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  Chapter 16: The Cost

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  Chu Ke said so, and the lady's expression suddenly cleared up. She nodded heavily and repeatedly, thinking that this was what she should have asked, showing concern for her position by the old lady's side, not about clothes or no clothes. Only then did the old lady feel at ease.

  Chu Ke nodded and said, "After asking, no matter whether the old lady answers or not, we must bring up Liu Rong's family and scold them a bit. Don't be too severe, that would leave too much of a mark, just lightly complain."

  Men nodded and said "I understand."

  "Also, the old lady had asked about something before, and it was answered, so be sure to remember it, or else next time the old lady asks again, the answer will be different, the old lady is suspicious by nature, and if there's even a little carelessness, she'll catch on."

  "This servant is thrifty."

  "That Liu Rong's family, these days need to be slightly more energetic with her, but don't overdo it. The old lady has already seen through Liu Rong's wild ambition... In short, the more you show concern, the more at ease the old lady will be."

  "Yes, I understand."

  "Chu Ke understood and left."

  Men went as promised.

  Jing'er and Qing Guo were both somewhat perplexed. Jing'er hesitated for a moment, not speaking out because she too was one of those who had surrendered, and if the Madame Duan were to be overly suspicious, it would be hard to avoid being treated in the same manner. Qing Guo didn't have their concerns, so he immediately asked, "Daughter, Madame Duan is extremely cunning, why would she become flustered like this?"

  Chu Xue smiled and said, "She's flustered, nervous, and can't figure it out, all because she has a guilty conscience."

  Jing Er's heart skipped a beat.

  "A guilty conscience needs no accuser."

  Jing Er's heart sank, and Qing Guo also understood.

  Men didn't say anything else, and Chu Ke also stopped asking. Those clothes were thrown directly into the closet and ignored.

  Two days later, Chu Gaoshi called Chu Keqian and said some superficial words, also sighing about the matter of Liu Niangniang, lamenting that it was a pity that Liu Niangniang had retreated to a life of seclusion. She also said that in this mansion, they still looked at Liu Niangniang with different eyes, etc.

  Chu Kui did not say anything. When Chu Gao said this, she just listened and gave face to others as usual.

  As for that red showy aunt, Chu Ke actually had the heart to see how she would behave in the future. With her opponent gone, she suddenly became a thorn in the eye of the new madam, and this red showy aunt was not easy to deal with.

  After several days, the door family sent another set of clothes. This time there was only one suit, but it was very complete from head to toe. A lotus-colored rolled edge satin shorts, a same-color silk gauze long skirt, a red aglet with silver thread embroidered with a butterfly and flower pattern, a pair of lotus-colored embroidered double-peony branch soft-soled embroidered shoes.

  Ornaments are also ready, a pair of silver hairpins with emerald and jade inlays, a pair of blue and gold flower-shaped earrings, a pair of golden silk and wood inlaid cicada and jade earrings, and a silver phoenix and flower-shaped bangle.

  Men's way, it turned out that the clothes sent last time were just a test, according to what the girl said, the old lady only dispelled her doubts after doing so, and today's gift is the one to wear in the palace.

  Chu Ke looked at it and indeed it was plain and simple, probably because she was afraid that if it were too bright and beautiful, it would outshine Chu Yun Ting.

  Although so, still can't help but worry, Mingmen Shi inquired about the clothes that Lao Taitai gave to Chu Yunting and insisted on seeing them with her own eyes.

  Men walked away, Chu Kei ordered Jing Er and Qing Guo to prepare another set of autumn-colored clothes.

  The old lady sent another teaching rule-abiding wife, who detailed the etiquette rules in the palace to Chu Ke'er, actually just three things: walking and kneeling, responding, and eating. This wife taught every day from the end of the fourth watch to the beginning of noon.

  From this old woman's mouth, Chu Ke'er heard about the things of Chu Yunting. It turned out that this old woman and another palace-raised nanny had been teaching etiquette rules to Chu Yunting every day. Chu Yunting learned much more than Chu Ke'er, almost every day from morning till night, starting from two months ago.

  Behind Chu Ke's courtyard, there was a two-story boudoir that originally stored some miscellaneous items. Chu Ke had ordered the maids to clean it up over the past few days and placed a flower stand by the window, moving all the silk fabrics in the house upstairs.

  Another screen was placed near the door to block out the sunlight.

  Chu Xue usually embroidered flowers and made clothes in this boudoir.

  Since she said that she would give her mother Liu Su a big red dress to welcome her, she naturally did it, and the clothes were made by herself, and the flowers on them were also embroidered by herself.

  With Jing'er's help, she cut it out and began embroidering flowers on the embroidered pouch.

  Sitting here embroidering flowers, I can still see the scenery outside the window, and looking down, I can also see who has entered the yard. It's been like this for several days of embroidery work.

  The weather has been getting hotter these days, and the old lady may not be used to it, feeling uncomfortable. Chu Ke couldn't help but go to visit her every day to pay respects and ask about her well-being.

  As soon as she walked into the courtyard, she saw that the maidservants who should have been waiting on her in the house were standing in a row at the gate, and even Men Shi was among them. She took a step forward, and Men Shi hurriedly came up to block her way: "Miss, you've come... but you can't go in now."

  Chu Ke nodded slightly "Alright, I'll wait for a while."

  Mrs. Lai was so pleased that she personally invited her into the western wing, and repeatedly ordered the maids to go out and pour tea for the girl.

  Taking advantage of no one being in the house, Door Madam whispered "Master is inside, and he had a fight with Madame in front of Old Lady..."

  "For what?"

  "It was for the sake of the young lady, saying that Madam was being stingy and not giving her anything..." With just a simple sentence, Door God hastily took his leave. This side belongs to Old Lady, with many eyes and mouths around.

  As soon as she left, Jing Er immediately said, "Miss, it seems we've come at a bad time."

  Chu Xue nodded, "Yes... but it can't be helped, I still have to pretend." In her heart, she couldn't help but feel annoyed. It was possible that Chu Nan only realized the importance of paying attention to his daughter's daily life after his mother left home. However, being strict wasn't something that started with Chu Gao Shi, it just so happened that she was unlucky enough to be noticed by him at this time.

  He just took advantage of the old lady's illness to quarrel with Chugao, isn't this adding fuel to the fire? Now it's nothing, because the old lady still has to hold on, and after a while, when she stirs up trouble in her natal family, this matter may become a crime.

  Just as she was sitting there thinking, a maid came in, smiling and bowing to say: "The old lady has arrived, miss. Please go in."

  Chu Xue hastily got up and followed the maid out of the wing room into the main house.

  The old lady lay on the kang in her bedroom, wearing a large red auspicious forehead sticker, leaning sideways and groaning. Chu Ke approached to pay respects, and the old lady casually waved her hand, saying "Sit down."

  Chu Kei-kwan again paid her respects to Chu Kao-shih, who was nursing the old lady and had grown thin as a result, looking as if she too were on the point of illness.

  The old lady was still the same as before, asking what she was doing and caring about her body for a couple of sentences. Chu Ke respectfully asked the old lady to rest assured and take care of her illness, and only when she recovered would this mansion have its mastermind.

  After sitting for a short while, Chu Ke Xi got up to take her leave. The old lady instructed Men Shi to escort her out. Men Shi took the opportunity to show off and accompanied Chu Ke Xi all the way to the courtyard gate. All the servants in the old lady's residence saw Chu Ke Xi off with great respect.

  She had just returned to the yard when someone came to deliver something.

  First came four women, who together presented ten pieces of fabric, including woolen cloth, cotton yarn, silk brocade, rolled silk, and spun silk, in a variety of colors, both light and dark, with red and green being the most prominent. Next, several women presented a new set of bedding, including a quilt, canopy, curtains, and window screens.

  Several maidservants arrived immediately after, bringing rouge, powder, hair oil, rose dew and handkerchiefs.

  "Chu Xue couldn't help but get up and ask, 'What's going on? Why are you suddenly sending so many things over? Are you trying to get me to move or something?'"

  The maid laughed and couldn't speak, hurriedly replied that it was the lady who had sent someone to deliver it, only saying it was for the young lady's use, without mentioning anything else.

  Chu Xue said, "It's not necessary to send so many at once. Don't these things have a fixed quantity every month?"

  "The mistress said that in the past few months, some of the servants had been lazy or forgotten about the young lady's things. The young lady was too embarrassed to say anything, and neither did she. It wasn't until recently that they investigated and found out about these things. They didn't want the young lady to have to make do with less, so they quickly made up for it."

  "Chu Ke said that's enough, and told the lady, these are sufficient, Third Young Lady is already very grateful, no need to send any more."

  The maid smiled and agreed to go.

  But in a little while, something even more exaggerated came along. Several women simply carried baskets out. Chu Keqi hurried out to take a look and saw that the baskets were all filled with things like crystal decorations, green jade pen holders, various household decorations, even the Four Treasures of the Study, painting scrolls, official kiln porcelain bottles, etc. There was also a small box of spices, divided into several compartments, containing sandalwood, menthol, musk and other things.

  She didn't bother coming in, just looking for big girl Jing'er and asking where it was placed.

  Chu Ke'er shook her head and entered the house, but before she could sit down, another servant girl from Chu Gaoshi's side came in with two other servant girls, carrying a lacquered box with gold and silver ornaments. When opened, it revealed various golden, jade, and silver bangles, hairpins, combs, earrings, and pendants inside.

  Chu Ke sat restlessly, so she got dressed again and came over to this side to thank Old Lady Chu. By the time she arrived, Old Lady had already fallen asleep, and Chu Gao Shi had also returned to her own courtyard.

  Chu Xiangxi had no choice but to turn around and head towards the courtyard of Chu Gaoshi's residence.

  Upon entering, she followed the maid in and paid her respects to Chu Gaoshi, who was sitting at the head of the room. After a brief exchange, Chu Keqian finally spoke up, "Just now, suddenly, there were many maidservants who brought over...". The daughter looked frightened, not quite understanding, "Suddenly given so many?"

  "Chu Gaoshi smiled and said, 'I've been here for almost a year now, but with all the hustle and bustle of things before, I never noticed these matters. It wasn't until recently when we checked the warehouse that we found out many things were not right - some were short or overstocked. Logically speaking, even if there weren't many, it shouldn't be like this. The shortages can still be forgiven, but it seems the wives' hands and feet are not clean. These all need to be investigated slowly, but surprisingly, there were also overstocked items. I was puzzled - how could there be more? When I asked, it turned out that when distributing them, the servants were careless and didn't give some of them to that side for several months. Alas, this is all due to poor management, which allowed these people to be so sloppy. But Third Young Lady was also too polite - why didn't she speak up when there were shortages? I thought maybe she didn't care about these things or perhaps she had complaints against me...'"

  Chu Kei hastily stood up when Madam said this, and his daughter was really embarrassed...

  "Chu Gaoshi thought that Chu Nancai had also been disliked, and when she saw Chu Keqin like this, she became nervous again, afraid that the matter of the three aunts being thin would be heard by Chu Nancai again, causing more dislike. She quickly said: "I was just talking casually, I didn't think Miss would think that way... But I've checked, and I haven't given it to you before, this time I'll make up for it, please use it, Miss."

  Chu Xue saw that it was pointless to say more, as long as the meaning of being honest and fearful had been conveyed. So after saying a couple of sentences, she stood up to thank him and bid farewell.

  Chu Gaoshi unexpectedly escorted her out the door and bid her farewell with a polite wave of his hand.

  Out of the hospital gate and onto the corridor, Chu Ke Xi couldn't help but laugh and shake her head, "After all, you're still young..."

  The two of them were followed by Jing Er and Qing Guo, who couldn't help but laugh at their antics.

  Since they were sent, there was no need not to use them. Chu Keji ordered the maids to get busy and find suitable places for the decorations. The accessories were given to Jing'er and Qingguo to put away. As for the fabrics that were sent over, she had them moved to the embroidery building.

  Just as they were busily getting ready to eat, Bai Guo came in and said that Hong Xiu was secretly peeking at the gate of the courtyard, and had been wandering around for quite a while.

  Jing'er sneered and must have seen Master's attitude. Seeing that Madam was treating us differently than before, she panicked."

  "Qing Guo Dao didn't bother with her and told her to leave."

  Chu Ke immediately shook her head and said, "What's the point of making her turn around? Jing Er, be stricter, go scold her for me."

  The two of them burst out laughing, Jing'er made a gesture and rolled up her sleeves to leave. Qing Guo couldn't stay still, hastily saying "Miss, I'll also go take a look, learn from Jing'er's skills, and help you deal with people in the future."

  He actually made Chu Ke laugh, quite a progress... Go ahead, don't be polite to her.

  Qing Guo nodded and rushed out hastily.

  This matter, Chu Ke's courtyard was cleaned up for a few days, and the Daughter's Festival was approaching.

  These days she has been walking around, and sometimes she has already walked to the door of Chu Yun Ting and Chu Yun Qing's courtyard. However, she is not very concerned about the two of them, so she did not go to take a peek or ask the maidservants to inquire. The old lady had someone keeping an eye on her all along, seeing that she was well-behaved and sensible, and felt relieved in her heart. It seems that her vision is good after all, and the children of the family are indeed strong.

  It is by.

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