Fu Zhen's fever was caused by emotional agitation. Now that she had planned her future and rested for a few days, her complexion had become fair and rosy.
She sat reading a book by the window. The sunlight slanted in through the window lattice and fell at her feet.
Cui Huan poured a cup of tea for Fu Zhen. Seeing the sunlight getting stronger outside, she advised, "Miss, the sun is up. Reading in the sunlight is likely to damage your eyes."
Fu Zhen put down the book and squinted. She felt as if there were some halos in front of her eyes, which dissipated after a moment. She couldn't help smiling and saying, "Our Cui Huan is really considerate."
Bi Yu came in with a plate of snacks. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "That's right. There's no one more considerate than Cui Huan in our courtyard. Cui Huan was afraid that the miss would be hungry, so she just told me not to forget the snacks in the kitchen."
"You're teasing me!" Cui Huan was shy from her teasing and quickly went up to pinch her cheek.
Fu Zhen accompanied them in the joking for a while, then looked at the sun outside and said, "The weather is so nice. It would be a pity if we didn't do something. I heard that a new jewelry shop has opened in the capital recently. It's doing very well in business, and even the concubines in the palace like to buy from it."
Cui Huan helped Fu Zhen up, and Bi Yu took a cloak and put it on her. "Then let's go and have a look. The miss has been ill for a few days. It's good to go out and get some fresh air."
Fu Zhen thought it was too hot. Cui Huan took the cloak and carefully tied the belt.
"Although the weather is nice, there's still a bit of cold wind outside. The miss has just recovered for a few days. We'd better be more careful."
After leaving the courtyard, Fu Zhen walked towards the garden.
Most of the flowers in the garden had withered, leaving only a few yellow leaves. However, the plum trees seemed to have buds, small and tender, adding a bit of color to the winter garden.
Fu Zhen walked slowly and saw a maid casually stirring the fallen leaves with a broom. She didn't move an inch after sweeping for a long time. Cui Huan frowned first when she saw this and said, "If the master is kind, the servants below will take advantage of this kindness and go too far."
Bi Yu looked at Fu Zhen. Seeing that Fu Zhen's expression was calm and she didn't seem to want to speak up for the maid, she immediately stepped forward and said, "What's your name?"
The maid was startled and immediately turned around. Seeing Fu Zhen, she hesitated. She seemed to want to pay respects but also seemed to think it was difficult to bow to Fu Zhen. For a moment, she stood still as if her feet were rooted to the ground.
Fu Zhen saw her face clearly when she turned around. Coincidentally, it was the maid who had gossiped in the garden that day.
Bi Yu went over and pushed her. "You don't even know how to pay respects when you see the master. Have you learned your manners in vain? Do you want me to call the nanny from the main courtyard before you're willing to pay respects?"
There was only one nanny in the main courtyard, Nanny Li, who always had a solemn face. She attached great importance to rules. If she knew about this, the maid would surely be beaten.
He Miao secretly hated Fu Zhen for pretending to be powerful, but on the surface, she walked up to Fu Zhen in a panic and paid respects. "Greetings to the Second Miss. My name is He Miao. I was just tired and taking a rest. I didn't react in time when I met the Second Miss. I hope the Second Miss will forgive me."
"What a glib - tongued girl," Fu Zhen looked her up and down, showed a gentle smile, and gently helped her up. "Forget it. If you're tired, go and rest in the corridor. The sun is strong today. You're fair - skinned. Don't get your delicate skin tanned."
He Miao couldn't help touching her face and showed a shy expression. "Thank you, Second Miss!"
It would be great if she didn't have to do the cleaning. He Miao was overjoyed. Fu Zhen glanced at the maids peeping in the corridor and said with a smile, "Go and play with your sisters."
Cui Huan and Bi Yu glanced at each other and also showed a bit of a smile on their faces.
After He Miao left, Cui Huan stepped forward to support Fu Zhen and said meaningfully, "This garden seems quite clean. I wonder which diligent maid cleaned it yesterday. We should reward her well."
"Cleaning the garden is the maids' duty. There's no need for a reward. Don't make unnecessary trouble. If it causes discord among the maids, it will be our fault," Bi Yu followed up.
As maids themselves, they knew that maids often compared who got more rewards from the master. Now the maid who cleaned well didn't get a reward, but the lazy one got half a day off. Would the maids feel comfortable when they saw this?
Cui Huan looked at Bi Yu with a smile. "You're so kind - hearted. The master should reward you!"
"Reward everyone, reward everyone," Fu Zhen also laughed. "When we get back to the mansion later, I'll reward you two a bowl of goat milk!"
The three of them left the garden while joking.
The maids in the corridor saw the master leave. They glanced at each other, then whispered to each other with their heads together.
"He Miao is used to being lazy. She's just lucky today. She met the kind - tempered Second Miss and even got half a day off. It's really..."
"That's right. We've been working hard but haven't caught the master's eye. Why should He Miao... Just because she looks good?"
"I have a younger sister who lives with He Miao. She often tells me that He Miao is arrogant and looks down on them. She even says they're vulgar, unlike her who looks good."
"What a joke. We're all third - class maids. Who's more noble than whom! I think He Miao has evil intentions and wants to be a concubine!"
"Pfft! She wants to be the concubine of the heir? I think she has great ambitions but a fragile fate. Don't end up falling to her death before she can build her high - rise building!"
"What are you talking about!" He Miao didn't know when she had stood beside them. Her pretty face was flushed with anger, her chest heaving violently. She pointed at them and scolded, "A bunch of ugly ducklings are gossiping about me behind my back. I'll tell the master and have you all beaten up!"
One maid was so angry that her eyes were red. She was about to step forward and tear He Miao's mouth when another maid pulled her back. The maid said coldly, "You're just bullying the Second Miss for being new here and not daring to be too strict with us. Don't act as if you have great abilities! If you really do, go and show yourself in front of the heir and fulfill your daydream of being a concubine!"
"You!" He Miao pointed at her but couldn't say a word for a long time. Finally, she just left a harsh word. "You all just wait and see!"
Saying that, she stamped her foot and ran away.
The maid with red - angry eyes spat hard at her back. The other maids pulled her and advised, "Don't bother with her. She's stupid. She'll get what's coming to her in the future."
Fu Zhen didn't know that her simple words had made the surface peace among the maids fall apart. After the carriage stopped steadily, she supported Cui Huan's hand and got off. Looking up, she saw the three elegant characters "Luhua Ge".
Luhua Ge was named after the line "Clouds remind me of her robes and flowers of her face; Spring breeze caresses the railing, dewdrops are rich and full". The person who named it was very ingenious. This name added a bit of elegance to the jewelry sold in the shop.
When she reached the door, Fu Zhen saw that there were many customers in the shop, but everything was in good order. She felt more favorable towards it.
As soon as she entered the shop, a woman came up with a smile and said, "Please come in, miss."
Fu Zhen nodded to her. "I'd like to choose some hairpins and bracelets. Please help me choose, sister."
"Miss, you're welcome. Come this way with me." The woman led Fu Zhen to a cabinet on which there were many hairpin designs. "The miss has fair skin. The indigo gemstone would match you perfectly."
It was a silver hairpin with a magnolia flower woven on the top, inlaid with small blue - and - white gemstones. There were two short tassels hanging below, with a slightly larger indigo gemstone at the end, shining in the sunlight.
As the woman was speaking, she took out a box with a jade bracelet made of Hetian jade in it. Fu Zhen gently touched it. It felt warm and smooth. It was of excellent quality.
Fu Zhen smiled and said, "Please wrap these two for me. I'd also like to choose two gold hairpins. Please recommend some for me, sister."
"Miss, you're welcome. Please wait a moment."
The woman walked a few steps inside to choose the gold hairpins. Fu Zhen looked at the pastries on the table, picked up one with a handkerchief, took a bite, then broke off a small piece and handed it to Bi Yu and Cui Huan. "These pastries are delicious. You two should try them too."
"The style looks like the pastries made by Yongchun Tower. If the miss likes them, we might as well go there to take a rest after choosing the jewelry," Cui Huan said.
"Okay." Since she was out for fun, Fu Zhen had no reason to refuse.
As they were talking, the woman came out with a few boxes. When she opened them, there was a dazzling golden light inside.
"Unmarried girls usually like silver jewelry. Gold jewelry is mostly bought by married women on a daily basis. I boldly guessed that the miss is choosing gold hairpins to give to an elder, so I chose some more luxurious and complicated designs," the woman explained.
Fu Zhen praised, "That's right. Sister is really careful. Thank you, sister."
Saying that, she chose a gold hairpin in the shape of a peony flower and said to Cui Huan, "I've seen that Aunt usually wears clothes with peony patterns. I think she likes peonies. What do you think of this peony - shaped gold hairpin?"
Cui Huan smiled and said, "It's just right for the madam. If the miss gives it to the madam, the madam will surely be happy."
Since entering the Marquis's Mansion, Madam Bai had been very considerate to her. Even a cold - hearted person could feel her kindness. Fu Zhen put the gold hairpin back into the box and handed it to the woman. "Please wrap this one up too."
She should give something back for such kindness.