisfied—exact as Shen Miao said—Ren skilled—Caiyun loyal—hard turn—Sanfu horror plus grievance—would agree.
"When leave?"
"Today—meet your sisters—news every other day—no tricks—tell Second Branch for merit—they won't believe—I can put you back—none save." Kill air in eyes—last hope dead—kowtow—"We obey."
Mo Qing set cup—left—madam thought maids failed—"Unhappy? New—train—other girls—"
"No—them—I buy."
Never sold here—sin bodies sent to torture. "Rules—no sale."
"One hundred taels." Note flash—two maids.
Eyes lit—snatched— afraid regret—"Fortune—I'll fetch deeds—don't let anyone recognize—or trouble for you and us."
Hundred taels—fine brothel star might not—lifetime service half not earn—business takes silver—pretend dead if former master learns.
Leading maids out—Mo Qing regretted—hundred from Jingzhe pawning whole jewelry chest—for spies—Miss spends huge—disagreed inside—shook head.
Opposite Pleasure Tower—black-clad at window: "Master—clear—Shen outer guard—bought two maids—Second Branch miss's former personal—spy in second branch—backer unknown."
Heard all—skill high—Mo Qing never noticed.
Gao Yang narrowed: "Shen house not peaceful—backer spares no maid—every hole."
"Master—investigate?" Black-clad to purple youth.
"No. I know him." Brow lift.
"Know?" Gao Yang—"who?"
Who? Xie smiled deep. Shen Miao found strong guard—not his men—enough for Shen house. Now Sanfu maids—moving at last.
None of his business.
"Mountain Wolf—message Yushu—return capital fast."
"You—" Gao Yang grave—"not found—why recall?"
"Strike first." Flat.
……
Time passed—house seemed quiet again.
Fifth confined long—no Guangwen Hall—Guyu Jingzhe feared lessons—she cared not—poetry useless—less trouble home.
Joy—Mo Qing's Yanmei Shuibi met sisters—Shuibi okay—Chuntao wanted revenge since sister sold—low rank—powerless—met Yanmei safe—pledged messages. Luck—Qing's personal maids empty—Ren gave clever Chuntao to Qing as personal—second branch news easier.
Qing body better—spirit not full—sometimes dazed—certain words—fear shake—more rest needed.
One day Ren raging—smashed cups—worse temper—smooth before—now frequent punishment—Caiyun gloomy.
"Heartless!" Ren—"Fox yards every day—Qing like this—few visits—no conscience!"
Scolding Shen Gui—servants breathless. Real anger—letter to Yu naming swap—Gui intercepted—somehow Yu still ignorant—planned Yu punish Fifth—Gui ruined—spill on Fifth.
Inner room cry—Ren rushed—Chuntao feeding porridge—spilled—Qing half prone vomiting.
"What?" Ren fierce at Chuntao—"Lazy care!"
"Slave guilty—miss vomiting days—porridge triggered—maybe doctor—bad stomach?"
Doctor rare now—surface wounds healed—rest—Ren always there—mind returned. Chuntao words—anxiety—Caiju for post—pause—slow to Chuntao: "Often vomit?"
"Yes—clean kitchen food—sometimes dizzy."
Hand on heart—wave—Chuntao young—Ren knew—pregnant?
Dark near faint—Xianglan held—"Madam!"
"My post—Doctor Chen." Breath—eyes horror at Qing.
Chuntao bowed head—no one saw smile.
Personal maid—not today first vomit—days—first told not Ren but Mo Qing—if Ren missed—hide longer—luck—Ren blind until today.
Chen hurried—Ren's dowry doctor—dirty work on concubines—Ren's heart—no hide.
Ren watched pulse—Qing afraid in arms—Chen grave—glance Qing—shake head at Ren.
"All out."
Maids left.
Sigh: "Eldest Miss pulse slippery like pearls—joy pulse."
Guessed—still spin hearing. Trembling firm: "Doctor—make her lose it—she is young—cannot be found."
Defiled alone—hide—maybe road—child means secret affair—mother and babe drowned in pond!
"Miss weak—young—abort—hurt root—hard bear again—"
Blow after blow. No child in rear court—no weapons on field—total defeat.
"Not recovered—abort—very dangerous."
"No—cannot lose." Blank—then grief: "My poor Qing!"
Lose child—Qing may die—or never bear—cannot abort—keep—then what road?
No exit—despair deep.
Outside Chuntao at door small: "Xianglan—Miss—is she—"
"Hush—" Xianglan—"Madame hears—you're dead."
"Caiju worried—what now." They knew—pregnant—Caiyun every step weighed.
Chuntao pout—triumph flash.
Chen left north city home—wife children ran—wiped sweat.
Before visit—anonymous letter—must say cannot abort—make Ren keep fetus—or kill family—wife's hairpin enclosed—feared—obeyed.
Ren's man—now betrayed—think flee capital—puzzled—Ren only found vomiting today—how threat know?
West yard—Guyu whispered chess player. Smile: "Well done—silver to Doctor Chen?"
"Mo Qing delivered." "Why rich pay if life threatened?"
"Different—" set stone—"men change—threat alone—Chen flees with family—hard later. Add silver—he thinks—already betrayed—betray fully—worth silver—maintain lie until found."
Guyu stunned—reads hearts now. "But—why keep the lie?"
Why?
Smile: "Tell Mo Qing—Chuntao must help Eldest Sister nourish the pregnancy—better the belly—better for us."