Chapter 21: The Turning Point (Part 2)

  Miss Liu had just removed her hairpins and was being attended to by the maidservants for her bath, preparing to rest when Xiang Qiao whispered in her ear: "Fourth Aunt has arrived."

  Miss Liu glanced sideways, "What is she doing here at this time? Just say I'm asleep."

  Xiang Qiao went out to spread the word and came back soon after, "Fourth Aunt said there's an urgent matter and she must see Miss."

  Sixth Miss was annoyed at Fourth Aunt's reckless decision last time, and said in a bad temper: "Let her wait, the maids outside have all gone to sleep, don't let her come in again."

  Miss Liu said so, Xiangqiao did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly went out to send away the maidservants, then invited Fourth Aunt into the house.

  Yan Hua sat casually on the edge of the bed, and when Fourth Aunt entered the room, she didn't even bother to acknowledge her.

  Fourth Auntie didn't mind Sixth Miss's indifference, hastily stepping forward, "My miss, how can you be so calm and collected now? Don't you know someone has already stepped on your head?"

  Yan Hua heard this and raised an eyebrow, "What are you insinuating now?"

  Fourth Aunt coldly smiled and said: "What rumors would I spread? I only gave birth to you, in the future I will still have to rely on you. My whole heart is placed on you, what isn't for your sake? You listened to others' provocation and came to lose your temper with me. Do you know that people's hearts are separated by their stomachs? Only with you am I truly connected at heart."

  Fourth Aunt had already heard these words countless times and was fed up with them. She hastily interrupted, "What's the matter?"

  Fourth Aunt came over and whispered: "Did the first wife ask you to pick out clothes today? Do you know that Eighth Miss was the first one to choose before you?" Then she told her all about what she had found out, including how Eighth Miss would be bringing medicine and a hot water bottle to the first wife tonight.

  Yan Hua smiled lightly, seemingly unimpressed. "It's just a temporary show of devotion, nothing to write home about. I've been by the side of the first wife for so many years, what can this little maid who just entered the manor do?"

  Fourth Aunt said: "That's not necessarily the case, don't be too careless, after all, that marriage with the Minister of Personnel's family hasn't been settled yet..." As she spoke, Fourth Aunt couldn't help but glance around outside, a cautious expression on her face. "I think it's better to come up with a more reliable plan."

  Fourth Aunt's voice grew softer and softer, Yan Hua listened carefully, "Can only use the savings of these years... to think of ways to beg..."

  Yan Hua raised an eyebrow, extremely surprised, "You're going to ask her?"

  The fourth aunt smiled complacently, "Didn't expect that, did you? She's actually... If it wasn't for the time your father got drunk and spilled the beans in front of me, I wouldn't have known..."

  Yan Hua couldn't help but wonder, "Are you sure?"

  "Of course it's true, just wait a few more days and you'll see."

  The lady of the house had finished her breakfast and was sitting idly in her room when a notice with golden characters was sent in from outside.

  It so happened that Miss Liu and Miss Ba were both there.

  The lady read the post and smiled, saying: "It's Mrs. Cai of the Yi Cheng Hou Fu inviting us to the Hou Fu to watch the lantern festival." She paused for a moment and looked at Yan Hua and Rong Hua, "The post specifically says to bring the young ladies from the mansion. Which of you sisters wants to go with me?"

  Yan Hua suddenly knocked over the teacup on the table, and the tea splashed all over her skirt. The maids rushed up to clean it up.

  The lady looked at Ronghua, and Ronghua seemed as usual, smiling gently, "It's all up to Mother to arrange."

  The lady nodded in satisfaction, "I still need to discuss with your elder sister, and we'll let you know once things are settled." She stood up, "I'm also tired, you can go down now!" From start to finish, she didn't even glance at Yan Hua.

  Yan Hua's clothes got wet, and on top of being ignored by the mistress, her mood hit rock bottom. Xiang Qiao still held out a handkerchief to wipe Yan Hua's skirt, but Yan Hua had nowhere to vent her anger, so she snatched the skirt away and glared at Xiang Qiao fiercely, "Where's that usual quick wit of yours? You've been wiping for half a day and still can't get it right." Then she turned around and walked out, passing by Rong Hua's side, her mouth curling up in anger, her eyes blazing with fury, and her shoulder deliberately bumping into Rong Hua.

  Seeing Rong Hua wincing in pain, Yan Hua finally revealed a triumphant smile. "Ah," she said, "Little sister isn't careful when turning around, fortunately I'm standing firmly." After speaking, she provocatively stared at Rong Hua.

  Ronghua's eyes were as clear as autumn water, seeing through to the bottom. She took a step back and smiled apologetically, "It was all my fault for not paying attention." Although there were many maids and servants around who had witnessed everything that just happened, she couldn't afford to have any disputes with Yanhua in the mistress's quarters.

  Yan Hua didn't expect Rong Hua to respond like that, and was taken aback for a moment. Then she thought that Rong Hua must be afraid of conflicting with her, so she smiled complacently and walked out with her head held high.

  At the door, Yanhua turned around and whispered in Ronghua's ear: "Don't think that just because you've pleased Mother for a moment, you can climb over my head. Remember, I've been in this mansion for much longer than you."

  Rong Hua's heart skipped a beat.

  What does Yanhua mean by this? Is she telling her that besides Da Tai Tai, there are other ways to change the final outcome.

  Ronghua couldn't help but look towards the lush foliage in the garden.

  No matter how carefully you calculate, it's hard to avoid unexpected changes.

  At noon, Mrs. was about to have lunch when someone outside said, "Shu Hua is back."

  The hostess was busy adding bowls and chopsticks, and then beckoned to Shu Hua, "Just in time, come over and eat with me."

  Shu Hua smiled and sat down, serving dishes to the elder lady, but she herself didn't touch her chopsticks. Instead, she asked Qiu He to bring over a box of pastries, "The new cook in our house just learned this pattern, specially made for Mother to try."

  The lady took a bite, the crispy outside melted in her mouth, and the filling inside was sweet but not greasy. The lady nodded repeatedly, "It's delicious, how did you come up with these dishes?"

  Shu Hua's face suddenly turned red, "Nothing much, after eating Chun Yao's 'Perfect Peony Cake' last time, I thought of finding someone to make more varieties."

  Mrs. Tai understood Shu Hua's mind, it was because her son-in-law liked it at the time that her daughter would secretly ponder.

  "Well, how is it?" asked Madame with a rather ambiguous tone.

  Shu Hua's face flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she said, "Mother-in-law also said it was delicious."

  The lady coldly said, "With such attention from you, doesn't your husband feel good about it?"

  Shu Hua hastily said, "Not him either, he never liked sweets."

  The lady's face fell, Shu Hua had always been a competitive person, but she never thought that after marrying into the Hou Mansion for so long, she would be suppressed to death, every day thinking about how to please her husband, exhausting all her efforts without seeing any effect.

  Zhao Xuan Huan looked gentle and refined, but no matter what happened, he was always lukewarm, making it impossible to tell what he was really thinking. Shu Hua thought that was just his personality, but if that were true, he wouldn't have had an affair with Rong Hua back then.

  She's afraid that her daughter can't see through her husband's heart and doesn't know how to deal with him, ending up being suppressed for a lifetime.

  If they can't even produce one boy and one girl, it's even more...

  Shu Hua is also someone who doesn't bother with trivial matters...

  Thinking of this, Mrs. Dai also lost her appetite, beckoned to Dongrui and Qiuhua to use it, and pulled Shuhua away to talk.

  "Mother," Shu Hua brought up the serious matter, "I've already given the prescription to my mother-in-law, and she promised me that she would think of a way to get the medicine."

  The lady nodded, this was something she had thought of long ago. After all, in these years, the things that the Yi Cheng Hou Fu had to do, not one of them went against her wishes, it's just that at critical moments, they could be used.

  "Which sister is Mother preparing to take to the Hou estate?"

  The big wife had not spoken yet, and Shu Hua was already smiling and saying: "I think we don't need to pick anyone else, Eighth Sister is a beautiful one."

  The big wife looked at Shu Hua with a glance, and before that, she had not counted it, but now she actually had such an idea.

  Shu Hua said: "After all, she was raised in a different household, and we don't know what she's really like. Yan Hua has been by your side for a long time, so you should know her true nature."

  "Besides, Eighth Sister is born with such a lovely appearance, and entering the Prime Minister's estate will also bring joy to people."

  "Ruihua, have you ever thought that everything should follow the order of seniority? Besides, I think your mother-in-law likes Ruihua a lot."

  Shu Hua said, "What's the harm in making an exception just this once? Besides, there's the example of Second Sister. My mother-in-law only wants someone who looks good; Eighth Sister is no worse than anyone else after she gets dressed up."

  The old lady said, "When Autumn Lotus came, you didn't have any ideas, but today you suddenly do," she paused and continued, "A mother knows her child best, don't discuss everything with her, and consider her feelings more often in your daily life."

  Shu Hua's face fell, "I knew you cared more about her than me."

  The lady pretended to be angry, "It's all because of you, if it weren't for you back then, she wouldn't have had the troubles that followed."

  Shu Hua hurriedly smiled again, "It's me, it's me, all because I was foolish when I was young. Once she recovers, this debt of mine will also be repaid."

  The lady couldn't help but laugh and called out for Chen Mama to come in, "Go, bring Eighth Miss over."

  Chen's mother then went to call Rong Hua.

  Rong Hua was resting on the soft couch, and in a daze, she heard someone talking outside. Just as she sat up, Chun Yao opened the door and came into the room. Seeing that Rong Hua had woken up, he hastily asked Mu Xi to pour tea.

  Ronghua had just finished drinking tea and hadn't even asked a question when Chunyao already said: "The eldest young lady has returned, Dongrui said she came to take the madam to Houye's residence to watch the lantern festival."

  What's destined to come will still come.

  She and Yanhua both knew that whoever the old lady took to the Hou Mansion would be matched with that marriage. The rumors outside were circulating, and the concubine of the Ministry of Justice's mansion was probably not a groundless rumor.

  Just then, a maid outside said: "Madam Chen has arrived."

  Ronghua was busy tidying up her clothes when Chen Mama lifted the curtain and walked in, seeing Ronghua immediately smiled, "Eighth Miss, Madam asked me to call you over."

  Madam Chen's expression was quite meaningful, and with the atmosphere in the mansion over the past two days, even the maids who didn't understand what was going on couldn't help but sense that something was amiss.

  Mugwort's face has changed.