Chapter 45: The Chaotic Party (Part 1)

  Mrs. Cai asked Yao Hua again, "What do you usually like?"

  Yao Hua smiled and replied: "Just reading books, writing some couplets, occasionally playing chess with sisters."

  Sisters playing chess? Ronghua's smile deepened, truly knowledgeable and reasonable, getting along harmoniously with family members. Mrs. Cai dislikes Shuhua's arrogant and overbearing personality, she will definitely like the second miss's gentle and virtuous nature.

  Mrs. Cai's expression was indeed very satisfied, "When I was young, I also liked these things, and I didn't understand anything about women's redology."

  Everyone laughed at this point.

  Mrs. Dai said: "It's Mrs. Cai being modest."

  Mrs. Cai was invited by the hostess to the flower house, where she busied herself serving tea and water. Mrs. Cai and the hostess sat down together, with Yohua sitting on their right. Yanhua also joined them, but found it hard to join in the conversation. Even when she personally served water and fruit to Mrs. Cai, all she got was a faint word of praise. Yanhua's face gradually fell.

  After all, she is a legitimate miss, and this alone makes her incomparable to anyone else.

  Rong Hualuo was drinking tea on the side.

  There is this kind of person who always pays extra attention to things they like.

  Mrs. Cai repeatedly praised Yao Hua, "After all, she was raised in a scholarly family and is different from others." Yao Hua sat upright with her shining eyes gentle and kind, her demeanor exuding the elegance of a noble lady.

  Her pretty face turned red, she lowered her head and smiled.

  The lady sipped her tea and said, "Yesterday I went to the mansion, but the mistress was not at home."

  Mrs. Cai recalled the storm of last night, although she felt uncomfortable in her heart, but did not show it on her face, "I knew that my aunt would come, I would have stayed at home."

  Mrs. Dai said: "I'm also worried about Shu Hua, so I'll go take a look."

  Mrs. Cai echoed in agreement: "Why can't we parents understand this principle, always being worried and anxious."

  The lady nodded and smiled.

  Mrs. Cai said: "When I came over today, Shu Hua was resting, so I didn't disturb her. Now that she's recovering well, it's a blessing for all of us."

  The lady was even more grateful to Mrs. Chai.

  Rong Hua deliberately looked at Yao Hua beside him.

  Yao Hua lowered her head to blow away the tea leaves in the teacup, and her fan-shaped eyelashes covered down, making it impossible for people to see her expression.

  Yao Hua's expression... just mentioning her sister, why be so cautious, as if afraid of being seen through by others, Rong Hua's heart skipped a beat, and she shifted her gaze.

  It's been a while again, and it's already noon, but there is still no one coming to report any news about the second house or the third house.

  Tao Lao Ye had gone to the Ministry of Revenue early in the morning. The elder lady ordered someone to inform the master and see if he would send someone else to ask again.

  The half-bowl of tea's work, the little servant who had just been sent out stumbled back to the mansion, found Master Cui's words and said them again, Master Cui's face was also pale and hurriedly went to the flower house.

  Choi Jae-shin's family rushed in at once and hastily replied, "The great lady is no good, she's no good."

  Madam's face changed instantly, and Mrs. Cai and the other ladies also looked towards Chui's house. It was still Yao Hua who said: "What's going on? Can't you see there are honored guests here?"

  Choi's family finally calmed down, although they remained silent, still shaken, and looked at everyone in the flower house for a long time without saying a word.

  Mrs. Dai said: "Madam Cai is not an outsider, just say what you want!"

  Chui's servant said, "Just now that little fellow came back with a message from the old master... saying that something might happen in the capital... asking Madame to close the gate tightly and summon all the guards in the mansion... The second house and third house, the old master will think of ways to investigate."

  Choi Jae's words were incoherent, but in his flustered state, he still managed to reveal nearly half of the story, and everyone who heard it had a change of expression.

  Madam calmed down and asked, "Did Master say what it was all about?"

  Choi Jae's family was shocked to hear the news, and they lost their composure. The young servant's words only half-registered in their minds, while the other half slipped away, impossible to recall.

  The lady looked at Cui's family and thought to herself, "Go and bring that little fellow in for questioning."

  Choi Jae-sa's household servant was called by his master.

  Yao Hua, Yan Hua and Rong Hua hid behind the screen.

  The little servant came in. The mistress was busy asking: "What did your master say? Tell me carefully."

  Xiao Shuai said: "I just left the gate, and I met Leng Guan Jia who was following Master. Leng Guan Jia was going back to report to the mansion. He only said that Master ordered Eldest Madam to close the gate tightly and call out all the guards in the mansion." The servant asked again, "What's going on? I'll go back and tell Madam too."

  The cold pipe master whispered: "It's possible that the seventh prince of the previous dynasty is stirring up trouble in Kyoto with the remnants of the previous dynasty, and now the surrounding areas are already in chaos. The court is sending troops to suppress it. Other cold pipe masters don't know either."

  Could it be that the second and third houses are late because of this? The mistress's heart panicked, suddenly feeling dizzy, and Cai's wife's face had also changed.

  "I've long heard that someone was impersonating the Seventh Prince of the previous dynasty... During the previous emperor's time, there were several waves of unrest," said Mrs. Cai, her face alternating between light and dark, pausing before turning to look at the Eldest Lady, "Wasn't that Seventh Prince already caught and beheaded? How could another one suddenly appear now? It's probably someone falsely using the name of a remnant of the previous dynasty..."

  Mrs. Cai stood up and said, "Auntie, if this is true, I have to leave now. The master and Xuanhuan are not in the mansion, and I really can't rest assured."

  Mrs. Chai's calm voice finally calmed down, "How can that be, now the outside is probably chaotic, from here to the Hou Mansion there is still a distance, what if we encounter rebels?"

  Mrs. Cai was calm, "The news has just been released. It won't be chaotic yet, the lady of the house should make preparations early, especially the women in the inner courtyard, they must protect themselves well, those rebels may do something out of line."

  Madam Chai's mind was made up, and further persuasion would be of no use. So she said: "Let me ask what the situation is outside, and Madam Chai can make arrangements again. If it's really as you guessed, I'll bring a few more guards to escort us back to the mansion."

  Mrs. Cai nodded.

  The lady was busy and told the young servant to go make arrangements.

  Yao Hua, Yan Hua and Rong Hua came out from behind the screen.

  The mistress said: "You all heard what I just said, later you will each return to your rooms and take care of the maids inside. Without my permission, no one is allowed to come out. In case..." The mistress's face was gloomy, she sighed and didn't speak again.

  Ronghua understood what the madam meant. If there really were bandits who broke in, how could the safety of the mansion be guaranteed with just a few house guards?

  Yan Hua was already frightened pale, while Yao Hua simply lowered her eyes in thought.

  Madam Cai comforted him on the side, "Those remnants of the previous dynasty and rebellious parties have risen up many times before, but each time they were quickly suppressed by the imperial court."

  "Even if there's chaos outside, the mansion must not be chaotic," said Yao Hua. "There are many examples of disasters that originated from within the mansion, using external excuses."

  Mrs. Cai couldn't help but take another two glances at Yao Hua, nodding repeatedly in praise, "The second young lady is right, that's exactly the reason."

  While speaking, another servant from the Cui family came in and said: "All the stewards in the mansion have been called to the mistress's courtyard, waiting for her instructions." After glancing at Mrs. Cai, he continued: "There are many officials and soldiers outside, and the streets are in chaos. It may not be safe to leave the mansion now."

  Mrs. Tai looked at Mrs. Tsai.

  Mrs. Cai frowned and said, "It doesn't matter. I'd better go back to the mansion as soon as possible to feel at ease." She then wanted to take the maids by her side and leave together.

  Just before leaving, I suddenly thought of it, "The second house and the third house are also worried about their relatives, aren't they? Aren't they with Madame Anguo together? When Madame Anguo leaves the capital, there won't be fewer guards around her. Hearing that there is a rebellion, not entering the city to avoid the wind is also possible."

  The old lady also hoped so, and immediately clasped her hands together: "Now we can only pray for the heavens to bless us."

  To ensure safety, Mrs. Cai did not use the Marquis's carriage and instead changed to an inconspicuous one, bringing a few guards to hurry to the Marquis's residence.

  The lady of the house returned to the mansion, immediately ordering the large gate to be locked and bolted, with strict instructions that it was not to be opened without her permission. She also summoned several trusted servants to guard the entrance, before instructing Yaohua, Yanhua, and Ronghua to return to their respective quarters. Only then did she enter a three-room pavilion within the mansion and sit down, summoning several reliable elderly women from the household to come over. "I won't hide it from you," she said, "there are indeed bandits causing trouble outside. Although the imperial court will quell the disturbance in no time, we must still take precautions. If those rioters were to break into our mansion, what would become of our female family members? I have always trusted you, and at this critical moment, no one is allowed to slack off. As long as we are prepared, both masters and servants can ensure their safety."

  The women were all frightened and didn't dare say much, just agreeing, but still united.

  The old ladies went down, and the mistress allowed the steward of the house to come in. Leng's steward was not in the house, so the mistress let Huo's steward stand at the front to listen. "I suppose you all know that Master has returned with some news, just do as Master said, and guard the several gates of the house well."

  "Madam, rest assured. The Tao family has always been kind to us common people. When they need our services, we must not fail them, even if it costs us our lives." His face was full of sincerity.

  Huo Chong was a born servant, his father was originally the steward of the Tao Mansion, and he had always been diligent and conscientious. Huo Chong was also honest and capable, just like his father. After his father's death, he was promoted to be the steward in just a few years. The mistress knew that Huo Chong was reliable, so she entrusted everything to him.

  Huo rushed off to make arrangements and soon had everyone assigned.

  The lady asked the person who had just gone out to gather information again, and that person said: "The rumors outside are not only the remnants of the previous dynasty, but also the deputy general brought by General Jianwei, who rebelled on the outside, and responded internally and externally, resulting in today's disaster."

  The lady's heart grew even colder.

  It's late tonight because I went out and played, sweating.

  Played Three Kingdoms kill paper card game, unknowingly time has passed, hey, really quite fun, like the previous killing game.