Chapter 41: Holding up a mirror to reflect on oneself

  After hearing Mo Li's words, Wei Yiniang still felt unrelenting and said with hatred: "No matter how arrogant she is, she's still a woman who can't lay eggs. Who knows if it's the retribution for her past misdeeds? Wait till I see Master again, let's see how far her arrogance will take her!"

  She had the mirror brought again, and as she gazed at her reflection, she thought to herself with satisfaction: "Do they think that just because I'm ill my complexion isn't as good as it used to be? I won't be so foolish as to let those who want to see me make a fool of myself have their way, especially the mistress. In the past, didn't they all rely on what fell from my hands, and even if Master stayed in his room for a few days, wouldn't they still be finished once I went out again and stood before Master? Where would they be then?"

  Wei Yiniang touched her temples, took a big red wooden cotton flower in front of the mirror to compare it back and forth, finally pinned it on the left temple, and said to Jasmine: "Old lady's birthday, I should have some expression, what do you think I should get as a birthday gift?"

  Lü Huai and the mint from Liu Niang's courtyard met smoothly. Facing the mint, she shook her wrist and smiled: "Wei Niang is really generous."

  Mint was skeptical, compared to the ups and downs of Aloe in the south courtyard, Mint was much smoother. However, when Madam Liu heard her say "Madam asked you to come over", her face looked a bit unnatural. Although it had been several days since she failed to intercept Fu Ye with chicken soup, fortunately, Wei, the head housekeeper of Fu Ye's rear mansion, was tight-lipped and closed off, and Liyue was someone who never took the initiative to cause trouble. Otherwise, Madam Liu would have been ashamed. When going to the main courtyard to pay respects, she was already nervous and trembling.

  Towards Shang Su Ying's eyes that seemed to smile yet not, as if they knew everything, Liu Yiniang felt extremely uneasy, and from then on, apart from routine visits to pay respects, she no longer took the initiative to go to Zhengyuan.

  Most of the hatred had been taken away by Nan Yuan before, and Mint didn't have much prejudice against Liu Niangniang. As for good feelings, that was even more out of the question. Liu Niangniang asked her, "Madam called me over, I don't know what it's about?" She didn't say much, intentionally making Liu Niangniang feel uncertain, only saying: "You'll understand when you get there, I think it's a good thing for you."

  Liu Yiniang's heart was racing, she glanced at Liyue beside her and asked somewhat irritably: "Do you know why the mistress called us over?"

  Lui Yue said with a smile: "The mistress is kind and will not make things difficult for us, I am not worried."

  Madam Liu's eyes flickered, and she sneered: "You don't need to say this, I naturally understand. Although I wasn't as familiar with the mistress as you were in the past, everyone can see how she behaves, no need for you to elaborate."

  Ling Yue bit her lip and shook her head: "I didn't mean it that way, really."

  Madam Liu smiled slyly, her orchid finger raised: "What's the hurry, I haven't said anything." A few threads of mockery flowed from her eyes.

  When they arrived at the main courtyard, Liu Yiniang became as demure and obedient as Li Yuemei. They entered to find Su Ying reclining on a couch, letting Bai Zhi remove the gauze from her hand to apply medicine. Seeing them enter, she nodded slightly for them to sit first.

  Madam Liu's heart skipped a beat, what was going on? She guessed in her mind, her eyes rolling around, Su Ying caught the smile at the corner of her mouth deepening again, and Liyue still sat motionless like a mountain, sitting on the stool without drawing attention to herself. A little maid brought tea and snacks, and after exchanging pleasantries with her, she took a piece with pursed lips, timid, petty, and more ordinary, which made Madam Liu look even more charming and outstanding in comparison.

  Su Ying glanced at Li Yue with interest, but she didn't look up. After Bai Ju re-bandaged her hand, Su Ying said, "I called you two over because there's something I need to trouble you with."

  Madam Liu was originally sitting on the edge of the chair, and when Su Ying said this, she hurriedly stood up. Li Yue followed a beat later, hiding behind Madam Liu. Madam Liu didn't rub it in either, but smiled and said: "Ma'am, you're being too polite to me, I'm at your service, don't mention the word 'trouble'."

  She spoke in a flattering tone, and Liyue, being clumsy with her words, couldn't say much more, and simply nodded along.

  Su Ying waved her hand to let them sit down and talk, while Lu Hui brought up a bowl of milk, opening the lid to reveal a rich aroma that filled the room. Su Ying carelessly stirred it with an intricately carved silver spoon, "The old lady's birthday is approaching, but now she's ill and can't leave her bed, I'm really busy and thought of asking you two for help."

  Madam Liu's eyes lit up, although Su Ying had handed over some of the management rights, after all, the major power was still in Su Ying's hands. Even if she wanted to take advantage of the situation to get some benefits, it wouldn't be easy, who knows when she would withdraw the power again.

  But this banquet is different, the old lady's birthday, all the guests coming and going are high-ranking officials, if it's done well, not only can she show her face, but also get a lot of benefits, she's not like Su Ying, who is the mistress of the house with a rich dowry, nor is she like Wei Niang, who doesn't know how much private money she saved when she was favored.

  What's more, it can't be said that he still has a chance to get an appointment with Fu Yiyang. Last time, he didn't manage to intercept him, which was the first time in his life. Moreover, since Fu Yiyang returned to the mansion, whenever he stayed in the backyard, he would always come to the front yard, which made Liu Niang think even more incomprehensible.

  Liu Yiniang knew that although Master seemed not to like her overly flamboyant style on the surface, she could still get a few days every month, just a few less than Wei Yiniang. After all, Master was very restrained in this regard and only stayed in the backyard for half a month at most. It wasn't that she looked down on Madame before, but in her heart, she felt that even Liyue, who was a bit dull, had more charm than Madame.

  As she thought of this, Madame Liu couldn't help but glance at Su Ying, who was sitting on the couch. She wore a long, water-red dress with silver moon-shaped patterns and a lake-blue pleated skirt underneath. Her hair was adorned with only a few ornaments, but she still exuded the air of a mistress of the house. The bright gold and jade earrings were particularly eye-catching, although her hairstyle was slightly disheveled, adding a touch of lazy charm to her appearance, making her look much younger than before.

  Young? Madam Liu couldn't help but think, but wasn't it that he didn't look much younger than before, and his clothes and appearance were not very different from before. Could it be that he had really opened up and was now staying over continuously, unlike the past when Fu Yeyang would only stay in the main house on the first and fifteenth of every month?

  Could it be because of Wei's illness that the fox spirit is acting up? Liu couldn't help but think wildly, and suddenly met Su Ying's piercing gaze, which seemed to see right through her. Her heart skipped a beat as she hastily lowered her head and swallowed hard.

  Su Ying moved her gaze away, stirring the tofu in the covered bowl with a spoon, smiling and saying: "I know your culinary skills are not bad, even our ancestors praised you when they were alive. I was thinking of giving you control over the kitchen. As for Li Yue, she can help you with the utensils."

  Fu's mother's birthday banquet Su Ying even if unwilling in her heart, pinched her nose and had to do it well, but she was not willing to worry about it too much. Since everyone came together to help out, that's all there is to it. As for Liu Niang's cooking skills being quite good, it was already late at night and she still personally went into the kitchen to simmer chicken soup, this kind of effort in cooking skills should be pretty good. Moreover, she did it in the big kitchen, looks like she has a good relationship with the servants in the big kitchen.

  The entire Fu manor, Mrs. Fu is old and has different eating habits, so there's a small kitchen. Su Ying also has a separate small kitchen here, and Wei Niang had insisted on having one in the name of the eldest daughter, of course, the monthly expenses are still recorded in the South Wing. Others all share the large kitchen, it seems that Liu Niang is quite capable of currying favor.

  Su Ying looked at Liu Niang with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression, making her feel uneasy and her face turned red. As for Li Yue, she lowered her head even further, but it wasn't just Liu Niang who had sent warm regards in the middle of the night.

  It seems that Lì Yuè is not as dull and honest as she appears on the surface.

  Su Ying pretended not to see Liu Niang's embarrassed expression and continued to instruct: "Tomorrow, I'll give you the draft guest list. Find out what each madam loves to eat, what taboos they have when it comes to food, and then make a list for me. If this matter is handled properly, we'll all save face."

  Liu Yiniang wrung out the towel, a smile on her face: "Don't worry, madam. In the past, our estate has also hosted banquets, these things are not difficult to figure out. Since you've entrusted this matter to me, I'm not someone who can't tell right from wrong. Moreover, we have Liyue's help, and the two of us will definitely take care of it with all our hearts."

  Su Ying lowered her head and took a sip of milk, then said: "I can rest assured that you will handle things. With the two of you here, I can also take it easy this time. Originally, because I sympathized with Wei Niang's need to take care of Big Sister, I didn't let her help out with managing the household. Now that Big Sister has moved to live with Old Lady, and Wei Niang's illness has mostly recovered, if you're too busy, you can also ask her for help."

  Originally, with Lì Yuè's share of the bone soup, she wouldn't have been very willing to come and drink another serving. So, Liǔ Yí Niáng hastily said: "It's not good to trouble Wèi Jiě Jie again, her body is weak after this serious illness, it's also not suitable for her to be overworked."

  Su Ying said carelessly, "This is your business, you take charge of it yourself." Seeing Liu Niangzi secretly let out a sigh of relief, Su Ying was delighted. It's not bad to easily control the emotions of the concubines and see their changing expressions. Besides, if they have something to do, they won't make trouble again.

  Lì Yuè never said a word from start to finish and almost became an invisible person.

  After they left, Mint smiled and said to Luhui: "Liu Niang and Li Yuemei are really like two people in one, whatever Li Yuemei wants to say, Liu Niang says it for her, just like a tapeworm in her belly."

  "Rush lotus 'puff' laughed: "You know, they two now live in a yard, good feelings are inevitable."

  Mint hummed from her nose.

  Lü Hu said to Su Ying with a puzzled expression: "Madam, I think Wei Niangniang's spirit is even better than before she got sick, and her complexion is several shades better than before."

  Su Ying said "oh" and thought for a moment before saying: "It seems that donkey hide gel nourishes and beautifies the skin, its therapeutic effect is indeed excellent."