The next day, Ruan Yuyi woke up early because she had slept well in the afternoon yesterday. Muxiang dressed her up and went to Cheng Zhu's place to say hello.
The hibiscus trees beside the road were almost withered, with only one or two scattered ones left, still lying on the branches against the cold wind. The branches stretched out stiffly, like lines drawn by dry ink, tightly withered.
When she passed by, she didn't stop, she just glanced sideways and didn't pay much attention. Hibiscus flowers last a long time, and the next crop will appear in late spring.
After entering Cheng Zhu's courtyard, they found that besides Zhaorong, the other two aunts were also there. The one wearing a colorful dress and a rosy complexion was Aunt Mei. She looked much younger than Cheng Zhu. In fact, Aunt Mei is only four years younger than Cheng Zhu.
They are clearly of the same age, but Aunt Mei has better bones and skin, and she still looks more charming. Coupled with her gentle temperament, it is not difficult to understand why Mr. Cheng likes this gentle town more.
Ruan Yuyi paid homage to them one by one and sat down.
When she raised her eyelids slightly, she saw that Mrs. Cheng Zhu who was standing above her had a gloomy face and pursed her lips without saying a word. After Mrs. Cheng Zhu told Mr. Cheng yesterday about Cheng Xingqiu's love for the eldest princess, she didn't want him to get angry. He picked up the cup and threw it at her feet.
He said, Xingqiu already has a wife, how can he marry again? You are so confused!
She secretly thought in her heart that it was because he was so inflexible that he stayed in the same position all year round without ever being promoted. Although she thought this, she didn't show it on her face.
Mrs. Cheng Zhu explained the pros and cons to him in detail. When she mentioned her second son's marriage, the anger on his face froze and he could no longer refute. She knew that Mr. Cheng's poor daughter-in-law was Sister Yi. , as for which son’s wife he is, he doesn’t really care.
In the final analysis, I just care about the relationship and can't bear to arrange Sister Yi's future life. In this case, it is up to her to play the role of the white face.
Cheng Zhu thought and glanced at Aunt Mei in the first place with disdain. Although Qiu'er's matter was finally settled, he was still thinking about this bitch in his heart. It was rare for him to go home at night. I stayed in her room again. She is really good at seducing people.
Aunt Mei seemed to have noticed her gaze, and did not avoid it. She went straight to meet her, "Madam, you are not feeling well? She doesn't look good." But she didn't know if she meant to offend her.
The two of them had never dealt with each other, and Ruan Yuyi knew this, but she came late, but she didn't know that Aunt Mei was just a hair away from becoming the first lady. She was cut off by Cheng Zhu on the way, how could she not complain.
Zhaorong had a big heart and really thought that Mrs. Cheng Zhu was ill, so she said with concern, "I'll ask the doctor to take a look later." She picked up a snack on one side and put it in her mouth.
Mrs. Cheng Zhu choked, took a breath, and said reluctantly, "Thank you for worrying, princess."
While eating the snacks, Zhao Rong suddenly frowned, took out the handkerchief, and spat out the contents in his mouth carefully, "The cooking skills in the kitchen here really take a lot of effort, and they are not as good as the chefs in my palace." This snack seemed to be something special. There is too much sugar, it melts in the mouth, and the mouth is full of sweetness.
"It's incomparable." Seeing this, Mrs. Cheng Zhu also tasted a little. Although the pastry was a little dry, the sweetness was always at this level. Doesn't everyone make it the same?
But she couldn't go against the eldest princess, so she said with a stern look on her face, "I was negligent in the kitchen today, so I will deduct half a month's money as punishment." The maid on the side bowed her head in agreement.
"Speaking of which," Zhao Rong looked in the direction of Ruan Yuyi and said leisurely, "The maid next to my sister seems to be good at craftsmanship. I am a picky person. If my sister doesn't do well, I will give him to me."
She laid the groundwork for a long time, originally intending to bring the topic to this point. How could Ruan Yuyi agree, "I brought her here from Wuzhou, not from the palace. I'm afraid it would be inappropriate to give her to His Highness."
Strictly speaking, the maids brought to her husband's family are also counted as part of the dowry, and the right to dispose of them is in her hands. As for Zhaorong, who has not yet had a title, she has no right to dispose of them.
Ruan Yuyi was afraid that Mu Xiang would be careless, so she squeezed her palm secretly.
Zhaorong chuckled lightly, "You're just a maidservant. Why is my sister so protective of you? It won't be a problem for the palace to get you ten or eight more in a few days."
On the surface, she wanted to hire someone because Mu Xiang was good at her craftsmanship. In fact, in a secret place that she didn't even know, she was holding her breath in her heart. She had to compete with Ruan Yuyi to feel better.
She didn't know about the friendship between the two, so she thought it was nothing, but Ruan Yuyi had always regarded Mu Xiang as a sister.
Aunt Mei on the side had also been robbed, and now she felt the sympathy and said in a warm voice, "If Your Highness likes someone who is good at cooking, why not just go outside and find one? It will be easier and avoid having to go through many twists and turns."
I went around looking for many maidservants to arrive."
Zhaorong glanced at her, perhaps feeling that an aunt was not qualified to talk to him, so she did not answer, and turned to Muxiang, "Speak for yourself."
She fully thought that these servants valued money more, and with her identity here, Mu Xiang had no reason not to accept this olive branch, so her tone was mixed with a certain scorn.
Mu Xiang took a step forward, stood still, bowed politely, and then said slowly, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your appreciation."
Hearing this, Zhao Rong curled her lips, thinking that she had accepted it. Just when she was about to say something, she heard Mu Xiang continue, "It's just that I don't want to. If His Highness really likes my craftsmanship, I will make it for you."
Just go." She said decisively and gave a solution.
What's the reluctance? Following her, a woman from the heavenly family, there are so many jobs that no one can ask for, so why is she dissatisfied?
Zhaorong has always thought highly of herself, and she couldn't stand rejection from others. After all, she was surrounded by people who flattered her. Now she pinched her palms tightly, trying not to throw something in front of Cheng Zhu, and she sneered.
"Okay, you master and servant both have the same temperament, and you have already gotten through it."
The maid on the side quickly stepped forward to hold her and pat her back gently, but Zhao Rong waved her away with one sleeve.
The surroundings seemed to have suddenly cooled down, and the servants standing there did not dare to express their anger. No one spoke for a while, and they did not want to get angry with the eldest princess. Ruan Yuyi quietly squeezed the cup at hand, she was already walking
He tried to avoid giving in, but Zhao Rong was still looking for trouble.
Mrs. Cheng Zhu was already in an unhappy mood and had too much time to take care of herself, so she half-closed her eyes and refused to pay attention to these overt and covert fights. Seeing that the eldest princess had lost her temper, she smoothed things over and said, "Your Highness, please calm down and ask Sister Yi to think about this matter again."
It won't be too late to send the person here after I have thought it through in some time."
Although Sister Yi has a docile temperament, she is too unsophisticated. Now that the princess has asked for someone, she will become a sister-in-law in the future. There is no reason to refuse. Isn't this an obvious insult to the other party's face?
Zhaorong snorted coldly and reluctantly agreed.
When the atmosphere was at a stalemate, a young man came in at the door and said, "Mrs. Mei, the master is looking for you." He looked around and saw that the lady's face was not good, so he said simply, and lowered his head again and again.
It seems like it's almost buried in my clothes.
Originally, an aunt was not qualified to be called madam, but the master's favor was the rule, so the whole family kept calling her like this.
Aunt Mei was called to go, her face was as calm as water, she bowed to her head and left with the boy.
Cheng Zhu's face was even more gloomy when she was left, but after all, it was the master who had spoken, so it was hard to say anything. So she just chatted a few random words. Seeing that the time was almost up, she excused herself to rest and sent everyone away.
.
Zhao Rong naturally had no intention of staying any longer, so he gave Ruan Yuyi a cold look and walked away with a roll of his sleeves.