Chapter 260 - 259: The Confused Players
Cailian’s appearance is not outstanding. Not to mention the entire Du Mansion, even within the Chunhua Courtyard, the two young maidservants who clean the courtyard are prettier than her.
Du Yunluo, however, is paying attention to Cailian’s hands.
Cailian’s fingers are slender and well-defined at the joints, clearly capable of exerting strength.
It seems that before becoming Xia Anxin’s big maid, Cailian has done quite a lot of heavy work.
Du Yunluo smiled, lowered her voice, and asked Xia Anxin, "Sister-in-law, how old is Cailian?"
Xia Anxin, unaware of her intention, casually replied, "Just fifteen."
"That’s about the same age as Jin Rui," Du Yunluo pursed her lips, "she’ll be sent out in a couple of years."
Xia Anxin laughed, "You think everyone is like you, anxious to marry off the maidservants?"
"They’ll marry sooner or later, keeping them only leads to resentment," Du Yunluo pouted, "this is what Grandmother used to say."
Xia Anxin was startled, raised her eyes, and glanced at Cailian standing by the wall with her hands lowered.
Old Mrs. Xia instructed Du Yunlang to call Xia Anxin over, held her hand, and gave her a good telling off, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.
"Did you go to the Xia family to report the good news?" Old Mrs. Xia asked Miao Family.
Miao Family nodded, "Already went, don’t worry, Old Lady."
Old Mrs. Xia gently patted the back of Xia Anxin’s hand, then had Du Yunluo help her back to Lianfu Garden.
Miao Family and Mrs. Shen Changgen escorted her out.
At noon, Xia Anxin’s mother came to visit and chatted with Miao Family in front of Old Mrs. Xia.
Du Yunluo withdrew and saw Mrs. Shen Changgen standing under the veranda, talking to several older women, so she approached with a smile and called out, "Mrs. Shen."
The women were all perceptive people and each found an excuse to scatter.
Mrs. Shen Changgen bowed her head, "What instructions does the young lady have?"
"The one beside Second Sister-in-law, Cailian," Du Yunluo leaned in and whispered, "I noticed today, she looks at Second Brother rather oddly..."
Mrs. Shen Changgen’s eyes tightened, "Young lady means..."
"Perhaps I’m overthinking, but..."
Mrs. Shen Changgen nodded slightly, "Young lady, I understand."
Seeing this, Du Yunluo did not say more.
After all, Cailian is a maid in Chunhua Courtyard, brought over by Xia Anxin from her maiden family.
In the previous life, the quarrel between Cailian and Huizhu did not occur, even though Du Yunluo knew Cailian had improper thoughts, she could not use yet-to-happen events to make things difficult for Cailian.
Du Yunluo was merely an aunt, pointing fingers at matters in her brother and sister-in-law’s courtyard would seem like overreaching.
All she could do was subtly remind Xia Anxin and Mrs. Shen Changgen, whether they could prevent anything was truly beyond her ability.
If Cailian acts like she did in the previous life, to make a move after Xia Anxin gives birth, then, Du Yunluo would already be married, and she would not be able to keep an eye on the happenings in Chunhua Courtyard.
In the evening, Miao Family sent off her mother-in-law and returned to Shuifu Garden holding Quan Yin’s hand.
Mrs. Shen Changgen was massaging Miao Family’s shoulders and signaled Quan Yin to guard outside.
Miao Family smiled faintly and asked her, "What’s the matter? Why so cautious?"
Mrs. Shen Changgen whispered, "Fifth Miss mentioned that the maid beside Second Mistress, Cailian, seems to have some thoughts about Second Master."
Miao Family chuckled, shaking her head repeatedly, "She’s just a girl who hasn’t left the pavilion yet, how could she understand such matters? So many of us didn’t notice, yet she somehow knows?"
"Madam, you can’t say that," Mrs. Shen Changgen added, "Fifth Miss will have her coming-of-age ceremony this month and is already betrothed, even if she’s naive, she should be more aware now.
Furthermore, these matters are often clearer to outsiders than those involved.
Cailian is a maid that Second Mistress brought from her maiden family, Second Mistress trusts her and never thought of it that way, it’s not surprising.
It’s also because Cailian puts on a good front in front of Madam, and Madam favors Second Mistress, so she wouldn’t dwell on whether there’s any dissent among her maidservants.
Only Fifth Miss was not worth pretending in front of, which is why she spotted it at a glance."
Miao Family, amidst her joyful mood from recent happy events, did not feel exasperated by these troublesome words, instead furrowed her brows and pondered, "Sounds somewhat reasonable."
Seeing this, Mrs. Shen Changgen added, "I think, Fifth Miss and Second Mistress, though not like sisters, have quite a good relationship, Cailian does not affect Fifth Miss, why would she speak badly for no reason?"
Miao Family took a sip of hot tea, gently rubbed her thumb against the tea cup, and remained silent for a while.
Unable to see through the matter.
She thought of Miao Ruoshan.
At that time, she was an insider too, trusted her niece from her maiden family completely without a doubt.
But the truth slapped her in the face, the Du sisters were all sharper than her in seeing things clearly.
Thankfully, the intervention was timely, otherwise, she couldn’t possibly sit here comfortably drinking hot tea and waiting to embrace her grandchild, Old Mrs. Xia would have tormented her miserably.
Recalling past events, Miao Family also felt a fear, back then not only she was blinded, but Mrs. Shen Changgen, Quan Yin, none could catch the subtle hints, not because their vision was poor, but purely because they wouldn’t suspect Miao Ruoshan maliciously.
Just as Miao Family hadn’t carefully analyzed Cailian now.
Du Yunluo would be married off within half a year to a year, she had no reason to pour dirty water over Cailian.
These words must have risen from...
"After all, she’s a maid brought from Yunlang’s wife’s family, keep an eye on her, don’t give her any opportunity," Miao Family instructed.
Mrs. Shen Changgen nodded in agreement.
"Fear not the thief who steals, but the thief who thinks," Miao Family raised her hand to press against her eyebrows.
Mrs. Shen Changgen lowered her gaze, understanding Miao Family’s dilemma.
If it were a maid of Du Yunlang, it would be simple to find a reason to dismiss her; unfortunately, she is a maid accompanying Xia Anxin, Miao Family couldn’t act rashly, fearing to breach Old Mrs. Xia’s taboos.
But this matter couldn’t be ignored, should anything happen, not only Chunhua Courtyard, Miao Family would be tremendously troubled.
"Madam, I’ll find a reliable older woman, someone who knows how to care for pregnant women, and send her to Chunhua Courtyard tomorrow, to care for Second Mistress and to watch over Cailian..." Mrs. Shen Changgen said thoughtfully.
In Anhua Courtyard, Jin Lan was busy and bustling.
Du Yunluo watched her movements and slowly closed her eyes to rest.
She believed Mrs. Shen Changgen would discuss properly with Miao Family, for Mrs. Shen Changgen could not bear to take the fall.
It would be best if everything remained peaceful in Chunhua Courtyard, should anything happen, and Du Yunluo mentioned today’s matters before Old Mrs. Xia, Mrs. Shen Changgen would bear severe consequences.
Old Mrs. Xia would censure Miao Family, Miao Family unaware, Mrs. Shen Changgen would become the scapegoat.
For her own sake, Mrs. Shen Changgen would surely inform Miao Family.
Similarly, once Miao Family knew, to avoid future blame from Old Mrs. Xia, she would undoubtedly take precautions.
Du Yunluo exhaled slowly.