At that moment, Zhao Yuechan was also standing by the window, gazing toward the main gate, her nails digging deeply into the windowsill. Behind her, Ying Shuang said, "Madam, I've brought Zhi Cao."
Zhao Yuechan turned around, walked to a chair, and sat down. She pulled a silver ingot from her sleeve and held it out to Zhi Cao. "Even though you didn’t do well today, I’m still rewarding you with two taels of silver. Remember to keep your mouth shut."
Zhi Cao, whose cheeks were swollen from slapping herself, took the silver and murmured, "Yes, even if I were beaten to death, I wouldn’t dare speak."
Zhao Yuechan waved her hand, signaling Ying Shuang to take her away. Today’s scheme had been her plan—to have Zhi Cao push Chunyan into Ying Ge, causing her to miscarry, then personally testify that Chunyan had pushed Ying Ge. This would have killed two birds with one stone, eliminating two of her greatest threats. But unexpectedly, Ying Ge’s maid, Lei Er, had pulled Ying Ge out of harm’s way, foiling the plan and even drawing a warning from Lin Jinlou. Now, Zhao Yuechan slumped in her chair, too exhausted to move.
Ying Shuang tiptoed in with a bowl of hot soup and said softly, "Madam, you’ve been busy all morning. Have some soup to restore your energy."
Zhao Yuechan only stared out the window before finally saying, "Why does he hate me so much? If he would just change his mind, I’d willingly shorten my life by ten years."
Ying Shuang didn’t dare respond. After a long pause, she whispered, "Madam, Miss Huan has sent someone with a gift. Should I let them in?"
Zhao Yuechan straightened up. "Let them in."
Xianglan entered with her head bowed, holding a wooden box in both hands. "Madam, our young lady asked me to bring this."
Zhao Yuechan instructed Ying Shuang to take the box and said, "Ying Shuang, give her some pastries and sweets." Then she dismissed Xianglan.
Ying Shuang opened the box and took out a brand-new dark green embroidered round-necked vest with intertwined peach blossoms. "What a splendid garment," she praised. But beneath the clothing, she found a small case. Inside was a set of eight gold hairpins inlaid with tiny rubies, each shaped like one of the Eight Auspicious Treasures—a treasure vase, an endless knot, twin fish, and so on. Even Ying Shuang, who was accustomed to fine things, couldn’t help admiring them. "This set is truly exquisite," she said, presenting it to Zhao Yuechan.
Zhao Yuechan took two of the pins and examined them in the sunlight before sneering, "Cao Lihuan must have spent a fortune on this set. How unlike her usual stingy self."
Ying Shuang folded the vest. "What does she want from you?"
Zhao Yuechan held up two fingers. "Just two things. First, she wants her brother to take over our household’s procurement duties—a lucrative position she’s hinted at several times."
Ying Shuang scoffed. "She must be out of her mind. Everyone in the household has their eyes on that job. There’s no way it’ll go to her brother."
Zhao Yuechan said, "Even minor purchases would provide enough profit to feed them for a year. But given how grudgingly Cao Lihuan usually offers gifts, I’ve simply pretended not to notice. As for the second matter..." A slow smile curled at the corner of Zhao Yuechan’s lips. "She sent these hairpins to ask me to arrange a high-status marriage for her."
"What? But isn’t Cousin supposed to marry as soon as her mourning period ends? Why would she—""She looks down on her husband's family for their low status and meager means. Having lived with us for a while now and seen better things, how could she bear to return to hardship? And with her looks and background? Hmph."
"This is indeed difficult... Should we return the hairpin?"
"Why return it? A complete set of these red gold ruby-inlaid eight treasure hairpins costs nearly a hundred taels of silver. You keep it safe—I know what to do."
Ying Shuang nodded, took the key, and locked the box of hairpins in Zhao Yuechan's jewelry case.
Meanwhile, after leaving Zhao Yuechan's quarters, Xianglan was led by the senior maid Bai Lu to a side room, where she was given a large handful of pastries and sweets. Xianglan wrapped them in a handkerchief, thanking her profusely. As she stepped out, she saw Xiao Juan waiting for her under the corridor. Xianglan hurried over and offered the handkerchief with a smile, saying, "Here, have some treats."
Xiao Juan, straightforward and lively with an endearing innocence, widened her eyes at the sight of the sweets. Xianglan couldn't help but laugh, thinking she resembled a mewing kitten, and pushed the handkerchief closer.
Xiao Juan took a pine nut cake and, while eating, led Xianglan to her room. Finding it empty, Xiao Juan closed the door and grinned. "Where were you assigned? Among all the girls who came with us, you're the only one whose placement I didn't know."
Xianglan replied, "I'm at Gauze Snow Dock, with Miss Huan."
Xiao Juan's face immediately showed sympathy. "So you ended up there... Well, no wonder. With your looks, how could the mistress let you linger near the Master?"
Xianglan playfully shoved her. "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Xiao Juan, still chewing, grinned. "You're prettier than any of the three maids in the Master's quarters. Once you grow into your looks, I bet you'll outshine even the mistress—the number one beauty of Jinling. She might have to step aside soon."
Xianglan clapped a hand over Xiao Juan's mouth. "Good heavens, what reckless talk! Do you want me dead?"
Xiao Juan mumbled, then pried Xianglan's hand away. "Don't worry, I know better. It's just between us. Today, Ying Ge got scolded, 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 the front courtyard was empty. What work do you do at Knowing Spring Pavilion?"
Xiao Juan sighed. "I sweep, tend the stoves, water the plants, and clean the courtyard. The corridor floors have to be washed three times a day—it's exhausting. And no matter how hard I work, the senior maids always scold me and dump the worst tasks on me."
Still young, Xiao Juan poured out her grievances to Xianglan as if to family. Xianglan patted her head. "Same here—lots of work, little favor from the masters. But that's how it is for new maids. Once we've toughed it out for a couple of years, no one will dare bully us." Just then, someone outside shouted, "Xiao Juan! Where are you? Neglecting the stoves to run wild again!"
Xiao Juan stuck out her tongue. "That taskmaster's calling. I'd better go. Xianglan, visit me often, and I'll come see you at Gauze Snow Dock when I can." With that, she dashed off.Xianglan set aside two more pieces of the pastries from her handkerchief for Xiao Juan, placing them by her pillow, then pushed the door open and walked out. Passing by a side room to the west, she faintly heard crying—it seemed Chunyan was weeping while cursing, "Ying Ge, you little wretch, don’t you dare gloat! You set me up to humiliate me, but I’ll make sure you have your day of tears!"
A chill ran down Xianglan’s back, and she hurriedly turned and retreated. When she returned to report to Cao Lihuan, the latter questioned her in detail. Xianglan shook her head at every question, claiming ignorance, only saying that Zhao Yuechan had accepted the items and given her a few pastries in return. Cao Lihuan’s expression darkened slightly. She had sent Xianglan to deliver the items precisely because she trusted her honesty—unlikely to peek inside the box or steal anything. Hui'er had sticky fingers at times, and Huairui was shrewd beneath the surface, neither quite to her liking. But this Xianglan was perhaps too "honest," lacking even the most basic perceptiveness. With a grim face, Cao Lihuan dismissed her.
For a while, things remained peaceful.
One day, Cao Lihuan specially drew a shoe pattern and tasked Xianglan with making a pair. She and Huairui selected the color scheme together, then had Hui'er sketch the floral design for the shoes. With a tight deadline, Xianglan was ordered to rush the work. She buried herself in the task, barely eating lunch or dinner, and even burned midnight oil to embroider the patterns. In three days, the shoes were finished. When Hui'er saw them, she first criticized the embroidery as unattractive, then claimed the vamp wasn’t stretched flat enough, before adding a ring of small flowers around the shoe opening.
After returning from morning greetings, Cao Lihuan wore a pleased expression, and Hui'er loudly proclaimed, "Today, our young mistress truly shone in front of the old Taitai! When she presented the shoes, saying, ‘The other day, you mentioned your feet were swollen, so I hurried to make these for you. Please try them on later to see if they fit.’ Guess what? The old Taitai tried them right then and there—and they fit perfectly! She was overjoyed and rewarded our young mistress with a pair of golden Ding Xiang earrings on the spot."
Cao Lihuan preened, sipping her tea. "Indeed. That wretched Lin Dongling’s face turned green—finally venting the resentment in my chest." Lin Dongling was the legitimate daughter of the second branch, who had always looked down on Cao Lihuan and oppressed her at every turn, a fact that made Cao Lihuan gnash her teeth whenever mentioned.
Huairui flattered, "Our young mistress truly knows how to please the old Taitai. You spent two days perfecting the shoe pattern, deliberating over every detail. No wonder you were rewarded."
Cao Lihuan smiled faintly. "It wasn’t just me. Hui'er embroidered the floral patterns, you handled the colors, and Xianglan also helped a great deal to finish the shoes."
Hui'er promptly added, "Only because our young mistress taught us well."
Xianglan kept her smile in place, but inwardly she sneered, "Oh, wonderful. Three days of burning the midnight oil, eyes red from exhaustion, and all I get is ‘helped a great deal.’"
Cao Lihuan’s gaze swept over and noticed Xianglan standing to the side. Her delicate oval face had thinned noticeably, and she looked worn out. Knowing how hard Xianglan had worked without complaint, she added an extra word of praise: "I know you’re a diligent girl." Then she included Huairui: "You too—always so hardworking."
She rewarded Xianglan with a few coins but gave Hui'er and Huairui each a small silver hairpin. Then she dismissed Xianglan to her needlework and beckoned Hui'er and Huairui. "You two, come with me," she said before leading them into her chamber.Please give me more votes, bookmarks, and comments I asked my editor, and they said only works with good performance get recommendations. It's too quiet here on Qidian, and with this performance, I'm afraid I won't get any recommendations...>_<
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