Chapter 54 Gap

  They went to the east side of the inner courtyard first.

  Sheng Siyan took them to the Green Jade Pavilion first.

  Surrounded by bamboo fences, the fences are hung with various strange grasses and vines, and in the middle, there is a bright and dark three-room upper house, with two ear houses, and two white-walled wing rooms, like a white jade building in the green emerald, dazzling.

  Sheng Ningfang immediately fell in love with it and didn't want to go anywhere else. She said: "I'll just live here, is that okay?"

  Sheng Siyan smiled and nodded, "Of course you can. This is where girls live, the Embroidered Building of the Boudoir."

  Sheng Ning Fang had her own courtyard for the first time, and was so excited that she didn't know what to do. She immediately followed the maid in, looked at the furnishings and furniture in the house, and exclaimed with surprise: "Are all these mine?"

  "Of course." Sheng Siyan called over a servant woman who was watching the courtyard, "First help Second Miss settle in. I'll take Second Aunt to the west wing of the courtyard."

  The old woman nodded and watched as Sheng Siyan and the others headed west.

  Tu Shi was deeply worried about things and didn't say a word.

  Following Sheng Siyan to the west side, Tu Shi casually took a look and pointed to the south-west side of the Emerald Bamboo Pavilion: "I'll just live there."

  Sheng Siyan smiled and praised, saying that the courtyards on this side were all top-notch, and there was also water next to them. The reflection of the canal was also a delightful thing.

  Tu Shi forced a smile and said, "Trouble you, young lady. I'll gather my things, you may take your leave."

  Sheng Siyan saw Tu Shi return to her senses and also smiled: "Auntie is being polite. You're busy, I'll leave first. At lunchtime, the maid in your courtyard knows where to take the meal."

  Before the arrival of the Tu family of four, Sheng Siyan and Wang Shi, and Sheng Qiye were all eating separately.

  Only every few days, when Sheng Qiye was free, the three of them would have dinner together.

  If Sheng Qiye can remember to eat dinner tonight, everyone will have a reunion dinner together.

  By evening, Sheng Qiye had still not returned and was still in the pharmacy with Wang Shi concocting medicine.

  Sheng Siyan then went to the kitchen to arrange dinner and had it sent to each courtyard.

  Also prepared a table of good dishes and sent them over to the pharmacy side for Sheng Qiye and Wang Shi to eat together.

  Tu Shi also didn't make any more trouble, and honestly lived in the Cui Zhu Xuan residence, being quite obedient every day. He would go to Wang Shi's courtyard together with others in the morning and evening to pay his respects.

  The whole family temporarily settled down in peace and quiet.

  Sheng Siyan lived in Womei Xuan, separated from Sheng Ningfang's Green Jade Pavilion by only one mountain.

  She is on the south side of the artificial hill, and Sheng Ningfang is on the north side of the artificial hill.

  Wò Méi Xuān is a two-story wooden building with a corridor outside, delicate and exquisite. Pushing the window open reveals a viewing platform in front of the courtyard planted with white and purple yulan magnolias. The small building is surrounded by winter jasmine, and in winter, the jasmine lies in the snow, reflected on the colored glaze windows inside the building, forming a natural picture of jasmine lying in the snow.

  But now in midsummer, the winter plum tree looks no different from other trees and is not attractive at all.

  Under the scorching sun, Sheng Siyan helped Wang Shi with the trivial matters in the kitchen and secretly took a look at the medical book again. She thought of two prescriptions and pondered that when Sheng Qiye entered the palace, she would follow Wang Shi to the pharmacy to try out the medicine.

  As she thought, she stretched her waist and said to her maid Haitang: "Sister Haitang, I'm tired, can I take a nap?"

  Haitang is five years older than her. Already a fifteen-year-old big girl, she has a tall and slender figure, a handsome appearance, and is said to be literate, a knowledgeable and well-mannered maid.

  The outstanding maidservants of the Sheng family, apart from Gan Cao and Ju Xiang by Wang's side, were Hai Tang and Mu Jin by Sheng Siyan's side.

  Wang said these two maids are too old and need to choose another two younger ones.

  Sheng Siyan knew that the Guo Gong Fu was newly established, and many things needed to be taken care of, so she told Wang Shi not to rush, and wait until they had more free time to slowly select. Otherwise, rushing would lead to selecting some troublesome people, which would cause headaches.

  The Wang family also knew that their household had a small population, but there were already over a hundred servants, which was not a small number, so they didn't worry.

  Haitang listened to Sheng Siyan's soft words, smiled slightly, and personally unfolded the quilt on the bed by the window for her to sleep.

  It was just the summer noon, and all the servants in the backyard of the Rongguo Mansion were either leaning against the eaves, or sitting on the steps, or under the corridor, chatting in small groups before falling asleep.

  Sheng Ningfang grew up in the countryside, was full of energy and didn't like to take a nap after lunch. After eating lunch, she did her homework left by Miss in her own room, but found that eight out of ten words were unfamiliar, and worried about being scolded by Miss tomorrow.

  Her maid Yulan gave her an idea: "Second Miss, why don't you go ask Big Miss? Big Miss is very knowledgeable, and the Duke has always been praising her."

  Sheng Ningfang was somewhat unhappy and said, "Father is being partial."

  Yulan and another maid, Molan, exchanged a glance and advised: "Second Miss, actually, the elder miss is two years older than you, she understands more than you do, it's only natural. The Duke also knows this."

  Sheng Ningfang supported her cheek with her hand and gazed out the window at the scenery, saying listlessly: "I'll go take a look at Big Sister, there are some things I also want to ask her."

  Apart from recognizing characters, she also has to deal with word pairs, which she really can't handle.

  Yulan stayed behind to look after the house, while Jasmine followed Sheng Ningfang to the courtyard where Sheng Siyan lived.

  When she came out of the Green Jade Pavilion, Sheng Ningfang saw her mother... or rather, her aunt, accompanied by a woman, heading in the direction of the main courtyard where Madame Wang lived.

  Sheng Ningfang called out twice "Auntie!", but Mrs. Tu still didn't respond, quickly walking forward as if she hadn't heard Sheng Ningfang's voice.

  The sun was too big, Sheng Ningfang covered her forehead with her hand and looked up to see that Tu Shi had already turned the corner and gone up the corridor.

  "Come on, Second Miss, it's too sunny here, if you get sunburned, it won't be good." Jasmine said with a smile.

  Sheng Ningfang smiled and took Jasmine to Sheng Siyan's Womei Xuan.

  The gate of Womei Xuan is very distinctive, it's a Chinese flowering crabapple-shaped archway.

  Sheng Ningfang has been here for over a month, but this is her first time visiting Sheng Siyan's courtyard.

  As soon as she saw this archway, she said with envy: "This gate is really beautiful, much more beautiful than my moon gate."

  Jasmine followed behind and didn't dare to respond.

  The master and servant have different ideas, she can only pretend to be deaf and dumb as a subordinate.

  Sheng Ningfang continued walking inside.

  Because the plum blossoms have not yet opened, the scenery of Womai Xuan is quite ordinary.

  It's far inferior to Bi Shengningfang's Green Jade Pavilion.

  Sheng Ningfang's heart was much more balanced.

  Sheng Siyan had just closed her eyes when she heard Mu Ge gently push her and say, "Eldest Miss, Second Miss has come to see you."

  Sheng Siyan slowly opened her eyes and sat up. She shook herself awake and asked, "Has Ning Fang arrived?"

  "He's already here, sitting in the outer room. Haitang is chatting with Second Miss."

  Sheng Siyan stroked her hair, "Comb my hair. Send a bowl of iced sour plum soup to Second Miss. To relieve the summer heat."

  Mugun complied and ordered a young maid to bring sour plum soup, while she herself combed Sheng Siyan's hair.

  Sheng Ningfang's face in the outer room didn't look very good.

  Just now in the courtyard outside, she didn't think that Wu Mei Xuan was much better than her own Green Jade Pavilion, and it was even a bit inferior.

  But once inside the house, looking at the furniture in the room, the swords, gallbladders, vases and stoves hanging on the wall, they were a hundred times more exquisite than those in her own home.

  The blue and white porcelain in her room is rustic, similar to what they use in the countryside, just a bit more delicate.

  Sheng Siyan's side used all ice porcelain, thin as paper, transparent as ice, and looked great.

  There is also a pot of peony flowers on the shelf, which makes the whole room look luxurious.

  Sheng Siyan came out and happened to see Sheng Ningfang staring at her peony arrangement, so she smiled and said: "If you like it, take it back and arrange it yourself." As she spoke, she let out a sneeze.

  Haitang hastily handed over a wet handkerchief and covered her nose with it.

  Sheng Siyan smelled the refreshing mint scent on the handkerchief and finally stopped sneezing, laughing: "I said not to put flowers in the house. You didn't believe me. As soon as I smell this scent, I couldn't help but sneeze."

  Sheng Siyan knew that she was actually a bit allergic to pollen. But the people here didn't know it was an illness, and they were all somewhat skeptical.

  Sheng Ningfang was originally delighted that Sheng Siyan gave her the peony, but as soon as she heard it was because Sheng Siyan couldn't stand the smell herself and gave it to her, she immediately fell out with him, saying: "You're giving me something you don't want, what do you take me for?"

  "Ning Fang, don't be angry. I'm not good at talking. If you don't like it, that's okay. I have a favorite hairpin with a green jade pendant here, and I'll give it to you as an apology!"

  "Is it really what you like? Or is it something you don't want and are giving to me?" Sheng Ningfang asked suspiciously.

  Sheng Siyan said seriously: "It's really something I love very much." As he spoke, he let Mu Jin take out the emerald hairpin and show it to Sheng Ningfang.

  The green dot on the swaying step was like a living green mark, which had already captivated Sheng Ningfang's eyes.

  She immediately took over the hairpin, tightly grasping it in her hand, and joyfully said: "Even if you don't want it, I do! This hairpin is really beautiful!" As she spoke, she had her maid Molly pin it to her hair, and then said: "Then I'll forgive you this once. That pot of peony flowers, I want that too."

  Mu Ge smiled and said, "Then I'll have someone bring this pot of peonies to your room."

  "Go ahead and go." Sheng Ningfang was in a great mood, waving her hand to let the maidservants go about their business, while she stayed here chatting with Sheng Siyan.

  Sheng Siyan heard her say that Tu Shi had just gone alone to Wang Shi's place and didn't pay much attention.

  For more than a month, Tu Shi has been very honest and obedient. Sheng Siyan is still observing him for the time being.

  But from that day on, Sheng Siyan keenly sensed that Wang's attitude towards Tu had changed. She no longer allowed Tu to go and pay respects in the morning and evening, and also began to assign some tasks within the inner courtyard to Tu.

  Apart from cooking and grocery shopping, Mr. Tu started taking over other things.

  What's even more infuriating is that Ms. Tu doesn't understand anything, yet she can still summon Mr. Wang to her Emerald Bamboo Pavilion and have him teach her how to manage the household with one hand and one foot.

  Sheng Siyan was scared by Tu's family. - A useless father is not scary, a muddle-headed mother is the scariest!

  She had advised Wang repeatedly, but he always nervously told her not to interfere with other people's business.

  Sheng Siyan couldn't get any clues no matter how she asked, and even if she guessed blindly by herself, she still couldn't figure out the reason. She could only continue to stare at Tu Shi more closely, so as not to let things get too out of hand.

  More than two months passed, and as autumn approached, the Guo Gong of the Sheng family was about to make winter clothes. Sheng Siyan keenly discovered that the various shares distributed by Tu Shi were actually more numerous than those of Wang Shi!

  Looking at those pieces of silver fox, sable, and autumn knife skin, bundles of brocade, silk gauze, and spun silk were constantly being delivered to the Tu family's Emerald Bamboo Pavilion, while the Wang family only got a few small pieces of gray mouse skin and cotton fabric. Sheng Siyan was really angry!

  How can this be?!

  What can be tolerated and what cannot be tolerated!

  On this day, Sheng Siyan came to Tu Shi's Cui Zhu Xuan and said directly: "Second Auntie, you took the wrong share. That is my mother's share."

  Tu's wife had been in charge for the past two months, and she was quite confident. She snorted through her nose, looked up and down at Sheng Siyan, and said slowly: "I didn't take it by mistake, this is what your mother willingly gave me. If you don't believe me, go ask your mother." While speaking, she couldn't help but look at Sheng Siyan with a smug expression.

  Sheng Siyan also smiled and said, "What my mother says is not important, but the rules of this house cannot be broken. You are a concubine, and my mother is the legitimate wife. According to the rules, you can't wear these thick woolen clothes, you can only wear sheepskin and velvet."

  Tu Shi rolled her eyes, looking at the bright red henna on her hands, and gently blew a breath, sneering: "Big sister, I advise you not to go too far. I can't wear big woolen clothes, your mother can't wear them either."

  "What do you mean?" Sheng Siyan asked seriously, her heart racing. She knew that this gap was about to be opened from the Tu family's side.

  Tu Shi put down his hand and looked into Sheng Siyan's eyes, saying word by word: "Marry as a wife or run away as a concubine! - How much higher can she be than me?"

  ……