Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 185 Which new concubine will the prince choose to serve him tonight?

After Aunt Mei and Mengzhu entered the manor, they were registered in the manor's "Manor Service Register" as usual. All their allowances were provided by the manor's service department, and they also had one day off each month. The management rules were similar to those of the Tang manor.

However, Hua Yan is not included in this list.

According to regulations, Hua Yan was listed in the "List of Imperial Concubines," the same as Concubine Wu. Unless she accompanied Consort Zhen to a banquet or entered the palace, she was not allowed to leave the mansion. Therefore, if she wanted to see Huan Yun, Consort Zhen had to send an invitation, taking advantage of the Marquis's eldest daughter's visit to the mansion to bring Huan Yun along.

Closer to home.

After hearing what Aunt Mei had said, Consort Zhen spoke up:

"Aunt Mei was separated from her child entirely because she was taking care of me. Baozhu (Aunt Mei's daughter) is seven years old now, and she is by Seventh Sister's side, so Aunt Mei doesn't need to worry. Since you are going back to the manor, Huayan, remember to have Mengzhu pick out some gifts from the storeroom and give them to Aunt Mei to take with her when she leaves the manor."

Hua Yan nodded in agreement. She remembered that back in Lin'an, she had dragged Donggua and Mengzhu to Aunt Mei late at night to learn the art of banqueting. To flatter and build a closer relationship, she had specially given Aunt Mei's youngest daughter an embroidered handkerchief and a lucky doll. (Chapter 80)

Now that I know about this matter, I should prepare a small gift myself, so that I may see it through to the end.

After Hua Yan made a note of it, she served Consort Zhen her meal. Consort Zhen was also a little tired, so she went to rest and waved for Hua Yan and Ming Yue to go down and have their meal.

With the small kitchen, everything became much more convenient. Donggua finally regained the energetic look he had when he was in the mansion, and he would often try to make new food. Mingyue would then follow the smell into the small kitchen and become the first "tester of poison," and the two of them enjoyed it immensely.

Although the kitchen was small, the craftsmen at the Gongzheng Institute did not dare to be negligent and repaired it very properly, and the kitchen utensils were also quite complete.

Hua Yan ate some porridge in the small kitchen and took a moment to instruct Dong Gua and Ming Yue: "Be careful with your food in the small kitchen. Do not let anyone else in. Remember to lock the door when you leave. Dong Gua, this is your territory from now on. If anything goes wrong, Aunt Mei will punish you. I will not plead for you."

Donggua chuckled and asked in a simple voice, "So, I'm the manager of the small kitchen in Yunyi Academy?"

Mingyue chuckled.

"Yes, yes, yes, Steward Dong. It's just a pity that you're the only one in the small kitchen. Steward Dong manages Steward Dong, hahaha."

Hua Yan couldn't help but laugh, teasing, "Mingyue, you're wrong."

Donggua's almond-shaped eyes suddenly widened. "Are we going to let someone into the small kitchen?"

Hua Yan shook her head and said slowly, "No, Donggua doesn't have the surname Dong. She now takes Aunt Mei's husband's surname, so she should be called the housekeeper."

Donggua wasn't angry, but Mingyue, who was drinking lotus seed porridge, almost sprayed the porridge all over Huayan when she heard this. She kept giggling, which made Huayan think to herself, "Martial arts practitioners really have a lot of energy."

After the sisters had played around for a while, Hua Yan said to Dong Gua, "Miss has said that the tea room and kitchen have been combined into one place, and Chun'er will assist you. In this way, our Dong Gua will indeed have someone to manage her."

Mingyue immediately stood up and, following the etiquette she had learned from Madam Zhou, clasped her hands in a respectful greeting to Donggua: "Congratulations, Steward Fang! How about we prepare a feast tonight to celebrate..."

Aunt Mei heard the girls laughing and joking, but she didn't come in to scold them. The three of them were all unfortunate people, no different from orphans, and the sisterly affection between them was touching.

Just past mid-morning, Mengzhu and Ruizhu led Xia'er and Dong'er back to Yunyi Palace.

Yu Heyuan was sent to guard outside the main hall, while Hua Yan brought Meng Zhurui Zhu into the hall to report to Consort Zhen.

Mengzhu tidied up and said, "Reporting to Consort, we went to Hong'e Courtyard first. Consort Guo and Consort Qu asked us to convey their thanks to Consort for the reward and said that they would come to Yunyi Palace to express their gratitude later in the afternoon."

The strengths of the stamen were once again brought into play:

"Guo Zhaoxun was as delicate as a willow in the breeze, and she looked rather pitiful. The two maids she brought with her were also from Jinzhou."

At this point, Ruizhu whispered, "After I delivered the rewards, Guo Zhaoxun's maid saw us out of the courtyard. Dong'er spoke a few words to the maid named Shuyao in the local dialect of Jinzhou, and Shuyao seemed very surprised."

Mengzhu paused for a moment, then added, "After receiving the reward, Consort Qu seemed somewhat apprehensive and expressed her deepest gratitude. The two maids beside Consort Qu appeared composed and polite, and before leaving, they prepared four purses for us."

Hua Yan asked with interest, "Didn't Tang Zhaoxun say anything?"

Ruizhu replied, "Shuyao, who was by Guo Zhaoxun's side, only gave me and Mengzhu purses. However, after we left Hong'e Courtyard, Dong'er spoke a few words to her in her native dialect, and she became more friendly. I saw it clearly; she even slipped two pieces of silver into Dong'er's hand."

Consort Zhen and Hua Yan exchanged a glance and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Consort Zhen said, "Perhaps it's because the person beside her is a bit reckless. When she went to pay her respects this morning, Consort Guo seemed to be a more sensible person."

Hua Yan remained noncommittal.

At Ronghe Courtyard, when Mengzhu led people to deliver rewards to Song Chenghui and Consort Shen, Xingyu and Zhixue, who were by the Princess's side, happened to come out of the courtyard. Consort Shen escorted them straight to the outside of the courtyard.

The two also said they would come to Yunyi Palace in person to express their gratitude.

"This servant thinks that Song Chenghui looks down on Consort Shen quite a bit," Ruizhu said gossipingly, her eyes narrowed.

Mengzhu nodded: "This servant feels the same way."

After Consort Zhen had a general understanding of the newcomer's temperament, she waited until only Hua Yan was in the study before sitting at the chess table, picking up a black piece, and inviting Hua Yan to play chess with her.

Before the game was even over, Consort Zhen became somewhat distracted.

"Hua Yan...do you know which new concubine the Prince will choose to serve him tonight?"

Hua Yan: "......"