Chapter 542: Chapter 531: The Marchioness’s Maid
For some reason, the Task of this life has not yet been transmitted, and since there are many people around, Ye Qiu doesn’t have the time to inquire with the System and can only take one step at a time. Fortunately, after spending the morning, she also understands that her current identity is similar to hers in the past—she is a person who doesn’t talk much.
And after this morning, she successfully obtained some useful information from the most talkative Yang Chun.
For example, the four major servant girls of spring, summer, autumn, and winter were chosen by their former Lady while she was still alive to serve her daughters. Among them, Shen Dong is the oldest and is also the most steady and reliable in doing things; Ye Qiu is the second, and Yang Chun is the youngest, a little chatterbox who babbles incessantly.
Two months ago, as soon as their young lady finished the mourning period, she was bestowed to the deeply favored Marquis Weiyuan as a wife. The situation at the border is unstable at the moment, and Marquis Weiyuan could be called to war at any time. Therefore, an order was given to complete the marriage within three months, and today is precisely the day that Marquis Wei Yuan Mansion sends the betrothal gifts.
"Miss, it’s 5:45 AM; it’s time to get up," said Ye Qiu, walking into their young lady’s boudoir with Shen Dong, while lifting the bed curtain and gently reminding her.
"I know, Shen Dong, help me get up," the soft and gentle voice of a lady sounded; even without seeing her face, one could tell from her voice alone that she was a gentle and beautiful person.
Ye Qiu had already prepared the washing water. After Shen Dong helped the young lady get up, Ye Qiu personally helped her wash up.
The lady’s skin is very white and delicate, her eyebrows and eyes arched, and her pupils watery because she’s not fully awake, giving them a misty appearance. She has a tall and well-proportioned figure, with hair that is both plentiful and straight, obviously pampered and reared with care, and she is a classical beauty.
The key is that such a beauty has not a trace of temper, letting them, her several servant girls, dress and adorn her as they please. Even when Yang Chun carelessly pulled her hair, she only chided her with a smile without truly blaming her.
"Take off the pearl and jade step shake; it’s too heavy." After a period of dressing up, the Eldest Lady Zhong Lan shook her neck, frowning slightly.
Yang Chun, who had meticulously dressed her, was reluctant to take it off, persuading her, "Miss, you look so beautiful with the step shake! Why take it off? Later, your future husband will be coming to present the betrothal gifts. If you don’t dress up gorgeously, how can you show your importance to the groom?"
"Enough, I told you to take it off," Zhong Lan said lightly, yet still with a smile on her face.
Through this, Ye Qiu could see that although their young lady was very gentle, she was still very decisive.
"Miss, the sheep’s milk is warmed up, please drink it while it’s hot," said Shen Dong, taking over a bowl of sheep’s milk from a second-class servant girl. The sheep’s milk was cooked with almonds and had a sweet fragrance, but Zhong Lan hardly had any desire for it.
"Never mind, keep it warm. We got up late today, and if we go to greet the Old Madam late, she will blame us," said Zhong Lan, a troubled expression appearing on her gracious and beautiful face.
"But if you skip breakfast again, the Eldest Young Master will feel distressed," Shen Dong continued to persuade.
Miss Zhong Lan sighed lightly and took the porcelain bowl: "Forget it, it’s not the first time to be scolded anyway." After saying that, she gulped down the sheep’s milk and also casually ate a couple of bites of date paste cake.
"Let’s go, to the Feixia Courtyard." Zhong Lan wore a resigned expression as if she was going to her doom, and even Shen Dong and Yang Chun had stern faces, which made Ye Qiu wonder just how terrifying the Feixia Courtyard really was.
"Oh, Sister, you’ve finally arrived. Don’t tell me you overslept again!" Just as Zhong Lan walked into the main hall of the Feixia Courtyard with Ye Qiu and the others, a coquettish voice rang out.
Ye Qiu walked in and saw the person who had been speaking. She was dressed in a moon-white gown, her head adorned with several pearl hairpins inserted at a slant. Upon seeing Zhong Lan enter, she gently rose to her feet, a soft and frail figure, and greeted with a bow, saying in a low voice, "Sister, I hope you are well."
"Sister." Zhong Lan quietly looked at her, then walked straight past her to the elderly lady in the main seat to pay her respects, "Grandmother, Lan’er is late, please do not blame me."
A flicker of resentment crossed Zhong Yin’s eyes as she saw Zhong Lan’s behavior. She didn’t like it. On what basis did she have to salute Zhong Lan? On what basis could Zhong Lan ignore her?
"Sister, really, today is the day the Duke Wei Yuan comes to propose marriage, and you don’t even care enough to prepare yourself. Grandmother has been up early to make arrangements for you! Those who know would say you’re delicate, but those who don’t might think you’re disrespecting Grandmother!" Zhong Yin put on an appearance of caring for Zhong Lan, but in reality, she was trying to ingratiate herself with Old Madam Wei in front of her.
"Yin’er, say less," Ye Qiu saw her young mistress Zhong Lan about to speak when a woman who bore an eighty percent resemblance to the one in the moon-white dress entered from the outer room. Her young mistress’s birth mother had passed away; this woman, calling her young mistress ’sister,’ must be a daughter born of a concubine in the mansion, and this beautiful woman must be the concubine, who seemed to be quite favored by the elderly lady.
"Aunt, you got up so early and haven’t had breakfast yet. I specifically instructed the servants to prepare a bowl of bird’s nest porridge for you. Please enjoy it while it’s hot."
Oh! So the concubine is also the elderly lady’s niece, no wonder. But why would the niece take the position of a concubine while the aunt is an official and respected elderly lady in the mansion? What kind of arrangement is this?
Ye Qiu couldn’t help but wonder if her young mistress’s mother might have been literally angered to death by this aunt and niece duo.
"Grandmother, Yin’er will pour you some tea."
Watching the eager mother and daughter duo, Zhong Lan seemed as if she had long grown accustomed to it and sat expressionlessly to one side.
"Hmm, at least you both are filial to me, unlike some people who’ve been spoiled rotten, who even give their greetings half-heartedly," Old Madam Wei side-eyed Zhong Lan and huffed heavily in reproach.
Zhong Lan acted as if she didn’t hear it, as this was not the first time such an occurrence had happened.
At this moment, Ye Qiu felt that their young mistress was raised to be so gentle and kind because she had inherited the blessings of their departed Lady.
By now, Ye Qiu had pretty much guessed it – when it was time for Mr. Zhong to discuss marriage, Old Madam Wei had her heart set on selecting someone from her maternal family. However, the Wei Family’s fortunes were declining, so Mr. Zhong’s father refused to agree, and instead arranged a marriage for Mr. Zhong with Mrs. Ying.
With her plans frustrated, Old Madam Wei did not dare revolt against her husband; instead, she directed her displeasure towards Mrs. Ying and never gave her a warm welcome from the moment she entered the household.
Although she faced difficulties from her mother-in-law, Mrs. Ying was smart herself. She never talked back during reprimands and also refrained from gossiping in front of her husband. Instead, she subtly let the hardships she faced show to Mr. Zhong, who was a filial son and fond of Mrs. Ying, which, in turn, strengthened the couple’s relationship despite Old Madam Wei’s actions.
But good times didn’t last long. Old Madam Wei couldn’t accept the decline of her maternal family and thus contrived to elevate one of her maternal nieces, Wei Fanghua, to the status of a noble concubine.
Wei Fanghua was scheming from the start; she showed weakness in every aspect, and even when indisposed, she didn’t miss a single day of paying respects to Mrs. Ying. Gradually, even if Mr. Zhong truly favored Mrs. Ying, it became difficult for him to neglect his own fragile and weak cousin.