Chunhua, who has now become First Miss Hai Chunhua, enters the courtyard of her older brother with a wide smile on her face together with her maid who is actually a palace maid bestowed to her by Empress Dowager Long Shanding. Both of them hits it off with flying colours and Caolan¹ never looks down at her even after knowing about her humble beginning.
"Furen, Eldest Miss Hai is here with her maid, Caolan."
Chuntao greets Hai Chunhua and Caolan accordingly. Chuntao and the other remaining dowry maids are quite accepting with the fact that Hai Chunhua is no longer a maid like the rest of them and they did not even feel any bitter feeling towards her. Their relationship is still close but they treat her as their mistress now.
"Chuntao, I have heard from Dongmei and Jinghua that you have been unwell for the last few days. Are you feeling any better now?"
Chuntao smiles as she leads both young ladies inside the front hall, "This servant has been feeling better, Eldest Miss. Thank you for your concern. Dongmei, get a cup of tea and some desserts for Eldest Miss."
Hai Chunhua smiles and says, "Caolan, you can leave me and assist Dongmei."
"Chunhua is here... How is mother-in-law? Please convey my apology for being unable to give her morning greetings."
Hai Chunhua immediately stands up from her seat and holds Jia Huian's other arm to support her.
"Sister-in-law, mother said that you are no longer required to give her morning greetings until you are feeling much better."
Jia Huian smiles and says, "I am feeling better these days. Your brother is the one who makes a fuss over nothing."
Jinghua who is standing behind Jia Huian then says, "Furen, one can never be too careful. After all, this is your first pregnancy. The General worries about you so it is understandable."
Hai Chunhua smiles and nods her head in agreement, "Sister-in-law, what Jinghua has just said is correct. All of us worries that something will happen so that is why we are personally making sure that everything will be going on smoothly for you and the young master."
"Young master?"
Dongmei chuckles and says, "Eldest Miss and the 3 of us are confident that furen will give birth to a healthy son."
Jia Huian gently smiles and she caresses her flat belly. It has been a month but, her body still looks pretty much the same. But, according to her husband, her breasts are certainly a size bigger than before. That man is quite annoying at times as whenever he at home, he will literally be stuck to her like a leech.
"Home..."
Dongmei and Caolan enter the front hall with each of them carrying a tray, one tray is a pot of freshly brewed tea and several teacups and the other has two plates of roasted chestnuts and almond cookies respectively.
As they transfer the pot of tea, teacups and desserts on the table, they heard what has just been softly spoken by Jia Huian. The others heard the same too. All of them are turning their heads to look at her who is now looking somewhat absentmindedly though the gentle smile of hers never left her serenely beautiful face.
Hai Chunchua exchanges glance with the others before she says, "Home? Sister-in-law... Are you alright? Why you suddenly display a rather sullen look on your face?"
"Chunhua... I have never considered this place as home. I thought I did not belong here. I thought that I am not wanted. But, I guess that this is home now. For my child and myself."
Dongmei then says, "Furen, this is indeed your home now. Look at what we have brought from the kitchen. A pot of freshly brewed jasmine greet tea, roasted chestnuts and almond cookies. Jinghua said that you wanted to eat these two."
"En... I suddenly wanted to eat roasted chestnuts and almond cookies since last night. Thank you."
Hai Chunhua smiles and gently takes Jia Huian's wrist as she leads her to the table. Chuntao walks behind her mistress and immediately supports her other arm as she sits on the wooden stool with a padded cushion on it.
Hai Chunhua sits next to her and takes a peek on the padded cushion with an exquisitely embroidered golden-coloured silk cover.
"Do not stare at the padded cushion... Your brother insisted to those 3 not to let me sit on any hard surface. If he could, this whole place will be full with padded cushion."
Hai Chunhua laughs and says, "Brother is so in love with you, sister-in-law."
Jia Huian gives a sidelong glance at Hai Chunhua before she teasingly says, "His Royal Highness is so in love with you too, Eldest Miss Hai."
Chuntao, Dongmei, Jinghua and Caolan chuckle as Hai Chunhua furiously blushes. As Dongmei pour the jasmine green tea into 2 teacups, a low cough can be heard coming from outside the front hall.
All of the maidservants immediately give their curtsies and says, "Greetings, Your Royal Highness. Greetings, General."
Hai Chunhua stands up and gives her curtsy as well but did not say a single word. Jia Huian wanted to stand up but General Hai Bojing immediately stops her from doing so.
"Huian, there is no need for you to give your greeting to an uninvited guest."
Fourth Prince Rong Yingming glares at him but immediately changes his expression when he sees Hai Chunhua.
"Chunhua, your husband is here to visit you again..."
Caolan nearly spills the tea when she wanted to put the teacup in front of her mistress. Dongmei pours another 2 cups of tea for the new arrivals. Before Chuntao takes one of it and gently puts it before General Hai while Jinghua puts the other cup before her mistress. Caolan takes the last cup and puts the teacup in front of the Fourth Prince.
"Huian, are your feeling better today? Chuntao, did your mistress suffers from dizziness or nausea?"
"General, furen is feeling better just a bit lethargic."
General Hai nods and takes a roasted chestnut and personally feeds Jia Huian who happily accepts the roasted chestnuts from his hand.
"I never thought that you have become such a henpecked husband, Bojing..."
General Hai chuckles and says, "Speak for yourself, Your Royal Highness..."
Fourth Prince Rong pretended not to hear those words while he takes a piece of the almond cookies and holds onto it while Hai Chunhua is taking a small bite on the cookie.
The maidservants smile and thought both men are being extra attentive with their beloved for sure. They are acting as per usual because they always see these two men act as such. Their hearts bleed for their fate as single maids.
¹ 草兰 Orchid