CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: GOING OUT

So, the maids started taking turns loitering at the entrance of Madam Wang’s room.

Chunyu and Qiuyun, the two prominent maids alongside Tong Minzhi, also went to demonstrate. Since they served the Lady and the Young Master, they caused the biggest uproar at Madam Wang’s door, and their words were the most unpleasant.

Madam Wang first cursed in anger, but after two days of cursing, she gained not a single advantage and was instead outdone by the young maids. After a day of silence, she unexpectedly brought out fruits and snacks: "The sun is fierce, why don’t you ladies come in and sit, so you don’t have to stand here in the sun." She warmly took Chunyu’s hand, "I’ve long heard that you are sensible, help me persuade the Third Miss to finish copying early, so as not to delay the Lady’s matters."

Chunyu and Qiuyun, who feared neither heaven nor earth, raised their heads and went in: "If we must go, then we’ll go!" Upon seeing the Third Miss, they began a wave of cold taunting, yet Madam Wang did not get angry. Instead, she continuously praised the two and even rewarded them with silver bracelets: "You two are both born beautiful and are so knowledgeable and well-mannered. Getting along under one roof, it’s good to interact a bit beforehand."

Chunyu and Qiuyun’s eyes lit up, and their faces turned red with embarrassment.

Madam Wang’s eyes flashed as she affectionately held their hands, "I’ve been through this; why be like this, my sisters? Who in the entire mansion is a fool? The Lady placed you beside the Seventh Young Master, and at your age, it’s clear to everyone what her intentions are!" She laughed, "Speaking of which, I should ask you for advice. Though I’m a bit older, I’ve never raised a young master, but a Daoist Liu in Yongzhou predicted this child of mine to be a young master. Anyone can raise a child, but serving a young master, there’s no one as experienced as you in the entire mansion." She was being extremely modest!

These words hit home for the two. There were simply no maids beside the First Young Master, and the four servants didn’t know anything. The second branch was none of their concern. In the entire mansion, only the two of them were the main maids beside the Seventh Young Master, so naturally, they were considered the most esteemed, and serving the Young Master was a job they were most familiar with.

The three of them had a rather pleasant conversation, and from that day on, Chunyu and Qiuyun visited regularly.

The day before the third day of the third month, the Third Miss, Tong Xiyang, stumbled out of the courtyard, her eyes sunken, her cheekbones protruding, followed by a row of maids holding dozens of stacks of white paper densely inscribed with scriptures.

In less than a month, she had copied over five million words; Xiqiu couldn’t fathom how she did it!

However, according to Tong Xiyan, most of the writing inside was different. Tong Xiyang explained, "It was fine at the beginning, but later my arm started trembling, and then I caught a cold for a few days, so the handwriting varied."

Xiqiu smiled noncommittally; sometimes, what people say is only meant to be heard. Moxiang and Shuixiang from her room hadn’t come out in a month, and when they appeared yesterday, they were nearly skin and bones. Even the maids beside Madam Wang were thin and unrecognizable; it’s said that Nanny Qiu went out once every three to five days. If she hadn’t hired someone to copy, what else could it be?

The Lady, noticing Tong Xiyang’s visibly thinner face, casually placed the scriptures aside and said with a smile, "Are you feeling better? If not, you can rest a few more days."

Tong Xiyang immediately knelt down, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I’ve been reflecting while copying scriptures and realized many things. From now on, I will certainly follow rules and regulations and learn proper conduct from you!" With that, she kowtowed three times.

The Lady nodded, "It’s good you’ve come to understand!" She paused and nonchalantly sipped her tea, "Go back and prepare, tomorrow we’ll go to Puji Temple."

The month-long, dark days finally ended; Tong Xiyang’s face shone with joy.

Chunyan brought in clothes for tomorrow’s outing, a crimson overcoat made by a person instructed by the Lady. Xiqiu didn’t even glance at it and instructed her, "Take the bird’s nest the Lady rewarded last time to the Third Miss, and also give some to Moxiang and Shuixiang. While you’re at it, chat with Shuixiang." Chunyan was startled as she was not familiar with Shuixiang, "What does Miss want to ask?"

"I heard Qiuyun and Chunyu have been getting close to Madam Wang lately. Go and ask Shuixiang about it. It’s something everyone knows, and she won’t hide it from you." After a pause, she added, "Take five taels of silver for her to nourish herself and see what Qiuyun and Madam Wang talk about most days."

Chunyan was stunned, and her question slipped unconsciously out of her mouth, "Why does Miss want to ask Shuixiang?" She remembered the argument Shuixiang had with Siliu last time and had only responded impersonally since then.

Xiqiu, holding an old cloak, was unraveling the lotus flowers on it, "I naturally understand your concerns, but have you considered that just because you resent the Third Miss because of this incident, doesn’t mean Shuixiang wouldn’t?!" Last time in the bamboo grove, the one who rushed over to support Tong Xiyang was Moxiang. Shuixiang stood aside with a distant look in her eyes, doing nothing until making a token gesture of support at the very end.

Sometimes, people’s attitudes inadvertently show, and Shuixiang’s discontent towards Tong Xiyang definitely wasn’t just a day or two.

Chunyan suddenly realized, and she also took a corner of the cloak, imitating Xiqiu in unpicking the stitches, "I understand. I’ll go after the Third Miss rests at noon."

Xiqiu saw that she understood her intentions and said no more.

On the second day, the maids and servant women who were to accompany set about tidying up from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m., preparing the carriage. Maids from each room busied themselves for half the day ensuring the masters had their changes of clothes and even packing tea sets and even chamber pots; the Lady together with several young masters and misses set off grandly in six carriages.

The curtain of the carriage was slightly lifted by the breeze, letting in a warm wind along with the noisy hustle of the marketplace outside. Xiqiu sat poised and serious, her gaze falling outside the carriage window as the scene beyond the partially lifted curtain caught her eye.

This was her first sight of the street market of Great Zhou; the last time she went out was four years ago. Being too young then, she sat squeezed with several maids beside the concubine, not daring to lift the curtain and peek.

Beside her, Tong Xiyan nudged her, "I heard from Third Brother that there is a place on this street selling osmanthus wine that is particularly delicious. Should I have one of the servant women following us buy some?" He was seeking Xiqiu’s opinion.

Rarely did Tong Xiyan show such childlike sides, she gathered her thoughts and laughed, "With six or seven carriages ahead and behind, stopping again would delay endlessly. If you’re hungry, let Sixing fetch some date cakes for you. I instructed her to prepare some before we set off."

In modern terms, Tong Xiyan was just a thirteen-year-old girl. Usually dignified and reserved, but still with a playful heart, "I am not hungry, just curious to try it." With anticipation, she secretly opened the curtain slightly and peered at the street scene.

Xiqiu suddenly missed her past life, strolling with her roommate where each held a box of stinky tofu, eating leisurely. Now, they merely wanted a glimpse of the outside world, yet had to consider their reputations, resorting to stealing glances through a barely lifted curtain.

Xiqiu’s gaze turned southward, wondering if Yongzhou was any different?! Thinking this, she chuckled helplessly, "How about having the servant buy some on our way back?"

Tong Xiyan also understood her reasoning and didn’t plead further, focusing on observing the outside. After the carriage jolted and came to a brief halt, they had already left the city gate.