Chapter 3: A Startling Dream

Chapter 3: A Startling Dream

Xiaolian watched as the girl silently pulled the thin blanket over her body, yet her feet remained still.

"Why did you pretend to be our young miss?" She took a step forward, her embroidered shoes stepping on the wet ground without noticing.

Xin You lifted her gaze, her eyes calm. "I didn't. I told you then that I don't know you; you must have mistaken me for someone else."

Xiaolian's eyebrows furrowed in anger. "Then why did you follow us?"

Xin You looked at her with a mocking expression. "Could I resist?"

Xiaolian thought back to the situation and hesitated.

At that time, this young miss was brought back by the second master almost forcibly.

After a moment of silence, Xiaolian bit her lip. "Rest for tonight. Tomorrow morning, you'll come with me to explain everything to the matriarch."

As night deepened, the sound of insects came through the lattice windows, clear and continuous. Xin You looked at Xiaolian, certain that she was a loyal servant who seemed kind-hearted.

She felt a desire to have a proper conversation.

Seeing Xin You silent, Xiaolian hesitated, then stomped her foot. "Forget it, we'll talk once you've recovered!"

Xin You smiled faintly, a slight curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Do you think they'll believe me?"

"Of course—" Xiaolian blurted out, but looking at the face that was almost identical to their young miss, she couldn't continue.

Upon closer inspection, this young miss had some differences from their own young miss, but the excitement of finding her during the day, along with her disheveled appearance, made them overlook these details.

"Your voice is also different from our young miss—" Xiaolian's voice lowered.

There were differences, but not significant ones. At least she could detect some, but assumed it was due to the young miss's poor health. As for the matriarch and others, who did not spend as much time with the young miss, it would be even harder for them to notice.

Xin You pulled the blanket tighter around herself, her tone slightly cold. "If they don't believe me, you might not be able to stay near 'Miss Kou' anymore."

Xiaolian's face paled, thinking of the young miss's wet nurse, Aunt Fang. Years ago, Aunt Fang was sent away to the estate after making a mistake, and she never saw the young miss again.

If the matriarch doesn't believe her, she will be considered delusional, and her fate might be worse than Aunt Fang's. And if something happens to her while the impostor remains in the mansion, who would know about the real young miss?

"If they do believe—" Xin You paused.

Xiaolian's eyes widened, staring at the familiar face.

Xin You looked steadily at Xiaolian, asking word by word, "Are you sure they want your young miss to be alive?"

Xiaolian's face drained of color. "What do you mean?"

Compared to Xiaolian's shock, the girl under the candlelight appeared composed. "Three young misses of Shaoqing Mansion went up the mountain with Miss Kou, and only Miss Kou fell off the cliff. Even if there's a slim chance it wasn't an accident, it's worth considering, don't you think?"

"It can't be. Our young miss is the matriarch's only granddaughter, and the matriarch loves her dearly. The matriarch even said she would arrange a marriage between her and the eldest son." Xiaolian refuted instinctively, but her face grew increasingly pale.

Indeed, if four young misses went up the mountain together, why did only their young miss fall? Was it just bad luck?

In Shaoqing Mansion, the true outsiders were only Kou Qingqing and her servants. Once suspicion arose, it spread like spring grass after rain.

"How about a deal?" The girl leaned against the bedhead, wrapped in a plain floral quilt, her expression serene.

Xiaolian's heart calmed. "What kind of deal?"

"When I recover, I'll accompany you to find Miss Kou under the pretense of visiting Grandpa Wang. Then, whenever we find your young miss, I'll help her quietly switch identities back."

Xiaolian nodded involuntarily.

Compared to the uncertain outcome of revealing the truth now, this seemed more stable.

"What do you want in return?" Xiaolian asked anxiously.

Xin You smiled, but it felt bitter. "I came to the capital alone and need a place to stay. Until I find Miss Kou, let me stay here."

She didn't know who killed her mother, and in this unfamiliar city, chasing after the murderer required not just a place to stay but a safe identity.

What better cover than becoming someone else?

Xiaolian's expression changed repeatedly before she spoke, "If our young miss is no longer alive, you can continue living as her, but I have one condition."

Thinking rationally, how likely was it that the young miss survived such a high fall?

Xiaolian held back tears, choking out, "Please help me investigate whether our young miss's fall was an accident or not!"

If she were the only maid left, investigating secretly would be impossible, and staying in Shaoqing Mansion would depend entirely on the master's will. This young miss wanted to establish herself temporarily, and she needed "the young miss" by her side.

Xin You nodded. "Agreed."

Xiaolian relaxed, asking, "May I ask what your name is?"

Xin You lowered her gaze. "Since I'm borrowing Miss Kou's identity, my name isn't important."

Xiaolian was silent for a moment, then curtsied. "Young miss, let me continue helping you bathe."

Xin You nodded, softly saying, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Xiaolian walked to the door, calling a young maid to bring fresh hot water, wrung out a towel, and helped Xin You bathe.

It was early May, yet the night felt stuffy. Suddenly, a chill hit Xin You's shoulder, and she realized it was Xiaolian's tears.

After bathing and changing into new clothes that Miss Kou had never worn, Xin You felt refreshed.

"I'll rest outside. If you need anything, just call," Xiaolian extinguished the candle and walked out quietly.

Xin You had overslept today, but soon drowsiness overtook her, and she drifted into a dream.

In the dream, a pair of hands, veins bulging from exertion, moved away a soft pillow embroidered with orchids, revealing Xiaolian's face, already lifeless.

A loud noise jolted Xin You awake, and she sat up abruptly.

Thunder rumbled outside the window; it was raining.

Summer storms always came so suddenly. The rain beat urgently against the windowpanes, and Xin You listened intently, faintly hearing muffled sobs.

It turned out that Xiaolian hadn't been sleeping.

Xin You glanced at the door, recalling the dream she just had.

That wasn't a prophetic dream, but rather a vivid replay of what she had seen earlier in the day.

Because of the replay, she noticed more details, such as Xiaolian's attire. In the scene, she only saw Xiaolian's upper body, adorned with a white velvet flower in her hair, and dressed entirely in white.

For instance—Xin You's gaze shifted to the soft pillow at the head of the bed.

The pillow still retained her warmth, marked by where she had lain. The apricot-colored silk pillowcase bore an intricate pattern of orchid leaves, blooming quietly.

So this was the pillow.

Xin You reached out and picked up the soft pillow embroidered with the orchid.