After leaving Shou’an Hall, everyone returned to their own courtyards. Before leaving, Chu Sichun glared at Chu Muqing with hatred. Chu Muqing straightened her clothes and smiled at her, “Fourth Sister, if your eyes feel uncomfortable, you must see a physician.”
Then she left with Bai Zhi and Lian Xia, leaving Chu Sichun stomping in anger.
When they arrived at Tangtao Courtyard, from a distance they saw a few people at the gate. A woman in a light pink dress was talking to a woman in a yellow dress. As they got closer, Chu Muqing recognized them, Third Miss Chu Siqing and Fifth Miss Chu Ningchu, along with their maids.
At the first sight of Chu Ningchu, Chu Muqing stopped in her tracks. The scene was the same as in her previous life.
The old lady disliked the daughters of concubines and usually did not want them to appear in her presence. Normally, concubine-born daughters did not need to pay respects at Shou’an Hall except on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. That was why, on the first day of her return to the mansion, she did not see her two concubine-born younger sisters. In her previous life, they had come to see her together on the second day, and now it was the same.
She paused for a moment, and the two of them had already looked up and seen her.
Gathering her composure, she slowly walked toward them.
“Eldest Sister,” Chu Ningchu called softly as she approached.
She wore a light pink dress, somewhat worn, with timid eyes, looking like an innocent little white flower. Yet who would have guessed that this little white flower had, in their previous life, colluded with Xiang Heng to bring about Chu Jin’an’s death?
At that time, she had pitied Chu Ningchu’s loneliness. Even though her own life had not been ideal, she had helped her within her means, only to find out that this “little white flower” was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, biting her until she bled.
“Miss, these two are Third Miss and Fifth Miss,” Lian Xia said, probably worried that Chu Muqing might not recognize them.
Chu Muqing spoke gently, “Third Sister, Fifth Sister, hello. How come you two arrived so early?”
Chu Siqing, likely afraid of misunderstanding, hurriedly explained, “Eldest Sister, we did not see you yesterday, so we came early today.”
Sunlight filtered through the peach tree branches, falling just on Chu Muqing, making her look as if she were glowing.
“I see. In that case, the two of you can come in with me.”
She said this and entered the courtyard with her maid. Chu Ningchu and Chu Siqing exchanged a glance, then followed.
Inside, the young maid had already set out breakfast, steam still rising from the dishes, freshly delivered from the main kitchen.
A plate of crystal shrimp dumplings, a basket of custard buns, a bowl of pumpkin porridge, and other small dishes, much better than last time. Now that the kitchen was managed by Third Madam and Bai, it could not have been Third Madam’s doing, it must have been Bai. That woman was somewhat clever.
“Have the two of you eaten breakfast? If not, come and have it with me.”
The young maid brought water. Chu Muqing washed her hands, sat at the table, and spoke to them.
The two girls exchanged another glance. Then Chu Siqing whispered, “We’ve already eaten.”
“Very well.”
Chu Ningchu nodded, then started eating on her own. For a while, the room was filled only with the sounds of bowls and chopsticks.
Chu Ningchu and Chu Siqing stood there, unsure of what to do as no one attended to them.
After a while, Chu Muqing finished her breakfast, rinsed her mouth, and slowly looked up. Seeing the two girls still standing, she glanced at Bai Zhi with mild reproach, “Why didn’t you let the Third Miss and the Fifth Miss sit down?”
After saying that, she called to the two of them, “Come, sit down. It was my oversight not to notice you were still standing. Don’t mind me, please.”
Only then did Chu Siqing and Chu Ningchu sit.
“This room is really beautiful,” Chu Ningchu said, eyes full of admiration.
Chu Muqing replied, “This room was prepared by my mother. Whether it’s beautiful or not is her intention. If you like it, you may come often.”
Chu Ningchu nodded in agreement.
The senior maid behind Chu Siqing softly called out “Miss,” drawing everyone’s attention to the two of them.
Chu Siqing’s face flushed red as she slowly took out a pink handkerchief from her sleeve, embroidered with plum blossoms, and shyly offered it to Chu Muqing, “I heard that Eldest Sister had returned, so I made this handkerchief. I’m clumsy with my hands, and it’s not well-made, so please don’t mind it.”
Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost inaudible.
Chu Muqing took it, examining it carefully. The stitching of the plum blossoms was simple, but clearly made with care. She was somewhat surprised.
In this Marquis’s mansion, it seemed there truly could grow a little white flower.
Seeing that Chu Siqing had prepared a gift, Chu Ningchu was momentarily caught off guard. She hadn’t prepared anything, but since Chu Siqing gave something, she couldn’t be left out. Reluctantly, she removed the bracelet from her wrist and offered it to Chu Muqing.
The bracelet had been part of her mother dowry, it was her own jewelry. Although they were both illegitimate daughters, Chu Siqing had the support of Aunt Bai and Chu Chengyun, so her life was much better than hers.
Chu Muqing took the bracelet, glanced at it, noting that it had clearly been worn for a long time. She understood its significance but smiled politely as she said, “It’s my fault for not expecting you two to come, so I hadn’t prepared gifts in advance.”
She turned to Bai Zhi, “Bai Zhi, go pick two hairpins from my jewelry box as gifts for my two younger sisters.”
Bai Zhi nodded and went inside, returning shortly with two hairpins, a matching pair of gold-inlaid hairpins. Chu Muqing handed one to each girl so that it wouldn’t seem unequal.
“My two younger sisters, do you like it?.”
Chu Siqing’s face lit up as she received hers and had her maid put it on immediately. Chu Ningchu was happy as well, but Chu Muqing, having lived two lives, could clearly tell that she was not pleased with the return gift, she only pretended to like it.
“Miss, we still need to visit the young master,” Chu Siqing’s maid reminded her, noticing how much time had passed.
Chu Siqing realized she had lingered at Chu Muqing’s side for too long. Remembering she had promised her mother she would see Eldest Brother this morning, she quickly stood and said to Chu Muqing, “Eldest Sister, I must go see Eldest Brother now, so I won’t keep you.”
Seeing Chu Siqing leave, Chu Ningchu also stood, saying she had things to attend to later, and followed her.
Chu Muqing accompanied them to the door, “Third Sister please send my regards to Eldest Brother. In a few days, once I’ve settled things, I will go visit him myself.”
Chu Siqing happily agreed, then followed Chu Ningchu out of Tangtao Courtyard.
Once they had gone, Chu Muqing returned inside and said to Lian Xia, who was standing nearby, “Grandmother has entrusted you to me, for which I am deeply thankful. Until now, Bai Zhi has been the only maid attending me in this courtyard, With you here, my urgent need for help has finally been resolved. You should first go check your own room. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
Lian Xia bowed slightly, “Yes, Miss. I will do my utmost to assist you.”
“All right, go check the room.”
After Lian Xia left, Bai Zhi asked, “Miss, do you want to go out for a walk? We haven’t had a proper look around the Marquis’s mansion yet.”
What’s there to see? She’d seen it countless times in her past life.
“Let’s go. We’ll visit Aunt now.”