Volume 1 Chapter 27 Reunion (Part 2)

  "Let's go inside and settle the accounts with Old Mother Zhang! I'll take you there."

  Eleventh Girl hesitated and said, "Since that's the case, then I won't go." As she spoke, she had Dong Qing hand over the bundle in her hands to Xing Lin. "This is a shirt I made for Master, a skirt I made for Mistress, and a small jacket I made for Brother Rong. Please trouble Sister to give it to Mistress." She also had Dong Qing take out a small box and give it to her. "These are a few pouches I made in my free time. Miss can take them and distribute them among the sisters as a token of my goodwill."

  Miss Eleven's embroidery is indeed good, but it's not like no one else can compare to her. However, Miss Eleven often creates new and unique designs that others can't match, even Master Jian praises Miss Eleven for being exceptionally clever... Since she came specifically to deliver these items, they must have taken a lot of effort. Without opening the package, Xinglin knew that these pouches would definitely catch people's attention. She happily squatted down and bowed to Miss Eleven: "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Eleven." Then she accepted the package and smiled: "Among all the young ladies, your hands are the most skilled. Last time, you took the trouble to embroider a cloak for our grandmother, and until now, she still raves about it, saying that your plum blossom embroidery is just like real ones. When we visited relatives in Yanjing, everyone asked whose craftsmanship it was, and it made her quite proud. This time, you've again taken care of making clothes for Grandfather, Grandmother, and Brother Rong, I don't know how happy Grandmother will be when she finds out! If she knew that you sent something over without even coming in the door, she would scold Xinglin for not knowing etiquette. Miss Eleven must come in and have a cup of tea before leaving."

  Eleventh Sister insisted: "We can come back to see Grandma later, it's not too late."

  Apricot forest saw Xiuliu couldn't stay, sent Eleventh Lady out of the door, turned around and went to Big Madam's place.

  The old lady was looking at the account book and reporting numbers, while Mother Hang's ten fingers flew across the abacus.

  Apricot forest didn't dare to disturb, waited for Hang mother to stop and reported a number, grandma took out the pen and wrote it in the account book, she smiled and came forward to give grandma a gift: "Grandma, just now eleven miss came, said that she made clothes for grandfather and you, as well as brother Rong." As she spoke, she presented the package, "Eleven miss heard that you and Hang mother were calculating accounts, insisted on leaving, saying that she would come to see you another day."

  The old lady listened seriously and looked at Xinglin: "Why didn't you keep her?"

  Apricot forest is slightly stunned.

  The old lady said: "Leave your luggage behind and go outside to settle accounts with those women."

  "Yes." Anlin's expression turned slightly stern, and he bowed his knee in respect before retreating.

  Mother Hang smiled and said: "Xinglin is still young, grandma will teach you slowly!"

  The old lady shook her head: "She's already eighteen this year... I originally wanted to let the master take her in, and I would have had a helper. Who knew...". She sighed, "She's not big, but she has a big heart. Even Miss Luo dares to treat her like this, it's likely that she won't be easy to deal with in the future."

  "Whether she lives or dies is up to you with just one word." Mother Hang said with a smile, "Besides, our son-in-law has never been interested in anyone around him. When Taolin was still here, he didn't have any thoughts about her, let alone Xianglin who has such a temperament and behavior."

  Tao Lin, it was that maid who had offended Master before...

  When Old Mrs. Gu heard her mention her name, she couldn't help but frown: "It's really a shame to our Gu family, and it makes me unable to lift my head in front of Master!"

  Mother Hang looked around and saw that there was no movement, then lowered her voice and said: "Don't worry, grandma, the lady has taken care of it early. I'll make sure to let people be unaware."

  The "wife" she mentioned is the mother of Big Grandma.

  The old lady's face did not improve due to Hang Mama's words, but instead became somewhat annoyed and opened the package sent by Eleven Girl: "Don't talk about these messy things... look at what Eleven Girl has done for us?"

  The old man's shirt has dense needlework, the grandmother's skirt has a cluster of orchids that look lifelike, and the embroidered deer on Brother Huan's cloak are vividly alive...

  "Unfortunately, she wasn't born in Madame's belly!"

  "Who says it isn't." The old lady also looked at her with a sympathetic expression, "It's all fate."

  The two of them thought of Luo Yuanniang at the same time.

  For a moment, silence.

  After a while, Grandma suddenly regained her spirit: "Right, have the local products been sent to Second Master and Third Master?"

  "Long ago, according to Mrs. Xu's instructions, it has been sent. At this time, I'm afraid it has already arrived."

  The old lady nodded and then talked with Hang's mother about the account from earlier.

  That day's lunch was served an hour earlier than usual. After the meal, the mistress told them to take a short nap: "...... Don't let Xu's family see that your wife's sister is like a frost-bitten eggplant! You all dress up and come to my room when you're done."

  The Fifth Daughter and the Eleventh Daughter naturally did not dare to disobey, each returning to their room to rest for a while, washing their faces, bathing, combing their hair, and changing their clothes. The Eldest Lady was busy with Mrs. Xu sorting out the various gifts brought from Yuhang, preparing to present them at the Xu's house later.

  In the end, everyone met at Mrs. Dai's house.

  Inside the five girls, there is a white jacket, below which is a white skirt with a rose-red brocade jacket with golden threads outside, black hair tied up in a bun, inserted with a silk and gold hairpin of an immortal, and a pair of amethyst earrings hanging from her ears. Looks elegant and dignified.

  The mistress frowned and said, "Go change that skirt to a light yellow one."

  The fifth daughter's face turned red and she went to change her skirt.

  The madam's gaze fell on Eleven.

  Inside, a pale green silk jacket, under which is a bean-green embroidered skirt, a goose-yellow plain face with four auspicious like-meaning embroidery flowers, combed into double buns, wearing several pearl flowers. The clothes are elegant but somewhat stiff.

  The lady couldn't help but rub her temples: "What's wrong today? Neither of them is letting me have a peaceful day."

  "It must be because I was too nervous." Mrs. Xu thought of herself going to see everyone's clothes and explained with a smile.

  The old lady sighed and ordered the eleventh girl: "Wear a pink silk jacket, a lotus-colored skirt, and a white embroidered skirt. Also let your hair down, braid it into a bun, and insert a few pearl flowers... Hurry up!"

  The eleventh girl had no choice but to fly back to her room and change into clothes according to Mrs. Zhang's wishes.

  When he returned home, Wu Niang had already changed her clothes.

  The rose-red skirt was paired with a light yellow dress, and the dignified beauty had a hint of brightness. She, on the other hand, wore a pink silk blouse with a lotus-colored skirt, and her gentle elegance had a hint of refinement.

  Eleventh Sister suddenly discovered that she couldn't find any opportunity to take advantage of in the Luo family.

  Her hand clenched into a fist involuntarily.

  There must be other ways...

  The horse carriage slowly drove out of Baoda Alley, turned left onto Baoda Street, and after exiting Baoda Street, it turned right onto Dongzheng Avenue. Then, continuing west on Dongzheng Avenue, it passed by Zheng'an Gate and the Imperial Garden's Tai Chi Yuan before arriving at the residence of Yongping Hou in Hehua Li after a short while.

  The lotus flower was originally called Hehua Slope, which is a small lake belonging to Tai Chi. When Emperor Taizong built the Tai Chi Garden, he thought its location was a bit biased and was taken over by Ning Guo Long Princess, who enclosed the lake and built a separate courtyard. Later, after the failure of the "Zheng An Wang Mou Ni Case", the princess took poison and died, her family property was confiscated, and this courtyard was also recovered by the Imperial Household Department. Later, when the Xu family restored their title, the original mansion in Shi Shihutong had been given to his uncle by Emperor Xiaozong, so Emperor Yingzong gave this separate courtyard of Ning Guo Long Princess to the Xu family.

  "Doesn't Elder Sister's family live in the Royal Villa?" Listening to Madame Wang talk about their upcoming trip to Lotus Flower, Fifth Daughter was full of excitement.

  "Not all of it." The old lady paused, "In the past, due to the ' Zheng An Wang's rebellion case', many families were cleared of their grievances and received merits. The Xu family voluntarily suggested that they would move out together with the Zheng family, Duke Dingguo, and the Lin family, Marquis Weibei, to divide up the residence of Princess Chang. Otherwise, how could 'Hehua Slope' be called 'Hehua Li'?"

  It's said that the Xu family is squeezed in with others in a separate courtyard, Wu Niang slightly frowned.

  The lady noticed her disapproval and felt somewhat displeased, saying: "Although Zheng's family got the main house of the other courtyard, Lin's and Xu's families divided the garden of the other courtyard. However, Emperor Yingzong thought that Xu's mansion was not smaller than Princess Chang's other courtyard back then, so he gave only one-third of the garden to Lin's family, while Xu's family got two-thirds. That other courtyard was built by Princess Chang for her own quiet retirement in her later years, and the garden had a beautiful landscape with mountains and peaks overlapping, wisteria flowers covering everything, very elegant. As for the size of the mansion, Xu's family didn't count as much among the nobles in Yanjing, but when it came to scenery, they were also one of the best."

  The fifth daughter knew she was out of place, and hastily smiled: "I was just thinking that later mother might let my older sister send someone to take me for a stroll... I've grown up like this, but have never been to such a noble place before, wanting to broaden my horizons."

  The lady's face slightly cleared: "We still have to stay in Yanjing for a while, and there will be plenty of opportunities later."

  As soon as she finished speaking, someone outside the carriage curtain said: "Auntie, we are passing by Taichi Garden. Do you want to take a look?" The speaker was a rough servant woman sent by the Xu family.

  The fifth daughter listened with a smile, but was fiercely stared at by the big wife. She slowly and unhurriedly parted the curtain and said to the old woman: "No need. Looking from Dongzheng Avenue, it's just seeing a few trees as thick as an arm span. If it were summer, it would be worth looking at, but in this cold weather, I think it's better not to."

  The old woman "heh heh" laughed twice and stopped making a sound.

  The old lady whispered to Wu Niang and Shi Yi Niang, "When we arrive at the Xu family's house, don't look around, don't lower your head, and don't panic. When it's time to speak, speak; when it's not, just smile slightly. If someone gives you something, accept it graciously, don't push and pull like a petty housewife. When they serve snacks, try one without hesitation, don't be timid and awkward like you've never seen the world..." She went on and on, making Wu Niang tense up as well. Shi Yi Niang naturally also put on an anxious expression. The old lady finally stopped: "In short, the Xu family is of high social status, so don't embarrass the Luo family."

  The two of them hastily and respectfully replied in unison: "Yes."

  The lady raised her hand and smoothed out her temples, then pulled at the already very tidy collar of her garment.

  The eleventh girl was shocked.

  The carriage had come to a stop, and outside someone was speaking in hushed tones. After a while, the commotion subsided, and then the carriage jolted as if it had run over something before starting up again.

  Inside the carriage, everyone was silent, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

  The horse carriage went for less than a short while before stopping again.

  The curtain was lifted, and Tao's mother's smiling round face appeared before them: "Madam, we've arrived!"

  These days have been plagued by power outages, so I won't be able to update for the time being... even normal updates are done at work...... ⊙﹏⊙b sweat...... Please forgive me!