Before the servants had completely left, E Lan angrily said, "You vicious and ruthless Xi Ying! You've tricked me into this mess and made me your scapegoat! The silver notes I gave the midwife were collected from several small money shops. No matter how much Brother Ren Kang investigated, he couldn't find my trail. So it was you who framed Ling Dang and dragged me into this mess!"
Xi Ying touched her cheek, which was red from E Lan's slap, with her delicate finger. Her stiff smile slowly softened. "You bribed the midwife! As for Xia'er going to see the midwife, I will explain that to the General myself. The midwife's case has been suppressed by the General. If you insist on fighting to the death with me, then we will both be suspects of the General. A murderer cannot become the General's wife!"
Xi Ying paused, walked to the embroidered screen, and touched the hundred longevity patterns she had embroidered for the old lady. "The old lady's birthday is in less than two days, and Yan Ning will also be entering the manor soon. I think you should start making plans for yourself!"
E'lan was so angry that her teeth were grinding, but she couldn't do anything to Xi Ying. If E'lan were to break ties with Xi Ying, then Yan Ning could smoothly marry into the Fucha family. Compared to Yan Ning, Xi Ying's status as both an enemy and a friend made E'lan endure the matter.
After E'lan left, Xi Ying picked up a brush and ink and drew a portrait of Liu the midwife. She folded it up and handed it to Qiu'er, whispering something to her. Qiu'er changed into ordinary servant's clothes, mingled with the group of people going out to buy supplies, and left the Fucha Mansion.
Reaching the outermost edge of the inner city, Qiu'er hurriedly entered an ordinary courtyard house without even a plaque. Having grown up there, she walked straight to the room she and Xia'er had once shared, without needing directions. At the door, Qiu'er heard the soft moans of a woman coming from inside. Qiu'er blushed slightly and pounded on the door.
After a moment, Xia'er's voice came from inside the room again, "Come in!"
Xia'er, who was hurriedly buttoning her clothes, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Qiu'er and stopped what she was doing. She said to the screen, "Come out! Qiu'er is back!"
Irgen Gioro Haisheng, Xiying's third brother, peeked out from behind the screen, carrying his robe and boots. Seeing Qiu'er, Haisheng's face broke into a lewd grin. "Who do we have here? You scared me to death! Qiu'er, how are you going to make it up to me?" He reached out and 'touched' Qiu'er's cheek, but she recoiled in disgust, refusing to look at him again.
Xia'er got out of bed and pinched Haisheng's ear, saying jealously, "Are you trying to have your cake and eat it too?"
Hai Sheng grasped Xia'er's hand and rubbed it against his face, saying, "You are all maids who came from my household, so aren't you all my people?"
Qiu'er, not wanting to watch the two's intimate moments any longer, pulled Xia'er aside, avoiding Haisheng, and repeated what Xiying had told her. Just as Xia'er was about to reply, Haisheng's legal wife, Chen, entered, heavily pregnant. Despite her pregnancy, it didn't hinder her movements at all.
Madam Chen rushed forward, grabbed Xia'er's hair, and yelled, "You shameless little vixen! You've come back and you're already seducing our master!" Seeing this, Qiu'er and Haisheng quickly stepped in to separate the two. Haisheng held Madam Chen, afraid she might harm her unborn child. Qiu'er helped Xia'er tidy her disheveled clothes.
Xia'er was Xi Ying's personal maid, and she was usually fawned over in the Fucha Mansion. How could she bear this humiliation? She pushed Qiu'er aside, walked a few steps to Chen Shi, and slapped Chen Shi across the face.
Chen sat down on the ground, crying and refusing to get up, even pounding her stomach. Haisheng quickly grabbed Chen's hand, looking helplessly at Xia'er. To Haisheng, one was his legal wife, and the other was his new favorite; he felt sorry for either of them if they were unhappy.
"Alright!" Qiu'er couldn't stand it any longer. She thought to herself that if she didn't stop them quickly, they would definitely ruin Ying's affairs. "Madam has something to tell you to do!" Qiu'er was careful and didn't call Ying "Aunt Ying" like she did in the Fucha Mansion. She was afraid that these sycophantic people would not do their job properly after they knew what Xi Ying had gone through in the Fucha Mansion.
Upon hearing that Xi Ying had something to tell her, Madam Chen quickly stopped crying. Madam Chen knew in her heart that everything in her husband and this family was obtained through the Fucha family. Madam Chen dared not offend Xi Ying, fearing that she would ruin her husband's future.
Seeing that the three of them had quieted down, Qiu'er took out the portrait from her bosom and repeated what Xi Ying had told her.
On their way back to Jian Gong Zhai, Yan Ning and Zhu Xiang saw servants hurrying along with their heads down, none of them idle. Calming down, Yan Ning noticed that the mansion had been deliberately decorated with festive decorations. Even the garden, a place bursting with vibrant colors, was adorned with silk flowers and ribbons, resembling a summer's riot of blooming flowers. Although Old Madam Fucha appreciated luxury, she wasn't extravagant; Xi Ying's arrangement, however, revealed Yan Ning's air of importance.
Fukang'an had prepared the birthday gift that Yan Ning was going to present to the old lady well in advance: a peony screen made of hundreds of South Sea pearls. South Sea pearls are the finest of pearls, and it was already difficult for ordinary wealthy families to possess even one or two. Besides the royal family, perhaps only Fukang'an could have collected such a complete peony screen.
The peony screen was adorned with South Sea pearls of varying sizes and colors, from petals to stamens, yet each one was round, lustrous, and translucent. From the tips of the peony petals to the stamens, the pearls transitioned from white to pale yellow, while the stems were bluish-white. When Yan Ning saw the peony screen, she was immediately struck by the luster of the South Sea pearls.
At the time, Yan Ning was filled with fear and unease about the Fucha family and didn't think much of it. Now, thinking about it carefully, she felt that the old lady would definitely not believe that it was a gift from her. Instead, she would think that she had seduced Fukang'an into giving such a generous gift. However, Yan Ning didn't know what she should give the old lady. She had seen the guest list, which was full of important officials of the court. She imagined that they would give all sorts of rare and precious gifts.
"Zhuxiang, where is the kitchen?" Yan Ning suddenly stopped, catching Zhuxiang off guard, who almost fell over.
Steadying herself up, Zhu Xiang said, "It's next to Consort Li's Jinghe Hall, quite a distance from here. Is Madam hungry? What would you like to eat? I'll go there myself; the kitchen isn't a place for you."
Yan Ning shook her head, insisting that Zhu Xiang take her to the kitchen. Zhu Xiang dared not disobey, so she had no choice but to lead Yan Ning there.
Zhu Xiang told Yan Ning that the kitchen was filled with smoke and a mixture of various smells all day long, which was why it was located deep within the mansion. Each household would inform the kitchen of the dishes and flavors they wanted to eat two hours before mealtime, and then the servants from each household would collect them at mealtime.
The further they walked, the more desolate and lifeless the courtyards became, like the legendary Cold Palace. Passing by Jinghe Hall, Yan Ning secretly peeked inside. Not a single blade of grass or flower was to be seen, only two withered trees, whose names she couldn't identify, stood in front of the main hall. Jinghe Hall didn't resemble spring; it was more like the desolate depths of winter.
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