In her previous life, Qin Yuan had also interacted with these two women when she returned to Beijing with Lin Ziqi. At that time, they were already women in their thirties. Although they liked to talk about family matters, they didn't wear their emotions on their sleeves like they do now.
Qin Yuan was somewhat amused and exasperated. Just as she was about to say something, a maid in a pink dress rushed in carrying a tray with a teapot and teacups on it, and hurriedly apologized.
"Ladies, please forgive me for being late in serving tea."
"It's alright, you have a lot of guests today, so it's inevitable that you won't be able to attend to everyone," someone replied.
Qin Yuan didn't speak, but simply raised her eyebrows slightly.
Logically, there should be someone waiting to serve you near the pavilion, and the tea should be placed on the stone table and changed from time to time. It's quite strange that a maidservant has come to serve tea.
Moreover, this maid's attire was slightly different from the maids they had encountered along the way.
He had already made up his mind.
The maid thanked the lady who had spoken, then lowered her head and walked awkwardly toward the stone table. Yang'er stepped aside slightly to make it easier for her to serve tea.
As she got closer, she stepped on something, her body swayed, and with a cry of surprise, the teapot tilted towards Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan: The banquet hasn't even started yet, why are you in such a hurry?
Hongye exclaimed in surprise, while Hehua, who had been standing to the side and behind, swung her arm diagonally, striking the tray and sending the teapot and teacups flying backward. Yang'er then turned and shielded Qin Yuan behind her, protecting her completely.
The maid couldn't dodge in time and was splattered with tea, the tray also falling over her face and leaving red marks.
The crowd gasped in surprise.
The maid stood there dumbfounded, her clothes soaked through and clinging to her body. Tea leaves were sprayed all over her head and face, and the two ladies of the Marquis of Wuding's mansion were also affected, with some splashed onto their dresses.
"Why are you so clumsy, girl?" The younger one couldn't help but scold, but for the sake of the old lady of the Duke's mansion's birthday, she could only glare angrily at the maid who caused the trouble and swallow her anger.
The maid looked at Qin Yuan with disappointment, who hadn't spilled a single drop of water, and sobbed softly, "I was in a hurry just now and accidentally soiled Your Highness's clothes. I deserve to die. Please forgive me for the sake of the old lady's birthday. I will take you ladies to change your clothes right away."
Upon hearing this, the ladies whose tea had been splashed had no choice but to suppress their anger.
"For the sake of the old lady, we'll let you off this time. Your behavior was really rash. Luckily, we all brought spare clothes, but if we encounter someone as clumsy as you again, I'm afraid no matter how many sets we bring, it won't be enough."
The maid apologized repeatedly.
Qin Yuan stood up and said, "Then let her lead the way, and we'll go change together."
"...Uh, but you didn't get splashed..."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "If it weren't for my maid protecting me, I would probably be the one who got splashed. Consider it my apology. Besides, this maid is too reckless. I'm a little worried about letting her take the sisters with her. It's better if she goes with us. The master is too busy today and probably can't take care of many things. It wouldn't be good if she were offended by someone who doesn't know the rules."
The two ladies of the Marquis of Wuding's mansion glanced at the two maids behind Qin Yuan with complicated expressions, then looked at the maid who caused the trouble. They had some ideas in their minds, and said, "It's really good that you're coming with us. We were just talking when this maid interrupted us. It will be difficult to talk to you again after you change your clothes."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "This is what it means to hit it off immediately. I feel the same way. If you sisters like to hear me talk about these things, please come to the manor often. I'm the only young wife in the manor, and I'm just worried about not having any company."
"Then it's settled," the group said with laughter, and they left the pavilion with a bunch of maids.
A maid in pink led the way. The autumn wind was chilly, and she couldn't help but shiver. Several maids came up to her and asked curiously, "Zhuye, why are you here serving us? What's going on?"
Zhu Ye hurriedly said, "Master climbed up and saw these ladies sitting in the pavilion without tea. He was afraid of neglecting the guests, so he asked me to serve tea. I didn't expect to spill it. I'm taking the ladies to change their clothes. Xiao Si, could you help me take the ladies there? I need to change my clothes right away."
The maid named Xiao Si thought for a moment and said, "We were originally serving at the pavilion, but the steward suddenly came to find us. That's why we've troubled you. Go change your clothes, and Ping'er and I will lead the ladies there."
Zhu Ye thanked them again and again, then turned around, covered in tea leaves, to apologize to the ladies. After settling them in, he finally left.
Xiao Si and Ping'er then led them to the guest courtyard, which was very elegantly decorated. The ladies whose clothes were dirty went behind the screen to change, while Qin Yuan and the others sat at the table outside to wait.
Qin Yuan then asked, "Which master in the manor does that bamboo leaf follow?"
Xiao Si smiled and said, "She is the one who guards the library. Today, many guests came to the manor. Perhaps the gentlemen took their esteemed guests to the library to talk. They happened to see her and, fearing that they might neglect the ladies, asked her to serve them. But she is clumsy. Please don't laugh at her, Madam."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "How could that be? This is just the host's kindness."
He thought to himself, "The guests who have come today are all nobles and dignitaries. Few of them like reading, and even those who are just pretending to be cultured wouldn't be discussing scholarship at this time. So only when distinguished guests arrive will they be invited into the study."
No more than five people could be treated as honored guests by the Duke's mansion and arranged to stay in the study.
Qin Yuan took two plump, golden peanuts from her purse and handed them to Hehua and Yang'er: "You two served me very well today. Take them and keep them to play with."
Lotus and Seedling knew that their actions had won Qin Yuan's favor. They immediately took the golden peanut, hid it in their waistbands, and said happily, "Thank you for the reward, Madam."
Ping'er and Xiao Si, who were standing to the side, looked on with envy.
Hongye blinked and teased, "This golden peanut is worth a lot of silver. It would be a shame to leave it unused and not let it produce more peanuts."
The lotus flower asked, "How does it grow?"
Hongye wanted to speak, but Cuiming poked her with her finger and said, "That's easy. I'll tell you slowly when we get back to the manor."
Ping'er and Xiao Si, who had been listening intently, looked disappointed.
Hongye smiled at Qin Yuan and said, "Madam has a lot of peanuts in her purse, so we'd better work hard."
Lotus and Seedling couldn't help but laugh.
Qin Yuan retorted angrily, "You really can't stand seeing my purse bulging. I'm not a stingy person. As long as you do well, you'll be rewarded. Even if I empty this purse today, it doesn't matter. But what kind of family is the Duke's Mansion? How many opportunities do you get to receive rewards?"
Hongye insisted, "Since Madam says so, then this servant will believe you. The Duke's mansion is certainly good at managing its household, but it is inevitable that some guests will be negligent for a moment. Perhaps this servant can also get one or two Golden Flowers to survive."
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