Motherly love at 44

  Xiao Hong returned to the yard, Li Qian Xue hastily pulled Xiao Hong's hand, with a look of anxiety on her face, "How is it? Has he arrived?"

  While speaking, his head kept looking outside the courtyard, wanting to see if Yang Lan had followed.

  Xiao Hong's face was filled with difficulty and grievance, her eyebrows tightly furrowed, her tone somewhat indignant. "Miss, after I went there, I was scolded by Biyun that maid, and she looked at me with disdain, saying... saying..."

  Li Qianxue was anxious in her heart, wanting to find Yang Lan to talk about the situation, not letting Empress Dowager remember her hatred for her. She didn't want to leave the Yang family, and the one person she couldn't afford to offend was indeed the Empress Dowager. That's why Xiaohong went to Yang Lan's courtyard this time.

  Xiao Hong lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs. In a place where no one could see, her eyes flashed with a resentful glow. "She said the young mistress didn't have time to bother with me, that I was overstepping my bounds, and... she said many unpleasant things. Miss, as your maid, is the young mistress not satisfied with you? When beating a dog, one must consider its master! Today, that maid slapped me, isn't it because she doesn't put you in her eyes?! People say that even a seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's gate is still a pitiful creature. They look down on us!" After finishing speaking, she covered her face with a handkerchief and sobbed loudly.

  Li Qianxue let out a deep sigh, her eyes were also red, looking at the little girl she had served since childhood being humiliated like this, she felt uncomfortable in her heart. She knew that in other people's eyes, she didn't count for anything, but if she didn't stay here, where would she go? Back to the Li family? Fourth-rank officials in the capital were a dime a dozen! What was the point of that?

  What will become of my future and career? Moreover, she no longer has parents, within the five not to marry, it's not that I don't know my own difficulties. Even if I have to thicken my skin, I must stay in the Yang family, because there are palace ladies here to teach me, so that in the future, I can be less criticized by people, at least I won't let people say that I am uneducated and no one taught me.

  If she could marry into the maternal grandfather's family, it would be even better. Her dowry would also be substantial, and everything would be easy to handle in the future. Rong's appearance was not inferior to that of Yang's daughter, the only thing lacking was her family background. As long as she learned etiquette well and could win the favor of the princess, the prince would also look at her with different eyes, and over time, he might even come to like her more. Moreover, Eldest Brother was so handsome and elegant, refined and gentle, that there were probably only a few men in the world who could compare to him.

  Li Qianxue covered her chest, her face alternating between pale and red, seemingly both sad and happy, the expression on her face changing constantly making it impossible to guess what she was thinking. Xiao Hong peeked through her fingers, sneering in her heart, humph! You can continue with your beautiful dream! I will make you pay the price, a son pays for his mother's debt, this is what you deserve!

  Li Qianxue did not notice that Xiao Hong's eyes shot out a gleam of hatred, and her facial expression became ferocious and terrifying. All this was just the work of an instant. Xiao Hong wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief, and her face regained its usual calm and gentle demeanor.

  "Miss, aren't you embroidering a skirt to give to the princess? I've heard that in a few days, the princess will be hosting a banquet. If the princess can wear your skirt and go out for a stroll, it would be a good thing! Why don't you wait a few more days and then visit the princess again? After all, we can't afford to offend the princess, and there are many places where we'll need her help in the future! I'm willing to suffer a bit of hardship, but I'm speaking up for you, master. You should see it too - the old lady can't control the princess's family at all. You'd better make plans ahead of time!" Xiaohong spoke anxiously and softly, with a loyal and devoted expression.

  Li Qianxue thought for a moment and felt that Xiaohong was right, nodded and said: "You're right, I'll send the skirt over in a few days. This time it was my fault, I wore the wrong clothes and brought the wrong accessories. Next time I must be more careful. It's just that those few maids gathered together to discuss, but they left me out and didn't tell me anything. If not, how could this have happened?" As she spoke, her heart felt lonely again, with all her efforts in vain, feeling wronged and sad, tears welled up in her eyes, about to fall but not falling, her autumn water-like eyes sparkled with crystal clarity, like a delicate flower with dew, beautiful and touching.

  Xiao Hong's heart skipped a beat, and she hastily apologized: "It's all my fault, I thought Dongzhu's jewelry was luxurious but not eye-catching, I didn't expect it couldn't be paired with moon white, and it clashed with the birthday banquet, my vision is shallow, I delayed Master, I am truly deserving of death!"

  Li Qianxue's heart was soft, like her mother. Xiao Hong had been following her for several years and also had some feelings, so she took a deep breath and waved her hand: "It's my fault for not choosing the right clothes, I prefer simple colors, if it's not good, it's my own problem, what does it have to do with you? Next time we'll be more careful, help me grind it! Later, the nanny will also see the female script I wrote!"

  Xiao Hong took advantage of Li Qianxue's momentary distraction, let out a gentle sigh, and flashed a sly smile at the corner of her mouth before hurrying forward to help her grind.

  No mention of Li Qianxue's courtyard being gloomy and misty, but today San Gu Niang has shown her face, playing in the old lady's courtyard, enthusiastically explaining the banquet scene, and also talking about making a few friends, planning to host a flower appreciation party at home in a few days.

  She didn't know that her mother was almost worried to death, because the eldest princess had already sent someone to notify them that by next month at the latest, they would have to hand over the household authority and give the account books to the princess for inspection.

  This scared her, in a few years she had profited quite a bit from being the housekeeper! Otherwise, who would be eager to be the housekeeper? It's tiring and worrisome, with all the trivial troubles of feeding and entertaining the whole family. If one thing isn't done well, even a servant can give her trouble!

  That's not the point, the key is that last year Master spent a lot of money running around for the sake of donating to the official, and she had to transfer 8,000 taels of silver from the account. For the time being, there was no time to make up for it! This can be maddening, who knows how Princess Chang's family will come back and say they're coming back?!

  Mrs. Sanniang leaned back in her chair with a tired look on her face, next to the desk was a stack of account books, which were somewhat disheveled.

  "Wet nurse, you said the eldest princess is in such a hurry to regain control of the household, does she know something? The third madam has been worried about this silver matter for several nights and couldn't sleep."

  The wet nurse beside Third Madame was her nanny, and the two had a deep affection for each other. The nanny sighed and gently consoled her, "It's no use thinking about these things, let's think of how to make up for the silver instead! Otherwise, Eldest Princess won't let it go easily, and we can't afford to offend her! Don't forget that Sixth Master and Third Miss will be relying on her in many ways in the future! We can't lose sight of the bigger picture!"

  Third Madame was still able to listen to a few words from the wet nurse, if it were someone else she wouldn't have bothered. Third Madame had been stubborn and strong-willed since childhood, once she got going nothing could stop her, and this madame hadn't shed a few tears for nothing!

  Third Madame thought about it and also felt that the wet nurse's words were right, not for anything else, but for her own son's future, she couldn't afford to offend them. The old master had been busy for a year, spending money like water, but in the end, nothing was accomplished. When Master Hou returned, one word from him settled everything. Now that the old master is in the Ministry of Works, although it's not the best position, at least he has something real to do and won't be cooped up in the concubine's quarters all day, just for this reason alone she felt very satisfied.

  Third Madame gritted her teeth, steeled herself and said: "Nanny, go get my box, take out the silver notes inside, go to the accounting room to deliver them, fill up this account. For the sake of my son and daughter, I can even give up my life." Her eyes showed a resolute color, for the sake of her children, she would have given up her life.