Chapter 37: Probe (Part 2)

  Ronghua wanted to let Jinxiu go make a cup of tea, just called out Jinxiu's name, Jinxiu suddenly trembled and accidentally pricked her finger with the embroidery needle.

  Mugun exclaimed and hurried to look at Jinxiu's fingers, but Jinxiu seemed to have lost her soul and didn't feel the pain, staring blankly as a drop of blood slowly seeped out from her fingertip.

  Ronghua looked at Jinxiu deeply and asked, "What's going on today?"

  Jinxiu shook her head, smiling awkwardly, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about something and lost track of time, so..."

  "Is there something going on at home?"

  Jinxiu shook her head again, "No."

  Ronghua nodded, "If there's anything difficult at home, just tell me." She put away the needle and thread in her hand, got down from the soft couch, and let Mugui call Yaya over to take off her hair.

  Suddenly, Ronghua looked at Jinxiu in the mirror and saw that Jinxiu's face had changed under the candlelight. "I'll go talk to my mother about this in the next few days. Since you're already a second-class maid here, your monthly allowance should be increased."

  Jinxiu heard this and hurried over to thank Ronghua.

  Ronghua smiled and Jinxiu went to make Ronghua's bed and serve her without mentioning anything else.

  Who would have thought that Rong Hua had just finished speaking, and the next day a housekeeper from the mansion came to find Jinxiu. "Miss, you were previously in Madame's room, receiving the monthly allowance of a third-class maid. Now that you've moved to Eighth Miss's side, it was agreed when you transferred that you would be a second-class maid, so your monthly allowance will also increase. The elder madame said that your family is not well-off, and last month's allowance will also be supplemented for you." As she spoke, she handed the silver money over to Jinxiu.

  Jinxiu must have told the eighth young lady, who in turn told Madame. Smiling, she put away the silver and sent off the housekeeper, just as she was about to enter the house, when someone called out to her.

  Jinxiu turned her head and saw Chuxiao walking over from beside the bamboo forest.

  Xiao Xiao smiled and took a few steps forward, blinking her eyes as if hinting at something. "Jinxiu, your monthly allowance has increased, right? Last month's allowance should also be given to you."

  Jinxiu was startled in her heart and only then realized it was actually Second Miss.

  After Zuo Xiao left, Jinxiu felt even more uneasy. She spent the morning in a daze and in the afternoon, her sister-in-law came to find her again. "Your parents' illness has improved a lot. It was the second young lady who asked the doctor from the mansion to take a look. Your brother also found work in the mansion."

  Jinxiu's heart was racing nonstop, "Brother, aren't you going to work outside anymore?"

  Jinxiu's sister-in-law smiled and said, "Forget it, anyway we won't make much money."

  Jinxiu hesitated for a moment before speaking, "If you don't work outside and the household doesn't need you in the future, how will your family make a living?"

  Jinxiu's sister-in-law was taken aback, her face changed in an instant, but after looking at Jinxiu again, she smiled and said, "The girl is already a second-class maid in the eighth miss's room, what am I afraid of? Besides, these maids were all found by the second miss to help out, who would dare to replace them?" After finishing speaking, she handed something to Jinxiu and told her to go thank the second miss.

  Jinxiu thought for half a day, then took something to the second miss's residence. Chu Xiao came out and looked at what was in her hand, smiling, "The second miss said it last time, you don't have to be so polite, this time you brought things again, I won't help you pass them on." As she spoke, her eyes sank and she smiled reproachfully, "Otherwise, the second miss will say that I accepted your gift and scold me again. I'm troubled for nothing and still not pleasing."

  Jinxiu was about to say some pleasant words to coax Chu Xiao.

  "This time you send it in yourself!"

  Jinxiu followed Chu Xiao into the second miss's room, as soon as she entered the door, Jinxiu smelled a faint scent of ink, outside the warm pavilion hung a pale green glass curtain, on which several golden bells were hanging, and when the wind blew, they made a tinkling sound.

  Jinxiu thought that Chuxiao would lead her into the warm pavilion, but who knew that Chuxiao smiled and said: "The second young lady has almost recovered from her illness and is now writing in the outer room."

  Jinxiu followed Chu Xiao over to take a look.

  The second young lady was indeed sitting properly at her desk, holding a pen and writing something.

  Jinxiu was still visiting Yao Hua's house for the first time, and on Yao Hua's desk there was a treasure inkstone, with various pens inserted in the pen holder. On the wall behind the desk hung two water-ink paintings, one of which Jinxiu recognized as the one that Eighth Miss had asked her to deliver a few days ago.

  The second young lady finished writing the letter in front of her and only then looked up to see Jinxiu immediately put down her pen and smiled warmly, "Jinxiu is here."

  Jinxiu hurried forward with a smile and said: "I'm disturbing Second Miss from writing."

  The second young lady turned her head to look at the calligraphy on the table and said, "Just copy the Filial Piety Classic."

  Although Second Miss spoke lightly, Jinxiu's heart couldn't help but knot up - what was Second Miss reminding her of?

  Jinxiu bowed and thanked her, "Thank you, Second Miss, for taking care of the people in our household, especially my parents. My sister has already told me that if it weren't for your sending a doctor over, my parents' illness would have been beyond hope."

  Second Miss smiled and said, "What are you talking about? I was born into this kind of family, and I got this illness. Usually, I just stay in the house, and when I hear that you have some difficulties, I can help a bit if I can. It's just a few sisters and these personal maids of yours, others I also can't take care of."

  "You're working in the government, isn't it just to ask for a better life at home? This is also considered fulfilling one's filial duties," Second Miss said with clear eyes and a smile that made people feel like they were basking in spring breeze. "If there's anything difficult in the future, come find me, and don't be polite anymore."

  The second young lady and Jinxiu chatted for a while longer, all about trivial matters.

  It was when Chū Xiǎo saw Jǐn Xiù off that she said a lot of things, Chū Xiǎo is not young anymore, if she hadn't been sold to the mansion as a maid, she should have gotten married long ago.

  "For a maid like us, although we are now serving by our master's side, sooner or later we will also have a place to go."

  The maidservants in the mansion are all sold into lifelong servitude and will have no say in their future.

  At the beginning of dawn, there was a thick haze in her eyebrows. "Do you still remember Ziying from the second house?"

  Chu Xiao said so, Jinxiu seemed to have an impression.

  Ziying of the Second House, "Is she the senior maid of the Second Master?"

  Xiao Dao said: "It's not like that. That girl relied on the second master being inseparable from her, and she didn't put Second Madam in her eyes at all. As a result, she was sold to Toothless Granny by Second Madam."

  Jinxiu couldn't help but be shocked.

  "It's better to be expelled from the mansion, but if Ya Po sells it...". Chu Xiao said: "Ziying looks quite clever, how can't she figure out who is in charge of this mansion, and yet she makes such a mistake."

  Jinxiu's face had changed color upon hearing this, her thoughts seemed heavy, and her eyes were unfocused as if she was thinking about something.

  At first sight, when the time was ripe, he pointed to the pavilion next door and smiled: "Let's go sit there!"

  Jinxiu and Chuxiao sat down, and Chuxiao asked tentatively, "How does Eighth Miss treat you?"

  Jinxiu nodded, "Eighth Miss is kind to people and never makes things difficult for others."

  Xiao Xiao smiled slightly, "Recently, there have been so many rumors in the mansion that someone from Wang Shangshu's family came to propose a marriage, but Eighth Miss hasn't made any moves?"

  After some deliberation, Jinxiu tightened her handkerchief and spoke in a strained tone, "Good sister, I'm currently in such a predicament that there are things I cannot say. I'll only tell you one thing, Eighth Miss is going to marry into the Yi Cheng Hou Mansion."

  Xiao was shocked at once.

  After a while, Jinxiu returned to Miss Ba's place, and Chuxiao also went back to Miss Er's room.

  Xiao entered the house and sent the other maids away, then whispered to Second Miss: "Miss guessed correctly, this Eighth Miss is indeed heading for Yi Cheng Hou Fu. Otherwise, how would Jinxiu know so clearly?" She then repeated Jinxiu's words verbatim.

  Yao Hua's eyes changed slightly after hearing Chu Xiao's words.

  "If I really marry into the Marquis's household in the future, who knows what tricks I'll have to resort to..."

  Xiao didn't hear anything else after that, and thought to herself: If Miss Ronghua really marries Zhao Xuanhu in the future, just her name alone would be enough to remind him of past events. Although this person is not that person, it's inevitable that some emotions will be transferred, and he'll show more affection.

  Shu Hua and Zhao Xuan Huan were originally at odds with each other, but the emotions in Zhao Xuan Huan's heart might just be transferred to Eighth Miss, forming a good marriage that outsiders would envy.

  The maid brought the medicine, Yuhua shook her head and didn't drink it. Chu Xiao took over the medicine and let the maid retreat, then persuaded: "Miss doesn't need to think too much, as long as she takes good care of her body, Eighth Miss is just a concubine-born daughter, no matter how hard she tries, it's just that."

  Yao Hua sighed, "Do you think I'm worried about myself? All these years, I've been ill but still had to worry about the affairs of the mansion, it's just that..." She started coughing as she spoke.

  Xiao Xiao hurriedly put down the medicine and went to pat Yu Hua's back.

  "I'm worried about my sister, afraid that the person mother chooses will be too much for her to handle in the future. If I recover from this illness, then it's all good; if not, I'll probably only have a few more years left anyway, and by then, whether or not she can let go won't matter anymore."

  "Miss, miss, you can't say that. Miss, as long as you rest well, this illness will definitely get better."

  Yao Hua took a few deep breaths, half-reclining on the couch, "Last time you told me to help Sixth Sister speak up for herself, I actually agree with Sixth Sister. Although Sixth Sister is spoiled and pampered every day, she doesn't have any ulterior motives in her heart. Having been by Mother's side all these years, she should understand what's going on. It's not like Eighth Sister who just entered the manor, Mother handled this matter a bit too hastily."

  Miss said so, but now it's already like this.

  Yao Hua let out a sigh and drank her medicine before lying down.

  Later, Mrs. Dai brought Dongrui to see Yao Hua. As soon as Mrs. Dai arrived at the door, Chu Xiao hurriedly went forward to greet her.

  The big wife saw that Chuxiao's face was not as happy as in the past few days, so she asked, "What's wrong today?"

  Xiao Zhaosheng replied truthfully, "I haven't even eaten, I've been lying down since noon today and still haven't gotten up."

  The lady's face changed, "How can this be? Weren't you fine just yesterday? What happened today?"

  Chu Xiao wanted to speak, but Yao Hua woke up instead, "Is Mother here?"

  Xiao's words were abruptly suppressed, and the madam's gaze sank, her mind already racing with calculations. She shifted her line of sight and regained her usual smile before entering the house.

  Mrs. Dai knew that Yaohua's illness required a lot of rest, but now looking at Yaohua's appearance, with red eyes, slightly furrowed eyebrows, and a pale face, she could tell that although she had been lying down for a long time, she certainly hadn't fallen asleep.

  The lady smiled and asked, "How did you feel after taking the medicine today? Is it better than usual?"

  Yao Hua smiled slightly, "It's a bit better." She didn't say anything else, but after thinking for a long time, she asked anxiously, "How is it on Eldest Sister's side? Has Mother sent someone to ask about the situation at the Marquis' residence again? Has Autumn Lotus sent back any news through someone?"

  The lady knew that Yao Hua was worried about Shu Hua's situation, but she didn't want her to worry too much, so she quickly said: "It's all right, it's all right. Your elder sister is just being taken care of and will be fine after a while. I didn't want to tell you these things because I was afraid that if you knew about them, you would worry."

  Yao Hua nodded, "Mother said so, I'm relieved too." After saying this, she seemed to want to say something but hesitated, as if there was more to say.

  The lady looked at Yohua with a frown, and her hesitant expression couldn't help but feel distressed. She advised Yohua to prioritize her own well-being before leaving.

  Back in the house, Chen's mother called over Chiu Xiao who was beside Yao Hua and asked.

  Zi Xiao didn't want to say it, but Second Miss has already told him, this matter is not easy to talk about.

  The lady asked loudly: "What can't be said?"

  Xiao Zhen was hesitating and just about to speak.

  "Dong Rui came in and said: 'Madam, Eighth Miss has arrived.'"

  Sweat, where did all the characters I typed go?...

  Still have to continue writing...