Chapter 20: The Turning Point (Part 1)

  The old lady had dinner, and Eighth Miss arrived, bringing a pair of warm leg wraps she had made.

  The old lady had been feeling a slight pain in her legs for the past few days, and when she saw this, she burst out laughing. "It's rare to see your filial piety, I'll try it out later."

  Ronghua opened her mouth twice but couldn't say anything, and quietly looked at Chen Mama beside the old lady. Chen Mama smiled, and Ronghua said: "Mother is using this for the first time, I'm afraid the people around her won't serve her well. Why not let daughter help her put it on now?"

  The lady smiled and said: "This is not feasible at all! This thing has to be carried close to the body, it's always inconvenient."

  Ronghua said: "This is for mother's illness, the sooner you bring it back, the better. If you can't bring it back, it won't work."

  Madam Chen also advised on the side: "The old master is not at home, and there's nothing else to do at night, so why don't you just try it out? Besides, this is a treatment, what's convenient or inconvenient about it?"

  Dong Rui also said: "Madam said this morning that her legs were uncomfortable, and Eighth Miss sending someone over now is just in time."

  The lady was persuaded by everyone and no longer insisted, smiling kindly at Ronghua, "Then try it out, just don't make yourself too tired."

  Ronghua smiled awkwardly and said, "What Mother said was nonsense, this is what a daughter should do."

  Mrs. Chen and Dong Rui helped serve Madame lying down, Chun Yao and Mu Jin helped Rong Hua prepare hot ash for warming her legs.

  Then she had the maid bring over a charcoal brazier, and Ronghua warmed her hands before taking the medicated oil to Madame Wang's bedside. Donghui pulled back the beaded curtain, and Madame Wang leaned against a large red embroidered pillow, covered in a quilt with intricate floral patterns. Ronghua sat down beside her, carefully exposing Madame Wang's knee, and slowly began to massage it with her hands.

  Madam immediately felt a sour and painful sensation in her lower abdomen, but after the pain subsided, she also felt an unusual comfort. She glanced at Ronghua, who was lowering her head and concentrating on her work, looking obedient and gentle. Madam thought of the guests she had seen at Shuhua's wedding banquet, all the wives of the noble families were dignified, gentle, and elegant, especially when facing their parents-in-law, they were extremely filial. At that time, she was also envious, but unfortunately, there wasn't one like that around her.

  It's just like Shu Hua's temperament, even if she tried every means to marry into the Hou Mansion, in front of Madame Hou, she would still be out of favor. Yan Hua has a bit of cleverness, and it's barely passable for her to compete with her sister-in-law for favor, but she can't hold a candle to the grandeur.

  The skin that had been permeated with the medicinal oil became red and soft, and Hong Yu took the warming leg from Chun Yao's hands, then lifted her head to look at Madame, "It will be a bit scalding, Mother can endure it."

  The old lady nodded. Rong Hua took a deep breath and carefully stuck the warming pad to the old lady's knee, then tied it with a strap. Everyone looked at the old lady's appearance, and the old lady laughed and nodded repeatedly, "Where is it hot? Just right, it seems that all the cool air inside will be driven away. This thing is really useful."

  Ronghua was about to massage another leg, but the mistress refused, "You've been busy for half a day, just order the servants to do it, you come over and rest."

  Dong Rui took over and pressed Rong Hua onto the bed, "Madam is worried about Miss, and Miss just taught me."

  Ronghua seemed a bit flattered, only smiling shyly on the side while teaching Dongrui and helping out.

  Both warmers were brought in, and Ronghua saw that Madame Wang's eyelids were drooping slightly, so she tactfully withdrew.

  The lady raised her eyes and smiled, "Don't be in a hurry, I suddenly remembered that the winter clothes for you sisters are ready, you can choose one set that you like." She then asked Chen's mother to open the trunk.

  As soon as the trunk was opened, Ronghua walked over to take a look and found several sets of winter shirts neatly folded into three piles, clearly for three people. She had only been in the mansion for a few days and no one had taken her measurements, yet the winter clothes were already made.

  The lady of the house knew about her situation even if she was outside the mansion, just because she told her.

  She and Yaohua, Yanhua's figure was originally inseparable, these clothes no matter who among them were wearing, Mrs. let her come to choose, on the surface because she did something that made Mrs. happy, in fact... it wasn't that simple.

  Inside the trunk were not only winter clothes, but also newly made phoenix-tailed pleated skirts, Confucian jackets and cross-collared aprons.

  These clothes are made of fine materials and can't be compared to those she brought back from outside the mansion. Just saying that even Ronghua doesn't have such beautiful clothes, let alone Yanhua.

  Beautiful clothes are liked by every girl, and Ronghua chose a set that is neither flashy nor elegant in style or color.

  The old lady looked at her with a kind smile and said, "Alright, go down and rest now!"

  Ronghua and Chunyao went out, then the old lady ordered Chen Mama, "Let Yanhua also come in to choose a set of clothes."

  Chen's mother hurried away.

  Yan Hua walked into the mistress's room and didn't notice anything different from usual. Chen Mama led her to open the trunk, and when she saw these clothes, Yan Hua was overjoyed. Without saying a word, she reached out to pick and choose, finally selecting a set of the most vibrant butterfly-embroidered jacket and pants, with a five-colored skirt with hidden flowers underneath. Yan Hua lifted up the clothes and looked at them, laughing with a face full of joy.

  As soon as Na got these clothes, Yan Hua suddenly thought, "What about mother?"

  "Madam is resting in the warm pavilion and has ordered me to attend Miss and help her with her clothes."

  Yan Hua didn't ask another question.

  Chen's mother couldn't help but slightly raise the corner of her mouth, and she was so meticulous about clothes that she would even care about tiny differences, yet she didn't have the patience to worry about her own mother anymore.

  Xuan Hua lifted up the clothes and asked Xiang Qiao beside her, "How's this one?"

  This exquisite clothing is naturally elegant, and Xiang Qiao also followed with delight, "There isn't that bright one, but the young lady looks just as beautiful in this."

  Yan Hua put the remaining clothes back in the box, "I think so too, bright colors are more suitable for me." After taking all the clothes, she said to Chen's mother again: "I'll come tomorrow morning to pay my respects to your mother."

  Mrs. Chen smiled naturally and politely.

  Miss Liu has been too arrogant over the years, and Mrs. Zhang has already criticized her once, but she still hasn't restrained herself and remains as such; all of Mrs. Zhang's efforts over the years have been in vain.

  Chen's mother sent Yanhua out, and Yanhua found that Chen's mother was not as warm to her as before. She thought it might be related to the time she was scolded by the mistress in the silk store. In her heart, she cursed those slaves for being jealous, but on her lips, she said, "In all these years, Mother has always put me first, even when she scolds me, it's because I'm close to her. You know that only people who are close will behave like this."

  Madam Chen sneered inwardly, but said out loud: "Yes, miss." In the past, Sixth Miss had indeed given her some benefits, and she had accepted them because she knew that Old Madam had no one else to rely on except for Sixth Miss. Now that the situation had changed, her tolerance for Sixth Miss had vanished into thin air.

  Mrs. Chen went back into the house.

  The old lady closed her eyes and rested, "Which one did you choose?"

  Madam Chen said: "Sixth Miss compared and found that bright colors set off her beauty even more."

  The lady sneered, "No wonder it took so long."

  Misses also love beauty.

  The lady's complexion was very poor, "I'm afraid that apart from superficial skills, nothing else can be done."

  Mother Chen stood aside and said no more.

  The lady sighed after a long while, "Shu Hua is someone who doesn't bother with details, it seems I have to take charge of this matter."

  Ronghua handed the clothes to Mugen, who happily accepted them. "This set of clothes is just right for the next two days."

  Chun Yao also smiled and said: "Yes, in a few days it will be the Winter Solstice ancestor worship ceremony, Miss will wear this set of clothes to attend."

  Rong Hua nodded slightly.

  Spring Yao poured tea and said, "Madam let Miss go pick out clothes first, it can be seen that she is satisfied with Miss."

  Chun Yao had never said such a thing before, Rong Hua had always been close to her, and Chun Yao was truly thinking of Rong Hua for the first time today.

  Although Mrs. Dai did not say it out loud, she was truly satisfied with Miss Ba in her heart.

  Ronghua felt tired and fell asleep early. Mugen put down the curtains, extinguished the lamp, and slept outside the warm pavilion. Chunyao slept in the outer room. After a while, Mugen heard no sound from the outer room and knew that Chunyao had fallen asleep. He slowly got up, walked inside under the moonlight, and softly called out to Ronghua. Ronghua opened her eyes, and her gaze was bright with no sleepiness.

  "Miss, I heard from the maids downstairs that a doctor came to the mansion today to see the second miss."

  It's no wonder that Madame often invites some famous doctors to come to the mansion to take Miss Second's pulse.

  The old master left, and the mistress even saw him out personally.

  What kind of doctor is this, that can make the madam so concerned. Rong Hua carefully recalled the scene when he saw the madam today, the madam had relaxed her eyebrows and eyes, and smiled especially often.

  If she remembered correctly, every time a doctor came to take Second Miss's pulse, Madame would become extremely upset.

  Is this time different from the previous ones? Perhaps Miss Two's illness can be cured?

  If it's like this, then no matter how she plans, everything is too late...

  In Mrs. Duan's heart, no one can shake that person's position, as long as that person is doing well, the rest of the people will all become pawns.

  Nothing much to write about today, busy with family matters, and there are more things to do before the New Year.