Chapter 4: Fragrance Wafts
Hua Zhe Yu followed a rough-looking servant girl back to the Jing Ting Courtyard, where the servant girl who was tidying up inside nearly dropped her jaw in shock.
A petite and delicate young woman, dressed in a dignified manner, resembling the daughter of a wealthy family, was holding half a piece of Lingzhou's large red brocade satin in her hand, Coral, about to leave from the inner room. She turned back and saw Hua Yu standing at the door. Without avoiding him, she only tightened her grip on the satin and asked: "Miss, why have you come back again? Shouldn't you be on your way to Beiming?"
That demeanor, that aura, it's as if she were the young mistress, and Flower-in-the-Rain was her servant girl.
The several maidservants in the courtyard seemed to have gotten used to her imperious tone, and didn't react excessively. However, Hua Yu heard it and furrowed his brow - who was really the master of this courtyard?
Just thinking about it, a scene appeared in my mind where Coral, taking advantage of passing on a message to the Gu family, spoke condescendingly to the original owner with no respect at all, treating her like an inferior. There was even one time when she had been scolded by Hua Changrui outside and ran back to Jingting Garden, intentionally splashing hot tea water onto the original owner's body. When the original owner said something to her, she jumped up and started blaming and scolding her, just like a shrew.
At that time, the original host was brought back from a villa 200 miles away by Mr. Gu, because she had suffered a lot and was weak and timid, she was afraid that Shanhu would say something bad about her in front of Mr. Gu and he would send her away again. She didn't dare to make a sound, let alone breathe loudly, allowing herself to be scolded until she was satisfied, and finally even went to apologize to her.
So, Coral is like a tyrant in this courtyard, the original owner has to look at her face to survive.
Flowers in the rain, memories of the past flashed through my mind, making me so angry that I was out of breath. How can there still be such a presumptuous servant in this world?
She didn't say anything else, just looked tired and said: "Something happened on the way, so I came back."
"What's going on? Miss is going to change the medicine for the Empress Dowager, does she mean she won't be coming back?" Shanhu asked tactlessly.
"What? Do I have to report everything I do to you?"
The sound of rain flowers is faint, but it reveals a sense of majesty that cannot be expressed in words.
Shanhu was shocked, unable to understand why the normally timid and cowardly Seventh Miss would suddenly become so intimidating, her voice not loud but like a hammer pounding on his heart, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
This feeling made her very uncomfortable, just as she was about to take out some spicy courage to regain the initiative, the sound of Flower Rain came again, "Shanhu, what's in your hand?"
After all, there was some guilt, and the words that had reached her lips were forced back, taking a step back to say: "Nothing, just putting away the leftover fabric from making Miss's wedding dress in the warehouse of Soul Spirit Bracelet."
"Is that so? Then you'd better take good care of it, this Lingzhou brocade is a precious gift from the palace, don't lose it." Hua Zhe's mouth twitched slightly as he walked straight into the house.
For the first time, she was overwhelmed by the momentum of the rain, and after a moment's pause, Coral felt somewhat irritated and ashamed. However, for some reason, she didn't dare to scold loudly like before, so she glared at the second-class maids Spring Peach and Qin'er in the courtyard, saying sarcastically: "You're all dead people, why don't you hurry up and serve Miss?"
Chun Tao pushed Qin Er, "You go and help Miss with her hair, I'll go get some food for Miss."
She finished speaking and followed after Shanhu, trying to curry favor with her: "Sister Shanhu, what's going on? Seventh Miss is already destined to be sent to the North Sea, why bother making things right with her? Didn't Madam say that once she gets married, this entire courtyard will be cleaned up, the house torn down, and a medicinal garden planted in its place? Second Young Master will come often to take care of it. Think about it, Sister Shanhu can often help Second Young Master take care of the medicinal garden, and chat with him too... what a sweet thing that would be! Who knows, maybe in the future... heh heh..."
The rain was pouring down, and the sound of Chun Tao's voice gradually faded away. She looked at Qin Er with a worried face and said, "Go get some water first, let me wash up, I guess Chun Tao won't be serving food either, you go to the kitchen and see if there's anything to fill our stomachs."
Qin'er responded with a sound, but didn't move. Hua Zhe Yu looked at her strangely, and she hastily said: "Miss must have been very upset when she heard Chun Tao's words just now? But Miss shouldn't take it to heart, as long as Miss is still here for one day, the mistress won't demolish this courtyard."
The rain outside made her heart warm, Qiner, although a second-rate maid who was not good at speaking, was much more kind and righteous than those who were eloquent. Thinking back to the past, the original master only got close to Shanhu and Chun Tao because they wanted to see Shanhu's face, so they never looked at Qiner more than once. Sometimes they even helped Shanhu and Chun Tao bully Qiner - because the original master was afraid of Shanhu and only listened to Shanhu's words.
She couldn't help but sigh at the original host's usual obedient and submissive behavior, never thinking of resisting or rebelling. Why did she put up with such a weak and timid maid, yet instead followed the evil and cruel slave? Was it all just to wait patiently for the day she would marry Chu Mingqiu? Did she think that marrying Chu Mingqiu would bring eternal peace?
She shook her head, trying to shake off the pity and sympathy for the original owner, and smiled softly at Qiner: "I'm not uncomfortable, nor do I worry about the yard being demolished, thank you for your comfort. However, I really want to take a bath now, can you go get some water for me first?"
So delighted, Qiner was flattered and surprised, both excited and agitated, hastily nodding and stuttering: "Yes... yes... I'll go fetch water... Miss, please wait..."
Qin'er's movements were quick, and soon she brought hot water and prepared clothes. While her mother was taking a bath in the rain, she went to the kitchen to find something to eat.
After washing in the rain, she came out refreshed and her meal was ready.
Hearing the footsteps, Qiner turned her head to look back and saw a woman with long hair wrapped in a snow-white silk robe walking out from behind the door. The woman's eyes were like autumn water, her lips were like flower petals, and under the flowing moonlight, her face was as pure as a jade orchid, with the shadow of flowers floating outside the window, and with every gentle breeze, there was a faint fragrance that came in.
Qin'er had never seen such a carefree and unrestrained flower-like rain, and the silk robe that was wrapped around her body in disarray seemed to have another kind of unbridled spirit that she couldn't express in words. She widened her eyes and exclaimed softly: "Little... miss... you're so beautiful..."
"What's so beautiful?" Hua Zhe smiled, "I don't know why, but now it seems like I've even forgotten how to wear clothes. Fortunately, there are no outsiders now. After eating, I'll go straight to bed and sleep. You stay here and watch over me. If the Fourth Prince comes, you can wake me up."
She thought that Chu Mingqiu would definitely be furious and come to find her on the same night after being deceived - what kind of arrogant man who thinks women should revolve around him can tolerate being cheated? It's strange if he doesn't want to tear her apart after discovering the truth.
As a result, she slept beautifully for a night, and Chu Mingqiu didn't come looking for her at all, which made things a bit strange.
