On autumn nights, the moonlight is bright, lightly shining through the window lattices onto the green floor tiles, filling the air with peace and tranquility.
Looking at the bright red and gold brocade clothes hanging on the clothes hanger, Eleventh Lady could not sleep at all.
I'm going to marry into the Xu family tomorrow. Am I really ready?
She couldn't help but turn over.
Wu Xiaoquan came to Yanjing from Yuhang, not only for Luo Zhensheng's marriage, but also for her own - because the dowry included two farms and two courtyards, the eldest wife asked Wu Xiaoquan to bring four concubines from his hometown in Yuhang. One of them was Jiang Bingzheng, who was said to be Jiang's mother's brother-in-law, just over 30 years old this year; one was Liu Yuanrui, the same age as Jiang Bingzheng; one was Wan Yizong, 38 years old; and one was Chang Jiuhe, 32 years old.
Wu Xiaoquan's family once told her proudly that she helped to select these four families. Wan Yizong and Chang Jiuhe were good at farming. Jiang Bingzheng used to be the shopkeeper of Luo's Hangzhou shop. He was driven to the farm because he offended Tao Zongguan, who was in charge of Luo's Hangzhou business. Tao Zongguan was the third uncle of Tao Mama, who was by Yuanniang's side. He was a very insidious and cunning person. Even Tao Mama had to be on guard against him. As for Liu Yuanrui, he was very honest and good at farming. The main reason for choosing him was that his wife cooked delicious meals. On important days such as the beginning of spring and autumn harvest, the chef of Liu Yuanrui's family was the chef. She was very capable. At that time, Liu Yuanrui's family could be allowed to manage the yard. When they were free, they could live in the yard and have someone to take care of their food and drink.
Eleventh Lady smiled and thanked Wu Xiaoquan's family, but did not approach the four families. Instead, she asked Amber: "...Do you know them?"
Amber pondered and said, "I know Liu Yuanrui. He was the head of the manor. He was a very honest man. Later, he was..." She paused and said, "He was squeezed out by Xu Mama's nephew. If it weren't for his wife's ability and her connection with Wu Xiaoquan's family, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to gain a foothold in the manor. However, she cooks delicious meals and is often invited to help in the kitchen for weddings and funerals. Although I don't know Jiang Bingzheng, I have heard of him. It is said that he is very active. He wanted to compete with Manager Tao for the position of Manager of Hangzhou Prefecture. Later, he was discovered by Manager Tao for embezzling the payment for goods and kicked out of the manor. If it weren't for Manager Wu's protection, the eldest wife would have kicked him out long ago." She hesitated for a moment and said, "This man doesn't know how to farm. Even in the manor, he fishes for three days and dries the nets for two days. Fortunately, he has a relationship with Manager Wu, and no one can do anything to him..."
Eleventh Lady was surprised: "Why did Wu Xiaoquan protect him?"
Amber smiled and said, "He married the niece of Wu Zongguan."
On one side is Mother Jiang, on the other side is Wu Xiaoquan, and he is also competing with Manager Tao for a position. Wang Bingzheng has a complicated background. However, if they can come here, they should be quite capable. For example, the wife of Liu Yuanrui's family, her husband's job was taken over by Mother Xu's nephew, and she was able to get in touch with Wu Xiaoquan's family, and was finally sent to Yanjing to be a housemate...
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but nodded slightly.
"I've never heard of Wan Yi Zong and Chang Jiuhe!" Amber said, "Do you want me to ask around? Liu Yuanrui's family should know."
They are all of considerable age, and appearance reflects one’s heart. You can tell what kind of personality they have when you meet them!
Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Forget it, this is just Wu Xiaoquan's family's one-sided statement. Who knows what mother will arrange."
Amber said nothing more.
Eleventh Lady then thought of another incident.
Yesterday, Mother Xu told her that the eldest wife would let her bring four maids with her.
She thought about it and asked Amber to call Dongqing. Then she sent Amber away and asked Dongqing alone: "Maybe only four of us can go with us. What do you think we should do?"
Dong Qing was startled after listening, and lowered her head. After a while, she said, "Miss, considering that I have served you, please, please marry me to a decent man!" As she spoke, tears fell silently, forming a small puddle on the edge of her skirt.
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but sigh softly.
Dongqing must have thought that she was in a difficult position, so she specifically gave her some advice in private so that she could be mentally prepared.
"Don't worry, I'll take you away first." She smiled and comforted Dong Qing's bewilderment, "I won't let you fall into Mother Yao's hands."
Dong Qing nodded with tears in her eyes: "Miss, I will work like a cow or a horse in my next life to repay your kindness."
"Why do I want you to work like a slave?" Eleventh Lady couldn't help but laugh.
She called Binju to ask again.
Bin Ju was very straightforward: "Of course I'll find a way to keep Amber." She also suggested, "Miss, how about we let Amber take some laxatives like we did before..."
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but laugh: "That won't do!"
"What should we do?" She frowned. "I feel uneasy when I see her." After thinking for a while, she told Shiyi Niang that Amber had once shown off at Shi Niang's place. "...You always told us to be patient. But she got so proud of herself for a few clothes. I'm afraid she'll cause trouble for you."
"Yes." Eleventh Lady nodded with a smile, "I understand. I will take care of this matter!"
Binju breathed a sigh of relief.
Eleventh Lady asked Qiuju.
Qiu Ju thought about it and looked at her seriously: "Miss, I will stay!"
Eleventh Lady was very surprised.
Qiu Ju smiled and said, "I want to go back to Yuhang. My mother, father, brothers and sisters are all in Yuhang."
She knew what to say and when, and what she wanted... Eleventh Lady suddenly felt reluctant to leave her.
I couldn't help but hold her hand: "Is there anything special you want?"
Qiuju secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although she knew that the master she served was not a narrow-minded person, she was still surprised that he let her go like that.
She smiled and said, "I want to learn how to do double-sided embroidery, young lady."
That is impossible both in terms of time and current situation.
Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said, "I will tell Wu, the chief steward, to send you to work in the mansion in Hangzhou. I will also write an envelope to Master Jian, and you can take my letter to Master Jian. As for whether you can learn it, it depends on your luck."
Qiu Ju knelt down and kowtowed three times to Shiyi Niang: "Miss, I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life."
It means that I should let her go back to Yuhang to reunite with her parents!
When they parted, Shiyi Niang discovered that Qiu Ju was actually a pearl, but it was a pity that she did not discover it.
With a hint of regret, she asked Zhu Xiang: "...Which four do you think I should choose?"
Zhu Xiang's face was filled with shock.
She was a little maid and always followed Qiuju or Binju, so it was natural for her to feel surprised when I asked her this.
Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "You were introduced by Fifth Aunt, I can't just leave you at home. But when we go to Xu's house, we are unfamiliar with the place and we are outsiders, so I'm afraid we will encounter a lot of things. If you guys can't work together, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to move forward. Let me ask you, I have a plan in mind!"
Zhu Xiang lowered her head, twisted her fingers and didn't say anything for a long time.
Eleventh Lady didn't rush her and just drank her tea quietly.
After a long while, she said carefully, "Please leave Sister Qiuju here! She has her mother and father in Yuhang."
Eleventh Lady was slightly shocked, but smiled and said, "Qiu Ju has been serving me since she came into the mansion, I am a little reluctant to let her go. But Amber..."
Before she finished her words, Zhu Xiang raised her head.
Her big eyes were filled with panic: "Please don't... The first wife won't agree... The fifth concubine is still in Yuhang? Otherwise, send me back to Yuhang? The fifth concubine must have someone to serve her!"
Eleventh Lady looked at her and smiled slightly: "I understand."
Zhu Xiang said, "Don't worry, Miss. I won't tell anyone else about this."
Eleventh Lady’s smile deepened.
A few days later, the eldest wife introduced her to four maids.
Jiang Bingzheng was just as Amber said, a smart man with a pair of very active eyes. He, Liu Yuanrui, Wan Yizong, and Chang Jiuhe stood at the door. The other three bowed their heads and didn't dare to raise them. Jiang Bingzheng actually glanced at Shiyi Niang several times.
Eleventh Lady carefully observed the hands of the four people.
Jiang Bingzheng's hands were white and neat, not like those of a farmer.
Liu Yuanrui, Wan Yizong and Chang Jiuhe all had thick knuckles and rough skin. But Wan Yizong was different from Liu Yuanrui and Chang Jiuhe. Wan Yizong washed his hands very clean, while Liu Yuanrui and Chang Jiuhe still had dirt in their fingernails.
Thinking of this, she turned over again.
The rustling sound of clothes rubbing against each other seemed very loud in the quiet night.
"Miss, are you asleep?"
It was Amber who was sleeping on the bed footstool and keeping watch who asked her.
"Not asleep!" Eleventh Lady said softly.
Usually at this time, Amber has something to say to her.
After waiting for a long while, Amber finally spoke: "My Lord, if you are like this, then let's just say it's the day of the dead!" Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, as if it was about to blend into the moonlight. "I often hear people say that a grand feast must end..." There was also a strong temptation in her tone, "It is also said that those who climb high will fall hard... My Lord, you are not that kind of person, are you?"
When Xu Lingyi returned victorious, the emperor again proposed to confer him a title, but Xu Lingyi wrote a long letter of thanks and declined again. The emperor then rewarded Xu Lingyi with 10,000 taels of gold and ten mu of fertile land.
The eldest wife just sneered when she heard this.
The master sighed and said, "What a pity."
Unexpectedly, Amber has such insight?
A thought that had been circling in her mind came to her mind again.
Eleventh Lady turned sideways, rested her head on her arm and looked at Amber on the bed: "Do you know why mother gave you to me?"
"I don't know." Amber was shocked. "I was thinking that too. My sisters are so smart. Maybe they think I'm stupid, so they sent me away." She looked at Eleventh Lady from the side, her eyes flickering in the darkness.
"I don't know either." Eleventh Lady smiled, "But since she chose you, she must have her reasons. I want to ask you now, are you willing to follow me?"
He was not asking her whether she was willing to follow her to Xu's house, but whether she was willing to follow him... There was a fundamental difference between the two.
"You don't have to answer me now!" Eleventh Lady lay down again, "Think about it carefully before answering me later!"
Could it be possible that I should go back to the first wife?
She never had a choice.
It was her parents' idea to let her enter the mansion as a maid; it was Madam Xu's idea to let her be with the first wife; it was the first wife's idea to transfer her to the eleventh lady's room... But she knew that she could only be single-minded - there would be no good result for a woman to marry twice, and there would be no good result for being in Cao's camp but having her heart in Han.
Amber smiled: "Of course I will follow the young lady." Her voice was neither hurried nor slow, with a hint of solemnity.
In the darkness, Eleventh Lady raised her lips slightly and turned over to sleep: "You must remember what you said."