Chapter 199 Moving into Pine and Cypress Hall

Old Madam Ning stopped her, saying, "It's alright, please continue."

Under Madam Ning's eager gaze, Luo Yi continued her story.

Years ago, she and her father found the young general, who was seriously injured, at the bottom of a cliff. The father and daughter did everything they could to rescue him, but his injuries were too severe, and he had to stay on the kang (a heated brick bed) for three months to recover.

Fortunately, her father was a doctor, and it was her father who treated the young general's injuries. The father and daughter took good care of the young general until he fully recovered.

During this time, in order to avoid arousing suspicion in the village, her father told people that this was her fiancé whom she had been betrothed since childhood, and that he was recuperating at home due to poor health.

A few months later, his father went to the deep mountains to collect herbs for the young general, but unfortunately fell off a cliff and his body was never found.

At this point, Luo Yi couldn't help but shed tears.

Madam Ning, deeply moved, grasped Luo Yi's hand tightly and said:

“Good child, you and your father have done a great favor for our General’s Mansion. Now that you are here, please settle down and I will treat you well.”

Yu Qingci and her servants watched the two silently until the servants had set out the dinner. Only then did Yu Qingci speak up to remind them:

"Mother, it's time for dinner."

Madam Ning slapped her forehead: "Look at my memory, I forgot that we haven't eaten yet. Miss Luo, don't be shy, just eat with us from now on. You can continue talking to me after we finish eating."

The group sat down at the table.

In the past, Madam Ning would sit in the main seat, with Yu Qingci and Lu Yunchu on either side of her. Today, Madam Ning seemed to have forgotten, and pulled Luo Yi to sit next to her in the seat where Yu Qingci usually sat.

Yu Qingci pursed her lips without saying anything and automatically sat down on another chair.

"Sister-in-law, please sit here."

Yun Chu pulled Yu Qingci to sit in her seat, while she sat down next to Yu Qingci.

At the dinner table, Madam Ning frequently instructed the maid to serve Luo Yi food, asking if she was used to the food in the capital, and inquiring whether her son Yunqi had gone hungry while he was away.

As Yun Chu ate, she glanced worriedly at her sister-in-law.

Although this girl, Luo Yi, saved her brother, for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to like her.

After dinner, Madam Ning looked at Yu Qingci and asked, "Miss Luo may be staying at the General's Mansion for a long time. I think it would be better to arrange a new place for her to live in the inner courtyard instead of the guest courtyard."

Daughter-in-law, look—

As soon as she finished speaking, Granny Wang frowned and reminded her, "Madam, Miss Luo Yunying is still unmarried, so it may not be appropriate for her to live in the inner quarters. Have you forgotten that the young general will be returning in a few days? It will be even more inconvenient then."

Madam Ning was taken aback when she heard this. She then remembered that her son was about to return, and it was really inappropriate for Luo Yi, a young woman without any status, to move into the inner quarters.

What should we do?

Luo Yi secretly observed for a moment and then said, "Madam, there's no need to be so polite. I'm just an orphan, it doesn't matter where I live. It's just that I feel particularly close to you, Madam, since we just met. I'd be willing to serve you like a maid."

"Why don't I squeeze in with the other ladies serving the old lady? That way, I can be there to serve her every day, and if she ever has any questions, I can easily tell her."

Madam Ning disagreed, saying, "That won't do. You are a distinguished guest in our family. How can we let you live with the maid?"

Luo Yi smiled and comforted her, "As long as I can get close to the old lady, I'm willing to be her maid."

After saying that, she joked, "Could it be that the old lady looks down on me, this clumsy country girl?"

Madam Ning: "How could I not like it? How about this, if Miss Luo doesn't mind, I'll have someone clean up the west wing of my courtyard for you to live in. Anyway, all these rooms in my courtyard are empty, so you can stay here and keep me company."

Luo Yi quickly curtsied and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam."

The two reached a consensus, held hands, and gazed at each other.

Granny Pei glanced over indifferently: Good tactic.

Granny Wang watched coldly: She's not someone to be trifled with.

Lu Yun Chu then cast a worried glance at Yu Qing Ci once again.

Old Madam Ning looked at Yu Qingci on the other side, about to give instructions, when Yu Qingci put down her chopsticks and said:

"The old lady's honored guest, her daughter-in-law, will naturally not be neglected. I will arrange for someone to clean up the west wing in a little while, and add some daily necessities. Miss Luo can move there tonight."

Luo Yi thanked her repeatedly.

Madam Ning looked at Yu Qingci with satisfaction. This daughter-in-law was extremely comforting to her. Since she married into the General's Mansion, thanks to Yu Qingci's management, she only needed to be a hands-off manager and didn't have to worry about anything.

So he patted Luo Yi's hand and said, "The young mistress is in charge of the household affairs. If you need anything in the future, just ask her. She is a virtuous and kind woman, and you will definitely get along well."

Luo Yi looked at Yu Qingci: "Luo Yi has caused trouble for the young mistress. I will go with the young mistress to clean up later."

Wang Mama couldn't help but kindly remind her, "Miss Luo Yi, you've misunderstood. There's no need for our young mistress to personally oversee such rough work as cleaning the side rooms. Just a word from the young mistress and we servants will handle it perfectly."

"Miss Luo, please go and check later. If anything is missing, just tell this old servant. There's no need to trouble the young mistress."

Yu Qingci stood up and said, "It's really not much trouble. Since we're moving here tonight, then I'll trouble Granny Wang to take a few servants and tidy up the west wing."

"Miss Luo is a guest of the young general and will be staying here with her mother from now on. Please ask Granny Wang to assign a clever maid to serve her, and make sure she is well cared for and that all her necessities are provided for."

"Yes, this old servant understands." Granny Wang replied and left with several maids.

After dinner, Madam Ning, still not satisfied, pulled Luo Yi to sit on the daybed and started talking about the young general's affairs.

Yu Qingci had lost interest in listening further, but she calmly sat to the side to show her support until Granny Wang came in and said that the west wing was ready, at which point she stood up and interrupted the two of them.

"It's getting late. Mother always goes to bed early and gets up early, so you should rest. I'll take Miss Luo to the west wing."

Madam Ning watched the two leave with loving eyes before getting up and calling the maids to help her wash up and go to bed.

Yu Qingci led Luo Yi along the corridor into the west wing. The room had already been cleaned up by Wang Mama and the servants. The room was filled with huanghuali furniture, and a light and expensive soft gauze curtain hung on the large canopy bed. Various porcelain ornaments that had just been taken out of the storeroom were also displayed on the octagonal cabinet.

Yu Qingci looked around and was secretly pleased with Wang Mama's competence. She then said to Luo Yi:

"Miss Luo, please take a look. If there is anything you are not satisfied with, just tell me and I will have the servants rearrange it."