High-class maid

After Wang left, Shen Xing'er intentionally or unintentionally observed Lü Mo, which made Shan Tao laugh at her, saying that she couldn't stand it and started running around again.

As expected, Shen Xing'er discovered something amiss the following night.

After being dismissed from her post, Lümo quietly went to the back door, looked around, and seeing that no one was following her, gently knocked on the door three times. Then, the old woman who had been eating melon seeds at the door last time opened the door.

Neither of them spoke. Shen Xing'er only saw that Lü Mo gave the old woman a purse, and the old woman gave Lü Mo a small medicine packet. Then they looked around and went back to their respective rooms.

Because she was quite far away, Shen Xing'er couldn't see clearly what the old woman had given her, but her intuition told her that it wasn't something that anyone would see.

“Madam, Xing’er just sent word that Lü Mo was acting suspiciously. He met with the old woman guarding the back gate, and the two exchanged money for goods. I don’t know what they bought.” Madam Wang walked to the First Madam’s bedside and reported.

“It’s the middle of the night, it must be something filthy that can’t be seen by anyone. Let Xing’er keep an eye on it. I’ll also go to Mother’s courtyard more often these next few days to see what tricks she’s up to.”

Madam Wang nodded, tucked the blanket around the First Madam, and quietly withdrew.

Before the First Madam could find any fault with Lümo, the Old Madam's sister-in-law came to the door again. This time it wasn't just the two of them, but her whole family, carrying gift boxes of pastries, waiting outside the mansion gate in a grand manner.

"Madam, what do you think? Wouldn't it be inappropriate to not see this?" Wang asked hesitantly after reporting.

"Hmph, what tricks are they trying to pull now? What a mess! They've come all this way to the gate with such fanfare. If we don't let them in, it would make us look bad. Let them in." The First Madam quickly composed herself and said.

After a while, Madam Wang came out and said, "Madam, the person has arrived in the hall. When will you go out?"

The First Madam did not rush to answer Wang Shi's question. Instead, she looked at herself in the mirror from left to right and then said, "Wang Mama, I am not satisfied with my hair today. Please redo my hair."

Madam Wang instantly understood the lady's hint, nodded, and slowly began to redo her makeup, making it as glamorous as possible.

By the time the master and servant had finished dressing, a quarter of an hour had passed, and the people in the hall had long since lost their patience.

"Hmph, just keep putting on airs, you'll see!" Miao thought to herself, her expression unchanged. Having planned what was to come, she straightened her chest and proudly raised her head.

"Oh dear, your family came to visit so suddenly. I couldn't leave my work behind, so I had to finish up before I could entertain you. Aunt, you don't mind, do you?"

Before Madam Liu (the First Madam) arrived, her voice came from outside the door.

Grandma Xiao sat up straight and said, "My niece-in-law has already apologized. It would be my fault if I continued to argue with you."

Liu ignored her, went straight to the main seat, took a sip of tea, and then said, "How can these little maids perform their duties? Why serve Biluochun tea when distinguished guests have arrived? Quickly bring out the imperial tea! Go do it yourself!"

Wang suppressed a laugh, said "yes," and went to prepare without further ado.

Miao watched as Wang walked past her, wearing a gold bracelet on her wrist and a gilded hairpin in her hair. Although the fabric she wore wasn't the finest, it still cost over ten coins per foot on the street. Miao was even more jealous that a servant was dressed so well.

The First Madam glanced at her face, gave a disdainful smile, and waited for her to speak.

Miao's daughter, Xiao Huarong, gently nudged her, and Miao finally reacted, standing up and saying...

"To be honest, it was my fault. I came in such a hurry the first time and didn't have time to prepare a gift. This is a famous pastry from Jinling. I'm sure you haven't had it for many years. Please try it."

After saying that, he gestured to the maid behind him to hand it over.

Liu did not take it, but gestured for her to put it on the table, and then said, "Sister-in-law, you're late in bringing it. I've been in the capital for more than a month, and I'm already tired of eating it."

Mrs. Miao gave an awkward smile, and then said, "I didn't bring the two children to meet you last time. I've brought them today, so hurry up and greet your aunt."

"Hua Rong greets Auntie."

"Erfeng greets Auntie."

Miao's two children stepped forward and bowed.

"Good boy, get up quickly. Is Hua Rong feeling much better? She couldn't go out the other day, but she looks much more energetic today. I haven't seen you for years, you've grown quite a bit taller. Are you engaged yet?"

Xiao Huarong's face flushed red and then turned pale. Despite her frail health, she had long understood Liu's veiled criticism of her absence the day before, having spent most of her time in the inner quarters.

"Reporting to Aunt, Hua Rong was not feeling well the day before yesterday, and the doctor wouldn't let her go out today. I only came here because I was afraid you would be angry, risking catching another cold. Cough cough."

She coughed softly while covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she spoke, looking extremely delicate.

“Aunt, Hua Rong has always been frail. Her absence the other day was truly out of necessity. Please be magnanimous and don’t be angry with her anymore.” Xiao Erfeng stepped forward to support his sister. Although he addressed Liu as Aunt, his furrowed brows revealed his displeasure.

"Ha." The First Madam, furious, stopped drinking her tea and slammed the teacup down on the table before continuing to speak.

“What are you saying, my two nephews! If I wanted to hold a grudge, I would have done so on the second day after I arrived in Jinling, when you failed to visit me! Why wait until we are about to leave to harbor this unfounded anger?”

Xiao Erfeng thought about it again and realized that what his aunt said made sense. He scratched his head and stopped talking.

"Auntie, please don't be angry. My brother didn't mean anything by it; he just felt sorry for me," Xiao Huarong said hurriedly.

"Since you're so concerned about this and that, why don't you go back to your own residence and be at ease, as if you've suffered some great injustice in our place?" Before the First Madam could speak, the Old Madam's voice came from outside the door.

"Mother, what brings you here? Granny Wang, quickly bring Mother a cushion." Madam Liu hurriedly stood up and offered the seat of honor to the old lady.

The old woman patted her hand and said, "I heard that a large group of people came to the door, and I was afraid you would be eaten, so I came to see you."

Liu chuckled, then quickly shut her mouth and said seriously, "Mother still loves me the most. Please sit down."

When Grandma Xiao saw her sister-in-law's mockery, she couldn't sit still any longer and said, "What do you mean by this, sister-in-law? Is it wrong for us to bring you gifts? Forget it, since you're so annoying, let's go back."

Mrs. Miao pressed her down and shook her head at her. Remembering the purpose of her trip, Old Mrs. Xiao remained seated.

"I made it very clear last time. If you're here to cause me trouble, then go back to your own homes and stay there. If you're here to offer help for no reason, then I don't owe you anything." The old lady looked at her and stated her words bluntly.