Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 173: Nightmare, Past

In the backyard of the Ruyi Embroidery Workshop in Anyi County, the lights were still brightly lit, even at a quarter past midnight.

With the release of new winter designs and additional orders from their embroidery partners, Liu Yu had been leading dozens of female workers in working three consecutive night shifts. Each day, they worked late into the night, and workers from the county were picked up by their families at the end of the shift.

Today, however, before the shift ended, Liu Yu, exhausted, dozed off in the cutting room.

Madam Zhang, her sisters, and Lu Shuang instinctively quieted down to let Liu Yu rest. Even their scissors moved more cautiously, lest they disturb her. Liu Yu carried a heavier burden than any of the other workers, and her exhaustion showed.

In her sleep, Liu Yu felt alternating warmth and cold between her eyebrows, slipping into a hazy dream.

Fragmented images flashed before her, feeling as if a long time had passed, yet it could have been just a fleeting moment. Her body trembled as she suddenly woke with a start. Looking around at Lu Shuang, Madam Zhang, her sisters, and the familiar cutting room, she felt her heart finally settle back into place.

Lu Shuang noticed her pale face and asked, “Third Sister-in-law, are you alright?”

Liu Yu shook her head. “Nothing, just had a nightmare.”

Though she said that, her complexion was still far from normal.

Worried, Lu Shuang glanced at the time and said, “Why don’t we call it a night? Let Brother Liu take us home. You don’t look well.”

Liu Yu didn’t have the energy to continue either. She nodded and said, “Alright.”

She turned to Madam Zhang and her sisters, “I’ll head out first today. You should head home once your family arrives.”

It wasn’t safe for women to walk at night, so the workers’ families always came to pick them up. Liu Yu and Lu Shuang also had Liu Yanqing, who was responsible for escorting them.

Madam Zhang nodded. “Don’t worry, boss. I checked, and we’re on schedule. You really don’t look well, so go home and rest.”

Liu Yu absentmindedly responded, while Lu Shuang had already called Liu Yanqing over.

They arrived home fifteen minutes later. Chen Shi hadn’t gone to bed yet. She had boiled water and prepared a late-night snack, waiting for Liu Yu and Lu Shuang to return.

However, Liu Yu had no appetite that night. She asked her brother to stay and eat before heading home, while she thanked Chen Shi and went straight to her room.

Chen Shi glanced at Lu Shuang, who explained, “Third Sister-in-law is probably just too tired. She fell asleep while leaning over earlier and only slept for a short while. It seemed like she had a nightmare too.”

A trace of concern crossed Chen Shi’s face. Liu Yanqing also glanced toward the inner courtyard and, after some thought, said, “Tomorrow, I’ll discuss with Yu’er about hiring more hands. If she works herself into the ground, it won’t be worth it.”

Chen Shi sighed in relief. “Exactly. I’ve noticed that the embroidery shop’s business is getting better and better, but pushing yourself like this will ruin your health.”

In the main room, Liu Yu pressed her hand to her chest.

She had just dreamt of Liuxian Pavilion. The fleeting dream showed glimpses of Madam Hong, Xu’er, Dance master Xiao Yuniang, Wei Lianxing, and finally, Liu Yanzheng.

For a moment, Liu Yu couldn’t distinguish dream from reality, almost believing she was still in Liuxian Pavilion. It felt as though her blood had frozen, and her entire body was cold. Even after walking home, she hadn’t fully shaken off the chill.

There was a knock at the door, and Chen Shi’s voice came from outside, “Yu’er, I’ve boiled some hot water. Why don’t you wash up and soak your feet before bed? It’ll help you sleep more warmly.”

Liu Yu quickly got up to open the door, startled to see her Chen Shi standing there with more than half a bucket of water. She hurriedly took it from her, saying, “Mother, how could I let you bring me water?”

Chen Shi looked at her face, which was indeed pale, and felt a pang of heartache. “I’ve been idle, and carrying some water isn’t tiring. Wash up and go to bed early. Don’t wake up too early tomorrow either. You need enough sleep to stay healthy.”

The warmth of the steam from the hot water rose, enveloping Liu Yu’s hands and gradually warming her heart. In that moment, she felt as if she was being pulled back into the world of the living, and her unsettled emotions began to calm.

“Thank you, Mother. You should get some rest too,” she said.

Chen Shi smiled and gave her a gentle pat, nodding toward the side room. “Go ahead.”

Liu Yu nodded, carrying the water inside. Chen Shi helped close the door behind her and walked away, her footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

Perhaps due to her exhaustion, Liu Yu fell asleep quickly after washing up. But that night, the nightmares seemed to persist, clinging to her. In her dream, by the rockery beneath the Jiya Pavilion, there was a muffled thud, followed by an excruciating, sharp pain. Blood gushed, covering her forehead and eyes. As the warmth slowly drained away, her consciousness faded.

The old woman who watched over the garden cried out in a panic, “Help! Someone come quickly, Miss Yue has taken her life!”

Before her cries traveled far, there was a loud thud as something heavy hit the ground. “What did you say?”

“Miss Yue has taken her life! Her head is covered in blood!”

Liu Yu could barely make out what was being said.

Someone came stumbling towards her, grabbing her in their arms. The sound of their sobs was heart-wrenching, repeating “Miss” over and over, while calling for help and shouting for a doctor.

Liu Yu could hardly see clearly, but he could tell that it was the maid Xu’er.

“Miss, Miss, the doctor will be here soon. The doctor will be here soon.”

But Liu Yu no longer needed a doctor. She no longer wanted to live.

Her fingers twitched slightly, but she couldn’t lift her hand. Struggling, she barely managed to say, “Hairpin…”

But she couldn’t finish the sentence.

The maid, Xu’er, was trembling with tears, but she somehow understood. She pulled out the hairpin that Liu Yu had placed in her hair not long ago. “Miss, is it the hairpin? Here it is.”

She tried to place it in Liu Yu’s hand.

Liu Yu’s lips moved, but no sound came out. Xu’er noticed and leaned in closer, placing her ear by Liu Yu’s mouth. “Miss, what are you trying to say?”

Liu Yu’s lips moved again, and after a long moment, she whispered a single word, “Empty.”

Xu’er looked at the hairpin and twisted the top. She discovered it could be unscrewed. Inside the hollow hairpin was a small rolled-up piece of paper. She pulled it out and unrolled it—it was a banknote for five hundred taels of silver.

Xu’er froze, looking down at Liu Yu, whose head was still bleeding profusely. Huge tears fell from her eyes.

Liu Yu’s last breath faded, and she slumped into Xu’er’s arms, her body lifeless. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

A wave of overwhelming sorrow seemed to engulf her, swelling until it made her ears ache. Xu’er gasped for air, her hands trembling as she reached out to check Liu Yu’s breathing. Her mouth was wide open, tears streaming down in heavy drops, snot and tears mingling on her face, yet she couldn’t produce a single sound as she cried.

She recalled the first time she met Liu Yu, back when she had just been bought by Madam Hong.

She had been no more than fourteen, not yet fifteen years old.

However, girls with above-average looks were not valuable in this brothel. Only those who were young and beautiful were valued. So at the age of fourteen, Madam Hong wanted her to receive customers.

She was sold to this kind of place by her family and was asked to recieve customers as soon as she arrived. She could not bear such humiliation, so she tried everything— hunger strike, running away, and even injuring clients—to resist.

Madam Hong got angry. She wanted to teach her a lesson and used her scare other new girls in the brothrel. In broad daylight in the garden, she called seven or eight eunuchs to strip her and deflower her.

“Aren’t you reluctant to serve the guests? Today, I’ll make sure you experience something even better.”

The whole courtyard watched.

Xu’er would never forget the fear of that day until her death. With a cloth stuffed in her mouth, she couldn’t even bite her tongue to end her own life.

The sound of fabric tearing was harsh, and as she struggled in utter despair, on the verge of breaking down, a group of about ten people emerged from the dance pavilion. At the head of the group, a young girl stopped just as Xu’er’s last piece of clothing was about to be torn off, and the first thug’s hand was about to touch her. The girl called out, “Wait a moment.”

It was then that she first saw Liu Yu.

Liu Yu glanced at her, then smiled and addressed Madam Hong, who was seated above, “What’s the big deal? Must you make such a fuss? This girl seems quite stubborn, but I like her looks. I could use a clever maid on my side. How about you let me have her, mother?”

Madam Hong looked at Liu Yu for a moment before breaking into a smile. “You, who is showered in gold and jewels, ask for such a small favor? If our Miss Moon has taken a liking to her, why not? She’s yours.”

Liu Yu smiled gracefully and bowed to Madam Hong, thanking her. She removed her own cloak to drape it over Xu’er, but the matchmaker quickly stopped her, saying, “No, dear girl, if you catch a cold, it would break my heart.”

She called over another girl to bring a cloak instead.

Memories surged, and the image of that angelic girl—the one who saved her from fire and water—flashed vividly before her. That same girl had just died in her arms.

Xu’er held Liu Yu tightly, letting out guttural, animalistic cries, her voice unrecognizable with grief.

It was not until Madam Hong arrived with a group of people who tried to push her aside to check Liu Yu’s injuries, that Xu’er finally pulled herself out of that extreme sadness and pain. Like a protective beast, she shielded Liu Yu in her arms, shouting fiercely, “Don’t come over, no one is allowed to come near!”

The young girl, her eyes now red with rage, looked at everyone as if they were executioners.

Her voice was sharp. “Don’t touch her! No one is allowed to touch her!”

Madam Hong was so infuriated. She ordered three or five people to forcibly pull her away. With silver hairpins, nails, and teeth, Xu’er, who was already somewhat deranged, put up a fierce struggle. Several of the maidservants were injured before they finally managed to drag her to the side.

The old doctor checked Liu Yu’s breath and pulse, then shook her head at Madam Hong.

It was too late.

Chaos ensued at the Liuxian Pavilion. The flower of their establishment, a courtesan whose first night fetched a fortune of ten thousand silver taels, had perished. Madam Hong was busy calming the anger of the King of Huainan, and with a group of people, she left in a huff.

In the past, Mingyue Garden had been the most prestigious, but now, one after another, several maidservants and old women arrived to inquire about the situation. Once they understood what had happened, they hurried back to report. They had seen too much of such scenes, becoming numb to the extent that they barely bothered to feign any more sorrow.

Only Xu’er, rolling and crawling, held onto Liu Yu tightly in her arms. Her tears seemed endless, and no one could approach them. Amidst this, no one noticed that the delicate, vivid red jewel in the center of Xi Mingyue’s forehead, which had been soaked in blood, flashed with a glimmer and then vanished into thin air.

Liu Yu awoke from her dream, her forehead still feeling the pain.

This was the second time tonight she had dreamed of the Liuxian Pavilion.

And it was the first time she had seen her death so clearly, even… the moment after her death.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether it was real or just an illusion.

Liu Yu sat up in bed, the covers wrapped around her. The emotions in her chest—equal parts despair and relief—were still fresh. Xu’er’s cries seemed to echo in her ears.

“Xu’er…”

It was now late November. By next March, Xu’er would be sold to Liuxian Pavilion.

Liu Yu could no longer sleep. In March, Xu’er would be there… And in May, her master, Xiao Yuniang, would be invited by a wealthy merchant to perform a dance at the Prince of Huainan’s villa.

These were things Liu Yu had once dared not think about. Even when they occasionally crossed her mind, she quickly suppressed them.

She hadn’t dared to think because she lacked the power to save them. And when the thoughts resurfaced, she pushed them down again, for deep down, she was still terrified—of Yangzhou, of Liuxian Pavilion.

For Liu Yu, the Liuxian Pavilion was a nightmare.

Yet within that nightmare, Xu’er and Xiao Yuniang were the only warmth she found.

As Liu Yu lay in the dark, staring blankly, she realized these frequent dreams of the past were likely triggered by the approach of March.

She had been fortunate enough to escape that pit of fire, but her master was still trapped inside, and soon Xu’er would be sent there as well.

Liu Yu had thought about buying Xu’er’s freedom in advance. But both she and Xu’er had been sold by their families, and neither of them liked to talk about their painful pasts. Liu Yu didn’t even know where Xu’er’s hometown was, so the only thing she could do was wait at the right time and place, hoping to intercept her.

Liu Yu thought to herself that she needed to figure out how to make a trip to Yangzhou in March.

Should she ask Lu Chengxiao for help?

The moment the thought arose, Liu Yu instinctively pushed it down.

She was afraid—afraid not just of Yangzhou and the Liuxian Pavilion, but also of the possibility that her past might be revealed to someone else.

In this new life, she had been incredibly lucky. From meeting her aunt’s family to marrying Lu Chengxiao, her life had been so fortunate that her past now felt like a mere nightmare. The memories made her heart race with anxiety, but most of the time, she could avoid thinking about them. It was only when those memories resurfaced that the shadow of her past would hang over her.

She felt like a clown dressed in the finest clothes, yet underneath, she was filthy and full of secrets, things that couldn’t bear the light of day.

Even after living a whole new life, she still didn’t want Lu Chengxiao to know anything about the events or people connected to her past life.

As she thought through her brothers—Liu Yanqing, Liu Yanping, and Liu Yanan—she found herself at a loss for a solution.

Her eldest brother was steady, and her second brother, Liu Yanping, was clever and had traveled extensively. He might be the best person for the task, though she wasn’t sure if he would be traveling with Lu Chengxiao for business in March. It seemed she would have to adapt as the situation unfolded and make decisions as necessary.

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