"Benefactor Hua, this is your dormitory accommodation. If you need anything, you can find this humble monk in the front courtyard," Jikong said as he led Zhong Li to the door, gave a few instructions, and then quickly departed.
Zhong Li watched Jikong out of sight. Just as she was about to push the door open, the sounds of idle chatter from women inside reached her ears.
"Did you hear? The pampered young lady from the Empress's maternal family has also arrived."
"Who are you talking about? Shen Ying?"
"Yes, otherwise who could it be? Our fates are poor, being born into the families of sixth or seventh-rank officials. At this time, we are only fit to live in such a shabby room. How unlike her, who even hogs the room belonging to the general's daughter."
"What's so special about that? She even stole someone's husband, why would she care about this?"
"Husband? Are you referring to the Lu heir of the Prince of Xian's estate? Alas... the heir was elegant and handsome. I thought his affection for the young official of Dali Temple, Lord Zhong, would become a beautiful story. Little did I know that Shen Ying would get there first."
"Don't you know yet? The heir has been imprisoned. This marriage is probably off."
"Oh? Then... the young official is currently burdened with a case, and Shen Ying cannot marry him. Wouldn't the heir be within our reach then?"
...
"Ahem!"
'Creak!'
Zhong Li and Lin Jin stood outside, unable to bear the gossip any longer. Zhong Li pushed the door open, and Lin Jin coughed lightly to alert the noble ladies inside who were chattering away.
Upon hearing the sound at the door, everyone inside immediately fell silent.
Zhong Li finally found peace and led Lin Jin into the room.
The dormitory could accommodate five people in total, but the room only had two occupants. However, these two women had so much luggage that they refused to put it on the floor, each occupying one bed. Zhong Li was left to sleep by the wall.
"Miss, the weather is changing lately. Sleeping by the wall can be chilly and bad for your health," Lin Jin said, deliberately raising his voice to be heard by the other two.
Zhong Li remained silent. In her opinion, it didn't matter where she slept. However, Lin Jin was displeased. On one hand, he had promised his master to take good care of Zhong Li. On the other hand, Zhong Li might become his mistress in the future, and he could offend anyone but not his master. Seeing the two chattering women pretend not to hear, covering themselves with blankets and feigning sleep, he let out a cold laugh. He took a few steps forward, grabbed the luggage from the bed, and tossed it onto the floor.
"What are you doing?" The two women lying on the beds heard him, pulled back their blankets, and questioned Lin Jin in unison.
Zhong Li watched from the side. Aren't these the Miss Zhang and Miss Li who had just finished drawing lots from the Great Hero Hall?
"What am I doing?" Lin Jin placed his hands on his hips and mimicked the way women argue, "Don't you have any manners? This is a place for people to sleep, not for you to pile your messy belongings!"
Miss Zhang was more overbearing. Upon hearing Lin Jin's words, she quickly emerged from her blanket and said, "We like to pile them, so what? You're so ugly, neither man nor woman. Only your mistress would keep you. You talk about our manners, but we'd rather pile our luggage than sleep with someone as ugly as you."
"Exactly, go back and pee on yourself to see what you look like!" Miss Li casually chimed in.
Lin Jin was not as skilled at arguing as women. Hearing their rapid-fire insults, which sounded like peas popping, he was momentarily at a loss for words. Zhong Li had not intended to intervene and was too lazy to argue. However, upon hearing Miss Zhang and Miss Li's insults, she knitted her brows and, with a flick of her wrist, held a scalpel at Miss Zhang's throat.
"You... what do you want to do?" Miss Zhang had not expected the woman who looked so cute to be so quick to act. She broke out in a cold sweat.
"That's my maid. I advise you to shut your mouth. If you haven't rinsed your mouth, go outside and do so, or I don't mind using this scalpel to file your teeth!" Zhong Li said coldly. With that, she threw the scalpel, which embedded itself deeply into the wall next to Miss Zhang's outer garment.
Miss Zhang swallowed hard, her face drained of color in fear.
Miss Li, quick-witted, said, "Those who can live in these dormitories have elders who are at most sixth or seventh-rank officials. What are you acting so arrogant for?"
Zhong Li was already packing her luggage. Hearing Miss Li's words, she replied with a cold sneer without looking back, "I'm sorry to disappoint you. I am precisely the legitimate daughter of the general's family, Hua Yao, whom Miss Shen is said to have taken the room from."
"Ah?" As her voice fell, Miss Zhang and Miss Li finally reacted. They glanced at each other, lowered their heads, and dared not say another word.
The day passed quickly.
After finishing her dinner, Zhong Li returned to her room to rest. Lin Jin, being a man and needing to meet with three of the Hua family's subordinates, had already disappeared in no time. Zhong Li spread out her bedding and began preparing for sleep.
Miss Zhang and Miss Li sat at a small square table. Seeing her busily working without any help, they secretly rejoiced and huddled together, whispering.
When it was time to extinguish the lamps, Zhong Li lay on the bed with her clothes on, eyes closed, feigning sleep. Just as she was about to fall asleep, her eyelids suddenly brightened. She opened her eyes in confusion and saw Miss Zhang carrying an oil lamp and a basin of melon seeds towards the bed.
Zhong Li's gaze shifted to Miss Li opposite her. Seeing that she had also sat up, Zhong Li knew in her heart that these two were probably preparing to get revenge for the scalpel incident from earlier.
Miss Zhang knew Zhong Li was looking at them. She felt a surge of joy. Her goal was simple: to keep Zhong Li awake. So, she glanced at Miss Li, and the two of them put their heads together and started chatting.
"Speaking of which, do you remember what we said about Wang Mei this morning?"
"I remember!" Miss Li replied crisply, not forgetting to grab a handful of melon seeds and crack them with vigor.
"Do you know what I found out from Miss Chen during dinner?" Miss Zhang asked mysteriously.
"What is it?" Miss Li inquired.
"She said that this Baolin Temple is haunted at night!" Miss Zhang said, feigning terror, and then glanced at Zhong Li. She had expected Zhong Li to be frightened upon hearing this, but to her surprise, Zhong Li looked at them with amusement, as if encouraging them to continue.
Miss Zhang felt a bit awkward and glanced at Miss Li. Miss Li thought for a moment, then slapped her thigh and continued, "Do you remember what happened to Zhu Qianqian, the legitimate daughter of Zhu Zhongwei, a few months ago?"
"Her? I heard she was involved with the young scoundrel next door and was even carrying his child. What about it?" Miss Zhang asked.
"She got married, and to a prestigious family in Yongcheng as the principal wife." Miss Li said.
"No way! I remember when she was pregnant, the entire city of Jincheng knew about it. How could they hide it with that belly..." Miss Zhang said, even mimicking the gesture.
Zhong Li watched the two of them, a smile involuntarily appearing on her lips. She realized that Miss Zhang and Miss Li were just spoiled young girls, perhaps a bit willful, with some malice but not much. Their actions were quite amusing.
"But she still married well, and I heard she was still a virgin." Miss Li said.
"A virgin? How is that possible?" Miss Zhang exclaimed in surprise.
"How is it impossible? Do you know why many noble ladies with bad reputations who come to this Baolin Temple can marry well afterward?" Miss Li asked.
Miss Zhang shook her head.
"Didn't you just say that Baolin Temple is haunted? Actually, it's not. I heard from rumors outside that there is a mysterious place within Baolin Temple, a place that can restore a woman's virginity."