Chapter Seventeen Entanglement

  There's a poem that says, "Originally from the same root, why hurry to mutually destroy each other." To be serious, compared to Miss Ten, they are just rolling on the ground and then onto a bamboo mat - only one layer higher. That's why Miss Eleven can tolerate Miss Ten like that. Who knew that Amber would be the troublemaker, stirring up unrest among everyone.

  Binju went to the 11th girl's place with resentment, just in time to see Huopo talking to the 11th lady about making clothes: "......First help you and the fifth lady make it, the tenth lady has not started yet. It's just unknown whether the twelfth lady is following your back to make clothes or following the tenth lady's back to make clothes?"

  Eleventh's eyes were bright, but she only smiled. Binju's face turned pale, and the good impression he had of Amber that night at the banquet in the warm pavilion immediately dissipated.

  Dong Qing saw that something was amiss and found fault with Bin Ju: "I want to help the young lady divide the money, make a purse. You go to Xi Mama's place - the young lady is rushing to embroider the screen overnight, using a lot of silver frost charcoal, let her pull out some more for us."

  The beach chrysanthemum could only nod and leave.

  The eleven-year-old girl picked up her needle and thread, indicating that she was going to start embroidering.

  Amber pretended not to have seen, picked up the fire tongs and stirred the charcoal in the brazier, smiling: "I also heard that these days, Tenth Miss has been copying Buddhist scriptures for Old Madam, saying she wants to finish writing before New Year's Eve, so Old Madam can bring them to Ci'an Temple on the birthday of Guanyin Bodhisattva on the ninth day of the first month."

  Eleventh Girl listened and slightly hesitated: "At Eldest Sister-in-law's place..."

  "According to Coral's sister, it was because Eldest Madam asked Tenth Miss to copy Buddhist scriptures that Tenth Miss remembered that Eldest Madam was also a devout Buddhist." Amber laughed and said, "Tenth Miss also said that when she was younger, Eldest Madam doted on her and she didn't know any better. Now that she's grown up and followed Master to read books, she finally knows how good Eldest Madam is. Eldest Madam heard this and said 'people become clever from reading books', now Tenth Miss also knows what's good and bad!"

  The 11th girl's eyes flashed with surprise: "She said this in front of her husband?"

  Amber added two pieces of charcoal to the fire basin and smiled, "Of course, it was said in front of Madame. At that time, Sister Coral was serving beside her!"

  Unexpectedly, Shi Niang actually started flattering Eldest Madam. However, will this sudden change of heart be too late?

  Eleventh girl thought for a moment, and Amber said: "Speaking of which, these days the old lady's place is really lively. The fifth young lady accompanies the old lady from morning to night, and the tenth young lady often goes to join in the fun. Even the twelfth young lady, who is busier than usual, often chats with her two sisters after dinner, making the old lady laugh so hard that she can't close her mouth."

  The eleventh girl was shocked and then smiled bitterly.

  Still can't even make a decent baozi...

  Amber carefully observed the expression of Miss Eleven, but her mouth didn't stop: "The sky isn't early anymore, I'll go see if Autumn Chrysanthemum's lunch has been delivered or not? With Miss working so hard, we should at least prepare some good food. This afternoon I'll go to Liu family's auntie place again, to see when they will make clothes for the tenth miss...so we can also be prepared!"

  The eleventh girl smiled: "That's right, we're also well-prepared."

  Amber's eyes lit up like a starry summer night: "Miss, then I'll go prepare!"

  The eleventh girl nodded.

  Amber stepped out lightly, and Zhu Xiang arrived.

  She knelt down and said: "Miss, Fifth Aunt has arrived!"

  Eleventh daughter was quite unexpected.

  At first, she had just woken up not long ago, one night was suddenly awakened by a burst of crying. Opening her eyes to look, unexpectedly there was a white skirt trailing on the ground beautiful woman sitting in front of her bed wiping away tears. At that time she was stunned. Still thought she had encountered something unbelievable again, scared to the point of not daring to move. Until hearing Dong Qing and her conversation, only then did she know this woman was actually her mother Lu Shi in this life.

  Seeing her only dare to secretly show concern for her daughter, Eleventh Mother immediately had a sympathetic heart for this pitiful woman.

  Later, she saw Fifth Aunt cutting her gold ornaments into small pieces and giving them to Dong Qing, asking Dong Qing to buy her ginseng, bird's nest and other precious medicinal materials to nourish her body, which moved her even more.

  So, after she understood her situation and the first wife's character, she kept a certain distance from Fifth Aunt.

  She didn't want to offend the madam and implicate this weak-willed, drifting woman. As for Fifth Aunt, since she felt Eleventh Aunt's distance from her, although her expression was gloomy, she still cooperated with her decision without complaint - nothing would make her visit Eleventh Aunt's place.

  She's here, there must be something going on?

  "Quickly invite the aunt in!" Although Eleventh Aunt was very anxious in her heart, she didn't reveal a single bit on her face and smiled as she instructed Zhu Xiang.

  Zhu Xiang hastily invited Wu Yiniang in.

  Dong Qing bowed to her before leaving, and she nodded slightly with a distracted expression. She asked Shiyi Niang: "How much longer will it take for you to finish embroidering this screen?"

  Looking at her worried look, Shiyi Niang was taken aback and said: "Auntie, do you want me to help with some embroidery?"

  "No, no!" Wu Niang hastily denied, then looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

  The eleven girls made an eye signal towards Dong Qing.

  Dong Qing smiled and took the incense holder away: "I'll go make a cup of tea for Auntie."

  The fifth aunt nodded randomly and saw the two of them retreat. Before the eleventh aunt could speak, she said: "You're just too honest, always at a loss."

  The eleventh girl listened and felt somewhat at a loss.

  "You're always at home embroidering that screen, while the Fifth and Tenth Misses are accompanying Madame... you should also be more mindful!"

  As for being perceptive, I'm afraid there's hardly anyone in this household more obtuse than Fifth Aunt!

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Unexpectedly, even Wu Yiniang, who usually doesn't bother with worldly affairs, knew that Wu Niang and Shi Niang had been in the good graces of Da Tai Tai recently, and she became anxious for her own sake...

  The fifth aunt looked at her with a smile, scolding: "You shouldn't always take my words as nothing. I'm all for your own good." As she spoke, her eyes turned red, "To say it's all because of me being no good. You're such a clever person, but you were born from my belly..."

  This isn't something one can choose for oneself!

  Eleventh girl hastily pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away Fifth Aunt's tears, and comforted her: "Look at what you said, Auntie. If I hadn't been born in your belly, how could we have such good days now? Don't cry anymore. I know everything you said. Speaking of which, embroidering the screen is also a way to show filial piety. The old lady is an understanding person and will surely understand my kind intentions."

  The fifth aunt felt much better after hearing this. She said, "Yes, the mistress has a heart as clear as a mirror. What's good, what's bad, what's wrong, and what's right - she's always been very clear about these things."

  Her birth mother had always given her stepmother high praise, and the eleventh daughter was already used to it. She also comforted Fifth Aunt for a few more sentences, drank hot tea on Dongqing, and Fifth Aunt felt much better, got up and bid farewell.

  Eleventh girl personally sent fifth aunt out of the Green Yun building, and when she raised her head, she saw Binju and Qiujun standing in an octagonal pavilion outside the twelve-level platform of the Green Yun building, saying something - Qiujun's expression was somewhat disdainful, while Binju's expression was very serious.

  Isn't Amber supposed to go urge Qiu Ju to bring lunch? Why is Qiu Ju here talking to Bin Ju instead?

  She involuntarily raised her head and looked at the sky.

  Big, big dark clouds floated in the sky like rags, making the light somewhat gloomy, and it was impossible to tell what time it was!

  The two also saw Eleven Girl and hurried over to pay their respects to Fifth Aunt.

  The fifth aunt and the two of them chatted for a few words, then returned with the help of Xiaoyan. Qiuju also dispersed with Binju: "I'm going to pick up the food box!"

  Binju then made a signal with her eyes to Qiuyue, who responded by saying "You go quickly!"

  Qiu Ju followed the voice and left, while Bin Ju supported Shiyi Niang towards the Green Bamboo Building.

  "Didn't Amber tell Qiujie to bring lunch?"

  "Ordered," said Binju, "just met me and chatted for a while."

  The eleventh girl nodded slightly as she listened to her frank response.

  Binju has a cheerful personality and is considerate and generous. She is open-minded and straightforward, and the more you get to know her, the more you will like her.

  "Miss, I have something to say to you."

  Her eyes sparkled with joy, making Shí-yī Niáng look at her with delight, and she couldn't help but say in a low voice: "Is it Auntie..."

  Binju nodded.

  The two of them came out of the Green Jade Building again and stood at the pavilion where Binju and Qiujie had spoken earlier - here, the view was open, and anyone who came would be visible at a glance, leaving no room for eavesdropping.

  "Autumn Chrysanthemum went back to ask her mother." Bin Chrysanthemum said seriously, "Her mother said that Eldest Aunt was born at home, but her parents passed away early, and she relied on an uncle to make a living. Later, the uncle married an aunt and couldn't accommodate her, so she thought of a way to enter the mansion as a servant. Because she was beautiful and had a gentle temperament, she was placed in Old Master's room by the late Old Madam. Everyone in the household liked her very much. However, Second Aunt was a refugee who escaped to our place during the great flood that year. She sold herself into slavery and entered the mansion. At first, she swept the floor in the outer courtyard, but somehow managed to get close to Niu Anli, the original head steward's nephew, who worked in the accounting room. Relying on Niu's influence, she was transferred from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard's flower house, where she specialized in taking care of the flowers in the warm rooms. Not long after, she took advantage of an opportunity to send flowers to Old Madam and gained her favor, and was then transferred to Master's room. The two women stayed in Master's room for five or six years, rising from third-class maids to first-class senior maids. After Madame entered the household, she took charge and dismissed the two women."

  Niu Anli was the predecessor of Xu Xiaquan. After Xu Xiaquan became the general manager, he asked to resign and moved his whole family to Yangzhou. However, although Niu Anli had left the Luo family for over a decade, the tone of the servants in the Luo household when occasionally mentioning him was still affectionate. It can be seen that his interpersonal relationship with the people in the Luo family was very good.

  The eleventh girl listened with her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

  It seems that Da Yiniang is a bit too honest, while Er Yiniang has some ulterior motives. Either way, the Luo Manor never lacks people like them.

  That's quite normal!

  "Miss, there's something else!" Binju's voice was very low. "Qiuju said that her mother spoke of Erniang with great disdain."

  Eleventh Sister's spirit lifted: "Do you know why I despise?"

  "Second Aunt is a fox spirit, she harmed the nephew of Cow Big Manager to death!"

  The eleventh girl stared at Bin Kui in surprise.

  "Niu Dazongguan's nephew had been waiting for Er Niang to let him out, but instead, Er Niang was locked up by the old master. Niu Dazongguan's nephew was so angry that he jumped into a well! Qiuju's mother also said that Niu Dazongguan's departure was related to this matter!"