Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 110 One bed can never sleep two types of people

What was happening in the back courtyard was also unfolding in the front study.

Faced with his father-in-law, Tang Xian obviously couldn't just walk away like Madam Yun, but this old fox naturally had his own methods, and he managed to subdue his father-in-law with just a few words.

He calmly replied, "A marriage between relatives is a wonderful suggestion from my father-in-law. However, it would be best if Jin'er and Madam were truly as close as sisters."

Master Yun was taken aback. He knew that his two daughters had a strained relationship after they grew up, but his younger daughter and wife had whispered in his ear a few times. He was easily swayed by rumors, so he ignored the previous discord and assumed that they were truly in love with Qingwan.

Tang Xian came from a respectable background and had grown up under his mother's strict discipline, behaving with great refinement. Yet, he was now restless. Thinking of his wife and daughter still in the inner quarters, wondering how that old hag was tormenting them, a cold glint appeared in his lowered eyes.

So he said frankly, "Father-in-law, you might as well think about it carefully. How could a son-in-law feel at ease marrying Wan'er to a woman who even fights with my Yun'er over her name?"

These words were so blunt that Master Yun blushed.

Yun Jin, Yun Jin.

The two daughters were a year and a half apart. Because their given names sounded the same, outsiders assumed that the fourth branch of the Yun family only had one daughter. The younger daughter was impulsive and always had a strong will, but she couldn't compare to her older sister, born to the first wife, in anything. This led her to develop a habit of competing with her sister in everything. Eventually, she even went so far as to interfere with her husband's family... This was a shameful affair of the fourth branch of the family. He vaguely remembered that it had even caused the deaths of two of the older sister's head maids.

Only when he recalled it did he realize that he had neglected his eldest daughter. When his son-in-law brought it up, although he was unhappy, he had no choice but to put the matter aside.

Tang Xian pretended to drink tea without looking at his father-in-law's expression. He had just taken a sip, but before it even went down his throat, he frowned unconsciously. Fortunately, he had good manners and did not lose his temper on the spot.

At the end of last year, Tang Xian personally reviewed the list of New Year's gifts sent to his father-in-law's residence. There were two or three kinds of precious tea alone, and even the Dragon and Phoenix Tea, a tribute tea that even the eldest branch of the Yun family probably couldn't easily obtain, was added. Now it seems that his cheap mother-in-law probably sent them all to the Earl's mansion to supplement her own daughter's income.

Tang Xian's eyes were unreadable, and his anger grew. What was this dissolute son of the Earl's mansion? How dare he covet my Wan'er?

As the old saying goes, two kinds of people can never sleep in the same bed, and his current thoughts actually coincide with those of his wife.

In fact, it was he who took the initiative to seek out Yun Jin, the eldest daughter of the Yun family, who was still a young lady at the time. It can be said that he went to great lengths to obtain Madam Yun.

Both being abandoned by their families and having lost a city, perhaps they are destined to come together.

Leaving aside the past grievances, Hua Yan followed the pebbled path, asking two old women along the way before finally finding the Second Miss and her party in a secluded garden. Her aunt, Zhang, was not there; only the three young ladies were admiring the flowers in the garden.

Zou Xiuer felt that she was of noble status and disdained to associate with the second and fifth young ladies. She was attracted by the second young lady's fine clothes and wanted to go up and ask her questions, but she was also mindful of her status and did not want to speak first.

The second and fifth young ladies paid no attention to her, idly strolling around the garden. Apart from Mingyue, the other maids stood at a distance.

"This garden is crude, with clumps of plants scattered here and there. It's far inferior to our Earl's Mansion, and there's nothing worth visiting," Zou Xiuer began dryly.

The fifth young lady was surprised and asked in confusion, "Is this how Cousin Zou visits her maternal grandfather's residence? No matter how beautiful your Earl's garden is, it is still impolite to say it so openly."

A maidservant standing beside Zou Xiuer stepped forward and replied arrogantly, "Miss Wu, you always talk about etiquette, but you should also know the proper order of things. My young lady is the legitimate daughter of an earl's family, how dare you speak ill of her?"

Upon hearing this, Mingyue felt her blood rush to her head and clenched her fist, wanting to punch him. However, she realized it was inappropriate and secretly cursed herself for being clumsy with words.

The second young lady turned around and shielded the fifth young lady behind her, saying coldly, "I've only heard that the Earl's family is known for its scholarly traditions, but I never imagined that a mere maid would dare to be so arrogant."

Zou Xiuer was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Cousin Wan, what are you saying? Besides, what Cuilan said is not wrong. The Earl's Mansion is naturally the most honorable."

“Even if the Earl’s Mansion is prestigious, this is still my maternal grandparents’ home. My cousin seems to have forgotten that this is the Yun Mansion, not your Earl’s Mansion,” the second young lady replied, looking directly at Zou Xiuer.

As Hua Yan approached, she frowned upon hearing her mistress's rebuttal, realizing something was amiss.

Sure enough, Zou Xiuer was quite pleased with herself, casually picking a pink hydrangea and playing with it. "Cousin Wan, is there anything wrong with judging someone's status solely by their birth?"

Hua Yan hurriedly stepped forward, first bowing in accordance with the rules, then standing beside the second young lady to change the subject of the conversation about social status based on birth and age.

"Please be well, Miss. The Fifth Miss just kindly pointed out that your words at your maternal grandparents' house were inappropriate, which is exactly in line with the principle that 'the way of etiquette should not be violated.' Since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Gaozu, has the country always been governed by 'filial piety' and 'propriety'?"

This accusation left Zou Xiuer feeling awkward. Her maid was about to say something more when she raised her hand to stop her. "Alright, alright, it's just some flowers and plants anyway, I won't bother with you."

Zou Xiuer was about to leave with her maid when she suddenly turned around and said, "You people come from small places and don't know the ways of the capital. It's not a big deal that you're a little ignorant. I was just being nosy. I meant well by taking my cousin Wan to a garden in the capital that only the truly powerful and wealthy can visit to broaden her horizons. It seems all my efforts have been in vain."

"Only high-ranking officials and nobles are allowed to set foot there. If I hadn't been leading you, you probably wouldn't have been able to even get through the gate."

The fifth young lady was furious and sneered, "Could it be the imperial garden of the palace?"

Zou Xiuer's face showed a hint of longing: "Fifth Sister, you don't know, but once autumn comes, even young ladies from ordinary official families would probably have to wait a long time to make a reservation at that hot spring resort. Even if Cousin Lin is a third-ranked scholar, he probably wouldn't be able to go unless someone invites him."

Upon hearing this, the second young lady suddenly turned around and looked at Hua Yan, the expressions of the two of them somewhat subtle.

When the second young lady celebrated her birthday, the eldest young master gifted her a hot spring resort in the suburbs of Beijing. Because he was not in the capital for the past few years, the second young lady could only see a blueprint. Later, inspired by Hua Yan, she had a resort built according to the style of Jiangnan gardens, suitable for wealthy families to hold elegant gatherings.

The second young lady originally wanted to build a garden so that she would have a place to relax when she came to the capital.

Unexpectedly, it became very popular in the capital, earning Yunyi Academy a lot of money. Later, when Hua Yan was setting up the embroidery shop, she had a brilliant idea and suggested to the Second Miss and Madam Yun that the shop should only be open to the powerful and wealthy officials of the capital.

At that time, Madam Yun immediately took over, seemingly under the pretext of the Tang family expanding their business, promising them great benefits, and ultimately using the name of the Princess's Mansion to cooperate in this matter.

If there isn't another open hot spring resort in the capital, Zou Xiuer must be referring to the one the Second Miss had...

The day trip to the Yun family ended with a meal at the eldest branch of the Yun family. The second and third branches of the Yun family had been assigned to posts outside the capital and were not in the capital. The fourth matriarch also did not attend the meal, citing illness as the reason.

After Tang Xian returned to the mansion with his wife and daughter, he spent a long time in the study with Madam Yun.

The second young lady took Hua Yan and Mingyue back to Yunyi Courtyard and instructed Hua Yan to retrieve the recent account books of the hot spring estate.

"I never imagined that your small suggestion would yield such results." The second young lady flipped through a few pages, then put down the ledger and picked up another list underneath. It was a list of all the powerful and influential people who had visited the estate since it opened to the public.

Hua Yan said, "This servant is just giving a reminder; it's all done by Madam's people." In the past six months, she has also placed several people on the estate, all of which were arranged after reporting to Madam Yun.

“Miss, the Rongxing Marquis’s mansion has been insignificant in recent years, but if the second young lady of the Marquis’s mansion knew that this estate was under your name, it might cause some trouble.”

The second young lady nodded and said softly, "In that case, let's not go for now."