Chapter 26: The Double Seventh Festival (Part One)

  Madam Ma nodded slightly: "Since the old master has said so, you can take Mother Rong back and settle her down properly! Go to Aunt Zhou's place to get a set of bedding and two sets of clothes. Mother Rong, you've also been in the mansion for many years, you know all the rules, I won't say more, just serve Miss well and do your duty, Madam will not treat you unfairly!"

  "Yes, this old servant will follow Madame's teachings and definitely won't disappoint Madame." Yung Ma replied with a bow, her head slightly lowered.

  Ma's silver teeth clenched, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.

  "Mother, I've brought back all the fruits. This time, I'll pick a basket and send it to Zan's place, and the rest can be distributed by you as you see fit! This is Yang Guanshi's filial piety. Yang Guanshi also said, please ask daughter to greet Father and Mother for him!" Yao Cunhui smiled and stood up.

  "Alright, you can go now! He's made up his mind!" Madam Ma said lightly, her eyelids not even lifting, the corners of her mouth barely moving as she spoke these few words.

  Yao Cunhui retreated with a bow and took his mother Yao to pick some fruits, without mentioning sending them to Yao Shizan.

  As for how angry Ma would be and how she would settle accounts with her mother-in-law after autumn, that was none of her business.

  Rong's mother returned to Luomei Courtyard, and Honglian was so startled that she almost dropped the basin in her hand when she saw it was her. She rushed into Rong's mother's arms, crying and laughing at the same time, and Yao Cunhui had never seen her lose her composure before.

  Yao's heart warmed up and a smile involuntarily rose at the corner of her mouth: inviting Aunt Rong back was indeed the right decision.

  Rong's mother had already arranged for Hong Lian to take care of the accommodations, so Yao Cun Hui went ahead to visit Yao Shi Zan in Ming Feng Xuan and stayed with him for a while before returning to her own courtyard.

  In the afternoon, Yao Cunhui personally took Rong's mother to visit and greet Mao's family, Yao Cun Jia, Yao Cun Mei, and Ming Feng Xuan. As Rong's mother had just returned to the mansion, it was only proper for her to go around and pay her respects according to the rules of the family.

  The Mao family has been dissatisfied with Yao Cunhui for some time, and Yao Cunhui thought that she would not be welcomed when she came to the door. However, as soon as Mrs. Mao saw Rong's mother, her eyes lit up, as if she had found another pawn that could stir up a stormy sky. With a smile all over her face, she politely invited Yao Cunhui and Rong's mother into the house, chatting with them for a while before letting them leave.

  Then arrived at Yao Cun Jia's place, they were naturally surprised again, and it was inconvenient to say private words in front of people, but a glance was enough for them to understand each other.

  At Yao Cunmei's place, they just exchanged greetings and then left.

  After leaving the Phoenix Pavilion, she returned to the Luomei Courtyard and changed into a red skirt to accompany Rong Ma to visit several senior matrons, each of whom greeted her in turn. By the time Rong Ma returned to the Luomei Courtyard again, it was already dinner time.

  That evening, Old Master Yao suddenly ordered the whole family to go to the main courtyard for dinner. When Mother Rong returned, Yao Cunhui had already taken Hongzhi away. She then had dinner with Honglian and waited for Yao Cunhui's return.

  Rong's mother insisted on keeping watch, and Yao Cunhui couldn't dissuade her so he let her be.

  That night, the master and servant talked for half the night, but it was not about any secrets that could not be spoken to others, but rather reminiscing about past events and lamenting the passage of time.

  Both of them are clever, how could they not have anticipated that not only tonight, but also for many nights to come, Hongzhi would definitely come to eavesdrop, and how could they let her hear it easily?

  The next day, Hongzhi was sent to the kitchen to hurry up with lunch. When Rongmu saw that there was no one around, she turned to Yaocunhui and sighed: "Second Miss, you've been wronged all these years! This house, where is it a place for a young lady like you from a good family? Alas, if the mistress were still here, how could people humiliate Second Miss like this!"

  Yao Cunhui couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking that it was fortunate that this happened now. If it had been a few days ago, you probably wouldn't have even been able to complain!

  It's already very good this way.

  "Mother, I don't care about these things. Besides, we won't always be like this, right?" Yao Cunhui's expression was calm and gentle, her bright eyes shining with a firm and determined gaze that radiated confidence from within, making one's spirit lift up involuntarily.

  "Yes, yes! It won't always be like this! Second Miss, I'll help you, I'll stand by your side and help you." Yon Ma felt both comforted and heartbroken. She was comforted that the second miss had finally grown up, but her heart ached knowing how much suffering she must have endured at such a young age to say something like this!

  "With Mother Rong's words, I can rest assured!" Yao Cunhui raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly, but was struck by Mother Rong's next sentence.

  Rong's mother said: "Rong's mother will definitely help the young lady choose a satisfactory husband, and let the young lady be happy and healthy for the rest of her life, no longer suffering!"

  "Mother Rong," Yao Cunhui rubbed her forehead and said seriously, "I still have Zan'er to protect, I don't want to get married yet. Don't mention this matter for now, okay?"

  Rong's mother also looked at her seriously, nodded and sighed: "Second Miss, it's really hard for you! Don't worry, no matter what you do, Rong's mother will always stand by your side to support and help you." As a woman from a big family, getting married late is common, let alone Yao Cunhui's words made sense, so Rong's mother didn't insist too much.

  Although Old Master Yao doted on Yao Shizan, it was a different story with Madam Ma. Yao Shizan was still so young and lived in the inner courtyard; if no one kept a close eye on him, he would surely become a lamb falling into the wolf's den. It would be strange if Madam Ma allowed him to grow up safely!

  "Thank you, Aunt Rong." Yao Cunhui was truly grateful.

  "Second Miss, your monthly allowance is already meager, and it's still being deducted every month. We must think of a way to resolve this! Second Miss, in this grand mansion, the three of us, master and servants, can't be too careful, we need to have silver in hand to get things done!"

  Yao Cunhui suddenly realized that his mother was right. Without giving the servants some benefits from time to time, how could he build a good relationship with them? If he couldn't get along well with the servants, not only would he not be able to obtain information in a timely manner, but it would also cause a lot of inconvenience, which was equivalent to pushing everyone into Madam Ma's camp.

  Think about it, you don't have any benefits to offer others, when you ask for favors from them, why would they risk offending the Ma family by turning a blind eye? What information do they need to share with you?

  With money, there will be human feelings; with human feelings, there will be convenience. The servants in the large mansions all like to gossip and have their own ways of obtaining and spreading news. Who knows when these seemingly trivial messages might play a crucial role.

  Hong Lian is too honest, Hong Zhi can't be used, Yao Cun Hui himself goes to deal with the servants is too eye-catching, now that there's Rong Ma around, it's simply perfect. With Rong Ma's skills, as long as there's enough capital, she'll definitely be able to make a name for herself in no time!

  The problem is, where does the funding for this activity come from? Can't just sell mom's leftover jewelry, can it?

  "This matter is not urgent, let's think of a solution slowly, and Second Miss shouldn't worry too much." Mother Rong couldn't help but feel heartache seeing Yao Cunhui staring blankly, thinking hard.

  Yao Cunhui withdrew her thoughts, raised her eyes and smiled: "I know, Aunt Rong can rest assured. I will find a way!"

  The master and servant didn't say much more before they heard the sound of Hong Lian laughing and calling out to Hong Zhi in the courtyard, so they stopped talking and served the meal without mentioning it.

  Yao Cunhui did not expect that the first batch of activity funds was quietly sent by Yao Cunjia. A total of twenty taels, a ten-tael silver note, and another ten taels were thoughtfully exchanged for loose silver and copper coins to facilitate their use.

  With a heavy heart, Yao Cunhui held the heavy silver, her sister silently supported her without any leftovers, but she didn't even know what danger she was facing! As the wedding date approached, Yao Cunhui's heart became increasingly uneasy.

  It's the Double Seventh Festival, and this evening the entire capital is a sea of joy for all the unmarried men and women. The girls are all dressed in their most beautiful clothes, wearing the most exquisite jewelry, painting their eyebrows, applying lipstick, and making themselves up to go out and have fun together.

  When the time comes, a large area in the city will be specially opened as an activity venue called Qixi Market. There are markets selling all kinds of Qixi goods, and of course, there are also snacks, cosmetics, hairpins, fresh flowers, toys and other things that girls like to sell.

  On the vast square, colorful flags and lanterns are hung everywhere, and there are officially and commercially built needle towers and Qiao Lou for people to "compete cleverly". The merchants compete with each other, the color tower shapes are different, the layout is bright, attracting countless people to linger and forget to return, laughing constantly.

  In the center of the square, a giant censer was placed, burning famous incense, with blue smoke curling up and fragrance wafting through the air. Underneath the censer, there were embroidered cushions set up, where devout women came to offer incense and kowtow, known as "worshipping cleverness". The women teased each other, asked about each other's wishes, and the sound of their laughter echoed far away.

  That evening, several young ladies in the Yao Mansion naturally wouldn't miss out on this excitement. Even seven-year-old Yao Cunyun went to the Weaving Maiden Festival with Madam Mao's accompaniment.

  Yao Cun Jia was a woman about to get married, so she didn't go. This was the last Qixi Festival spent in the capital city, and Yao Cun Jia had agreed to join Green Lotus, Green Leaf, and Yao Cun Hui for a lively time. Green Lotus and Green Leaf were overjoyed and quickly got dressed up, arriving at Luomei Courtyard to wait.

  As soon as the sky turned dark, Yao Cun Jia took Hong E, Hong Zhi and Green He, Green Ye out of the door together. After bidding farewell to Ma Shi, they got on a horse-drawn carriage with Yao Cun Mei, Ma Qun Fang and his servants, as well as Mao Shi and Yao Cun Yun, heading for Qiǎo City.

  In the city, the night air carries the fragrance of cosmetics with the wind, looking around, it's a sea of people, hair and clothes intertwined, noisy like a tide, the women's silvery laughter ringing out unrestrainedly, full of youthful vitality, making one want to join in without being able to help oneself.

  "Second Aunt, I'm going to the southern part of the city with my cousin to buy flowers. What about you?" Yao Cunmei didn't even glance at Yao Cunhui, only speaking to Mao Shi.

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