Delicate Flower – Chapter 158

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Chapter 158 – Laughter

Gu Xi thought over the information she found on Yu Tang.

She was a native of Lin’an, the daughter of a scholar family that only had one store and a hundred acres of paddy fields, with three to four servants at home.

Previously, she thought that the Yu family was just being low-key and reserved and didn’t want to create much of a fuss, but now it seems that they were just poor.

Gu Xi’s slender white fingers gently brushed over the shiny and dust-free black lacquer tabletop, laughing silently before turning around and saying warmly to Yu Tang, “Lady Yu, I’ll take my leave first. I’ll come back to visit again once Mrs. Shen is feeling better.”

Yu Tang nodded with a smile, without so much as asking Mrs. Shen’s condition, she watched as Shuang Tao sent Gu Xi and her maid out the door.

Yu Tang then heard Fifth Young Miss who was beside her let out a few soft inaudible breaths.

Was Fifth Young Miss nervous when facing Gu Xi?

Yu Tang looked at her in bewilderment.

Fifth Young Miss’s face immediately reddened, as she stammered, “Lady Gu, she’s very capable, good at everything, and I’m too timid ……”

Therefore she felt twice as much pressure?

Yu Tang forcefully held back her laughter.

The Gu Xi of her previous life was also like this. As soon as she appeared, she would always become the center of attention. In this life, even if she restrained herself in front of the Pei family, her character that was engraved in her bones was not something that could be altered so easily. If she really came here with a goal in mind, unbeknownst to her, she would never have expected that the things she was so proud of would instead be obstacles to her integrating into the Pei family, right?

Yu Tang just wanted to throw her head back and laugh uproariously.

She was in a wonderful mood as she reassured fifth young miss, saying ”It’s alright. After all, people as capable as Lady Gu are a rarity. We’re just ordinary people, so it’s fine to just watch from afar.”

Fifth young miss nodded her head repeatedly and looked at Yu Tang affectionately, saying, “Lady Gu gets along well with second and fourth elder sisters. Third elder sister likes to spend time with me.”

Yu Tang thought of the headstrong Second Young Miss and the lively and nimble-eyed Fourth Young Miss.

In other words, Gu Xi had successfully integrated herself with Second and Fourth Young Miss.

She was a little surprised.

She had expected for the self-controlled and polite Third Young Miss to prefer Gu Xi’s company, and for the haughty Second Young Miss to butt heads with Gu Xi.

Evidently, there were times when she miscalculated.

Yu Tang pursed her lips as she smiled and went to the inner room. Upon seeing that the maids had already made the bed and she was feeling a little tired, she asked Fifth Young Miss, “Do you want to take a nap with me? We can go together later to greet Grand Madam.” She thought about it briefly and readily agreed.

The maid who served Fifth Young Miss then came in to remove her makeup and lift the blankets for her.

After a flurry of activity, the two laid down side by side.

The maids then lowered the screens.

Seeing that the top of bed ceiling was only an ordinary white silver striped netting that was originally there, Fifth Miss couldn’t help but ask, ”Sister Yu, what colour do you like? I’ll have Ah Shan bring you another screen cover. I have all sorts of different ones, I’ll give you one.”

“There’s no need.” Yu Tang understood what she meant.

In her previous life, when the Lin family’s young lady came to visit the Li family, not to mention the curtains and bedding, even the washroom they would only use the ones she brought over.

She didn’t have so many sensitivities.

Of course, it was also because she couldn’t afford to be so particular.

Regardless of her previous life or in this life, she didn’t have the habit of putting on airs.

“I’m only staying here for a few days, it’ll be too troublesome to change things around.” She smiled and turned sideways, looking at Fifth Young Miss, “Besides, I think that the things I brought from home are pretty similar to the things your family uses to furnish the guest room, so there’s no need to bother my family’s servants over such trivialities.”

Seeing her sincerity, fifth young miss laughed softly and replied, “Sister Yu, why don’t I give you a floor heater then? It was sent over by my aunt from Jinling, saying that it is the most up-to-date model over there in Jinling, and I think it’s very pretty too.”

Yu Tang remembered that Second Madam’s brother was an official in Jinling.

Seeing that Fifth Young Miss had good intentions, she didn’t want to spoil her mood, so she quickly thanked her with a smile, “That’s wonderful! It’s good that your house has floor heating. When I’m at home, I don’t even practice my calligraphy anymore, as my hand keeps freezing even if I stretch it out for a little while.”

Fifth Young Miss has never lived in a house without floor heating, so when she listened to her explanation, she didn’t suspect anything. Instead she was secretly happy that she had given the correct gift.

Both of them whispered, giggled and chatted for a while, before slowly drifting off to sleep.

When they were woken up, it was already close to 4PM. Fifth young lady sat up in a panic and anxiously exclaimed, “It’s over, it’s over, it’s too late, it’s too late!”

Ah Shan was a fifteen or sixteen year old maid, and she had supposedly served by Fifth Young Miss’s side since birth. Still, she was older and more matured than fifth miss, she smiled unperturbedly and said, “Don’t worry, fifth miss, now is just the right time to get up, get dressed and freshen up.”

Fifth Miss glanced beside her, and seeing Yu Tang’s calm face, only then did she relax, as she rubbed her chest sheepishly and smiled towards Yu Tang, explaining, “I, I’m always lost in a daze, and there have been several times that I was late ……”

Yu Tang wasn’t really a seventeen year old girl after all, perhaps if she really was at this point in her past life, she might have found the situation amusing, but now, she only found Fifth Young Miss’s reaction to be adorable.

“Take your time.” She reassured her, “Even if you were late, aren’t I with you?”

Fifth young miss smiled shyly. As she let Ah Shan support her in getting up, she asked Ah Shan, “Have my sisters arrived?”

Ah Shan grinned, “They just arrived. They might not have finished settling down at this time. After young miss has finished tidying up, it would be the perfect time to go together to greet Grand Madam.”

Fifth Miss’s expression relaxed further.

Yu Tang curiously pondered.

Judging by Second Madam’s character, she was an amicable and mild-tempered person, so why when it came to fifth young miss, it seemed like she was a strict disciplinarian?

They got dressed and went out, and just as what Ah Shan said, they met the other three young ladies of the Pei family at the entrance of the main hall, who had come to greet Grand Madam.

Second young miss was still as haughty as ever, she wore a honey-coloured, silver-red edged robe, holding a gilded plum blossom patterned hand warmer in her hand, and her head was held high as she looked at the rest.

Third young miss wore a moon-white robe with a gray squirrel-fur collar, with a white rabbit fur hand warmer. She looked so cute and fluffy that it warmed the hearts of people who saw her.

When she spotted Yu Tang and Fifth Young Miss, she called out “Sister Yu” and “Fifth Younger Sister” in a formal tone of voice.

However fourth young miss ran over in a flurry of excitement. She pulled on the hand of fifth young miss, and after greeting Yu Tang, she began to chatter on about the family’s preparations for the New Year’s. Her light green cloak looked especially vibrant this winter day.

Perhaps the people inside the house heard the commotion, or maybe there was a maid who went in earlier to report, but Chen Daniang came out smilingly and lifted the screen for them, saying, “Grand Madam guessed that the young ladies should be arriving soon, and had just given us instructions to cook osmanthus honey for all of you. What a coincidence that all of you came at just the right time.”

Everyone entered the room with smiles and giggles.

As Fourth Miss’s maid helped her remove her outer cloak, she laughed loudly, saying “It’s still Grandmother who’s the best! knowing that we wanted to drink osmanthus honey. She is too capable and predicted that we would arrive at this very timing.”

Grand Madam was amused by her words and burst out into laughter.

Fourth Miss pulled Fifth Miss along and they were the first to run up to Grand Madam and pay their respects.

Fourth Miss was so happy that her eyes turned into crescent moons.

Yu Tang was expecting second young miss to fight with fourth young miss to win Grand Madam’s favour, but unexpectedly, second young lady didn’t say a word, and together with her and third young miss, they paid their respects to Grand Madam.

Grand Madam surveyed the group of beautiful young ladies in front of her, her brows relaxed as she spoke, “It’s almost the New Year’s, I allowed all of you to come up to the mountains to enjoy, but you must not run wild, or next time, I will not take you outside to play anymore!”

Everyone expressed their thanks, softly giggling and sitting around grand madam.

Grand Madam then asked each one of them what they were doing these days and how their calligraphy writing practice was progressing. The atmosphere was very harmonious and homely.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yu Tang couldn’t help but glance at second young miss who was sitting quietly next to her.

Fourth young miss, quietly slid up to her side and giggled softly, she said “Sister Yu need not be surprised, second young miss is about to be engaged and get married, so she’s too embarrassed to join us in playing around.”

Yu Tang understood immediately but she was glared at fiercely by Second Young Miss who heard Fourth Miss’s words.

She could only smile apologetically towards Second Young Miss.

Second Young Miss turned her face away and ignored her.

Yu Tang didn’t know if she should cry or laugh.

Ji Daniang came in and asked Grand Madam if they should prepare the evening meal.

Grand Madam waved her hand saying, ”Set out the meal! The girls must all be hungry.” She warmly added, “The kitchen has made eight-treasured rice today.”

Which girl didn’t have a sweet tooth?

Several of them burst into cheers.

Fourth young miss even asked Grand Madam eagerly, “Grandmother, can we eat dragon beard candies and gorgon cakes tomorrow?”

Grand Madam smiled and replied, “Yes, I’ll have the kitchen make them for you soon.”

All of them cheered again.

While everyone was in high spirits, a young maid came and reported, “Mrs. Shen and Lady Gu have arrived.”

The crowd froze.

The smile on Grand Madam’s face wavered.

“Invite them in!” Grand Madam said.

Chen Daniang quickly left to lead them in.

Mrs. Shen looked like she had just recovered from a serious illness, but Gu Xi glowed with radiance. She wore a green silk pastel robe, which set off her prettily painted eyebrows and eyes.

Yu Tang’s heart sank as she quickly glanced at Grand Madam.

Grand Madam’s face was devoid of emotion as she calmly asked Mrs. Shen. “Didn’t you say that you were sick and recuperating? Why did you get up? Are you feeling better?”

“Many thanks to Grand Madam.” Mrs. Shen smiled weakly, “It’s just an upset stomach, not a serious illness. After taking a few pills I will be fine.”

Grand Madam replied, “Still, you should rest. Age is unforgiving, you are also getting old, your health is not as good as before, so you shouldn’t do as you please.”

Mrs. Shen’s face turned slightly.

Gu Xi quickly piped up, “Auntie Shen, let me help you find a seat first!”

Chen Daniang wanted to appease everyone, she immediately smiled and went to move an embroidered stool behind Mrs. Shen, saying, “Please sit!”

Mrs. Shen sat down with a pale face. She glanced at the Pei family’s young ladies, and said, “I heard that the Pei Family’s young ladies have all arrived, and thus specially came to extend my greetings.”

Grand Madam did not mince her words as she replied, “You are an elder, even if it’s just greetings, it’s still them who has to go over and pay their respects to you, you shouldn’t be the one to make this trip yourself.”

Mrs. Shen answered, “Our two families aren’t strangers, we don’t have to be so particular.”

Grand Madam raised an eyebrow and didn’t say a word.

Several Pei Family’s ladies were still young and Yu Tang was an outsider, so they didn’t have any opinion on it but second young miss coldly scoffed.

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