Chapter 64: Qiao Xiangyue Eagerly Expresses Her Loyalty (Seeking Pink Tickets)

  Finally can post by myself, /~ Surprised lotus kneels down to beg for pink votes, let me play around in the top three of the new book monthly vote list, rolling over and over, throwing a tantrum, I want votes~~ One cent per day, support Surprised Lotus to continue writing

  Ming Huan, no, it should be Pei Lan now. Pei Lan sat on her own bed, folding the new clothes she had just received. The four eyes looked around, and there was a simple elm wood bed with a light green gauze canopy, adorned with an old sachet, emitting a faint scent of osmanthus flowers. Everything seemed like a dream, but the Imperial Forest Army suddenly broke into her home, confiscated all the family's property, and locked up everyone in the house. She didn't even get to see her father's face before being taken away to the big prison.

  Three years ago, the concubine could no longer bear the cold ridicule and hot criticism of the wife, and left the world. Except for Father's occasional care, Pei Lan was also a lonely person in the Pei family. Although there were many sisters, none of them were truly kind to you, they all hated to bite your tendons and eat you alive. This is the fate of a concubine-born daughter.

  If it weren't for the few days of kung fu training she had with her mother back then, today she might not have escaped a tragic fate. Pei Lan watched helplessly as her third sister was bought by an old man, and the outcome was all too predictable.

  "Pei Lan, what's on your mind?"

  A cry woke her up from her daze, it was Xiang Hua who was smiling sweetly.

  Pei Lan saw Xiang Hui holding a copper basin in her hand, with floral water and soap inside. She quickly took it from her, and Xiang Hui pulled on her hand, saying: "Come, let's go to the courtyard to wash up. Yan Rong sister has prepared these things for you, smell them, aren't they fragrant?"

  It's indeed a delicate small object, only the size of a palm, with a peach-red ribbon tied around it. Pei Lan felt suspicious and wondered how the Lin family, living in such a small courtyard, could afford to have so many servants, especially when they didn't seem like a wealthy family. The clothes, food, and daily necessities were all high-quality goods, unlike anything she had seen before. Even as a concubine's daughter in the Pei household, Pei Lan was never mistreated by Old Master Pei, but even so, she only had two young maidservants attending to her needs. The Lin family, however, gave such luxurious items to their servants, leaving Pei Lan perplexed. Perhaps, the Lin family wasn't as simple as she thought?

  A few steps away, Xiangxue and Xianglian were squeezed into a quilt, whispering to each other about something.

  They only found out in the afternoon that the young lady and her husband had just bought a new maid, Peilan, who was quite pretty. Although she looked disheveled when she arrived, after dressing up, she immediately became a beautiful girl. Xiangxue and Xianglian were a little wary, but they didn't know what was coming next. Ziqing said that now that Xiangshan had been promoted to second rank, Peilan had taken her place. What's the reason? They all came to serve the young lady at the same time, so who could be superior to whom? Was it just because her brother was a personal attendant of the master that she was acting so arrogant?

  Two little girls chattered on and on, while Xiang Hui seemed completely unbothered, chatting with the newcomer Pei Lan instead.

  Pei Lan followed Xiang Shan to the courtyard, and the moonlight had already risen. The girl's room was still brightly lit. Pei Lan looked in that direction and saw someone's shadow flashing by the window. She asked Xiang Hui, who was busy fetching water, "Isn't the young lady resting yet at this late hour?"

  Xiang Wei raised her head and smiled, "It's early, what time is it now? The young lady sleeps late and is busy during the day, so she takes advantage of this moment at night to read a book. By the way, Pei Lan, can you recognize characters?"

  Pei Lan hesitated for a while before answering: "Yes."

  "That's great, when you're free, teach me then." Xiang Hui clapped her hands excitedly. "When I was young, my family was poor and had many sisters, only my brother was sent to a teacher to learn a few characters. Now that I'm serving the young lady, I realize how important these things are."

  As the moonlight rose, the courtyard became very cool. Xiang Hua urged Pu Lan, who was still in a daze, to wash her face. Just as she was about to pour water, Xue Yan came out of Dai Yu's room and called out to Xiang Hua. "Xiang Hua, Miss is calling for you."

  Xiang Wei gripped the copper basin tightly, trying her best to control the excitement in her voice. "I see, Snow Goose sister, I'll go now." She handed the basin over to Pei Lan. "Good sister, you go back first, I'll bring good things for you later, wait for me." After Xiang Wei finished speaking, she went to Dai Yu's place, leaving Pei Lan standing there in a daze.

  Tonight was originally Xiangshan's night shift, Daiyu sympathized with her that she had just moved into a new house and had many things to sort out, so it was changed to Xueyan.

  Xiang Wei stepped quietly into the inner chamber, "Miss, you called me?"

  Daiyu was wearing a white thin shirt, and was having her hair combed under Chunlai's service. Hearing Xiangyun's voice, she said to Chunlai, "You go with Xueyan to see Miss Bao first, I have something to say to Xiangyun." Chunlai cleverly went out and closed the door on her way out. Daiyu then asked, "I heard from Zi Juan that you get along well with the newly arrived Peilan?"

  "Zi Juan sister told us to get along well, I was afraid that Pei Lan was new and not adapting, so I said a few more words." Xiang Hui asked in a low voice, "Miss, did I do something wrong?" Xiang Hui thought that after expressing her sincerity to the miss, she would naturally not be treated unfairly. However, today Zi Juan sister's words were still ringing in her ears, only mentioning Xiang Shan alone, and Xiang Hui's heart was not feeling right. Xiang Lian and Xiang Xue had a dispute with Xiang Shan, and she didn't stop them, perhaps there was a bit of resentment in it. Now asking the miss like this, she also had a hint of luck, hoping that the miss would change her mind.

  Daiyu had thought that this little maid was not ordinary when she was in Suzhou, with many thoughts and able to do things, also thinking of tempering her in the future and letting Xiangyuan take charge. However, today they bought back Pei's family girl, and definitely wanted to promote one second-class example among the crowd, without promoting Xiangxuan, it would be hard to explain to brother, Daiyu sighed: "Xiangyuan, do you know why I didn't promote your example, but Xiangxuan?"

  Xiang Hui lowered her head, her fingers twisting the silk handkerchief, and said in a muffled tone: "It's because Xiang Shan's brother is serving by Master's side, and she's clever and charming, so she won the favor of Yan Rong sisters. Xiang Hui thought herself stupid and couldn't compare to Xiang Shan."

  "If you have a number in your heart, don't worry about it. I'm giving you a task now, do it well and no one can predict what will happen in the future." Daiyu said seriously, "The Xueyan who came today was bought by our family outside, and no one knows what kind of temperament she has. You get along with her well and see how her character is. If she's good, we'll naturally keep her, if she has a mean heart, our Lin family doesn't want to invite a wolf into the house either."

  Xiang Wei swept away the gloom, puffed out her chest and said: "Miss, just rest assured, Xiang Wei knows what to do." Her small face was filled with pride and joy. Dai Yu was after all a thirteen or fourteen year old young girl, seeing Xiang Wei's delighted expression, she couldn't help but be infected, and for the time being put aside the messy things from that morning.

  On the second day, Daiyu finished her breakfast and went to pay respects to Grandmother Jia.

  Yingying was playing cards with Old Lady Jia, but perhaps Old Lady Jia's mind was elsewhere, and she lost to Yingying several times in a row. The copper coins on the table piled up into a small mountain in no time, making Fengtai and Yuanyang envy them. Yingying smiled and said, "Old Lady Jia has a Bodhisattva heart, knowing that we're inviting Zi Juan today, so she's especially rewarding us with these silver coins to buy pastries."

  Lady Wang feigned a sigh and said, "Our family's big moneybags hasn't arrived, so you little rascals are bullying me, this old lady. In the end, it's all about eating and drinking, and I, the poor mistress, don't get any benefits." Lady Wang had been fond of playing pranks since she was young, and among sisters, masters and servants, they were more casual than others. Playing jokes on the little maids was also a common occurrence.

  Yan's eyes were sharp and she saw Daiyu as soon as she came in, so she smiled and said: "Lin's young lady has arrived, yesterday the old lady kept mentioning you."

  "Yu'er, come here to your grandmother." Lady Wang pulled Daiyu to sit beside her and dismissed the others including Yuanyang, "I know you all have things to attend to today, go ahead, leave us two ladies to chat, just let Xiaoyu keep watch outside."

  The old lady wanted to ask Lin Niang what, and Yuanyang was clear. She specifically instructed the glass to wait outside, carefully serving, if she saw Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Li or the young ladies coming from afar, she would loudly report inside. Although Glass is a small maid, but her mind is very clever, otherwise she wouldn't follow the old lady, and she sweetly responded. Yuanyang also promised to come back later to bring hot cakes for her to eat.

  Mrs. Jia leaned against the large pillow, lovingly stroking Daiyu's head, "Yu'er really looks more and more like your mother every day. This year marks the end of the mourning period, and you're fifteen now, a perfect age for marriage; I'll make arrangements for you."

  "Grandmother's good intentions, Yu'er understands in her heart, but now there are more important things at home. If she were to indulge in reckless behavior after the mourning period, it would not be good if outsiders found out." Daiyu is not thinking about celebrating her birthday right now; after Father's memorial day, Zhiyuan Gege will take the imperial exam, and everyone in the household will be busy. She herself sometimes sighs at how different she has become from before - what's a birthday anyway? It's just the anniversary of Mother's suffering fifteen years ago.

  Madam Wang saw that Daiyu couldn't muster up any enthusiasm and didn't continue to force the issue. "Did you see the Imperial Princess yesterday? How did the Prince treat you?"

  "Daiyu had already mentally prepared herself, knowing that her grandmother would have to bring up the matter. 'The prince is fine and was nice to Yu'er too; he said a few words. The princess's residence has many things going on, so we didn't stay long, and my brother and I took our leave and returned.'"

  "Didn't even stay for lunch?" Mrs. Jia asked, although she already knew the answer. Seeing Daiyu shake her head, the old lady's heart cooled down by half, but still comforted her granddaughter: "The Princess is not very talkative, but the Duchess is a rare good girl, come and go more often in the future. Your mother was once a study companion of the Sixth Princess, and also frequently met with the Princess, who was very kind to your mother, did she mention it yesterday?"

  Daiyu recalled the details of yesterday, and found that Princess Long was not particularly close to her, and didn't say much. Of course, this might have something to do with the sudden arrival of the red-clothed girl.

  Lady Wang saw Daiyu shaking her head as before, and sighed with some sadness: "In the past, Sixth Sister and your mother were so close, but now looking at it, people say that when a person leaves, the tea becomes cold. This old saying isn't unreasonable."

  Tomorrow there will be two updates, surprise and beg for votes, pink tickets~~~%》_《%