Cheng Yujin leisurely sat in the side room, drinking tea and looking at a booklet with new summer patterns that the embroidery workshop had just sent. But not long after, a plump woman in a dark green short jacket came to the door and nervously glancing inside. Cheng Yujin saw her and called: "Is it third young master's wetnurse? Come in."
The wetnurse smiled and walked to the side room. She saluted Cheng Yujin: "This servant greets eldest young miss. May you be blessed. Eldest young miss' complexion is really good today. If others wear the same white clothes with golden embroidery like you, they won't look as good."
Cheng Yujin didn't bother to pay attention to this superficial fawn. She closed the booklet and glanced at the wetnurse: "What's happen?"
The wetnurse smiled a bit embarrassedly: "It is the third young master. He refused to get off the bed. This servant comes to ask for Eldest Madam's instruction."
What time is it, he hasn't get up yet? Cheng Yujin smiled faintly and asked: "Why does he refuse to get up?"
"Third young master saw the shizi from Cai Duke manor holding a very imposing greyhound yesterday. It has a pure dark coat without a single different hair. Third young master liked it so much and also wanted to raise one. He was asking for it yesterday, and still remember even today...."
Cheng Yujin laughed. It turned out that he made up a ruckus just because he wanted to raise a hound. Cheng Yujin beckoned Du Ruo to come over. She pointed to a few patterns on the booklet and instructed: "Tell the embroidery workshop to sew the crimson silk into four mamian skirts lined with carmine silk. For the top, uses the white fabric woven with golden thread and make it with pipa sleeve and straight collar. The waist size is smaller by one cun. The neckline is embroidered with branches and leaves motif. Use a lighter color."
Cheng Yujin pointed to a few more patterns, each was different. Du Ruo carefully noted them one by one. The wetnurse was standing on the side and couldn't help feeling awkward. Being ignored, she tried to interrupt several times, but found no chance. After receiving Cheng Yujin's instructions, Du Ruo walked out with the booklet and lightly glanced at the wetnurse on her way out.
The wetnurse finally got a chance to speak: "Eldest miss, third young master..."
"Sun has risen so high, yet he still stays on the bed. Does he not feel ashamed?" Cheng Yujin continued, "He doesn't want to get up, then let him stay on the bed. Today father is here. If he doesn't feel afraid of being scolded by father, just let him do as he like."
The wetnurse's face turned bitter. If the one sitting here at this moment was Qingfu Junzhu, she would already go to coax Enbao long ago. On the contrary, Cheng Yujin didn't even change her tone and lightly said to let him stay on the bed.
The wetnurse still tried to persuade: "However, the third young master is very angry now. If Madam knew, she would blame us when she back."
"If mother wants to blame, she will blame me. Just do it." Cheng Yujin narrowed her eyes and said coldly: "Go back and tell him my exact words. Also, tell him that mother went to take care of grandfather. If he still doesn't want to get up, I'll personally go."
The wetnurse nodded and slumped out. After a while, Du Ruo, returning from outside, was hit hard by somebody. Du Ruo rubbed her waist painfully and turned back to see Cheng Enbao, wearing a gold-inlaid forehead strap, rushed into the main building, colliding with people all the way.
As soon as he entered the door, Cheng Enbao started to yelled and made a ruckus. Cheng Enbao was a son Qingfu Junzhu got in her middle age. He was Qingfu's only child and was spoiled rotten by his mother. No one in the first branch dared to say anything about this small tyrant. Cheng Enbao relied on his father's uncaring attitude and his mother's bottomless spoil to make troubles every day. Like today. Seeing the little shizi of Cai Duke manor raising a hound, he also wanted one and started throwing a temper tantrum.
Cheng Enbao screamed loudly: "Mother, Zhai Qing raises a dog. I also want one!"
Qingfu Junzhu's servant girls saw Cheng Enbao and hurriedly came forward to coax the boy. Qingfu's dowry mama shouted distressedly: "Third young master, you haven't put on a coat, what if you catch a cold! Go and fetch the coat for the third young master!"
Cheng Enbao kept throwing tantrums at his mother's servants. He yelled for a long time, but didn't hear his mother's familiar coax. When turning his head, he saw Cheng Yujin stood at the inner door, staring at him coldly.
Cheng Yujin coldly watched Cheng Enbao's tantrum, but didn't have the slightest intention to do anything. Seeing the boy has calmed down, she said indifferently: "Enough?"
Seeing that it was Cheng Yujin, Cheng Enbao's spirit instantly dampened. He looked at the inner room: "Where's my mother?"
"Mother and father have gone to take care of grandfather. Counting the time, they will probably be back soon." Cheng Yujin gave Cheng Enbao a glance and said: "Mother hates pets like cats and dogs. Moreover, greyhounds are hunting dogs. It's impossible to raise one in the manor. You should put down your thought now. But if you aren't afraid to let father see, you can make trouble as much as you want. You all, let the third young master go. Just let him lie on the ground."
Cheng Enbao was rolling and screaming on the ground. The servant girls were kneeling to hold him, afraid that this little ancestor might get a cold. Hearing Cheng Yujin's command, the servant girls looked at each other in hesitation. But their fear towards Cheng Yujin was greater, so they slowly let go of their hands on Cheng Enbao.
Cheng Enbao was in an embarrassing state. He couldn't continue his tantrum but couldn't stop now either. He immediately yelled: "I want to raise a hound. Mother loves me the most. If you scold me, I'll tell my mother when she comes back!"
Cheng Yujin smiled indifferently, too lazy to even spare a glance. She turned her body and went back to the side room. The servants left on the main hall quickly persuading: "Third young master, eldest young miss is doing that for your own good. Please get up quickly!"
Cheng Enbao was used being a tyrant, how could he bear this kind of treatment. He immediately lying down on the floor, rolling and kicking around with all his might: "I don't care. Zhai Qing has a hound. I also want one!"
The servants helplessly tried to stop Cheng Enbao. Qingfu's dowry mama even cried in distress: "Eldest young miss, since young master likes it, perhaps you can talk to madam. Madam maybe will agree."
Cheng Yujin stopped and slowly glanced at the crowd. The noisy hall suddenly quieted down. The servants knelt on the ground; no one dared to speak. Cheng Yujin retracted her gaze and looked at Cheng Enbao: "If Zhai shizi raises a hound, that is their Cai Duke manor's matter. It has nothing to do with our Yichun Marquis manor. Either you get up now and change your clothes, or continue to lie on the ground. No one will stop you."
Cheng Yujin moved her gaze to the group of servants: "Do you have nothing to do?"
The servants glanced at Cheng Enbao hesitantly. But after a while, they quietly bowed their head and slowly dispersed. With no one cared, Cheng Enbao couldn't continue making a fuss, so his wetnurse took the opportunity and picked him up to change his clothes.
Lian Qiao exchanged a glance with another servant girl. Cheng Enbao has always been unruly and arrogant. But Qingfu Junzhu just kept pampering him blindly. Regarding this, the servants had nothing to say. But eldest miss was the only one who didn't cater to his willfulness. Look, didn't he behave so obediently?
According to Lian Qiao, kids became unruly because of adults' indulgence. Changed to eldest miss, just see if they still dare.
After entering the side room, Cheng Yujin asked Du Ruo: "Are you alright?"
Du Ruo nodded quickly: "It's alright. This servant often does miscellaneous work and has a thick skin and strong bones. Third young master is still small. Even if he accidentally bumped in, it didn't hurt."
Cheng Yujin saw Du Ruo's intention and didn't reveal her lie. She instead ordered: "Go back now. Later, take a bottle of ointment and put it on. These two days, you don't have to do heavy work."
Du Ruo was touched. She knew that it was useless to say more and bowed in grateful: "Thank you, Miss."
.....
Around noontime, Qingfu Junzhu came back in anger. Not long after, Cheng Yuanxian was also back. As soon as he entered the door, he started cursing: "Taking benefits but stabbing in the back, ungrateful! Dare to stare at other people's things. After more than ten years working, he is still a small official, yet so pretentious. He kept saying that his career is delayed because the family refused to spend money. On what basis? His ability? Bah! Why doesn't he look properly on the mirror?!"
Cheng Yuanxian became angrier and angrier. When he came to ask for more property share from the Old Master, the second branch somehow got the news and hurriedly came over. Even now, Cheng Yuanxian's anger still hasn't subsided. "I've tolerated them for so long. But look at their usual behavior! Always putting on a pitiful act, as if being bullied! Do they think I owe them? If they don't want their child to be adopted, then just refuse! To whom are they showing their aggrieved face now? Bah, did I ask for it?!"
The servants didn't dare to move and kept their heads down in silence. Qingfu Junzhu frowned. She gently pulled Cheng Yuanxian's sleeve and tried to give him an eye signal. "Eldest Master, please calm down. Sit down and have a cup of tea."
"No need!" Cheng Yuanxian impatiently threw off Qingfu Junzhu's hand and shouted, "Why should I cover the second branch's despicable means? Rats can only give birth to rats. Cheng Yuanhan's heart is so dark. Their whole family isn't a good thing either!"
After Cheng Yuanxian finished ranting, the room fell silent for a long time. He finally began to notice the awkward mood when a soft knock came from the door. Turning his head, Cheng Yuanxian saw Cheng Yujin standing on the side room's entrance. She smiled and greeted the couple: "Father, Mother, you are back."
When Cheng Yuanxian saw the beautiful girl standing at the door, he finally realized: Cheng Yujin was also Cheng Yuanhan's child. His scoldings towards the second branch just now were completely fell on Cheng Yujin's ears.
Cheng Yuanxian somewhat felt awkward, but Cheng Yujin's smile was the same as usual, as if she had heard nothing. Cheng Yuanxian couldn't lose his face either, so he hurriedly dismissed the girl: "There is nothing for you to do here. Go back now."
"Yes." Cheng Yujin saluted Cheng Yuanxian and Qingfu Junzhu, "This daughter retires."
After returned to Jinning Courtyard, Lian Qiao angrily scolded: "Eldest Master quarreled with his younger brother, but why he has to implicate our Miss? So is the Eldest Madam. She clearly knew that Miss was inside, but didn't stop Eldest Master."
Cheng Yujin lightly threw a glance. Lian Qiao didn't dare to continue her rant. Cheng Yujin retracted her gaze and asked, "Have the food box been delivered?"
Du Ruo replied, "Yes, Miss. This servant personally did it."
Cheng Yujin nodded. She sat on the chair and sipped her tea gently: "Then, let's wait for the result."
...
In the Fuli Courtyard, tranquilness was finally back after those people retreated. Old Master Cheng's head was still painful after the noisy fight. Just now, Cheng Yuanxian came to shout about the Old Master's partiality. After a while, the couple from the second branch also got the wind and ran over. Both parties were afraid that the other side would get more benefit and ended up staying in the room, making an unsightly commotion. The two daughters-in-law, one was boasting her contribution to the family, claiming the many years she has been in charge of the manor. The other was wailing accusingly, crying that she couldn't even keep her own daughter.
In short, no one was fuel-efficient lamp, and Old Master Cheng couldn't stand their noisy quarrel. He was already in poor health. Seeing his sons and daughters-in-law fighting so unsightly, his vision turned black. In the end, the Old Master really lost his energy and fell asleep. Cheng Yuanxian and Cheng Yuanhan didn't have any choice but to stop their quarrel and went back angrily.
A servant girl helped the Old Master to drink the medicine then stayed vigil the whole afternoon. It was only after the night fell when he finally woke up.
The Old Master stared at the empty room and asked: "Where is the Eldest and the Second?"
The attending servant girl replied in a low voice: "Eldest Master and Second Master saw that Marquis was asleep, so they went back."
Old Master Cheng smiled wryly: so they went back, very good.
The Old Master moved his body, trying to get up from the bed. The servant girl hurriedly helped him to sit up. The Old Master panted. Even this small movement was too strenuous for him. His eyes fell on a three-tiered food box on the table and asked: "What is that?"
"Eldest Young Miss sent it. When Eldest Miss's personal servant girl came to deliver the food box, she heard that Marquis was still asleep and didn't dare disturb your rest, so she put down the food box and left. However, before leaving, the servant girl left a message, saying that this is the medicinal meal personally cooked by Eldest Miss. There is a small brazier on the bottom of the box, so the meal is always warm, and Marquis can eat it when you wake up."
While speaking, the servant girl took up a blue and white porcelain bowl from the box's top layer. Seeing it, the Old Master's feeling became complicated. He was not dead yet, and his sons already tried to claim his inheritance. But his granddaughter, whom he has never paid attention to, was the only one who genuinely worried about his condition. Knowing that his digestion wasn't good, she made a medicinal meal and kept it warm on a small brazier so he didn't have to drink cold soup that would ruin his stomach.
Old Master Cheng sighed. Looking at the delicate blue and white porcelain bowl, he couldn't help being a little surprised. His mind wandered, and he suddenly asked: "How old is the eldest girl?"
"Both Young Misses are the same age, fourteen this year."
"Fourteen years old. She is going to have the hairpin ceremony in another year." Old Master Cheng sighed. He lay back on the pillow. "At this age, she supposed to be preparing for marriage, but now doesn't even have an engagement. The older she is, the harder it will be. Second girl has been engaged, and the second half of her life has been secured. Only the eldest girl is delayed after her previous engagement broke. Nowadays, high-ranking families are picky, and we also cannot let her marry low. She cannot choose high and cannot choose low. Her marriage is truly difficult.
After speaking, the Old Master sighed emotionally. Obviously a very promising girl, but just because her engagement was broken by a man, she was put in a precarious situation. Old Master Cheng remembered that the crown prince's calligraphy sent to the Emperor was embroidered by eldest girl's hand, and he became even more regrettable.
Old Master Cheng sighed deeply. He took another look at the delicate blue and white porcelain bowl, and his heart gradually inclined.
"Someone come. Open my secret compartment."
...
When Cheng family members received the call, they rushed to Fuli Courtyard. When Cheng Yujin arrived, Old Madam Cheng, Qingfu Junzhu, and others were already there. Cheng Yujin greeted the elders, then sat down with the Old Madam: "Grandmother, why are you suddenly calling everyone here at night?"
Old Madam Cheng's expression turned heavy: "Your grandfather wants to distribute the family property."
Cheng Yujin's eyebrows raised slightly. But at this time, an old servant came out and said, "Old Madam, Masters, Madams, the Marquis is calling you in."
Fuel-efficient lamp: Somebody who is easy to deal with.