Volume 1 Chapter 121 A Red Plum Blossom

  Chapter 121: A Red Plum Blossom

  Jin Si spoke with courtesy, but Mo Zi felt as if she had belittled herself. She smiled and said, "Silk maiden doesn't have to be humble. The etiquette for the first meeting doesn't distinguish between high or low status. You are the guest, I'm representing the host, so it's only natural that we should show you hospitality."

  Mo Yan opened his mouth and a thousand years came. The richness of language, the speed of counterattack, was something that Xiao San, who had only drunk a little ink water, couldn't handle at all.

  As expected, after Mu Zi finished speaking, Jin Si Yan didn't know what to say.

  "It's just that Silken came at an inopportune time, Granny went to pay her respects to the Princess. These past two days she only returned after lunch, and today who knows when she'll be back. This May weather is getting hotter by the minute, it's unbearable. I'm afraid of delaying our guest, and Granny will scold me. Silken, please go back first, and wait for me to report back to Granny, then I'll invite you over again, okay?"

  It's perfectly fine to say that. Facts are facts, politeness is politeness, with reason and evidence, retreat then advance. Clearly she was being rejected, yet it was so tactful, as if afraid of hurting her feelings. Jin Si had just heard Zhen'er say that Mo Zi was a second-rate maid. If a second-rate maid could be so eloquent, what about the new madam's other three senior maids?

  Jin Si naturally didn't know the subtleties within, she just thought that she herself was unlucky, and today as soon as the door opened, she encountered the most formidable one.

  "Mozzie girl, I'm sure you know that I came two days ago, but grandma wasn't here so I went back. Today, I thought to myself, no matter what, I should offer tea to grandma, otherwise she might think I don't understand the rules." Mozi's words were full of politeness, but when faced with someone who had made up their mind, it was as if they hadn't been heard at all. "You can wait in the corner room, Silkie, and not bother Mozzie girl."

  Mozi thought, you don't bother me, but Qiu Sanniang will bother me. Qiu Sanniang had no intention of dealing with this canary from the start, and she was in a state of self-deception, thinking that if she didn't see it, it wouldn't bother her. This cup of tea, whether the person pouring it is sincere or not, and whether the person drinking it is willing or not, is hard to say. It's better not to drink it if possible.

  "This won't do." Mei Zi had been idle for several days, and it was rare to have someone deliver a task right to her doorstep. "Just now, I heard Zhen'er say that Si Niang is the master's heart's desire, so even if Mei Zi didn't understand, she couldn't let you wait in the corner room."

  Jin Si heard this and quickly glanced at the needle next to Mo Zi, which was a hint of "original" sternness.

  Deep purple eyes narrowed, as expected.

  "Miss Mozi, don't listen to a newcomer's nonsense. I know my humble status and only wish to serve Master San and Madame San wholeheartedly, without any ulterior motives." Fearing being detected by prying eyes, she became flustered and revealed her weakness. If she were not guilty, why would she argue so hastily?

  "Silk Maiden, you don't need to tell me this." Mozi's expression remained calm from start to finish. "As Silk Maiden, I should have invited you into the inner courtyard for a good cup of tea and waited quietly for Madame to return. However, Madame has instructed that when she is not present, no one can enter the inner courtyard at will. I also cannot go against Madame's instructions."

  Jin Si wanted to say something, but was suddenly interrupted by a crisp female voice from behind her.

  "Since San Nainai has her rules, it's better for Silang to go back."

  Jin Si turned around, her face slightly changed, "Hong Mei girl."

  Little Red Plum Blossom Girl? Who is she?

  Hei Zi was about to turn his head to look when he saw Jin Si step aside.

  A woman, wearing a high-waisted pale blue butterfly-chasing skirt, a wide-sleeved four-piece cloud silk shirt, with a high bun and a pair of sky-blue ceramic butterfly hairpins hanging with sapphire beads on either side.

  Mozi saw this skirt style on the day of Qiang San Niang's big wedding, and among many maids, only the maid who followed the female master wore it, which should be the uniform skirt for the senior maids.

  The Wang family is indeed aristocratic, even their maids dress elegantly.

  The clothes are good-looking, but the woman's appearance is ordinary. Flat facial features, mediocre makeup. There's just a bit of unusual arrogance between her eyebrows, probably because she followed a powerful master and brought it out.

  Hongmei carried a large bundle in her hand and walked past Jinsi, without nodding or bowing, as if Jinsi were just an ordinary servant girl.

  It seems that Mu Zi has opened his eyes. Is it possible that this Wang Fu is more favored than Gongzi Ye's concubine?

  "Are you San Nainai's dowry maid?" Red Plum looked at Mozi with a straight gaze.

  Violet answer.

  "Second-hand?" Eyed the old purple cloth skirt, originally wanted to say rough use for a young girl, but looking at her age seemed older.

  Zi answered with one word again.

  "What's your name?" Hongmei frowned, "Why wear a cloth skirt?" Second-rate, even among the maids, it was not a bad rank.

  "My name is Mozi. This skirt is what I wear when I'm working." The way Hongmei spoke, with a mix of respect and familiarity, reminded her of something, "Is Hongmei here to serve the old lady?" Wasn't Old Lady Wang saying she was going to give one of the senior maids? It's probably her.

  Red plum, and white lotus green chrysanthemum's names put together still seem quite fitting.

  "The old lady said that Third Madame has just married and is not familiar with the household matters, so she specially called me over to help Third Madame." Red Plum calls Old Lady Wang "old lady" because once the title of Duke is inherited, there can only be one "Old Duke" and "Old Duchess". The people in the house think it's hard to call them that way, so they use "old gentleman" and "old lady" to address them.

  "Grandma had mentioned it to us before, and was just thinking that Hongmei sister should be arriving these days, and now she's here. Mozi is paying respects to his sister." It's not excessive courtesy, Mozi slightly bent his knees and lightly bowed his head.

  Hongmei accepted the gift and handed her large bundle to Xiao Yinger, who was standing beside her. Seeing that she didn't move, Hongmei frowned and scolded, "What kind of manners did you learn? You don't even have a bit of awareness. In the future, when Grandma gives you something to hold, do you need to be told before you'll move?"

  The needle pouted and took over.

  At last, Qiu San Niang is going to have a model daughter who truly understands the rules and etiquette. Unlike her four sisters, even the most well-behaved Bai He has a unique personality. Hong Mei is very strict, particular about hierarchy, and clear about advantages. Having served as the mistress of the Wang household, she inevitably carries some habits from her master's behavior, which may either help or hinder Qiu San Niang.

  Just as Mozi was assessing Hongmei, Hongmei had already stood in front of Mozi and spoken to Jinsi.

  "Mozi just said that Grandma is not here, and the girls should not entertain guests on their own. Silkmother, you'd better go back." For a moment, Mozi thought Hongmei had a private grudge against Jinsi, but now it sounds relatively polite.

  "Red Plum Girl..." Probably because Red Plum was the eldest daughter of the old lady, Jin Si dared not speak again to ask her to stay.

  "Alright, I'll teach you a trick. Come tomorrow morning before grandma goes to pay her respects and kowtow with tea in hand." Hongmei said this in front of Mozi, actually meaning for Hongmei to come early the next day.

  Mozi said, "Go back to grandma and invite Jin Si over."

  Their statements seem similar at first glance, but are actually fundamentally different.

  What's the difference?

  One was to leave things up to Qiu San Niang's decision, and the other was to take charge on behalf of Qiu San Niang.

  Mozi thought to herself, this is the demeanor of a big girl, her own shrinking and shirking was just a second-rate girl in front of Hongmei. However, she secretly hoped that Qiu San Niang would like it when others helped her make decisions.

  "Red Plum Girl, I'll come at noon tomorrow." Jin Si also considered the purpose achieved, calm and peaceful, smiled at Red Plum and Mozi, and turned to leave.

  "Red plum, at the fourth watch, Grandma hadn't gotten up yet." Mozi thought of Qiu San Niang's temper when she woke up, and it was still his turn that morning. That person loved to find trouble with him when she was in a bad mood.

  "Mozi, you are grandma's dowry maid. I didn't want to say anything at first, but what you said to Sima at the door just now, I heard most of it, and although your words were polite enough, they lacked grandma's dignity." Hongmei had the servant close the door and instructed Zhen'er to follow her as she walked towards the Mochen Residence.

  Mozi told Zhen'er: "Put Hongmei's luggage in the second room on the east side." And sent this little needle away.

  Hongmei didn't understand the situation, and while walking, she continued to persuade Mozi gently, "What is San Niang's status? She is the legitimate wife of San Shao. Jin Si may be favored by Shao in front of him, but her contract is in the hands of Wang Fei. The concubine who was raised from a lowly position and gave birth to the eldest son, but she was not allowed to have her surname on the family tree because the old lady did not tolerate any dissent. Her status is already there, what's the use of giving birth to a hundred sons? Not to mention serving tea, Jin Si should come to serve San Niang three times a day, this is the unchanging rule in the Wang household for generations. Even if it was Wang Ye's most favored Wei Shi, who had a close relationship with Wang Fei like sisters, she served Wang Fei until Da Shao married his wife. If San Niang didn't set rules for Jin Si from the beginning, she would inevitably rely on her father's favor and Niang's weakness to become arrogant later on, and by then it would be too late."

  Mozi naturally said yes, and seeing that Hongmei was not very defensive towards herself, she took the opportunity to ask, "Were the first two grandmothers soft-hearted?"

  "The first one is." Hongmei blurted out without thinking, and couldn't help but feel a little regretful, hesitating to continue.

  "Hongmei sister is someone by Old Wangfei's side, she must know some inside information. Even if sister doesn't say it, will grandmother not find out later? It's just a matter of time. I'm telling you, those rumors outside are really unpleasant to hear. They're saying something about stealing people and poisoning Young Master." Mozi deliberately provokes Hongmei a bit.

  Hongmei was taken aback, and didn't immediately refute it. A little later, she seemed to want to cover up the mistake, "Don't listen to what outsiders say, it's not true at all." She muttered, but didn't mention this matter again. "Anyway, since Old Lady summoned me here, I will wholeheartedly help Third Madame. Old Lady said that the rules of Yonggu Zhai must be established, and we can no longer follow Third Young Master's whims like before. These inner house women are originally under Third Madame's management, she should say what needs to be said, train who needs to be trained, punish who needs to be punished, and beat who needs to be beaten."

  "Is this what the old lady said in person?" Mozi heard it and thought it was like having the Imperial Sword of the Shang Dynasty.

  "Of course." Hongmei's eyes widened, "Would I cheat you?"

  "Mei Zi hurriedly said 'don't, don't', and then said, 'Sister just arrived, needs to sort out her luggage. Grandma is considerate of sister, specially arranged a single room for sister's use. Sister can rest for a while, wait for grandma to come back, and then kowtow to grandma.'"

  Hongmei thought it was reasonable and heard that she had a room to herself, her face lit up with joy, and she walked to the east wing, lifted the door curtain and went in.

  Gazing at the swaying blue flowered curtain, her eyes were filled with interest. The red plum blossoms had bloomed, but she didn't know if it was winter or spring. Perhaps it was Qiu San Niang's winter, and her own spring?

  Wait a minute——

  Just watch——

  Today is the second update, also known as the 300 fans bonus update.

  Tomorrow is the last day of the new book pink ticket list, rob all relatives' guaranteed pink.

  Next time double update, powder 330, seems still a bit surprising.

  In short, what I say counts. For every 30 votes, there will be an additional update. So vote for me, and if you can do it, I'll be able to return the favor in December.

  Winter is coming, here to add fire and warmth for you all, muah muah.

  Chapter 121 A Red Plum Blossom

  Chapter 121: A Red Plum Blossom Arrives at the Website