A-Mei didn’t respond immediately to Anning’s earlier question. She simply pushed the thin blanket over herself before saying, "We should sleep. I have to be up early tomorrow to tend to Lady Yufang."

Lin Anning frowned, sitting up straight for a moment. "Did you just say Lady Yufang?" She asked. "Why do you call her that instead of Young Miss?"

A-mei didn’t respond immediately but then she eventually admitted, "I do not know, it just feels strange. Calling Young miss Wanqing ’Young miss’ and then calling Yufang the same thing. Well, Lady Yufang sounds relatively better."

With that, she shuffled further into the bed, threw one leg over the blanket and collapsed onto her back.

Anning let out a small sigh.

This was the first time she would actually be sleeping in a room that was hers. With an absolutely normal person and it was definitely devoid of any form of hatred.

Tomorrow would undoubtedly bring another problem. Maybe she would have to climb up some mountain just to please Wanqing.

Just thinking of Wanqing reminded her of what happened, how pale Wanqing’s face looked. Anning knew she wasn’t supposed to be thinking about her mistress, but she couldn’t help it.

Anning a lone piece of rice off her dress, then turned to look at the bed she was currently seating on.

She had only one word to describe it and that was hideous.

There was simply no other word she could use to describe it.

Back home, she had slept on a queen sided bed with fluffy pillows and pink blankets. She could even remember complaining about how they weren’t comfortable enough.

But now, she has come to respect that mattress and even owes it an apology.

The wooden frame looked old enough that if she bounced on it too hard, it would snap into two. The bedding itself wasn’t that thick and it made her sigh.

She glanced toward A-mei. The girl was still awake, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Normally, Anning would rather die than ask someone for help with something so embarrassing.

Unfortunately, normal no longer existed in her life.

"A-Mei?" She called out softly.

"Hm?"

Anning shifted awkwardly on the bed, her left leg bouncing slightly. Her fingers intertwined on her lap kept moving and she could barely look her in the eyes.

"Do you..." She began, her voice sounding lower than usual. "Do you happen to have extras sheets I could use?"

The moment those words left her mouth, A-mei snickered. Anning’s cheeks instantly turned red and all that nervousness from earlier disappeared.

"I had no idea you found something I said funny." She said blankly.

"Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you." A-mei hurriedly said, clearing her throat.

"Yes, I can see that." replied Anning.

A-mei sat upright, the amusement in her eyes didn’t go unnoticed by Anning.

"It’s just that, you look like someone asking me to help you hide a body."

Anning huffed, then said, "Well, I’m never asking you for anything. Ever again."

Still, she climbed out of bed without another word, rummaged through her belongings and returned carrying several folded sheets.

"You can use these." She muttered, handing them over to Anning.

"Thank you." Anning said softly, taking the sheets into her arms.

A-mei merely shrugged, turned around before climbing into her bed.

Anning stood up and quickly spread the sheets over the mattress, making sure to smoothen out every wrinkle till it looked somewhat acceptable.

By the time she finished, she could hear A-mei snoring softly.

It seemed like the girl had finally fallen asleep.

Anning lowered the flame of the lantern, before blowing it out entirely.

The room was immediately shrouded in darkness and that had Anning smiling. She climbed into her bed, slipped under the covers and then closed her eyes.

Maybe tomorrow wouldn’t be terrible, she thought as she finally fell asleep.

****

But poor Anning had been so wrong. The sound of aggressive banging filled the room, nearly sending her soul out of her body.

Anning let out a groan, burying her face deeper into the bed. Whoever it was could just leave her alone.

She shifted around on the bed until she found a comfortable position before swiftly falling back asleep.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

"Who the heck is it?!" She yelled, hoping to get some sort of answer.

But the only answer she got was more banging.

She forced herself to sit upright, letting out a groan as she looked around the room. The only thing she noticed was A-mei’s empty bed.

’What time is it?’ she asked herself.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, ran her fingers through her tousled hair and wiped the corner of her mouth before stumbling toward the door.

The moment she opened it, she froze. Lanzhin stood outside the door, carrying a mountain of what looked like dirty cloth.

Anning blinked in confusion but then allowed her lips to stretch into a smile.

"Head Maid," she greeted. "What exactly did I do to deserve being woken up like this?"

Lanzhin scoffed, without waiting for permission. She shoved Anning to the side and walked into the room.

Anning slid the door closed behind them before yawning loudly. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, the low chirping of birds from outside made Anning feel at ease.

She couldn’t help but wonder what wanqing was currently doing?

Anning frowned at her own thoughts, why was she thinking about that rude woman first thing in the morning?

She shocked her gaze and stared at Lanzhin, who dropped the clothing pile onto the floor and turned to face Anning.

"Why are you still asleep?" she demanded. "Everyone has been working for hours."

Anning folded her arms against her chest and pointed out, "The young miss never gave me a specific time to wake up. Besides, considering what I went through yesterday, I deserved the rest."

She expected Lanzhin to scold her or something, but the old lady just nodded at her.

"I agree."

Anning looked pleased, but that lasted only for a few seconds.

"However," Lanzhin continued coldly, "that is about to change."

"How? Why?" asked Anning.

"You are relieved of your duties as Young Miss Wanqing’s personal maid. Although you still remain her slave." Lanzhin said.

Anning stared at her, the pleased look on her face disappearing. "What does that mean?"

"It means from now on, you will work around the residence like every other maid."

Anning didn’t answer immediately. Just yesterday, everything seemed fine between them.

Uhm maybe not fine, more complicated and frustrating. But still fine.

But then she remembered the question she had asked Wanqing. About her lost or rather dead sibling.

Was that the reason for this?

Anning swallowed nervously but then asked, "What does the Young Miss have to say about this?"

She needed to know what wanqing thought, if she hadn’t said anything so far. Then help her God, because Anning would not let this slide.

"She was the one who gave the order. That is, before she left." Lanzhin said, sounding almost thoughtful.

"Before she left? Where did she go?"l