Chapter 35: Taking the Initiative to Seek Peace

"Why did you trouble yourself to come over personally, Sister Taohong? If there was anything needed, sending a little maid would have sufficed. With such a scorching sun, what would you do if you suffered from heatstroke?" Suxin said, stepping forward with a smile.

Inside the main room, Tantai Jing listened, nodding with satisfaction. Suxin’s greatest merit was her appearance of simple honesty; no one would ever guard against her, believing every word she spoke was sincere and from the heart.

Taohong was indeed pleased. Though she felt the Lady Ye had suffered some setbacks these past few days, she believed that a camel, even if starved, was still bigger than a horse. No matter how triumphant the Third Young Lady might be, it would only last a few days; in the end, she still had to address Lady Ye as "Mother."

Putting on airs, Taohong sighed and, leaning on Suxin’s arm, sat down on the veranda. Suxin stood by, carefully fanning her with a palace fan, looking at her with fawning eyes.

Taohong fanned her pretty face with a jade-green silk handkerchief, yet she still felt beads of fragrant sweat rolling down, making her clothes cling stickily. Her tone became somewhat unpleasant. "The Master has ordered the Third Young Lady to take charge of the household affairs, so the Mistress had me bring the tally and pass it to her."

Mother Gui lifted the curtain and stepped out from the main room. Hearing this, she quickly said with a smile, "They all say that Sister Taohong is the most capable person by the Mistress’s side, and it is truly no lie. Such important matters are all managed by you."

Taohong had never met Mother Gui before, so she stood up to examine her closely.

She saw the woman wearing a somewhat flashy hibiscus-pink jacket with large, bold hibiscus patterns. If a young lady were wearing it, it might pass, but Mother Gui was at least forty years old—to wear such gaudy clothes was quite something.

Disdain flickered in Taohong’s eyes. The Third Young Lady’s Liruo Courtyard truly lacked decent maids and matrons; everyone looked like a rustic village woman.

Thinking this, Taohong categorized Mother Gui as one of the village matrons who had managed the late Lady Dong’s dowry. She said to Suxin, not hiding her irritation, "Where is this one employed? The Third Young Lady is about to manage the household affairs, and if things remain this chaotic, anyone could walk into our Tantai manor's inner gates. We will become the laughingstock of Zecheng!"

Mother Gui sneered inwardly, though her face remained impassive. This Taohong was merely a maid in front of Lady Ye, yet she acted as if she were a mistress, repeatedly saying "our Tantai manor." As a mere slave, she was quite bold to speak so freely!

Suxin looked at Mother Gui with some embarrassment, but Mother Gui maintained a polite smile. "I came from the Dong estate. Our Grand Mistress said that since the Third Young Lady is young, has few servants by her side, and has little life experience—and now that she cannot speak—she sent me here to serve for a period."

Upon hearing she was from the Dong estate, Taohong’s expression shifted instantly. Even Lady Ye, back when she wanted to be elevated to the position of the legal wife, had to treat the Dong family with reverence. Had the Dong family not acknowledged Lady Ye, she never could have reached the position of the Mistress.

Taohong laughed sheepishly and took Mother Gui’s hand. "Look at me, you arrived, and I didn't even know to welcome you. I missed the chance to invite the sisters of the manor to host a welcoming banquet for you!"

Mother Gui smiled and feigned a pat on Taohong’s hand, deftly slipping a white jade bracelet from her own wrist. Taohong felt a chill on her wrist and looked down, startled—not by the bracelet, but by the half-exposed wrists and fingers of Mother Gui, which were adorned with pink crystals, jadeite, and agate—rings and bracelets everywhere. Taohong considered herself a woman of the world having followed Lady Ye, but she had never seen a matron wear so much jewelry.

Mother Gui acted as if she didn't see Taohong’s shock, saying warmly, "Since Sister Taohong is already hosting a banquet for Mother Jiang, I shall just tag along then. There is no need for you to go to extra expense!"

Taohong’s surprise had not yet faded; Mother Gui’s hairpins were modest, yet her sleeves clearly held many treasures. Coming from a prestigious house like the Dong estate truly made a difference!

"How could that be? Mother Jiang is Mother Jiang, and you are you. I am not so stingy. Since it is your first time here, we cannot just make do," Taohong said with a smile. "May I ask how to address you?"

"Just call me Mother Gui. My husband passed away long ago, and the Grand Mistress has always used the name I had in my youth," Mother Gui said cheerily.

"Mother Gui, is it? Then I shall go prepare a welcoming banquet for you and Mother Jiang, and I will host two tables myself. I wonder if you prefer light dishes or salty ones, so I can have Mother Yang in the main kitchen prepare accordingly." Taohong purposefully omitted Mother Jiang, who was so stern and rigid that even Lady Ye dared not cross her; she had no desire to ask about her preferences.

When Mother Gui heard Taohong mention Mother Yang of the main kitchen, her thoughts turned. On the carriage ride back, Mother Xu had mentioned wanting to replace Mother Yang with Mother Zou.

"Oh, I am just an old servant, I eat whatever is served. But Mother Jiang came from the Imperial Palace and is quite particular about food. I will go ask her preferences later and let you know!" Mother Gui humbled herself, making it seem as though she were inferior to Mother Jiang, which made Taohong feel much closer to her. She nodded repeatedly with a smile.

Mother Gui then asked as if just remembering, "Sister Taohong, are you here to hand over the tally? Has Sister Liulü been the one serving the Mistress all this time?"

Having been swayed by the bracelet and Mother Gui’s pleasant demeanor, Taohong had let her guard down, eager to please this noble person from the Dong estate. She pouted, "Liulü doesn't know how to speak; she just stands there like a wooden post. The Mistress doesn't much care for her service. Right now, Leng Yan from the Old Mistress’s side is there serving the Mistress."

Mother Gui’s eyes darted, and she smiled. "I see."

Mother Gui glanced at the rosewood box in Taohong’s arms and said cheerily, "The Third Young Lady is taking a nap. Will Sister Taohong wait, or shall I take the tally up for you?"

Taohong hadn't expected to wait. Usually, no one in the Liruo Courtyard would dare make her wait, but now they were emboldened by the support of the Dong family. Taohong glanced at the sky and sighed, "I still have to serve the Mistress, and later I have to go to the kitchen to arrange the banquet for you and Mother Jiang. I truly am as busy as a spinning top!"

Seeing this, Mother Gui took the rosewood box from Taohong’s arms and smiled. "Sister Taohong, go attend to your business. I can handle such things."

"Oh, how can that be? It is your first day, how could I let you do this?" Though Taohong said this, she did not take the box back, instead waving her handkerchief with one hand as if she were very hot.

Mother Gui smiled kindly. "What is this? Sister Taohong is busy because of me and Mother Jiang, so how could I just stand by and be idle? You go ahead, and after I ask Mother Jiang about her food preferences, I will come find you!"

This was exactly what Taohong had been waiting for. After a few more polite refusals, she shielded her head with her handkerchief and hurried back toward the Qing Shuang Zhai in the main courtyard.

Mother Gui watched her retreating figure, narrowed her eyes slightly, gave Suxin a meaningful look, and turned back into the main room.