Adoration
That day, Wang was restless because of what had happened during the day. After the tea banquet, she returned to her residence and paced anxiously around the room. Suddenly remembering something, she quickly sat back down in front of her dressing table and carefully examined her face in the bronze mirror.
There were two fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, which even the thickest makeup couldn't cover up. She dared not look anymore and smashed the bronze mirror on the ground.
That night, Wang suffered greatly, her eyes filled with images of her husband entangled with the enchantresses of the Red Sleeve Brothel. The next morning, as she dressed in front of the mirror, she noticed even more wrinkles around her eyes.
Time flies, and beauty fades; how can this not instill a sense of unease in those who cherish beauty?
She bit her lip tightly, struggling with the decision of whether or not to go to the government office to see her husband today.
How could Granny Xi not know what Madam Wang was thinking? After the servants left the main house, Granny Xi combed Madam Wang's hair and advised her, "I asked the kitchen staff to make some pastries that the Second Master likes. Madam, please send them to the Second Master later!"
Wang lowered her head and remained silent.
Seeing that she had given in, Granny Xi continued to persuade her, "If you ask me, it was the lady who was impatient this time."
"Even if we want to get rid of that person in the side courtyard, we must do it gradually. She has stayed in the side courtyard peacefully for three years. How could Master believe Madam just because of this baseless accusation?"
"The vixen from the Northwest is unfaithful, and the Second Master hates her to the bone. It's not wrong for Madam to want the little vixen to make the same mistake as her mother to warn the Second Master. But reputation isn't something that can be tarnished with just a few words or deeds. Madam, don't be too hasty. There will be opportunities in the future. The most important thing now is to coax the Second Master back home. A man who has lost his heart can do anything cruel. But if he has a man by his side, it's a different story. Just look at the eldest son's wife..."
These words struck a chord with Wang.
So what if Zhang Tingfang is the Duchess of the State? She's just a widow whose husband has died. She always has a dead face, no one cares for her, she's old and gloomy, no different from that old woman.
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Wang asked, "Granny, what should I do?"
Granny Xi smiled and said, "That's simple. Right now, the Second Master is thinking about whoever he misses the most, so the Madam can just dote on that person. Men need to be pampered more."
In the sweltering afternoon, Madam Wang, accompanied by her servants, went to the government office and personally served tea to Gao Yun. No one knows what she said, but that evening, Gao Yun returned to his residence, and the harmony of the second household was restored.
The next morning, the sound of a jade carving machine came from the side courtyard. Jingwan sat in front of it, concentrating on carving jade, oblivious to the scenery outside.
As soon as Gao Yun stepped into the courtyard, Dongxia, who was washing clothes, immediately got up and went over to her.
Remembering the maid's fierceness, Gao Yun trembled and quickly hid behind two maids before she dared to speak: "I'm looking for your master, hurry up and call someone."
Seeing her cowardly appearance, Dongxia didn't think she was going to come back and smash things again, so she lowered her guard and asked her what she was doing here.
Gao Yun hated her to death, but dared not do anything rash. Her mother had gone mad and actually demanded that she come and apologize to that little bitch. She refused, but her mother threatened her by saying she couldn't leave the house. Gao Yun believed her mother was capable of such a thing, so she had no choice but to come.
Now it's all over. It was that little bitch's servant who wouldn't let her in, so we can't blame her. Gao Yun threw a heavy purse in front of Dongxia, snorted, and left with two maids.
Dongxia picked it up and saw that there were fifty taels of silver inside. When she showed it to Jingwan, the girl was so surprised that she put down the jade in her hand, stared at the silver for a long time, and then stammered, "She wouldn't be trying to frame me for stealing money from my family, would she?"
That wasn't all. In the afternoon, the madam came to the main courtyard again, with seven or eight servants, saying that the mistress understood that the third young lady had worked hard and wanted to move Jingwan to a more comfortable courtyard.
"Young lady, you don't need to bring anything. Hefeng Courtyard has everything."
Jingwan was reluctant to leave. Although the place was remote, it was quiet and undisturbed. Just as she was about to refuse, she felt her dress tighten behind her. It was Dongxia tugging at her clothes.
Jingwan glanced back at her and finally agreed. However, the furniture in the courtyard was not hers. Bo Jun had meant well, so how could she just throw it away? She said she would return all the furniture to the young master.
Dongxia smiled and said, "The young master has already purchased new furniture, and there's nowhere to put it if we send it over now. Besides, this was a gift from the young master to you. If we send it back because you don't need it anymore, it will inevitably upset the young master. It's better to move it to the new courtyard. Anyway, there are plenty of people to help us move it now."
She was right, and Jingwan nodded.
Dongxia looked at her mother's stiff face and smiled, "Then thank you very much, Mother."
The servants didn't know how to move the grinding wheel, and Jingwan was afraid they would break it, so she carefully packed it into a large box. Two servants went up to move it, but it was really difficult.
Dongxia couldn't stand it anymore. She took the box from the two of them and walked out calmly, leaving everyone looking at each other in surprise.
The new Hefeng Courtyard is larger than the one I lived in before. The courtyard is planted with flowers and plants, which are carefully tended, making it more elegant than the old one.
It turned out to be in a remote place, which made Jingwan quite happy.
When it was lunchtime, the food on the small table was quite plentiful. There was a pot of matsutake chicken soup, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, a dish of Dongpo pork, and a dessert, all of which were served fresh from the pot and were delicious.
Dongxia refused to eat with Jingwan no matter what. As a servant, she should eat simpler food. Jingwan refused and wanted her to eat some chicken. Dongxia quickly slid the rice in her bowl into her mouth, wiped her mouth and said, "Miss, I never eat meat. These vegetarian dishes are just right for me."
She never lies, and Jingwan was curious, but she didn't want to press her any further.
As night fell, neither of them felt sleepy. Dongxia tended to the flowers and plants in silence.
Jingwan lay on the rocking chair, looking at the clear night sky, feeling helpless. She had originally agreed with Qin Ziyou to visit the Weaver Girl's Workshop twice a month, but with this incident this month, she didn't even dare to leave the house. Qin Ziyou had waited for her twice in vain.
Today is the eighth day of the lunar new year, so he'd better not wait for her any longer and go home quickly!
Jingwan closed her eyes in disappointment. She was like a tamed bird, willingly confined in a fine cage, afraid that the cage's owner would drive her away.
The free time I spent in the Northwest was so precious; even the days I spent with Uncle Gong a few months ago were ten times happier than now.
Although the daughters of Pingdu were wealthy, they were not allowed to leave their homes. In the impoverished Northwest, however, the daughters' feet were not chained.
She thought sadly when she would be able to find a foothold in Pingdu and be in charge of her own life.
Dongxia looked up and guessed Jingwan's thoughts. With two more maids and an old woman in the courtyard, there were three more pairs of eyes watching, so of course she felt uncomfortable.
The night was sultry, and distant thunder rumbled. First, she felt a cool sensation on her face. Jingwan touched it and found it was dripping water. Then, large raindrops began to fall. She quickly got up, and Dongxia immediately helped her up. The two of them stood under the eaves, watching the torrential rain fall from the sky, which slightly reduced the heat.
Jingwan stretched out her hand, letting the raindrops fall into her palm, but she was thinking of the young man under the gate of the Dongqiao Night Market.
I remember our first meeting, and how we got to know each other later. He would run towards me with a calligraphy brush in his mouth, an inkstone in one hand and a sheet of white paper in the other, while the art seller chased after him, yelling that he had stolen his paper and brush...
She didn't realize she was smiling, and she never imagined that after Lu Chang left, she would inadvertently think of someone at some unimportant moment, causing a secret joy to flow in her heart that only she knew.
The heavy rain washed away her gloomy mood. She really wanted to see Qin Ziyou tonight. Even if she could only see him once, she wanted to take advantage of this brief moment to tell him to go home first.
The rain was pattering. Dongxia said, "You'll sleep well tonight, no one will wake up. It's alright for you to go out for a bit."
Jingwan looked at Dongxia, amazed by her uncanny foresight.
That night, when Madam Wang came to cause trouble, it was Dongxia who found her at the side gate first. Afterwards, Jingwan calmed down and thought about it. It turned out that this taciturn maid had known about her leaving the mansion for a long time. Not only did she not report her, but she also covered for her in every way.
Why should you help me?
"I want to help people, and I never make excuses."
Jingwan suddenly smiled: "You don't seem like a servant."
What does that look like?
"Like a chivalrous knight-errant."
Dongxia smiled and looked up with her, watching the water droplets under the eaves fall like beads.
She disliked rain and rainy days. The rain felt restrictive, and when she thought back on the past, many regrets arose on rainy nights.
But tonight was different; she found a moment of peace in the sound of the rain.
Night deepened, but the rain continued, though it had lessened considerably. Dongxia handed her an oil-paper umbrella, asked no questions, and watched her leave.
Jingwan walked along, lifting her skirt. The closer she got to the entrance of the night market, the faster she walked. Eventually, she started to run, lifting her skirt. Her paper umbrella tilted, and rainwater streamed down her body, but she paid no attention to it.
She hadn't felt this joy in a long time, filled with anticipation. When it was just a light drizzle, she stopped, held up her oil-paper umbrella, and stood at the bottom of the steps. In the misty rain and amidst the lush lamplight, she looked at the young man in blue, who was also holding an umbrella and leaning against the gate.
She never doubted that he wouldn't be here.
The young man, who had been idly swinging the jade pendant at his waist, seemed to sense something and suddenly straightened up. He slowly turned around, looked up, and was momentarily stunned.
Qin Ziyou thought he had gotten rainwater in his eyes, so he rubbed them vigorously. When he opened his eyes again, the person he had been longing for was still standing in front of him, smiling radiantly. Overjoyed, he ran towards her, their two oil-paper umbrellas, one blue and one green, bumping into each other. Rainwater slid between them, but they seemed not to hear it.
Qin Ziyou's first words were: "You've come!"
The second sentence is: "Tonight is Uncle Gong's sixtieth birthday. Do you have time to buy Uncle Gong a birthday gift?"
He didn't complain about her even though she broke their appointment twice last month.
Jingwan nodded naturally. Qin Ziyou smiled, his youthful smile even more sincere. Jingwan was also infected by his smile and walked beside him.
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