Chapter Eleven: Visiting the Sick When everyone heard Hua Ling say this, they immediately busied themselves. Some cleared the table, some gathered up the bowls and chopsticks, some wiped the tabletop, and some swept the floor, all working with great enthusiasm.
Everyone had long since heard about how she had caused a scene in the study today. Moreover, the Master had personally brought them to Yinlü Pavilion, so naturally they no longer dared to slack off and be lazy as they had before, much less look down on her.
Hua Ling looked at them with satisfaction. Not bad—their hands and feet were all quite nimble. It seemed she had done well today. After bathing, Hua Ling lay down in the rather uncomfortable bedding and fell into a deep sleep. Before drifting off, she was still thinking that tomorrow, she absolutely had to replace all these quilts and mattresses.
Early the next morning, as soon as she woke, a maid immediately brought in water for washing her face. After washing, she sat before the bronze mirror and looked at the not very clear reflection within, then sighed. This could be called a mirror? How she missed mercury-backed mirrors! One of these days, she would definitely make a real mirror and replace this thing, she said inwardly.
A maid was just about to comb her hair and asked, “Madam, what hairstyle would you like?”
Hua Ling did not like piling all her hair up on her head. It was so heavy. Smiling, she said, “I’ll do it myself. You don’t need to help.” As she spoke, she took the peachwood comb from the maid’s hand. Following the current style, she divided her hair into two sections, top and bottom. The upper portion she combed into the most fashionable Japanese-style flower-bud bun, positioned slightly below the crown of her head. However, since there were no hair ties here, Hua Ling used a silver hairpin to secure it, and it actually looked quite distinctive. The lower portion of her hair she simply let fall loose. Who would have thought—her hair was actually quite straight, practically comparable to hair that had undergone ion straightening.
Hua Ling looked at herself in the mirror with satisfaction. This way, it was neither cumbersome nor heavy. She stood up and said to the maid beside her, “How is it? Does it look good?”
“This servant has never seen such a hairstyle before. Madam’s hands are truly skillful. It really is very beautiful.”
Hearing her words, Hua Ling was very pleased and casually asked, “What is your name?”
“This servant is called Yuechun.” Hearing Hua Ling ask about her, Yuechun answered happily, her face full of excitement. Right now, everyone in the residence was guessing that Madam might be about to turn her luck around. She absolutely could not afford to offend her.
“Do you know where Yunxiu’s home is?” Hua Ling asked. Since there was nothing to do today, it would be good to go see her, lest she keep worrying.
“I do. Madam, do you wish to go?” Yuechun asked softly.
“There’s nothing to do anyway, so I may as well go take a look. Yunxiu’s mother is ill; I’ll see whether they’re short of anything,” Hua Ling said with a smile.
“Madam should eat breakfast before going out. The meal has already been prepared,” Yuechun said.
“Pack the food into a food box and bring it with you. Come with me.” Once Hua Ling had tidied herself up, she rose and walked out. Halfway there, she suddenly turned back and said to the remaining maids, “I won’t be back until tonight. Before I return, you are to clean the rooms thoroughly. The grass in the courtyard must also be cleared away. Also, tell the housekeeper to replace all my bedding with new ones, and I want silk. Do you hear?”
“Yes, this servant understands.” Everyone answered submissively, their faces cautious and careful, afraid of angering the Madam whose temperament had changed so drastically.
Only then did Hua Ling nod in satisfaction and say to Yuechun, “Let’s go.” Master and servant walked out one after the other.
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Dear darlings, Xiangxiang is kneeling and begging for favorites. Don’t read and then ignore me!!