07. Matters of the Government (Part One)

Miss, what is the matter? You have been feeling weak and lacking energy lately, and you should really take some supplements. Sister Yunliu has even prepared a soup with angelica and black-boned chicken for you this evening

A shameless old hag, dreaming all day of being a concubine, actually dares to incite Miss Yunliu. Our young lady has long stated that she intends to find a proper marriage for Miss Yunliu, as she will be the rightful mistress in the future

"You little girl, all you do is scheme against me. Just wait until I twist your mouth off," Chu Lianqing said, not at all embarrassed as she stepped forward and twisted Chu Lianyi again, filling the room with joy.

Chu Lianyi was not intentionally eavesdropping, but their chattering and lively voices were simply irresistible to listen to. Since those who could be counted all had wives, and Sixth Sister would not settle for less, there were not many candidates left.

"Miss, how did you guess that the prospective fiancé of Sixth Miss is the newly appointed Hanlin editor? This is truly remarkable." An Xiang felt that her young lady rarely stepped out of the house and did not care for idle gossip, so she really did not know where she had obtained this information.

Today, Yun Liu is wearing a short embroidered jacket in the color of autumn fragrance, adorned with rose patterns and edged with cloud motifs. Below, she has tied a pleated skirt made of bright yellow gauze. Youthful and charming, coupled with Yun Liu's naturally beautiful complexion, those who do not know her would surely think, as Li Pozi said, that she is a young lady of high status

This gold-threaded jade bracelet weighs a full 3 taels. It is crafted with gold threads twisted into a hollow vine cage, elegantly attached to jade of exceptional water quality. The interplay of gold and jade is dazzling and opulent. Now, when it complements the sheep-fat jade hand of Chu Lianyi, which rivals frost and surpasses snow, it truly enhances each other’s beauty. Even women are captivated by it, adding an extra touch of splendor to the gold-threaded jade bracelet.

"Sister Cuiping, Sister Xie Shuying, Sister Anxiang." Cuiping cried as she kowtowed before she dared to rise.

Yun Liu and others looked on with some envy as Shu Ying and An Xiang ascended the stairs, for the twelfth young lady's boudoir was traditionally reserved solely for the two of them. Even the tasks of cleaning and tidying, which should have been handled by the maid, were personally undertaken by them. Thus, everyone regarded the opportunity to ascend the twelfth young lady's boudoir as a goal worth striving for

Shu Ying sat down beside the Eight Immortals table in the main hall, and a young maid named Cui Ping quickly brought over some tea, "Miss Shu Ying, this tea is this year's Meng Ding new tea picked before the Ming Festival, just sent over from the villages in Shu. Do you like it?"

She spends all day tinkering in her pharmacy, usually not allowing anyone in. Today, since she is with the young lady, let us go and take a look as well

Ah, does this mean that Lianyi guessed correctly? The madam also became excited.

Chu Lianyi appeared listless, while An Xiang was full of energy. Upon returning, she vividly recounted the earlier events in front of the maids Yun Liu and Yun Tao, which elicited looks of utmost admiration for Chu Lianyi from the two maids.

Although Yun Liu felt disdain for Li Pozi, she still wore a beaming smile on her face. Seeing that the young lady had grown up, Li Pozi thought that her daughter would eventually marry out, and she began to wholeheartedly support the third room. Now, she was following behind Aunt Qiu, and today, for some unknown reason, she was eager to flatter Yun Liu.

Shu Ying took a sip and said, "Hmm, it tastes fragrant. Can the tea for the guests be kept?"

Chu Lianyi and the others have been away for over a month, and many matters have accumulated in the residence. Yesterday, it was too late to come back, and early this morning, the master went to visit the matriarch again. Only now, as the master is asleep, did they find the opportunity to come back and report. Shu Ying and An Xiang immediately became busy.

The two quickly agreed, helped Chu Lianyi upstairs, assisted her in changing clothes, tucked in the corners of her quilt, and then quietly went downstairs.

"Where is Yunliu?" The fragrant aroma wafted from the kitchen as the daughter-in-law and the maid exchanged words. Usually, Yunliu would directly oversee them, but she was not present, which caused some annoyance in her heart

As Granny Li, the caretaker of the garden, was about to enter, she saw Yun Liu leading two kitchen maids down from the carriage in the alley, directly entering the inner courtyard through the side door

Cui Ping noticed that Shu Ying liked the new tea and thought that she had flattered her correctly this time. However, to her surprise, after hearing her words, Shu Ying's expression immediately darkened. She placed the teacup down on the table with a crisp sound, startling Cui Ping greatly. "What young lady? In our residence, there is only one young lady, and that is our master, the Twelfth Young Lady."

You mischievous girl, I don't believe you can say it. Your third aunt has been keeping it a secret, and even I, your grandmother, am still unaware. This morning, the third lady came to share the good news, but she only revealed part of it, leaving others to guess, while she covered her mouth and laughed by herself. And since Chu Lianyi arrived early, before she could unveil the mystery, Chu Lianyi interrupted.

"It has been reserved, it has been reserved, divided into three grades, but the tea that the young lady drinks is the most tender. If you find it to your liking, this kind of tea will be specially reserved for the young lady in the future." The little maid Cui Ping usually cannot get close to Chu Lianyi, so she uses all her skills in pleasing others on Shu Ying. She was originally bought by Chu Lianyi to serve Shu Ying as a third-grade maid.

After Shu Ying assisted Chu Lianyi with her washing up, she helped her downstairs. Noticing her listless expression and hearing her request for dinner to be not too greasy, she decided that a bowl of polished rice porridge and a few small dishes would suffice

Oh dear, my great-aunt, I heard it too, didn't I? You mustn't respond, my dear, for I have been telling everyone outside that our young lady is kind and benevolent. Li Pozi became anxious and tried to grab Yun Liu's clothing, but was stopped by the two young maidens behind her.

Cui Ping's face was already covered with tears, and she sobbed, saying: "Cui Ping will never dare again, Sister Shu Ying, please do not chase Cui Ping away."

Get up. The shadows of the willows cast down, and her eyelids drooped, her gaze fixed on the ground, only after a long while did she allow Cuiping to rise.

"What a clever girl." The usually taciturn grandaunt surprisingly spoke up, leaving those around her astonished. This grandaunt is the eldest daughter of the matriarch, known for her prudence and decorum. Now, having lost her husband, she has returned to her maternal home with her daughter. Since the matriarch had always opposed her marriage, the grandaunt now has even less to say at home, becoming a person who only knows to lower her head and eat.

Wei Yu is also the maid of Chu Lianyi, but she usually does not attend to Chu Lianyi directly. At the age of eight, she was sent by Chu Lianyi to study medicine, and now she is mainly responsible for taking care of Chu Lianyi's health

"Sister Twelve, why do you say that Brother-in-law Six is extremely noble?" The Fifteenth Young Lady of the Sixth House is only nine years old and does not understand matters.

The young girl Cui Xue quickly replied, "Sister Yun Liu left early this morning. I heard last night that the young lady was not feeling well after returning, so she thought of personally going to the nearby village to see if there were any seasonal vegetables, to come back and prepare some dishes that would suit the young lady's taste."

It is said that as Shu Ying and An Xiang descended the stairs, they saw the young girl Cui Xue coming to report: "The wives of Liu Bao from the outer courtyard, Wang Gui from the storeroom, and An Sheng from the kitchen have come to deliver messages"

It is said that one should not speak ill of others behind their backs; just as the name Yun Liu was mentioned, she arrived outside the second gate

Naturally, at noon, Lady Lian prepared a meal. After the meal, everyone returned to their respective homes without further ado

The fifteenth girl stuck out her tongue, probably aware that this was insufficient

Chu Lianyi then said: "But the position of a Hanlin is quite high. In our Great Xia Dynasty, the rule is that only officials of the second rank and above are allowed to wear mink fur. You see, in our family, only your uncle is qualified to wear it, but Hanlins are not subject to this restriction. Although a Hanlin is only of the sixth or seventh rank, they can still wear mink fur."

"Exactly." Pangzi nodded with a sense of satisfaction.

I will go upstairs to rest for a while. You two take care of the matters at home. If there are any uncertainties, come back to me during dinner.

Liu Qianxue was slightly surprised by Chu Lianyi's words, saying, "Sister Twelve truly possesses both intelligence and grace, but I wonder how you guessed it?" This clearly indicated her suspicion that Chu Lianyi had heard some insider information beforehand

Sister Shuying, what are you doing? Cui Ping is still young and doesn't understand. Just talk to her, don't scare her. Cui Ping is only about eleven or twelve years old, so Anxiang kindly came out to speak for her.

Ah, with a person of your character, Miss Yunliu, I initially thought that once you married, you would surely become a concubine. Who would have thought that the engagement was broken off, and now everyone says our lady is inherently malicious. It must be said that our lady is indeed a bit strict, but she shouldn't be spoken of in such a manner, don't you think, Miss Yunliu?" When Old Li said this, she furtively glanced around, as if afraid that others might overhear. In truth, she is the very source of the rumors.

"Quickly tell Grandmother, how did you guess it?" The matriarch grasped Chu Lianyi's hand

Shu Ying finally smiled, "That's more like it. Fortunately, she is clever. Last night, I merely mentioned that the young lady felt unwell in the carriage and almost vomited. She immediately thought that the young lady must have injured her spleen and stomach. You should all learn well from your sister Yun Liu." This was said by An Xiang to the two young maidservants attending her.

I think there are very few good men in this capital who are worthy of Sixth Sister, and Sixth Sister has high standards, always looking down on those pampered young masters. But why is it that at this moment there is news? Lianyi wondered if there had been any significant events recently. Coincidentally, there indeed has been a major event; the palace examination has just concluded. The top scholar is parading through the streets on a fine horse, and the second place is picking flowers in the famous gardens. The Emperor has personally appointed the Hanlin Academy scholars, which is extremely prestigious. Only such a son-in-law would catch the eye of Third Aunt. " Chu Lianyi leaned against the matriarch's embrace, glancing at the旁氏, provoking laughter from the crowd.

Upon hearing the words "chicken soup," Chu Lianyi frowned

I know, I know, grandmother, you asked Baohe to bring that bracelet so that you can see if your granddaughter guessed correctly. Chu Lianyi, the little daughter, playfully tugged at Lady Lian's sleeve, taking advantage of her young age to act cute and silly, hoping to amuse Lady Lian.

Chu Lianyi released the Fifteenth Young Lady and turned to the matriarch with a charming smile, saying, "Grandmother, if Lianyi can tell who Sixth Sister's future husband is, you must reward your granddaughter with that precious bracelet."

Chuliang Yi usually conducts herself in an extremely low-key manner, even in front of the invited teacher, she remains quite reserved and does not seek the spotlight. It is sufficient for her to be a moderate student, and displaying her cleverness today is merely a last resort.

Lady Lian could not resist her and simply laughed, instructing her maid Baoyu to take the key and fetch the bracelet

Shu Ying then contentedly lifted the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said, "A master is a master. Do not think that just because the master is kind and has given us servants some dignity, you can bypass the master. If you offend again in the future, I will have your mother take you away."

"Alright, alright, you seem to want to place all the good things on me." Chu Lianyi smiled and gave a playful glance at Anxiang, "Let’s go visit Wei Yu; it’s been a long time since we last saw her herb garden, and I wonder how it has turned out."

Shu Ying easily persuaded An Xiang, leading Yun Liu, Yun Tao, as well as Yu Yan and Yu Zhu, to handle the matters that had been left unattended during their absence over the past month. Just as they finished tidying up, they heard the sound of a copper bell ringing from upstairs, which was Chu Lian Yi calling for Shu Ying and An Xiang to come up and attend to her.

Wow," exclaimed Miss Fifteen in surprise, and this exclamation greatly satisfied the vanity of the旁氏.

Chu Lianyi embraced the Fifteen Young Lady in front of her, seizing this opportunity to please Sixth Sister while also flattering the Pang family, hoping that in the future, she would create fewer obstacles for her in front of the Matriarch. "They say the Hanlin is noble, but the 'noble' here refers to the Hanlin's poverty; the salary for compiling and reviewing is only about forty to fifty taels each season. Sometimes, this forty to fifty taels is not even enough for a prominent family's daughter to wear a proper headdress.

Shu Ying oversees the storeroom and kitchen of the residence, and she has two second-class maidservants, Yun Liu and Yun Tao, under her command. An Xiang manages the social interactions with guests, and she is accompanied by two second-class maidservants, Yu Yan and Yu Zhu.

With a keen sense of observation, she quickly changed the subject, "Miss, shall I call Wei Yu to come and see you? This transitional period between summer and autumn is the most susceptible to illness. Wei Yu has come a few times to inquire about your well-being while you were resting just now."

It turns out to be Granny Li, you must be here to take care of the matters in the courtyard today.

Chu Lianyi then sat up straight and said, "I guess that in the future, Sixth Brother-in-law will surely be the one who has been appointed as the compiler of the Hanlin Academy, the top scholar. I wonder if my guess is correct, Third Aunt?" After finishing her words, Chu Lianyi couldn't help but laugh.

Cui Ping immediately trembled and knelt at Shu Ying's feet: "Yes, Sister Shu Ying, Cui Ping was wrong."

It is uncertain whether Yun Liu heard or not, as she led the young girl straight into the depths of the Hundred Flowers.

Yun Liu's expression darkened as she heard this, "I am a perfectly fine person, why would I want to become a concubine? If it weren't for our young lady's kindness, you wouldn't be able to manage the courtyard, living comfortably and eating well, and even spending the money from selling flowers on wine. Yet you still can't be satisfied and gossip behind my back. This time, I will go to the young lady." Yun Liu spat at Li Pozi.

The young ladies usually only regard the two head maids, Shuying and Anxiang, as formidable, and are not familiar with this flower-like young lady

Once Cui Ping had withdrawn, the three daughters-in-law standing outside the door dared to enter the room. Just moments ago, Shu Ying had killed a chicken to show the monkey, and the lingering shock was still evident on their faces.

Upon hearing Shuying's words, Anxiang responded, "Indeed, young lady, Wei Yu has greatly improved her medical skills. There are some ailments that even the imperial physicians cannot cure, yet she is able to treat them. Who in the entire household does not express gratitude towards the young lady? If it were not for the young lady instructing Wei Yu to attend to everyone, we do not know how many lives would have been lost. Just the other day, Liu Bao's youngest son ingested something unknown and began convulsing on the ground, foaming at the mouth. If Wei Yu had not arrived in time, he would have already been lost."

Pangzi widened his eyes and said, "How did you guess that?"

This is not difficult, as Lianyi has been paying close attention to Sixth Sister. When Lianyi first mentioned the top scholar boasting about the street, Sixth Sister did not show much reaction. However, when it came to the flower of the examination, she immediately blushed, covering the corner of her lips with a handkerchief and giggling secretly.

You may not know the significance of the Hanlin Academy; the Grand Secretaries of our court, the Ministers of the Six Ministries, and the Vice Ministers must all come from the Hanlin Academy. If one wishes to rise to the position of a minister or a high official, it is essential to be from the Hanlin Academy. The imperial examination occurs only once every three years, and each time, only about ten to twenty individuals nationwide are selected. Would you not say that the Hanlin Academy is invaluable

"Yes, yes, indeed, our sixth brother-in-law is truly impressive," said the fifteenth young lady in a delicate manner.

This bracelet is only worthy of being complemented by a bowl, otherwise it would be overlooked. The matriarch patted Chu Lianyi's hand with satisfaction

In fact, in this residence, Chu Lianyi is merely a figurehead. Due to her poor health, she does not have the time to manage the trivial matters of the entire household. She has delegated most of her authority to the maids around her, Shuying and Anxiang, who are like her right and left arms. For ordinary matters, their word is sufficient.

Old Lady Li, at her advanced age, ended up being scolded by two young girls, her heart filled with rage. She muttered softly behind the willow, "Hmph, do they really think they are young ladies?"

Chu Lianyi smiled and said, "If I really told you, it wouldn't be mysterious anymore." Chu Lianyi did not respond; sometimes telling the truth is a virtue, but there is no need to be completely unreserved. Moreover, what she needed now was precisely this appearance of "mystery".

Chu Lianyi curled up in bed, pondering whether it was a sign that heaven was beginning to look after her. Just yesterday, in such a short span of time, she unexpectedly encountered the newly appointed top scholar's wife who had come to burn incense and fulfill her vows, along with several other wives of her fellow scholars.

She is truly a sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued girl. Pang Shi laughed as she pointed at Chu Lianyi, yet she was not angry, for after all, she had fulfilled her wish

Oh, isn't this Miss Yunliu? It has been quite a few days since we last met, and you have become even more beautiful. Just look at your figure and the elegance about you; you truly resemble a proper lady from a distinguished family.

Chu Lianyi returned to the depths of the Hundred Flowers and felt extremely fatigued. After a long day of travel yesterday, she had to rise early again today and expend effort to please the matriarch. Even the side family members required careful attention, making her feel more exhausted than after a day of painting. Moreover, she was not accustomed to the food over there, so as soon as she entered the room, she appeared to lack vitality

It is to be expected that the future brother-in-law will undoubtedly be an exceptionally distinguished person Although Chu Lianyi's words were somewhat unclear, those who understood the situation would certainly see through it clearly

"Very well, it seems that I must give this bracelet to Lianyi." As she spoke, Baohua had already brought the bracelet, and the matriarch personally put it on Chu Lianyi.

However, Shuying has always acted in accordance with the rules and never dared to become arrogant due to favoritism, which is also the reason why Chulianyi relies on her as her right arm

It is indeed not entirely surprising that Cui Ping is in this situation, as Shu Ying and An Xiang are the closest maids to Chu Lianyi. The affairs of the household are primarily managed by the two of them along with the wet nurse. Both of them are astute and capable, and those who work for them both respect and fear them, which is why they are referred to as "young ladies." Chu Lianyi also supports this, showing no particular reaction upon hearing it. With this status, it becomes even more convenient for them to carry out their tasks, as they appear to be Chu Lianyi's special envoys. Those who work for them both respect and fear them, which is why they are referred to as "young ladies." Chu Lianyi also supports this, showing no particular reaction upon hearing it. With this status, it becomes even more convenient for them to carry out their tasks, as they appear to be Chu Lianyi's special envoys.

Indeed, it is truly fate to encounter the young lady right here. Although Yun Liu is merely a second-class maid, she is quite favored in front of Shu Ying, and even in the presence of Chu Lian Yi, she is someone who can hold her own. Among the servants, there are quite a few who wish to curry favor with her

An Xiang, upon hearing Yun Liu mention the words of Li Pozi, was ready to rush out to settle the score with her. After much persuasion, she was finally dissuaded by Shu Ying, who said, "What do you want to find Li Pozi for? That shameless old hag, if you get into a quarrel with her and the young lady finds out the reason, wouldn't she be heartbroken again? In my opinion, we should call the tooth collector and have her entire family sold off, after all, they are just our family's servants."