High-class maid

After the second madam returned to her courtyard, her trusted nanny, Li, immediately stepped forward to ask whether she should abort Zhang's child.

The second wife shook her head and said, "Although I dislike her, I will not harm the child. Today, the old lady seemed to be comforting me, but in reality, she was also reminding me that there are few children in the mansion, so I should not harm the children. This is the bottom line."

The old woman, Li, said indignantly, "This Zhang is disgusting! She hasn't even given birth yet, and she can't wait to become a concubine. She doesn't deserve it."

"Granny, be careful what you say. If the master is happy, let her run around for a few days. But this Doctor Qian cannot be allowed to stay."

After speaking, the second madam whispered a few words in Li Mama's ear, and Li Mama nodded and left.

When the second wife got married, she brought two nannies with her. One of the nannies was lazy and was Zhang's mother. It was rumored in the mansion that the second wife liked to beat people, and she was partly responsible for spreading the word.

Li Mama was devoted to her wholeheartedly. Ever since Zhang Shi became the second master's concubine, she had brought her mother to her courtyard, so now only Li Mama was left.

Meanwhile, in the study, the second young master was listlessly practicing calligraphy, tearing sheet after sheet of paper to shreds. The eldest young master couldn't take it anymore and snatched the brush from his hand, saying...

"Yizhou, what are you doing? If you're unhappy, let's go get a drink. Why are you taking it out on us with paper?"

"Brother, I feel so ashamed! How could my father be so foolish? Isn't he afraid someone in court will impeach him? Isn't he afraid that his son will be criticized by others?!" The second young master angrily swept everything off the table.

“He is your father, what can you do? You should study hard now, pass the imperial examinations in the future, and then more people will listen to you.”

The young master patted him on the shoulder and said comfortingly.

“Brother, my father was so muddle-headed. All those muddle-headed things he said and those absurd things he did, it’s all thanks to you and Uncle that you didn’t hold it against him. I’m ashamed of myself.”

"What nonsense are you talking about? You are my brother. Our entire household shares the same fate, whether it's prosperity or ruin. Remember, you mustn't think like that. Just keep that in mind."

In the evening, after the eldest young master told the old lady what he had said to the second young master, the old lady sighed and said...

“Yizhou is indeed a very sensible child. As his older brother, you must guide him more. As long as I am here, his father cannot cause any trouble.”

Meanwhile, Shen Xing'er was packing her luggage to go home. She had originally planned to take a vacation with her mother at the end of the month, but her mother sent someone to tell her to take the vacation tomorrow.

Because Shen Xing'er's father was going to Jiangnan on business at the end of the month, Shen Xing'er hurriedly packed her luggage, preparing to leave the mansion with her mother early the next morning.

Shen Xing'er packed up her quilt, intending to wash and dry it. Although it was allowed to dry in the mansion, it couldn't be washed. She also took the rewards she had received during this period home.

Although there were only the two of them, Shan Tao and she, in case someone else came to steal it, it was better to take it home and give it to her mother for safekeeping.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Shen Xing'er carried her small bundle to the gate of the mansion to meet her mother.

When she arrived at the gate of the mansion, Shen Xing'er saw Wang Shi carrying a small bundle and looking at her.

As usual, the mother and daughter had the gatekeeper check their packages before going home.

Today, Shen Kun escorted the master to court and didn't have time to pick up the mother and daughter, so the two of them walked home hand in hand.

Fortunately, their home was only one street away from the Minister's residence, so they could easily visit the morning market.

"Mother, you didn't eat breakfast this morning, did you? How about we have a bowl of spicy soup?" Shen Xing'er asked intimately, linking arms with Wang Shi.

“Okay, I’m a little hungry after running a few steps, let’s eat at this place.” Wang said, pointing to a shop in front of them.

This shop has been open for ten years, and I heard that the prices haven't increased in ten years. This old man supported his family with his hot and sour soup shop, and now he has helped his son get married. The whole family is busy working in this shop.

"Please come in, sir. Would you like some spicy soup, tofu pudding, or a mix of both?" the waiter, who was also his son, said familiarly.

"Hmm, I'll have a mixed drink. Mom, what about you? What do you want to drink?"

“I’d like a bowl of mixed dishes too,” Wang said.

"Alright, we have meat buns, vegetarian buns, red bean buns, scallion pancakes, and tea eggs. What would you two like to order?" the waiter said while serving the rice.

"Then let's have two tea eggs," Shen Xing'er said.

"Okay, Aru, get two tea eggs."

Although it was just dawn, the room was already full of people eating. If you arrive late, you'll have to wait in line at this time-honored restaurant.

After the mother and daughter had eaten and drunk their fill, they prepared to continue their walk home.

"Xing'er, what should we eat for lunch? We can buy some groceries on the street now so we don't have to go out to buy them at noon," Wang asked.

"Mother, how about we have braised noodles? I've been craving this since we got home."

"Okay, I'll buy some meat later and make you some noodles."

After the mother and daughter arrived at Shangqiao Street, unlike the bustling Chang'an Street, there were many more stalls along the roadside on Shangqiao Street. There were old men selling vegetables and old women selling pancakes, who were obviously people who made a living.

"Mother, isn't this Scholar Wu?" They saw the scholar next door had set up a small table, and his mother was sitting beside him. It turned out he was writing letters for people to earn money.

At this time, not many people had come to the street yet. Wu Xiucai was seen holding a book in one hand and eating a steamed bun in the other.

His mother, who had not yet fallen ill, seemed perfectly normal and was talking to the old lady next door who sold pancakes.

At this moment, Wu Xiucai also looked up and saw the mother and daughter. He did not feel embarrassed at all about eating steamed buns. On the contrary, he was very happy to see Shen Xing'er and her daughter.

"Auntie, sister, you're back." Wu Xiucai put the book on the table and waved to them.

"Yes, Xunzhi, you're out setting up your stall so early." Wang replied with a smile.

"Yes, my mother and I always get up early. We thought we'd set up a stall for a while while it's still not hot, and then we'll go back home when the sun comes up."

Wu Xiucai's mother smiled at the two of them.

After saying hello, the mother and daughter went home. The mother quickly took out their blankets to air them out, as they hadn't slept in them for more than half a month and the blankets were already damp.

Shen Xing'er also washed the quilt she had brought from the mansion. After finishing these chores, the mother and daughter sat in the courtyard and talked.

"Oh, right, Mother, I brought home the rewards I received over the past two weeks. You can keep them for me." Shen Xing'er said as she went inside to retrieve her rewards.

She laid the items out on the table one by one and introduced them to Wang.

"These are the gold-inlaid ruby ​​earrings that Zhang gave me as a gift when I made peanut pudding last time."