Chapter 13: Secretly Ganging Up
A cool breeze started up during the night as it nears autumn, turning the weather colder by the day. The Ding capital was in the North, making the cold more surprising.
Under the light, the young female held a book as she read it slowly while leaning against the couch. She did not know that the tea beside her has turned cold as she continue reading her book in a trance.
Bai Lu stared blankly at her own Young Lady as if in a short span of one night, this young lady had become different from the one before. Even now that she was quietly reading, would be unusual as Shen Miao previously hates to read. But now with the looks of it, if she did not know that it was her own Young Lady, Bai Lu would have thought that she would have come across some noble furen.
Bai Lu did not really understand how would a young lady have such an imposing matter as she stood in her position in a daze. It would only when Shuang Jiang walked over and nudged her to reprimand softly, “Stand here foolishly for what?” She walked over and placed the cloak around Shen Miao and warmly advised, “Young Lady, it seems that the time is no longer early and there was a need to go to Guang Wen Tang tomorrow. It would be better to rest early.”
Shen Miao shook her head, “Go and rest first, I will read for a while longer.”
What kind of reasoning would there be for a mistress to not sleep while a maid rest. Shuang Jiang could not do anything and wanted to persuade her again but was held back by Gu Yu who was changing the tea and pulled out to the outer room with Bai Lu.
“Gu Yu, what is it?” Bai Lu did not understand, “Young Lady’s health just recovered, why did you not go up to persuade?”
“How did I not persuade?” Gu Yu head ached, “Would the current Young Lady listen to my words? She had been reading books for an entire day and I guess that it should be the homework from her teacher and Young Lady has made up her mind to complete. What other choice do I have.” She glanced back to the room worriedly. When she was formally timid, she would always want the advice of others. Now that she was no longer timid, when she made up her mind, no one dared to refute. As she was serving close by, Gu Yu felt that every Shen Miao orders, one simply dare not refuse.
Just speaking plainly like that would also reveal an imposing stance. Even when Master few into a rage, it wasn’t as scary as this, Gu Yu sighed.
In the room, Gu Yu was still reading.
She was seriously reading through and did not leave any detail behind. If one were to look in detail, they would have found that the book she was holding was “Ming Qi Official Annals”. Other than the big events since the founding of the country to the current Ming Qi, she was only familiar to the events that would happen in the next few decades and thus prepared some methods to prevent the tragedies from happening. But prior to this, she must find out who were the vessels families and what were their current situation.
The footsteps of the Emperor to eradicate these families were much nearer. As per what Shen Miao remembered, if there was no other mishaps, there would be a big catastrophe next month. As an enemy’s enemy is one’s friend, if these vessel families has reached its end, it would soon be the Shen family’s turn.
Before Shen Xin return, Shen residence can only be supported by her only and she have to also defend against those wolves from the East courtyard.
Shen Miao’s presumption was accurate as that night Gui Momo entered Rong Jing Tang. She brought the specialities that she brought back this trip but it was Zhang Mama, who works by Old Shen Furen’s side, who was pulled away by her as she kept talking about Shen Miao’s disobedient ways and how she would frequently lash out words of anger.
How would Zhang Mama not know what intention she had. After accompanying her to say a few rather neutral words, Gui Momo asked Zhang Mama to say some good words for her in front of Old Shen Furen before leaving.
Just as she left Rong Qing Tang’s courtyard, she saw the Ren Wan Yun’s maid, Xiang Lan walking over. When she saw her, she smiled, “Gui Momo, I was looking for you.”
“Oh.” When Gui Momo squinted her eyes to see and saw Xiang Lan, she also smiled, “Why is Miss Xiang Liang looking for me?”
“It is of no big matter.” Xiang Lan walked over and tugged Gui Momo’s arm, “It was that our Mistress heard that you know a place that sells rouge and the rouge was especially pretty, thus looked for you to ask where can the rouge be bought.”
This was obviously an excuse indicating that Ren Wan Yun was looking for Gui Momo to have some private words. Gui Momo was well aware of it and went along with Xiang Lan, “This is a small matter. If Madam wants to listen, I would tell Madam the place. Speaking of that rouge, many young lady and madam of official families love to use it…”
Following Xiang Lan to Cai Yun Yuan, the maids outside were already sent away.
Ren Wan Yun sat on the couch. As Second Shen Master was still outside entertaining and have yet to return, she was casually doing some needlework and was most likely embroidering the edge of a pouch but was also eating from a plate of grapes beside her.
This was rare item as one would not be able to find any grapes in Ding capital at this kind of season. Only Second Master had the ability to obtain a basket of it to let the female in his own courtyard eat.
Gui Momo spitted in her heart. Although from the surface the Second Household did not ill-treated the First Household but whatever Shen Miao used and eat only looked magnificent on the outside but was like things that was merchant families was not able to sell off. And on the topic of food, Shen Miao would not have the opportunity to have grapes.
As she was thinking about it, Ren Wan Yun finally put down the needlework in her hand and said, “Gui Momo.”
Gui Momo quickly recovered herself and answered, “Mistress, this old servant is here.”
Ren Wan Yun was already forty years old and even though she has maintained excellently, there were still fine lines at the corner of her eyes. But when she sat there, wearing clothes cut from good material and her manners were like the Furen who was in charge of her household, even if she smiled, there was some imposing appearance.
She said, “Heard that you have returned. As Little Five’s heath has only recovered, you need to take good care of her.”
Gui Momo started to jeer in her heart, who did not know that the East courtyard cannot wait for the West courtyard to be in trouble and how would Ren Wan Yun have such good intentions. It was all to pull the wool over other people’s eyes. Sure enough Ren Wan Yun continued, “In these few days, Little Five was probably did not feel happy about the matter of falling into the water and since Eldest Brother and Sister are not around, whatever I, as a Shen Shen, do would be wrong. If one were to hear anything, it could only be heard from you.”
This meant that Ren Wan Yun wanted Gui Momo to tell her every single move of Shen Miao’s.
Gui Momo quickly said, “It is Fifth Young Lady’s fortune to have Madam’s concern. But from what this old servant see, Fifth Young Lady is indeed angry about the matter of falling into the water. The situation these recent days had changed quite a bit that she was also distanced with this old servant. Not touching on other matters, just today, this old servant was punished and lost three months of salary for nothing.” She frowned, “This old servant heard that Fifth Young Lady had fallen into the water and was so anxious that one did not care if one’s grandson was still sick but who knew that Fifth Young Lady would lash out at this old servant, making this old servant’s heart not at ease.”
Ren Wan Yun was somewhat impatient to listen to non-relating matters and asked, “At the end, it is still because of her heart. Then what is Gui Momo’s view, was there any change in attitude from Little Five on His Highness Prince Ding?”
This was what she wanted to ask the most.
Gui Momo’s eyes turned and she said, “Fifth Young Lady seems to want to draw a line with His Highness Prince Ding and did not want this old servant to mention today. But this old servant has followed Fifth Young Lady for so many years and understands her temper. With regards to the matter of His Highness Prince Ding, Fifth Young Lady would not give up this easily. These words ware only said in exasperation of a young female and cannot be taken as the truth.”
As the words were spoken, a look of ruthlessness appeared on Ren Wan Yun’s face.
Comments