Lanxiang breathed a sigh of relief, knelt, and kowtowed twice. “Ninth Miss is merciful.”
Cui Yaoning gently tapped the peach branch. “Get up.”
Lanxiang kowtowed again respectfully before standing. “Our young lady said she misspoke today, and she begs Ninth Miss to remember the past and not hold a grudge against her.”
Cui Yaoning smiled noncommittally. “Anything else?”
Lanxiang wasn’t sure what the Ninth Miss was thinking but forced herself to continue. “Yes… yes. The young lady said that if you are willing to forgive her, she will come to your door in person to apologize and make amends.”
“No need.”
Cui Yaoning paused, her fingers still playing with the peach branch. Calmly, she said, “Go back and tell Sixth Sister that we are all family. There is no deep-seated hatred between us. Why talk about forgiveness? It would only make us a laughingstock to outsiders.”
The Ninth Miss was beautiful, with a pair of phoenix eyes that radiated both warmth and charm. Even without speaking, she conveyed unspoken words. But when her expression turned cold, she was like a celestial maiden in a painting, cold as autumn frost, refined and elegant, with a captivating noble aura.
Lanxiang’s heart trembled, and she took her leave.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Baoqin, the Ninth Miss’s head maid, waiting. She quickly stopped.
Baoqin smiled and handed her an umbrella. “It’s snowing outside. The young lady was worried you’d catch a cold, so she specially asked me to come and escort you.”
Lanxiang, holding the umbrella, was momentarily stunned.
Baoqin glanced at the sky, patted her hand, and said with a smile, “Hurry back, the snow is getting heavier.”
Lanxiang pursed her lips. “Then please thank Ninth Miss for me.”
Baoqin nodded. Seeing her leave the courtyard quickly under the umbrella, Baoqin turned, lifted the curtain, and went back inside.
Cui Yaoning had gotten up from the chaise lounge and was standing by the window, delicately trimming the peach branches she had just brought in with small scissors.
Baoqin picked out a white jade vase with pink peach designs and handed it to her with a smile. “You’re quite thoughtful, it’s worth the effort.”
Cui Yaoning didn’t even look up. “She’s pitiful too.”
Previously, she hadn’t thought much about it, only that her sixth sister had a gentle temperament. But after hearing what had been said yesterday, she realized that all that gentleness was an act, and her true nature might not be so mild.
If her suspicions were correct, then the maids serving her sister were probably not having it easy. When Lanxiang returned, she would inevitably be scolded.
In the end, it was all because of her. What did an umbrella matter?
Cui Yaoning paid no attention and placed the trimmed peach branches into the vase.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, accompanied by gusts of cold wind that stung the face. Soon, the surroundings were blanketed in white.
Inside Wanxiang Courtyard, several older women peeked outside, wrapped their clothes tighter, and huddled together to talk.
Suddenly, a creaking sound came from outside.
The women squinted and looked closely, it was Lanxiang, the Sixth Miss’s head maid, returning. They quickly smiled and greeted her.
Lanxiang smiled back, opened her umbrella, and walked quickly into the courtyard. Upon reaching the eaves, she closed the umbrella, shook it gently, and saw a new maidservant standing idly. She beckoned her to take the umbrella to her room.
The young maid had recently come in to serve the Sixth Miss. Knowing Lanxiang was her head maid, she smiled to curry favor.
Lanxiang watched her walk away, then turned and went inside.
Cui Xiuxiu was halfway through writing her letter when Lanxiang entered. Her hand paused mid-pen stroke as she asked softly, “What did Ninth Sister say?”
Lanxiang’s heart skipped a beat, and she told the truth.
Cui Xiuxiu unconsciously tightened her grip on the pen, her tone losing its gentleness. Gritting her teeth, she asked, “Is she upset that I didn’t go in person?”
Lanxiang lowered her head and remained silent.
The servants often thought that Ninth Miss treated the Sixth Miss very well, sending her all sorts of new and interesting things. But the Sixth Miss said that Ninth Miss was trying to curry favor and show off.
Lanxiang felt that wasn’t the case, but she didn’t dare to say so.
A young maid who had recently come to serve in the courtyard accidentally fell into the pond a few days later for speaking without thinking.
Everyone had their suspicions, but none dared to speak aloud.
“I’m asking you!” Cui Xiuxiu slammed her hand on the table, unable to contain her anger. “Speak!”
Lanxiang trembled and replied softly, “Ninth Miss probably didn’t mean that. Perhaps she was still angry and spoke in the heat of the moment.”
Cui Xiuxiu thought this made sense, and her anger subsided a bit. She put down her pen, her expression shifting from gloomy to sunny. “Thank you for coming all this way.”
Lanxiang replied respectfully, “It’s my duty, Miss.”
Cui Xiuxiu glanced outside. “You came back soaked in the snow. I’ll have someone make you ginger soup to warm you later.”
Lanxiang was moved to tears. “Ninth Miss even rewarded me with an umbrella.”
Cui Xiuxiu paused for a moment, then laughed. “That’s quite unusual. Ninth Sister is always so domineering. It’s good enough that she didn’t kick you out. Seems she’s in a good mood today, you came at the right time.”
Lanxiang smiled. “I was just lucky.”
Cui Xiuxiu waved her hand to dismiss her, then looked down at the half-written letter. Because she had been emotionally unstable earlier, a few drops of ink had spilled on it, smudging the neat handwriting.
She took a deep breath, crumpled the paper into a ball, and picked up another sheet to start writing again.
Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person, A-yu
The heavy snow fell all day before finally stopping.
It was cold, and by the time Cui Yaoning went to pay her respects to her grandmother, it was already noon.
Old Madam Cui instructed a maid to serve her a cup of hot tea and teased her deliberately. “Jiuniang, you probably knew I had something delicious, so you came especially at mealtime, didn’t you?”
Cui Yaoning tugged at her arm coquettishly. “You’re teasing me again.”
Old Madam Cui laughed heartily, patting the back of her hand. “It’s so cold outside, you might as well stay and have lunch with me first. The kitchen said they learned how to make some fresh pastries in Chang’an. You should try them and see if they’re really that delicious.”
Cui Yaoning nestled in her arms and softly agreed.
Old Madam Cui stroked her granddaughter’s long hair with a smile. “Come here for lunch from now on and keep me company.”
“Okay.” Cui Yaoning readily agreed, her eyes curving into crescents. “As long as you don’t find me annoying, I’ll come every day.”
Old Madam Cui reached out and tapped her nose, laughing. “I’m more than happy to have you, my little girl, to keep me company while I eat.”
Cui Yaoning nestled in the old lady’s arms, smiling. “Me too.”
Old Madam Cui paused for a moment, patted the little girl’s head, and said nothing.
That’s why people say she favors Cui Yaoning.
Apart from her, all the other granddaughters were terrified of her. No matter how much she wanted to get close to them, she just couldn’t.
Lost in thought, someone lifted the curtain and came in, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Grandmother is so biased, she only ever calls for Ninth Sister when it’s time to eat.”