The next morning, the heavy snow continued to fall, covering the ground with a thick layer of white. In the Zhuang family's back garden, Zhou Ruyin hurried through the snow, accompanied by her maid.
"Madam, what's the rush?" the maid grumbled, holding an oil-paper umbrella over Zhou Ruyin.
"Oh, you don't understand," Zhou Ruyin said in a sweet, affected tone. "The Third Miss is the only legitimate daughter of the Zhuang family. How can I be slow?"
Even as she spoke, her pace quickened. The maid's feet were aching, but she kept up, reminding her mistress, "Madam! The ground is slippery, be careful!"
The two arrived at Zhuang Hanyan's courtyard to find her lost in thought, leaning against a pillar in the covered walkway, watching the snow fall.
"Hanyan!" Zhou Ruyin exclaimed, her face a mask of exaggerated joy.
Zhuang Hanyan was startled and quickly stood up. Since Wei Tingyu and Dou Zhao had left yesterday, no one had come to visit her except for the servants bringing meals. She was surprised that Zhou Ruyin was the first to show up.
"How could the servants be so careless? It's freezing out here!" Zhou Ruyin said, ignoring Zhuang Hanyan's surprise. She rushed forward, but her foot slipped, and she fell with a thud in the snow.
Zhuang Hanyan hurried down the steps to help her. "Be careful, Madam!" she and her maid said, helping Zhou Ruyin up. She knew many people in the manor disliked her, but she wasn't sure about Zhou Ruyin. She also didn't know who had harmed her and her mother years ago. It could have been Zhou Ruyin. But she knew she had to be patient and wait for the right time to seek revenge.
"My clumsy self! I've made you laugh as soon as I saw you," Zhou Ruyin said, smiling at Zhuang Hanyan. "I'm not the Madam, just a concubine. You can call me Aunt Zhou from now on."
Zhuang Hanyan smiled gently and nodded. She had met Zhou Ruyin briefly yesterday and knew her status. Zhou Ruyin seemed kind, but Zhuang Hanyan was no longer a naive girl. She remained cautious. Zhou Ruyin's enthusiasm was a little too much, almost over the top. This made Zhuang Hanyan believe she was either genuinely innocent and kind or a cunning and calculating woman who was a good actress.
Just as this thought crossed Zhuang Hanyan's mind, Zhou Ruyin quickly took off her cloak and put it on her. "I heard you caught a chill. You can't get any colder!" she said, tying the cloak and looking at Zhuang Hanyan with a worried expression.
Zhou Ruyin's loving demeanor was so convincing that even the maids behind them were moved. Zhuang Hanyan, however, saw right through her. Zhou Ruyin could have simply instructed a servant to bring a cloak, or even gone to get one herself. Taking off her own cloak was a theatrical move meant to win her over and make her lower her guard.
"Let's go inside and talk," Zhou Ruyin said, still smiling, unaware that Zhuang Hanyan had seen her true intentions.
Zhuang Hanyan, however, wasn't ready to go inside with her. "Aunt," she said, holding Zhou Ruyin's arm, "I just realized that since I've just returned home, I should pay my respects to the elders. Could you take me?"
"Of course! That's so thoughtful of you!" Zhou Ruyin said, her eyes twinkling. "No wonder the Duke of Wei was so concerned about your health. Now I understand! Who wouldn't love such a well-mannered girl?" She watched Zhuang Hanyan's face for a reaction.
"The Duke has a noble character," Zhuang Hanyan said with a smile. "We were just passing acquaintances. He was just being thoughtful."
Zhou Ruyin's primary concern was the Duke's feelings for her. If he was truly interested in her, Zhou Ruyin would not dare to openly scheme against her. Zhuang Hanyan gave her a vague answer, letting her guess their relationship.
In the courtyard, Zhou Ruyin and Zhuang Hanyan walked arm in arm, admiring the snow.
"I didn't mean to be slow yesterday," Zhou Ruyin said. "It's just that there was so much going on. Besides the Duke and the son-in-law, Minister Fu, your fourth brother's engagement with Minister Han's daughter has been a handful. A marriage to a family of higher status is hard to manage. Our in-laws are a little unhappy to hear you've returned. Your father is at Minister Han's house, trying to smooth things over."
Zhuang Hanyan's heart sank. She knew what Zhou Ruyin was doing. She was trying to make her feel guilty for causing trouble and ruining her brother's engagement.
"Is it because of me?" Zhuang Hanyan asked, her voice soft and pitiful.
"What servant has been spreading such rumors?" Zhou Ruyin said, feigning concern, but inwardly she was pleased.
"I know," Zhuang Hanyan said, shaking her head. "The rumor in the capital is that I'm a Barefoot Ghost, who cursed my grandfather to death at birth. Now I've caused my uncle and aunt to die tragically..."
"Don't say that!" Zhou Ruyin interrupted. "The Dali Temple sent word about the incident in Danzhou. We thought you were kidnapped by the bandits too, but thankfully you survived."
"I've caused so much trouble for the family," Zhuang Hanyan said, looking remorseful. She had planned with Chai Jing to act weak and innocent to make others lower their guard.
"Don't talk like that!" Zhou Ruyin said, shaking her head. "This is Madam Wei's Yongshou Hall. Let's go see her."
After a tour of the manor, Zhuang Hanyan returned to her courtyard. She had a better understanding of the layout, but she still hadn't seen Madam Wei or her own mother. She wasn't surprised. Madam Wei had seen her yesterday because of the Duke, but after things settled down, she must have remembered the "Barefoot Ghost" rumors and was now afraid to see her.
As for her mother, Zhuang Hanyan was confused. Why was she so cold and unwilling to see her? Her gut told her that it wasn't her mother's true wish. There was a secret behind it. The most important thing was the "Barefoot Ghost" rumor. How could a family secret have become common knowledge in the capital? Someone had to have been spreading the rumors. The answer to all this must be in the Zhuang manor.
Zhuang Hanyan ate the pastries Shu Hong brought her, her mind racing. It was the right decision to return. Otherwise, these secrets would never have been uncovered, and her life would have been ruined for no reason.
Just then, she heard Zhou Ruyin's voice outside. It was already night. The courtyard was lit by candles. Why was she here again? Zhuang Hanyan went to the window to look out. She saw Zhou Ruyin standing in the courtyard, giving instructions to six maids.
"Even though the Third Miss grew up in Danzhou... she is still the only legitimate daughter of the Zhuang family! From now on, you must give her the best of everything. She must not be neglected or treated poorly."
Zhou Ruyin's words were fair, and Zhuang Hanyan's brows furrowed. Was she wrong about her? But then Zhou Ruyin's tone changed.
"Our Tongyuan Courtyard doesn't have much of a budget. So, the monthly wages for all of you will be delayed this month. Please understand."
Zhuang Hanyan's frown disappeared. She was right. This woman was no good. She was trying to turn the servants against her. By delaying their wages because of her, she was making the servants resent Zhuang Hanyan.
The six maids looked angry. They didn't know Zhou Ruyin was behind the delayed wages. They simply directed their anger at Zhuang Hanyan.
"Madam! Why bring someone who is so disliked by everyone else into our courtyard?" a head maid named Lang'er asked. The other maids agreed.
Zhou Ruyin smiled, but the maids didn't see it. Zhuang Hanyan, however, caught it. Zhou Ruyin was truly a master schemer.
"Lang'er! How dare you!" Zhou Ruyin's personal maid scolded.
"Did I say something wrong?" Lang'er shot back. Zhuang Hanyan understood now. Zhou Ruyin had sent this maid to stir up trouble.
"Madam! Look at her!" the personal maid complained. "She's getting bolder because you are so kind-hearted!"
"Enough!" Zhou Ruyin said, seeing that her plan was working. "We are all women, and life in the back quarters is difficult. Don't fight amongst yourselves. Lang'er, you must restrain yourself. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Lang'er said, pouting. It was clear she was not convinced and would continue to cause trouble.
"Madam! Something's wrong in the front yard!" another maid cried out, running in.
"What is it?" Zhou Ruyin asked, startled.