Chapter 8

Chapter Eight: The Woods

A faint smile appeared at the corner of the matriarch's mouth. "That child, she gets the job done. If you ask her what's good, she'll look around, saying this is fine, that is fine! Even if it's not great, she can find something positive to say." Her expression turned serious as she called out for Luoqiao to enter. She asked, "Has Lianqiao returned yet?"

Luoqiao smiled. "She just came back. It seems Dujuan was with a few young maids roasting sweet potatoes and invited her to join them, which is why she came back late." After a pause, she added, "Lianqiao even brought some back for us to taste. Would you like me to bring you some?"

Before the matriarch could respond, Mrs. Wu chimed in with a smile, "Watch out, you might get a stomachache!"

The matriarch nodded. "You can eat it, but it feels heavy on the stomach." She then instructed Luoqiao, "Which young maid went with Lianqiao to deliver things to the Fourth Young Master?"

"It was Dujuan."

"Go and ask her where Lianqiao went after returning from the Fourth Young Master's place."

Luoqiao was startled.

The matriarch's expression remained calm. "If you're not up to the task, tell me now so I can send someone else."

Luoqiao, smiling, replied firmly, "Don't worry, Matriarch, I know how to handle it."

After taking a few steps, Luoqiao was called back again by the matriarch.

Luoqiao respectfully stood with her hands by her side.

The matriarch sipped her tea slowly for a while.

Mrs. Wu stood up, smiled, and said, "It's quite cold today. I'll fetch a pot of hot tea." After speaking, she quickly left the inner room. Seeing that no one was outside, she pressed her ear against the door curtain.

"……go to Green Bamboo Pavilion……see what Eleven Miss has been doing……who she's been meeting……"

At first, there were intermittent sounds, but soon after, there was nothing to be heard.

Mrs. Wu walked away and casually pointed at a young maid standing under the eaves. "You, quickly fetch a pot of hot water for the matriarch."

The young maid ran to the nearby tea room and brought back a pot of hot water.

Mrs. Wu took it and went inside.

She bumped into Luoqiao head-on.

"The matriarch said she's feeling a bit tired, and you should take a rest too!"

Mrs. Wu nodded with a smile. "I'll just sit outside for a while. Since Xu Mama isn't here, we should have someone ready to assist the matriarch when she wakes up. You don't need to worry about me."

Luoqiao nodded with a smile and left.

Mrs. Wu tiptoed to the door curtain and gently peeked through a crack.

She saw the matriarch tightly clutching a letter, with glistening tears in her eyes.

Eleven Miss's hands tightened into fists. She tried to maintain her usual unhurried pace, but her feet became uncontrollably anxious.

"The elder master and young master sent letters back one after another……"

"After receiving the letters, you were instructed to make a screen……"

"Xu Mama was sent to the Cian Temple……"

"She also asked how we are printing the *Lotus Sutra*..."

"Chun Ge is the legitimate son, but not the heir apparent..."

"Is it possible that they would still favor the elder over the younger, or the capable over the legitimate?"

Her footsteps suddenly halted.

The situation changed abruptly, and Dongqing, who was behind her, almost bumped into Miss Eleven.

"Miss Eleven, what's wrong?"

She saw fine sweat on Miss Eleven's forehead.

"It's nothing, really!" Seeing Binju's eyes filled with deep concern, Miss Eleven couldn't help but smile to reassure her, "I'm just trying to figure something out..."

"Do you want to take a walk in the woods?" Binju smiled and continued Miss Eleven's train of thought.

Usually, when Miss Eleven had something troubling her, she would take a walk in the boxwood forest in front of Green Bamboo Pavilion. After a stroll, her mood would improve significantly. Thinking about how the matriarch had placed someone in their room today, it wasn't just Miss Eleven who wanted to take a walk, but Binju as well...

The two of them headed to the boxwood forest.

The snow-covered ground, the lush green leaves, the cold air... the cold, serene surroundings gradually eased Miss Eleven's frustration.

Seeing that Miss Eleven's expression had improved, Binju smiled and said, "Miss Eleven, Dongqing asked me to tell you that we will always follow your lead." There was a careful probe in her tone.

Miss Eleven was startled.

Binju continued, "Do you remember when we first arrived at Green Bamboo Pavilion?"

How could she not remember?

At that time, supported by Dongqing, she stood in the middle of the room and said to Binju and the young maid Qiu Ju, "From now on, this is our home." Later, discovering that Yue Xiang frequently visited the matriarch, she administered a laxative to Yue Xiang, utilizing the Luo family's "sick isolation" rule to send her to the outer courtyard for recuperation, replacing her with Zhuxiang, who was recommended by Lady Lu. Of course, the process involved several challenges. For example, how to ensure Yue Xiang fell ill, how to use the circumstances and timing to force Xu Mama to send Yue Xiang away, and how to use Xu Mama's influence to request Zhuxiang, all required considerable effort. But the effort was worth it, as it intimidated the people around her, making them firmly believe in Miss Eleven's capabilities.

"Dongqing said that she has always remembered what you said." Binju smiled, "This is our home... our sanctuary."

Miss Eleven tightly grasped Binju's hand.

"I feel the same way," Binju smiled, "With you, Dongqing, Qiu Ju, and Zhuxiang, Xin Mama, Tang Mama, we will thrive together."

Miss Eleven's heart suddenly calmed down.

Yes, hadn't she spent the last three years scheming precisely for moments like this, so that the people around her would stand by her side at crucial times?

She asked Binju with a smile, "Is there any official family that would send their daughter to be a concubine... well, not a destitute family, but one that sends their daughter to be a concubine to curry favor with a superior?"

Binju thought for a moment, "Probably not," her tone not entirely certain.

Miss Eleven couldn't help but sigh.

She really was desperately seeking answers.

Binju had entered the mansion at the age of five and had grown up in this large courtyard. How would she know whether any respectable family would send their daughter to be a concubine?

She looked up.

The sky was a pristine blue, but her gaze was confined to the small patch of sky above the Luo family's rear courtyard.

She let out a long sigh.

Her gaze gradually cleared.

******

Eleven Miss and Binju returned to Green Bamboo Pavilion.

As usual, the front of Green Bamboo Pavilion was quiet and deserted. Everyone stayed in their own areas as much as possible to avoid accidentally intruding into others' lives.

Green Bamboo Pavilion consisted of five rooms on two floors. The central living room was a communal space, with a staircase at the back leading to the second floor. Eleven Miss occupied the two rooms on the east side. The rooms were divided horizontally, with the front part of the secondary room serving as the living quarters for Winter Green and Binju, the middle section used as a rest area, and the back part housing the young maids Dongqing and Zhuxiang. Her own bedroom was also divided horizontally, with the front portion serving as a study and embroidery room, and the back as the sleeping quarters. As for the older women like Xin Mama and Wu Mama, they lived together in a three-room wing behind Green Bamboo Pavilion.

As they walked in, Xin Mama and Tang Mama were sitting by the brazier, warming themselves and chatting.

Seeing Eleven Miss, both stood up with smiles on their faces.

Xin Mama immediately handed her a hand warmer, saying, “I’ve been keeping it warm by adding fresh charcoal for you!”

Eleven Miss took the hand warmer, her eyes and brows relaxing into a smile, which also cheered Xin Mama up.

Eleven Miss gestured toward the east wing and called out loudly, “Qiu Ju, Miss is back.”

However, it was Winter Green who emerged. “Miss, you’re back.” She lifted the curtain for Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss and Binju walked in and almost bumped into Amber.

Tall and fair, with bright eyes and a radiant smile, Amber wore an ordinary blue vest that couldn’t hide her dazzling beauty.

Amber steadily bent down and performed a blessing gesture. “Eleven Miss, I am Amber.”

Eleven Miss had seen her frequently at the matriarch’s place before.

Eleven Miss smiled kindly and asked her how old she was, what family she came from, and whether she was getting used to being here. She also said some polite words like, “I’m sorry for any inconvenience, Sister. From now on, the affairs of the house will rely on you to help manage them.”

Amber stood respectfully while Eleven Miss spoke and answered her questions one by one.

She said she was fifteen, the only daughter in her family, with her parents working on the estate. She mentioned that Winter Green was very beautiful, like a woman from a painting, and treated her like a sister, which made her feel close. Amber also said, “I grew up on the estate and don’t understand the rules here, so I hope Sister Winter Green and Sister Binju will kindly guide me.”

Eleven Miss seemed very satisfied with her.

She instructed, “Binju, show Amber around. Winter Green, help me change.”

Amber was deferential to Eleven Miss’s instructions. Instead of rushing to help Winter Green dress Eleven Miss, she followed Binju in performing a courtesy, responding with a “Yes,” and watching as Eleven Miss and Winter Green went into the bedroom.

Eleven Miss was quite pleased with her.

At least, she was a smart person, not so eager as to be unaware of her place.

While changing, Eleven Miss quietly informed Winter Green about the matriarch assigning Amber to take charge of her household affairs.

Winter Green had already been mentally prepared for this outcome.

What worried her was the possibility of the matriarch arranging a marriage between her and Yao Mama’s nephew.

“The matriarch didn’t mention it at all,” Eleven Miss shook her head. “I need to embroider a folding screen over this period, and the matriarch said you’d help me. I think nothing will be mentioned about that before next March.”

Her calm demeanor had a stabilizing effect, reassuring Winter Green. She looked at Eleven Miss with flickering eyes, “Then, how should we hand it over?”

Eleven Miss often embroidered Buddhist scriptures for Winter Green to sell outside. They had saved two or three hundred taels of silver and received some gold and silver jewelry that Lü Yi-niang had secretly given her.

“Keep one hundred taels of silver, and hand over the rest.”

Winter Green was a little surprised, “Hand over everything…”

“Please do as I ask,” Eleven Miss gestured for Winter Green to fasten the jade pendant with a plum blossom knot. “Later, give the key to Amber. Then find a way to keep her occupied, so I can talk to you and Binju.” Winter Green nodded, “Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll take care of it.”