High-class maid

"By the way, sister, has anything happened in the manor these past few days?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"No, I just heard that the second master has recently changed his ways. He no longer goes out drinking and carousing, nor does he visit his concubine's room. I heard he spends all his time around the second mistress," Jinglin said.

"How come this is different from the book? In the book, the second master had six concubines. He only took four concubines and he changed his ways? Is it because of me again?"

Shen Xing'er muttered to herself.

"Xing'er, what are you saying?" Jinglin interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about how to spend the Double Ninth Festival this year," Shen Xing'er casually made up an excuse to brush it off.

“In previous years, it was always the eldest and second masters who went to worship the ancestors, while the women stayed at home to have fun. But this year, the eldest young master has also returned, so it’s hard to guarantee that the whole family will go to worship the ancestors.”

"Where did the eldest and second masters go to pay respects to their ancestors?" Shen Xing'er asked.

Jinglin assumed that since she had just been promoted to a third-class maid, she knew nothing and replied...

"Of course it's Jinling. Our master's ancestral home is Jinling. In previous years, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the eldest master and the second master would set off for Jinling. Why didn't they go this year?"

Jinglin asked in confusion.

“Maybe the old lady is going too. Like you said, everyone’s here this year, so they should all be going to Jinling. It’s pretty much a done deal,” Shen Xing’er replied.

Jinglin nodded in agreement.

That day, Shen Xing'er was about to go to the laundry room to get the old lady's clothes when Danxue stopped her and said...

"Xing'er, wait for me at the gate of the mansion at Chenshi tomorrow. We are going to Yongchang Prefecture with the young lady."

"Me?" Shen Xing'er pointed to herself incredulously.

"Of course it's you! Who else would be named Xing'er besides you?" Danxue smiled helplessly and teased.

"But I've never been to another mansion before, and I'm afraid I'll embarrass our Minister's mansion," Shen Xing'er said nervously.

"It's alright. Just follow behind me and do as I say. This is what the old lady wants," Danxue comforted her.

"Yes, Xing'er understands."

"This is a new set of clothes. Everyone in the manor received one today. Wear it tomorrow, and whatever you do, don't wear tattered clothes," Danxue said, handing the clothes to Shen Xing'er.

The next day, due to nervousness and excitement, Shen Xing'er woke up before 7 a.m. After washing up, she put on the new clothes that Danxue had given her the day before and went to the mansion gate.

"Xing'er, I heard that you are going to Yongchang Prefecture with the eldest young lady today, so I waited for you here." Shen Xing'er saw her mother, Madam Wang, as soon as she arrived at the gate of the mansion.

"Mother, it's so cold this morning, why did you come?" Shen Xing'er asked with concern when she saw her mother waiting for her with her hands tucked in.

"It's alright, Mom isn't cold. Here are some pastries for you. Have a couple of bites to tide you over."

It turns out that when visiting other people's homes, maids usually don't eat in order to prevent accidents from happening to their masters and to avoid embarrassing themselves.

Wang was worried that her daughter would go hungry, so she specially brought two pieces of pastry to fill her stomach.

"Okay, daughter, I'll eat now." Shen Xing'er didn't want to disappoint her mother, so she finished the pastries in a few bites.

"Good child, why are you eating so fast? Be careful not to choke." Wang looked at Xing'er with amusement, then patted her back.

"Once you've finished eating, Mother will head back. If you're ever unsure about anything, just ask Danxue. Don't be nervous!" Madam Wang said, turning back every few steps to give her instructions.

"Okay, Mother, you should go back now and be careful on the road!" Shen Xing'er waved her hand and said.

After Madam Wang left, the eldest young lady and her entourage also came out of the mansion. The eldest young lady was wearing a purple chrysanthemum patterned top and a long, flowing skirt with a hundred flowers, with a beige floral shawl draped over her shoulders.

From afar, the young lady seemed like a fairy surrounded by stars. Shen Xing'er only dared to glance at her before lowering her head and walking to the side.

"Aren't you two from Grandmother's courtyard? What are you doing standing here?" the young lady asked as she walked up to them.

"Reporting to Miss, the old lady was worried that you might not have enough people around you and might neglect you, so she specially sent me to serve you," Danxue replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Heh, Grandmother really is worried about me." The young lady chuckled self-deprecatingly, turned around, and got into the sedan chair.

The second young lady also rushed over. She was petite and delicate, but perhaps because she was an illegitimate daughter, she was not as bright and generous as the eldest young lady, and her clothes were not as exquisite.

Seeing that the eldest daughter had already boarded the sedan chair, and her brothers were waiting for her on horseback, she didn't have time for pleasantries. She only said, "Sister, you're late," before hurriedly getting into the sedan chair.

Once everyone was present, Xiao Yi'an called out to start the sedan chair, and the group began to slowly walk towards Yongchang Prefecture.

Meanwhile, the young lady was wiping away tears inside the sedan chair.

"Granny, Grandmother is so worried about me, it makes Sheng'er very sad."

"Miss, please don't cry, your makeup will be ruined again." The old woman patted the young lady's back, tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke.

"Parents always have the same heart for their children, Miss. Please don't blame the old lady and the madam! They are just too concerned about you."

“I understand, Granny. It’s just that I’ve finally fallen in love with the Second Prince, but because he’s a prince, I have to wait for his news every day.”

“My dear lady, please don’t be too pessimistic. It is precisely because he is a prince that we must wait. If he has you in his heart, he will overcome all obstacles to come to you.”

The young lady nodded; she understood the reasoning, but the longing for love was even more unbearable.

Shen Xing'er followed the main group and finally arrived at Yongchang Prefecture. As soon as she entered the street, the carriage was blocked.

Because it is the Double Ninth Festival today, everyone has nothing to do. The people attending the poetry gathering are all sons of noble families and some young ladies from aristocratic families. With so many people, there are many carriages.

"Luo Sheng, Luo Yu, let's get out of the sedan chair. There are too many carriages; let's walk." The young master said as he approached the sedan chair.

After the two young ladies got out of the sedan chair, Shen Xing'er followed Dan Xue and walked behind the eldest young lady.

No wonder everyone wants to climb the social ladder. Yongchang Prefecture alone is so rich and dazzling. Even a simple poetry gathering exudes luxury.

"Your second brother and I are in the front yard. If you need anything, have a maid deliver the message," Xiao Yi'an and Xiao Yizhou said after seeing the sisters to the inner courtyard gate.

"Yes, brother, you can go without worry. Everyone inside is someone you know," the young lady said.

"Yes, you all take good care of the two young ladies, and make sure they don't cause any trouble and embarrass our Minister's Mansion." The eldest young master then turned to the maids and servants and said.

"Yes," everyone replied.

"Sister, let's go." After the two young masters left, the second young lady said.

The two sisters walked into the inner courtyard side by side.

This was Shen Xing'er's first time visiting another mansion. The countless artificial hills and many unnamed flowers in the courtyard paled in comparison to the group of beautiful young ladies.