After all, the two of them were sleeping in the same room.

"Auntie, you're all dressed. I'll get you some water to wash up. Should I call Xiaosu in to comb your hair?"

"Okay, call me." Yan Xia nodded in agreement. Less than fifteen minutes later, Xiao Ji and Xiao Su came in together. After Yan Xia brushed her teeth, washed her face, and applied lotion, Xiao Su began to comb her hair.

Because I was going to put my hair up in a bun, I put some hair oil on the comb.

This hair oil will look very thick and heavy when first applied, as if you have just washed your hair. However, after combing it dozens of times, it will gradually dry and blend into your hair, giving it a shiny appearance from both near and far.

The process of styling hair is tedious, and Yan Xia was getting drowsy sitting there. Xiao Ji simply brought breakfast to the dressing table so that Yan Xia could eat while combing her hair.

It took almost half an hour.

She had just finished getting ready.

Yan Xia seemed like a completely different person at this moment.

Her skin was clean and fair, her eyebrows were drawn, and her cheeks were lightly rouged, giving them a pinkish hue. Her jet-black hair was styled into a snake bun that hung down at an angle, adorned with a gold-inlaid jade peach blossom hairpin that swayed as she walked. Several small yellow flowers were decorated on either side of her bun, perfectly matching her shoes. She also wore matching peach blossom earrings, carved from pure mutton-fat jade. Although small, they were extremely expensive.

Yan Xia doesn't like wearing too many head ornaments, as they make her neck ache.

She applied lip rouge and pursed her lips.

She became even fairer and looked radiant.

"Xiao Su, bring me my pair of ice flower hibiscus bracelets." Yan Xia looked in the bronze mirror and was quite satisfied, but the gold bracelets on her wrists made her feel that they added a bit of vulgarity.

"My lady, I've brought it. Let me put it on for you."

Xiao Su placed the jade bracelet on the table, first holding Yan Xia's hand and removing her gold bracelet, then replacing it with the jade bracelet.

“That’s more like it. A jade bracelet would be a perfect match. Alright, get done and go out. Have you finished what I asked you to do yesterday? Set up the banquet in the courtyard. Prepare plenty of fruits and pastries, and some iced drinks. Oh, and go to the first courtyard and bring over a few potted plants. When I came back yesterday, I noticed that the flowers my father was growing were blooming very beautifully. Also, among the new batch of maids who came to our mansion, I remember one of them can play the seven-stringed zither. Have her take the zither and sit in the courtyard and play until the guests leave.”

Yan Xia remembered this maidservant very well.

She and Jin Yu went to the dental shop together to choose it.

A row of people, but she was the only one carrying a seven-stringed zither.

Although the zither is not as big as the zheng, it is not light either.

Upon learning that her family had once been prominent, but after her parents passed away, because she was an only daughter, her family property was seized by the clan. That was bad enough, but those beasts even wanted to sell her to a brothel. Caiwei's personal maid overheard this and led her out through the dog hole in the house, where they escaped.

But fate is unkind. When misfortune strikes, even drinking cold water can cause problems. On their journey, the two encountered a bandit. The maid pulled the bandit into the river, but the bandit couldn't swim, and they both drowned, leaving only Caiwei alive.

She stumbled and staggered out of the mountains, carrying her zither, and arrived in Jiashu County.

But this pampered young lady, who had never left home before, had no idea how terrible the world could be. Her purse was stolen, and she met a kind old woman who then sold her to a brokerage firm without her even realizing it.

That seven-stringed zither was a gift from her parents when she came of age. She wore it tightly to her body, and if anyone tried to take it away, she would bite them like a mad dog.

Caiwei's body was covered in whip marks. She was unfortunate, but also lucky, as she met Yanxia the day after she was sold.

Yan Xia bought her back and let her live in the mansion. When guests came, she was responsible for playing the zither, and when no one came, she could do whatever she wanted.

It's very easy.

Although it's a dead contract, I still get half a tael of silver a month.

If you don't spend it and save it up, you can save up six taels a year.

"Master, everything is ready. Sister Xiaoji is setting things up outside. The one playing the zither is called Caiwei. I'll go and call her over." There are dozens of maids in the manor, and Xiaosu knows them all.

"Go."

Yan Xia waved her hand.

Xiao Su backed away from the room and ran to the backyard.

The sun was already high in the sky, so Yan Xia simply went out of the house and sat in the courtyard, waiting for the guests to arrive.

The gatekeeper had already given instructions that if anyone arrived, they would be brought in directly. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yan Xia heard footsteps. There were three people; it seemed to be her mother-in-law and Yuanshan.

Sure enough, after seven or eight seconds, the doorman leading the mother and son appeared in Yan Xia's line of sight.

"Mother-in-law, you've finally arrived! Please take a seat."

Yan Xia slightly raised her chin, gesturing for the maid beside her to come forward and help her.

"You're too kind. Am I late?" Despite her smiling face, Xu Chunxia was actually quite nervous. Even while sitting on the stool, she was tightly clutching the hem of her clothes and rubbing it.

"Not late, actually early! Xiao Tian, ​​go and invite the Second Young Mistress over." Since her own mother is here, her daughter naturally has to be here too.

Yan Xia casually called over a maid and asked her to fetch Jing Shui.

"Yes, Master—" The little maid bowed and shuffled towards the third courtyard.

Stepping onto the wooden planks of the connecting corridor, she quickened her pace and started running.

They almost collided with Xiaosu and Caiwei.

"Slow down, don't offend your master. You can't run around at home, understand?" According to rank, Xiao Su is one level higher than Xiao Tian.

Therefore, it was right for her to reprimand Xiaotian.

"Thank you for reminding me, sister. I understand."

"Okay, go ahead." Xiao Su didn't say much. She had a gentle personality and didn't like arguing with people. Her words were just a reminder.

"My lady, I've brought Caiwei with me. Where should I have her play the zither?"

Xiao Su's voice rang in Yan Xia's ears, and Yan Xia turned her head to look at the two of them.

"Let's play it on the stone table. We can see it from the pavilion later, and it's not far away. The stone table is shaded by trees, so it won't get any sun. If you find the stone bench uncomfortable, you can put a soft cushion on it."

Yan Xia pointed to the stone table and said.

“Yes, Master, Caiwei, please sit down there. I’ll get you a cushion,” Xiaosu said, turning to Caiwei.

"Yes, I understand, Sister Xiaosu. By the way, which pieces would you like to listen to, Master?" Caiwei asked Yanxia, ​​her voice trembling slightly.

Caiwei had been pampered since childhood, and this was the first time she, a young lady from a wealthy family, had ever called someone "master."

But she did it willingly.

Rather than going to a brothel or being sold into concubine, she would rather stay in the Yan family mansion forever and be a little maid who plays the zither.

She was very happy because she ate well at the mansion, the masters were kind, and she got along well with the servants.

"It's up to you, play something elegant or cheerful, it doesn't matter."

Yan Xia was just there for the atmosphere; she didn't actually want to hear the piano.

She said it casually.

"I understand, Master." Caiwei bent her knees in greeting, then sat down on the stone bench with her guqin in her arms and began to test the sound.