Chapter 144 Pockmarked Face
After washing up, Lin Yuesha felt sore in her back and couldn't even lift her hands.
Hongtao, who was initially jealous of Lin Yuesha for going out to slack off, now has no such thoughts at all. Not only that, Hongtao even offered to take out a needle and thread, wanting to teach Lin Yuesha some small skills.
"Sister Red Heart, please spare me!"
Lin Yuesha had a bitter face. After a day of grueling training, she had developed a conditioned reflex and trembled at the sight of needles and thread.
Late at night, with the oil lamp dim, doing needlework by the light hurt her eyes. To save up copper coins, Mother Chen worked day and night, stitch by stitch.
These days, girls all know how to sew, making purses, handkerchiefs, and sachets. If their needlework isn't good or their designs are novel, they won't sell for much money.
There are indeed embroidery masters whose decorative screens can cost thousands of taels of silver. However, such people not only have talent, but also need to hone their skills for ten or even several decades, making them extremely rare.
"Learning needlework requires enduring hardship. Sister Yue Sha, you started late. I started learning when I was five or six years old."
Hongtao smiled and took over the task of pouring water, letting Lin Yuesha rest.
It was rare for Hongtao to have a change of heart. Lin Yuesha slumped into a chair, waiting for the lights in the main room to be turned off before she lay down to sleep.
"The girl wants you to come over."
Hongtao had just returned from pouring water when she heard coughing in the main room. She went in to check on the situation, and Xuanyao asked to see Lin Yuesha.
In the past two days, Xuan Yao has been more peaceful and has even spent money to buy food for Hong Tao. The two are no longer at odds and can at least maintain a semblance of harmony.
"ah?"
Lin Yuesha was too lazy to move, but she had no choice but to get up.
“Sister Yue Sha, you and the young lady have a minor disagreement, but it’s nothing serious. If you plead with the young lady, she might let you go back.”
For the first time ever, Hongtao took the initiative to speak up for Xuanyao, which made Lin Yuesha stop in her tracks; she was quite surprised.
It's only been a few days, but the contrast before and after is too great.
Hongtao wished Xuanyao dead, but now she has completely changed her attitude. Something must have happened.
Before Lin Yuesha could even begin to suspect anything, Hongtao shyly pulled out a handkerchief, blushing as she asked, "I heard you and the young lady know each other before. Have you met the young lady's older brother?"
Xuan Yao's older brother, isn't that the folding fan pig head?
Lin Yuesha nodded honestly. She had seen it before, and not only that, she had a very deep impression of the folding fan pig head.
"Is he a handsome and talented man?"
Red Peach's face was beaming with joy, making no attempt to hide her thoughts.
Xuan Yao found her and proposed that the two of them should get along peacefully. Of course, Xuan Yao would give Hong Tao some benefits.
Being a maid in the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion means being married to a servant and spending your whole life as a slave with little chance of advancement. Xuan Yao, though a concubine, is still a mistress, and getting a man wouldn't be difficult for her.
Xuan Yao promised Hong Tao that as long as Hong Tao served her well and stopped opposing her, all past grudges between them would be forgiven. She was also willing to persuade her parents to marry Hong Tao to her elder brother in a proper and formal marriage.
"The girl said she would bring this up when her father arrives tomorrow."
Hongtao was overjoyed; she was of marriageable age and naturally anxious. The Xuan family was wealthy, and she could marry into one and enjoy a life of luxury without having to serve anyone.
Otherwise, she would have had no better choice in the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion and would have had to compromise herself by marrying a bearded stableman.
The stable boy was poor and of low social status; all he could do to win a woman's heart was offer her a worthless peach blossom.
"puff……"
Lin Yuesha couldn't help but laugh out loud. Describing the wrinkled silk flowers as rotten peach blossoms was too apt. And the bearded coachman—his beard was all glued on himself, so he wasn't necessarily ugly.
"I heard that Young Master Xuan has already passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. If I marry him, I'll be a scholar's wife!"
Xuan Yao mentioned that her elder brother was quite talented, and if he passed the imperial examinations and became a Juren or Jinshi in the future, Hong Tao could become an official's wife!
Lin Yuesha was alarmed. Hongtao had just formed an alliance with her a few days ago, but seeing that she was not very useful, she started to promise Hongtao benefits, and managed to fool her so much that she was dizzy. Even someone as shrewd as Hongtao had to bow down to such a huge pie.
As for the folding fan and pig head being a handsome man, how could Xuan Yao say that? He's blatantly lying.
Judging from Xuan Yao's appearance, you can tell that her older brother isn't much of a catch. They aren't step-siblings, but biological siblings.
Lin Yuesha stopped talking to Hongtao and went to the main room.
Xuan Yao's wound had scabbed over, and she could walk around the room every day. When she saw Lin Yuesha enter, she smiled and invited her to sit down.
“Sister Yue Sha, my parents and elder brother are coming to Hanmen Pass to visit relatives tomorrow. Do you have any letters to bring home? I can ask my elder brother to help me make the trip.”
Xuan Yao was in a good mood and spoke lightly. She had already won the Hearts, but she was quite enthusiastic towards Lin Yuesha, which was like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken.
"You don't need to be so polite. Brother Xiao and my brother were classmates, and we still have a bond from our school days."
Xuan Yao meant that if Lin Yuesha couldn't read, she should have Xuan Zhi write a letter home for her.
Lin Yuesha was very wary of this, unable to see what Xuan Yao was up to.
"Miss, no thanks."
Lin Yuesha hesitated for a moment before saying, "My parents and elder brother have probably gone back to the village for the New Year. Chenjia Village is remote, and the mountains are blocked by heavy snow. It would take too long to go there."
The courtyard was at the back corner gate, and there were several shops not far away. Peddlers would also walk around from time to time. If you wanted to write a letter home, you could ask someone to run a errand for you, which was more reliable than Xuan Yao.
Besides, the letter that Xuan Yao delivered might have been replaced.
"Oh, I see. Then let's forget about it."
Xuan Yao touched her stomach. She was in the recovery phase and was hungry. She wanted to eat a bowl of plain noodles.
"Why don't you go to the main kitchen and get me a bowl?"
According to the rules of the household, apart from the fixed breakfast and dinner, if you want to eat in the main kitchen, you have to pay for it yourself.
Xuan Yao didn't make things difficult for Lin Yuesha with money, and simply tossed her two taels of silver.
Money talks! A bowl of plain noodles costs two taels of silver, but the cost is only a few coins.
"Then, young lady, I'll be right there."
Lin Yuesha carefully pocketed the silver and hurried out the door.
Upon learning that Lin Yuesha had been sent out to run errands, Hongtao raised an eyebrow but said nothing. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to serve others when she was going to be an official's wife.
The sky was pitch black, with a crescent moon hanging in the sky and twinkling stars everywhere.
Unlike modern times, there is no pollution here, and the night view has a clear and beautiful quality.
Lin Yuesha quickly figured out the way to the main kitchen, taking small, quick steps as she passed through countless small paths.
This is the temporary residence of the Prince of Zhenbei. It is very safe, with guards everywhere.
On the fork in the road leading to the main kitchen, a figure appeared ahead. Lin Yuesha walked closer and saw, oh my, it was a pockmarked face, a familiar face.
"Sir, are you enjoying the night view?"
Lin Yuesha trusted the pockmarked man to some extent. Firstly, although he was pedantic, he was a gentleman, at least willing to risk his life to save people. In this mansion, how many people disregarded everything for the sake of self-preservation, their consciences long since forgotten?
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