Chapter 99 Cold Reception

  Beat the dog and look at the master, arrange a high-end guest room for Zhen Shiniang's escort, which is equivalent to raising her value in disguise.

  If you really agree, and the servants in the mansion see it, who would still dare to be lazy with Madam Zhen?

  "This promotion is really making a big deal out of nothing!" Second Aunt broke the silence with a snort.

  Third Auntie Ma Ru Jiao had been a little crazy after her son's death, and after she got better, she was always dull and silly, but when Ma Cai Xiang said something interesting, she would follow with a silly laugh.

  Big Aunt Yang Feng glanced at her mouth without speaking, and the gaze towards Chu Xinyi had a hint of schadenfreude.

  "Chu Xinyi only did not see, she picked up the teacup and gently tapped the floating tea leaves on top, slowly saying, 'Tell him that all the guest rooms are full, hmm...' She lowered her eyebrows and thought for a moment, 'Let them squeeze in with the guards at the mansion for one night temporarily, and treat them to the same standard as the guards.'"

  It's just a matter of guarding the courtyard, and the general's mansion also has rules to follow. Even if Shen Zhongjie is informed, he can't find any fault!

  Rong Sheng said, this is what General meant... Gao Quan still hesitated a bit.

  "The general has never interfered with internal court matters." Chu Xinyi didn't even bat an eyelid.

  He immediately retreated at the sound of the drumbeat.

  Seeing her so calm, Yang Feng couldn't help but think, "Indeed, she has a bit of the mistress's demeanor, I just don't know if tonight is her day, will the general go to the main room or come here?"

  Ma Cai Xiang's expression revealed a few hints of confusion, "...... Rong Sheng never speaks falsely, could it be that the General really means it?" A spark flashed in her mind as she thought to herself, "What does the General mean by this?"

  There is some silence in the room.

  Just then a little maid came in and announced, "Madam Fu has arrived." Yang Feng smoothly changed the subject, "We were just missing her here, how convenient that she's arrived."

  “…what's missing from me?” Fu Xiu Zheng was surrounded by the maid, one foot stepped into the door, seeing everyone looking over, and chuckled. "So several sisters are all here, I said, can't find anyone anywhere." She changed the subject, "The lady has arrived, resting in the main house..." She intentionally emphasized the two words "main house", "Sisters are still drinking tea here, not going to pay respects, aren't you afraid of breaking the rules and being punished by the general?"

  Her eyes narrowed slightly at Chu Xinyi, with a hint of provocation in her tone.

  Everyone in this mansion knows that. The general is indeed a man who values discipline and order.

  The big aunt laughed and said, "Even if the sky falls, there will be tall people holding it up, what am I afraid of?" Yu Guang glanced at Chu Xinyi with a subtle gaze.

  Chu Xinyi smiled slowly. "...The general doesn't allow me to see her, so I naturally have to hide." Rubbing her cheek, "You're afraid, just go and pay your respects obediently."

  She still has this reliance!

  The general may not have said this to himself, but he is now following the crowd. Once blamed by the general... Although he didn't get along with Zhen's family, the general was always strict with rules... Yang Feng's heart skipped a beat and his eyes involuntarily turned to Fu Xiu and Li Cai Xiang.

  Seeing three people raising their eyebrows and exchanging glances, Chu Xinyi ground her teeth, but remained expressionless on the surface, "......It's just right to accompany me to pay respects to the old lady."

  This statement has some meaning now.

  Yang Feng's face was filled with a mixture of shock and delight. Her expression turned serious.

  As soon as Chu Xinyi touched her face, Ma Ruixiao suddenly remembered the time last year when her face was beaten into a pig's head and burst out laughing. A mouthful of tea choked in her mouth, causing her to cough violently.

  The little maid hurried forward to help rub his back and wipe it clean.

  The tense air was stirred up clean.

  A flurry of activity, and it seemed as if everyone had forgotten the topic they were just discussing. No one brought it up again, and instead they started chatting idly about family matters.

  The lively discussion was interrupted by a busy aunt who came over to ask for instructions. "Ask the lady of the house how to prepare dinner in the kitchen?"

  Chu Xinyi thought for a moment, "Let's go ask what the old lady means."

  The old lady returned quickly, "......the old madam said she hadn't heard that there was another young mistress in this mansion."

  Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

  Yang Feng and Fu Xiuxian both let out a sigh of relief.

  "...Well, since Old Lady Ji has spoken, let's just prepare a regular guest meal then." Chu Xinyi said slowly.

  A burst of cheerful laughter came from the hall.

  Four dishes and one soup, this is the standard of meals for the maids who come to deliver messages from various mansions in the General's mansion. Seeing the kitchen send this over, Hong Sang and Hong Lian couldn't help but snicker, and they had an even better idea. They didn't even enter the main room, just sending a small maid to set it up.

  Zhen Shining usually had four dishes and one soup, and didn't feel uncomfortable. It was Qiuju who picked and chose for most of the day, finally coming to the conclusion that "even if it's the golden hall and jade horse of the general's mansion, it's not as comfortable as staying by Miss' side. At least they don't have slaves with such good fortune."

  A person lives a lifetime, eating and drinking are major events, everything else is nonsense, these are the golden words of the young lady from her family.

  Zhen Shiniang burst out laughing.

  This chrysanthemum is too lovely.

  Her culinary skills are better than anyone else's, even if this meal isn't the General's residence intentionally making things difficult, don't expect the taste to be great either. Thinking of this, her mood suddenly cleared up, and she ate a happy meal, neither master nor servant was affected by this.

  After dinner, Qiu Ju lazily lay on the bed, feeling that it was thick and soft underneath her. She exerted herself to press down with her body, completely unlike the hard kang she normally slept on. So she simply got up, took off her shoes, and bounced around on the bed.

  Step on it hard with your foot.

  Zhen Shining was admiring the antiques on the shelf when she heard a rustling sound behind her, and turned around to see, "......what are you doing?" Her eyes widened in shock.

  "Miss, why is this kang so soft?" Qiuju stamped her foot again, "It seems to be all quilts, how can we get warm?"

  "This is a bed, not a kang......" Zhen Shiniang burst out laughing, "Don't jump around, tread carefully or General will have you arrested here tomorrow."

  The chrysanthemum was indeed scared and didn't dare to jump anymore.

  Lowering his head to look under the bed, he found it was made of wood and wondered, "Not burning a kang, how can this room not be cold at all?"

  "This wall skirt is surrounded by fire cauldrons..." Zhen Shi Niang said, sitting down beside the bed and stroking the soft silk mosquito net.

  Five years ago, on her first day here, she fell onto this bed. The embroidered curtains and bedding were exquisite and luxurious, with a strong jasmine scent that made her feel nauseous.

  Returning to the old place, it's no longer as luxurious as before, and the strong fragrance is gone. The plain-colored curtains, soft mattress, everything prioritizes comfort, the whole house is decorated in a clean and refreshing style, without any feminine touch, Zhen Shiniang smiled wryly.

  Although he is a bit arrogant, he is quite disciplined. He loves and dotes on Chu Xinyi, but since she hasn't been officially recognized as his wife, he doesn't allow her to enter the main hall.

  "We live inside, where will the general stay tonight?" Just as she was thinking about this, Qiuju suddenly asked, "Will they drive us out?"

  A rare glimmer of unease flickered in her large, clear eyes.

  She had just protected her home and mistress, and hadn't thought of anything else. Now that she wanted to rest, she discovered that this was actually a specially made extremely comfortable and luxurious big bed. Only then did she belatedly react, no wonder Hong Lian was so tense earlier.

  They actually occupied Shen Zhong's bed!

  Thinking of Shen Zhong's cold face, Qiu Ju's face turned pale.

  "...Don't worry about him, he has five aunts, and can spend the night in any of their homes." Zhen Shi'niang gently patted her.

  "General, won't you really drive us away?" Qiuju was still a bit worried. "Or else, I'll go find Rongsheng to think of a solution?" It's better to be prepared ahead of time than to be suddenly driven out without dignity.

  "General is the most particular person about rules, this house was originally mine, now I'm just borrowing it for a night, he should be the one to offer me his room and go find another place to stay." Regardless of anything else, she was his nominal wife, so according to rules, she should be staying in the main house.

  Let Rong Sheng bring her here, he must have planned to let her live in the main house.

  The arrogant person is even more arrogant, even if she guessed wrong, but for just one night, he would never compete with her, a weak woman, to sleep in bed. It was precisely because of this that she dared to bring Qiūjué into the house during the day.

  Seeing Qiu Ju still in a daze, she pushed her, "Go get a bucket of water, we'll wash up and rest early." After running around all day, she was really tired.

  Seeing Zhen Shining's gaze as calm and composed as ever, Qiu Ju's heart completely put down its guard, happily responded with a "yes", pushed the door open and walked out.

  Before long, Hong Lian followed her in, "...but just for one night, Madam will have to make do, General has always been frugal, we are not a wealthy family, how can we afford to burn hot water and bathe every day in this cold winter? Even the General himself only bathes once every three days." With a hint of disdain in her eyes.

  She still thinks she's a rare delicacy.

  As a doctor, Zhen Shiniang was used to being clean and tidy. After running around all day, she couldn't sleep without taking a bath. Besides, in such a large general's mansion, would they care about burning an extra bucket of water?

  Zhen Shiniang raised an eyebrow, "I'm going to see the princess, not taking a bath first? Is Honglian trying to insult the princess?" She also said, "Are you trying to make the general disobey orders?"

  In modern times, it's not a big deal, but this is ancient times, and she had just learned from Zhao Ayi that "when meeting someone of higher status, one must always bathe and change clothes to show respect."

  Hong's face suddenly flushed red.

  Zhen Shiniang ignored her and directly ordered Qiuju to go find Rongsheng for water.

  Afraid that Zhen Shiniang would catch a chill, Qiu Ju asked Rong to light four or five basins of charcoal in the washing area. The little maidservants of Haoran House were driven frantic by her constant demands. Hong Lian was so angry that she stomped her feet and scolded in her room. She secretly vowed that after General would drive them out tonight, she would definitely teach them a lesson!

  ……

  He and Xiao Yu discussed how to take advantage of the plan to send Liu Gongzhu as a concubine, infiltrate the Qi state to understand local customs and geography, and learn about the security arrangements within the palace during the Yuanxiao Festival. When Shen Zhongjie returned to the General's Mansion, it was already late at night, and Rong Sheng personally received him at the Weihua Gate.

  "...... Has your wife returned?" Shen Zhongke asked as soon as he saw Rong Sheng.

  For some reason, thinking of Zhen Shining living in the General's Mansion, a thrill inexplicably arose in his heart.

  "In the evening, he brought back Guo Shuai and Chi Shuai... Rong Sheng waved his hand to dismiss the small servant beside him, took over the lantern and personally carried it for Shen Zhongge,"High Quan said that there is no guest room at home, Chu Niang let arrange in the backyard and squeeze with the guards, I'm afraid this matter will be heard by the emperor's ears It's not good to hear, now I've asked Chen Chaosheng, the manager of miscellaneous affairs, to move out two upper rooms in another house, but... "He changed the subject,"Because it was far from Madam, Guo Xiu was very unhappy, and it was only after repeated assurances that Madam would not have any problems in the General's Mansion that he reluctantly agreed."