A good omen for a good person

  "Hey, isn't this Xian Xiang? How did you find the time to come to our place?" As soon as Xian Yi entered, she saw Cao Niang sitting in the middle of the courtyard. The small courtyard was lush and clean, and she knew that although Cao Niang came from a humble background, she was also a capable girl who knew how to live her life.

  Xian Yi didn't delay, and honestly performed a courtesy, raising her face to smile: "In response to the mistress's words, today the great madam mentioned that the weather is about to turn cool, and each house should start preparing clothes. She sent the slaves to ask if there are any instructions from the various mistresses?"

  Aunt Cao raised her hand, touched her hair bun, and unknowingly let her sleeve fall, revealing a wide silver cuff with a water lily pattern on her wrist, probably a recent gift from the master.

  "Besides, madam is a kind person who understands our difficulties. If we don't have nice clothes, how can we serve the master well?"

  Xian clothing low eyebrows, this means either want clothes or bright colors.

  "Ah...... Just the other day, Master was praising me, saying that narcissus suits me best..."

  Must the flower arrangement be centered around narcissus? Or is it just a rule that's been exceeded.

  "We've all taken note of it, is there anything else you'd like to instruct us on, Aunt Cao?" Xian Yi smiled without any reduction in her expression, as if she hadn't seen Aunt Cao's boastful look.

  Aunt Cao seemed to feel that showing off in front of this thirteen-year-old kid was like flirting with a blind person, and it was quite uninteresting. She leaned back in her chair and said lazily, "When are you coming to get measured for clothes?"

  Xian Yi replied, "This afternoon, it's still that Li woman from last time."

  Aunt Cao nodded and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes without saying another word. The personal maid beside her got up and walked out with a smile, handing over a brocade pouch as a tip. Xian Yi didn't mind; a third-class maid like herself would have been dismissed for just a few copper coins if not for the fact that she was looking out for her mother's sake. Besides, even if she were to die from being bullied by a maid, Aunt Cao would still be considered half a mistress, and if Xian Yi were to take offense at her attitude, it wouldn't bode well for this life, let alone the next.

  Bidding farewell to Cao's personal maid, Xian Yi went to Liu's courtyard. Second Miss hadn't arrived yet. Liu was also a quiet and unassuming person who didn't like to cause trouble. After exchanging only a few words, she accepted the gift money and left. She too wanted clothing, but in more subdued colors, after all, she wasn't a young daughter-in-law anymore.

  She stomped her foot, and Xiang Yi's slightly sore calf muscles relaxed a bit. Since Zhou Shi was currently attending to the Fourth Young Master with the Old Madam, Xiang Yi could only head to the farthest wing of the estate first. However, the closer she got, the more anxious she became. After all, it was just this morning that she had stumbled upon the Third and Eldest Young Masters' scandalous affair. If she were to show up now, her recognizable voice might lead to another awkward situation. Unfortunately, if it were a task for the young masters of the outer wing, there would be people fighting to take on the job. However, this Han Shi was notoriously miserly, and even the maids from the outer wing didn't want to get near her. Adding to that, the location was remote and isolated, so even if Xiang Yi had taken on the task, she would have wanted to pass it off to someone else. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but harbor a glimmer of hope - perhaps the Third Young Master wasn't at the outer wing after all?

  The old courtyard gate, the rotten threshold, not to mention the main courtyard, but even Cao's mother-in-law's courtyard is several times better than this narrow and unbearable courtyard. This is the coldest and most deserted courtyard in Yuanwai Lang's mansion, and it has been shaded for many years, with scarce sunlight. Before entering the gate, Xianyi felt a chill, which was slightly cooler than when she had just stepped onto the corridor. Xianyi shrank her hands and stood at the door, shouting into the house: "The slave is here to pay respects to Madame Han."

  The courtyard was very small, and the empty space could be seen clearly. Some broken things were put away in the corner, and some cured meat and dried vegetables were hung on the wall. An old woman hunched over by the stove, boiling water, seemingly not hearing Xian Yi's call at the door, but staring intently at the copper kettle on the small stove.

  After a while, the curtain of the main house in the small courtyard was lifted by someone. Xian Yi's heart sank as she was unexpectedly interrupted. The one who came out was Jin Fenghua, the third young master of the Jin family, dressed in casual clothes.

  Beauty, Xian Yi has seen many beauties due to her work in past lives. The eldest daughter of the Jin family, whom she met this life, is also a rare beauty. Moreover, the body that Xian Yi inhabits itself possesses extremely high potential as a beauty. Not mentioning her sweet appearance and soft voice, even the proportions of her body will never become unbalanced. However, all the beauties she has seen and heard seem to pale in comparison to this ambiguous youth before her. This is no longer just about physical appearance; it can be said that both Third Young Master and the eldest daughter somewhat resemble the old master, so they share some similarities in looks. Yet, even after the eldest daughter was groomed by the palace's ladies-in-waiting for two years, Xian Yi still feels that there is an inexplicable, eerie charm about this male beauty that cannot be learned or imitated by men or women.

  It was a dangerous signal, Xian Yi couldn't say why, but she trusted her intuition.

  "The servant girl greets the third young master." Xian Yi never bullied others with her power, let alone that she had no conflict with these aunts. She would not find her own superiority in others' misfortune, which was also one of the reasons why she got along well with people in the mansion.

  Golden Wind Hua's eyes moved slightly, and he had already figured out that this was the little girl who had helped him out of trouble earlier in the morning. She looked young, probably only around ten years old, with two buns on her head, a silver hairpin, and wearing a soft yellow servant's dress with a red tassel belt. Her ears were delicate but not adorned with earrings, and her figure was slender and pretty. As she smiled and spoke, Golden Wind Hua suddenly felt a sweet and tender feeling, just like the golden silk red date cake he had always loved - fragrant, sweet, soft, and lingering.

  "What's your name, miss?" Jin Fenghua's sleeves fluttered slightly as a faint blush rose to her delicate face, seemingly rarely seen by the maids in the mansion, with a hint of shyness.

  "In response to Third Master's words, I am the third-class maid Xian Yi in the mansion of the First Lady." Xian Yi took a glance at the peach blossom powder on Jin Fenghua's face and her heart skipped a beat, then she didn't dare look again.

  "Have you come for something? Is it that the mistress has some instructions? My aunt... " Jin Fenghua lowered his voice, just about to say something, when he heard a weak woman's voice calling out from inside the main room.

  Xian Yi suddenly realized that Mrs. Han was probably just resting and couldn't help but feel uneasy in her heart.

  "Who's come outside?" The curtain opened again, and Jin Fenghua hurried forward to support her. Madame Han was now over thirty years old, but looked much older than the first wife. Her original delicate beauty was covered with a layer of vicissitudes given by life, that kind of bitter taste could be easily detected whether she was smiling or silent, no wonder the old master had not entered this small courtyard in recent years.

  "Please forgive me, Mistress Han, I have disturbed your rest." Xian Yi stepped forward a few steps, bowed her head and performed the ritual greeting. Although she was the mistress of the manor, she never forgot the rules and etiquette that her mother had taught her for thirty years, and after seeing Jin Fenghua, she became even more convinced of their importance.

  Madam Han had never been treated with such courtesy before, and her face flushed as she repeatedly waved her hand. After taking a closer look at Qingxian's appearance, she couldn't help but smile and say: "Could it be that Miss Xian herself has come?"

  Jin Fenghua looked at his mother with curiosity. As a concubine's son, he couldn't possibly go to the main courtyard to pay respects without being summoned by the first wife. Moreover, Xianyi's mother, Chen Shi, intentionally didn't let Xianyi come into contact with these young masters, so sometimes Han Yiniang, who went to the main courtyard to pay respects, was actually more familiar with this special girl in the main courtyard than Jin Fenghua was.

  "Madam is being polite, I'm just a third-rate maid, not worthy of the title 'young lady'. Xian Yi smiled broadly and got straight to the point: "The mistress asked me to tell you that the weather is getting cooler and it's time to add more clothes. Does Madam Han have any instructions?"

  This is actually Xian Yi's first time running this kind of errand. If it were those old-timers, just by looking at who was favored, they would know what to do. Generally speaking, the ones who are more favored or have some family background, their seasonal clothes would definitely be taken care of. Only those who are short on cash or haven't been favored for a long time would think of exchanging their clothes for silver and keeping it for old age. If they were to exchange with other maids, I reckon this kind of maid's courtyard that doesn't bring in any benefits, they wouldn't go again. At most, they would just run errands for those courtyards that do bring in benefits, just notify them of the time to take measurements and then casually get some benefits on the side. If the madams had any thoughts, most of the time they would send their maids to explain to the main courtyard or directly instruct the maid who takes measurements, where would they bother the main courtyard's maid with worries?

  Auntie Han was taken aback at first, thinking that the mistress had some instructions, but she didn't expect it to be this. According to her usual practice, they would exchange it for silver money; could it be that the mistress had some special intention this time?

  Jinfenghua glanced at her mother and then looked at Xianyi, who had a serious expression on her face. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, but she quickly hid it and only said: "Trouble you, Miss, when will we take the measurements?"

  Aunt Han was startled and hastily said: "No need to take measurements, no need. I still have enough clothes to wear."

  Jinfenghua ignored her mother and continued: "This time's clothes are brighter and better."

  Xian Yi originally thought that Han Niang would ask for silver, but unexpectedly Jin Fenghua made a decision. It seems that Jin Fenghua is very decisive and even Han Niang cannot persuade him otherwise. She quietly remembered this in her heart and bowed: "The servant has taken note. This afternoon, Li Niangzi will come to take measurements, and the young masters and misses will also go there."

  Jinfenghua nodded and comforted her mother, then took out a small pouch from her bosom and handed it to Xianyi, saying lightly: "This is what my aunt rewarded you with."

  Xian Yi took the handbag without looking at it and stuffed it into her bosom, her face expressionless, neither surprised nor disdainful. She merely said respectfully: "Thank you, Madame Han, for your gift. If there's nothing else to instruct me, I'll take my leave."

  Jinfenghua watched as Xianyi turned and left, carefully closing the courtyard gate behind her. She couldn't help but think that this little girl was quite interesting, and muttered to herself: "Xianxian?"

  "Her mother was Chen's nurse in front of the madam, although the madam... "Hàn Yí Niáng sighed and continued: "But Chen's nurse is a good person, and Xiān Xiān is also a good child."

  Jinfenghua remained silent for a moment before smiling and pulling his aunt back into the house, all of this was just trivial matters to him.