Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 71 The Thing of Love

“Silly girl, you really shouldn’t have mentioned the conditions for redemption to Meng Shu. If I had known earlier that she was so favored in the Tang family, I wouldn’t have sent you to see her.”

Huanyun turned around and said to Dingxiang, "Do you know that three thousand taels is nothing more than a drop in the ocean for the Tang family, but for Meng Shu it is nothing less than owing her a debt of gratitude weighing over a thousand pounds. I have already fallen into the mortal world, and debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay, so why should I make her suffer the same fate?"

More than three years have passed. Dingxiang had already given up all hope for Zhou Bai, feeling that this was the best, and perhaps the last, chance. She sniffed and said with heartache, "But, young lady, you..."

"This is a matter between Zhou Lang and me. There is no reason for Meng Shu to be implicated. There is no need to say more."

"Besides, it's just as my second uncle and I said. Since Zhou Lang wants to redeem me, I'll trust him. My father made the wrong choice for me back then. This time it's my turn to choose. Don't you trust your daughter's judgment?" Huanyun pursed her lips and teased with a smile.

Dingxiang pursed her lips, wanting to say she didn't believe it, but after hearing what the girl said next, she could only sigh and stop trying to persuade her.

Huanyun said, "If he betrays me, what does it matter if I spend my whole life as a courtesan at Chunfeng Tower?" Then her tone shifted from resolute to tinged with melancholy: "If...something happens to him...I...even if I leave Chunfeng Tower, I'll be nothing more than a living dead."

Meng Shu should understand.

When she first saw little Meng Shu, she thought she was very beautiful, especially her eyes, which seemed familiar and made her want to get closer to her.

At first, he only felt sorry for her and said he would protect her for two years. Who knew she would remember it? In just two or three days, she made countless sachets, handkerchiefs and purses. Her needlework skills were exactly the same as the sachets on Zhou Lang's body.

It wasn't until the steward of the Tang family came looking for her that Huanyun learned from her mother the whole story of how Meng Shu had been sold. Thinking that she might never see her again, she waited there to see her one last time.

Then later, the fate between people was probably a coincidence bestowed by heaven. The people of the Tang family followed the clues and came to the door. Only then did Huanyun realize that the similar eyebrows and eyes and the identical craftsmanship were not illusions. It turned out that she was Zhou Lang's only relative in the world.

Upon hearing the news that her second uncle was going to redeem her from servitude, Huanyun knew perfectly well that the Tang family was behind it all.

Having been immersed in the world of brothels for many years, Huanyun's keen awareness and vigilance were ingrained in her very being—the Tang family had gone to far too much for a mere maid, making it hard not to suspect ulterior motives or other purposes. Otherwise, why would they go to such lengths to find several maids who had been sold to brothels? Why would they make such a grand effort to find a maid's family, and why would they spend money to redeem themselves?

Huanyun was worried about Mengshu on the other end, while Mengshu, after calming down, gradually understood Huanyun's thoughts.

"Why is life so hard, Donggua? Can you understand Sister Huanyun?"

Donggua said softly, "Being a woman is never easy. I only know that she is indeed a kind and righteous woman. But if it were me, I would never rely on any man. I can always save up enough money myself, right? Right?"

Meng Shu gave a bitter smile. She knew Huan Yun's thoughts, but she didn't understand them. If it were her, she would seize every opportunity. Only after leaving Chunfeng Tower would things possibly turn around, right?

After hearing about this, the second young lady expressed her approval of Huanyun's actions.

"Most of the young ladies in Lin'an are not as good as her."

As Ruizhu combed the second young lady's hair, she muttered, "This servant doesn't understand. Not only have I failed to appreciate your kindness, Miss, but I've also made Meng Shu sad and upset. I feel like she's a bit ungrateful. Mengzhu, don't you think so? We've known each other for so long, when have we ever seen Meng Shu lose her mind?"

I was so scared by what I just saw...

Mengzhu was tidying up the account books on the table. Upon hearing this, she didn't even raise her eyes: "Comb your hair properly. I think the Second Miss is right."

As night fell, the clouds returned to the courtyard.

Just as the head maids had helped Madam Yun change into her nightgown, Wei Mama brought a cup of tea for Madam Yun to rinse her mouth. Madam Yun looked at this incident with a meaningful expression.

"This Miss Huanyun is quite quick-witted."

After dismissing the head maids, Madam Wei said to Madam Yun, "I really don't know how to evaluate this."

Madam Yun went to bed and rested. Before falling asleep, she made a final judgment: "She didn't want Meng Shu to bear the Tang family's favor, but she was also gambling on a man's true feelings."

In the following days, Dingxiang came to see Mengshu and told her in detail what Huanyun had told her. Mengshu had no choice but to accept that things had come to this and there was no better way. She simply asked Dingxiang to take back the silver that had been sent last time.

After that, Meng Shu did not mention the matter again and served the second young lady with a normal expression. At the same time, the whole Tang family was busy.

The Double Ninth Festival is just around the corner. Although Tang Xian and the eldest young master are not here, the old lady will still lead Madam Yun and several young ladies to worship their ancestors on the Double Ninth Festival. The ancestral hall of this branch of the Tang family was built more than 20 years ago, at the manor where they first settled in Lin'an.

As is customary, the old lady would stay at the estate for a few days every year around this time, returning to the mansion before the second young lady's birthday.

Besides ancestor worship, the masters would also go to Linglong Mountain near the estate to climb and enjoy the view. The Fifth Miss had also had various kites made early on. The festive atmosphere was gradually created through a flurry of activity.

Steward An was busy preparing some special snacks, and he and the kitchen staff, including Donggua, had been working tirelessly for several days. The sewing room, including the old lady's head maid Mujin, was also busy making clothes for the old lady that day. The carriage and horse room had also prepared carriages in advance for the trip. The steward of the outer courtyard also went to the estate early to arrange the ancestral worship with the estate manager.

Early that morning, Steward Wei brought several second-class maids from the sewing room to Yun Gui Courtyard, each carrying a lot of fabric.

Madam Yun glanced at it and then asked Steward Wei to take the young ladies downstairs to select materials. The second young lady got up first, thanked her mother, and then led the eldest young lady and her younger sisters to the inner room with Steward Wei.

Seeing that the Third Miss was hesitating at the back and hadn't moved, Meng Shu subtly gestured to Meng Zhu to stay in the flower hall as a background and not follow her in to serve.

There's been some activity at Lanting Courtyard lately; whatever it is, we should keep an eye on it.