Chapter 22: The Four-Piece Set
“Madam, you’re up? Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?” Yuechun said in surprise as soon as she pushed open the door and saw that Hua Ling was already sitting up.
“How did I get back last night?” Hua Ling asked, puzzled. She clearly remembered seeming to have fallen asleep in the study.
“Last night, it was Master who brought Madam back,” Yuechun said with a smile. This was huge news. She had never seen Master treat Madam so considerately before. Did this mean Madam’s hardships had finally come to an end? This morning, the young maids had even been discussing it, all saying that someone as kindhearted as Madam ought to be rewarded with good fortune.
That big block of ice, Mu Yelei? She really hadn’t expected him to have such a considerate side. Forget it, no point thinking about him. Whether he was considerate or not had nothing to do with her. In any case, sooner or later she was going to leave this place.
“Yuechun, help me bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. As for the brush, just find me a tree branch and shave it a little thinner,” Hua Ling said. She had gotten up too late. After she drew the design, she still had to go to Yunxiu’s house. They had agreed to buy a house today.
Although Yuechun didn’t know what she needed a tree branch for, she hurried out to look for one. Hua Ling quickly got up, dressed, washed her face, and combed her hair. By the time she had finished everything, Yuechun had also returned.
Hua Ling tested the branch in her hand. It was passable. Smiling, she said, “Prepare some breakfast for me. Once I’m done drawing, I still need to go out.”
“Yes, this servant will go prepare it at once,” Yuechun said with a smile, then turned and left.
Hua Ling picked up the branch and began drawing swiftly on the paper. Before long, a simple four-piece set was drawn: a duvet cover, a bedsheet, and two pillowcases.
Hua Ling simply didn’t draw any patterns on them. She figured that if Jin Junxi really owned a dye workshop, he would definitely have craftsmen who specialized in patterns, so she could just hand it straight to him. She only noted on the side that the patterns could be chosen at his discretion.
The troublesome part was that Hua Ling had to write out how these things were to be sewn; otherwise, no one else would know how to make them. This took her quite a bit of time, but in the end she finally finished. She just didn’t know whether they could understand her simplified characters. Last night, she remembered she seemed to have written for Mu Yelei too. Had that fellow understood it?
While her thoughts were wandering, Yuechun had already come in carrying breakfast. Hua Ling stacked together everything she had written and said, “Yuechun, if Jin Junxi comes looking for me, tell him I’ve gone out, then just give him these sheets of paper.”
“All right. Madam, you’re not taking me with you? How can you go out alone? No, that won’t do. It’s too dangerous,” Yuechun said worriedly.
Hua Ling drank her porridge and casually picked up a bun to eat, saying, “It’s fine. I’m only going to Yunxiu’s house. I’ll be back soon. Remember, don’t tell anyone that I’m going to Yunxiu’s house, do you hear me?” For the time being, Hua Ling still didn’t want anyone else to know that she was buying a house, so the more secret it was, the better.
“Yes, this servant understands. Don’t worry, Madam,” Yuechun said with a smile.
“I’m full. I’m leaving.” Hua Ling stood as she spoke and walked outside. When she stepped out of the room, she saw that the little courtyard had been cleaned spotlessly, and some flowers had even been moved into the unused spaces. It seemed they had put in real effort. Hua Ling nodded in satisfaction. Now this looked like a place fit to live in.
“Good morning, Madam.” When the young maids saw Hua Ling come out, they hurriedly greeted her. Yesterday, they had all received gifts from Madam and had been beside themselves with excitement. After listening to Yuechun, they learned just how kindhearted their Madam was, and every one of them respected her even more.
“You’ve cleaned it quite nicely. Good work. Go on with what you’re doing. If you get tired, rest for a while. I’m going out first,” Hua Ling said with a smile, then turned and left.
“Respectfully seeing Madam off,” everyone said, their faces full of smiles. Madam really was a good person—she even let them rest!
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