Chapter 8 Everyone Has Their Own Ambition

  The king of Jin had taken a liking to Zhen Rong, and since this came from the mouth of the queen of Jin, no one would doubt it. At that moment, not only the masters on the seats but also the maids and servant girls standing beside them looked at the maid standing behind Zhu Shi with eyes full of envy and jealousy. It was known that Zhen Rong was a house-born servant in the Hou Mansion, where all the old and young were serving inside and outside, and it was not until they reached a certain age that they would be matched with a small servant boy; if they were lucky, they might become a personal attendant of one of the young masters, and later be promoted to a concubine. But this could not compare to being in the palace!

  At this moment, the little girl who had been previously mentioned by Chen Bing to pass through, although her face was bright red and her head hung low, everyone in the house could see the joy under her shyness. At this time, Chen Lan still sat upright, but a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

  Seeing the hesitant look of Princess Jin, Zhu Shi smiled warmly and patted her hand: "I thought it was something big, but since Prince Jin has taken a liking to her, it's her good fortune. You're just a bit late, your second sister came to me a few days ago asking for someone, and I still have some needlework with her that I've been putting off. Today is the perfect day to finish it, and I was just about to give it to her. Why don't you go find your second sister? She's always easy to talk to, she won't refuse you."

  The King of Jin's consort indeed stood up and walked towards Chen Bing with a gentle smile. Although Chen Bing was taken aback, seeing the old lady approaching, she hastily got to her feet and smiled: "Old madam and elder cousin are surely going to tease me to death! I merely wanted to go into the house to discipline those maidservants for Zhen Rong's sake, now that she has a better place to be, I'm delighted for her before anything else, where would there be any reason to stop me?"

  "Then I must thank my second sister." The King of Jin's consort smiled even more deeply, and immediately nodded again, "I've known for a long time that my second sister is the most generous and dignified in her actions. After the New Year, you'll be coming of age too, who knows which young master will be worthy of you?"

  Chen Bing's only thread of annoyance was also washed away by these words. If it weren't for her mother's repeated reminders, she wouldn't have opened her mouth to ask for Zhen Rong. After all, a maid is just a limited thing, no matter how good she is, and can't compare to one's own marriage matters. Today, she had dressed up carefully to meet the guests, precisely in the hope that Princess Jin would help herself out with her marriage.

  It's not that the father, who inherited the title of Duke Yangning, is incompetent and can't be relied upon. The mother, although in charge of the household now, was just a concubine from the Bo family in the past, so how could she compare to the Zhu family when it comes to marriage? She didn't want to end up like some of her sisters-in-law, with the status of being from a noble family but marrying either an ordinary low-ranking military officer or a younger son of a wealthy family, having to work hard every day and serve their in-laws with humility.

  It was a joyful occasion for everyone, and Madam Zhu had Zhen Rong come forward to pay her respects to the Princess of Jin. She also ordered someone to prepare clothes, jewelry, and other dowry items for Zhen Rong's marriage. Just then, an elderly matron standing beside the Princess of Jin smiled and said, "Your Highness, in our household, we value the idea of a pair being equally matched in wealth and status. Having only Miss Zhen Rong as your attendant doesn't seem quite right, does it? Why not ask Madam Zhu to give us another maid to serve by Your Highness's side?"

  A sentence of prosperity and wealth, instantly made the Jin Wangfei nod her head, Zhu Shi also felt reasonable, but turning back to look at the two second-class maidservants who had mostly been added in the past few days, while the four first-class ones were older people she had brought with her. So, her gaze fell on Hong Luo Ming Jing's calm and peaceful face among Chen Lan and the other three who had come over.

  As soon as the mother spoke, Chen Lan felt a sudden jolt in her heart. When Zhu Shi looked over at her, she immediately gave a sideways glance at Hong Luo beside her. Seeing that Hong Luo's face was extremely unpleasant and her hands were clenched tightly together under her body, Chen Lan knew that this little maid who had been following her for only a few days was probably unwilling. When she saw Zhen Rong frown slightly on the side of Jin Wang Fei and then lightly bite her lip, Chen Lan immediately began to think quickly.

  "Well then, let's just make it Hong Luo. Among the maids of suitable age, only Zhen Rong and she are left. Lan Er, don't feel resentful."

  As soon as Zhu spoke, Chen Lan smiled and said: "What grievance is there? I just didn't expect Hongluo to have the same good fortune as Zhenrong, I'm happy for her instead."

  She said as she stood up, seemingly oblivious to the unspoken despair on Hong Luo's face, and reached out her hand to gently clasp hers, saying: "Sister Hong Luo, a few days ago when you came over at night, I could still hear you murmuring in your sleep. Now that you've gone to the Wang Manor, isn't it like you can wake up laughing even from your dreams?"

  Hong Luo was taken aback for a moment, but she wasn't foolish, and hastily lowered her head: "Third Miss is teasing me again."

  However, both Zhu and the King of Jin furrowed their brows. After a moment's thought, Zhu beckoned Zhen Rong over, seemingly to instruct her on something, but instead asked in a low voice about Hong Luo's sleep talking. Having just heard this, Zhen Rong was initially startled, then glanced unnaturally at Hong Luo before lowering her eyes and reporting in a soft voice: "Reporting to the elderly lady, Hong Luo does have the habit of sleep talking, but it happens only a few times a month, so not many people know about it."

  Now that you mention it, it's true what Chen Lan said. So, Zhu Shi immediately changed her tone and said: "Forget it, Lan'er, although you're generous, but you rarely ask for someone to be by your side, your eldest sister just wants a maid to serve her, it doesn't have to be Hong Luo. Besides, Hong Luo is steady and reliable, taking care of Jin Xiu Ge for you, I can also rest assured. This way, Ming Jing, today you'll follow Wang Fei back to the Wang Fu with Zhen Rong."

  Ming Huan was a maid for Chen Yu, but this time Zhu Shi didn't even ask a single question. Chen Yu's face turned pale and white, but she couldn't say a word. Ming Huan, on the other hand, looked like she had been hit by a pie that fell from the sky, standing still for a moment before rushing forward to kowtow with joy. After all, even as just a maid, being given to Princess Jin Wang by Zhu Shi naturally gave her great face in the palace. As for the unlucky Hong Luo, no one looked at her again. Only Chen Lan sitting next to her and Qin Fang standing beside her could sense her relief.

  When the King of Jin's consort was about to leave, she refused to let Zhu Shi see her off. So Zhu Shi only had Zheng Mama and Chen Lan send off the four sisters until the second gate. In front of the Weeping Flower Gate, after Zhen Rong and Ming Ke bid farewell, they followed the King of Jin's consort into that green-topped, silver-trimmed, round, gemstone-encrusted phoenix sedan chair. The rest of the maids got into the black-oiled, green-canopied cart behind, and all the attendants swarmed around them as they left. Chen Bing was only looking at the luxurious decorations on the phoenix sedan chair, with a very envious expression on her face. Chen Lan, on the other hand, looked thoughtfully at Hong Luo.

  The people dispersed, and the four sisters naturally went their separate ways. Chen Huan followed closely behind Chen Bing, who was walking with her head held high, saying something in a flattering tone. Chen Lan smiled slightly and turned to leave when Chen Xiao suddenly called out to stop her.

  "Third sister, it just so happens we're going in the same direction, let's walk together!"

  Chen Lan was slightly taken aback, but since Chen Xiao had come over on her own initiative, she didn't refuse the kindness. After passing through the corridor and turning a corner along the covered walkway, when they were alone with just their maidservants, Chen Xiao spoke in a low voice: "Thanks for what you said today, Third Sister."

  Chen Lan raised an eyebrow and deliberately pretended to be confused: "Me? What did I say?"

  Chen Xiao smiled slightly, and her icy face suddenly thawed out, but it made her look exceptionally clear and beautiful: "Auntie followed Father to the south, Third Brother and I are both in the inner courtyard. Even if we're a bit far apart, I can still keep an eye on him. If he's moved to the outer courtyard, who knows when we'll be able to see each other again? Only Third Sister needs to be careful too. Although it was Zheng Mama who spoke up, you were the one who brought up the topic. Don't say that you offended Second Auntie, even Mother might remember it later. At that time, people might say that you're narrow-minded and only spoil your brother."

  "It was this matter. I didn't think so much, but since I had a serious injury before, I just thought it open, forcing him to study and write every day, what's the use if he gets sick again? It's better to relax."

  Chen Lan said so, but in her heart she knew that this was an inevitable thing. Zhu Ma is a second wife, yet she can come to her place with her head held high to teach the maid; the second wife manages the household, and it just so happens that the maid's monthly allowance is less than hers; the second wife has no children, the third wife's son is still young, and Mrs. Ma and Mrs. Xu want to send all the young masters to the outer courtyard... Since she doesn't know what this is all about, but it's definitely harmful and not beneficial, she can only take Chen Yan out first, and as for helping Chen Tai along the way, that's just an unexpected bonus.

  The two sisters smiled at each other, and then parted ways, one turning east and the other west. Chen Lan returned to Jinxiu Pavilion all the way, as soon as she entered the door, she went straight to the eastern wing of the warm pavilion, without even taking off her coat, she sat directly on the kang with a large green lotus-patterned quilt, and took over the hot tea handed by Yun'er and drank it in one gulp, only then did she slowly catch her breath.

  "It's so cold today! I just walked outside for a bit and I'm almost frozen stiff!"

  "It's freezing! If you put this weather outside, it could kill people!"

  Yuner smiled and helped Chen Lan change his clothes, just about to ask a few questions about what happened at the Lianxiang Temple today. Just as she had just sent away two third-grade maids, Qinfang found an excuse to take her out. Only Hongluo was left in the room. Chen Lan, who was comfortably leaning against the back of the kang chair, looked at Hongluo with interest and suddenly asked: "Don't you really want to go to the Wang Mansion?"

  Hongxuan was silent and dazed all the way, and when she entered the house, she didn't say a word. At this time, she suddenly came to her senses, walked forward, knelt down, and shook her head resolutely: "I don't want to, so thank you for saving my life, Miss. If Old Lady insists today, I... I can only knock myself to death."

  As soon as this was said, Chen Lan, who had originally just wanted to probe, suddenly froze. She looked up at Hong Luo, seemingly unwilling, and for a moment felt a pang of regret, plus the stifled anger in her heart, so she opened her mouth and ruined the matter, but didn't know that Hong Luo actually had such a strong idea. After a long silence, she finally asked: "Why?"

  "In the past, my family was not wealthy, but we had over 100 acres of land and were barely getting by. But after Father died, my stepmother kicked my mother and me out of the house. My mother and I went to live with my uncle, but later my mother fell ill and died. The county magistrate's son came to ask for me as a concubine when I was not yet 13 years old, and my uncle agreed, taking 50 taels of silver from him! I cried out to heaven and earth, but no one responded. I could only run away in the middle of the night, walking all night until I reached the provincial capital, where I encountered a swindler. After trying every means to escape once, my two companions ended up in an even more miserable place, and in the end, I had to sell myself to a human trafficker, which is how I entered this household. Having been outside for so long, I know that it's not just me who suffers, but others do too. I've resigned myself to my fate... but there's one thing I refuse to accept!"

  Hong Xuan suddenly raised her head and said word by word: "Even if I marry a crippled, blind or ugly man, I will never be someone's concubine! My mother suffered all her life, and I ended up like this today. Although it was because my uncle was greedy, it was also because my mother would rather call off the wedding than marry a commoner. She regretted it before she passed away, and I don't want to spend my whole life regretting like her!"

  Listening to Hong Luo's resolute words, Chen Lan finally sat up straight and immediately reached out to pull her up. He let out a sigh: "I understand now, you have this determination, and that's also fulfilling your wish. However, I didn't expect that when I casually made up an excuse about you talking in your sleep, Zhen Luan actually went along with it, which is also your good fortune."

  "Zhen Rong's sister never wanted to be a maid all her life." Hong Luo shook her head and said, "I knew her wish long ago, so when the second miss asked for her, she immediately agreed. I heard that the second madam promised her that after a while, she would find a way to promote her as a concubine for the second master。 This is still not entirely certain, but now that Princess Jinwang has come to ask for her personally, she is naturally overjoyed。 She said I was talking nonsense, and it's clear she's afraid that if I go, I'll get in her way。 But people have different aspirations, and now I can only be grateful to her。 If she hadn't agreed with the miss, today's events would not have turned out well."

  Chen Lan naturally knew that at that time, only she herself spoke up in vain. However, knowing that Hong Luo had only gratitude and no resentment towards Zhen Lian, she was even more satisfied with this maid. Before she could speak, Hong Luo suddenly knelt down again, kowtowing to her three times in a row.

  "From now on, I'll obey you in everything, Miss!"

  From words to actions, Chen Lan naturally saw the decisiveness in this. No matter what, being able to get a red spiral today was enough. It's easy to find someone clever and resourceful like Yatou, but finding someone with a kind heart and strong will is hard to come by, even with a lantern in hand.