“Not yet!” Nanny Tong supported her hand and said in a low voice, “Yesterday, Chun Yan came to this old servant crying and wailing, saying she knew she was wrong and wanted to return to Miss’s side to serve. She also slipped this old servant a gold bracelet, which this old servant accepted.”
In the long corridor with red lacquered carved decorations, white lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the wind.
Bai Qingyan held her hand warmer, her expression calm and gentle.
Everyone in the Duke’s mansion knew why Chun Yan had been moved out of Qinghui Courtyard, so naturally, no one gave Chun Yan a good face. If it weren’t for the items and silver that Bai Qingyan had rewarded her with in the past, supporting her, she probably wouldn’t even be able to drink a sip of hot water.
Seeing that her belongings… were almost completely taken by those servants who fawn over the powerful and look down on the weak through open theft and covert robbery, only then did she remember the benefits of Qinghui Courtyard.
Since her rebirth, she had been wondering how Prince Xin in her previous life had managed to place those letters forged in Grandfather’s handwriting into Grandfather’s study.
Not many people could enter and exit Grandfather’s study. Besides Grandmother, the Grand Princess, there was only her.
Thinking it over, she thought of Chun Yan. In her previous life, she had trusted Chun Yan greatly. Chun Yan and Chun Tao were the most favored senior maids before her. What if Chun Yan used the excuse of fetching something from Grandfather’s study for her, or the excuse of returning books to Grandfather’s study for her, taking the opportunity to hide the letters among them?
In her previous life, when those letters were found in Grandfather’s study, she had already been sent out of the capital by Dong Shi. She wasn’t clear on the specific details and could only guess.
Now that she had already set up a trap to lure the enemy in, she would put Chun Yan back by her side and have people watch her carefully.
After a moment, she spoke quietly: “These past few days I’ve been thinking about the taste of that oil tea noodles, but no matter whether it’s the main kitchen, small kitchen, or Chun Tao and Chun Xing, none of them can make that flavor.”
Nanny Tong had long become shrewd with age and naturally understood Bai Qingyan’s words, only saying: “In past winters, that girl Chun Yan liked to make this oil tea noodles dish and received many rewards from Miss! Since Miss is craving this flavor, this old servant will go give Chun Yan some pointers, considering I didn’t take her gold bracelet for nothing!”
“Nanny, go handle it! Chun Tao can accompany me to the mourning hall,” she said.
·
When Chun Yan heard from Nanny Tong that Bai Qingyan wanted to eat oil tea noodles today, tears immediately flowed out. She kowtowed to Nanny Tong: “Thank you for Nanny Tong’s guidance! Thank you for Nanny Tong’s guidance!”
“We servants can’t easily save up decent items we can present to others. I can’t very well take your gold bracelet for nothing.” Nanny Tong’s brows carried some severity. “But I’ll say this up front – if Miss really remembers old times and allows you back to Qinghui Courtyard, you better keep yourself in line! If you make another mistake… I won’t wait for Miss to speak – I’ll deal with you first myself. Don’t say this nanny was heartless then.”
“I understand! I understand! Nanny, rest assured, this servant will definitely not make mistakes again and will wholeheartedly serve Miss!” Chun Yan said while taking out several golden peanuts that Bai Qingyan had rewarded her from her bosom and giving them to Nanny Wu with sincere emotion. “This is this servant’s last bit of private savings, still from Miss’s rewards last year! Consider it Chun Yan’s thanks to Nanny!”
Nanny Wu accepted the golden peanuts, chuckled softly, and added: “Miss is keeping vigil in the mourning hall. By the latter half of the night, she’ll be cold and hungry!”
Chun Yan’s eyes brightened as she kowtowed heavily: “Thank you for Nanny’s guidance!”
Just after midnight.
Bai Qingyan had Bai Jinzhi, who was still injured, take the three younger sisters back to rest. She stayed in the mourning hall with Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong.
Nanny Tong came in carrying a black lacquered food box with gold descriptions, quietly kneeling behind Bai Qingyan: “Miss, you and Second Miss and Third Miss should eat something! Otherwise, you won’t be able to hold on.”
“Mm!” She nodded. “Jinxiu, Jintong… come eat something.”
The three sisters sat to one side. When they saw Nanny Tong open the food box, Bai Jintong was attracted by the aroma and leaned over: “It smells so good…”
“Oil tea noodles!” Bai Jintong was quite surprised.
Nanny Tong smiled and responded, serving each of the three a bowl and taking out several plates of freshly made refreshing side dishes from the food box.
Bai Qingyan held the small bowl and tasted a sip, then turned her head to ask Nanny Tong: “Who made today’s oil tea noodles? The taste is the same as what Chun Yan used to make.”
Nanny Tong knelt properly to one side, hands folded over her lower abdomen, saying in a low voice: “It was exactly that girl Chun Yan who made it! That girl heard that Miss had oil tea noodles made in the courtyard, but always felt the taste wasn’t right. Thinking that Miss was working hard, keeping vigil in the mourning hall, she made oil tea noodles and sent them over.”
Bai Jintong chuckled softly. Though she was eating the oil tea noodles Chun Yan made, she didn’t show any intention of being soft-hearted toward someone who had fed her, saying coldly, “I think she wants to beg Elder Sister to let her return to Qinghui Courtyard! I heard that girl hasn’t been having good days lately.”
Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together without speaking. She finished the bowl of oil tea noodles, put down the bowl and spoon, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, then said: “Where is Chun Yan?”
“Still waiting outside,” Nanny Tong said.
Bai Jintong sneered: “As expected…”
“If she wants to return to Qinghui Courtyard, let her return. Tell her to behave herself and not wander in front of me.” After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she stood up and continued keeping vigil, showing no signs of joy or anger.
Nanny Tong waited until Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jinzhi finished eating before cleaning up the bowls and food, walking along the corridor to the hanging flower gate. Chun Yan was leaning against the wall and eagerly walked forward two steps: “Nanny! Did Miss say she wanted to see me?”
Nanny Tong put on airs, handed the food box to Chun Yan, dabbed the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and said: “Miss remembers old times – this is your good fortune! Pack up and return to Qinghui Courtyard! Behave yourself and don’t wander in front of Miss. If you can stay well-behaved for a year or so, Miss will probably still remember your good points and might promote you back to her side.”
“Thank you for Nanny’s guidance! Thank you for Nanny’s guidance!” Chun Yan wept with joy, covering her mouth and crying.
“Alright! Go pack your things quickly. Return to Qinghui Courtyard first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Good!” After Chun Yan expressed her countless thanks, she left carrying the food box, feeling that her hardships had finally ended and good times had come.
Nanny Tong watched Chun Yan’s somewhat unsteady retreating figure, her eyes cold and clear. She flicked her handkerchief and turned toward the mourning hall to report back to Bai Qingyan.
“This old servant specifically instructed her to return to Qinghui Courtyard first thing tomorrow morning. Given that hoof’s personality of never wanting to suffer losses, having received Miss’s permission, tomorrow… she’ll return to Qinghui Courtyard with great fanfare to vent her frustrations properly.” Nanny Tong said in a low voice.
When Nanny Tong spoke, Bai Qingyan didn’t have Bai Jinxiu and Bai Jintong avoid hearing.
Bai Jintong listened with wide eyes: “Elder Sister? You letting Chun Yan return to Qinghui Courtyard isn’t out of old affection? Could it be… You have some plan.”
She respectfully continued the incense, kowtowed and knelt to one side, then said: “Nanny, have someone watch Chun Yan closely. Chun Tao, you should get close to Chun Yan these next few days. You’re now the most important senior maid before me – if you get one part close to her… she’ll be able to boast it as five parts.”