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  Chapter 16: The Cost

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  Mrs. Liu saw that Chu Ke's embroidered pillowcases were already quite skilled, so she taught her how to make quilt covers and embroider flowers by hand. Since the embroidery on these items was mostly just mandarin ducks playing in the water or intertwined flowers blooming, they didn't dare to do it openly, so they first embroidered the surrounding flowers and grasses as decorations. Mrs. Liu also hinted to Chu Ke that she should embroider some things for her future husband, such as a wallet, fan case, handkerchief, and belt, etc.

  Chu Ke's face was involuntarily twisted in a scowl, and she felt that Liu Niangniang's one-sided infatuation was becoming more and more severe, as if it was too much for the concubine to handle. Not to mention that there was still an official wife on the other side of the manor, even the old lady on this side wasn't someone easy to deal with.

  But seeing Liu Yiniang busy with this, every day guiding with gusto, Chu Keji would be happy to accompany her, let alone being under house arrest with nothing to do.

  Although her embroidery skills have greatly deteriorated compared to before, the people around her didn't find it particularly strange. This was largely due to the recent personnel changes, which had caused chaos outside and anxiety among the maids inside, so no one paid attention to such trivial matters. Moreover, Jing'er and Qingguo were both outsiders who didn't know Chu Kui's previous level of skill, let alone Liu Niang.

  Chu Ke's embroidered pouch was probably the most impressive, because she had learned it as a pastime when she had nothing to do in the palace.

  It had been more than 20 days since Chu Ke'ai found Le Zuo's attitude and Liu Ya'nan's serious teaching. During this period, there was no news from Chu Yunqing and Chu Yunting, and the people below also pretended to be ignorant, and Chu Ke'ai didn't bother to ask, anyway, it wasn't that important?

  The mansion had a major personnel change, many of the maids in the inner courtyard were replaced. However, because it wasn't a normal handover between old and new staff, but rather an emergency replacement due to unexpected events, the new batch of people who came in were hastily briefed on the rules by the nanny, and their training was shortened to just a few days. As a result, after being assigned to various courtyards, accidents kept happening.

  First, Hong Xiuniang and a servant girl next to the old man got into a fight. Because even if Chu Ke didn't listen to what the servant girls said, she could still guess that this had only been going on for one day, but something even more absurd happened.

  Even the bed of Chu Lao Hanlin has a newly arrived ignorant and fearless maid crawling on it.

  It is said that Old Hanlin worked too late in his study that night, so he rested there. Who would have thought that a maid suddenly sat on the footstool to attend to him in the middle of the night? Old Hanlin didn't take advantage of the situation and pull her onto the bed, but instead was scared almost to death...

  This was the kind of thing that maids were most interested in, Qing Guo and Bai Guo were talking excitedly under the window, Chu Ke'er was listening inside, almost bursting out laughing. Suddenly hearing a familiar name, she immediately stopped smiling, and fell into deep thought.

  "I heard that several wives were implicated and beaten, and fined a month's worth of money, including Jing'er's mother"

  Chu Ke suddenly realized, no wonder she hadn't seen Jing Er in the morning. She hesitated for a moment, then called out in a loud voice, "Qing Guo is outside? Come in."

  Outside, Qing Guo was hastily answering in a low voice, "Come on in, miss!"

  "Go to the kitchen and find some bird's nest and ginseng, pack them in a nice box, and send it to Jing'er's mother." Chu Ke ordered.

  The young lady had also figured it out after observing Qing Guo these days, so she didn't hesitate and immediately agreed, turning around to hurry off.

  Although not instructed, Qing Guo also understood the intention of the young lady, so these were packed in a food box, which was inconspicuous and not shabby. They came to the old lady's large courtyard, entered from the corner gate, walked through the hall and corridor, and arrived at the house where Jing Er's parents lived.

  This side was originally where the servants lived, so there wasn't anyone guarding the door. Qing Guo stood at the entrance and listened quietly for a while. From inside came Ting Er's low sobbing, as well as Ting Er's mother's "Aiyo aiyo" cries.

  "... those little hooves... will not die a good death..." A man's voice said intermittently, should be Jing'er's father.

  "If only I could manage the warehouse again... Otherwise, let's give some benefits to the Meng family and ask them to speak for me in front of the old lady?" Jing'er said while crying.

  "It's not that easy, the wealthy families are competing for this good opportunity, and they've already given the Mén family over a hundred taels." said Jing'er's mother with a sigh.

  The green fruit can't listen for too long. However, these are enough. He coughed and asked with a smile, "Is Jing'er here?"

  The voice inside immediately stopped, Qing Guo had just taken two steps back, the door curtain was lifted, Jing Er walked out, saw her and exclaimed in surprise "Qing Guo!" Then she immediately turned her head to say to the people inside "Mother, I'll go first."

  A voice came from inside, Qing Guo smiled and held Jing Er's hand, "Don't be in a hurry, I'm not here to summon you, but to follow orders and pay respects to Aunt."

  As she spoke, she pulled Jing'er's hand and walked inside, Jing'er was stunned for a moment before being pulled into the house.

  On the kang lay a quiet daughter-in-law, and beside the kang sat a man of about forty years old with a short stature. When Qing Guo came in, he hurriedly stood up, hastily smiled and asked him to sit down, "Young lady, please sit down," he said, and then quickly lifted the curtain and went out.

  Jing Er's mother leaned over and said, "Oh dear, it's so troublesome for you to come all the way... thank you so much, really, thank you."

  Jing'er hastily said "Really? I didn't say anything and just left, was it to find me?"

  "There isn't any." Qing Guo smiled and placed the food box on the small table on the kang. "There's a ginseng, a few ounces of swallow nest, Jing Er sister, these are also not abundant over there, I had them brought over to help Auntie supplement her body."

  Huang Liuhua and his wife both declined, saying "Oh dear, this is really too much for us to undertake."

  "Qing'er hastily said, 'Yes, those girls over there aren't many either. It's not like we can eat them every day. If we dare to eat the girls' green fruits and take them away... otherwise, I'll tell the girls now...' "

  Qing Guo smiled calmly and gently patted Jing Er's hand, which was trying to grab the food box. "The young lady didn't mean anything else, she just asked me to come and take a look. There were no instructions, it's just normal human interaction. Actually, there's really no need to be so tense all the time."

  With profound meaning, he finished speaking and smiled at Jing'er with profound meaning.

  Jing'er was stunned for a moment, and her hand slowly loosened its grip on the lunchbox.

  Jing Erniang looked at the two of them and quickly smiled and nodded, "Yes, yes. Our girl serves by the young lady's side, but doesn't serve very well, however, the young lady has a good temper, that's well-known."

  Qing Guo smiled and nodded. "We girls are really good-tempered, these days we've been doing embroidery every day for those two, maybe they'll calm down?"

  Jing Er's mother smiled slightly and glanced at Jing Er with a hint of meaning in her eyes.

  Every maid around her is extremely careful in serving, especially when outsiders are present, speaking well of each other, occasionally comparing with others, all of which is normal. What Qing Guo said wasn't excessive either. These days, the manor has been in an uproar over those two matters.

  Jing'er understood her mother's meaning and hastily nodded in agreement. "Yes, that way we are the most worry-free."

  This remark was very comforting. Qing Guo smiled and didn't continue talking about this topic, but after saying a couple of other things, she got up to leave. Jing Er's mother hastily called Jing Er to follow her, and in front of Qing Guo, reminded her to take good care of herself with a few words.

  Two people, Jing Er naturally hurriedly went in to thank Chu Ke Hui, Chu Ke Hui lightly nodded and said: "The old lady's body is not suitable for this, she needs to take good care of herself." After a pause, he casually mentioned that the mansion had recently hired many new servants, today this thing, tomorrow that thing, don't want to cause even more unseemly incidents. If possible, it would be best to change Mother's position, managing people is not an easy task.

  Jing'er softly responded with a "yes", sighing in her heart. They understood this principle, but in the eyes of the old lady, even the servants on that side needed an reliable elderly person to manage them, and her mother could make the old lady feel at ease.

  "Yes, I've also told my mother to take a good look and see if there's anyone suitable..." Jing'er said in a low voice. The young lady had kindly reminded her that she couldn't say anything, only that no one was involved, it was just a casual remark.

  "Was your mother in charge of the private warehouse on the side of Old Lady Guan before?" Chu Ke asked again.

  "It's...". Jing'er's voice dropped a little lower, and Nüwa thought for a moment.

  Chu Ke didn't say anything else and nodded her head, focusing on embroidering the lotus pouch.

  Jing'er secretly let out a sigh of relief, but also felt somewhat disappointed. She thought the girl would ask, but if she really did ask, she would definitely beat around the bush and change the subject.

  At that time, Jing'er looked at her mother again. Chu Keji ordered Qing Guo to go to Liu Yiniang's side to fetch the flower pattern. As soon as Qing Guo left, she called Bai Guo over and asked, "What happened to that maid who scared the old master to death?"

  Bai Guo was stunned, and only then did she remember that the question was about the maid who had come to climb onto Old Hanlin's bed. She hastily replied, "I heard she was driven out... I really didn't notice..."

  "Driven out?" Chu Ke's eyes rolled around to inquire about the final disposal of that maid, as well as her identity and background. Every relative in the house, from the third aunt to the sixth aunt, had to be thoroughly investigated.

  The smile on her face disappeared, and she looked at Bai Guo seriously, "Don't call anyone else."

  Bai Guo hastily and nervously agreed, then quickly left.

  The mansion is having a big personnel change, and those with connections naturally want to take advantage of this opportunity to send people into the mansion. Those who can serve beside the old master and young master must not be ordinary people without background or foundation. Chu Ke wants to see where this maid's roots are, if it's from Old Madam's side... then it will be lively.

  ……

  Derbyshire County Hall

  The concubine Liu received a box, two handkerchiefs and two ribbons sent by someone. She looked at them carefully for half a day before suddenly realizing that they were made by Ke'er.

  The imperial concubine was overjoyed and hastily called for Zhu Yi Zhen, taking out each item one by one to show him. "Are these made by Ke'er?" she asked. This pouch is blue gemstone color, obviously made for a man, just look at the craftsmanship! The imperial concubine couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

  Zhu Yichan's face turned slightly red, and with a delightful surprise, she also took out the silk pouch and examined it carefully. Then, under the box, she saw a piece of floral notepaper.

  The pattern on the flower letter paper is very special. It looks like a landscape, a grassland, an eagle spreading its wings, and a flock of sheep resembling white clouds...

  He immediately understood that it was Chu Xue's letterhead, and the smile on his face also changed to a serious one, apparently something had happened on Chu Xue's side...

  Just as he was thinking, the cold flower letter was suddenly snatched away by someone. He was stunned for a moment, and then his mother's teasing voice sounded in his ear, "What did you write?" As she spoke, she opened it with a sly smile, and then froze, there was nothing written inside.

  The concubine looked back and forth, muttering to herself, "Didn't they use a secret language? This is called 'flying letter'?"

  Zhu Yichan's face turned bright red, she shouted "Mother!" and snatched the flower letter, turned around to run out, but then remembered something, turned back to grab the purse strap and put it in the box, and ran away hugging it.

  "Hey, that box is what I used to pack fruit last time... That's mine!" The concubine shouted with a smile from behind.

  Zhu Yichan rushed back to the house, holding the box, and took out the contents one by one. The pouches and belts were all for men's use, and the colors were also deep and solemn. He must have been overjoyed, his heart filled with surprise and delight, a thread of joy floating between his eyebrows.

  But looking at the flower letter in her hand, her mood became heavy again. So soon, Ke'er had something difficult to do? The Chu family was not a good place to stay either...

  He didn't dawdle, gathered his things and carried an empty box to find the concubine.

  "Daughter, shall we give some to Little Auntie? I'll help deliver them."

  "The concubine waved her hand and said she didn't need it, I have plenty of servants to run errands, besides, I don't want to send it now either."

  Zhu Yichan continued, "Tomorrow, the Empress Dowager's family will come again. I heard that this time they will stay in our mansion until Dragon Boat Festival..."

  "The concubine's eyes suddenly widened, really?"

  Zhu Yichen nodded really, the child still go hide, headache to death... Also, Ke Qi's side of things can't be done, I think it's all in vain.

  "But if we go, won't the people in the palace notice?" The concubine said with some unease, her previous confident and carefree demeanor gone. Just thinking about the empress made her headache, it was clear that she had a bias towards her own family, insisting on bringing her relatives into the palace, which made the concubine angry. If they were to choose a girl from her own family, wouldn't that be more suitable? Our family's Guo Xi is quite suitable

  "This time is a must-go, and then go less in the future... Anyway, something happened at their house, as a relative to take a look is also should." Zhu Yutong thought of a better reason, sending some important points would be fine.

  The concubine thought for a moment and sighed, saying "Alright... I'll get ready and bring it over tonight." (If you like this work, welcome to subscribe and reward on Starting Point website, your support is my greatest motivation.)

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