Wealth and glory seek stability

Jian Xi was getting annoyed by waiting so long.

She couldn't understand how there could be people in this world who would spend an hour on dressing up. How could they have so much free time in the day?

There was a noise coming from the inner room, and the maids on both sides opened the door.

Qian was in her early thirties, and although she had given birth to two children, she looked only about twenty-five or twenty-six because she had taken good care of herself.

The lake blue dress perfectly accentuated Qian's waist, and the wide belt just fixed her waist which was a little loose after giving birth.

The emerald green skirt flowed gracefully as she walked, the gauze layered inside was all of the finest light gauze. She had a butterfly gold hairpin on her head and a shawl of the same color draped lightly on her wrist, making Qian look like a goddess above the nine heavens, graceful and inviolable.

Jian Xi couldn't help but say the description in the Ode to the Goddess of Luo River: "She has a smooth and jade-like face, with words yet to be spoken, a scent like the faint fragrance of orchids, and a graceful and elegant appearance. She walks on the strong and spicy ground, and her steps are light but fragrant."

Qian was stunned at first, then she burst into laughter, "You are such a sweet-talker, I am not as pretty as you said, you are lying."

The maidservant around Qian was unhappy.

"Madam, I think this girl is really honest."

"Yes, not to mention her, even I was stunned. I thought it was a fairy from heaven who came down to earth."

"Madam is already beautiful, and this outfit is indeed pure and elegant. She will definitely be the most beautiful among all the ladies at the Peony Banquet."

......

Jian Xi was full of admiration. Look! This is a professional supporting actor. She needs to practice more to become a flatterer.

Qian was very happy with the feeling of being the center of attention. She waved her hand and said, "I'm in a good mood today. I'll give you all the gifts!"

"Thank you, ma'am!" Since the master was happy, the maids were naturally happy to flatter her.

Qian took the imperial concubine mirror and carefully examined her beauty. She caught a glimpse of Jian Xi and then remembered this. "Oh! And Jian Xi, a generous reward! You have done a good job. You must have worked hard these days. You are so pitiful. Take the reward and go back to rest quickly."

"Yes, Jian Xi thanks the Second Madam for the reward."

Jixiang walked up to Jianxi and said, "Follow me."

"Yes, Sister Jixiang." Before leaving, Jian Xi looked back and saw Qian standing in front of a huge dressing mirror. Aunt Qiao was holding a tape measure and was trying to modify some details meticulously. The maids from Jifang Garden surrounded her tightly. It was obvious that Qian was enjoying such flattery.

Gee tut.

I didn't expect that the second wife, who seemed to be so smooth and sociable on weekdays, was actually such a vain person behind the scenes.

Accounting office of Jifang Garden.

Today is the day to collect monthly wages, and many people have been waiting in the accounting office.

In addition to the maids who usually served, there were several people dressed differently from the maids. Jian Xi asked curiously, "Sister Jixiang, who are they?"

Jixiang's face was cold, "They are the Second Master's aunts and concubines."

"Hello, Miss Jixiang!" Aunt Ru, who was dressed simply, stepped forward to greet Jixiang.

"Greetings, Aunt Ru." Jixiang also returned the greeting.

Seeing this, a group of concubines and maids behind him came forward to greet Jixiang, but Jixiang just nodded in acknowledgement.

It was really strange. It was the first time I saw the master greet the maid, but Jixiang still acted as if he didn't want to pay any attention.

Aren’t the concubines in the Second Master’s room under the supervision of Qian?

These people are so submissive, I guess Qian is quite capable.

When I get back, I must go to the tea room to gossip with Xi and Caiyun.

Jixiang asked the accountant for a bag of silver, signed and put his fingerprints on it, and took Jian Xi to a side room.

Jian Xi suppressed her inner curiosity and followed Jixiang obediently.

"This pair of gold hairpins was specially ordered by the Second Madam for you. I didn't take them out just now because there were so many people around. This is a style from two years ago. The Second Madam thinks the style is not good, so you can take it to a goldsmith to make a pair of gold bracelets. This package of silver is one hundred taels. The Second Madam heard that you have been doing your job diligently these days, so she asked me to bring you some white fungus and red dates to nourish your body."

"Yes, thank you for your kindness, Madam."

"You don't have to go and thank her later. The Second Madam is in a good mood right now. I don't think she will have the time to pay attention to you if you go."

"Thank you, Sister Jixiang, for your advice."

"And these..."

Jian Xi left Jifang Garden carrying a large bag of things. It was midsummer after the Dragon Boat Festival and it was almost noon, so there were not many people on the road.

She had just finished an errand and would report to Xia later.

Pantry room.

Lai Xi and Caiyun each fanned themselves with a large palm-leaf fan.

"Caiyun, Laixi, you seem to be enjoying yourself."

"Sister Jian Xi is here." Lai Xi happily took the package from Jian Xi's hand.

"These are the white fungus and red dates that the Second Madam gave me as a reward. I just went to the small kitchen to ask Mother Liu to buy two duck pears and a bag of the best rock sugar. It's just right for me to stew some rock sugar and snow pears for everyone to drink." The Second Madam gave her two kilograms of white fungus, and Jian Xi couldn't finish it all by herself, so she just took it out as a favor.

Jian Xi specially bought a small stove and placed it in the tea room. If she wanted to cook something, she just had to pay some charcoal money.

The other maids in the tea room drank a lot of Jian Xi's herbal tea, so they just turned a blind eye.

"Okay, leave it to me."

Caiyun poured a cup of herbal tea and said, "Sister, drink some tea. It's hot outside. Be careful not to get a heat stroke."

"Thank you." Jian Xi picked up the tea bowl and drank it all in one gulp. Finally, she felt the heat in her heart subsided a lot.

This damn summer!

Apart from being a little clever, Lai Xi was very efficient at his work. He skillfully picked and washed the white fungus, boiled water and put it in the pot.

"What are you thanking me for? I heard from Sister Caisang that it's easy to get heatstroke when boiling water in the tea room in summer. This year, thanks to your herbal tea, we haven't gotten heatstroke. We sweat every day, and I feel much better recently." Caiyun pulled Jian Xi to sit down. The wind from the big cattail fan was very strong and was much more convenient than the small fan used by girls in the boudoir.

"That's good. Sweating more in the summer can help expel moisture from the body, which makes it less likely to get sick."

After chatting for a while, Jian Xi thought of something that had been on her mind, and asked quietly, "Do you know what happened in the Second Master's yard?"

Caiyun asked in confusion: "What happened in the Second Master's yard?"

Cai Sang interrupted from a distance, "As for the matters in the Second House, you might as well ask me instead of asking these two little girls!"

Jian Xi:......

Could it be that Caisang has super hearing? She can hear what she says clearly from such a distance.

However, seeing Caisang's expression that seemed to have something to say, Jian Xi knew that she had met a fellow traveler.

"Sister Caisang, please tell me." Jian Xi humbly accepted the advice. She was really curious. She had only seen people taking concubines on TV dramas before. Today was the first time she truly felt this system.

Somewhat...weird.

Caisang put down the tea leaves he was sorting and walked to Jian Xi. Caiyun quickly stood up and gave up the seat next to Jian Xi, and Caisang sat down.

"Did you go to Jifang Garden today and see the room full of concubines and maids?"