How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Early in the morning, a few pedestrians appeared on the long street, mostly vendors pushing carts or carrying loads, selling food or freshly picked vegetables still dripping with morning dew.

This street is the side gate of those wealthy families. The early-rising servants are now sweeping and cleaning, or the kitchen servants are picking out some fresh food to offer to their masters.

It had rained last night, and it was foggy when I woke up this morning. In the hazy light, a slender figure seemed to be walking through the fog, rushing towards me.

Wearing the most fashionable "civilized new clothes" at the moment, with a narrow waist, light blue lapels, a hem that just reaches the hips, seven-inch flared cuffs, and a black ankle-length skirt, she carries a dark brown leather suitcase in her hand.

She strode towards the side gate of the Song residence, hesitated for a moment, a troubled look on her face, and then firmly began to knock on the door.

"Coming, coming! Who is it so early in the morning?"

Before long, there was a response from inside the door. A round-faced maid came and opened the door, glanced at the person from head to toe, stepped back a few steps to let the person in, and then slammed the door shut.

The maid yawned, stretched, and then asked, "Miss Lü, is it?"

The visitor nodded. "Lü Yanru."

The maid had already received the news, but she just wanted to ask again to confirm. "Miss Lü, this way please. The steward gave the instructions a long time ago."

After speaking, she stepped forward and led the way. Lü Yanru followed behind her, carrying a suitcase. She heard Lü Yanru mutter something like, "So beautiful" or "No wonder," but Lü Yanru didn't care at the time.

Lü Yanru was indeed beautiful. As an eighteen or nineteen-year-old college student, she was fair-skinned and delicate, like a lily in bloom, like the first dew of dawn or the first melting of snow. She was both beautiful and spirited, and was a well-known beauty in school.

The Lü family and the Song family had some connection; Lü's father and Song's father were classmates and took the imperial examinations together. However, upon closer examination, their relationship wasn't very deep, and they couldn't be considered close friends.

Although the two took the same exam, Song Wenqu failed while Lü Peijun passed and became a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

Later, the imperial examinations ceased. Song Wenqu married, became a successful businessman, and became a prominent figure in Sifang City. Lü Peijun returned home to inherit his family's property and ran a small antique shop.

For some unknown reason, Mr. Lü offended Commander Guo this time, and almost ended up with his family destroyed.

Nowadays, several warlords occupy their own territories, wielding considerable military power and commanding respect from others. The common people dare not easily offend them.

This time, Mr. Lü offended Marshal Guo, and without saying a word, his house was raided and he was imprisoned.

Seeing that he was about to lose his life and fearing that he would also implicate his family, and worried that his two beautiful daughters would suffer, he hurriedly wrote a letter entrusting his former classmate to take care of them, hoping that the Song family was powerful and could save his life so that he could have a better future.

It turns out that the Lü family ancestors were once wealthy, but later, Lü's father and grandfather's generation became addicted to opium and gradually squandered the family fortune.

By the time it came to Mr. Lü's house, all that was left was a three-courtyard house. They lived a barely comfortable life, and they were still supporting their two daughters through university.

The maid led the way, seemingly not helping Yanru with her luggage.

Since she was new here, it wasn't easy to order her around. Fortunately, she wasn't a pampered young lady, so carrying a suitcase was no problem for her.

This Song mansion must be really big. Entering through the side gate, passing through the covered walkway and then through the garden, I didn't see any maids stopping. I estimated in my mind that it was probably even bigger than a five-courtyard house.

Actually, Yan Ru didn't know that although the Song family might not be considered a big deal in the capital or Shanghai, they were one of the wealthiest families in Sifang City.

After becoming wealthy, Master Song expanded his old house, which now occupies sixty or seventy acres of land. It was built in the style of a garden in the Jiangnan region, with gentle hills and distant mountains, pine forests and lawns, bamboo groves and winding streams, pavilions and terraces, all of which are beautiful, exquisite and grand.

Moreover, unlike others, Master Song set new rules for his wives and concubines. After a new concubine entered the house and paid homage to the principal wife, she would move into the small building. All her daily life would take place upstairs, while maids and servants would attend to her downstairs.

She was only moved to the small courtyard when she became pregnant. After giving birth, the concubine was informed of her ancestors and was then allowed to leave the courtyard.

Yanru was unaware of these rules and regulations. She simply followed her maid and hurried along, making many turns, for about a quarter of an hour before stopping.

As if she had just noticed, she said, "Oh dear, Miss Lü, you had luggage but didn't say so earlier. Let me help you carry it."

Yan Ru dared not argue, and said with a smile, "How could I trouble you? It's not a heavy thing."

Upon hearing this, the maidservant's eyes darted sideways, and she suddenly burst into laughter, leaving Yan Ru completely bewildered.

After laughing, the maid said, "You don't know, my name is Little Thing."

Yan Ru was taken aback. "Why is she called that?"

The little thing didn't mind. "I have an older brother and an older sister, and they're called Xiao Dong and Xiao west. But my parents just want to save trouble, so they call me Little Thing."

Yan Ru smiled shyly and remained silent.

Fortunately, after walking for a short while, we stopped in front of a boudoir, which occupied about 100 square meters and had two floors. It was an old-fashioned building, small and exquisite, with upturned eaves, elegant and refined.

As Yan Ru walked, she looked around. The main door on the first floor was wide open. As soon as she entered, she saw a carpet, two rows of carved and openwork chairs on both sides, a square table in the center, and a grand master chair on each side.

The furniture in the main hall is arranged in a strict and orderly manner, with the central axis of the hall as the reference. The couplets, plaques, hanging screens, and calligraphy and painting screens are arranged in sets symmetrically on both sides. At first glance, it looks solemn, noble, and extraordinary.

The carved doors and windows are inlaid with stained glass; one can imagine that on a sunny day, they must be a beautiful sight with vibrant colors.

Yan Ru looked up and saw that there was a crystal chandelier in the main hall!

Just as she was about to take a closer look, the little thing interrupted her, "Miss Lü, come over here first. It rained yesterday, and our shoes got wet, which could easily damage the carpet."

Afraid of appearing timid, Yan Ru quickly followed the little one's pace.

The two did not enter through the main entrance, but went around to the side of the corridor. The little one pushed the door open and went in. It was a small house with a bamboo bed, a long table and a cabinet.

The little thing opened the cabinet and took out two pairs of shoes, one pair of coarse cloth and one pair of embroidered slippers.

After changing into the coarse cloth shoes, he greeted Yan Ru, "Miss Lü, please change into these first. I don't know your size, but you can wear the same size as our young lady, who is about your age."

Yan Ru thanked her first, then took the slippers and changed into them.

It's a little small, but it's about right. "This is fine, thank you for your trouble."

The little thing waved its hand and smiled, "It's not that I'm going to the trouble, it's that someone cares about you."

Yanru thought she was referring to Mrs. Song. "Mrs. Song is truly a bodhisattva. She took me in because of the friendship between Mr. Song and my father. She is so thoughtful and considerate. I will definitely repay her in the future."

The little thing smiled but didn't answer.

This side room was probably used by servants to keep watch at night, and it even had a small door leading into the main hall.

The little thing led her inside, and the first thing she saw was a huge screen that blocked the view of the main hall, followed by the stairs.

Fortunately, the screen was openwork, and there was a window in the wall connected by the stairs, so it wasn't too dark.

The little thing carried the suitcase and led Yanru upstairs. The stairs split in two after about ten steps, as did the space upstairs.

Going upstairs from the right, Yanru found that this place was even more exquisite and unique than the first floor. The room on the right was slightly larger, and the outer room was a small reception room with a chaise lounge against the wall.

Entering from here leads to a luxurious young lady's bedroom. A large, open sandalwood door leads to the entrance, with semi-transparent gauze curtains hanging from the ceiling. In the center is a sandalwood table, flanked by four intricately carved wooden chairs.

To the north was the young lady's boudoir, with a transparent gauze curtain hanging over the carved wooden bed, and embroidered quilts and pillows placed at the head of the bed.

On the east side of the room stood an antique shelf filled with porcelain vases and carved ornaments. Next to it was the young lady's desk, neatly arranged with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. On the wall in front of the desk hung two paintings, inscribed with "Fish that sink and geese that fall from the sky" and "Moon that hides and flowers that blush."

To the west is a guest table with a set of chess pieces on it. Beside the table is a guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither). In the southwest corner is the young lady's dressing table, with rouge and various jewelry on it.

Yan Ru entered the bedroom and carefully looked around. She discovered that there was a door on the north side. She went over and pushed it open, revealing a covered corridor outside.

Around the corner, facing the main gate, there is also a carved veranda. Standing on it, you can see parts of the garden and some scenery in the neighboring courtyard.

Yan Ru was somewhat surprised. She had come to this family seeking refuge and was prepared to live a poor life as a dependent, even if it meant working for them temporarily. She never expected that they would actually provide her with a young lady's boudoir.

Not wanting to appear naive, Yan Ru smoothed her hair and asked, "Sister, is this building... arranged for me?"

The little thing, fanning itself with a handkerchief, found the words amusing and burst out laughing. "Of course, it's not for you to live in. Do you expect me to live here? I'm a proper servant; how could I live in a building like this?"

Yan Ru always felt that she was speaking with a deeper meaning and hidden meaning, but since she was new to the place, she didn't want to make a scene in someone else's house, so she pretended not to understand.