Mei Niang watched the girls bickering with a smile. Mother Wang seemed to be hesitant to speak. Mei Niang asked, "What do you want to say, mother?"
Mother Wang said, "After washing and dressing, and finishing her breakfast, the eldest grandmother had to rush to Ziyun Hall to handle affairs. She had to sit there from noon to noon. The affairs had to be taken care of in a hurry, and she had to listen to the instructions of the housekeeper and check the accounts at the same time. These two days, she must be very busy. I am afraid she can't take care of Heng'er, and I am afraid she can't take care of the master either. Now that the eldest grandmother is well, it is reasonable for her to have meals with the master every day..."
Mei Niang nodded: "That's right, I also feel that I have neglected you too much. You guys should pay attention to me. From now on, for the three meals a day, no matter which one it is, as long as my time with you is the same, you should arrange for us to eat together!"
Mother Wang smiled and replied, "I know!"
Mei Niang looked at Mama Wang: "Mama is my wet nurse, after Mama Ji who is beside the old lady, and Mama who is beside the first and second wives, it's you. You follow me every day and manage Qinghua Courtyard. You have to gradually establish your authority. Tomorrow, the old lady said that she would add maids and servants to Qinghua Courtyard. Needless to say, most of those sent back are their people. All of them should stay in the front, guard the gate at night, sweep and do rough work, and are not allowed to enter the inner courtyard easily. Only people like us will stay with me. When I have the convenience in the future, I will buy a few little maids from outside and train them slowly. For the two concubines, set a rule that they don't need to come to me if there is nothing to do. As for the East Garden... let's wait and see. When Miss Zheng or Miss Zhuang comes, if I am not there, invite them to sit in the small flower hall. There is no need to enter the East Garden. After all, that is where the master studies and practices martial arts. Although the cousins have known each other since childhood and have grown up, they should avoid suspicion!"
Mother Wang agreed, and Mei Niang blinked: "I don't even remember what Dongyuan looks like. I should go in and take a look!"
Cui Si said hurriedly, "The eldest lady should have gone there long ago. Ruibao and Ruizhu are so arrogant over there. In the East Garden, there are only two maids except for two or three maids. The master indulges them, as if they are the masters of the garden. What they say is what they say. The osmanthus flowers in the garden are the best in autumn. We wanted to pick a few branches to put in a vase, but the maid stopped us and said that we should ask them first..."
Mei Niang raised her eyebrows slightly: "How did the master indulge them? Did you see it?"
Cui Si said, "Who didn't see it? The two maids don't have to do anything. They just embroider, chat, arrange flowers and drink tea in the garden every day. The master is not often at home, so when he comes home, he only wants them to serve him a cup of tea. They probably just do some things like folding quilts and changing clothes in the room. The maids are responsible for tending the garden, serving meals, and clearing dishes. In addition, there are several servants who often go to the East Garden. Baoju and Baizhan are the closest to the master. They have followed the master since they were young, and many things are done by these two."
Mei Niang smiled and said, "That's fine. Girls are supposed to be more delicate and reserved. You don't have to carry anything on your shoulders or in your hands! As long as they don't act like slaves who are spoiled and bully others, it's fine."
Cuisi said angrily, "They are just like that! They think they are superior to others because they come from the old lady's side. They are in charge of the master's food, clothing, housing and transportation, and they don't even look at us who live in the upper room. When the eldest grandmother was sick, the master came to see her at night. They came to pick him up with lanterns, and didn't even stand on the corridor, but waited in the middle of the courtyard, as if they were afraid of being affected by our bad luck!"
Mei Niang glanced at Cui Si, smiled and shook her head, and asked Wang Mama: "Dongyuan is attached to Qinghua Courtyard, which is also the inner courtyard. There are women in the courtyard. How about Baoju and Baizhan? They can come and go without restrictions?"
Mother Wang said, "Others cannot enter the inner courtyard gate directly, only Baoju and Baizhan can. They were originally servants born in the family. The master took them to the battlefield and won some military merits... They are sensible and usually only enter from the corner gate on the side of the martial arts training ground in the East Garden."
"Hmm? There's another corner gate in the East Garden?"
Cui Xi nodded and said, "Yes, there is a corner gate over there at the martial arts training ground, which leads to the outer courtyard. It is always closed and there are maids guarding the gate. When important guests come, the master goes through that gate to the East Garden."
Mei Niang seemed to be thinking about something, and asked Cui Xi, "Has breakfast been served?"
"Cheng'er has gone to deliver the message. She will probably be back soon. Grandma, please get up!"
"Dress me up and send breakfast to the East Garden. I want to eat with you, Master!"
Cuixi and Cuilian were a little stunned, but Madam Wang said, "That's exactly what should be done! Grandpa was drunk yesterday, so grandma should have said hello to him."
In the Wenjin Pavilion in the East Garden, which was connected to three study rooms, Ruizhu and Ruibao stood side by side, directing the maids to carry hot water into the inner room, waiting for the master to come back from the martial arts training ground to take a bath. Ruizhu counted and carried in four buckets of water, nodded and said:
"Okay, that's enough for washing your hair and taking a bath."
Then he instructed the two little girls beside him, "Go to the kitchen and see if the breakfast for Master Hou can be delivered on time. It won't be good if it's too early or too late. If it's even a little cold, you'll have to watch your back!"
The two little girls ran out and came back soon. Ruibao asked curiously:
"So fast? If you dare to be lazy, Sister Ruizhu will not joke with you!"
The little maid Fang'er said, "I met Sister Cuisi in the upper room. She said that Cheng'er had sent breakfast for today. I'll bring it over right away!"
Ruizhu was leaning over the cupboard to get some clothes for Lord Hou. She ran over with a breath, slapped Fang'er on the head, and cursed:
"You little idiot, if I ask you to go, then hurry up! When will breakfast be served in Dongyuan? What do they know? What does the Marquis like to eat? How strong is his taste? Can they tell?"
Fang'er leaned to one side and said stubbornly, "But I saw that the food box has been brought into the yard. Who knows, it might be delivered now!"
"It's a reward for you to eat if you bring it in! You still have to serve the Lord's breakfast, go quickly!"
Ruizhu stared at Fang'er with a pair of thin eyebrows, and was about to raise her hand to slap her again, when she suddenly heard Ruibao shouting softly:
"Sister Ruizhu!"
Ruizhu turned her head and was stunned with her mouth open: Cui Si and Cui Lian were standing at the door, looking at her with a slight sneer.
Cuisi said, "Sister Ruizhu is so generous that she gave the breakfast sent from the upper room to the little girls! This is because the grandmother got up early and asked the kitchen to prepare it carefully. She will eat it with the grandfather later!"
Ruizhu's face flushed. She held Hou Ye's spare clothes tightly in her arms and stood there uncomfortably, not knowing what to say.
Ruibao rolled his eyes, and hurried over to take Cuisi's hand and said with a smile: "Sister Cuisi..."
Cui Si pulled her hand back unceremoniously: "I heard that your birthday is in early April, and mine is March 26th. If we're talking about sisters, don't call me the wrong person!"
Ruibao was stunned for a moment, then shouted awkwardly and unwillingly, "Sister Cuisi!"
Cui Si snorted and looked at Rui Zhu with contempt, but Cui Lian tugged at her sleeve. Cui Si followed Cui Lian's gaze and quickly stepped back. The two stood side by side. Fu bowed and said crisply:
"Grandma!"
Ruizhu and Ruibao in the room were nervous and rushed out. They met Mei Niang at the door. They didn't dare to look up, but knelt down together and said:
"Welcome, Madam!"
Mei Niang looked at the two maids kneeling at her feet with their heads bowed. They were about fifteen or sixteen years old, with slim figures. Their attire was similar to Ruixue and the others beside the old lady. They had double buns on their heads, no hairpins or rings, but accessories such as necklaces and pearl flowers wrapped with ribbons. There were faint embroidery on the edges of their silk skirts. They were generous and elegant, showing their differences from the other maids, but not overstepping their master's boundaries.
They addressed her differently, too. Cui Xi and the others called her Grandma, while they called her "Young Madam."
That is to say, they usually call Xu Junying "Hou Ye" instead of "Da Ye".
The East Garden and the upper house of Tsinghua Court are completely separated, with clear boundaries drawn between them, forming an independent entity, each living their own life and having their own rules
This is ridiculous. Who decided this? Xu Junying? It would be strange if he had the time to do this.
Mother Wang frowned and said, "These two girls are really something! Why don't they just greet you? Why do they block the way at the door? Don't they want Grandma to come in? Get up now!"
Ruizhu and Ruibao bowed their heads quickly, then got up and stepped aside.
Mei Niang walked slowly into Wenjinxuan, looked around, and said with a smile: "This place is so well-kept, clean and tidy, it looks more like a boudoir than my room! Ruibao and Ruizhu are really capable, worthy of being the old lady's people, and they have trained them very well. Cuixi and Cuisi, you have to learn more from the two sisters in the future!"
Ruibao and Ruizhu both knelt and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Madam. We are so overwhelmed!"
Mei Niang said slowly, "Whether you call her Young Madam or Young Mistress, you can call her whatever you want in Qinghua Courtyard. But when you leave this courtyard, remember to speak clearly so that others won't understand which room you are calling Young Madam or Young Mistress!"
Ruibao and Ruizhu lowered their heads to their chests and responded in unison, "Replying to the eldest young lady's words: The servants heard it clearly!"
Mei Niang pointed at Rui Zhu and asked, "What are you holding in your arms?"
Ruizhu then remembered: "Master Hou's change of clothes. When Master Hou comes back from training, he needs to take a bath and change clothes!"
"You, you keep the clothes warm for the Marquis like this? Good girl, you are so considerate! Isn't there a fumigation basket in the room? It's good to hold him like this, but I'm afraid that the clothes will get wrinkled later, and our Marquis will be laughed at when he goes out wearing it!"
Ruizhu blushed: "I will get another set for you, Lord Hou!"
Mei Niang said calmly, "Let's take this one! The Lord was drunk entertaining guests last night, so this rain-blue robe is just right for you today, and it will make you feel more refreshed. It doesn't matter if it's wrinkled. Cui Xi is very skillful and is very good at ironing clothes. She will take the clothes and fix them immediately, and the Lord will wear them later!"
Cui Xi responded, went to get clothes from Ruizhu, bowed to Mei Niang, and left quickly.
Mei Niang also stood up and walked out the door without looking around: "Let's go see the master and wait for him to have breakfast. I'm a little hungry!" (To be continued)