Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 97 Redemption

Since Madam Yun intends to bestow favors upon others, she will naturally be thorough in every aspect.

When the ordinary carriage arrived at Yongtai Money Exchange, Uncle Song was already waiting there. Hua Yan, who was already fair-skinned, and Dong Gua, who had been recuperating at the mansion for more than half a year, had also become fairer. The two, one fat and one thin, climbed out of the carriage one after the other.

When Song Bo saw this scene, his beard trembled with joy. Meng Shu, dressed in servant's clothes, was fair-skinned and extremely intelligent, somewhat resembling a young Taoist acolyte in a Taoist temple.

Hua Yan led the way in bowing to Song Bo. When Song Bo heard her refer to herself as 'Hua Yan', he paused for a moment and then began to re-examine Meng Shu.

Having lived a long life and served his second great-uncle since childhood, he had naturally seen countless people. He had initially been puzzled by the lady's sudden arrangement, but now he understood perfectly well what was going on.

Song Bo stroked his beard and suddenly said:

"Your precocious intelligence is now a blessing or a curse. Second Miss, you are gentle and refined. Following such a master, you should do good deeds and accumulate merit in your daily life..."

Hua Yan was deeply moved. When she first entered the mansion as a maid in Langya Courtyard, she tried to get close to her second uncle's servant. However, from the beginning, Uncle Song treated her with kindness without asking why. Hua Yan always remembered this kindness in her heart.

The phrase "extreme intelligence is bound to be harmful," which Song Bo hesitated to utter, was his concern and advice.

Hua Yan bowed deeply, clasped her hands in a fist salute, and sincerely thanked Uncle Song. "Hua Yan will remember this. Thank you, Uncle Song."

Song Bo gently shook his head and turned slightly to avoid her bow. He couldn't help but recall the day when Langya Courtyard almost caught fire, when the head of the family had said to his master, "It's a pity she's a girl."

After Qian Wanlai's death, the successor manager of Yongtai Money Shop was surnamed Ge. Song Bo led Hua Yan Donggua into the backyard of the money shop through a side door.

There were many guards in the courtyard, and Meng Shu followed the rules and did not look around. When Donggua entered the courtyard, he sensed the eerie atmosphere and, like a little melon, silently followed closely behind Hua Yan, not daring to breathe.

Madam Yun had already given the instructions, so Manager Ge personally received Hua Yan.

Inside the guest room, Hua Yan took out the ring-shaped Cloud Garment Pendant from her bosom. Manager Ge dared not take it too big, so he placed the Cloud Garment Pendant in a specially made cloud-patterned mold. After confirming that it fit perfectly, he turned his back to Hua Yan and carefully turned the bottom of the jade pendant over to check it before returning it.

"The lady sent word early this morning that she doesn't know how much silver you're planning to withdraw, or if you'd like to have a money exchange do it for you."

Hua Yan didn't hesitate at all, "I need to trouble Manager Ge to get five thousand taels of silver."

Manager Ge secretly admired his wife's foresight. He took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket, picked out five from them, and handed them to Hua Yan. "These are five thousand taels of silver notes. Please keep them safe, young lady. You can sign and affix your seal on this specially made document."

After Hua Yan came out of the guest room, without wasting any time, she asked Song Botong to get into the carriage and headed straight for Chunfeng Tower.

"I'll trouble you, Uncle Song. When we get to Chunfeng Tower, go directly to the people there to complete the necessary procedures and redeem Sister Huanyun's indenture. After I bring her out, we'll go to the government office to register her household." Hua Yan handed three silver notes to Uncle Song.

Uncle Song took it and said, "No need to tell Miss Huanyun?"

"No need, Sister Huanyun... Her insistence is meaningless. I will talk to her and clear things up." Hua Yan breathed a sigh of relief. She and Huanyun were ultimately different. Although they had only spent less than half a month together, Huanyun was kind-hearted, but she was too hesitant and relied too much on someone's sincerity.

Hua Yan was still ignorant of matters of the heart, even though the person involved was her uncle...

Returning to Chunfeng Tower after half a year, my state of mind was completely different.

Liu Donggua waited in the carriage. Hua Yan got off the carriage and looked up at the towering three-story building. Rows of bright red lanterns on both sides swayed in the wind. The hustle and bustle of the world and the tranquility inside were separated by only a gatehouse.

These are two different worlds.

Then, Hua Yan followed Song Bo step by step into the tomb that was silent in the daytime, where countless pitiful people were buried.

Back then, she was timid and helpless, hiding a dagger in the sole of her shoe, only daring to feign sleep at night. Recalling those days of hardship and struggle, Hua Yan sniffed, clenching her fists tightly in her sleeves to calm herself down. At that moment, Uncle Song extended his warm hand and gently patted her back.

Turtle Claw recognized Uncle Song and hurriedly went to the back to call his mother over. When Mama Wei from Chunfeng Tower came over with a happy expression, she felt that she had seen the servant in front of her before. Just as she was about to speak, Uncle Song directly stated his purpose.

Madam Wei had tea served to the guests, and with a hint of regret, she said, "It's only right. Huanyun is a fool. She is so eager to redeem herself, yet she is willing to give up such a great opportunity. You have no idea how much the girls in our brothel have felt sorry for her."

Having been in business for a long time, she knew how to maximize her own interests. "Since Second Uncle has taken a liking to her, we will not raise the price on the spot. Although she has been in my Chunfeng Tower for a few years, Mother guarantees that she is indeed a pure courtesan. When I asked that peddler for two thousand taels of silver, we will still charge him two thousand taels."

This was not just to give face to the second uncle, but also because they were wary of the Tang family behind him.

Song Bo glanced at Hua Yan without showing any emotion. Hua Yan nodded slightly, and then, led by a maid, they came out through the back door and entered the huge backyard, all the way to Tingyunfang where Huanyun was located.

After dismissing the maid, Hua Yan prepared her speech and went through the moon gate, where she saw Ding Xiang watering the flowers under the eaves.

"Sister Dingxiang".

With a clatter, the copper kettle fell onto the steps. Dingxiang composed herself and asked uncertainly, "Could it be... Meng Shu?"

Hua Yan smiled and took Ding Xiang's hand, whispering a few words in her ear. Ding Xiang covered her mouth excitedly, her face showing a mixture of laughter and tears, and nodded repeatedly.

"Lilac, what's wrong?"

Huanyun's clear voice came from inside the bedroom. Dingxiang ignored her, lifted the curtain and rushed into the inner room. Without saying a word, she opened the camphor wood wardrobe, pulled out a piece of cloth and spread it on the table. She quickly picked out a few clothes that the young lady usually wore and started packing them.

"Dingxiang, are you... perhaps possessed? What are you doing packing your luggage in broad daylight?" Huanyun, dressed in casual home clothes, walked barefoot out of the bedroom and asked while leaning on the shelf of the display cabinet.

Hua Yan followed, gently removing the cloth hat from her head, and said with a smile:

"Sister Huanyun, Meng Shu has come to pick you up in person on behalf of Uncle Zhou Bai. This time, could you come with me?"