In the pavilion, Su Hele was painting while listening to Su Mo tell the news she had gathered in the Listening-to-the-Wind Courtyard in the past two days.
The guest list of Su Nansheng's last banquet and the mansions of those people she had visited for banquets recently.
Su Nansheng was just a concubine. The people she could befriend, Su Hele naturally could too.
So, she couldn't miss getting to know any of those noble people that Su Nansheng knew. Now she had memorized all their names.
"Second Young Mistress, why don't you go to the Listening-to-the-Wind Courtyard tomorrow?" Su Mo advised.
Concubine Li had finally managed to get an opportunity for Su Hele. If she knew that Su Hele hadn't even gone to learn from Su Nansheng, she would surely be angry.
Su Hele glared at Su Mo.
"What she knows, I know too, and even better. Why should I be at her mercy?"
Now that she had what she wanted, she definitely wouldn't go to the Listening-to-the-Wind Courtyard. Su Nansheng shouldn't even think about using this to blackmail her.
She would just wait until the banquet and let Su Nansheng introduce those noble people to her. With her elegant demeanor, she was sure to attract them.
Once they had seen her elegance, when they looked back at the vulgar and obsequious Su Nansheng, they would surely know who was better.
By then, Su Nansheng would be disliked. Let's see how she could still be so arrogant.
Just as she was thinking, she heard some noise outside. Nanny Qian, who served in the outer courtyard, came in and said,
"Second Young Mistress, Nanny Wang, who serves beside the concubine, asked all of us servants to gather in the front hall. We'll be back soon."
After saying that, without waiting for Su Hele's reaction, she rushed out.
Su Hele's expression turned solemn. Nanny Wang was just a servant. How dare she order the people in her courtyard around? How audacious!
"Come with me to the front hall. I'd like to see what she's up to!"
Su Hele stood up. Although she was out of favor now, she was still the mistress of the Azure Wave Courtyard. She wouldn't allow others to act wildly on her territory.
...
In the front hall, Nanny Wang scanned the dozen or so servants in front of her and frowned tightly.
"Is everyone here?"
Immediately, a steward nanny nodded and said,
"Reporting to Nanny, everyone in the courtyard is here except Su Mo, the Second Young Mistress's personal maid."
Hearing this, Nanny Wang sighed secretly.
There were only so few people left, yet they were still causing trouble. What on earth was Su Hele thinking?
"I've called you here today to convey a message from Concubine Li. I've heard that some of you overstepped your bounds and went to the Listening-to-the-Wind Courtyard on behalf of the Second Young Mistress."
At this point, Nanny Wang paused and scanned the crowd. Immediately, some people lowered their heads, trying to draw less attention.
Seeing this, Nanny Wang snorted. Just as she was about to continue scolding, she saw Su Hele coming this way. So she raised her voice and said,
"Concubine Li means that although you are servants, you should have your own judgment and know how to give good advice. You should know what you should do and what you shouldn't. If you're not sure, just ask instead of acting rashly.
Since you've been so hasty and unmeasured in your actions, you'll be fined one month's salary as a lesson."
"Nanny Wang, this is my courtyard. It's not your place to boss people around here."
Su Hele stepped forward quickly, holding her head high with a gloomy face.
How dare she make a punishment on her own? If there was to be a punishment, it should be up to her. When did it become a servant's turn to give orders?
Nanny Wang immediately bowed respectfully and said,
"Please forgive me, Second Young Mistress. I'm just here to convey Concubine Li's message. Also, the matter of fining the salary has been reported to the mistress.
Concubine Li's intention is to give you a small punishment as a warning so that you can weigh your own status and recognize the reality. If you dare to make your own decisions next time, it won't be as simple as a salary fine."
Nanny Wang had a smile on her face, but her tone was rather meaningful.
Hearing this, Su Hele, who had been looking gloomy, lowered her eyes. She understood that Concubine Li was warning her.
But since it had already been reported to Chen Wanrong, she had no way to stop it.
Seeing this, Nanny Wang smiled slightly, curtsied, and said,
"I've conveyed the message. I'll take my leave first."
Su Hele gritted her teeth and stared at Nanny Wang's back. She kept staring even long after Nanny Wang had disappeared, her eyes filled with hatred.
Behind her, a group of servants also stared at Su Hele's back, their eyes full of resentment.
...
The next day, Su Hele finally recovered from her illness and went to the Listening-to-the-Wind Courtyard in person, hoping to learn some banquet - hosting skills from Su Nansheng.
Unexpectedly, it was Bi Tao who came out. She was holding a booklet and said,
"Reporting to Second Young Mistress, my mistress is concerned that you're in poor health and might not be able to keep up with her for the hard work. This is the entire process of hosting a banquet. It's written clearly in black and white. You don't need to come here to learn and help. Just go back and study this booklet carefully.
As for some minor details, my mistress has already informed the servants in detail. Of course, the banquet can be held perfectly fine without these details. They're also written in the booklet. You can choose according to your own preference."
Saying this, Bi Tao presented the booklet with both hands, smiling and showing a respectful attitude, without a single flaw.
Facing Bi Tao's smiling face, Su Hele couldn't even force a smile.
She had come in person, yet Su Nansheng was still being so pretentious. What a petty person!
She lowered her eyes and glanced at the booklet, then snorted and turned away.
It was Su Mo who reached out to take the booklet, curtsied, and then rushed to catch up with Su Hele.
Seeing this, Bi Tao sighed secretly.
Back in the study, Bi Tao told Su Nansheng what had just happened. At the end, she said,
"If she doesn't want to learn, so be it. Why did you bother writing those booklets, mistress? Anyway, she won't appreciate it."
Just thinking about Su Hele's attitude made Bi Tao angry. If it weren't for Su Nansheng's instructions to be polite, she would have kicked Su Hele out when she showed her attitude.
Did she really think she was still in the Su Mansion, where everyone had to indulge her and watch her face? Didn't she see the current situation?
Compared to Bi Tao's indignation, Su Nansheng was calm.
"I've written four identical copies of that booklet. One for mother and one for Concubine Li. They've both read and approved it. If Su Hele makes any more mistakes during the banquet, she can't blame me. So I had to write this booklet.
Do you understand now?"
Bi Tao looked into Su Nansheng's bright black eyes and nodded vigorously.
Seeing this, Su Nansheng smiled slightly and lowered her head to continue looking at the account books.
...
In the Jade Grace Courtyard, Concubine Li stared at the booklet with a gloomy expression.
She had originally hoped that Su Hele could learn something unique that would suit the tastes of those noble people. But now, there was just this booklet.
It said for reference. Did she not even know the process of hosting a banquet? Did she still need to refer to this?
And that Su Hele, she was really useless and wasted the opportunity in vain.
Concubine Li threw the booklet on the ground angrily, her face as dark as water.
"Nanny Wang, when Su Hele hosts the banquet, you go and keep an eye on it. There can't be a single mistake."
If they just followed this booklet, they couldn't make anything special out of the banquet. Moreover, Su Hele might make her own decisions and cause trouble again. She must be wary of this.