Tan San led the way, with Liu Ma supporting Li Yinwei behind him, followed by Tan Er and Qi Jiu as they entered the eastern main house. Tan San handed a bowl of noodle soup to Tan Er and carried another into Lin Fang’s room, while Tan Er and Qi Jiu entered Qi Biao’s room.
Normally, when Liu Ma fed Lin Fang, Tan San would assist. Tan Yi, Tan Er, and Tan Si took turns feeding Qi Biao. Today, with the sudden addition of so many people—and despite the Wei family’s master being Qi Biao’s uncle—the four brothers dared not leave them alone with the two unconscious masters. Extra hands were needed in the rooms.
As the eldest of the four, Tan Yi was responsible for overall coordination and couldn’t enter the rooms. The five Qi family members were new and unfamiliar with the situation, so Tan Yi arranged for them to pair up with his own group. After finishing their meal, Qi Wu, Qi Liu, and Qi Qi disappeared into the shadows, resuming their roles as covert guards.
Since Qi Biao had previously taken excellent care of Lin Fang, and after he too fell unconscious, Liu Ma redoubled her efforts to care for her young mistress. The four Tan brothers relieved her of other duties, allowing her to rest except when preparing and feeding meals to Lin Fang. At night, they took turns assisting her. As a result, despite days of unconsciousness, Lin Fang’s complexion remained rosy, showing no signs of ill health.
Li Yinwei’s hands were scarred and weak. Several times, she tried to help but withdrew upon seeing her own condition, sitting quietly as Liu Ma fed Lin Fang while chatting with her as if to herself.
When Liu Ma mentioned encountering the fifth young miss that day, Li Yinwei gestured excitedly with her hands. Liu Ma pointed out the charcoal and paper on the table behind her.
Writing with charcoal on paper was far easier than scratching words into the dirt with a stick. Though still slow, Li Yinwei’s speed improved. By the time Liu Ma fed Lin Fang the last bite, Li Yinwei pointed at Lin Fang’s face and showed Liu Ma the paper, where crooked characters read: “No blood tumor. Sister pretty.”
Seeing Li Yinwei’s face contort further as she smiled, Liu Ma chuckled. “This is the first time Fifth Young Miss has seen Sixth Young Miss since they parted. After coming to Lin Town, not only did Sixth Young Miss’s blood tumor vanish, but the First Madam also became fair and beautiful, her eyebrows now normal. The First Master’s white hair turned completely black, and he looks younger than before. Once Fifth Young Miss returns with me and receives treatment from the Second Dowager, she’ll surely regain her childhood beauty—not just skilled but as lovely as Sixth Young Miss.”
Li Yinwei shook her head, tears falling.
“Fifth Young Miss, could you tell this old servant how you ended up in such a state?” Liu Ma gently massaged Lin Fang’s stomach to aid digestion, unable to comfort Li Yinwei at the moment. Before being assigned to Li Cuimei, she had been a trusted servant under Lady Pan, so her question wasn’t out of line.
Li Yinwei wrote on the paper: “Pearls, land, officials, robbed.”
Liu Ma sighed. “Ah, so young, yet you’ve learned the cruelty of the world. Once we return to Lin Town, all will be well.”
During the flood, the court allowed refugees to purchase wasteland at low prices. Many offered collateral, but the corrupt county magistrate turned a blind eye as his subordinates either pocketed the items, falsified records, or destroyed ledgers. Some even robbed refugees outright, driving them away or killing them under false pretenses. In the chaos, deaths went unnoticed.
Though Li Yinwei wrote only six words, Liu Ma grasped the tragedy: nearly sold by a maid, then robbed by officials and left in a mass grave. Had the Wei family not rescued her, Li Yinwei would have vanished from this world.
A pampered ten-year-old, even if strong-willed, had little experience with the world’s treachery. Liu Ma’s heart ached for her. “Fifth Young Miss, your voice…?”
Li Yinwei shook her head—whether unable or unwilling to speak, she refused to write an explanation.
Liu Ma dropped the subject and recounted how her family had searched for her after her disappearance. Li Ziyang had even taken a job in the capital dedicated to finding missing persons and had divorced Da Ping.
Learning her recklessness had caused her parents’ separation and her own years of suffering, Li Yinwei burst into silent sobs, muffling her cries with her hands, tears streaming.
Liu Ma found her restraint odd. While considerate of Lin Fang’s rest, such composure in the face of devastating news seemed unnatural for an eighteen-year-old.
After settling Lin Fang, Liu Ma approached Li Yinwei and whispered, “Fifth Young Miss, is there a reason you won’t speak?”
Li Yinwei nodded, then shook her head violently. Given paper, she wrote: “Years without speaking. Dare not make sound.”
Once Liu Ma read it, Li Yinwei did the unthinkable—she tore the paper to shreds and swallowed it before Liu Ma could stop her.
With no recourse, Liu Ma hugged her and quietly told Tan San, “Inform Tan Yi: Fifth Young Miss has secrets.”
After Tan San left, Liu Ma advised Li Yinwei, “Stay in Sixth Young Miss’s room unless accompanied by me. Do not act alone.”
Li Yinwei agreed.
Seeing her exhaustion, Liu Ma had Tan San heat water. Noticing Li Yinwei’s weak hands had barely touched her meal, she brought another bowl and fetched clean clothes. As she stepped out, Wei Shoutou called from the main door: “Ya’er! Come see! I caught a baby hedgehog for you!”
Liu Ma blocked him. “This is the young ladies’ quarters. A man shouting here is improper.”
Wei Shoutou argued, “Ya’er is my sister. She loves when I bring her little creatures.”
Liu Ma replied coldly, “We thank your family for caring for Fifth Young Miss these years. General Li will reward you. But remember: henceforth, she is Miss Li, not Ya’er.”
Wei Shoutou scoffed. “You’re just a servant. Who are you to keep me from my sister?” He shoved past her—only to cry out and collapse backward before crossing the threshold.
“Shoutou! Are you hurt?” He Shi and Wei Zhongqi rushed out. He Shi tended to her son while Wei Zhongqi knelt in apology. Though worried, he knew his place—despite guarding the maze, everyone here outranked him.
Tan Yi emerged and helped Wei Zhongqi up. “Old Wei, saving Miss Li was noble. Treating her as family when unaware of her status was understandable. But now? This transgression merits only a warning. Next time, we won’t be lenient.”
Wei Zhongqi bowed. “This lowly one will discipline the boy.” He berated his son, “Kneel and apologize, you fool!”
Regret gnawed at him. He should’ve called Shoutou back earlier. His wife had urged caution, but the boy’s recklessness had nearly breached a room housing not just Miss Li but another untouchable figure. Rumors painted this master as unpredictable, his followers equally ruthless. Tan Yi’s veiled threat chilled him.
Wei Shoutou remained defiant. “Father, Ya’er is my sister! Mother said once we returned—”
He Shi chopped his neck, knocking him out. She knelt. “This lowly one begs forgiveness for the boy’s insolence.”
Tan Yi said coldly, “Let this be the last time. You know the consequences.”
The couple carried their son back to the western side room—the only habitable space left to them after the eastern main house was taken for Lin Fang and Qi Biao, and the western main house by the Tan brothers. Even the eastern side rooms, once theirs, now belonged to Li Yinwei. The Qi family had declined Wei Shoutou’s old room, choosing to squeeze in with the Tans.
Wei Zhongqi seethed. For years, they’d lived as free commoners in the maze, answerable to none. A brief trip to bury his father and assume guardianship had cost them their home and dignity. He Shi shared his resentment but dared not voice it.
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