Chapter 13: The Thoughtful and Loyal Servant

After finishing her bath and changing into a peach-colored outfit, Lin Jinyan sat before the bronze mirror, staring blankly at her youthful face.

She let the maid wring out her hair and style it into the *zongjiao* style with a bun on each side.

"Miss, your hair is done. Shall we go to Songmao Hall now?"

Lin Jinyan snapped back to the present: "Let's go now. It'll put Grandfather and Grandmother at ease too."

The round-faced maid smiled cheerfully and replied crisply: "I'll fetch you a cloak. You've just recovered; you mustn't catch a chill again."

Lin Jinyan rose and walked out of the room. Stepping outside, it was exactly noon, the sun high overhead.

Lin Jinyan stood in the courtyard, pinching her palm, eyes closed, feeling the sunlight on her body. In the twenty-odd days before her death in her previous life—days that felt like years—she had never properly basked in the sun like this. Because of her leg injury, she had never been able to walk so freely either.

This feeling... it had truly been too long.

She asked coolly: "Yutong, what day is it today?"

The round-faced maid holding the cloak, Yutong, answered: "Miss, today is the eighteenth of the eighth month."

"Which year?"

"Ah? This year... is the nineteenth year of Sheng'an, Miss. What's wrong?"

Lin Jinyan opened her eyes: "The nineteenth year of Sheng'an... there are still ten years."

Yutong stepped forward, puzzled: "What ten years? I don't understand."

Another maid, with a melon-seed shaped face, walked up and smiled: "Yutong, Miss must have her own thoughts. Why must you understand?"

Lin Jinyan's eyes flickered. She turned to the melon-seed faced maid: "Yulan, Yutong will accompany me. You go make some osmanthus cakes."

Yulan smiled in agreement: "Yes, Miss. I'll make extra so you can share with Miss Yuxue. Yutong, take good care of Miss."

At those words, Lin Jinyan's gaze cooled a few degrees. She lifted her leg and walked out, Yutong hurrying behind.

Leaving Yanyu Pavilion, Lin Jinyan took a deep breath of the osmanthus fragrance, suppressing the surging hatred.

Once she had steadied her mind, Lin Jinyan softened her expression. Seeing no one around, she stopped and said: "Yutong, from now on, whatever Zhou Yuxue asks you, whatever she gives you, whatever she tells you to do—you must report it all to me. Understood?"

Lin Jinyan's words left Yutong thoroughly confused: "Miss, why? You and Miss Yuxue have always been close, haven't you?"

Lin Jinyan looked at the maid before her, who stood a good head taller than her. She was devoted and loyal but utterly guileless. That was why in her previous life, Lin Jinyan had favored Yulan more—quick-witted and efficient.

Yet it was this foolish maid before her who, knowing she was in danger, had tried to save her at the cost of her own life, ultimately dying miserably under the blades of Chu Chengyao's personal guards.

Thinking of this, Lin Jinyan couldn't help but take Yutong's hand, her voice gentle: "You know a person's face but not their heart. Remember my words; I would never harm you."

Yutong nodded: "I of course believe Miss. I'll listen to Miss."

Lin Jinyan: "This stays between us. Don't tell Yulan, and don't tell Nanny either."

Yutong nodded solemnly: "This is a secret between me and Miss. I won't tell anyone! But Miss, you sent Zhou Momo home for a family reunion; she should be back these two days. Knowing Miss fell into the water, she'll surely punish me and Yulan. Zhou Momo hits hard with the board—it hurts terribly. Could Miss please intercede, ask her to go lighter?"

Yutong's aggrieved, pleading look coaxed a hint of a smile from Lin Jinyan: "You listen to me properly, and I'll put in a good word for you."

Yutong nodded vigorously like a chick pecking rice: "I'll listen, I'll listen! I'll definitely listen! Whatever Miss forbids me to say, I won't say even if I'm beaten!"

Master and servant walked toward the North Courtyard, chatting as they went.

(End of Chapter)