Hongye moved the account book into the main room, while Qin Yuan drafted a memorial, discarding several pages in her writing and drawing.

"Has Miss not eaten yet?"

Qin Yuan said, "Not yet, I'm waiting for you."

Seeing that Hongye wasn't very interested, Qin Yuan laughed and asked, "What's wrong? Did you run into trouble with Accountant Sun?"

Hongye pouted as she approached and said, "Not really."

Qin Yuan placed the Huzhou brush into the blue-and-white brush washer, and a cloud of black mist immediately appeared.

Cuiming walked in and asked, "What's wrong today? Hongmian doesn't seem to be in a good mood either. Did she suffer some injustice at Accountant Sun's place?"

Hongye asked, "How so?"

Cui Ming said, "I was watching the dishes in the small kitchen when Hong Mian came in with a sullen face. When I asked her, she said nothing was wrong and she didn't know what was wrong."

Hongye's lips parted several times before she said, "She didn't suffer any injustice at Accountant Sun's place. When she came back just now, Hongmian asked me if I knew how to read the account books of the outer courtyard, and she wanted to learn how to read account books from me. Sixteen talked to me, but the conversation changed, probably because she was unhappy about that."

Gu Shiba then spoke up.

Gu Shiba added, "Madam only has two maids who came with her as part of her dowry, and she manages so few things, so it's inevitable that she'll be short-handed."

If my Cuiming is able to return to Wutong Garden to rest again, I know she's going to do something strange again.

Qin Yuan glanced at Hongye and asked, "So, do you want to teach or not?"

After a long pause, Lord Gu said, "When you have time, mention it to your mother and see if she has any ideas."

Madam Gu was taking medicine from Doctor Li and was barely holding on.

Qin Yuan nodded.

Gu Shiba rearranged the plates and dishes, then asked, "Has Cuiming used it?"

At that time, Qin Yuan and Hong Mian also set out the meal.

Lord Gu asked again, "Madam took all the account books from the inner courtyard. Does that mean she has finished checking the account books from the inner courtyard?"

When the servant came out, Master Gu quietly asked, "What is this?"

After Gu Jinghui gave the order, Gu Shiba stayed outside the house, waiting to be questioned, and then gave a brief report.

Hongye glanced at the Marquis, but swallowed her words.

...

"You said you wanted to take Da Hong, but then you said it was a delay, insisting that she was too clever and you had to see how she was. Although Hong Ye is clumsy, she's too slow with her tongue and still has a bit too much cunning. Qin Yuan is clever but not cunning, and she's also soft-hearted."

Gu Jinghui spoke.

Just as Hongye was about to say something to the Marquis, she heard Qin Yuan inside ask, "Hongmian, has the food in the main kitchen gone bad?"

Gu Shiba was also helpless.

In official families, the maids who accompany the bride are chosen from among the older sisters, who grow up together and are considered secondary mistresses. This way, they can work together harmoniously when they marry into the husband's family.

Hongye and Qin Yuan exchanged winks.

Gu Jinghui shook his head and said, "Not yet, where is he?"

Hongye chattered on and on, while Jiaxi listened and washed his brush. Hongye then had the water in the brush washer changed several times.

Gu Shiba recalled Hongmian's actions and said, "Wutongyuan is not clumsy either; it knows that Madam will make the choice."

The Marquis was a son born out of wedlock, and Qin Jijiu's official position had basically reached its limit. Their family background was not particularly good. If she were to marry a retired scholar or a candidate with some background, two maids would be enough for her dowry.

As Gu Shiba went in and out, he saw Gu Baye's servant carrying a small pile of scrolls as he walked over. "What's that for?" he asked.

After thinking for a moment, the Marquis instructed, "It will take too much effort for the main kitchen to prepare two dishes for Jia Xi. I'll have Shiba take them to Jia Xi later."

Jia Xida also thought of that, and frowned as he asked, "The servants outside the manor are all born into the household, and the lady should have four maids accompanying her as part of her dowry. But the Qin family has only arranged two. That... is a problem. What if we let the lady choose a few suitable ones from the estate?"

"He stayed outside and talked."

Gu Shiba placed the food box on the table and said, "Madam said to have the main kitchen prepare two dishes for Cuiming, so it's a little late."

Hongye asked, "Eighteen has come to speak, how did he know Eighteen was here?"

Gu Shiba said, "While the main kitchen is cooking, Da Da and Hongye, you can have some first. Cuiming can use it, Da Da..."

Gu Shiba chimed in, "Of course."

"Why are you only getting back now?"

Gu Jinghui's gloomy face immediately brightened. "Madam is thinking of you."

Gu Shiba said, "Judging from Accountant Sun's expression, there's probably something fishy going on outside. If Madam can find out, then we know for sure."

The servant said, "Cuiming asked Eighth Master for it."

After that, all the people in Wutong Garden were arranged to leave by the Eighth Madam. Even if they had clean backgrounds, their temperament and abilities were certainly suitable for use.

Lord Gu suppressed his complaints.

Cui Ming also looked at the red leaves.

Cui Ming said, "If you don't want to teach, then don't. It's getting late, let's set the table for dinner."

Gu Shiba said, "The bad ones seem to be from the Lin family."

You leisurely ate half of your meal, while Gu Shiba inside hadn't finished eating yet. He also came out, greeted you through the curtain, and then took the food box to the inner courtyard.

The servant said, "Jia Xi asked Eighth Master for a picture of a fine horse. Then Cui Ming said she wanted Eighth Master to paint a horse with wings. Eighth Master was busy for a long time, but none of the paintings were good enough for Jia Xi to look at. Cui Ming said she wanted to paint it herself, so she asked Eighth Master to bring all the pictures of fine horses for him to see."

Gu Jinghui ate slowly and cleanly. After setting down his bowl and chopsticks, he patted his stomach and asked Gu Shiba, "Does he think there's no problem with the accounts in the inner courtyard?"

Gu Shiba knew what was bad to say.

Hongye said, "Originally, I thought that since Miss was short of people, it would be good to teach her. But since she is so unhappy, I don't want to teach her anymore."

He sleeps poorly and eats poorly. He gets anxious and panics even when there's no noise outside the yard, shouting that he should be careful and no one will harm him.

Gu Jinghui was eagerly waiting, and early in the morning he sent Gu Shiba out, just waiting for me to return and deliver a message.

Gu Shiba said, "Hongye said yes, it wasn't all copied yesterday. Madam said she wanted to give it to Cuiming to take a look first."

Lord Gu then asked, "Whose son is this Hongmian?"

The Marquis asked with a smile, "What did Accountant Sun say today?"

Gu Jinghui smiled and said, "That's terrible."

Before taking his seat, the Marquis looked at the dishes and said, "Eighteen has arrived. Let's give some to Eighteen as well. That plate of rabbit meat seems to suit Eighteen's taste."

When will the mansion open?

"I beg you, please ask Physician Li to prescribe another medicine."

With a worried look on her face, Zhao Mama pleaded with Madam Gu, "Madam is getting thinner and thinner every day. If this continues, I'm afraid she'll only live to see the founding of the mansion. This Physician Li was able to cure smallpox, which shows that he is incompetent. How could he even cure Madam's illness?"

Qin Yuan smiled.

Cuiming went out to urge them to finish their meal.

The Marquis had the dishes divided, leaving enough for eight people, and then dined with Hongye and Qin Yuan, leaving the others to eat on their own, and serving them with tumbleweeds.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Did he say it himself?"