Chapter 66, Second Miss
Shanlai has been absent-minded lately.
When making the knot, the thread went astray; when arranging the flowers in the vase, the flower head snapped off with a snap; she even drew the shape of blue leaves on the flower; when stringing beads, she pricked her finger with the needle…
"Snap out of it! What are you doing!"
A loud shout.
Shan Lai jolted awake, looking down to find his right hand gripped by another, the needle tip just two inches from his left index finger. After a moment of stunned silence, he looked up at the person in front of him, and then, a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth, revealing an extremely shy smile.
"I've been wanting to ask you this for the past couple of days, why are you acting like you've lost your mind?" Ziyu frowned. "Is something the matter?"
There is something I need to tell others, but I can't.
It made her seem arrogant and ignorant.
It was all because of Qiu Qingfang's appearance.
She hates this person.
He didn't hit her because she was her husband, but because she almost became Liu Min's wife.
His wife, a woman of equal standing with him, was someone he would think of whenever he was mentioned. In life, she stood beside him, and in death, they were buried together in the same grave, their names inscribed side by side on the tombstone.
There is such a person in the world.
But it wasn't her.
She is not qualified.
That's why she hates it.
I hate this kind of person.
Why is there such a person between them?
Why did he get married?
She didn't want him to get married.
If word got out, people would laugh their heads off.
Who does she think she is?
But I'm just not happy...
"It's just a bit of dizziness, nothing serious."
She spoke softly, with a slight smile.
It would be strange if nothing happened!
"Are you feeling unwell? Let's call Doctor Chu over to take a look. She hasn't come in a while, I miss her so much. She's such a capable person, and her medical skills are superb, even better than men. I've seen so many doctors, including the imperial physicians, but none of them can compare to her."
Shanlai and Doctor Chu are friends. Whenever someone in Guangyitang has a headache or fever, they invite her to come and see them. They invite her not only when they are sick, but also when they are not sick. They invite her over to visit, and she also prescribes dietary supplements for them according to the seasons.
"I'm just a little dizzy, probably because I haven't been eating much these past few days. She's very busy, so let's not bother her."
Upon hearing this, Ziyu suddenly became melancholy: "I heard from my mother that she's very famous now. She even cured the Lady of Anping Marquis's headaches. People have been coming to invite her so many that they've worn down the threshold of her clinic. She's a well-known figure in Xingdu City... She has excellent medical skills, and you have excellent painting skills. I really envy you both. You'll definitely be people who will be remembered for generations to come!" After saying this, she let out a long sigh, a sigh that seemed to go on and on, and she did it with great seriousness. Shanlai forgot his own worries and couldn't help but laugh as he looked at her.
"To be remembered for eternity is not something you can achieve with just a few words. It's already difficult enough to live your own life well, so how can you have the extra energy to think about someone from thousands of years ago?"
Ziyu disagreed with this statement.
"There will always be someone who thinks about you! Even just one! Even if your bones turn to dust, as long as something is passed down, someone will know you, know that you came, know what you did, and will think, 'If only I could live in the same era as you, I could see you in person. After all, you were such an amazing person!'"
It sounds good, but Shanlai has no interest in it at all. Her life is unremarkable and doesn't need anyone to admire her.
Just as they were about to say something to change the subject, someone suddenly rushed in from outside and headed straight for them.
It was Bili, who was standing in front of Madam Yue.
Shanlai and Ziyu both stood up. Ziyu even took two steps forward, grabbed Bili's hands, and said with a smile, "Good sister, what brings you here? I've been missing you. I can't find you anywhere."
Bili laughed and said, "I'm so busy! I'm always running around here and there, I don't have any free time. You're much better off, you have plenty of time to chat and drink tea."
It's true, but only a fool would believe it.
"Sister, you're talking nonsense. Although the young master isn't home often, we still do all the chores we're supposed to do. Don't believe me? Look how clean this table is! There's not a speck of dust in it! Come and take a look, sister."
Bili waved her hand, "Let's do it another day. I'm really busy, I have a lot of things to do. I didn't come here today to chat with you. I have important business to attend to, someone is waiting for you over there. Come with me."
The last two sentences are about goodness.
"I?"
"Yes, it's you. Let's go!" he said, and started to pull the person away.
Before Shanlai could say anything more, Ziyu had already stretched out her arm to stop him.
"What's going on? Who's looking for her? This has never happened before!"
"Good thing! If I knew you two were getting along, would I not have told you?"
A good deed means going out of your way to help others.
Of course, they're not ordinary families; otherwise, how could it be considered a good thing?
The Duke of Jingguo's mansion is a noble and illustrious family. The eldest and second masters, one a military man and the other a civil official, are both pillars of the state, holding high positions and wielding great power. The third master does not hold an official position, but he is also renowned throughout the land as a great talent, excelling in calligraphy and painting. Most importantly, he is related to the current emperor by marriage, making him a true member of the imperial family.
The wet nurse of the second young lady of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion came to pick her up in person.
“Our young lady visited our home last time and was amazed by your culinary skills at the banquet. She has been thinking about them ever since, so she asked me to invite you to our home today so that she can learn from you.”
The words sound nice, but the logic behind them is flawed.
If the intention is to seek advice, she should be the one to come over, not to leave gracefully. That is the proper attitude for seeking advice.
But who can blame her when she's a noble lady while Shanlai is just a servant? Her high and mighty attitude is perfectly justified.
Ke Shanlai was no ordinary slave.
At the banquet that day, Liu Qi had already made it very clear that Shanlai's status was that of a "concubine".
Although concubines are also a type of servant, they are somewhat more noble, especially since Shanlai is a concubine of the Liu family.
Liu Shen already held a high position and wielded considerable power in the court, not to mention the Yue family. Even if they were imperial relatives, there was no need for him to be so obsequious and let others summon him and dismiss him at will. It would be beneath him if word got out.
The young lady of the Duke's mansion was indeed impolite, and the Liu family's handling of the matter was also inappropriate.
It's because Madam Yue isn't here. If Madam Yue were here, she would never have agreed.
Originally, this matter could have been ignored since she wasn't there. With the master absent, the subordinates dared not act rashly. Once she returned, she would have her own excuse to refuse.
But Liu Qi found out about it before she returned.
Liu Qi disliked her brother's concubine, and now that she had the opportunity, she was naturally happy to make things difficult for her.
Perhaps you are indeed exceptionally gifted in some ways, making me feel inferior, but what can I do when you're just a servant? A servant is someone anyone can trample on.
Therefore, Shanlai had to go to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion. The suffering of being a slave is terrible. One cannot even control one's own body, so how can one be worthy of pride?
Shanlai remained silent the entire way, not uttering a single word.
The second young lady's wet nurse, an old woman surnamed Han, was very kind. As soon as she got into the carriage, she took Shanlai's hand and kept talking to her. Even though Shanlai didn't say a word and just smiled politely, she only thought it was because the girl was calm and composed, and didn't feel that she was being mistreated at all.
"Young lady, you are truly rare. With such heavenly beauty and noble character, I, an old woman, have seen more people in my life than the stars in the sky, and you are definitely among the best!"
She's just as good as the ladies in our family!
Because this concerned the master's reputation, I only said it to myself.
That's incredibly high praise; it's practically lauding him to the skies.
But Shanlai just smiled.
Such composure in the face of both honor and disgrace is truly rare, and makes one all the more respectable and likable.
After getting off the carriage, Madam Han still held Shanlai's hand and pulled him through a side gate of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion.
After entering the Duke's mansion, Han Mama became even more talkative. She not only told Shanlai about the temperament of the second young lady she had raised, but also taught Shanlai what to say when meeting people. She truly opened her heart to Shanlai.
However, Shanlai simply smiled and nodded, without saying a word.
After walking through countless winding corridors, Madam Han stopped in front of a door and turned to Shan, saying, "You'll see our Second Miss soon. She's a kind person, and since you were invited by her, she won't make things difficult for you. Don't worry, Miss. As long as you do her job well, the Second Miss will definitely reward you!"
A favor bestowed by a superior upon a subordinate is, of course, a reward.
Shanlai still wore the same polite smile as before, as if the smile was an extension of her face, and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Second Miss and Mother."
The maid opened the door, and Han Mama led Shanlai along a path shaded by green bamboo. After passing a trellis of fragrant wood and roses, they came to a few rooms with carved beams and painted rafters, green tiles and flying eaves. Several maids were gathered on the steps doing needlework.
One of the sharp-eyed ones spotted Han's mother and Shan Lai first, and quickly stood up, laughing and saying, "Mom, you're finally back! We've been waiting anxiously inside. We even sent someone to check on you. How did you manage to come in through the back door?"
Madam Han smiled and said, "I took a shortcut from the back because I was afraid Miss would get impatient. Go and tell Miss that she's arrived." The little maid dropped what she was holding and ran inside. A moment later, a very elegantly dressed maid, adorned with silk and gold and silver, came out, smiled at Madam Han, and called out "Mama!" Then she turned to Shan Lai and looked her over carefully. After looking her over, her smile deepened: "Sister has finally arrived! Come in quickly." She then took Shan Lai's arm and said to Madam Han, "Mama, you've worked hard." Madam Han said it was no trouble at all, and the group went inside.
Shanlai stood still in the hall, and the maid said, "Sister, wait here for a moment, I'll go and invite our young lady." After saying that, she turned around the lattice and went into the inner room.
Having nothing else to do, Shan looked around and saw that the century-old mansion was indeed a place of wealth and grandeur. All the wood was made of sandalwood, and the incense burner on the table was made of bronze with a rather antique style. At that moment, smoke was rising slowly, wisps of it continuously seeping into the paintings and calligraphy hanging above. The paintings and calligraphy were also old, with yellowish-brown paper. There was a calligraphy piece and a couplet, with four scrolls of flowers and birds on the left and right.
It's a wonderful thing, so wonderful that one can become completely absorbed and mesmerized by it.
“This is my grandfather’s work when he was young. It’s a very nice piece. I begged my grandmother for a long time before I finally got it back. I’m hanging it here to show off my refined taste.”
The owner is here.
They were already very close when Shanlai realized she had been impolite. She hurriedly bowed her head to greet him, fulfilling her duty as a servant.
"May you be blessed, Miss."
"Please get up quickly, you must have had a long and tiring journey."
With her arm supported, Shanlai moved her eyes and saw a piece of pale yellow silk with a scroll pattern, which was dyed very well and brightly.
The family of the Duke of Jingguo is surnamed Gu. The second young lady's given name is Xian, and her nickname is Chunling. Because her eldest sister was born on the day of her grandmother's birthday, she was the first grandchild, and on such an auspicious day, so she was given the nickname Zhishou. Later, when she was born, she took her sister's name and was named Chunling.
Miss Gu was a beauty, with a face like a pear blossom, cold and elegant, so fair that she was almost blurry, tall and slender, with a graceful waist and a light figure.
"Please have a seat." Gu Chunling gestured to Shanlai, then turned to the maid beside him and said, "Why haven't you poured tea for Miss Yao yet? How tactless!"
After assigning the maid, Gu Chunling looked towards Shanlai again.
Shanlai remained standing.
Gu Chunling looked somewhat puzzled.
Shan Lai laughed and said, "How dare my lowly body occupy the honored position? It is proper for me to stand."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chunling was clearly displeased: "I invited you here, so you are my guest. I haven't mistreated you, so how can you say such things? It makes me seem ill-mannered." After saying this, he took two steps to Shanlai, pressed her shoulders and pushed her to sit down in a chair, and said with a smile: "Please sit down, it's easier to talk if you sit down, isn't it?"
Shan Lai was very surprised.
This second young lady didn't seem to be the type to bully others with her power.
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