Chapter 8: People Must Wear Clothes

  Lan'er led the way, turning her head to say to Xue Lengyu, "You don't have to be so formal, our princess is different from other masters. She's very kind and never beats or scolds us servants, she rarely loses her temper. As long as you behave yourself properly, the princess won't make things difficult for you."

  "Lingyu hasn't seen many scenes, so please, Sister Lan'er, give her more advice." Xue Lengyu said respectfully.

  The county official is not as good as the current manager. If he doesn't please the group of maids around the princess, even if the princess thinks highly of him, he still won't have a good life.

  Besides, it's better to be careful when you're new here. If you're not careful and make a mistake, the punishment won't be worth it. Xue Lengyu is after all a modern person, although he may not have such deep schemes, he definitely wouldn't be a blank sheet of paper either.

  "Call me Lan'er, no need for the 'sister' this and that. In this palace, we're all around the same age. We'll all be in the queen's chambers, so it's inevitable that we'll have to support each other in the future, don't be so distant."

  Xian Lan had already spoken to such an extent, and Xue Leng Yu felt that if she saw him again, it would seem as though she was looking down on others. She smiled and said: "Since you've said so, I can rest assured now. To be honest, I originally just wanted to work as a rough maid in the Wang household to supplement my family's income, but unexpectedly I was assigned to the Wang Fei's quarters. I was worried that my clumsiness would cause trouble, but seeing how gentle and approachable you all are, I feel like my good fortune for the past decade has all come out today."

  Lan'er saw Xue Lengyu not saying anything, but once she started talking, she went on and on. She thought to herself that this was also a straightforward and outgoing girl, who had just been quiet due to being in a new place. People like her were the most innocent and carefree, and Lan'er couldn't help but smile: "Earlier I saw you looking so stiff and worried that you might be dull, thinking that it would be boring for sisters to live together. But now that I've heard you speak, I feel at ease."

  Xue Lengyu thought for a moment, then smiled and said: "Lan'er, I haven't been out much before, now that I've entered the Wang Fu, I don't know what to do either. Are there any taboos or things I should be careful about? Please tell me carefully so I won't make mistakes."

  Lan'er pushed the door open while saying, "Actually, we don't have that many things to do. It's just following behind the princess every day, serving tea and water, massaging her waist and legs, chatting with the princess to pass the time. If the princess needs anything, she'll just give a shout. As for preparations, there are people in charge of those things."

  "That's nothing," Xue Lengyu said: "Do you have a holiday?"

  "Holiday?" Lan'er didn't understand.

  "It's just a rest." Xue Lengyu said: "For example, two people take turns on duty every day, and the others are off."

  Lan'er covered her mouth and smiled, saying: "From now on, don't mention this again. How could there be anything... anything like that? Even if nothing happens, we'll still follow the princess and attend to her daily needs."

  Xue Lengyu hastily said: "I know, I just don't understand, so I'll just ask casually."

  Lan'er said kindly: "If you don't understand anything, just ask us directly, but don't dare to talk nonsense outside."

  "I understand." Xue Lengyu said: "Thank you Lan'er for pointing it out."

  As they spoke, Lan'er had already led Xue Lengyu into the house, opened the cabinet inside, and picked out a light purple long shirt. She turned her head to Xue Lengyu and said: "You take a look, do you like this dress? Since you came in a hurry, there was no time to make new ones. Although it's my old one, I haven't worn it much. If you don't mind, try changing into it. Tomorrow, let the tailor come to the mansion and take your measurements to make new ones."

  "No need, no need." Xue Lengyu hastily waved her hand: "This is quite good. I'm just a maid, where do I need special clothes?"

  "But you are a maid in the princess's house." Lan'er said: "Our comings and goings in the mansion represent the princess's face. If we wear tattered clothes, then the princess will also lose face."

  "So that's how it is." Xue Lengyu heard Lan'er say this, and naturally didn't know what else to say, so she honestly took the clothes from Lan'er's hand and went behind the screen to change. Fortunately, when she was at home, she had carefully studied how to wear these layered clothes, otherwise, she would have made a big fool of herself.

  Even a noble lady who extends her hand for food won't be unable to wear clothes, will she?

  After changing her clothes, Lan'er re-styled her hair and put on a jade hairpin for her. She lightly applied some makeup and only then carefully examined herself.

  Xue Lengyu felt a bit embarrassed under Lan'er's gaze, this was just being a maid in the Wang Manor, how did it become like going to a beauty pageant.

  Lan'er pulled Xue Lengyu's hand and turned around, laughing: "Indeed, you are a national beauty, Lengyu. If you dress up carefully, you will be more beautiful than some princesses in the Wangfu."

  Xue Lengyu was shocked, this Lan'er should have been in the Wang Fu for some time and should know what can be said and what cannot be said. How could she say such words that seem to be treasonous?

  "Lan Er." Xue Lengyu looked around left and right, fortunately there was no one else nearby, so he said in a low voice: "This kind of thing can't be said."

  Lan'er saw Xue Lengyu so tense, and instead smiled: "Don't be afraid, this is just us talking privately, it's nothing. Besides, the princess is a tolerant person, otherwise she wouldn't have shown you such an approving expression earlier."

  As for the queen's expression, Xue Lengyu had a knot in her heart that she couldn't untie, so she asked: "Lan'er, I have something on my mind that's puzzling me, and I'd like to ask you about it."

  "Go on," said Lan'er.

  Xue Lengyu said: "Just now when I saw the queen, she asked me if I could read and write, and then seemed very satisfied with my answer. But, Lan'er, I'll say something that shouldn't be said - isn't it true that in this era, a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent? As servants, we just need to serve people well, what does the queen need me to understand these things for?"

  Lan'er was taken aback for a moment, and stammered: "We women are not judged by our talent, it's just that having talent is rare. The princess loves talented people, she knows your family is poor but you can still learn on your own, so she naturally sympathizes with you even more. Besides, we were all raised in the mansion since childhood and didn't have the opportunity to learn literature or recognize characters. Now that you've arrived, it's not a bad thing for the princess's household."

  This was said in the past, Xue Lengyu didn't think much about it and nodded.

  "Go, go take a look at Wang Fei." Lan Er pulled Xue Leng Yu's hand and headed out.

  Xue Lengyu had no choice, although her heart was still a little nervous, she could only follow Lan'er into the princess's room again.