At that moment, Zhao Yuechan was also standing by the window, gazing toward the main gate, her nails digging deeply into the window frame. Yingshuang spoke from behind: "Da Nainai, I've brought Zhicao."
Zhao Yuechan turned around, walked to the chair, and sat down. She pulled a silver ingot from her sleeve and handed it to Zhicao, saying, "Even though you didn't succeed in today's task, I'm still rewarding you with two taels of silver. Remember to keep your mouth shut."
Zhicao, whose face was swollen from being slapped, took the silver and murmured, "Yes, even if I were beaten to death, I wouldn't dare speak of it."
Zhao Yuechan waved her hand, signaling Yingshuang to take her away. Today's scheme had been her design: she had instructed Zhicao to push Chunyan from behind, causing her to collide with Yingge and lose the child in her womb. Then, she herself would testify that Chunyan had pushed Yingge, thus eliminating two of her major threats with one stone. Unexpectedly, Yingge's maid, Lei'er, had pulled Yingge aside, thwarting the plan and instead drawing a warning from Lin Jinlou. Slumped in her chair, she didn't want to move a muscle.
Yingshuang tiptoed in, presenting a bowl of hot soup, and said softly, "You've been tired all morning, Madam. Have some soup to restore your energy."
Zhao Yuechan only stared out the window. After a long while, she said, "Why do you think he hates me so much? If he would only change his mind, I'd willingly shorten my life by ten years."
Yingshuang didn't dare respond. After another pause, she whispered, "Madam, Miss Huan has sent someone with a gift. Should we see her or not?"
Zhao Yuechan straightened up and said, "Let her in."
Xianglan entered with her head bowed, holding a wooden box in both hands. "Madam, our young lady asked me to bring this to you."
Zhao Yuechan instructed Yingshuang to take the box and said, "Yingshuang, have someone give her some pastries and fruits." With that, she dismissed Xianglan.
Yingshuang opened the wooden box and took out a brand-new dark green round-collared vest embroidered with interlocking peach blossoms. She exclaimed, "What a vibrant piece of clothing!" But as she lifted it, she noticed a small case hidden beneath the garment. Opening it, she found a set of eight gold hairpins inlaid with ruby chips, each designed with auspicious motifs—some shaped like treasure vases, some like knots of fortune, and others like paired fish. Every hairpin was adorned with ruby chips the size of rice grains, exquisite and precious. Even Yingshuang, who was accustomed to fine things, couldn't help but praise, "This set is truly splendid." She then presented it to Zhao Yuechan.
Zhao Yuechan took two of the hairpins and examined them in the sunlight. She sneered, "For such a set of hairpins, Cao Lihuan must have spent a fortune. It's quite a stretch for someone as stingy as her."
Yingshuang folded the vest neatly and asked, "What does she want from you, Madam?"
Zhao Yuechan held up two fingers. "Just two things. First, she wants her brother to take over the procurement duties for our household—a lucrative position she's been hinting at for a while."
Yingshuang snorted. "She must have wind in her head. Everyone in the household has their eyes on that position. How could it possibly go to her brother?"
Zhao Yuechan said, "Even minor procurement roles have enough padding to feed them for a year. But given Cao Lihuan's usual meager offerings, which she parts with as if cutting her own flesh, I can't bring myself to care. So, I've pretended not to understand. As for the second matter..." Zhao Yuechan's lips slowly curved into a smile. "She sent these hairpins to ask me to find her a few high-status marriage prospects."
"What? Isn't the young lady set to marry as soon as her mourning period ends? How could she still...""She looks down on her husband's family for their low status and meager circumstances. Having lived with us for a while now, her horizons have broadened—how could she bear to return to a life of hardship? But with her looks and background? Hmph."
"This is indeed troublesome... Should we return the hairpin?"
"Why return it? A set of eight-treasure hairpins like this, made of red gold inlaid with rubies, costs nearly a hundred taels of silver. You keep it safe—I know what to do."
Yingshuang nodded, took the key, and locked the box of hairpins in Zhao Yuechan's jewelry case.
Meanwhile, after Xianglan left Zhao Yuechan's room, a senior maid named Bailu led her to the adjacent side hall and gave her a large handful of pastries. Xianglan wrapped them in a handkerchief, thanked her repeatedly, and upon stepping outside, saw Xiao Juan waiting under the corridor. Xianglan hurried over, offering the handkerchief with a smile. "Here, have some treats."
Xiao Juan, straightforward and lively with a charmingly naive demeanor, widened her eyes at the sight of the pastries. Xianglan thought she resembled a mewing kitten and couldn't help but laugh, pushing the handkerchief closer.
Xiao Juan took a pine nut cake and, while eating, led Xianglan to her room. Finding it empty, she closed the door and said cheerfully, "Where were you assigned? Of all the girls who came with us, you're the only one whose placement I didn't know."
Xianglan replied, "I'm at Luoxue Courtyard, with Miss Huan."
Xiao Juan's face immediately showed sympathy. "So you ended up there... Well, no wonder. With your beauty, how could Da Nǎinai let you linger anywhere near the Eldest Master?"
Xianglan gave her a playful shove. "What nonsense are you saying!"
Xiao Juan, still nibbling her cake, grinned. "You're prettier than any of the three maids in the Eldest Master's quarters. I bet once you've fully blossomed, you'll even outshine Da Nǎinai—the renowned beauty of Jinling. She might have to step aside someday."
Xianglan clapped a hand over Xiao Juan's mouth. "My dear ancestor, what wild talk! Do you want me to live or not?"
Xiao Juan mumbled protests, prying Xianglan's hand away. "Don't worry, I know what I'm saying—it's just the two of us here. Today, Yingge got bumped into, and all the maids and matrons hid in the back courtyard, afraid the masters would take their anger out on them."
Xianglan nodded. "No wonder there wasn't a single maid in the front courtyard. What work do you do at Hall of Knowing Spring?"
Xiao Juan sighed. "I do cleaning chores—tending stoves, watering plants, sweeping the yard. The corridor floors have to be rinsed three times daily. I work myself to death, and those senior sisters still aren't satisfied—they scold me every time and dump the chores nobody else wants on me."
Still young, Xiao Juan poured out her grievances to Xianglan as if confiding in family. Xianglan patted her head. "I'm the same—I work hard but still don't please the masters. It can't be helped. New maids all endure this. Once we've been here a couple of years and become 'old hands,' no one will dare bully us." Just then, someone outside shouted, "Xiao Juan! Where's Xiao Juan? Neglecting the stove to run off again!"
Xiao Juan stuck out her tongue. "That taskmaster's looking for me—I have to go. Xianglan-jie, please visit me often. I'll come see you at Luoxue Courtyard when I have time." With that, she darted away.Xianglan set aside two pieces of the pastries from her handkerchief for Xiao Juan, placing them beside her pillow, then pushed the door open and left. As she passed by a western wing-room, she faintly heard sobbing—it seemed to be Chunyan crying while cursing, "Yingge, you little wench, don’t you dare gloat! You set me up and humiliated me—just wait till the day you’re the one crying!"
A chill ran down Xianglan’s spine, and she hurriedly turned back. Upon returning, she reported to Cao Lihuan, who questioned her in detail. Xianglan shook her head repeatedly, claiming ignorance, only saying that Zhao Yuechan had accepted the items and given her a few pastries in return. Cao Lihuan’s expression darkened. She had sent Xianglan to deliver the package precisely because she trusted Xianglan’s honesty—unlikely to open the box and steal anything. Huier was sometimes light-fingered, and Huairui was shrewd on the inside, neither quite to her liking. Yet Xianglan was almost too honest, lacking any perceptiveness. With a grim face, Cao Lihuan dismissed her.
For a while, all remained peaceful.
One day, Cao Lihuan specially sketched a shoe pattern and ordered a pair of shoes made. Together with Huairui, she selected the color scheme, then had Huier trace the embroidery design onto the shoes. She set a strict deadline for Xianglan to rush the work. Xianglan buried herself in the task, barely eating lunch and dinner, and even burned midnight oil to embroider the patterns. In just three days, the shoes were completed. Huier, upon seeing them, first criticized the embroidery as unattractive, then claimed the shoe upper wasn’t taut enough, and finally added a border of small flowers around the shoe opening.
After returning from morning greetings, Cao Lihuan wore a pleased expression. Huier exclaimed loudly, "Today, the young lady truly shone in front of the Old Madam! As soon as she presented the shoes and said, ‘The other day, you mentioned your feet were a bit swollen, so I hurriedly made these shoes for you. Please try them on later and see if they fit.’ Guess what? The Old Madam tried them on right then—and they fit perfectly! She was overjoyed and immediately rewarded the young lady with a pair of gold earrings."
Cao Lihuan preened, sipping tea as she said, "Indeed. That wretched girl Lin Dongling turned green with envy—finally venting the resentment in my heart." Lin Dongling, the legitimate daughter of the second branch, had always despised Cao Lihuan and suppressed her at every turn, making Cao Lihuan gnash her teeth at the mention of her.
Huairui flattered, "It’s all because the young lady knows how to please the Old Madam. You spent two days alone on the shoe pattern, deliberating over every detail—no wonder you were rewarded."
Cao Lihuan smiled faintly. "It wasn’t just me. Huier embroidered the patterns on the shoes, you handled the color matching, and Xianglan also helped quite a bit to get them finished."
Huier promptly added, "It’s only because the young lady taught us well."
Xianglan maintained a smile on her face, but inwardly she scoffed, "Well, isn’t this just perfect? I toiled for three days until my eyes were red, and all I get is ‘helped quite a bit.’"
Cao Lihuan’s gaze swept over and noticed Xianglan standing to the side. Her delicate oval face had grown thinner, marked by weariness, evidence of her diligent work these days. She praised her an extra notch: "I know you’re a sincere child." Then she included Huairui: "You too, child—always diligent and hardworking."
She then rewarded Xianglan with a few coins but gave Huier and Huairui each a small silver hairpin. Dismissing Xianglan to her needlework, she beckoned to Huier and Huairui, saying, "You two, come with me," and led them into her bedchamber.
OpenNovel