Outside, light snow began to fall again.
Yuanyang was carrying a heavy food box and couldn't hold an umbrella at the same time. She had to squint her eyes and trudge back against the wind and snow.
She wasn't on duty alone today. The girl who was supposed to be on shift with her had fallen ill. Her face was burning red, but she had told Yuanyang not to tell the mistress, thinking that she would get better after taking some medicine and having a rest.
The other girl was a loyal servant, efficient in her work and always thinking about the mistress. In contrast, Yuanyang felt like a petty person who gossiped behind others' backs.
Yuanyang smiled and told her to rest more. After all, it was just lunch, and there was no need for her to come out. But as soon as she stepped out of the door, her face darkened.
She wasn't one of the favored maids beside the mistress. At most, she was just a junior underling of the senior maids. Only when they were absent could she get a chance to show up. But why?
She was clearly just as good as anyone else.
The wind and snow grew stronger. The food box in her hand was cutting into her palm, turning it red. She frowned and got annoyed.
She was just staring at her feet when suddenly someone walked towards her. When she looked up, the person was holding an umbrella over her head.
She was a bit surprised. "Greetings, Concubine Su."
Concubine Su had always been inconspicuous in this mansion. Normally, she rarely left her courtyard. No one would have expected to see her out on such a cold day.
"Are you a maid from the main courtyard? Why are you alone?" Concubine Su looked at her and then her eyes fell on the food box.
Yuanyang pursed her lips and lowered her head as she explained softly, "Lüping, the girl who was supposed to be on duty with me, is ill. It's so cold today. I couldn't bear to let her come out and suffer in the cold wind and snow. Since it's just this little bit of stuff, I thought I could carry it there myself."
Concubine Su's expression softened. Seeing her hands were all red from the cold, she said, "Qiner, give her a hand."
The maid behind her answered and quickly stepped forward to take the food box.
Yuanyang quickly said, "This is not proper, Concubine Su. Let this servant carry it!"
Concubine Su smiled gently. She stepped forward with a handkerchief and wiped the snow off Yuanyang's forehead hair. "Qiner is very strong. Normally, she can carry two such food boxes. It's fate that we met today. It's no trouble to help."
Then she looked at Qiner. "Hurry up. Don't delay the master and mistress's lunch."
"Yes," Qiner curtsied and said to Yuanyang with a smile, "Sister, don't worry. Hurry up. The wind and snow seem to be getting stronger."
Yuanyang had no choice but to thank her for her kindness. Since Qiner had taken the food box, she opened her umbrella and walked with her towards the main courtyard.
"She's just a maid. Why did you...," asked Ying'er, another maid who had come out with Concubine Su today.
Concubine Su withdrew her gaze and slowly walked back to her own courtyard. "My Luobing is about the same age as her. Since I didn't get to see Luobing today, I thought I'd help this girl as a bit of consolation."
Ying'er immediately thought of Chen Luobing, who had refused to see anyone in the Taoist temple just now. She sighed in her heart. Looking at Concubine Su, there was a hint of pity in her eyes.
The longer the third young miss stayed in the Taoist temple, the colder and more aloof her personality became. She was like the icy snow in the world, as if she wanted to stay away from the mortal world and cut off all family ties, to become a celestial being.
Poor Concubine Su. She only had this one daughter, and the master was deeply in love with the mistress. She was all alone in this mansion. Sometimes when Ying'er got up at night, she would see the light in Concubine Su's room still on, shining all night long.
Qiner escorted Yuanyang to the main courtyard gate but didn't go in. She just said with a smile, "The concubine just returned from outside. She needs me now. I can only accompany Sister Yuanyang here."
Yuanyang quickly grabbed her. "Why are you in such a hurry? Come in and have a cup of tea to warm up."
But Qiner shook her head. She was determined to leave.
Yuanyang carried the food box and watched her leave in the wind and snow. Then she pursed her lips and entered the courtyard.
As for the tasks like serving lunch, that wasn't her concern.
The mistress's personal maid saw that she was all wet and quickly called out to her, "Oh, go inside and change your clothes. Don't end up getting sick when Lüping is still not well."
Yuanyang smiled gently, looking a bit shy. "It's just a bit of snow. I'm not that fragile."
But she didn't refuse. She just went into the room.
Lüping was still sleeping in the room. The charcoal fire had made the room very warm. As soon as Yuanyang entered the door, she felt warm all over.
She rubbed her hands in front of the charcoal fire. Instead of changing her clothes in a hurry, she was thinking about Concubine Su.
Qiner had said that she had just returned from outside. Concubine Su was the most timid and weak - willed person. Normally, she never left her courtyard. The only reason for her to leave would be to visit the third young miss, Chen Luobing, who was living in the Taoist temple on Qingcheng Mountain.
She lowered her eyebrows, covering the deep thought in her eyes.
Visiting one's daughter should be a happy thing. But why did Concubine Su seem so unhappy?
Just as she was lost in thought, there was a knock on the door.
She was startled and quickly went to open the door. But when she saw who it was, she frowned.
"Didn't I tell you not to come here?"
In Zhuqing Courtyard.
Biyu was holding an umbrella and about to go and get lunch when, just a few steps out of the courtyard gate, she saw Granny Zhou coming with a food box without an umbrella. She quickly stepped forward and held the umbrella over her to shield her from the wind and snow. "We agreed that I'd go and get it. Why did you carry it here yourself?"
Granny Zhou smiled. "The wontons cook quickly. It's so cold today. I was afraid they'd get cold and not taste good. Since I had nothing else to do, I just came directly."
Biyu frowned and mumbled, but her words were full of concern. "You should at least have brought an umbrella. You know it's cold today. What if you catch a cold from the snow?"
As they were talking, they entered the courtyard.
Fu Zhen heard the noise and looked up. Seeing that there was still some moisture in Granny Zhou's hair, she quickly said, "Cuihuan, go and get some ginger soup for Granny Zhou."
Hearing this, Granny Zhou was about to decline, but Biyu took the food box from her and pulled her over to sit down with a smile. "Oh, you've been to Zhuqing Courtyard so many times. Why are you still being so polite?"
Just then, Cuihuan came back with a bowl. Biyu took it and handed it to Granny Zhou. "Drink a bowl to warm up."
Fu Zhen also said with a smile, "Drink the ginger soup and then warm yourself by the fire. Make sure you don't carry any cold air with you. It's okay if we adults get sick, but you still have to go home and hold your grandson. Don't pass the cold air on to the little one."
Hearing that it concerned her grandson, Granny Zhou had nothing more to say. There was only a big smile on her face. "Thank you, Second Young Miss. Thank you, two young ladies."
Granny Zhou had always been very dedicated to Zhuqing Courtyard. Fu Zhen was happy to do her a favor.
After lunch, when Granny Zhou was about to leave with the empty food box, Fu Zhen gave Biyu a look. Biyu nodded slightly and followed Granny Zhou out.
"Granny Zhou, wait a moment." Biyu stopped her and grabbed her hand. With a flick of her wrist, a polished silver bracelet was on Granny Zhou's hand.
Granny Zhou was startled. "This is not proper, Miss Biyu. Please take it back quickly."
Biyu smiled gently and patted her hand. "You've done your job very well. This is a special reward from the young miss. Don't decline."
Granny Zhou nervously rubbed the corner of her clothes with her hand. "Every time I come to Zhuqing Courtyard, I get a reward. This is really..."
"Stop saying such things," Biyu said with a pout. "This just shows that you're honest and hard - working."
"Actually, there's one thing I'd like to ask you," Biyu suddenly said, looking a bit hesitant.
Granny Zhou immediately said, "What does the young lady want to ask? This old woman will tell you everything I know."
Biyu leaned in a bit closer and asked in a low voice, "Do you know Miss Yuanyang from the main courtyard?"