Chapter 64: Nanny Sun
When the eldest aunt heard the second wife asking what they were talking about, she suddenly had an idea. She might as well take the opportunity to tell the second master about the Jade Garden. Maybe the second master would ruin the matter. So she took the opportunity to talk about the Jade Garden. After hearing this, aunt Zhang and aunt Li also turned to look at the second master. Xiao Jun was stunned after hearing this, put down the tea in his hand, and looked at Mengxi.
When Mengxi saw the Second Master looking at her, she remembered that she had never told him about this, so she explained:
"If Aunt Wang hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten about this. A few days ago, when Second Master was away, I and several other aunts discussed the beautiful garden to the west of Chrysanthemum Garden. We thought of cleaning it up and letting Hongyu move there. Suddenly, I remembered the saying 'A modest gentleman is as gentle as jade'. Coincidentally, Hongyu's name also has the character '玉' in it, so I took the initiative to name the garden '玉苑'. Second Master, please decide if this name is good. If you don't think it's good, we can just give it a new name."
Aunt Li cursed inwardly, "How could she have discussed this with us? It was clearly her own idea! Who said this name was not good? She said it was not proper for Hongyu to live in this garden. Why did she change the name?"
She raised her foot to step forward, but she saw the calm eyes of the Second Madam, as if everything was under control. She was startled. This Second Madam was no pushover. Looking at her expression, she seemed to be confident. Maybe she had some tricks up her sleeve. She was not the only concubine here, so why should she be the first to take action? After hesitating for a long time, she put down her raised foot.
Xiao Jun heard this and thought, "She is just a maid, how can there be such a rule?" He wanted to refuse the idea, but when he looked up and saw Hongyu beside him with a pitiful look, he softened his heart. It's just a garden, and the Xiao Mansion is not bad. He changed his words and said:
"Let's do this for now."
When the other concubines saw that the Second Master had agreed to this, they secretly gritted their teeth. Meng Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the Queen's Concubine and said:
"I don't need to go over and take a look. Let Hongyu take some time to go over and see if there's anything missing or inappropriate. Find someone to make changes. After the one-month deadline, Hongyu can move over."
After hearing this, Xiao Jun looked at Mengxi thoughtfully.
"Second Madam, summer is coming soon. What do you think of this year's summer clothes?"
After all, the eldest princess's concubine was a scheming woman. Seeing that the second master had agreed, she thought it was not a good idea to continue to dwell on this matter, so she started talking about daily household chores.
"What was the practice in the mansion in previous years?"
"In previous years, the rule in the mansion was that the Second Master had four sets, the Concubines had two sets, and each of the maids had one set. However, the material used for the head maids was better. In addition to the rule in the mansion, each Concubine also had two sets, and each of the maids had one set. In addition to these, the Second Master would also give some as a reward if he liked."
"Just follow this rule. Send a tailor to measure your measurements one day and make it together."
"What about grandma's rules?"
Mengxi looked at the Second Master and saw that he had no intention of speaking, so she said:
"Just do as grandma did."
The eldest aunt was stunned, thinking: Master is not in Pingyang all year round, how can I know what the rules are in his courtyard? I dare not say I don't know, but if I don't know, won't I ask? The second wife has ready-made words waiting for her, and she felt a little bitter when she thought of this.
"Which tailor shop should we use?"
Damn, you're asking about this, how would I know? Mengxi was really bothered by these household chores. After thinking for a while, she said calmly:
"Just use the ones from previous years. Wash those heavy spring clothes that you never wear, fumigate them thoroughly, and store them carefully. Be careful not to attract bugs."
"Yes, I will arrange it right away."
As they were talking, the maid Qian'er came in and reported:
"Replying to Second Master, Second Madam, the First Madam sent Nanny Sun to teach etiquette, saying that she is here to teach Second Madam the etiquette."
Everyone in the hall was stunned when they heard this. Several pairs of eyes looked at the Second Mistress. Some were gloating, while others were puzzled. Why did the First Mistress send someone to teach them the rules when everything was fine?
"Please come in"
Seeing that the Second Master was looking at her inquiringly, Mengxi gently explained:
"Look, I just said a lot, but I haven't had time to tell Second Master about this. This morning in Shouxi Hall, the old lady and the first lady discussed that Second Master's health has not recovered yet, so we should not go to the ancestral temple together. That's why they asked someone to teach me the rules of worshipping the ancestral temple."
Xiao Jun was shocked and stared at Mengxi in front of him. She spoke so nonchalantly, as if she was saying that the weather was very good today. Didn't she know that he was well now, but didn't accompany her to worship at the ancestral temple? What did that mean?
In the silence, Nanny Sun came in and bowed:
"This old slave pays respects to the Second Master and Second Madam."
"Madame Sun, please stand up quickly. Hong Xing, please sit down and serve tea."
Mengxi hurriedly said that these teaching matrons all had some status, and she dared not act pretentiously.
After Nanny Sun sat down, she took the tea handed to her by the maid and put it aside, saying:
"I am here on the orders of the First Madam to teach Second Madam the rules of worshipping the ancestral temple. Second Master, Second Madam, when do you think we should start?"
"Madame Sun came here in a hurry, so take a rest first and we'll start in the afternoon," Mengxi said.
"Then I will go to the Second Madam's room and wait for her."
The eldest wife sent Nanny Sun over and specifically asked her to check on the situation in the second wife's room. Nanny Sun then directly said that she wanted to go to the east wing.
"Madame Sun, you should go to the west wing and rest first," Mengxi said after thinking for a while.
"Is it not allowed for this old servant to enter the Second Madam's room?"
Nanny Sun's face immediately turned cold. They, the teaching nannies, were responsible for disciplining young ladies and masters on a daily basis and had quite some status. In the past, when they came to this courtyard, even the Second Master had to give him some courtesy. Moreover, today, with the support of the First Madam, she would not care about the Second Madam's mood.
Just as Mengxi was about to speak, the maid Zhiqiu stepped forward and replied:
"I think Madam Sun has misunderstood. Second Madam is looking for someone to clean up the backyard of the East Wing these days. It's very messy and inconvenient."
Xiao Jun also looked at Meng Xi in confusion, thinking, why is she making such a fuss? Meng Xi saw the Second Master looking at her, and knew what he meant, and said slowly:
"I don't like the layout of the east wing and backyard. I want to live here permanently, but I feel uncomfortable looking at it every day. This morning I sent Zhichun to find a few people to make some changes and renovate it."
Xiao Jun nodded without comment. He would not take such a small matter seriously as it was not his garden.
Nanny Sun thought to herself: He has only been married for a few days, and he is building a house just because he doesn't like the girl. He is such a spendthrift. I must report this to the first wife. Thinking of this, she stood up and went back to the house.
"In that case, I will take my leave now. Madam, please don't miss the afternoon. I have followed all the rules."
As he said this, he stood up and bowed to the Second Master and Second Madam.
"Madame Sun, please take care. Hongzhu, send Madame Sun to the west wing to have some rest. Check to see if Madame Sun needs anything and prepare it for her," Mengxi ordered.
Hongzhu responded and hurried over to help Nanny Sun, escorted her out the door, and called two maids to take her to the west wing to make arrangements before returning to the hall.
"Since Second Madam needs to learn some etiquette these days, there's no need to serve her every day." Xiao Jun finally spoke after seeing Madam Sun leave.
Mengxi hurriedly stood up to thank him and talked for a while, then Xiao Jun told them to disperse.
