Chapter 3 Entering the Mansion (Part 2)

  Living in the mansion, Madam would definitely find a trusted person to monitor her first. Ronghua knew several people whom Madam trusted, and during this period outside the mansion, she had made sufficient preparations.

  Everyone has weaknesses, and she also found them after a long time...

  Everything is going as planned, the madam sent Chunyao over. This little girl has been raised by the madam since she was young and isn't easy to control, so for now they can only use some methods to temporarily stabilize her, other things... will have to be done step by step later on.

  Rong Hua sipped her tea while gazing outside, "It seems lively out there."

  "Yes, the young lady and her husband are coming back."

  Ronghua pretended to be ignorant, "I heard Auntie mention before that Eldest Sister married very well."

  "Speaking of which, Chunyao was very pleased,"That's natural, Guniang not only has a good family life, but also treats Miss well. After being married for several years, there is only one elder and younger sister by her side."Chunyao gradually became envious,"Our elder and younger sisters are so lucky in life, with such good fortune."

  Just as Chunyao finished speaking, she heard someone walking into the courtyard. She lifted the curtain to take a look and found it was Jinxiu, who had been serving by Madame's side for less time than Chunyao. Jinxiu was very respectful to Chunyao, addressing her as "young lady" in every sentence. After saying a few words, she stood aside, waiting for Chunyao's instructions.

  Chun Yao walked over to Rong Hua's side, "Eighth Miss, the eldest miss wants to eat the pastries I made, and Madam has called me over for a moment."

  Seeing Ronghua nod, Chunyao continued, "Jinxiau is also very thoughtful. If Eighth Miss has something to do, she will instruct her to do it. I have already instructed the people below to send the meal into the house today. Whatever Miss wants to eat, just tell Jinxiau and she will instruct the kitchen to make it."

  The young lady returned to her mother's home, and no one could take care of this newly arrived concubine-born miss. To put it nicely, they took care of her by sending food into the room, but to be frank, they didn't want her to attend the family banquet that night, fearing she wouldn't know the rules and would make a fool of herself.

  Chun Yao hastily walked out, and Jin Xiu, who was standing beside her, slightly let out a breath of relief. Her shoulders, which had been held up high, unconsciously drooped down. She was originally not in the good books of the mistress, so she usually acted with caution, afraid of making any mistakes.

  Ronghua's luggage had not been unpacked yet, and Jinxiu was busy helping to put things away. In her eyes, every young lady was a master, and her duty was to serve them all well.

  Ronghua looked at Jinxiu, who was busy beside her. This girl was honest and diligent, and had a bit of QiQi's shadow. If QiQi hadn't followed the wrong master, she wouldn't have ended up in that situation. Now that she had been reborn, Ronghua wondered if QiQi had already reincarnated.

  After Jinxiu finished her work, Ronghua called her over to have tea together. "How long has it been since you entered the manor?"

  "It's been some years too."

  "Always by her mother's side?"

  "Not really, I just called him back recently."

  Miss Ba didn't put on any airs, and Jinxiu relaxed a bit, chatting more freely. At noon, the dishes were served, and Jinxiu said from the side: "The eldest miss has returned, the kitchen is busy, even our cook was called over to help out, so the meal can't be helped but simple. Miss, please have a taste, if it's not good enough, I'll go call the cook back to redo some dishes."

  Ronghua found it somewhat strange that the Tao Manor was not an ordinary manor, and there were quite a few guests coming and going at ordinary times. There were dozens of people in just one large kitchen, yet they still weren't enough.

  Jinxiu said: "Mainly because I'm afraid Master Gūn won't be used to the food in the mansion, so I called a few cooks over to make some of his favorite dishes."

  "The last time Master was in the mansion, he didn't eat much. Madame called Chunyao over for the same reason."

  "Chunyao girl makes a good dessert, Miss can let Chunyao make some for you to try later."

  He doesn't like eating things from the mansion, some things haven't changed over the years.

  She had long been aware that things were no longer the same, and the past had already become a fleeting illusion. Unexpectedly, when she mentioned him, it still gave her a dazed feeling.

  She thought he would keep his promise.

  Even if I were to marry, I would not marry a legitimate daughter from the Tao family.

  Ronghua's fingers slid over the delicate floral pattern on the tea bowl.

  She always wants them to know that things obtained at the cost of human lives not only cannot last long, but also bring unspeakable suffering.

  Before dinner, Chun Yao Hong walked into the house with red eyes. She was originally happy to prepare snacks, but didn't expect that the eldest sister would pick on her for not doing well. After the eldest sister got married and left the Tao residence, everything she ate and used was a notch higher than before. Now, eating what Chun Yao Hong had made, it was naturally unaccustomed.

  The master is unhappy, and it's normal to take it out on someone else. Chun Yao thought so, but still felt wronged in his heart. He had already adjusted his emotions as much as possible outside, but didn't expect to be seen through by Eighth Miss.

  "What's wrong? Didn't you handle the matter properly?"

  Chun Yao nodded, "It's been a while since I've done it, and my hands are rusty."

  There was a hint of discontent flashing in Chun Yao's eyes.

  Ronghua flipped through a few pages of the book, seemingly unintentionally, "In the past, my mother had hired a cook, she made a kind of pastry that was very delicious and its shape was also very distinctive, it's said that she used to be a servant for the royal family."

  Chun Yao indeed became interested and raised his head to look at Rong Hua, "I don't know what kind of pastry it is."

  Rong Hua put down the book, smiled and said: "The shape is ten peony flowers, from the bud to full bloom, each piece of pastry is a blooming shape, just looking at it is special, the filling inside is also particular..." Rong Hua paused, Chun Yao was already enchanted.

  "Why don't you try doing it?"

  Chun Yao couldn't hide his delight, "If Eighth Miss is willing to teach me, it's naturally good. I'm just afraid that I'll be too stupid and won't learn."

  Rong Hua said: "One look at you and I can tell you're a skilled person, this isn't difficult at all. If you make it well, bring some to the young lady to try."

  Chun Yao did not disappoint her, and the pastries she brought out were almost identical to those in Rong Hua's memory.

  Ten flowers, each one made with great delicacy.

  Rong Hua nodded, and Chun Yao happily took it away to give to Big Sister.

  The big sister will definitely like it after taking a look, this dish of dim sum will be placed on the family dinner at night, and then the uncle will see it.

  He probably didn't think he would see such a pastry again.

  This dessert was thought up by Rong Hua to trick Chun Yao. It wasn't something the kitchen maid made for her to eat, but rather a plan she and Qi Qi came up with.

  That day she was in the house drawing a picture of "Flowers Blooming and Becoming Rich", Qi Qi wanted to make some exquisite pastries for her to eat, she gave Qi Qi an idea, "Why not use flowers as a model and make something new and unusual."

  Qī Qī's hands were also skilled, and she actually followed her instructions, making a dish that looked exactly like the one described.

  Qiqi said: "The name of the dim sum is called 'Flowers Bloom and Prosper'?"

  She thought the name was not good and too pretentious, "Ten flowers, let's just call it Ten Perfection!"

  She met him later on.

  By the pond, they met by chance. He was handsome and elegant, gentle as a spring breeze, mixed with warm tenderness, which made her heart skip a beat.

  He is the kind of wonderful person she imagined.

  "I'm just a bastard..."

  He smiled at her, "I thought you weren't that kind of ordinary person."

  If it weren't for her promise, she wouldn't have risked meeting him again and again.

  He also couldn't get used to the dishes at the banquet, she remembered those dim sum, and quietly made a plate with QiQi in the evening.

  Perfect and beautiful, she originally wanted to take advantage of the good luck of this name, they will eventually have a perfect and beautiful ending.

  Rong Hua smiled.

  But she had too high an expectation, after all, it was just ten dumplings, how could they live up to the name of "perfect and flawless".

  Ronghua was lost in memories of the past when Chunyao came back.

  "By the way, miss, I forgot to ask, what's the name of this pastry?"

  "Perfect and flawless."

  Chun Yao smiled, "This name is good."

  "Yes, it's a good name. The young lady and her husband will definitely like it."

  He had probably forgotten about what happened before, so she helped him recall it slowly.

  The family banquet began, and the whole mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with excitement.

  Miss Ba's house was like a forgotten corner.

  "Jinxiu, let's go out for a walk."

  The garden is extremely large and has been expanded by more than double compared to when Ronghua was in the mansion a few years ago. The Tao family has indeed become much wealthier with the marriage of their eldest daughter.

  Unconsciously walked to the former residence.

  "Miss Ba, you can't go over there." Jinxiu hastily stopped her.

  Rong Hua pretended to be curious, "Why?"

  Jinxiu hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up, "That was actually the fifth young lady's house. After she passed away, no one has gone there again." There were already rumors circulating that the house was haunted. Later on, some idle chatter emerged, saying that the fifth young lady had died under mysterious circumstances. Whenever she walked past this place, she would hurry by, not even daring to glance at it, fearing she might see something unclean. As the gossip grew more frequent, the elderly mistress forbade anyone from mentioning the courtyard again, and no one was allowed to enter.

  "It's evening again, it's eerie. Eighth Miss, let's go back!"

  Ronghua smiled, "I didn't feel it just now, but since you mentioned it, I really do feel a chill behind me," Ronghua deliberately looked around the garden with an air of not having had enough fun, "I want to go take a look somewhere else, can you help me go back and get my cloak?"

  Jinxiu saw that Miss Ba was in a good mood, so she didn't dare say anything more and had to settle Ronghua in a pavilion before hurrying back.

  Ronghua gazed at Jinxiu's figure fading into the distance, then turned and walked towards that abandoned courtyard.

  The yard had been deserted for a long time, with weeds growing everywhere. When Ronghua pushed open the door, a wave of dust smell rushed out.

  Most of the things in the house have been taken away, and what's left is all messed up.

  Ronghua walked into the inner room, lifted up several green bricks under the bed, and found a brown box inside. She opened it, revealing clothes inside.

  She reached in and felt around, her clothes were still okay.

  I wonder what he would think if he saw this dress? He will be even more surprised than tonight.

  Or he would believe in the transmigration of souls.

  Ronghua smiled slightly and closed the box. She was about to walk out of the room when she suddenly heard someone shouting in a trembling voice from the courtyard, "Eighth Miss, are you here?"