“What brings you here?” Chu Changsong asked casually, without pausing in his work.
Chu Muqing replied respectfully, “Father, I made some pastries and wanted you to try them.”
“Alright, I understand.”
Chu Muqing set the food box down and quietly walked over to his side to help grind the ink.
Chu Changsong paused for a moment, then asked, “Have you been doing well at home?”
Chu Muqing lowered her gaze, making it impossible to read her expression. “I’ve been fine. When I was in Hezhou, I often missed Father. Now that I’ve returned to the capital and can see you frequently, I’m already very happy.”
Yes. When she was little, she often missed Chu Changsong and would sit in the courtyard every day, wondering when her father would come bring her home.
She waited the first year, then the second. The plum blossoms at the courtyard gate bloomed and faded, faded and bloomed again… and eventually she stopped waiting.
Chu Changsong sighed inwardly. This daughter was not the child of the woman he loved. Back then, he had been forced to marry Xiao Yuanrou. Even after Xiao Yuanrou died, he still could not marry the woman in his heart. Filled with resentment at the time, he vented it on the newborn Chu Muqing and allowed the Old Madam to send her away.
Over the years, he had nearly forgotten this daughter.
Now, seeing that she had grown into such a poised young lady, he felt a complicated mix of emotions.
“That’s good. If anything happens, come to me,” he said, a hint of guilt in his voice.
“Thank you, Father. Then I will take my leave.” Chu Muqing bowed and withdrew with Lian Xia.
On the way back to Tangtao Courtyard, Chu Muqing silently reflected on what had just happened.
From Chu Changsong’s attitude today, it seemed he still did not view her as useless. It also likely meant that Concubine Rong had not yet decided to marry Chu Shuran to the Third Prince, so the Yongding Marquis household currently had no need to marry her into the Zhongyong Marquis’s household.
Originally, she only intended to make a proper gesture today. After all, Chu Changsong was her biological father. She had sent Bai Zhi to give pastries to the Second Master, but had not considered Chu Changsong. If the Old Madam found out, she would be displeased. If the Peony Courtyard learned of it, they would surely stir up trouble. She had only just returned and had yet to fully secure her position, she naturally wanted to avoid unnecessary problems.
Now, coming personally and even bringing Lian Xia, this matter would surely reach the old lady ears.
Unexpectedly, this visit had also brought a pleasant surprise.
Not long after she returned, Bai Zhi came back. Seeing her, Lian Xia tactfully withdrew. This girl truly had keen sense.
In a soft voice, Bai Zhi said, “Miss, everything has been arranged.”
Chu Muqing nodded. “Nothing unexpected happened when you left the manor?”
“When I delivered the pastries, I happened to run into Bu Shi. I told him that Miss wanted to eat osmanthus cake from Yong An Zhai, but I didn’t want to trouble Madam with it, so I begged him to let me out through the side gate. Qi Shan saw Bu Shi there and didn’t question it, so he let me through.”
After speaking, Bai Zhi added worriedly, “Miss, what if Granny Gao recognizes me when she comes tomorrow?”
Chu Muqing replied calmly, “Have Lian Xia accompany me tomorrow. You stay in the courtyard.” She stared at the teacup on the table, lost in thought. “Besides…”
Seeing her trail off, Bai Zhi asked anxiously, “Miss, besides what?”
Besides… that old woman Gao wouldn’t live more than a month.
That woman was extremely greedy. She would do anything for money. In her previous life, barely a month later, she had even sold off a favored concubine of a high-ranking official’s simply because she had accepted money to do so.
Although a concubine is nothing more than a plaything, something the mistress of the household can sell off at will, if the concubine is favored, the mistress usually doesn’t dare to casually dispose of her. Bai, her own concubine, was a clear example of this.
Yet while the master of the household was away from the capital, the mistress sought out Granny Gao and, under some excuse, sold off one of her husband’s favorite concubines. When the master returned and learned of it, he flew into a rage. Unable to vent his anger on his wife, he could only take it out on Granny Gao.
Only a few days later, Granny Gao was found dead at home.
That old woman lived her whole life loving money, yet in the end, she died because of it. Truly, it was her fate.
So Chu Muqing wasn’t worried about being exposed at all.
The next morning, Chu Muqing brought Lian Xia with her to Shou’an Hall to pay her respects. The Old Madam’s attitude toward her was even better than the day before. When she saw that Chu Muqing had brought Lian Xia, her tone became even more affectionate. Clearly, she had already heard from Lian Xia about Chu Muqing delivering pastries to Chu Changsong yesterday, and felt that Chu Muqing was filial and easy to manage.
She merely gave a few brief instructions before dismissing her.
As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, the First Madam said, “The matchmaker is already waiting in Peony Courtyard. Muqing, why don’t you come with me to choose one? Your courtyard is still a bit empty.”
Chu Muqing replied respectfully, “Yes.”
So, following behind the First Madam, she walked step by step toward Peony Courtyard.
When they arrived at the side hall, the First Madam took the main seat and instructed a maid, “Invite Granny Gao in.”
The maid acknowledged the order, and shortly afterward an elderly woman entered. She had a round face, an average figure, and a flattering smile. She approached the First Madam, bowed, and said, “This old woman greets Madam. It’s been a while since I last saw you, your complexion looks even rosier now.”
The First Madam laughed and scolded, “Enough with your flattery, you old fox. Did you bring anything good today?”
They were clearly well acquainted.
Granny Gao smiled and said, “With Madam here, how would I dare cut corners? Today I’ve brought several quick and clever girls, and among them there’s one who’s especially outstanding. Madam will understand once she sees her.”
With that, she waved her hand, and soon a dozen or so maidservants filed in, standing densely in rows.
Granny Gao pointed to a maid standing in the middle of the front row. “Madam, this girl is called Xiaolan. She’s the best of this group. Her life has been bitter, her entire family died, and only she remains.”
After she finished speaking, Xiaolan respectfully kowtowed and said, “This servant Xiaolan greets Madam.”
The First Madam nodded. The girl did indeed seem clever. Once Xueping was sent to Tangtao Courtyard, this girl could take her place.
She then turned to look at Chu Muqing and saw her gazing at Xiaolan with evident satisfaction. She had originally planned to let Chu Muqing choose first, but now she no longer felt like it.
“She looks good. Let her stay here. I happen to be short of a second-class maid in my courtyard.” As she spoke, she noticed a brief flash of disappointment on Chu Muqing’s face, which instantly pleased her.
She hadn’t truly cared much about taking this girl at first, but now she absolutely had to. She couldn’t possibly hand Chu Muqing what she wanted. After all, although Chu Muqing had been granted permission to choose a maid, no one had promised she could pick whichever one she liked.
Naturally, she could not make things easy for that girl. Letting that little wretch get what she wanted would only be making trouble for herself.