"What my sister is doing is truly unheard of, elder sister. You've really opened my eyes. Lingxiu is, after all, my maid. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for my sister to reprimand her for her lack of manners right here in my courtyard?" the princess said coldly.
"Actually, the order doesn't entirely indicate rank. As far as Lanqin knows, sometimes the later ones are more prestigious. The princesses' gifts are sent first, and the Fujin and I are sent last. Lingxiu is your person, but she keeps speaking without following the rules. I was afraid she would cause trouble for you in the future, so I couldn't help but teach her a lesson. I hope you can understand," Lanqin said "sincerely."
The princess was speechless for a moment. After all, the order in which rewards were given was not a big deal, nor was it written into the laws of the Qing Dynasty. Everyone had their own way of doing things.
Taking things out was much faster than counting them. Standing in the storeroom, Cui Niang read from the list. Nianxue, Xicha, Sihua, and Lanqi, each with a small servant, were to deliver items to Song Shi, Wu Shi, Geng Shi, and Yin Shi. There were only a few people in total, not many at all. Lingxiu simply stood beside Cui Niang, watching her recite the instructions.
"Princess Song, four bolts of Shu satin, two bolts of Yunshui satin, eight bolts of Suzhou satin, a white jade three-sheep pot and a set of tray and cups, a green jade narcissus basin, and two jadeite thumb rings..." Nianxue personally delivered the gifts to Madam Song, followed by Madam Wu, Madam Geng, and Madam Yin, with gifts basically the same as Madam Song's. Madam Song loved jade and was also gentle and quiet, so Lanqin and the Fourth Prince decided to reward her with more jade.
After the four princesses' gifts were all taken away, there weren't many things left. Lingxiu knew very well that some things were missing. According to the list that Cui Niang had recorded yesterday, there definitely wasn't enough left.
“Aunt Cui, let’s check the records you kept yesterday. The rewards for the First Lady and the Second Lady must be clearly recorded.” Lingxiu said meaningfully. Ever since Lanqin arrived today and started sending the rewards to the princesses, she had sensed that something must have not yet been discovered.
“I showed that list to the concubine yesterday. It was a list of rewards that she and the master personally decided. What, Miss Lingxiu, are you questioning the concubine and the master’s decision?” Cui Niang glanced at her sideways.
"This servant wouldn't dare. This servant is just afraid, afraid that I'll take the wrong thing," Lingxiu said guiltily.
“Didn’t you see this right here, Miss? I sang it once just now. Didn’t you clearly see what Nianxue and the others took out one by one? Is there anything wrong with that?” Cui Niang said, word by word, having already noticed the guilty look on Lingxiu’s face.
"Aunt Cui is right. Let's start counting the things for the concubine!" Lingxiu thought to herself: There must be something missing. Fortunately, the concubine is wise and has already counted and recorded everything.
"Let's give them to the Fujin first. Our Consort said this is her first time in charge, so she'll need the Fujin's guidance. Therefore, please let the Fujin choose first," Cui Niang said politely. The Fujin and Consort have different ranks and their allowances are naturally different. However, Lanqin is favored, and sometimes the Fourth Prince is willing to bestow things upon her, sometimes even better than what the Fujin receives. Previously, Li Shi's hairpins and ornaments were also better than the Fujin's. This statement was a double-edged sword.
Lingxiu felt her face alternate between cold and hot; if the Fujin (principal wife) heard these words, she wondered how angry she would be.
Seeing that she was silent, Cui Niang ignored her and began to recite the imperial edict as Lan Qin had instructed: "Blessings to the Consort: ten bolts of Yunshui silk, ten bolts of Shu satin, ten bolts of Suzhou satin, one gold-plated crown vase, two white jade and gemstone-inlaid flat ornaments, one string of pearl and jadeite court beads, one gold filigree sachet, one coral-inlaid necklace, one string of tourmaline bracelets, two crystal octagonal cups..."
As the exquisitely crafted and rarely made treasures were picked out one by one, the young servants, each holding a large red lacquered tray, stood carefully in a row.
"Miss Lingxiu, please check if you've taken anything by mistake. This is a reward personally arranged by the master for the Fujin. Please take it to her." Seeing Lingxiu looking at it calmly, Cui Niang said, concealing the sarcasm in her heart.
"This servant wouldn't dare. I've already checked, and there's nothing wrong." Lingxiu clenched her hands, which were tucked into her sleeves, and led the others towards the main room of the Fujin (the wife's husband).
At that moment, Lanqin was holding a porcelain cup adorned with green branches and flowers, talking to the Fujin (Prince's wife). They were discussing matters concerning Consort De in the palace. Although the Fujin maintained a warm smile on her face, she was seething with anger inside. Consort De always treated her with cold indifference, so why was she so attentive to this Niohuru woman, even personally instructing her in the ways of managing the harem? It was as if she, the principal wife, was completely disregarded.
When the Fujin saw Lingxiu enter with the servants, she vented her anger on her: "You blind servants! I was talking with my sister, how could you come in without even announcing yourselves?" After saying that, she glanced at the things.
"It's alright. Master spent a long time marking these up in the list yesterday, and they're all things you like. Why don't you take a look, sister? And I can get a taste too?" Lanqin smiled. Seeing Lingxiu's expression, she knew their plan was going to fail.
Lanqin's words were undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire for the Fujin. The Fourth Prince had decided on his rewards in Niu Shi's room, so her rewards must have been exactly what she wanted.
Despite her anger, the Fujin still smiled gently and helped Xiahe to her feet. She looked at the lacquer trays carried by the servants one by one. There were gold, jade, agate, and coral trays, but each one looked like just an object, plain and ordinary, with nothing particularly remarkable about it.
"Sister, today's business is now successfully completed. I need to go back and see what the master has rewarded me with. I won't disturb you any longer." Lanqin curtsied and then left.
"You wretched woman, go and get that allocation ledger right now. Tell her I need to take another look, and she probably won't have any reason not to give it to me." The princess was so angry that her voice began to tremble.
Lingxiu didn't dare to delay and immediately left. A little while later, the list in Cui Niang's hand was in hers. She ran back and handed the book to Fujin.
"Is there anything left? Have you moved it all out?" the Princess Consort asked before even looking.
"Yes, they've all been moved. When I went back, she had already had them moved out," Lingxiu said carefully.
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