Xie Nanjia directed the newly assigned maids and servants to sort the loads of items into different categories. While watching them work, he was also secretly observing each person's personality.
The two girls were obviously novices, but the one called Sumei was too clever, with her eyes rolling around the whole time; while the one called Suju was too dull, she just lowered her head and worked, putting things wherever she was told, without saying a word.
Look at the two old women, one named Zhang and the other named Wang. The old woman named Zhang is very lazy. She needs to take a break for a cup of tea after moving one thing, and she thinks moving two things will take her life. The old woman named Wang is even worse than her. She is full of fat and wants to be the leader as soon as she arrives. She does not do any work and just talks. Looking at Xie Nanjia, a little girl of fourteen or fifteen years old, she doesn't take her seriously at all and tries to order her around.
Xie Nanjia naturally wouldn't listen to her and shut her up with just a few words.
Xie Nanjia said, "Everything has a first come, first served order, and there are differences in closeness. I followed my aunt all the way from the farm to serve her, so I am naturally the one she is closest to and the one she values the most. Who do you think you are? You want to put me down as soon as you enter the door. Don't think I'm easy to bully just because I'm young. Gan Luo became prime minister at the age of twelve, and some people have grown fat for decades. This qualification is not measured by kilograms."
These words made the other three laugh with their hands covering their mouths, and Mrs. Wang almost choked to death.
There was a "puff" sound outside the door, as if someone was laughing.
Xie Nanjia heard the laughter, picked up the broom at her feet, and asked loudly, "Who's there?"
The four maids and old women also became alert.
There was no movement outside the door again.
Xie Nanjia walked over with a broom in hand, leaned over to look out through the crack in the door. It was pitch black outside and there was nothing there.
She hesitated for a moment and opened the door, but there was still nothing.
Everyone looked at each other.
Su Mei trembled and said, "My mother, is there a ghost?"
Su Ju was so scared that she screamed and covered her eyes.
"You stupid girl, stop talking nonsense!" Mrs. Zhang scolded, her voice trembling and she sounded completely unconfident.
"I'm not talking nonsense. Someone has died in this courtyard before." Su Mei said, "The old people in the mansion don't want to come, so only people like us who have no foundation are sent here."
Mrs. Wang was no longer angry: "Close the door quickly and go back to the house. I feel a chill on my back."
Su Ju was so scared that tears came out, but since Xie Nanjia didn't say anything, she didn't dare to move and just sobbed quietly.
Xie Nanjia had died once before, so nothing could scare her. Seeing how frightened they were, she had no choice but to close the gate and let them go back to their rooms. She would do the rest of the work tomorrow.
They arrived in a hurry and the room was not cleaned up properly. Fortunately, the weather was hot, so they just went to bed and waited until dawn to deal with everything else.
They were terrified here, while the culprit Zhao Jingyu had already returned to the west wing.
Just as he was about to go in, Wei Jun suddenly came over and called him, saying that the Fourth Master Cheng had arrived and wanted to see him urgently.
Zhao Jingyu walked into the hall with a stern face because he failed to teach Xie Nanjia a lesson. Looking at Cheng Zhiye who was sitting in an armchair drinking tea, he asked unhappily, "What can't you say tomorrow? Why do you have to come now?"
Cheng Zhiye was serious for once, without a flower on his head: "The master asked me to let you know that you should meet him at the old place tomorrow."
Zhao Jingyu was stunned, and sat down opposite him with her clothes lifted: "Why do you want to see me again? I'm very busy!"
"What are you busy with?" Cheng Zhiye asked, "What could be more important than meeting the gentleman?"
"..." Zhao Jingyu snorted, "Okay, I understand. Anything else?"
"Gone."
"Then get out of here!"
Cheng Zhiye said, "I will finish this pot of tea before I leave. This is the Junshan Yinzhen tea that Evian brewed for me personally."
Yiyun is the little girl beside Zhao Jingyu. She is very sweet and Cheng Zhiye likes to tease her every time he comes back.
Zhao Jingyu shouted at Wei Jun with a dark face: "Beat him to death!"
"Yes!" Wei Jun replied, moving his wrists and neck.
"No, no, no, I'm leaving now." Cheng Zhiye jumped up from his chair and trotted out the door. When he got outside, he shouted, "I'm taking the teapot with me. I'll have someone bring it back to you later."
"What a waste!" Zhao Jingyu snorted disdainfully, turned around and asked Wei Jun, "What time is it?"
Wei Jun said, "It's already 9:00 p.m. Mr. Hu will be here soon. Will Young Master Qingfengyuan still go?"
"Why are you going? All my interest has been ruined by Cheng." Zhao Jingyu said with a dull look, "Since Mr. Hu is coming, you should go and get ready!"
Wei Jun took the order and withdrew.
Zhao Jingyu blew air at the lamp on the table and murmured, "Little girl, I will let you go today."
The wick swayed violently a few times, then slowly returned to calm.
*****
The fourth concubine stayed at the Marquis's place all night and did not return. The news spread throughout the mansion like wings, and Qin and the other concubines did not sleep well the whole night.
Although the factor of a short absence making the heart grow fonder cannot be ruled out, not every concubine has the honor of staying in the front yard.
Not to mention staying overnight, they were not allowed to go to the front yard without the Marquis's order.
Xie Nanjia got up early in the morning and went to the front yard to pick up the Fourth Aunt. He admired the Fourth Aunt's talent in coaxing men from the bottom of his heart. She was worthy of being born in a brothel. She was so accurate in understanding men's minds.
Marquis Dingyuan went to court before dawn. Xie Nanjia did not see him, but she could tell from the rosy face of Fourth Aunt that the two of them had a very sweet time last night.
She didn't know how many glares she received along the way, but the fourth concubine didn't care at all. She said to Xie Nanjia with a cheerful face, "Xiu'er, you are really my lucky star. I thought I would never come back after going to the manor, but you said I would definitely come back, so I really came back. I thought I wouldn't be able to see the Marquis during this period, but you said the Marquis would come to see me, and he really came. Are you lucky?"
Xie Nanjia smiled and said, "I also said that Auntie will enjoy happiness in the future. Does Auntie want to give birth to a third son for the Marquis?"
The fourth concubine immediately smiled happily: "If that's the case, I have to worship you and burn three incense sticks to worship you every morning and evening."
The two returned to Qingfengyuan chatting and laughing, and Su Ju was busy making breakfast in the kitchen.
Sumei and the two old women also got up. One was combing her hair, one was complaining about not sleeping well, and one was yelling at the other two to sweep the yard.
As soon as the Fourth Aunt entered the yard, several pairs of eyes were staring at her, and no one thought of greeting her.
The fourth concubine was very unhappy: "Where did you find this group of unruly people?"
Xie Nanjia hurriedly said, "What are you still standing there for? Come on, kowtow to your aunt!"
Su Ju was the first to kneel down and kowtow, and the other three followed suit.
Xie Nanjia said to the Fourth Aunt, "They came last night, but we haven't divided the work yet. Aunt, are you going to divide it among them now, or wait until they come back from paying respects to the Madam?"
The Fourth Aunt said, "Go and pay your respects first. My staying in the front yard has hurt her heart. If I go too late, I don't know how she will make things difficult for me."
So Xie Nanjia quickly helped her wash and dress up, and accompanied her to Qin's courtyard.
When they arrived at the place, they saw that Dingyuan Hou's aunt and daughter were already there.
Marquis Dingyuan had few sons but five daughters. The eldest and second daughters were born to the principal wife, and the third daughter was born to the third concubine. Although the second concubine entered the mansion early, she became pregnant later and gave birth to the fifth daughter. There was also a fourth daughter who was born to the marquis's concubine. Like Zhao Jingyu, her mother died early, so she was taken back to the mansion by the marquis to be raised. Qin allocated a courtyard for her to live in.
These five young ladies are all naturally beautiful, each with her own charm. The three oldest ones are of marriageable age. In the past two years, the threshold of the Marquis' Mansion has been almost broken down by couples.
Qin was still washing up inside, and everyone was waiting outside. After a night of being favored by the emperor, the Fourth Aunt had regained her former arrogance and greeted everyone with a smile.
The two aunts had to force a smile and congratulate her.
The two sisters in the main house couldn't stand her behavior and were angry on behalf of their mother, so they kept their distance from her with stern faces.
After waiting for a while, Zhao Jingping's four concubines also arrived and stood in a row in a gorgeous manner.
As for the two sons of Marquis Dingyuan, they don't have his domineering and powerful personality, but they have learned his romantic and amorous nature even better than his father. The three of them have so many women that their mansion can hardly accommodate them all.
During her lifetime, Xie Nanjia never allowed Zhao Jingping's concubines to pay their respects to her. Each of them would offer her tea on the first day they entered the mansion, and they would never see her again after that. As a result, she still can't tell who is who.
These days, she has always suspected that her death was caused by a concubine, but she can't even remember a clear face.
Now these four people were standing in front of her. She looked at them quietly several times and felt that each of them looked alike, yet each of them looked alike.
She lowered her eyes and clenched her fists in her sleeves. No matter who it was, she would make that person pay with blood!
Just as he was thinking about it, footsteps and giggles were heard outside the courtyard gate. Xie Nanjia looked over with everyone else and saw Qin's niece Qin Wanru walking towards him with two maids.
When Xie Nanjia saw her, her heart shuddered and a thought flashed through her mind like lightning. Could the person who had harmed her be Qin Wanru
(End of this chapter)