Volume One: The Caged Sparrow

Chapter One: Great Upheaval (Part One)

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, but the rear courtyard of the Guiding Prefecture's yamen was shrouded in gloom. Every servant coming and going held their breath, afraid that any noise might incur the displeasure of the master inside. At the entrance of the five main rooms in the rear courtyard, a matron in her forties stood solemnly by the door, while in the yard, another matron of similar age but fuller figure paced back and forth, watching two young maids decocting medicine, occasionally stopping to glance into the house, shaking her head and sighing.

Inside the west side room of the main house, the spacious chamber was sparsely populated. In front of the mother-of-pearl canopy bed against the wall, two young girls knelt, both with tears streaming down their faces. Behind them stood a middle-aged man with a dark expression, and behind him, a timid, frail-looking young girl. On the canopy bed, a haggard woman leaned weakly against a large pillow, appearing to be about thirty-four or thirty-five years old. At this moment, she was clutching the hand of one of the girls by the bed, her voice hoarse and faint.

"Yu'er, do you remember everything I told you?"

The girl whose hand was being tightly held was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Guiding Prefect, Olivia Bolton. Seeing her mother ask so urgently, she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, her eyes instantly reddening. After a long while, she finally managed to whisper three barely audible words: "I remember..."

"Then say it again."

This made Olivia Bolton's expression change slightly. After a while, she stammered, "Mother wants me and Han-meimei to work together to manage the household well, and not to be willful about anything."

"Good, as long as you remember!"

Lying on the bed, Mrs. Grant turned her head with difficulty to glance at her husband standing behind, then fixed her gaze on the other girl kneeling by the bed. "Han'er, do you remember what I told you?"

"Yes, godmother told me to take good care of my sister and not let her suffer any grievances."

Henry Clark was not Mrs. Grant's biological daughter, but she had spent ten out of twelve months each year living at the The Bolton Family over the years. She answered crisply, without the slightest hesitation. Hearing this, a faint smile finally appeared on Mrs. Grant's face. She reached out and squeezed Henry Clark's hand, calling her a good child, then looked up.

"Master, after I'm gone, I have no other concerns, only Yu'er and Han'er weigh on my mind. I just hope, for the sake of our years as husband and wife..."

"Enough!" Charles Bolton finally couldn't help but interrupt his wife, then said resolutely, "The doctor said your illness is still treatable. Why are you saying such discouraging things! Just focus on getting better and don't think about all this nonsense. Even if not for me or the girls, you should think of your elderly mother in the capital—how could it have come to this!"

"No need to comfort me, Master. Don't I know my own body?" Mrs. Grant cast a mocking glance at the illegitimate daughter Emily Bolton behind Charles Bolton, who didn't even dare lift her head, a silent, cold smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. Yet her voice softened, "I've been strong all my life, but after so many years, I haven't been able to bear you a son. Now that I'm leaving, I can't face the ancestors of the The Bolton Family. I've already written to the capital, asking my mother and second brother to help you choose a noble lady..."

"Madam!" Charles Bolton couldn't help but stop Mrs. Grant again, his face darkening. "After all these years as husband and wife, is there any need to bring up such things in front of the children? There are two doctors outside still considering prescriptions. I'll go ask them what's going on, and if it doesn't work, I'll find an even better physician!"

Seeing Charles Bolton leave the room without looking back, Mrs. Grant finally withdrew her gaze and, with a weak breath, said to Olivia Bolton and Henry Clark, "You two go out as well... Call Mrs. Carter in, I have something to tell her."

Hearing this, Olivia Bolton immediately lowered her head and answered yes, then stood up. Henry Clark tucked in the quilt for Mrs. Grant before rising as well. Behind them, Emily Bolton didn't dare approach, just curtsied in place and silently followed the other two out. Once outside the main room, Olivia Bolton relayed her mother's message for Mrs. Carter to go in. Mrs. Carter called over a young maid to keep watch at the door, then slipped inside. At this moment, Olivia Bolton shot a mocking sideways glance at Henry Clark.

"Mother must be really confused from her illness, actually wanting me, her own daughter, to work together with you, an outsider! Don't think that just because you've won a bit of her favor, you're really a The Bolton Family young lady. You're nothing more than a cat or dog she keeps around for company. If mother isn't here, the first thing you should do is get out of here!"

Hearing this, Henry Clark only clenched her handkerchief and said in a low voice, "I have my own parents. When the time comes, I'll naturally return to my own home!"

"As long as you know!"

Olivia Bolton curled her lip in disgust, then glanced disdainfully at Emily Bolton. Seeing her half-sister hurriedly lower her head, not daring to meet her gaze, she smirked, took the hand of a senior maid, and strode off without looking back. Watching her receding figure, Henry Clark bit her lip, but instead of resentment, she felt more a sense of relief.