Song Yixiao received the news that the boat had capsized after midday. She was surprised, and naturally, she had to ask about the safety of the people on board.

The person who came to report the news was Wei Mengying’s first maid, Sitao, who had been promoted last year. She looked very anxious, “After the boat capsized, Miss Wei and Miss Lu saved Princess Consort ashore first. But where they went ashore was a long way from where the servants were. When the servants ...