Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Part (II)

Eleven Miss took out the embroidery piece with the design of a hundred longevity symbols, which Master Jian had created, and spread it on the table. She then glanced at the half-finished piece on the embroidery frame and sighed softly.

"Miss, should we continue embroidering?" Dongqing asked hesitantly.

"Of course, we should continue," Eleven Miss smiled. "Although my embroidery skills and speed are far inferior to Master Jian's, have you noticed that the 'longevity' characters I embroider now are much improved compared to when I first started?"

Dongqing lit a lamp, examined it carefully for a while, and nodded. "It is different from before. Your stitches seem more even and finer..."

Eleven Miss nodded with a smile. "That's why this is also an opportunity to hone our embroidery skills!"

Dongqing covered her mouth and laughed. "Then Miss should go to bed early tonight. With this piece of embroidery that Master Jian helped with, you'll have something to present when the time comes."

After spending so much time staring at such a small space day and night, Eleven Miss's eyes had started to ache. It was no wonder that many embroiderers went blind after their thirties; this was truly a job that consumed one's youth. Like Master Jian, being invited to teach embroidery in wealthy families was a good path, but the requirements for embroidery skills were very high...

Eleven Miss thought with a smile, "Let's go to bed early tonight. After all, it's the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. While others go out to celebrate, let's take a break too!"

Dongqing covered her mouth and laughed, arranged for Zhuxiang to be on night duty, and personally attended to Eleven Miss until she rested, before returning to her own quarters.

After Amber arrived, Dongqing and Binju gave her the room next to the window. Although Amber had modestly refused, Dongqing and Binju insisted on declining, partly because they were used to living together and partly because they still had some reservations about Amber. They shared the room with Qiu Ju and Zhuxiang.

When she entered, both Binju and Qiu Ju were still awake, sitting on Binju's bed looking at the embroidery patterns she had collected, discussing what kind of border would look good on the embroidered skirt for next spring's clothes.

Seeing Dongqing enter, Qiu Ju immediately jumped off the bed and greeted her. "Miss has gone to bed!"

Dongqing nodded.

Qiu Ju brought her a basin of water to wash her face. "What did Master Jian send you?"

Dongqing smiled. "She just sent a letter to greet Miss."

Qiu Ju looked envious. "Miss and Master Jian have such a good relationship!"

"Of course," Dongqing smiled. "Otherwise, with so many people learning embroidery from her, why did she only pass down the unique skill of 'double-sided embroidery' to our Miss?"

Qiu Ju nodded and said, "Dongqing, if I serve Miss well and ask her to pass this skill down to me, do you think Miss will agree?"

"I can't say for sure," Dongqing smiled, "but whenever someone in the household asks for help with embroidery, Miss always helps wholeheartedly. If you're really interested, why don't you ask Miss about it sometime?"

Qiu Ju nodded, but before she could say more, Binju laughed. "It's getting late. Dongqing will have to assist Miss with embroidering the screen early tomorrow morning. Let's say less and rest!" She began to collect the embroidery patterns scattered on the bed.

Qiu Ju responded, and the three of them went to bed without further conversation.

The next day, just before sunrise, Mother Xin and Mother Tang had already gotten up and boiled hot water in the small kitchen next to the side rooms. Eleven Miss rose at the first light, Binju attended to her washing, and Qiu Ju had already prepared white porridge. Eleven Miss ate a small bowl of porridge with some dried bamboo shoots and pickled cucumbers before sitting down in front of the embroidery frame to begin her work.

As the sky outside the window gradually brightened, a young maid came to report, "Eleven Miss, the matriarch is asking you to go to Zhiyun Pavilion now."

Eleven Miss was taken aback.

Why would the matriarch summon her at such an early hour?

Though puzzled, she didn’t let it slow her down. She asked Dongqing to give the young maid some candy, changed her clothes, and headed to the matriarch's place with Amber.

As she approached the house, she heard the cheerful laughter of Fifth Miss.

It seemed that the matriarch was in a good mood.

Eleven Miss felt slightly relieved. A young maid lifted the curtain and announced, "Eleven Miss has arrived!"

The laughter in the room subsided as Eleven Miss entered.

The Matriarch was sitting on the daybed in the main room, wearing a lilac jacket with a butterfly grape pattern, her face wreathed in smiles. Fifth Miss stood at the foot of the bed, dressed in a moon-white jacket with a bamboo pattern. Her slender figure swayed gently like a willow in the breeze, and the smile had not yet faded from her face, her joy evident.

Seeing Eleven Miss come in, she covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled. "Just talking about you, and here you are!"

Eleven Miss smiled and went forward to pay her respects to the Matriarch.

The Matriarch pointed to a stool next to the bed. "Sit!"

Eleven Miss smiled and sat gingerly on the stool.

Fifth Miss could hardly wait to say, "Eleven Miss, Mother is going to take us to Yanjing to visit Eldest Sister."

Eleven Miss looked at the Matriarch in surprise.

Pleased with Eleven Miss's reaction, the Matriarch nodded with a smile. "Before the New Year, a nursemaid from Eldest Miss came to pay her respects to me. She mentioned that since your grandfather and mother have passed away, and Elder Master is awaiting a post in Yanjing, with your elder brother preparing to enter the Imperial Academy, this would be a good opportunity for a family reunion. I haven't seen Eldest Miss since she married over ten years ago and I miss her dearly. When she urged me to visit Yanjing in her letters, I truly considered it. Coincidentally, in April, it will be the birthday of the elder madam of the Xu family. I plan to go pay my respects to the elder madam. Since going alone would be boring, I thought to bring both of you to gain some experience."

What she had been dreading was now inevitable...

But Eleven Miss felt a sense of calm instead.

"Eleven Miss," Fifth Miss said with a full smile, "We are truly blessed."

Eleven Miss hesitated and murmured, "The embroidered screen isn't finished yet..."

The Matriarch smiled, "I originally planned to just send a gift, but now that I'm bringing you to pay your respects, the previously prepared birthday gift seems a bit inadequate. We can put the screen aside for now!"

Eleven Miss respectfully responded, "Yes."

"We will depart after the New Year," the Matriarch said with a smile, "Go and pack your things. If there's anything you need, ask Mama Xu to help you prepare."

Eleven Miss smiled and stood up, "Mother has given me plenty, and in my eyes, there's nothing much to prepare. But I’m not very experienced, so I’d like to ask Mama Xu to check if there's anything inappropriate in my room. After all, we're going to Eldest Sister's house to celebrate her mother-in-law's birthday, and we must consider propriety!"

The Matriarch nodded repeatedly, "My child, you're right. This isn't just about you, but also Eldest Miss's propriety." She then called for Mama Xu, "Bring the manager of Old Auspicious to add some head ornaments for the two young ladies."

Mama Xu smiled and agreed.

Eleven Miss asked about some matters to note for the trip to the capital, and seeing that Fifth Miss was getting impatient, she took her leave and returned to Green Bamboo Pavilion.

As soon as she stepped in, Mrs. Wu Xiaquan followed right behind her.

She was carrying a small jar.

"Eleven Miss, I have a favor to ask of Amber."

Eleven Miss naturally wouldn’t stop her and smiled, "Mama, if you have any instructions, just send her to do it."

"It's not anything else," Mrs. Wu Xiaquan pointed to the small jar, "Knowing that you're going to Yanjing, I'd like Amber to help bring this jar of pickled fish to Eldest Miss's attendant, Lu Yonggui."

Eleven Miss looked troubled, "I’m not sure how Matriarch has planned everything yet..."

Before she could finish, Mrs. Wu Xiaquan smiled, "Matriarch is bringing Mama Xu, and she has entrusted Mama Yao with the inner court affairs and our family with the outer court affairs. Luoqiao is sick and staying home, while Luqiao and Coral are going. You will each bring two senior maids, two young maids, and two older women..."

Eleven Miss smiled bitterly in her heart.

She had three senior maids in her room, but since Amber was given by the Matriarch, she had to bring her along. No wonder Mrs. Wu Xiaquan came to ask Amber for help with the delivery.

"Since that's the case, let Amber help with this errand!" Since Mrs. Wu Xiaquan had already gone this far, refusing might make her feel uncomfortable, "But I’m not sure how we’ll locate Lu Yonggui. You know, we are female relatives and guests of the Luo family..."

"Miss, don't worry, I won't do anything foolish." Wu Xiaquan's wife hurriedly said with a smile, "Lu Yonggui helps the matriarch manage her dowry estates. He spends more time outside than at home. By the time you arrive in Yanjing, it will be spring, and he will probably have left already. When the time comes, just have Dongqing give this to Lu Yonggui's younger brother, Lu Yongfu. Lu Yonggui's father was originally the head accountant, and thanks to his help, our family has maintained close ties with theirs. Last time Lu Yonggui returned to Yu Hang, he said he missed this salted dried fish. I had promised to send him some, but Yanjing is so far away, and I had no one to bring it for me. Since you're going, I thought of this."

Why does it have to be so complicated...

Eleven Miss smiled and asked, "Then how do we find this Lu Yongfu?"

Wu Xiaquan's wife smiled, "He's now a small manager in the stables of Yongping Marquis Estate. It's an outer courtyard position. Just ask any servant, and they’ll point you to him."

Eleven Miss smiled and agreed, then had Dongqing put away the item.

Binju joked with Wu Xiaquan's wife, "If we can't find him, we're not returning the item."

Wu Xiaquan's wife laughed, "Feel free to eat it. I have plenty more at home."

They all laughed heartily.

By afternoon, the news that Five Miss and Eleven Miss would accompany the matriarch to Yanjing had spread.

However, the mood in Eleven Miss’s room was tense.

She would take two senior maids, two young maids, and two older women... The young maids and older women were easy to decide, but which senior maids should she bring?

Eleven Miss decided to go to the matriarch.

After all, this was only mentioned by Wu Xiaquan's wife... Even if the matriarch truly had this plan, there was still a chance to secure a spot for one of her maids before any official announcement.

With her decision made, Eleven Miss stood up, and the curtain at the door was suddenly lifted without warning. The face of Ten Miss, with her expressive face, appeared before Eleven Miss.

"Good, good, good." She walked in slowly, a smile of forced amusement on her face, "You’re really something else! Going to Yanjing..."