Old Madam Su knew that entrusting such a girl to Old Madam Song’s care could not rely entirely on their friendship. After all, Chen Jinxin’s situation was special—placing her in any household would be a source of trouble.
Therefore, since Old Madam Song was willing to take in and care for Chen Jinxin based on their friendship, she would provide equal or even doubled compensation to consolidate that relationship.
Old Madam Song sighed heavily. She personally tucked in Chen Jinxin’s blanket, then walked outside supporting herself on Yushu’s hand.
The tender green willow trees that had just sprouted had now completely unfurled. Their long branches hung down, swaying whenever the wind passed. They complemented the several pots of bougainvillea placed at the entrance to the eastern wing courtyard, which looked especially vivid and bright.
But for the girl inside that room, there might never be spring in her world again. Before she could bloom, she had already withered and decayed from vibrant brightness.
Whose fault was this? Old Madam Song thought of the Su family’s eldest young master and first madam, and in addition to disdain, several measures of vigilance arose in her heart.
She suddenly turned back to look at Yushu: “I remember yesterday that maid beside Xiaoyi came looking for you? And gave you a twisted silk three-ring white jade bracelet?”
According to the old madam’s temperament, she should have waited a few more days to observe carefully before taking action. Today, she was probably stimulated by seeing Miss Chen.
Yushu lowered her head knowingly, as respectful and docile as always: “Indeed. It gave me quite a fright. I asked her if Sixth Miss had sent her, and she said yes. The item was also given by Sixth Miss.”
Stealing and concealing a master’s property could still be forgiven, but falsely accusing one’s master and calling a deer a horse was particularly detestable!
A trace of disgust flashed across Old Madam Song’s brow, and some displeasure arose in her heart.
Madam Li seemed capable, gentle, and measured—how could the senior maid she assigned to Song Chuyi turn out to be such a fool who had fallen into money’s grip and liked to speculate about her master’s thoughts?
After a long silence, Old Madam Song laughed coldly and instructed Yushu: “Go see what Xiaoyi is doing and tell her to come dine with me tonight.”
Yushu understood Old Madam Song’s intention. After escorting the old madam back to the main courtyard, she made a trip to the side pavilion.
Song Chuyi was in her room preparing New Year gifts for her sisters. Seeing her arrive, she warmly invited her to sit.
Hong Yu was rolling thread, Luyi was sketching patterns in the corridor, and Qing Tao was feeding the birds. Only Huang Yao was nowhere to be seen. Yushu waited for a while but still didn’t see Huang Yao, so she smiled and asked: “How is it that these three are so busy, yet Huang Yao has gone off to enjoy leisure?”
Hong Yu pursed her lips without speaking. Luyi also silently turned her head away.
Yushu frowned somewhat puzzled.
Song Chuyi smiled and smoothed things over: “She’s not enjoying leisure—she’s probably delivering the plum vase to Mother. The bougainvillea in the old madam’s courtyard is blooming beautifully. I picked a few branches to arrange in vases, thinking to send one to the old madam, elder aunt, and the others as well. It adds a bit of festive cheer.”
The old madam’s room hadn’t received any yet, and this Huang Yao was actually so good at currying favor.
Song Chuyi glanced outside. Hong Yu understood immediately and, using the excuse of fetching hot water, gently and quietly pushed open Nanny Wang’s door.
Nanny Wang was packing things to go home for the New Year—she had requested half a month’s leave from Madam Li to go home and see her recently born grandson.
Hong Yu exclaimed in surprise, asking knowingly: “Nanny is going home?”
Nanny Wang had only requested leave from Madam Li and hadn’t yet informed Song Chuyi. Hearing this, she felt somewhat uncomfortable but still nodded: “There are some matters at home. I have no choice but to return for a few days first.”
Her relationship with Hong Yu and Luyi had always been poor, as clearly demarcated as a watershed.
Hong Yu didn’t bother with pleasantries either. She frowned and asked: “Does Nanny know where Huang Yao went? Sister Yushu is waiting for her in our miss’s room and hasn’t seen her for quite a while.”
Yushu?
Nanny Wang’s eyes widened. She suddenly remembered yesterday when Huang Yao had sneakily come to ask her for a bracelet. What had Huang Yao said at the time? She said she had made an important mistake and needed to smooth over relations with Yushu…
It seemed Yushu had come looking for her because of this. But Huang Yao had gone to Madam Li’s place and definitely wouldn’t return for a while. Nanny Wang felt somewhat troubled. After thinking carefully for a moment, she smiled: “If that’s the case, I’ll accompany Miss Hong Yu there. That girl is probably held up in the kitchen. Isn’t it all for our young miss’s benefit?”
Song Chuyi had actually guessed correctly! Hong Yu was slightly surprised. When they had returned to the residence, Song Chuyi had instructed them that if Yushu came today, they should go directly to Nanny Wang, who would naturally cover for Huang Yao.
Although surprised in her heart, Hong Yu managed to maintain her composure on the surface without revealing anything. She headed toward the room with an indifferent attitude.
Nanny Wang gritted her teeth, organized her bundle, and waited a while. Seeing that Huang Yao still had no sign of appearing, she reluctantly shuffled to the main room. When Yushu saw her arrive, she didn’t make things difficult and even smiled and greeted her.
Nanny Wang didn’t dare put on airs before Yushu. She smiled obsequiously, called out “Miss Yushu” politely, then continued: “That girl Huang Yao is just so loyal. As soon as she returned to the residence, she couldn’t rest for half a moment and went to the kitchen to watch over the snow pear soup that’s been stewing since noon for Sixth Miss.”
The expression on Yushu’s face slowly changed. Earlier, Sixth Miss had said Huang Yao went to Second Madam’s room to deliver the plum vase, but according to Nanny Wang, she was worried Song Chuyi might get heatiness and went to the kitchen to wait for the snow pear soup.
She sneered inwardly for a moment, inevitably becoming suspicious. She stared at Nanny Wang for a while, her gaze suddenly turning sharp—the gold and jade reunion filigree hairpin Nanny Wang wore on her head was one that Old Madam Song had specially ordered from the Treasure Pavilion last year for the young ladies of the household. Yet now it was being worn on a nanny’s head!
Connecting this to yesterday when Huang Yao had given such an expensive bracelet with such a casual attitude as if it were a trifling thing, Yushu felt wicked flames rising in her heart.
But she still restrained herself. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Nanny Wang, she stood up and took her leave from Song Chuyi: “The old madam has asked you to dine with her this evening. I’ll come back later to escort you.”
Song Chuyi smiled and took a pouch that Luyi handed her, stuffing it into Yushu’s hand: “I embroidered this myself. Consider it my New Year gift to you, Sister.”
The pouch was embroidered with gold-green lustrous silk thread depicting two fish playing among lotus flowers. The needlework showed no signs of being immature or crude. She smiled and sighed admiringly, then glanced at Nanny Wang before leaving.
After Yushu left, Nanny Wang informed Song Chuyi about requesting half a month’s leave.
Song Chuyi glanced at the golden and gleaming gold and jade reunion filigree hairpin on her head, also smiling warmly and amiably: “Since Mother has agreed, Nanny should feel free to go. I heard Nanny has a lovely little grandson. I congratulate you first, Nanny.”
This Sixth Miss had become even better at speaking after her illness. Nanny Wang felt comfortable hearing this and smiled as she thanked Song Chuyi. After she left, Luyi couldn’t help but let her willow-leaf eyebrows stand on end. She spat on the ground: “Such a person truly makes one feel blocked up just looking at her!”
Many thanks for everyone’s rewards and comments. Unable to repay you otherwise, today I’m adding an extra chapter. Tonight’s update will still be around seven or eight o’clock. Thank you all.