Chapter 12: Reaction (Part 2)

  The Luo Mansion has its rules, and at the beginning of each watch, every room locks up.

  At dusk, she returned to Zhiyuan Courtyard.

  The little maidservants hurried forward to take her umbrella, knelt down to remove her wooden shoes and welcomed her into the house.

  Then a little maid brought up a hand warmer.

  She shook her head and ordered: "Bring me some water to wash my face. I still need to go to Madame's place to answer her."

  The little maids didn't dare to slack off, and quickly brought over clean clothes for her to change into. They fetched hot water for her to wash her face, re-combed her hair, and after making sure everything was in order, she picked up the hand warmer that had been burning brightly beside her and warmed herself for a moment before heading to Madame's quarters.

  Third Aunt was sitting with a few young maids around the fire basin in the main hall, doing needlework. Seeing Luo Qiao, she smiled and said: "Has the gathering dispersed? Why have you come back so early?"

  Luo Qiao smiled and said, "It's not over yet. Shanhu is still drinking with a few colleagues!" As she spoke, she walked forward to examine the embroidery in Third Madam's hand, "This carp, it's embroidered so vividly. Is it for Fifth Miss?"

  Aunt Ke's eyes showed a hint of warmth: "I'm idle and have nothing to do, I'll make her a set of clothes. Next year when spring arrives, it will be just right to wear."

  Luo Qiao and Ke Yiniang said a few words, got up and went upstairs to the mistress's bedroom: "…go and pay respects to the mistress!"

  "Mrs. Dai is talking to Mrs. Xu right now!" Aunt Ke said without lifting her head, embroidering the carp in her hand, "She says she has something to wait for later!"

  It seems like nobody is around!

  Luo Qiao smiled to herself and said with a bright smile on her face: "There must be a little maid waiting next to me, I'll go show my face, in case the madam asks, so she doesn't think I went there and played till day and night!"

  Auntie Ke smiled and nodded: "Yes." Then she lowered her head again to continue working on what was in her hands.

  She tiptoed up the stairs.

  The upstairs was quiet, with only a small maid sitting beside the brazier, holding a hand warmer and staring blankly at the stairs. The dim yellow light that seeped out from under the door curtain of the east bedroom stretched out long and thin, casting an isolated silence on the dark brown wooden floor.

  Hearing the light footsteps, Xiaoyu suddenly lifted her head and saw Luo Yi, she smiled.

  Luo Qiao didn't wait for her to speak, and instructed: "You go and report back! The eldest madam is waiting for my response!"

  The little maid hesitated for a moment, then slowed down her pace and walked to the front of the curtain to report.

  "Let her in!" The mistress's voice was full of undisguised fatigue.

  Luo Qiao pulled at her hem and then walked in.

  The maidservants who normally served in the house had all disappeared, and only on the door of the eight-step bed's corridor was a single eight-sided palace lamp lit, its bean-sized light shining on the large red embroidered shoes with five bats holding longevity in front of the bed, while the red lacquered high cabinets placed around were now dark shadows pouncing towards the light like ferocious beasts that frightened people.

  "Back!" The old lady leaned on the big pillow at the head of the bed, her pale face half hidden and half visible beside the large red gauze canopy, "Xu Mama, give her a seat."

  Xu's mother sat up on the edge of the bed with a smile and placed a small stool at the head of the bed.

  She curtsied and thanked Mrs. Wang, then sat down on a small stool.

  "How's the situation over there?"

  The big wife straightened her body, and her sharp eyes sparkled with light in the darkness.

  Luo Qiao hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully: "When I went, I saw Wu Xiaquan's family..." She glanced at the big wife, wanting to see her expression clearly, but didn't notice anything unusual due to the dim light. Luo Qiao continued, "And also our house's Shanhu, Feicui, Dandan, Dujuan and Duwei. The 12th young lady's room had Yutong, Yuhuai, Bai Zhu and Jinzhu. The 11th young lady's room had Dongqing accompanying Wu Xiaquan's He and Huopo, Shanhu sitting at the same table. Binju and Qiujie, Zhuxiang were serving on the side. In total, they made four flavor dishes, four cold dishes, four hot dishes, ten big dishes, and one soup. I didn't wait for the banquet to end before leaving. I don't know what the main course was?"

  "Isn't there anything going on in Wu Niang and Shi Niang's house?" Madame's voice was somewhat chilly.

  Luo Qiao hastily said: "I heard that the fifth young lady sent over Ziwu from her house, and gave two packages of Xinyang Maojian as a gift; The tenth young lady's house was visited by Baizhi, who gave a purse and a handkerchief."

  The lady remained silent for a moment before saying: "You may withdraw!"

  He got up, hung his head and walked out with his hands down.

  The lady asked Mrs. Xu: "What do you think?"

  "Madam's heart is as clear as a mirror." Mrs. Xu smiled warmly, "There's no need for me to intervene."

  The mistress sighed and patted Mrs. Xu's hand: "In the end, only the two of us, master and servant, are left."

  Madam Xu's eyes welled up with tears, and the corners of her eyes sparkled: "The mistress is talking nonsense again. Your family is wealthy and prosperous, with many children and grandchildren, and even in all of Yu Hang, you can't find anyone more blessed than you."

  The old lady sighed and fell back against the large pillow: "I don't know if I'm useful or not?"

  Mrs. Xu got up and leaned forward to support Madame's back, pulled out the pillow she was leaning against, and slowly let Madame lie down.

  "There's no one who can't be used in this world. It just depends on how you use them!" Her voice was warm and gentle, with a soothing calmness that reassured the heart. "The young mistress is the smartest person I've ever seen; whatever you think of, she must have thought of it too; whatever you haven't thought of, she must have thought of it too. You're her birth mother, and I've watched her grow up - at this time, if we don't help her out, who will? Even if you don't trust your own judgment, you should trust the young mistress's insight. Besides, in the past few years, she's been socializing with such a group of wealthy and noble people in the capital, her vision is already different from ordinary people. You just put your mind at ease and live a comfortable life." By the time she finished speaking, she had already tucked the quilt into place.

  "Winter is clear, sleep with me tonight!" The madam's mouth had a smile, "We haven't spoken like this in a long time."

  Mrs. Xu laughed: "I haven't slept in the big bed for many years, and I still miss it." She said, and went out to call a little maid to roll up the bedding and bring it in.

  At this time, the warm pavilion was bustling. Dong Qing winked at Bin Ju and quietly returned to the Green Yun Lou.

  “……Madam had just received a letter from Old Master after her noon nap, and before she could even finish a cup of tea, Third Lady from the Western Manor came to discuss with Madam about the sacrifice for the land. The one who went in to report was Du Wei.” Dong Qing and Eleventh Lady were sitting around the brazier, “That day, it was blowing north wind, I don't know who opened the window lattice behind the stairs, when she entered, the board screen hit the door frame, making a loud noise. Madam at that time threw over a tea cup, almost hitting Du Wei's head.”

  The Luo family had once divided the house under the old master's hands, and the old master had divided the original east wing of the Luo Mansion. The old master's cousin had taken over the west wing of the Luo Mansion. Everyone then referred to them as the East Mansion and West Mansion.

  Eleventh Sister used tongs to pull out the silver frost charcoal that had been burned red in the brazier.

  That is to say, after Madam received a letter from Old Master, she was so angry that she vented her anger on the little maid who lifted the curtain.

  "I received the letter from Grandfather after dinner." Dong Qing arranged the news she had heard, "Because Madame had a big temper in the afternoon, everyone was trembling with fear. At that time, Fei Cui was serving on the side, and after receiving the letter, Madame didn't say anything while holding the letter. She got up and walked around the room for a few laps, then called someone to invite Mother Xu over. The two of them talked alone in the room for half the night."

  The eleventh daughter was shocked.

  Could it be that the madam is the kind of person who becomes calmer in the face of big events? Or, did I guess wrong? No, even if I guessed wrong, didn't Big Aunt and Second Aunt also guess wrong? And what about Wu Xiaquan's family, did they also guess wrong?

  She couldn't help but get up and pace around the room as she thought about it.

  This banquet was originally a test. The attitudes of Wu, Shi and Shier were all the same as usual. What's unusual is that Wu Xiaquan's family and Luo Jia's family are too enthusiastic, and these two people are also the most able to guess the thoughts of the old lady. Especially Wu Xiaquan's family, she herself walks in the inner courtyard, and gets along well with each house. Her husband is also the general manager of the Luo family, managing all external affairs of the Luo family. If there's anything, her news should be the most informed...

  The eleventh girl stopped in her tracks.

  "What about Wu's mother? Did she make any unusual moves or say anything strange?"

  Dong Qing was lost in thought, bowing her head and sinking into contemplation for a moment. She hesitated before speaking: "Wu Mama has been listening to our conversation all along..." As she spoke, she suddenly jolted, "Right! When we were halfway through drinking, Wu Mama asked me to accompany her to the latrine. With a pout on her face, she said something very strange to me."

  Eleventh Girl walked over and sat down beside Dong Qing.

  "What did you say?"

  She said: It's better to have fun here. When I go back home, it's often just me, cold and quiet. My husband is busy every day, patching up the east wall and neglecting the west wall, he doesn't even have time to look at me. If he pleases one person, he offends another. He can't please everyone. That's why this morning, the news was spread to the big madam's place. When I got back, I've been frowning until now. Unlike Lu Yonggui who followed the young miss to Yanjing and bought a house there after not seeing her for years, living like a local in Beijing. This is truly the life of a seventh-rank official in the prime minister's mansion! As for me, I'm too lazy to look at his face, so I'll take this opportunity to have some fun outside. Otherwise, he'll think that if I stay in the inner courtyard, I won't have anywhere to play.

  Demolish the east wall to repair the west wall... It's hard to be a good person at both ends... Was told by Lao Qian to go see Madame... Came back with a worried look... Unlike Lu Yonggui who followed the young lady to Yanjing... Too lazy to look at her face... Borrowing this opportunity to have fun outside...

  What does Wu Xiaquan's family want to express?

  They were a couple, but they were also the confidants of the big wife!

  What else could be worth her risking offending the mistress by hinting at it?

  The eleventh girl fell into deep thought.

  Later we returned to the warm pavilion, Luo Qiang had already left. Fei Cui was arranging the fallen flowers of Lian Qiang.

  "Oh!" Eleventh Sister came back to her senses, "What did she say?"

  Dong Qing smiled and said, "You also know that the two of them have never gotten along. It seems like something went wrong when Lian Qiao was serving as a maid, and she got slapped in the face by Mrs. Xu, leaving a mark on her cheek. For these past few days, she hasn't been able to show her face in front of people - Fei Cui has a somewhat gloating expression."

  The eleventh girl fell into deep thought once again.

  (Hongbao came to see me, I'm so happy! Let's go out for dinner...)