"Madame Zhang?"

Madame Zhang suddenly came back to her senses. She realized that she was thinking about what happened when the Fifth Miss just returned home. She was so absorbed in it. Madame Zhang concealed her thoughts, put on a smile on her face, and said to the girl in front of her carefully and flatteringly: "Fourth Miss, you are here!" "

Yes, I couldn't sleep today, so I got up early to pay my respects to my mother."

"Fourth Miss is really filial." Madame Zhang smiled, and the room was filled with praises for Chu Jinmiao's filial piety. Madame Zhang smiled and listened to the compliments, but she was thinking in her heart, saying that she came early, how can she compare to the Fifth Miss? She has already been halfway in. However, Madame Zhang would not say such words.

Chu Jinmiao took off her cloak under the maid's clothes. Her cloak was specially made by Zhao. It was made of the most valuable cloud brocade with the finest cotton inside. It was very wide, basically covering her calves, and was worn on the body like a large top. The neck was made into the most fashionable stand-up collar, with a pair of gold-inlaid rubies as buttons, and the wide cuffs and collar were decorated with rabbit fur. Chu Jinmiao was already slender and thin, and wearing this cloak made her look even more frail and empty, very much like the style of the now popular weak beauties.

Chu Jinmiao had very light eyebrows and thin lips, which made her look a little dull and not as attractive as her other sisters. Chu Jinmiao secretly let out a sigh of relief when she found that she was not as good-looking as her sisters, or even as good-looking as a concubine's daughter. From then on, when she dressed herself up, she tried to look simple and thin. Nowadays, the trend of imperial examinations is prevalent. Scholars admire ancient beauties who are sad, gentle, and weak. Many women also dress up to look weak, and now tear makeup is still in practice. Although Chu Jinmiao's facial features are not as good as those of the sisters, she is very popular with the brothers in terms of temperament and dress.

Now the Marquis of Changxing Chu Jing is the head of the Marquis's mansion. The old lady is still alive and holds the power of the housekeeper of the Marquis's mansion. The old lady is still alive, so the brothers naturally cannot divide the family. There are three brothers in the mansion. The first house is the Marquis of Changxing and his wife Zhao. The second house is the second master Chu Duan and the second wife Yan. The third master Chu Zhang and his wife Qian. The Marquis of Changxing and the second master are legitimate, while the third house is a concubine's, and is not very liked by the old lady. The eldest son of the family had inherited the title, and naturally was the most luxurious among the brothers. Even the expenses of the women in the eldest son's family were much better than those of other sons, second only to the old lady.

The Marquis of Changxing had four sons and five daughters, among which only the eldest daughter, the second son, and the fourth daughter were legitimate, which was rare. When the Marquis of Changxing brought a girl back and said that this was his daughter, it was a big shock to everyone in the mansion. Zhao refused to acknowledge her, crying and hugging Chu Jinmiao tightly, not letting anyone send Chu Jinmiao away. Later, the old lady came and found it hard to accept Chu Jinyao, who was dark, thin and rustic. She and the Marquis of Changxing had a long conversation behind closed doors. When she came out, she said, "Due to the war, there were some problems with the bloodline in the mansion. Now that the lost girl has been found, let's keep her. Our family is not one that cannot afford to keep a girl. Jinmiao can continue to live at home. The new girl will be ranked after Jinmiao and be the fifth girl of our family."

The old lady made the decision and recognized Chu Jinyao, but at the same time she also kept Chu Jinmiao and did not let the Marquis of Changxing send Chu Jinmiao away. Women's hearts are always softer than men's. They treated each other as their own daughters for thirteen years with sincerity. Not to mention Zhao, even the old lady was reluctant to let her go. When the Marquis of Changxing saw his wife and mother, his former daughter Chu Jinmiao was standing aside crying pitifully. The Marquis of Changxing had long lost the rage he had for the road, and his heart softened by her crying, so he no longer insisted on sending Chu Jinmiao away. Anyway, the Marquis

of Changxing’s mansion was not unable to afford the dowry, so it was just

a matter of raising one more girl, and no one cared about these things. A girl suddenly appeared out of nowhere and became the fifth girl. The girls who were originally at the back of the order could only move back one position one by one. Such a thing would be a surprise in anyone’s family. Chu Jinyao had just returned and made such a big fuss, and she was dark and thin, and looked like a country girl at first glance, which attracted even more people to watch. The girls were already unhappy about the fuss of rearranging the order, and now that she became sisters with a country girl, the girls in the Marquis’ mansion disliked Chu Jinyao even more.

Chu Jinmiao took off her cape, revealing a wide-sleeved, double-breasted blouse with a floral pattern underneath. Below it was a blue satin horse-faced skirt with a two-inch wide flower and bird pattern woven with gold thread on the hem. Even Aunt Zhang, who was used to luxury, was secretly shocked. How much money was the Fourth Young Lady's outfit worth, not counting the headdress? The Fourth Young Lady changed her clothes almost every day, and even so, Zhao was still shouting that there were not enough clothes. Yesterday, she called people into the mansion to buy cloth to make clothes for the eldest and fourth young ladies.

Aunt Zhang thought of the outfit Chu Jinyao was wearing when she entered the room, and she was afraid that it was not even one-tenth of the Fourth Young Lady's. A real rich lady lives like that. It is said that she has been doing rough work since she was young, and her palms are full of silk cords. Aunt Zhang sighed. To be fair, she also felt that the fifth lady was pitiful. But what's the use? The fourth lady is the jewel in everyone's palm. She is accustomed to the expenses of the marquis's mansion. Her luxurious demeanor is also soaked with honey and honey. Compared with someone with such talent and manners, the fifth lady was immediately compared to nothing.

Chu Jinmiao took off her heavy outer clothes and felt as relaxed as if she was in her own room. She walked straight to the west room where Zhao was sitting and lying, calling out as she walked: "Mother, I'm here..."

Chu Jinmiao just walked in and saw Chu Jinyao standing beside her. Chu Jinyao had heard Chu Jinmiao coming in a long time ago. Now seeing Chu Jinmiao, Chu Jinyao turned around and smiled sweetly.

"Fourth sister, you are here." Chu Jinyao asked in a somewhat unfamiliar tone. She saw other girls greet each other in this way, and wondered if she had learned it correctly. Chu Jinyao had just returned to her biological family. She wanted to have a good relationship with her parents and sisters. Even if the person in front of her was a fake daughter who replaced her identity, Chu Jinyao wanted to get along well with the other party. Who could be blamed for this? One could only blame Su's father and mother for being selfish and vicious, and for letting their consciences be blinded by greed. Chu Jinmiao, Chu Jinyao, including Changxing Hou and Zhao Shi, were completely unaware of it. What was wrong with them? Although Chu Jinyao grew up in the village, she was sensible since she was young. She felt that she couldn't just complain, otherwise her relatives would become estranged. People should always treat each other with sincerity and talk to each other in a nice way.

However, Chu Jinmiao didn't smile as Chu Jinyao expected. The expression on her face suddenly disappeared, and she replied in a neutral tone: "I know." After that, Chu Jinmiao said very quickly: "Who is your sister?"

Although Chu Jinmiao's voice was not loud, she didn't deliberately lower it. Many maids around, including Chu Jinyao herself, heard it. Chu Jinyao was embarrassed at once, while the maidservant following Chu Jinmiao showed a mischievous smile. When no one was paying attention, she secretly flirted with the maidservant she was on good terms with, and squinted her eyes at the so-called "Fifth Lady", a sparrow who had just flown back from the mountain village.

Chu Jinyao heard that the wealthy families had to get up early to pay respects to their parents and elders, so she didn't dare to delay and prepared early. Fortunately, when she was in the village, she had to get up early to collect firewood, so getting up early was not difficult for her at all, and she felt flattered. She was just putting on clothes, but there were so many people serving her?

But getting up early was easy, but what to do here in Zhao's house stumped Chu Jinyao. It turns out that villagers don’t have such particulars. After getting up, they go directly to the yard to sweep the ground and fetch water. When elder sister Su Hui was not married yet, the yard and kitchen chores were all done by the two sisters. When Su’s father and mother came, they could see the clean courtyard and the hot meals that had been cooked. Then Su’s father would go out to the fields, and sometimes Su’s mother would go with him. After her parents left, Chu Jinyao went back to knock on the door to wake her brother Su Sheng. Su Sheng was the only boy in the family and was much more valuable than the girls.

So Chu Jinyao really didn’t know what to do to pay respects to her parents, and she wasn’t required to sweep the ground or wash clothes in the Marquis’ Mansion. Chu Jinyao stood in Zhao’s house, really at a loss. A group of maids surrounded Zhao. Some of these maids and wives handed her clothes, some wiped her hands, and a few carefully put on a gold-thread wig for her. These people surrounded Zhao so tightly that even if Chu Jinyao wanted to go forward, she couldn't squeeze in.

Now Chu Jinmiao said this in front of everyone, obviously she didn't want to be Chu Jinyao's sister, nor did she think Chu Jinyao was her sister from the same school. Chu Jinyao was stunned for a moment, and Chu Jinmiao took advantage of this opportunity and walked briskly towards Zhao.

As Chu Jinmiao approached, the maids and wives made way for Chu Jinmiao, calling her "Fourth Miss" and saying auspicious words. When Zhao saw Chu Jinmiao coming over, she also smiled and scolded her through the bronze mirror: "You are here to make trouble again."

"How is my daughter making trouble? I am clearly being filial to my mother." Chu Jinmiao said, and took out a hairpin from Zhao's dressing box and gestured, then said, "Mother, wear this today, it just matches your bright red long-sleeved robe."

The daughter-in-law who was combing her hair said, "The fourth lady is the best at dressing up. With the fourth lady's pearls and jades in front, the head ornaments we gave to the lady can't be compared."

Chu Jinmiao smiled and talked and laughed with Zhao and others. Chu Jinyao was standing not far away, and suddenly felt that she was particularly redundant.

Chu Jinmiao looked so familiar with these jewelry, obviously she had been used to them since she was a child, while Chu Jinyao couldn't even recognize all the bottles and boxes on the dressing table. Chu

Jinyao looked down at her hands. She had been doing housework for her family since she could remember, and all the girls in the same village were like this. Chu Jinyao had never thought that there were a group of girls in the world who lived a refined life that she could not even imagine. But, could she be blamed for this? If possible, she also hoped that she would not have been wrongly adopted, and could grow up safely in the Marquis's Mansion and become a qualified daughter of the Marquis's Mansion.

In fact, Chu Jinyao has not had a good time these days. Although her living environment has changed drastically and she has seen many things that she never dared to imagine before, Chu Jinyao is not happy. She can feel that the people in Changxing Marquis's Mansion, from Zhao, Chu Jinmiao, to the aunts and sisters in the next room, and to the maids and old women below, actually reject her. She is really incompatible with the rich and glorious Changxing Marquis's Mansion.

Every day when Chu Jinyao goes to bed, after the maids who are on night watch outside fall asleep, she covers herself with the quilt and cries secretly. Young ladies from wealthy families are served even when they sleep. Chu Jinyao doesn't want to cry in front of others, which is not good, so she can only hide and secretly feel aggrieved. When she was leaving, her sister Su Hui caught up with her and stuffed a bag of clothes into her hand. Chu Jinyao knew that her sister was afraid that she would suffer in other people's homes, so she tried her best to give her good things. But when she arrived at the Marquis of Changxing's Mansion, Chu Jinyao found that even the maids who swept the floor in the mansion did not wear such gray cotton skirts. However, in the village, these skirts were good clothes that people would only wear during festivals.

As soon as Chu Jinyao arrived, someone changed her clothes for her, so her sister's cotton skirt naturally could not be taken out. What's worse, Shan Cha almost threw it away after seeing it. Chu Jinyao quickly snatched it back and hid it close to her body in bed. Every time when it was late at night and everyone was asleep, Chu Jinyao would secretly take it out and cry while holding the clothes.

Chu Jinyao finally understood why Su's father and mother were always so unfriendly to her. From her sister Su Hui's behavior when she was about to leave, it was clear that Su Hui also knew it, but she couldn't help but give her money secretly without Su's father and mother's knowledge.

Chu Jinyao cried at night, and she was energetic again when she got up the next day. Although everyone disliked her now, if a relative of the Su family suddenly came to stay, the sisters would still secretly complain, so this was all human nature. Chu Jinyao told herself on the way that as long as she studied hard and treated Zhao and Chu Jinmiao with sincerity, they would always see the good in her.

However, now, Chu Jinyao watched Zhao and Chu Jinmiao pick jewelry affectionately, while she stood aside, looking superfluous. Chu Jinyao suddenly doubted her self-confidence.

Could she really fit in with this mother and daughter?

Chu Jinyao was feeling awkward when the maidservant outside the door sounded like a silver bell. She greeted the visitor in a low voice: "The eldest lady is here. Hello, eldest lady."

A gentle and pleasant voice, like water flowing gently over pebbles, rang out: "Is mother in there?"

"Yes, the fourth and fifth ladies are also here."

There was a pause outside the house, and then a series of gentle footsteps approached. The maidservant in the west room had already opened the curtain. A flash of light appeared, and a woman with a soft face and dignified temperament appeared in front of everyone.

"Eldest lady." The eldest

lady Chu Jinxian nodded, greeted Zhao, and stood aside, waiting for Zhao to dress up. Chu Jinyao followed everyone else's example and greeted Chu Jinxian: "How are you, big sister?"

Chu Jinxian nodded gently, then retracted her gaze and stood with Chu Jinyao. Chu Jinyao didn't know what the lady from a noble family described in operas looked like until she met Chu Jinxian. Chu Jinyao was always gentle and soft in everything she did, and spoke in a soft voice, just like the beauty in The Gifted Scholar and the Beautiful Woman. Although Chu Jinxian was still indifferent to Chu Jinyao, Chu Jinyao didn't mind it. Chu Jinxian was like this to everyone, and Chu Jinxian stood with her as soon as she came in. Chu Jinyao didn't have to stand alone anymore, and she felt relieved. Chu Jinyao thought to herself, no wonder Chu Jinxian is the most praised lady in the mansion, she really behaves like an elder sister, just because Chu Jinxian came to Chu Jinyao's rescue, Chu Jinyao, who had never received any good from others, was very moved.

However, Chu Jinyao found that Chu Jinxian was not very close to Zhao, at least she would not act coquettishly with Zhao like Chu Jinmiao did. Of course, Chu Jinxian could not act coquettishly, but this also had a lot to do with the fact that Chu Jinxian was raised by the old lady since she was a child.

With Chu Jinxian by her side, Chu Jinyao finally stopped feeling the time was unbearable. Slowly, several concubines arrived. Everyone stood quietly aside, waiting for Zhao to clean up. Only the laughter of Chu Jinmiao and Zhao could be heard in the room. When Zhao finally finished dressing up, the maid had already prepared breakfast. The Marquis of Changxing did not come to Zhao's place for dinner. The second young master was weak and had been eating alone for years, so only these female relatives ate together. The concubines of Marquis Changxing pretended to serve food to Lady Zhao. Lady Zhao asked them to pick up a few chopsticks and said, "Okay, you all have children now. You don't need to serve me. Go down and eat."

The concubines then left. Concubines were not qualified to sit at the table to eat, even if they had children. In fact, these concubines were relatively good. Lady Zhao would give them respect because they had children. Other concubines without children had to stand behind the main wife and serve Lady Zhao and the girls after they finished their meals before they could leave.

Chu Jinyao looked at the concubines, who were fat and thin, of different ages, with her eyes rolling, and sighed in her heart. The rich families were really different.

After dinner, Lady Zhao took her daughters to pay their respects to Old Madam Chu. Madam Chu was an extremely dignified person, with a slightly square jaw and deep wrinkles at the corners of her mouth. She looked very powerful. This was completely different from the old ladies in the village that Chu Jinyao had seen before. She did not dare to be careless, and followed the group of girls to pay her respects to the old lady respectfully.

The old lady had a forehead protector on her head and looked not in good spirits. She had no intention of dealing with these granddaughters, so she said: "A few days ago, the Southern Weaving House sent another batch of Yunjin. The color is bright and suitable for you girls. Each of you go pick one and cut your own clothes. When the aunt comes back, you can also meet guests decently."

The aunt that Madam Chu mentioned was Chu Zhu, the only legitimate daughter of the old lady. She married into the second house of the Huailing County Prince's Mansion as the principal wife, and her sister-in-law was the Huailing Princess. From a marquis's family to a royal palace, this was already an extremely high marriage, so every time Chuzhu returned to her natal family, she was very dignified. A married daughter is like water spilled out, and the aunts who return are guests. Chuzhu married well, and nieces like Chu Jinyao even asked for specially made clothes to see their aunt.

Which little girl doesn't like new clothes, especially the Yunjin from the south, which are all tributes and rarely spread outside. Although the Changxing Marquis's Mansion is a marquis's mansion, it can't get a few pieces of cloth a year. In the past, these fell into the hands of the eldest daughter and made clothes for the eldest and fourth daughters, and the rest of the girls could get some scraps. Now that the grandmother said that each of them would get a piece of cloth, the girls were simply very happy.

A group of pretty girls went to the compartment to pick out fabrics. Although Chu Jinyao didn't understand what Yunjin was, she knew from the faces of others that it was a rare and good thing, so she followed them.

Chu Jinyao felt incredible in her heart. In the past, the family couldn't get a piece of cloth a year, and their clothes were all worn by her after Su Hui wore them. It was not a festival, but they said they would make clothes and give each of them a piece of Yunjin.

Chu Jinyao had no personal property since she was a child, and she had already calculated what to do with the remaining cloth.

After all, Chu Jinyao was also a little girl, and she was very happy to be able to choose the fabric according to her preferences. Chu Jinyao, immersed in joy, did not notice that the red silk in her jade pendant, which she had been wearing since she was a child, was missing several more strands.