Carrying Gu Liang on her back, Emma practically crashed through the side gate of Su Wan's courtyard. The night watchwoman was startled by her appearance—hair disheveled, thinly clad, her face streaked with what seemed like sweat or melted snow. Even more terrifying was the unconscious Gu Liang on her back, her cheeks unnaturally flushed.
"Quick! Inform Third Young Miss! Something's happened to Liang'er!" Emma's voice carried an unusual urgency and hoarseness. Her strength nearly spent, she forced herself to carefully lay Gu Liang in a sheltered spot under the eaves.
Chaos erupted in the courtyard. Su Wan, startled awake, rushed out in her nightgown. Seeing Gu Liang's state, she turned ashen and frantically ordered servants to fetch a trusted wet nurse from the household and to prepare an antidote and reviving decoction.
After a flurry of activity, he was given some of the decoction and a cold towel was placed on his forehead. Finally, Gu Liang let out a soft moan and slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes were unfocused at first, but as she recognized Su Wan and Emma gathered around her, memories flooded back like a tidal wave. Fear seized her instantly, and she burst into tears, clutching Su Wan's sleeve desperately, her body shaking like a fallen leaf in the wind.
"Miss... Miss... I... I..." She stammered incoherently, the overwhelming terror nearly shattering her.
Su Wan embraced her tenderly, soothing her repeatedly: "It's all right now, Liang'er. It's all right. You're back, that's what matters..." She lifted her head to look at Emma, standing silently nearby like a statue, her eyes brimming with gratitude and lingering dread. "Emma, it's all thanks to you... What exactly happened?"
Emma recounted the events concisely: how Gu Liang had been drugged, and how she'd created a diversion to rescue him. She omitted the details of setting the fire, attributing the chaos solely to the stable blaze. But Su Wan wasn't foolish. She immediately thought of her own good-for-nothing elder brother.
"It was... my brother?" Su Wan's voice trembled, a mix of fury and helplessness.
Emma nodded silently.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard gate. Su Che stormed in, accompanied by several burly servants. His face was ashen, the lingering effects of alcohol evident, but more so the fury of a spoiled scheme.
"Su Wan! Hand over that brat!" Su Che pointed at Gu Liang, who was curled up sobbing in Su Wan's arms, his tone brutal. "That damn girl dared to steal my things and smashed my imperial vase! She must be taken back for a thorough interrogation!"
This twisted accusation made Su Wan tremble with rage. "Brother! What nonsense are you spouting! Liang'er has been by my side the entire time—how could she steal from you! It's clearly you..."
"What about me?" Su Che cut her off, his eyes dark and menacing. "Third Sister, I advise you to mind your own business. She's just a maid—if I want her, I take her! If you refuse, don't blame me for disregarding our sibling bond!" His words carried a threat, his gaze lingering pointedly on Su Wan.
Su Wan paled, as if struck at a vulnerable spot. Her lips trembled, yet no defiant words came. Gentle by nature, she found herself at a loss against such a tyrannical brother, especially when it touched upon the private affairs of the inner quarters. She could refuse once, twice—but with Su Che holding the leverage and the facade shattered, how much longer could she protect Gu Liang?
Gu Liang sensed Su Wan's hesitation and Su Che's unmasked, sickening glare, clinging tighter to Su Wan's embrace as his cries choked in his throat.
The entire courtyard fell into a tense, oppressive stalemate. Su Che was determined to have his way, Su Wan was caught between a rock and a hard place, and the servants were frozen in fear.
Just then, Emma, who had remained silent, stepped forward.
Her movement was light, yet it instantly drew all eyes.
Her expression remained as impassive as ever as she looked at Su Che, her voice calm and utterly devoid of emotion: "Young Master, Liang'er is young and ignorant. She offended you. She is timid and fearful. If she were to serve in your courtyard, she would likely fail to attend to your needs properly and only provoke your anger."
Su Che shot her a sidelong glance and snorted coldly. "Oh? And what do you suggest we do about it?"
Ai Ma met his gaze, her dark eyes revealing no emotion. "This servant is willing to take Liang'er's place and serve in your courtyard. I am a few years older than Liang'er and more dexterous. Perhaps I can better satisfy your needs."
The words hung heavy in the air, silencing the entire courtyard.
Everyone stared at Emma in disbelief. Who didn't know that being a maid in the eldest young master's quarters was the hardest job? The slightest mistake meant beatings or scoldings, or even worse... This was like throwing a lamb to the wolves!
Gu Liang suddenly lifted his head, tears welling in his eyes as he stared at Emma, shaking his head frantically. "No! Sister Emma! Don't!"
Su Wan also grew frantic: "Emma! What nonsense are you spouting! This can't happen!"
Su Che stroked his chin, taking another look at Emma. This girl named Emma hadn't made much of an impression on him before—he only knew her as a quiet type. Now, looking closely, though she lacked Gu Liang's heartrending vulnerability, her features were delicate and refined. More remarkably, her composure in crisis and those eyes—so dark they seemed to absorb light—piqued his curiosity.
Swapping a terrified, tearful Gu Liang for this seemingly more "interesting" Emma? It seemed... not a bad deal. Besides, Gu Liang was still with Third Sister—forcing him would be troublesome. But this Emma was practically offering herself up...
"You're loyal to a fault," Su Che sneered. "Fine! Since you're volunteering, it's settled! Move in tonight!" He tacitly approved the exchange.
"Big Brother!" Su Wan tried to intervene.
"Third Sister!" Su Che cut her off harshly. "Either her or Gu Liang—you choose! And don't forget that incident..." His threatening tone left Su Wan's face even paler. Finally, she slumped, her hand around Gu Liang's arm dropping limply.
The commotion drew the lady of the house, who hurried over. After hearing the story (naturally, Su Che's embellished version), she looked at Gu Liang, who was crying her eyes out, then at Emma, whose face was set in determination, and finally at her son, who was as stubborn as ever. She sighed inwardly.
She knew her son's temperament well, yet she truly did not wish for a mere maid to disrupt the household harmony and turn siblings against each other. Emma, that girl—she remembered her too. Uncommonly composed for her age, perhaps... If she went to Heng'er's quarters, with her intelligence, she might actually persuade him a little? At the very least, prevent things from escalating into a major uproar?
Holding onto this desire to smooth things over, even clinging to a sliver of hope, the mistress finally made her decision: "Since Emma volunteers, so be it. Heng'er, I'm giving her to you. You must behave yourself from now on! Emma, go pack your things. You'll begin serving in the eldest master's quarters tonight."
"Yes, Madam," Emma replied respectfully, lowering her eyelids. Her face remained utterly expressionless, as if the person who had just made that astonishing decision wasn't her at all.
"Sister Emma! No! I don't want you to go!" Gu Liang wailed, struggling to break free from Su Wan's tight embrace as he lunged toward Emma.
Emma cast one final glance at Gu Liang, who was crying so hard he was nearly fainting. Her gaze was complex and hard to read—filled with concern, resolve, and perhaps a hint of unmistakable resignation. Then, without another word, she turned away. Straightening her back, which seemed slender yet held astonishing strength, she walked step by step toward the deeper, more dangerous quagmire she had chosen for herself.
Night fell once more, and snow began to drift silently from the sky again. The chaos in Su Wan's courtyard gradually subsided, leaving only Gu Liang's stifled, despairing sobs.
Meanwhile, Emma trudged through the icy snow toward Su Che's courtyard, brightly lit yet emanating a chilling aura. She didn't know what awaited her ahead, but she knew this was the only way to temporarily protect Gu Liang.
At least by going, she retained a sliver of hope, a chance to maneuver. If Gu Liang went instead... that would truly be the end of all hope.
The biting wind caught the hem of her robe, and snowflakes landed on her lashes, melting quickly like unseen tears.