After the two sisters chatted for a while, Minglan brought Hualan to Daylily Garden to visit Old Madam Qin. Old Madam Qin was very nice to Hualan and tried to bond with the latter with warm words. She even praised Aunt Kang on purpose, claiming the latter to be ‘a gentle and decent person.’ However, hearing those compliments, Hualan suddenly lost the interest to talk and acted indifferently.

In her views, Rulan, her blood sister, had only given up on herself and married a poor scholar because of her disgusting aunt. Though Rulan’s husband had passed the two imperial exams, he still had to rely on the Sheng family. Though he was an editor in the imperial academy, it was still uncertain if he could achieve success and win recognition. Even if he did, it might still take him a long time. Although Hualan’s cousin from the Wang family was just a Xiucai, he had already become an official with the money and support from his families. Wang family was very wealthy and got relatives and friends all over. If anyone of the Wang family wanted to do business or become an official, he could always get helps from his family’s connections.

Kang family loved to take advantage of the others and burn bridges, and now was like a sticky candy to the Sheng family which couldn’t be got rid of. Yuan Wenshao had made a great effort to close the horse breeding deal in the pasture outside the capital. However, after Wang shi let the thing slip, Aunt Kang wanted to join the business too. Hualan nearly fainted with anger— Now Hualan couldn’t even be completely honest to her mother.

Seeing that Hualan was in low spirits, Old Madam Qin talked for a short while and then sent Hualan away disappointedly.

After Minglan sent Hualan off, she saw the bright sunlight outside. Then she got off the sedan and strolled back to her room leisurely. Lvzhi chattered beside her, “Madam, you are pregnant now. Why do you walk this far?” Xiahe said in a soft voice, “Sister, don’t worry. I have been counting. Madam has just walked for three hundred steps. It doesn’t matter.” Hearing that, Minglan couldn’t help but laugh. A woman who was six months pregnant should have the most stable condition. She might even be able to get on a crowded bus, not to mention walk a few steps.

As she was walking, she found that she almost arrived at House of Auspiciousness. Minglan didn’t bother to notify the others in advance, so she kept walking slowly on the road. After she reached the door of the yard, she heard some people quarreling inside. Minglan was a bit surprised and took a glance at the two maids beside her. Xiahe and Lvzhi also seemed shocked. Everyone in the House of Auspiciousness got along well with each other. Lately, because of Minglan’s pregnancy, the maids even seldom had disagreement with each other.

There was a sweet voice coming through from the inside, “… Sister Danju, Sister Xiayu is still young after all. She just dropped some little stuffs, why did you threaten to punish her so fiercely? I think even beating her is a bit too excessive, not to mention telling on her to Madam or deducting her wage. That’s too harsh of you.”

Hearing that voice, Minglan curled her lips unintentionally. That girl had been a bit too active lately.

Danju’s angry voice sounded, “Xiayu is in charge of the daily appliance. Yesterday, she broke a Ruyao dish(T/N: Rulan is rare variety of chinaware of the Song Dynasty). Just now, she smashed a jade beauty gourd. They are all expensive dishes instead of the normal ones. Why shouldn’t I punish her?”

Caihuan gave a clear chuckle, “Oh my, Sister Danju, it all depends on what kind of family we are in. If we live in a normal family, of course we can’t afford to break those stuffs. However, these things mean nothing in a family like ours. If there isn’t someone with an intention telling Madam, she won’t care about it at all.”

After that, Xiayu’s humble and ingratiating voice came through, “Sister Danju. I’ve told you that I was a careless girl and couldn’t take care of those stuffs. You just didn’t listen to me, now you…”

Danju tried hard to hold back her anger, “What an eloquent girl! When I told you to do the cleaning, you said that you were in the first group of the maids that Momo Chang had picked and didn’t want to do rough jobs. When I told you to be on night duty, you said that you couldn’t stand or sit for too long. What the hell do you want to do?”

“Puff, come on, of course she wants to serve Master and Madam in the room.” That was Xiaocui’s clear voice, “Well, but she doesn’t deserve to!” After that, there were laughter sounding in the room.

Xiayu explained for herself anxiously, “I dare not, really. I used to do the simple job like tidying the clothes and quilts. If Sister Danju asks me to do that kind of things, I won’t make a mistake then.”

Caihuan said slowly, “Danju, why didn’t you think carefully when you assign the tasks?”

Minglan’s face turned sullen as she heard their conversation. She never liked her undergarments being touched by others. Also, she started to have a sex life after getting married. The maids who took charge of her quilts might gossip. Xiahe was a cautious girl and Xiazhu was honest. What’s more, they had both been bought from the outside, which meant they had no relatives in this mansion. So Minglan only allowed the two girls as well as Danju and Xiaotao to tidy her clothes.

Lvzhi who was standing beside Minglan already got indignant and itched to curse. Minglan took a glance at Xiahe. Then the latter understood Minglan at once and stepped forward, saying loudly, “What are you fighting about! Can’t you see that Madam is here?”

The yard fell into silence at once. Minlan walked past everyone slowly without saying anything. All the maids didn’t dare to say a word and bowed to minglan with their heads lowered. A short while after Minglan entered into the room, Lvzhi came out and called Danju and Caihuan inside.

With a guilty look on Danju’s face, she murmured at once, “Madam, it’s all my fault. I failed to manage…” Minglan interrupted her immediately, “I’ve told you long ago that having a kind heart was necessary but you shouldn’t tolerate everything. From what I’ve heard today, this wasn’t the first time Xiayu made such a mistake. I wonder if it is so hard to find a maid who’s adroit with her hands and she’s only one who could do that job.” Tears stood on the rim of Danju’s eyes. She had wanted to punish Xiayu long ago. However, every time she tried to do so, Caihuan would butt in.

As a matter of fact, Caihuan had entered into the inner yard of the Sheng family earlier than Danju and Xiaobao and also used to be the first-class maid of Wang shi. When Minglan had lived in the Sheng family, her maids had to play up to the maids who served Wang shi. However, now in Gu’s mansion, Caihuan had to follow Danju’s directions, which made the former quite indignant.

“Caihuan.” Minglan suddenly called Caihuan. The latter responded at once.

With a gentle look on Minglan’s face, she said smilingly, “I heard that you have talked with Concubine Gong a lot lately.”

Caihuan shuddered instantly. She had prepared a long speech to explain for herself, never did she realize that Minglan would mention about that, “Well, well, it never happened…” Minglan wasn’t mad about Caihuan’s lie and only said with a flat tone, “Yesterday, you two have talked for nearly two hours by the lotus pond. Three days ago, you went to her room and drank tea with her for a quarter. Six days ago, after you sent new cloths to Rong, you went to Concubine Gong’s room and had a conversation with her for an hour.” Caihuan sweated all over and her underwaist was completely wet. For no reason, she sank and knelt on the floor, saying, “Madam, forgive my foolishness, I…”