Chapter 11: Visiting the Sick

Chapter 11: Visiting the Sick

Hearing Hua Ling say this, the crowd immediately busied themselves. Some cleared the table, some gathered the bowls and chopsticks, some wiped the table, and some swept the floor; they were all occupied and having a grand time.

Everyone had long since heard about her causing a scene in the study today, and now that the Master had personally brought them to Yinlü Pavilion, they naturally dared not be as lazy, slack, or contemptuous as they had been before.

Hua Ling watched them with satisfaction. Not bad, they were all quite nimble; it seemed she had done well for herself today. After bathing, Hua Ling lay down in the somewhat uncomfortable bedding and fell into a deep sleep. Before drifting off, she was still thinking that she must replace all this bedding tomorrow.

Waking up early the next morning, a maid immediately brought over water for washing her face. After washing, she sat before the bronze mirror and looked at the not-very-clear reflection within, sighing. This is what they call a mirror? How she missed mirrors made of mercury! She secretly told herself that one day she would definitely make a real mirror to replace this one.

A maid was just about to comb her hair and asked, "Madam, what hairstyle would you like?"

Hua Ling did not like having all her hair coiled on top of 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 peach-wood comb from the maid's hand. Following the current style, she divided her hair into two parts, top and bottom. With the top part, she fashioned the most popular Japanese-style bun just below the crown of her head. However, since there were no hair ties here, Hua Ling used a silver hairpin to secure it, which looked quite chic. She let the bottom half of her hair hang loose. To her surprise, her hair was quite straight—it could practically rival a professional ionic perm.

Hua Ling looked at herself in the mirror with satisfaction; this 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 clever; it is really beautiful."

Hearing her words, Hua Ling was very happy and asked casually, "What is your name?"

"This servant is called Yuechun." Hearing Hua Ling ask her, Yuechun said happily, her face full of excitement. Now, everyone in the manor was guessing that the Madam’s luck might be turning, and she absolutely must not offend her.

"Do you know where Yunxiu’s home is?" Hua Ling asked. It would be good to go see her today since she had nothing else to do, and it would save her from worrying.

"I know. Are you going, Madam?" Yuechun asked in a low voice.

"I have nothing to do anyway, so it’s good to go take a look. Yunxiu’s mother is ill; I’ll see if she is lacking anything," Hua Ling said with a smile.

"Madam, you should finish breakfast before going out. The food is already prepared," Yuechun said.

"Pack the food into a food box and bring it with you," Hua Ling said. Once she was ready, she stood up and started walking. Halfway there, she suddenly turned around and said to the remaining maids, "I won't be back until tonight. Before I return, you must clean the room thoroughly. The weeds in the courtyard must also be cleared away. Also, tell the steward to replace all my bedding with new ones, and I want silk. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, this servant understands." The group nodded and bowed, their faces full of caution, fearing they might anger the Madam who had undergone such a drastic change in temperament.

Only then did Hua Ling nod with satisfaction and say to Yuechun, "Let's go." The mistress and servant walked out one after the other.

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