“Miss, you don’t know, the Second Miss blocked Xiao Taohong and the young master right there in the study.”
"How shameful! The two of them were naked and doing this in the study. Everyone says the study is a place for reading the classics, but the young master is not respectful at all. There was wine and meat in the room, and what's worse, Xiao Taohong is pregnant."
"And the second young lady was also pitiful. She was carrying ginseng chicken soup that she had personally cooked for the young master. She didn't expect that after going through all the trouble to bring it over, instead of seeing her diligently studying husband, she saw this scene. Tsk tsk tsk, she was so angry that she vomited blood..."
In Jiang Shuwan's courtyard, Qingxing was picking out New Year's goods while talking.
Yesterday, the shopkeepers and the nanny from the manor came to deliver the account books, and also brought a lot of New Year's goods. Jiang Shuwan then asked Qingxing to pick out some of the best ones and send them to the Jiang manor as New Year's gifts.
Today, most of the green apricots have been picked and dried in the sun. Various kinds of silks and satins, top-quality tea, aged wines, and northern leathers are all of the finest quality.
Xiao Tao was also helping to move things around. Hearing what Qing Xing said, the little girl immediately asked curiously, "Sister Qing Xing, such a big thing happened in the Earl's Mansion. Given the Second Miss's personality, she should have made a huge fuss about it. But I don't hear any noise from the Earl's Mansion at all."
"Of course there was a commotion, but guess what? Not only did the second young lady not get the upper hand, but the young master also discovered that the east courtyard where Xiao Taohong lived was dilapidated and old. Not only were the maids disrespectful, but they also had to tip and curry favor with the servants to get a hot meal."
"The young master was so angry that he said the second young lady was not worthy to be the head of the household. The second young lady made a fuss about going back to her parents' home, and the young master did not even try to stop her. In the end, it was the wife of the young master who stepped in to mediate, and the couple did not have a fight."
“That Xiao Tao Hong is really something. After this incident, I’m afraid no one will dare to ignore her. Her treatment in the Earl’s mansion will also be elevated to a higher level,” Xiao Tao said.
“That’s right, but Madam dislikes her very much. She thinks she’s a troublemaker who makes the whole family miserable and hinders the young master’s progress. It’s only because she’s pregnant that Madam hasn’t done anything to her, for the sake of the child.” Qingxing said as she showed two pieces of ink to Jiang Shuwan.
"Miss, which of these two ink sticks do you think is more suitable to give to the master?"
"Let's do both."
Jiang Shuwan glanced up and made a decision, then buried herself in the abacus.
As the year draws to a close, all the shops in the mansion are taking stock of their accounts, and her private properties also need to be reconciled and their records entered into.
This is her busiest time right now. Luckily, all the maids in her house can read and write, otherwise she would be exhausted by herself.
"Sister Qingxing, where should we put these paper-cut window decorations?"
Outside the door, another group of maids brought over many paper-cut window decorations. In two days it will be New Year's Eve. After New Year's Eve, the palace will hold a banquet for the officials and their wives. After that, it will be the day Liu Yunyan enters the palace.
"Put them on the door, the more the better, it'll look festive."
Qingxing smiled and directed the maids, then handed the prepared gift list to Jiang Shuwan for review. Jiang Shuwan looked at it one by one, and only after finding it satisfactory did she nod and order the servants to deliver it to the Jiang residence.
Just then, Xiao Tao came running over again, "Sister Qingxing, all the elders of the Pei family will be here on New Year's Eve. Will the Second Miss come?"
"How could that be? The second young lady is still lying in her room taking medicine and can't get up. Let alone the New Year's Eve reunion, she probably won't be able to attend the palace banquet. And the madam also feels very ashamed and has been staying at home for the past few days."
At this point, Qingxing paused for a moment, remembering that Jiang Shuwan had previously asked Jiang Yao to come over.
"Miss, you said you wanted to invite the Second Miss over, but now she's too ill to get out of bed. Should I go and deliver the message?"
"No."
Before Qingxing could finish speaking, Jiang Shuwan refused.
Guo Yaqin is now the Crown Prince's wife. Her original intention was to remind Jiang Yao, otherwise Jiang Yao would not be prepared if Guo Yaqin made trouble at the palace banquet. Now that Jiang Yao is too sick to get up and cannot attend the palace banquet, there is naturally no need to remind her.
"Has the New Year's gift from the Earl's residence been sent?"
"Not yet, Miss. Is there anything you'd like to add or subtract?"
“Brother Nai sent a basket of chestnuts along with the New Year’s gifts, saying that it was a gift for Jiang Yao. Jiang Yao did indeed suffer from Xiao Taohong’s lack of food and lodging, but she is, after all, the young mistress of the Earl’s mansion. It would be shameful and disgraceful for a lowly concubine to make her vomit blood.”
As soon as Jiang Shuwan said this, all the maids and old women in the room who were doing abacus work, needlework, and picking out New Year's gifts laughed.
"Miss is asking the Second Miss to stop."
"In my opinion, it's unlikely. They've only been married a short time, and the young master is already taking two or three girls into his courtyard. In the long run, the second young lady will inevitably suffer."
"It's strange, though. The Second Miss used to be so domineering in the manor. Even after marrying into the Earl's manor, she didn't change her nature. She even dared to fight with the Earl's wife in front of the old lady. How come she's become more and more timid lately? Even a little Tao Hong dares to jump on her head."
"What else could it be? Of course, it's because of the young master." After finishing one batch of accounts in the room, Granny Tao brought over a new batch. She stacked the account books on Jiang Shuwan's table as she spoke.
"The second young lady likes the young master, and the young master pities Xiao Taohong. Xiao Taohong is also a clever girl. Knowing that the young master is bored and restless when locked in the study, she caters to his interests by playing the zither and dancing, which makes the young master infatuated."
"In addition, Xiao Taohong is good at playing the victim and showing little sympathy, so the second young lady can only retreat step by step, and Xiao Taohong is pregnant."
"Just wait and see. If Xiao Taohong gives birth to a son next year, then the Second Miss will suffer."
Hearing what Granny Tao said, the maids in the room were all shocked.
"I don't think so. Even if the young master dotes on Xiao Taohong, there is still the madam of the manor, and the madam has never liked Xiao Taohong."
"Ha, these days, which mother can go against her own son? The second young lady wasn't initially liked by the madam either, but she still ended up marrying into the madam's family."
"Women in the inner quarters, no matter how you put it, all the honors are given by men. If men don't want to give them, no matter how well you do, it's useless."
Granny Tao sighed and, seeing the fear and dread on all the maids' faces, quickly explained, "I wasn't talking about you. Nowadays, how many maids can write and calculate like you? If someone were to marry you, they would cherish you. Even if things get tough one day, you can always go back to Miss's side and you'll never lack food."
"The old lady is talking about Chun Jiao and Mei Xue. We've heard that many families have come to inquire about their marriages. My goodness, especially the guards in our front yard. They can't even walk properly when they see Chun Jiao."
"The commander of the guards? Hasn't his family been with the Marquis's mansion since the time of the late Marquis? Although his official rank isn't high, he's still from an official family. Would an official's son even look at us servants?"
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