in spring

Chapter 35
Chunying nervously lifted the lantern, and asked loudly, "Who is it?" Mei Xiang held the umbrella handle tightly and moved a little closer to Chunying.

The male voice didn't respond, but the sound of trampled branches and leaves could be heard faintly from the other side of the garden wall.Chunying heard it clearly, and took two steps boldly: "Who is over there?" Mei Xiang grabbed the corner of her clothes, and the two waited nervously for a while, but no one answered, Chunying guessed: "That person Probably left? But who is he?"

Mei Xiang breathed a sigh of relief: "It scared me to death. It's dark around, and the wind is blowing like this, but you have the courage to ask him." She lowered her head and thought for a while: "No, this is the inner courtyard, where the Marquis and the Young Master We are all at the banquet in front, how can there be a man?! Could it be some brave boy?!" Thinking of this, her face darkened: "This is not a trivial matter, it must be that the guards of the second gate are patronizing drinking and gambling I didn’t pay attention to let these dubious people sneak in! I have to go and have a look!” After saying that, he took Chunying and walked straight forward, and when he reached the gate of the garden, he found another little girl to light a lantern, and let Chunying Ying returned to the hospital on her own, and said, "If you are afraid, ask someone to accompany you."

Chunying felt that the road was not far away, and she had enough courage. Since there was the sound of stepping on the branches and leaves, it proved that it was not some ghost, so she rejected the proposal and walked back alone.When she passed that corner, she hesitated for a moment, and then boldly walked to the base of the wall, and looked at the other side of the wall through the gaps in the hollow carvings. Out of the corner of the eye, I vaguely recognized the outline of the hill behind the forest.

Who on earth is it?I remember that when I entered the mansion that day, Wisteria once said that when playing in the garden, you are not allowed to approach the houses on the mountain and below the mountain.Does anyone live there?
Do you want to find time to inquire about it?Chunying was eager to try again, another gust of cold wind blew, and she sneezed, feeling that if the wind blows again, she will fall ill tomorrow, so she quickly walked towards Huanhuaxuan.

As soon as she reached the door, she heard someone calling her name. She looked back suspiciously, but was surprised to see her elder sister Qiuyu coming from the darkness.

"Sister?! Why did you come?" Chunying ran over, "I wanted to find you, but I was assigned to look after the stove."

Qiuyu was wearing an indigo crepe crepe jacket, an autumn-colored long skirt, and a blue waistcoat. She was holding a simple glazed lantern and greeted her with a smile. She grabbed her sister and frowned: "Why? Running out in such thin clothes? Don't be afraid of catching cold! Go back to the house!" Chunying smirked twice, and led her back to the tea room.

The fire was almost extinguished, Chunying hurriedly added a few pieces of charcoal, and gave up the best stool: "Sister, please sit here? I thought you would wait in front, how could you come here? If you Just say it, now I don't even have a cup of hot tea, and I can't use the tea in the pot."

"We sisters are talking, what do you want these courtesies for?" Qiuyu blew out the lantern, stuck it on the window frame, and sat down, "I wanted to come to you the day you entered the mansion, and it was just for the holidays." , the people in our yard are so busy that they don't touch the ground. Just after we were free, the Second Master's family arrived again. I'm afraid you're not used to being here by yourself, so I've asked for an errand to inspect the place while we're having a banquet before today. I just had time to come here, I'm afraid I won't be able to stay for a long time. If anyone asks, just say that I'm passing by to have a rest." She put her hands close to the stove to keep warm, and then glared at Chunying: "Go back to the house and get dressed, I'll take care of it here." You watch."

Chunying quickly responded and ran back to her room, putting on that scarlet waistcoat before returning.Qiuyu touched her waistcoat and asked, "Mei Xiang gave you this? It looks like old clothes she wore in the past."

Chunying nodded: "She gave me several pieces, including some jewelry. Sis, are all the maids in the house so particular about their clothes? The food and supplies are not cheap, I was shocked that day."

Qiuyu smiled: "If it's not like this, how can we show the extraordinaryness of the generations of nobles in our mansion?" Then she changed the subject: "I also keep a few good clothes in there, the colors are still bright, and they are all from the former master. You rewarded me. I haven’t worn them a few times. When you are free, come and get them from me. Jewelry and so on, I also have makeup boxes, makeup powder, combs and mirrors. Take whatever you like. Mei Xiang It's a good one, but she's going out in the past two years, let her be more considerate."

Chunying smiled and said: "Actually, I don't like to wear makeup, how old am I? I don't have to spoil my skin. It's just because others said that the girl who works in Huanhuaxuan is not well-dressed enough, and she will lose face to the third young master." , I just collected Mei Xiang’s things. In fact, these are enough. When the season changes, I will also have new clothes. I will keep my sister’s clothes and jewelry for myself. I see you wear old-fashioned clothes all day long, that Lan Xiang is a year older than you, look at her dressed up like a flower all day long."

Qiuyu chuckled, and pinched Chunying's cheek: "Little Zhu Xiagui! That Lan Xiang is not as easy-talking as Mei Xiang. Let her know that you are arranging her behind her back. You have no good fruit." Then sighed, With a wry smile, "I'm in the old lady's house. The older sisters all dress like this. Sometimes people outside give clothes to the old lady, but she doesn't wear them herself. They either give them away or give them to us. Although these clothes are The color is more mature, but the materials and workmanship are all top-notch, and the sisters here may not be as decent as me."

After a pause, she glanced outside the door, and seeing no one passing by, she leaned closer to her sister and said in a low voice, "Take what is given to you. Nine out of ten people in this house are snobbish." Now, seeing you wearing coarse clothes made at home, without any decent jewelry on your head, or always wearing a few old clothes in exchange, I feel contempt in my heart. You are sent to pass on orders, and they don't care. Forget about you, the masters will blame you, they will only blame you, you have suffered, and there is no way to explain it."

Chunying was stunned for a long time, then nodded and said: "I see, I will come to you when I have time here." Qiuyu is Lu Chunying's sister, and she feels more at ease when using her things. Anyway, I haven't used it for a few months.

"Why don't you just ask for an errand to send messages or deliver things to us, and take the opportunity to go there." Qiuyu thought for a while, "In that case, people won't say anything when they ask."

Chunying nodded, and then said: "I still don't know how to get there, I haven't been out of the courtyard for a few days."

Qiuyu frowned: "Shouldn't it be logical? The new little girl must always let her go around, otherwise how can she pass the word and run errands?"

Speaking of this, Chunying was very angry. She told all the things she had experienced after entering the mansion, especially pointing out Qing'er's making things difficult, and said: "I am so wronged! She sees Manru and Rouge is not pleasing to the eye, why do you just have trouble with me?! I didn't offend her!"

Qiuyu's face was heavy, and she asked displeasedly: "How dare she do this? Does she know you are my sister?"

"Well..." Chunying thought for a while, "I didn't tell her your name, but I said you were in the old lady's room, but she said, unless it's Liuli and the others, other little girls will be her I can't look down on it either."

Qiuyu sneered: "What kind of onion is she, dare to take it like this?!" Then she said to Chunying: "If she makes things difficult for you again, you can say that you are my sister. If she still refuses to let go, just tell me. Me, don't be afraid, although she is a bit respectable in Huanhuaxuan, but here and there, except for the third young master, there are only two Meixiang and Lanxiang, who dare not give face to the people in the old lady's courtyard."

Thinking that her sister had just arrived and she didn't know many rules, Qiuyu looked at the scene outside and estimated that she could stay for another quarter of an hour, so she briefly talked about her experience in the mansion for many years, such as Mei Xianglanxiang Such big maids should be treated separately. Mei Xiang has a good temper and high prestige, so she can rely on her more, and if there is any work, she should be diligent and help. If there is a grievance or any request, you can go to her; Poor Lan Xiang, just pay more respect and show up in front of her as little as possible, so as not to be used as a punching bag by her.As for the six second-class maids, you only need to watch coldly, which one has a good temperament, you can get closer, but not too close, and you can't listen to any one of them while doing things that are not good for the other.

She said sternly: "Among the people serving in front of the young master, first and second-class maids are inevitably divided into several factions, secretly fighting with each other. The third young master is still young, except for Mei Xianglanxiang. I'm afraid you have your own little thoughts. You come into the mansion as a serious businessman. Don't be disturbed by them. In case someone loses power and hurts you, once the wife speaks, I will not be able to save you. Please remember. !"

Chunying was dubious: "Is...is that exaggerated? At most, he was kicked out?"

"That's pretty good." Qiuyu said, "The two chrysanthemum and bamboo fragrances were originally from this yard. My wife decided to marry them. One is a drunkard and the other is a sick child. They are still the second-class girls here. Well, I have been serving the third young master since I was a child, and I used to walk sideways in the mansion, and if something happened, it was nothing more than that. In a family like ours, life is in the hands of the master, so you can't be careless for a moment!"

Chunying was taken aback, bit her lip and lowered her head, hesitated for a while before saying, "I see Brother Nandeng and Sister Hongyu... they seem to be doing well outside..."

Qiuyu glared at her: "I've heard from my mother that you helped them find a backer. But they were able to leave their citizenship with the help of the eldest young master. If the wife spoke, how could it be so smooth? In my case, Don't be ignored. Eight out of ten girls in front of the young master are determined to climb up, and our family doesn't expect you to make such a head. You just need to be honest. If someone wins you over, you just push Say you are young and ignorant, go back and find someone else to play with, like the peony in your wife's house, or the wisteria you mentioned just now, it's fine, don't be used by Man Ruqing'er and the others."

Chunying solemnly agreed, and decided to do what her sister said, but she thought that she was in her 20s, and she was a bit ashamed to ask a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl to teach the world, so she bowed her head in embarrassment. , eyes rolled and turned, suddenly caught a glimpse of the box of pastries that Mei Xiang brought, hurriedly took it to Qiuyu, and said: "This is a pastry with hair on it, sister, let's eat together?" Then he frowned: "It's a pity that there is no tea. ... I remember that there seems to be tea in my room, but it is already cold, should I warm it up?"

Qiuyu raised her eyebrows, and pointed to the teapot on the stove: "Isn't this tea? Is it for the third young master?" Seeing Chunying nodding, she found two white porcelain cups from the cabinet, and poured them out .

Chunying hurriedly stopped her: "Qing'er said we are not allowed to drink, and Manru..."

"You just say I drank it." Qiuyu poured half a cup of tea calmly, and handed it to her sister, "What are you afraid of? Mei Xianglanxiang will take a lot of money from us in two years, and I will eat half of them." A cup of tea, could it be a thief? If they really say that, I’m not going to pick it up?!” She poured herself half a cup, and then picked up a piece of moon cake: “The word is blurred, they must have picked it. Leftovers. Forget it, I remember it was stuffed with fruit and tasted okay, but this sweet-scented osmanthus cake is too sweet, you little girls love it, but I find it boring."

Chunying smiled and picked up another mooncake and bit it, saying, "I don't know if father and mother can eat this at home?"

"It's all the same. Dad can get a copy too, but the taste may be worse." Qiuyu smiled and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, wiped the corner of Chunying's mouth, "Look at you, silly, eat Even a cake will fall into crumbs!"

After eating supper, Qiuyu heard that fireworks were already going on outside, so she hurriedly got up and said, "I should go, there are still a few places I haven't checked, you should pay more attention to the candlelights everywhere in the courtyard. What I said just now , do you remember everything clearly?"

Chunying hurriedly assured that she remembered everything clearly, and sent her all the way out of the courtyard gate. When she saw the road she had just walked from a distance, she rolled her eyes and grabbed Qiuyu's sleeve: "Sister, do you live over there in the garden?" Who is it? When I passed there just now, I heard a man sighing on the other side of the wall."

(Every time I want to update earlier, I always write more than usual... Cough, please ask for a pink ticket~~~)

(End of this chapter)