The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

Song Shengfu looked at the two remaining maids in the room. She originally had four personal maids. The one who just left was Su Chun. The ones left here were Su Xia and Su Dong. There was also Su Qiu who was boiling medicine in the small kitchen.

Song Shengfu also had two old mothers, one was Qi Mama and the other was Lu Mama. These two were sent to take care of affairs in Shu.

Mother Lu was going to go to Shu with them. Song Shengfu thought that Duan Jingwen and her two children would come over, so she asked:

"My two children are going to the capital, and I'm worried about Mother Lu going alone. Who of you is willing to go with her?"

Su Xia and Su Dong exchanged a glance, and Su Dong quickly stepped forward, knelt down, and reported to Song Shengfu:

"Madam, I am willing to follow Madam Lu."

Su Xia waited for Su Dong to finish speaking before stepping forward and saying:

"I am willing to do so."

Song Shengfu thought for a while and chose Su Dong, who was fourteen years old and had just been promoted to the head maid.

"Get up. The person who should go to Shu is Su Dong. You are younger, so you can stay with Miss Cousin when you get there. Madam Lu is with Master Cousin."

"Yes, I obey your command."

At this time, footsteps were heard, and Suqiu came in through the curtain, holding a bowl of medicine.

Two maids helped Song Shengfu to her feet and helped her drink the bowl of black medicine. As soon as she finished, her mouth was stuffed with candied fruit, and then she was helped to lie down again.

Soon the medicine took effect and Song Shengfu fell into a deep sleep.

In the room, Su Xia saw that the old lady had fallen asleep, so she waved her hand and asked the other maids to leave.

Suqiu lowered the curtains on the bedspread, spread out the quilt on the footstool, and led Suxia to the outer room.

"I'll be guarding the old lady here. Go down and tell Su Dong more. If nothing unexpected happens, Su Dong should be following my cousin in the future."

"The old lady values ​​Miss and Master Cousin, otherwise she wouldn't have sent Madam Lu and Su Dong. You should be careful with that girl and serve Miss Cousin well when you get to Shu."

"I know. I'll come for you in the evening," Su Xia replied gently.

"No, I'll be on duty tonight. You look after those girls and ask them to behave themselves for the next few days. I'm going in now, so you can get back to your work."

As Suqiu spoke, she packed some bedding in her hands. The weather was cold now, so she needed to put more mattresses under her feet.

"Okay, you stay inside tonight, and I'll rest on the couch outside. It'll be convenient if anything happens."

Suqiu listened without saying much. They were maids in Bisongyuan, so they naturally put the old lady first in everything.

If anything happened to the old lady, they would all suffer. He shook Su Xia's hand and went in.

After watching Su Qiu enter the inner room, Su Xia turned around and went to Su Dong's room. After a while, she came out and saw a little maid sitting in the corridor and being lazy. She angrily scolded:

"Lazy boy, why aren't you being lazy to death? Seeing that the older sisters are not here, you start to slack off."

The little maid was frightened and her face turned pale. She hurriedly explained:

"Sister Suxia, I...I didn't mean it. I just..."

"Speak softly. Can't you see the old lady just fell asleep? You are so bold that you dare to talk back," Su Xia scolded harshly.

"what happened?"

It turned out that Suchun had returned from the main courtyard and saw Suxia scolding the little maid here.

"Sister Suchun, these lazy people are becoming lazy because no one is watching over them."

Su Xia looked at Suchun who had returned and replied angrily.

Suchun looked at the angry Suxia in front of her, and sighed that the people in the courtyard were shaken after the old lady fell.

Su Xia is still too young and impatient. I have to take her with me more often in the future, otherwise the room will be in chaos as soon as I leave.

"Alright, today's incident is a lesson for you. I'll fine you half a month's salary. Go down and receive the punishment yourself."

The little maid quickly bowed and retreated as if escaping. Only then did Suchun turn around and look at Suchia.

"Come with me, to the old lady's warehouse..."

As they spoke, the two of them left.

At this time, Duan Jing'an had already packed up. He had nothing to take with him, and the two servants had already prepared his clothes.

Seeing that it was still early, he took the opportunity to go to Yaxi Garden to meet Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang was a concubine hired by Song Shengfu, then a marquise, for Marquis Duan Chongming seventeen years ago. She came from a family of scholars.

At that time, Aunt Wang was engaged. She was engaged at the age of 17, but unfortunately her father passed away and she observed mourning for three years.

When the family that was engaged to her saw that Aunt Wang's father had passed away and that she only had a mother and a younger brother at home, they regretted their decision and canceled the marriage on the grounds that Aunt Wang was in mourning.

By the time Aunt Wang finished her mourning for her father, she was already 20 years old. Her younger brother was still young, and there was no pillar of support in the family. Even if there were men of the right age, no one would marry into her family.

After all, the reputation of an orphan daughter is not good, and she happened to be favored by the then Marquise Song Shengfu, who took a fancy to her and brought her into the family as a concubine.

The Marquis's Mansion is large, and Aunt Wang's younger brother is studying in the Duan family. This is just an extra mouth to feed for the Marquis's Mansion.

At that time, Song Shengfu's eldest son was weak, and he had two daughters, so he hired a good concubine to bring him into the mansion to expand the family.

In the early years, Lord Duan disagreed. Lord Duan was a rare infatuated man and only said that he didn't want anyone else. It was Song Shengfu who confessed to all the ancestors of her family and forced Lord Duan to agree to this matter.

After Aunt Wang entered the mansion, she soon became pregnant and gave birth to the fourth young master Duan Jing'an. As soon as Duan Jing'an was born, he was taken directly to the main courtyard by Marquis Duan.

Over the years, Song Shengfu did not stop Aunt Wang from meeting Duan Lao Si because of her honesty and integrity. Aunt Wang also knew her status and had never done anything disrespectful.

Song Shengfu was very satisfied. Duan Jing'an had been well-liked since he was a child. No servant in Aunt Wang's house dared to bully her, and her food had never been withheld.

Apart from not being favored by the master, life is much better now.

Since the old marquis passed away, Aunt Wang has been staying in her own courtyard all the time except serving the old lady.

When Duan Jing'an entered the yard, the maid Yunxiang stepped forward and bowed to him.

"Hello, Fourth Master. Auntie heard that the old lady has woken up and is copying sutras and praying for her in the small Buddhist temple."

Duan Jing'an nodded when he saw that it was the maid serving his aunt, and walked towards the west room. As soon as he entered the room, he saw a woman in a white Confucian skirt kneeling on a cushion.

When the woman saw someone coming in, she turned around and saw that it was her son. Her expression became surprised.

"Why are you here today? Have you visited the old lady? Is she okay? I heard she woke up this morning and wanted to go and take care of her, so I called Yunxiang to go find Miss Suxia."

"But Miss Suxia sent someone back saying that the old lady had just woken up and was not in good spirits, so I didn't need to go. I will send Yunxiang to ask her tomorrow when she feels better."

Duan Jingan walked to the small couch and knelt down before looking at the person in front of him again.

"Don't worry, Auntie. Mother is in good health. I'm here to say goodbye to you today. I'll be leaving for Shu soon."

Aunt Wang was stunned for a moment and asked anxiously, "Are you leaving today? Have you packed your things?"

"Everything is packed. I'll leave first, taking Tongli and the others with me."

Duan Jing'an had a gentle expression as he looked at the woman in front of him who had given birth to him. He grew up in front of his mother, and no one stopped him from getting close to his aunt.

It is only right and proper that I should come and inform you of my trip south this time. My aunt is from the inner house, so there is no need to explain too much. Saying too much will only cause more trouble.

Seeing that he didn't say much, Aunt Wang stopped talking and just reminded him to be careful on the road, and kept on talking about some big and small principles.

Duan Jing'an didn't interrupt him and listened attentively.

"Oh, I heard Yunxiang say that you're going to bring your cousin and young master from Shu back with you."

Duan Jing'an paused for a moment, thinking how quickly the news spread, and replied, "Yes, there are no elders on the youngest sister's side, so mother took them in."

"Yes, it is reasonable that the outside family should bear the responsibility of raising the child."

"Well, I won't say any more. I made you a set of silver-gray squirrel silk lining a few days ago."

"You are in mourning now, so this color is not out of place. Wear it and make sure to keep warm so you don't catch a cold."

"You don't like taking medicine anyway, so don't be like that Liu family's Silang who only wears a silk outer garment in winter. It's plain and cold."

Duan Jing'an was stunned and said in surprise:

"Auntie, where did you hear this news?"

Aunt Wang glanced at him.

"I heard from the maids down below that the news has spread all over the capital. I heard that Liu Silang got a good beating from Madam Liu when he got back."

Duan Jing'an felt a little guilty, because Liu Silang was his classmate and good friend at Wanliu Academy.

He actually knew about this, but he didn't expect that the whole capital would know about it now.

Duan Jing'an even praised him at the time, saying that he was handsome and had the demeanor of a gentleman.

If his mother had not paid special attention to the health of her children, he would never dare to joke about his own health.

Duan Jing'an looked embarrassed. Seeing that his aunt was about to speak, he quickly said:

"Aunt, it's getting late. We should set off now." After saying that, he stood up.

Aunt Wang saw this and stopped talking. She just stood up and said:

"Okay, okay, I won't say any more. Just come with me to get the clothes before you leave."