Inside the main courtyard.
Lingxiu and Sanfu were directing people to move newly cultivated flowers into the yard, including white magnolia, purple magnolia, clivia, bauhinia, cyclamen, phalaenopsis orchid, hyacinth, tulip, calla lily, calendula, cineraria, and poppy. Pots of flowers were being moved into the yard.
"Have they been sent to all the other places?" The Fujin, dressed in a casual dark red cheongsam embroidered with peonies, asked the head steward of the flower room, You Dahai, who was standing to the side.
“They’ve all been sent. The Fujin is so kind-hearted, she never forgets them. If you ask me, only the Fujin understands these flowers, she could grow them so well.” You Dahai flattered, nodding and bowing.
"Hehe, they're all at the age of blossoming youth, how could they not like flowers? It's just that Princess Yehe seems to be afraid of pollen, so remember not to send any over there, lest it trigger her allergy," the Fujin suddenly said with a nervous expression.
"I remember, I remember. This servant only sent her a few pots of star grass, not a single flower. Don't worry," You Dahai said immediately and confidently.
"Yes. Go ahead, go to Lingxiu and get a purse." The Fujin nodded in satisfaction.
After everyone in the flower room had left, Lingxiu instructed the maids in the courtyard to arrange all the flowers and plants neatly, then clapped her hands and went to serve the Fujin (princess).
“My lady, let’s see how long this Princess Yehe can last?” Lingxiu said.
"Let's see. The Imperial Household Department's spring fabric shipment should be arriving soon, right? It's handled by the head nanny, so we can't do too much to it. Do you have any ideas?" The Fujin knew that this clever girl always had the most mischievous ideas.
“It’s so easy to snag a thread or burn a hole in the fabric. If you want to do something to make Ye Gege feel neglected, it’s really easy,” Lingxiu said with a smile.
"I'd like to see if this Yehe clanswoman will resort to desperate measures. Hmph! The peach blossoms are quite well made; remember to reward her." The princess glanced at the spring sunshine outside, then yawned and said, "Lingxiu, bring me some more tobacco from that snuff bottle. These days, I can't even enjoy my meals without smelling it."
That's right, the basket of small fruits that Peach Blossom brought back was actually the work of the Fujin (principal wife). She deliberately brought those to replace the allowance that the head nanny was giving to Yehe Shi. Anyway, Yehe Shi didn't go back to make a fuss with the head nanny, so no one knew that Peach Blossom was behind it all. The flowers and plants that should have been added to various parts of the flower room were also reduced because of the Fujin's interference. Yehe Shi only received a small amount of star grass without any flowers.
Yehe Shi didn't care about any of this, but the two maids were worried and indignant to see her being treated like this.
"Princess, this kite is so beautiful, even prettier than your own. I just hope that after you take this kite, you won't say those annoying things again that year," Yu Lu said to Ye He Shi. She was busy tying the kite's tail, and the butterfly-shaped part in front was already finished. Ye He Shi was quite skilled at painting, and the butterfly she depicted with colored ink was exceptionally beautiful.
"She's just a little smug. We don't see her every day. Let's hurry up and finish making this kite." Yehe knew that these maids had suffered grievances with her and were mistreated by others outside, but she couldn't earn their respect. Therefore, she rarely said anything to the maids.
Just past noon that day, Bai Zhi, a maid from the Nian family, came over to collect the kite.
Bai Zhi entered the room and looked at the furnishings of Ye He Shi's quarters with disdain. They were nothing compared to the furnishings of Nian Shi's room. Nian Shi herself had brought six large trunks into the manor, containing not only her clothes and various tonics, but also all sorts of rare and precious items as part of her dowry. For example, the red coral ornament currently displayed on Nian Shi's dressing table, and the bed curtains made of South China Sea pearls—all undoubtedly priceless treasures. Coupled with the frequent gifts from the Fourth Prince, the furnishings of Nian Shi's room no longer resembled those of a princess.
"I have met Consort Ye. Our Consort said that Consort Ye made a butterfly kite for her and specially sent me to pick it up. I wonder if the butterfly kite is finished yet?" Bai Zhi bowed to Ye He Shi and began to speak on her own before Ye He Shi could ask any questions.
"It's ready, Yulu, go get it." Yehe Shi didn't think much of it and told Yulu to go get the kite.
"Here you go, take good care of it. This took our princess two days to make." Yu Lu was unhappy and stuffed the kite into Bai Zhi's hands.
"This servant will take her leave." Bai Zhi, having received the kite, didn't want to say anything more and bowed to take her leave.
After she left, Yu Lu said angrily, "Princess, look at the way she looked at you and the tone she used just now. She didn't respect you at all. It was infuriating."
“Yulu, you always reveal everything so openly, it’s easy for others to have something on you. I’m finding it hard to move around in this inner quarters now, so I should try not to offend anyone.” Although Yehe was also uncomfortable, her upbringing made her understand that today’s humiliation could not be washed away by words alone.
Seeing Yehe's increasingly disrespectful attitude towards her mistress, Peach Blossom and Lotus Flower began to secretly hoard daily necessities like sesame oil, melons, and fruits in their rooms. Even though Yehe knew, she didn't expose them. However, Yulu and Yuhen discovered this and became even angrier.
But that wasn't the worst of it. Just an hour after the butterfly kite was delivered, the Fujin (princess's wife) sent someone to deal with it.
"This servant greets Princess Ye." Dongmei from the Fujin's quarters bowed calmly. Since Chunliu and Xiahe were successively sent by the Fujin to take care of the eldest and second princesses, she and Qiuchan were ranked after Lingxiu and were often driven to do these errands and deliver messages.
"It's Sister Dongmei. May I ask what business the Fujin has with our Princess?" Yuhen asked on behalf of Yehe Shi.
"This servant does not know. Please, Your Highness, come with me." Dongmei knew what to say and what not to say.
Seeing that she couldn't get any information, Yehe ordered Yuhen to comb her hair again and straighten her clothes before taking her hand and following Yuhen to the main courtyard.
Song and Qingping were watering the newly delivered calla lilies and marigolds in front of their house when they saw Yehe follow Dongmei out of the North Courtyard.
"Princess, what's wrong with Princess Yehe? First it was Princess Nian's maid who came, and now it's the Fujin's maid. Judging from this, it seems she's gone to the main courtyard," Qingping said.
"Hmph, it's the same every year. Every time someone enters, the people in the main courtyard always find a pawn to play with. Madam Yin and Yan Yu are both gone, and Madam Wang is still imprisoned in Zhanghua Terrace. Alas. I'm afraid this Madam Yehe won't escape her grasp." Madam Song said.
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