Chapter 139

Chapter 143: The Visit (Part 2)

Eleven Miss pondered and asked, "Do you know the name of that young servant?"

"Yes," Amber replied, "He's called Xiao Luzi, about nine or ten years old. Yang Huizu found an excuse to barge into Xiao Luzi's room for a look. He said the boy has a fair and neat appearance, speaks politely, and seems to know a few words."

With a dignified appearance, polite manners, and the ability to read a few words... he was clearly the perfect candidate for a personal attendant!

Eleven Miss smiled slightly and inquired about Qin Yi, "...Has there been any news from her?"

"According to the maid by Qin Yi's side, Qin Yi hasn't had much of an appetite lately and her sleep has been restless. Her maid, Xinghua, once asked someone to fetch blessed water from Ciyuan Temple for her to drink."

"Drinking blessed water?" Eleven Miss couldn't help but widen her eyes.

Amber nodded, "Qin Yi has great faith in Ji Ning Nun and makes donations to Ciyuan Temple every year."

Eleven Miss just wanted to laugh.

Not many people in the household, yet so many different beliefs.

She told Amber about the possibility that the Lin family might ask her to help guide Huijie in needlework, "Our families live next door, and there are surely elderly maids in the household who have connections with people over there. Help me inquire about Huijie's situation so we can be prepared." She also mentioned matters concerning the Goldfish Lane area, "The New Year is approaching, have someone take fifty taels of silver there. Also, convey a message to let them celebrate the New Year peacefully, and we'll discuss any matters after the snow stops." Then she instructed Amber, "Wake me up at the Ox hour tomorrow."

Amber nodded, taking note of everything, and came to wake Eleven Miss at the Ox hour the next day.

In the middle of winter, in the dead of night, Eleven Miss stayed in bed for a long time before getting up. Just as she finished tidying up and was sitting on the kang eating an apple, she still hadn't seen Lord Xu.

She couldn't help but feel strange and sent Amber to check.

After a while, Amber returned with a strange expression, "Qiao Lianfang is currently serving the Marquis his breakfast. The young maid asked me what was the matter, and I only said I came to see if the Marquis had left for the morning court session. I didn't say anything else."

The maids standing nearby all lowered their heads, holding their breath in nervousness, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became somewhat tense.

To her surprise, Lord Xu had no intention of coming at all...

Eleven Miss couldn't help but feel this embarrassed.

Amber seemed hesitant to say more.

Having been this embarrassed, there was nothing more to fear.

Eleven Miss simply asked her, "Is there anything else?"

Amber leaned in and whispered, "I heard that the Marquis stayed the night at Qiao Lianfang's place yesterday."

Eleven Miss felt even more awkward.

If you don't want people to know, don't do it. Besides, in her place, the three concubines had probably already sent people to watch every move. When it was Qiao Lianfang's turn to serve, it was either because Lord Xu had matters to attend to or he was in no mood. Having just stayed the night there yesterday, and then sending her most capable maid early in the morning to investigate the situation, if this fell into the eyes of those with ulterior motives... what kind of situation would this be!

She quietly cursed Lord Xu in her heart.

Didn't he say he would be served breakfast today? How could he break his promise!

But she also knew in her heart that she couldn't blame Lord Xu.

She had only casually mentioned it yesterday, and Lord Xu had already responded, telling her she didn’t need to get up so early.

How could she have made such a blunder!

Or perhaps, she was afraid of upsetting him!

The thought flashed through her mind.

Eleven Miss nodded to herself.

Indeed. Saying she would serve him breakfast today was entirely due to the guilt she felt after rejecting him. That's why she acted this way today—feeling that if he allowed her to serve him breakfast, it would be as if he had forgiven her for her untimely rejection, making her feel more justified.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a bead of sweat at her temple.

Was she being overly cautious?

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. The man handles external matters, the woman manages the household. Household matters should be her decision. Although she had set the schedule for whose room he would stay in, he had agreed to it. So why should she feel guilty?

With this thought, she took a deep breath and felt much more at ease!

Amber, seeing her sitting there silently with flushed cheeks, thought she was feeling shy and troubled, and quickly smiled, "The kitchen stewed black chicken soup with cordyceps this morning, should I have someone bring you a bowl?"

"Sure!" Eleven Miss nodded, "While you're at it, fetch my small embroidery box. I want to see if there are any pretty yet simple pieces to show Huijie when she comes, as an example."

Seeing her gradually regain her composure, Amber was delighted and dared not mention anything about the Marquis, Qiao Lianfang, or breakfast. She smiled and quickly agreed, calling a young maid to fetch breakfast while she and two other young maids brought out the box containing Eleven Miss's embroidery.

Eleven Miss drank a bowl of chicken soup and sat down to pick out items. She thought that if Zhenjie came over, Chun Ge would likely insist on coming too, and she'd need to find a way to attract him to her room to play. Her mind kept racing.

"Do you know what boys enjoy playing with?" she asked Amber.

Amber was taken aback, thought for a moment, and shook her head, "I don't know!" After a pause, she softly asked, "Are you preparing for Chun Ge to come and play?"

Eleven Miss sighed, "The things I used to play with don't seem suitable for Chun Ge."

Amber thought for a moment and said, "Should I go and ask?"

"Alright," Eleven Miss said, "Go and ask, then report back to me tonight."

Just as they were speaking, Nan Yong's wife came in. She was surprised to see Eleven Miss already sitting on the large kang by the window.

Eleven Miss, feeling a bit like she was overexplaining, said, "Oh, in a couple of days, the lady from the Lin family next door might bring her daughter Huijie over for me to give some pointers on needlework. I'm just going through some old things to see if there's anything suitable to show her as an example."

Nan Yong's wife smiled upon hearing this, "You have guests coming? Should I help cut some window decorations? It's almost New Year, it'll add to the festive atmosphere." Then she added somewhat sheepishly, "My skills are average, I can only cut 'Rising High' and 'Abundance Every Year'. Madam Du, who serves the elder madam, can cut anything—she doesn't even need to draw on the red paper, she can just pick up the scissors and cut. Whatever you can think of, she can cut it!"

"Really!" Eleven Miss hadn't thought of this before and laughed, "But you're better than me, I can only cut the 'Double Happiness' character. Let's invite Madam Du over sometime to teach us how to cut window decorations."

Nan Yong's wife looked surprised, "I can join too..."

Eleven Miss, remembering she had children to take care of, quickly said, "If you're busy, just tend to your own affairs."

Nan Yong's wife waved her hands repeatedly, "I'm not busy, I'm not busy." She smiled somewhat shyly, "I really want to learn how to make window decorations from Madam Du. I just didn't dare to ask."

Eleven Miss smiled, "If you want to learn, just join us when we do it. If you're worried about your daughter, bring her along. There are plenty of young maids in my courtyard, they can help look after her."

The laughter of children is the most beautiful sound in the world!

Nan Yong's wife smiled broadly upon hearing this.

Eleven Miss then discussed with her, "Help me style a peony bun, like the one I wore when I went back to my parents' home, but not too high. If it's too high, it makes me look like I'm pretending to be an adult..." she muttered softly, "Even though I am an adult!"

Nan Yong's wife smiled, covering her mouth, and went with Eleven Miss to the dressing table. She styled a peony bun that was slightly lower than usual, and instead of wearing hairpins, she inserted two crescent-shaped combs inlaid with coral and Daimao, with a small lilac flower dangling from her ears. She wore a white silk blouse inside, a lake-colored plum, orchid, and bamboo patterned silk jacket outside, and a deep green embroidered skirt with oil green vine patterns. She looked graceful, fresh, and elegant.

Eleven Miss also thought it looked good and smiled, calling Amber to bring a tourmaline jade bracelet to wear.

In the middle of the red plum blossom heart knot were two jade butterflies the size of fingernails, with long red tassels below. With every movement, the red either rested against the lake color or nestled in the deep green, making the whole person become more charming with this touch of beauty.

"The Fourth Madam is absolutely stunning!" Nan Yong's wife looked on with envy.

Eleven Miss toyed with the two jade butterflies and smiled, "Clothes make the man, and the saddle makes the horse."

Nan Yong's wife gazed at her radiant face and sparkling eyes, thinking they were even more beautiful than the tassels. Not being one for many words, she simply smiled at Eleven Miss. Realizing it was getting late, Eleven Miss took Amber to see the elder madam.

The elder madam was already up and, upon seeing Eleven Miss, her eyes lit up with a smile, "It's always good to dress up nicely."

Eleven Miss glanced at her own garment and smiled, "It's all thanks to the lovely things mother has given!" This was from a bolt of cloth the elder madam had gifted her a few days ago.

The elder madam nodded slightly.

A maid brought in a low table.

Eleven Miss helped the elder madam with breakfast.

The elder madam pulled her to sit down together.

Eleven Miss smiled softly, "I used a bit of honey paste... I had already eaten before coming."

When she approached, the elder madam noticed her natural face, which looked more radiant and fair than most. Upon hearing her words and taking a closer look, she realized Eleven Miss had shaped her eyebrows and her lips had a glossy sheen.

The elder madam laughed heartily, "You little rascal."

Eleven Miss smiled slightly, feeling secretly relieved.

She wanted to keep a good relationship with the elder madam and wished for her to accept her lifestyle, including her preferred way of dressing and grooming... Sensing that the elder madam wasn't too strict, she had taken this chance—luckily, the elder madam didn't mind, and she passed with ease.

As she pondered, she heard the elder madam laughingly instruct Madam Du, "Go and have the kitchen whip up some egg cakes."

Eleven Miss knew these were similar to sponge cakes, molded into shapes like plum blossoms, plums, and peaches, each the size of a cherry, usually made as snacks for Chun Ge. Why was the elder madam having them made now? However, these egg cakes were sweet but not too rich, melting in your mouth, easy to digest, and perfect for the elderly.

Madam Du glanced at Eleven Miss, smiling as she went to carry out the order.

Eleven Miss felt somewhat puzzled by the look.

The elder madam then laughed, "Young people are all about looking good—have some egg cakes to fill you up!" Her eyes twinkled with jest.

So, they were made for her!

Eleven Miss had already had chicken soup in the morning, along with two pieces of water chestnut cake and two pieces of chestnut cake, and wasn't hungry at all. Yet, not wanting to disappoint the elder madam's kindness and seeing her in high spirits, she blinked and smiled, "Did mother used to have these? Otherwise, why do we have so many molds for egg cakes at home?"

The elder madam just chuckled.

Eleven Miss understood and, to amuse the elder madam, sighed, "So, I'm just following in her footsteps."