Chapter 1: The Sleeping Flower Pavilion

  However, Duan Shi was clear that if he wanted to get things done, he had to follow the crowd, so his face showed a warm and gentle expression, as if you could scoop out a bowl of clear water: "In that case, I'll find someone to write a letter of recommendation for you, come with me."

  The little servant nodded and followed Duan Shi Yi, wagging his tail. With Duan Shi Yi's extensive connections throughout Chang'an, it was no problem to sneak someone into the small Chen estate.

  She went into a small alley, and the little girl looked at Duan Shi Yi with an old man who had wrinkles all over his face, whispering for a while. The old man glanced at her, nodded, went out for a while, and then a little girl came in with a set of clothes.

  "Change first." said Duan Yu.

  It seems that it can be put on immediately, Little Grass handed over the clothes and was about to wear them when his eyes caught a glimpse of this ancestor who didn't even move.

  "I said, if you don't go out, how can I change?"

  Duanshi slowly turned around: "You change, I won't turn my back, and there's something else I want to tell you. After I finish speaking, you can go directly to the Chen residence. It's also a hassle to come out and then come in again."

  Little Grass: “......”

  Although she's not fully developed, after all, she's still a girl, right? Is it really okay to be so unbridled like this? What if that scoundrel can't help but turn his head back and her chastity is lost?

  "Never mind, hurry up and change." Duan Shi Yi said: "Later, the steward of the Chen household will come to pick you up. After entering the Chen household, try to gather more information about what's going on inside, and also find out who is Lu Xue's fiancé."

  "I know." Xia Cao hummed twice, vigilantly staring at Duan Shi Yi's back, then quickly took off her clothes and changed into this set of skirt.

  She hasn't worn a skirt for a long time, because the official uniform of Liu's door is too good-looking. Even if it's just a white-edged one, she wears it every day and can't bear to take it off. Wearing a skirt makes her feel a bit airy.

  "If possible, also try to understand what kind of person Mrs. Chen is."

  The back of Du Shi's head was stuck in place, not even slightly tilted, and he didn't show the slightest interest in the scenery behind him. Xiao Cao hummed a response while taking off his official hat and used the nearby dressing table to tie up his hair in the simplest bun.

  Look, dressing up is still quite good-looking.

  Narcissistically admiring himself in the mirror, Xiaocao patted on Du Shi's shoulder: "Changed into it, how is it?"

  Duàn shí yī huí tóu, zuǐ jiǎo chōu le chōu: "nǐ zhè shì shén me fā xíng?"

  Translation:

  Duan Shi turned his head back, the corner of his mouth twitched: "What's with your hairstyle?"

  The little grass blinked: "The simplest hairstyle."

  You're just a simple P, if you want to be simple, then comb your daughter's hair too. What does it mean for a man to have a bun on top of his head?

  Duan Shi covered her face with her hands, reached out and pulled her over, messing up her hair.

  "I was expecting to turn around and see a beautiful woman, but instead I saw a freak."

  The little grass puffed out her chest and said: "I'm used to it, Master. You say, if you braid this bun for me, what if someone falls in love with me?"

  "Hehe, don't scold him as a blind man, his eyes are fine."

  Little Grass: “......”

  Her long fingers moved deftly through her black hair, quickly styling a bun. Duan Yu gazed at her for a moment before saying, "I've signed you up as a temporary worker, so you can still come back to sleep at night. Every evening, come back and tell me about the situation at the Chen estate. As for other matters, leave them to me."

  "Alright." Xiaocao stood up and patted his chest: "You can rest assured that I'll get it done!"

  "If it weren't for the fact that I took in fewer apprentices back then, I wouldn't have let you do this."

  The little grass was deeply moved: "Originally, Master was so concerned about me!"

  "Not really, I just can't help but worry." Duan Shiyi let out a long sigh and turned to open the door: "Let's go."

  Xiao Cao pouted and followed him, muttering from his hair to the soles of his feet.

  The one who came to pick up Little Grass was the steward of the Chen Mansion. Duan Shiyi had already hidden his merits and fame, and the steward in front of him was extremely polite to the old man with a face full of wrinkles. He took Little Grass and left without saying another word.

  "Lately there have been many things at the mansion, you were recommended by Third Master, so go serve in the mistress's courtyard. Chen, the housekeeper said: "Be careful, the mistress is not well."

  "Yes." Little Grass responded, trying her best to mimic the gait of the big girls on the street, twisting her waist and swinging her legs, lowering her head in a shy manner.

  Madam Chen seemed very pleased, and led her in through the back door of the Chen estate. She summoned an elderly servant and said: "This is a new maid for the mistress, my niece. Please take good care of her, Auntie Xi."

  "Chen Guan's family is being polite." The person called Xu Yi had a smiling face, pulled Xiao Cao's hand and said: "This girl looks lovely, Madam should like her too. Chen Guan's recommended person, that must be correct."

  It seems she's also a relative now? Seeing this person fawning, Xiao Cao just smiled foolishly, listened to their exchange of pleasantries, and then followed Mrs. Xu away.

  "We have a quiet life in our lady's courtyard, nothing to do, as long as you don't cause trouble. She said: 'Whatever you see, don't go out and talk nonsense, we are not an ordinary family.'"

  "I understand." Little Grass bowed his head, with a honest and loyal expression.

  The Chen Mansion is very large, and from the outside it already looks luxurious. Inside, the corridors are intricately decorated, even more exquisite. It's said that Old Master Chen was originally a poor scholar who failed the imperial examination five times, then changed his career to do business, unexpectedly becoming wealthy.

  A house, children, wife - nothing is lacking, it's also happiness.

  "Madam has just gotten up, come in with me." said Mrs. Xu, leading her to push aside the curtain at the door of the room.

  The little grass bowed its head, held its breath and concentrated, in its heart had already drawn countless images of women in boudoirs, sorrowful, luxurious, majestic.

  After kneeling down and bowing her head, she looked up and was a bit stunned.

  The woman sitting on the couch was wearing a plain white dress with no floral patterns, and had a large gold hairpin on her head, which made her look slightly tacky. However, this was the only piece of jewelry she wore, and her face was clean and free of makeup, giving her an air of simplicity that bordered on being somewhat old-fashioned. Nevertheless, her demeanor still managed to command some presence.

  It's really strange, this woman looks like she has a scholarly air about her, so why is her sense of dress and grooming so weird? Looking around at the decorations, it doesn't seem like they're short on money either.

  "Is this the new servant girl?" The woman spoke up.

  "Madam, she is Chen's housekeeper's niece. Thinking that you might need someone to attend to you recently, she was sent here specially."

  Madam Chen nodded and waved her hand: "First send her to the backyard to do some rough work, if she is diligent and hardworking, then let her into the house."

  "Yes." Little Grass bowed neatly to her.

  Aunt Xǔ smiled and beckoned her to go out, looked around to make sure no one was listening, and whispered: "Big niece, you go familiarize yourself with this courtyard first, with me here, you won't be taken advantage of."

  Who is your niece? Xiao Cao hehe smiled foolishly, thinking that this person recognized relatives really quickly.