Chapter 752: Guarding and Waiting (Part 2)

  Eleventh Sister changed her clothes and came out, and Coral from Mrs. Big's side arrived.

  Amber was accompanying the speaker. Seeing Eleventh Sister, Coral stepped forward and saluted, smiling: "Eleventh Miss, I've come to ask a favor of you."

  Since you've come to ask for help, I've thought it over in my mind and have about 40% or 50% confidence before speaking up.

  Eleventh Girl saw that she was smiling with her eyebrows and eyes, so the matter she asked for must be an easy one. She smiled and said: "Sister Shanhu, what's the matter? Just say it!"

  Coral glanced at Amber and smiled, "You also know that Amber was originally in charge of the clothes and jewelry in Madame's room. Now she has been transferred to your house, so I have taken over her original duties." As she spoke, a hint of embarrassment appeared on her face, "Madame's several hairpins with gold silk embroidery were taken out by the little maids to look at, but they couldn't be restored... thinking of asking Amber to take a look."

  It's her own curiosity, took it out and can't restore it!

  The eleventh girl smiled at the corner of her mouth: "You and Amber are sisters in the same house, and you also get along well with Dongqing. If there's anything, just let them help, no need to be so polite."

  Shanhu's face lit up with joy, and she happily paid her respects to the Eleventh Lady, then pulled Hupo out of the door.

  Outside, the sky is clear and cloudless, with a row of yellow poplar trees standing quietly, their trunks as thick as a child's arm.

  Amber couldn't help but take a deep breath.

  "It's only been less than a day and you're already sighing!" Coral teased, "What? Missing the big mistress's house?"

  Amber smiled but didn't answer, she just warmly grasped Coral's arm: "Thanks sister for coming on time. Otherwise, I really don't know what to do."

  "What's difficult to handle?" Coral smiled and said, "You just want an excuse to avoid them, so that the master and servant can say a few intimate words. Even if I didn't come, you would find another excuse anyway. What's difficult to handle? You even specifically asked me to come at this time to call you out! This is your kindness, what's wrong with letting them know?"

  Amber sighed softly: "After all, I'm the one who inserted myself in between. Unlike Dong Qing and Bin Ju sisters, I didn't attend to Eleventh Miss's illness with dedication. Some things are better left with more consideration!"

  Coral listened to the "pfft" and laughed: "You, you're really loyal to your master. I don't know what to say. Can you afford to be loyal for a lifetime? Your sister is a smart person. That Wintergreen is five years older than Miss Eleven, I'm afraid she won't be able to wait until Miss gets married. Even if she can wait, Mother Yao will not rest until she gets revenge for the loss she suffered in secret. Now that Madam has moved you to Miss Eleven's room, on the surface, it seems like you've lost out, from the main house to a concubine's room. In reality, this is actually Madam's kindness towards you." As she spoke, her tone was filled with melancholy, "Unlike us, in the future...it will be like this. Either we'll be given to Master or Fourth Master, or paired off with some minor servant. Being paired off with a minor servant is still okay, but if we're given to Master or Fourth Master, the madams will think about how we used to serve Madam and won't they have some resentment in their hearts? By the time the madams take over the household, our age will be gone, and who knows where we'll be thrown away by the masters...it's better for you! You're only two years older than Miss Eleven, and in the future, you can follow her. With your looks and talent, you'll have a few years of loving days. And if you give birth to a boy and a girl, the younger generation will also have someone to rely on..."

  Amber didn't make a sound, but her gaze at the yellow poplar tree was somewhat dazed.

  "There's only my sister and I who can speak our minds!" She grasped Coral's hand, her fingertips icy cold. "As you said, Sister, when the time comes, I'm afraid I'll have to accompany Miss Eleven to her husband's house. Although this is a kind intention of the first wife, just look at the third miss born by the second wife... It's said that among the previous four, one died from illness, one was given to the groom's servant boy as a gift, and the other two were sent away by the groom after he got drunk... Even Miss Eleven doesn't know where she'll end up, let alone someone like us! Sister, no path is easy to take!"

  Her coral lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

  Indeed, neither road is easy to walk!

  Her eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness, and she couldn't help but put her arm around Amber's shoulder to comfort her: "Good little sister, the mistress chose you among so many people, you're really blessed!"

  The tone is pale and powerless.

  Watching Amber and Coral come out of Green Pavilion, Eleventh Lady beckoned to someone beside her to speak.

  "...Since the mistress has brought her to our house, she is now a member of our household. As she's new here, it's inevitable that she feels a bit awkward. We should treat her like our own sister."

  Wintergreen, Beach Chrysanthemum and Autumn Chrysanthemum, Cinnamomum camphora, Xīn Māma and Táng Māma all knelt down to show respect and replied "yes".

  The eleventh girl smiled and held up her tea: "Wintergreen and Beach Chrysanthemum stay behind, I still have a few words to ask!"

  Qiu Ju made several bows and backed away.

  The eleven-year-old girl pointed to a small stool beside her: "Sit down and talk!"

  The two of them knew that Shiyi Niang wasn't one for empty courtesy. When she invited you to sit down, it was a genuine offer. If she didn't want you to sit, she wouldn't have said so.

  Wintergreen and seaside thrift sat on either side of a small stool.

  The eleventh girl sank into thought for a moment, and then said in a low voice: "You two are the mainstay of my house. Taking advantage of Amber's absence, I have a few things to ask you to do!" As she spoke, her tone paused, "These few things, just let the two of you know for now!"

  The implication is that they should not tell others!

  The two saw a hint of solemnity between Eleven's eyebrows and immediately became serious, saying in unison: "Don't worry, Miss Eleven. We won't speak out of turn."

  The eleventh girl nodded, and after a moment of contemplation, she said: "Binju, you have a good relationship with the purple orchid in the fifth girl's room. These days, go to her room more often and see what the fifth girl has been doing lately? Who has visited her? Which family has she gone to visit? The more detailed the better!"

  Binju nodded busily and replied "yes".

  "Have Autumn Chrysanthemum discreetly ask around about what happened to Big Aunt and Second Aunt back then... She's a family-born child, there are always people around her who know these things."

  Since it was her who was told to instruct, even Qiuju had to be kept in the dark and not let her know that it was Shiyi Niang who wanted to inquire about the two aunts.

  Binju immediately replied "yes".

  Shi's gaze fell on Dong Qing: "I'm planning to host a welcoming banquet for Hupo. Get the mothers of Xu, Wu Xiaoquan, and Yao, as well as the maids from Da Taotai's residence, Lv Yun Lou, and Jiao Yuan's residence to come over and liven things up. You're in charge of arranging this."

  "Also invite a few mothers?" Dong Qing was shocked, "These are all the powerful ones by the side of the big madam, I'm afraid it's..."

  Meaning is: I'm afraid they are not enough, don't move!

  "Whether they come or not is their business, whether we invite them or not is ours." The eleventh daughter didn't mind her hesitation, "You just listen to my orders and go invite people."

  It's also impolite not to invite... Anyway, it won't work out, so just going through the motions is fine.

  Dong Qing nodded slightly.

  Eleventh Sister said: "As for the mistress of the house, I'll go and invite her; as for the three mothers, you should personally go and invite them; as for Jiao Garden and Green Bamboo Building, just sending an invitation card will do!"

  Still Miss thoughtful consideration. Sent himself, just a few mothers did not come, also not hurt too much face.

  Dong Qing replied with a "yes".

  "The dinner party is set for 5 pm. The location will be in the warm pavilion where everyone usually has dinner parties. At that time, you can chat with the sisters in the mistress's quarters and ask them about what's been going on lately. For example, did the old master and the young master send messages to the mistress? What was her attitude when she received the old master's message, and what was her attitude when she received the young master's message..."

  It wasn't until then that Dong Qing suddenly realized.

  Winter days are short, and by the time of You Zheng, the sky has already darkened. The masters of each house have also finished their dinner, and the maidservants no longer need to be on duty. By setting the banquet at this hour, those who want to come will naturally do so, while those who don't want to come will make excuses not to - it's clear at a glance who wants to come and who doesn't.

  As for the one who invited them, she was just a maid, yet she was sent to invite three influential mothers. The Rong manor's legitimate masters, such as Fifth Miss, who lived in the Jade Garden, and Tenth Miss and Twelfth Miss, who lived in the Green Bamboo Building, were only sent an invitation card - the misses had no intention of inviting the three mothers and three misses.

  At that time, the sky was cold and frozen, and there were only these big and small maids on the banquet table. After a few cups of wine, everyone relaxed and said what they should or shouldn't say. What's more, she would "chat with the sisters in Madame's house"...

  It's just a detour to see if there's anything unusual on Madame's side.

  She thought of Amber's sudden arrival... It seems that things are not as simple as just one person coming. Thinking again about Amber's appearance and age...

  Dong Qing had several worries in her heart.

  She assured Shier Niang: "I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter."

  Listening to Dong Qing's tone as firm as nails being cut off with one swift chop, Shiyi Niang knew that Dong Qing had misunderstood.

  She wanted to get information, but was even more afraid of alerting the enemy.

  "If it can be done, then do it. If it can't be done, don't force it." Eleventh Sister tried to appear relaxed, "If others find out, that would be bad."

  Dong Qing has been by Shiyi Niang's side for three years, how could he not know that she is in a difficult situation.

  "Don't worry, Miss, no one will know."

  Shi'niang knew that Dongqing was always cautious, and seeing that everything that needed to be done had already been instructed, whether it could be accomplished was up to fate. Her tightly wound heart relaxed a bit. She smiled and said: "Since tomorrow is for welcoming Huopo back, take 10 taels of silver to the kitchen and have them help prepare a table."

  Dong Qing replied "yes".

  Binju smiled and said, "Miss is confused. Dongqing sister has already handed over the key, can't she let her pay for it herself? Even if Dongqing is willing, she's too poor to afford it!"

  The eleventh girl had forgotten this matter and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

  In the evening, when Amber returned, Eleventh Sister told her about the dinner invitation: “...Also, I wanted to take this opportunity for you to formally meet your sisters from the other rooms.”

  After a brief astonishment, she smiled and thanked Shíyī Niáng, but her eyes betrayed an irrepressible unease.

  The eleventh girl saw it clearly.

  Her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

  I haven't been feeling well lately and didn't want to start a new article so soon, but after resting for a while, I feel like something is missing.

  Then let's continue writing!

  Haha ~......

  Let's talk about it when we really encounter insurmountable difficulties.

  A bit of an Ah Q spirit.

  After reading the comments, I know that many new and old friends have come to support me. Although I haven't replied one by one, I'm still very grateful for everyone's concern. Talking too much is useless, the best way is to write good articles for everyone.

  Hehe...... I'm going to write an article!

  Participate in PK in July, thank you!

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