Chapter Nineteen Decision (Part Two)

  Eleventh Girl took out the hundred-year-old picture embroidered by Jian Shifu from her bag and spread it on the table, then looked at the half-finished work on the embroidery frame, and let out a soft sigh.

  "Miss, shall we continue embroidering?" Dong Qing asked hesitantly.

  "Of course, I'll continue to embroider." Eleventh Young Mistress smiled and said, "Although my embroidery skills and speed are no match for Master Jian's, have you noticed that the 'shou' character I embroidered now is much better than when I first started?"

  Dong Qing held the lamp and examined it carefully for a while, then nodded and said: "It's different from before, I feel that your needlework is even more delicate and intricate than before..."

  "So, this is also an opportunity to hone embroidery skills!"

  Dong Qing smiled and said, "Let the young lady sleep early today - with this hundred-year-old picture embroidered by Master Jian, you will have something to show for it when the time comes."

  At this time, day and night staring at the inch-square place, my eyes are a bit sore. No wonder many embroidery girls go blind after they turn thirty, it's really a job that eats away one's youth. Like Master Jian, who specializes in teaching embroidery to wealthy families, although it's a good way out, the requirements for embroidery skills are also very high...

  The eleventh girl thought for a moment, smiled and said: "Let's go to bed early today, after all, it's the fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival. Others are out having fun, let's give ourselves a holiday too!"

  Dong Qing covered her mouth and smiled, arranged for Zhu Xiang to keep watch at night, personally served the eleventh lady to rest, only then did she return to her own residence.

  After Amber arrived, Dongqing and Binju gave up the room by the window to her. Amber had also been modest, but Dongqing and Binju were used to living together and had some reservations about Amber, so they insisted on declining and squeezed in with Qiujie and Zhuxiang.

  When she entered, Binju and Qiujie were both awake, huddled on Binju's bed looking at the patterns of flowers she had collected, discussing what kind of hem would look good on next year's spring clothes with a lined skirt.

  Seeing Dong Qing come in, Qiu Ju immediately jumped off the bed and greeted her: "Miss is resting!"

  Dong Qing nodded slightly.

  Qiu Ju poured her a basin of water: "What did Master Jian send to Miss?"

  Dong Qing smiled and said: "It's just a letter to ask about Miss."

  "Miss and Master Jian's relationship is really good!"

  "That's natural." Dong Qing smiled and said, "Otherwise, with so many people learning from her, how could she have only passed on the ultimate skill of 'Double-sided Embroidery' to our young lady?"

  Chrysanthemum nodded and said: "Dong Qing sister, you say, if I serve the young lady well and let her pass on this ultimate skill to me, will she agree?"

  "This is hard to say!" Dong Qing smiled and said, "However, usually when someone comes to the mansion to ask for advice on needlework, Miss is also very willing to help. If you're really interested, why don't you ask Miss one day?"

  Chrysanthemum nodded, wanting to say something else, but Binju beside her had already smiled and said: "It's getting late, tomorrow morning Dongqing sister still has to serve the young lady embroidering the screen, let's all say a few less words and rest!" As she spoke, she began to gather up the scattered flower patterns on the bed.

  Qiu Ju nodded and the three of them stopped talking.

  The next day, at the hour of Yin Zheng, when there was still not a single ray of light in the sky, Xin Mama and Tang Mama had already gotten up and gone to the small kitchen beside the wing room to boil hot water. At the third quarter of Yin Zheng, Shiyi Niang got up, Binju helped her wash her face, and Qiujin had already cooked white porridge. Shiyi Niang ate half a bowl of porridge with a dish of bamboo shoots and a dish of eggplant, then sat down in front of the embroidery frame to start embroidering.

  As I watched the sky brighten outside the window, a young maid came to report: "Eleventh Miss, the first wife has ordered you to go to the Zhiyundian immediately."

  The eleventh girl was shocked.

  What is Mrs. doing at this time?

  Perplexed in her heart, but not daring to slow down even a little. Let Dong Qing reward that little maid with a handful of rock sugar, change into another set of clothes, and she took the amber to see Madame.

  As she walked under the eaves of the house, she heard Wu Niang's cheerful laughter.

  It seems that Madame's mood is quite good.

  The eleventh girl had just made up her mind when a little maid on the side lifted the curtain and reported: "Miss Eleven has arrived!"

  The people in the house suppressed their laughter as Eleven Maiden entered the house.

  The elder lady wore a pink butterfly-patterned jacket with floral embroidery, smiling brightly as she sat on the arhat bed in the main hall. The fifth daughter wore a moon-white bamboo-joint patterned small jacket, her slender figure standing by the bedside like a willow swaying in the wind, her smile still lingering on her face, and joy radiating from the corners of her mouth and eyebrows.

  Seeing Shiyi coming in, she covered her sleeve and smiled: "Just talking about sister, sister has arrived!"

  The eleventh girl smiled and stepped forward to pay her respects to Madame.

  The lady pointed to a stool beside the bed: "Sit!"

  Eleventh girl smiled and sat down on the brocade couch.

  The fifth daughter couldn't help but smile and say: "Eleventh sister, mother wants to take us to Yanjing to see our elder sister."

  The eleventh girl stared at the old lady in surprise.

  The old lady was very pleased with the surprise of the eleventh girl, smiled and nodded: "Before the New Year, your elder sister sent a nanny to come to me for a visit. She said that your grandparents had passed away, and if your father was in Yanjing, your elder brother would also go to the Imperial Academy to study. Taking this opportunity, let me also go to Yanjing, and have a family reunion." As she spoke, the old lady sighed, "It's been over ten years since I've seen your sister after she got married. I really miss her. When she said that, I was indeed moved. Coincidentally, your sister was afraid that I would not be able to take care of things at home, so she frequently wrote letters urging me to go to Yanjing. I thought it over and realized that in April, it would be the birthday of Mrs. Xu, so going to pay my respects wouldn't be bad either. Thinking that going alone wouldn't be much fun, I wanted to bring you two along to broaden your horizons."

  What was bound to happen has finally happened...

  The eleventh girl's heart calmed down instead.

  "Eleventh sister," said Fifth Daughter with a smile all over her face, "we are indeed blessed."

  The eleventh girl's face showed a hesitant expression, and she murmured: "The screen hasn't been embroidered yet..."

  The lady smiled and said, "I originally planned to just send gifts, but now that I've brought you all here to celebrate my birthday, the gifts I prepared earlier seem a bit shabby. Let's put the screen aside for now!"

  The eleventh girl respectfully replied with a "yes".

  "After the New Year's festival is over, we will set out." The mistress said with a smile, "You go and pack up your things! If there's anything you want to add or subtract, let Mother Hsu help you make arrangements."

  The eleventh girl smiled and stood up: "Usually, my mother has given me a lot, and in my opinion, there's nothing to worry about. It's just that I'm a bit thin-skinned, so I'd like to ask Mother Hsu to take a look at my room and see if there's anything improper. After all, we're going to Eldest Sister's house to celebrate her mother-in-law's birthday, and we must pay attention to appearances!"

  The old lady nodded repeatedly: "My son, you're right. This isn't just your business, it's also about your elder sister's dignity." She then directly called in Mrs. Xu, "Get Old Ji Xiang's shopkeeper to come over and add some hair accessories for both young ladies."

  Mrs. Xu smiled and nodded.

  Eleventh Girl asked some more things about entering the capital to pay attention to, and seeing Fifth Girl being somewhat impatient on the side, she finally got up and bid farewell to return to Green Yun Building.

  As soon as she stepped into the door, Wu Xiaquan's family followed closely behind her.

  She was also holding a small can in her hand.

  "Miss Eleven, I have something to ask of Amber."

  The eleventh girl naturally wouldn't stop her, and smiled: "Whatever mom's instructions are, just call her to handle it."

  "It's not someone else." Wu Xiaoquan pointed to the small jar in his hand, "I know you're going to Yanjing, I want to ask Huopo to help bring this jar of pickled fish to Eldest Young Master's attendant Lu Yonggui."

  The eleventh girl's face showed a difficult expression: "Still don't know how the madam has arranged things over there..."

  Before she could finish speaking, Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed and said: "The eldest lady took Hua's mother to the inner courtyard, and entrusted the outer courtyard to our family. Lianqiao was ill and stayed at home, while Luoqiao and Shanzhu went with several others. You and Fifth Miss each brought two senior maids, two junior maids, and two rough-serving women..."

  The eleventh girl smiled bitterly in her heart.

  There are three big servants in her house, but Amber is the one rewarded by the mistress, so she must bring her along. No wonder Wu Xiaquan's family came to ask Amber for help carrying things.

  "If that's the case, then let Amber help out this time!" Wu Xiaquan's family had already said as much, and refusing again would likely lead to them having ideas. "It's just that I don't know how we'll find Lu Yonggui later on. As you know, we're women after all, and we're going to the Luo household as guests..."

  "Miss, don't worry, I won't do anything foolish." Wu Jiaxiao hurriedly smiled and said, "Lu Yonggui is helping his sister-in-law manage the dowry industry, usually running around outside more often than staying at home. You'll be leaving for Yanjing in twenty days or so, by the time you arrive, spring will have begun, he's probably already left the house. When you arrive, just let Dongqing give this to Lu Yonggui's younger brother Lu Yongfu. Lu Yonggui's father was originally a big manager of our family's accounting room, we were very close because of his help in taking care of us back then. Last time Lu Yonggui returned to Yuhang, he said he owed me some pickled fish, I had agreed to give him some, but Yanjing is far away and I didn't have anyone to bring it with. It was only because you were going that I thought of this."

  Why is it still so complicated...

  The eleventh girl smiled and said: "Then how will this Lu Yongfu find him?"

  Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed and said, "He is now a small steward in the horse stable of Yongping Houfu. That is an outer courtyard. When you arrive, just ask one of the young servants and they will know."

  The eleventh girl smiled and agreed, letting Dong Qing put away the things.

  Binju joked with Wu Xiaquan's family: "If we can't find anyone, we won't return the things."

  Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed and said: "Girls just eat, I have a lot here."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  By afternoon, it was known that Wu Niang and Shih Niang were to accompany Madame Wang to Peking.

  The atmosphere in the eleven daughter's house was somewhat oppressive.

  With two senior maids, two junior maids, and two coarse servant women... The junior maid and the coarse servant woman are easy to talk to, but which one should I bring along?

  Eleventh Sister decided to go to Big Auntie's place.

  After all, this is just a word from the Wu Xiaoquan family... Even if the old lady really has this intention, before she announces it, there is still an opportunity to fight for a place in her house.

  Having made up her mind, Eleventh Sister stood up, and the curtain in front of the door was suddenly lifted without warning, revealing Tenth Sister's face with a mix of anger and joy in front of Eleventh Sister.

  "Good, good, good." She walked in slowly with a look of extreme anger and laughter, "You really are something! Going to Yenching..."

  The waters have receded, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation...