High-class maid

Shen Xing'er followed behind them and saw the two of them enter the scripture pavilion and close the doors and windows. This time, Shen Xing'er learned her lesson and dared not get too close.

She only vaguely heard the two say that they would make their move at midnight tomorrow. After hearing this, Shen Xing'er hurried back. She planned to go down the mountain with Shan Tao the next day to see if she could run into Brother Song.

"Xing'er, I've finished picking them, let's hurry up and go." When Shen Xing'er returned, the mountain peaches had just been picked.

Shen Xing'er asked, puzzled, "What are you afraid of in broad daylight?"

"Stop talking, let's go back quickly." Yamamoto clearly didn't want to say anything more and just wanted to go back to her room.

Shen Xing'er didn't ask any more questions, nodded, and quickly walked back to her room with Shan Tao.

"Shantao, what's wrong? Did you see something?" Shen Xing'er asked.

You know, Shan Tao is a very carefree girl. If something could scare her, it must be something very important.

Shan Tao didn't answer Shen Xing'er immediately. Instead, she poured herself a glass of water, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "Xing'er, if we're free tomorrow at noon, let's go down the mountain for a stroll. We'll never run around in the temple again."

"Did you see something?"

Shan Tao looked around to make sure no one was there before whispering to Shen Xing'er, "I saw Miss!"

"Young Miss? Are you sure it's her? Shouldn't she be listening to scriptures at this hour?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"That's the young lady. I saw her once from afar when I went up the mountain. She's the only one who has that gold-inlaid peacock hairpin," Shan Tao said with certainty.

"That hairpin was a gift from the old lady to the eldest young lady on her birthday. I heard it was part of the old lady's dowry, so it must belong to the eldest young lady. But what are you afraid of? Perhaps the eldest young lady just came out for some fresh air?"

Shan Tao looked around again, and only when she saw that no one was around did she feel relieved and said to Shen Xing'er, "I saw Miss with a man!"

"What?" Shen Xing'er was also surprised.

The book doesn't mention which young master or nobleman the young lady knows. In the strictly regulated ancient times, even women had to be accompanied by a large number of guards and maids when they went out. No wonder Yamamoto was surprised when she saw it.

"Do you know which family's young master he is?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"How would I know? I spend all my time in the small kitchen and have never seen any young master. But that young master must come from a wealthy family," Shan Tao said, judging.

"how do I say this?"

"Because that young master was wearing clothes made of Shu brocade. When my mother had her birthday, my father bought her a Shu brocade handkerchief that cost five taels of silver," Shan Tao said.

"Shu brocade is worth a fortune, and those who can afford to wear clothes made of Shu brocade are undoubtedly wealthy and noble. They didn't see you, did they?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"No, I turned back as soon as I saw the young lady talking to a man."

"That's good. Don't be too scared. What if that young master's elders are old friends of our Minister's family?" Shen Xing'er said reassuringly.

"But the young lady didn't bring any maids, and that young master didn't bring any servants either," Shan Tao retorted.

"Alright, why think so much? This matter concerns the young lady's reputation, so remember not to mention it to anyone. The fewer people who know, the better," Shen Xing'er instructed.

"Yes, I know. How about we eat these peaches? I don't want my mother and Granny Zhou to know." Shan Tao was afraid that it would implicate her mother and Granny Zhou in the future, so she came up with this idea.

"Alright, let's eat quickly." Shen Xing'er didn't want Chen Shan's family and Granny Zhou to know.

After the two women finished eating the peaches, it was still early, and Shan Tao didn't dare to go out to run around, so the two decided to stay in the house and embroider sachets.

"Shantao, I don't know how to embroider," Shen Xing'er said shyly.

"Oh, won't your aunt scold you? When I was little, my mother would beat me if I didn't learn embroidery," Shan Tao asked enviously.

“When I was little, I couldn’t sit still. My mom would scold me at first, but she gradually stopped caring when she saw that I really didn’t want to learn. But now I want to learn. I think it can help me calm down. Why don’t you teach me embroidery?”

"Alright, then I'll reluctantly become your master," Shan Tao said with a forced smile.

When it was time for dinner, neither of them ate. Chen Shan's wife even said, "You two little girls, did you go down the mountain to buy snacks again?"

Granny Zhou said, "Didn't you go to pick peaches? Or did you get full from eating peaches?"

Shan Tao quickly replied, "We didn't eat any peaches. The rolled fish noodles down the mountain smelled delicious. Xing'er and I each ate a big bowl, and we're not hungry yet!"

Chen Shan's family, unsuspecting, rolled their eyes at Shan Tao and remained silent.

Granny Zhou said, "Let's get ready neatly tonight. It's Qixi Festival today, and there will be fireworks on the mountain tonight! Let's go down the mountain to worship the Seventh Sister and release lanterns."

"Great! Let's go straight down the mountain. We can see the fireworks from there too. If we go too late, all the pretty lanterns will be sold out." Shan Tao had already started making arrangements.

After everyone had finished getting ready and the masters had gone to the viewing pavilion at the highest point of the mountain, Danxue gave an order, and the maids were free to do as they pleased.

Shan Tao and Shen Xing'er walked down the mountain hand in hand. As they descended, Shan Tao remarked, "It seems the head maids aren't as free as us junior maids. They still have to serve their masters on the mountain."

"You can't say that," Shen Xing'er said. "The head maids receive more rewards than us, are trusted by their masters, and have higher monthly allowances. The junior maids handle the errands. There are advantages and disadvantages, aren't there?"

“That’s true, but I’d rather have a smaller monthly allowance than be so free. My mother said she’d let me stay until I’m 25, then she’ll ask the old lady for a marriage decree.” Shan Tao said without any shyness.

"Your mother has already planned everything for you. What about after you get married?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"Of course I'll continue to work in the manor. It's much better there. I have plenty to eat and drink, and I can also rely on the powerful backing of the Minister's manor," Shan Tao said matter-of-factly.

That's true. Someone like Shan Tao, a true person from ancient times, would feel that this is the best place for her. Perhaps in their eyes, the Minister's mansion isn't a place anyone can just walk into.

But Shen Xing'er was someone who had lived in the 21st century. She didn't want to just be a maid, marry a servant, and have her children serve others. She wanted to leave the manor if she had the chance!

When the two reached the foot of the mountain, the streets were already packed with people. There were vendors selling lanterns, people guessing lantern riddles, vendors selling snacks, people performing with monkeys, and some shy young men and women on dates.

This was Shen Xing'er's first time seeing the ancient Qixi Festival, and she was amazed at how lively it was. She felt like she couldn't take it all in.

"Xing'er, let's go see the monkey show!" Shan Tao shouted to Xing'er loudly because there were too many people on the street.

"You're being playful again. Have you forgotten what your mother said? We need to go and pay our respects to Seventh Sister first," Shen Xing'er said.