Chapter 008: Uninvited Guests

Liu Li caught a glimpse of Cuiying entering the room, so she got up and moved to the side to read scriptures. It was only then that Cheng Yingniang took the food basket and left.

At present, Liu Li's identity has not been finalized. Although everyone looks down on her, they dare not openly show their disdain, just like Cuiying. Cheng Yingniang had only recently entered the mansion, and as soon as she arrived, she went straight to the main kitchen. This indicated that she had some background. Furthermore, she didn't say much about the second miss, indicating that she was discreet and probably not of low birth. It was rare to see someone who knew about Liu Li's special status and still behaved so respectfully. Therefore, it was speculated that she was not an ordinary servant.

As the sky darkened, Liu Li stopped thinking and lit a lamp to sit by the window. This small room was next to the courtyard gate, so there was always movement coming in and out. She picked up an unfinished piece of embroidery from her bundle and started working on it while waiting for He Congli to arrive.

Cuiying had draped a piece of clothing over her arm and walked over, saying, "Miss, please sit. Sister Biyun asked me to alter a piece of clothing for her, and now that it's done, I'm going to take it to her."

Liu Li continued to embroider without saying a word. Cuiying thought she was lost in thought and was about to ask again when Liu Li suddenly turned her head and asked, "Is sister going to the main courtyard?"

Cuiying hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Yes."

"How is the old lady's health?"

"...I heard she had two bowls of porridge in the morning and her complexion has improved a lot. I suppose she's currently chatting with the third miss."

After saying this, and seeing that Liu Li remained silent, Cuiying didn't know if she could leave. Liu Li said, "Since you're going to the main courtyard, you should go quickly."

As Cuiying walked out, Liu Li continued to embroider a rose, and when it was almost dark, she took out some tea leaves from her bundle and put them in a small white porcelain jar.

There were four maids and two servant women living in the courtyard, all of whom were working in the back garden. Tonight, four of them were on night duty, and two were chatting in the corridor before going to sleep. This was good, as He Congli's appointment tonight was crucial, and it was best not to have too many people around.

Unconsciously, she finished embroidering two more small flower buds, and still no one had come to push the courtyard door. Feeling anxious, she wondered if Cuiying had locked the door. She put down her things and got up to leave the room.

The courtyard gate was built like a crescent moon and was not locked. The light from a lantern leaked through the slightly open door, resembling a white jade screen from the side. Liu Li held the door and was about to open it when suddenly someone pushed it open! Not wanting to meet anyone in this situation, regardless of whether it was He Congli or not, Liu Li used the door to block her figure and slipped into the corridor under the hibiscus flowers.

The person who came in was dressed in a green robe and wore a steward's headdress, looking no different from the person who had brought the green bean cake the day before. Upon closer inspection, she saw a fair complexion and a sharp nose, with a pair of slender eyes that seemed to be constantly alluring. Recognizing this person, Liu Li couldn't help but sneer. No wonder Feng Chuner was willing to abandon her husband for him. It turned out that this person was Hu Jin, the second steward of the fourth branch.

Hu Jin was a cousin of Nie's birth mother and had entered the mansion a year ago through Nie's connections. He often came and went with the men, and among the young women working in the mansion, four or five out of ten were involved with him. Fourth Master was afraid of causing trouble and had wanted to deal with him, but he was extremely eloquent and the women spoke well of him in front of Fourth Master. Helpless, Fourth Master had to transfer him to work as a steward.

Now it was clear that even as a steward, he was still causing trouble. The fourth branch and the back courtyard usually had nothing to do with each other, but in just a few days, he had managed to provoke Feng Chuner.

Feng Chuner was on duty tonight, and her room was pitch black, but fortunately there was a light in the corridor. Liu Li leaned against the hibiscus flowers and watched as he picked the lock and slipped a note through the window, then put the hairpin back in his hair and left.

Hu Jin had always been bold, and this time was no exception.

After he left, Liu Li came out of hiding, opened the window, and picked up the note that had fallen to the ground.

The top half of the paper depicted a hole, with a figure holding a pearl on the left side. Liu Li recognized the shape and knew it was the stone cave in the northeast corner of the garden. The stone cave was actually just a pile of rocks, and underneath it was a cave. Liu Li had fed a kitten under the stone statue near the cave.

The bottom half showed a hand with three fingers raised. Three fingers equaled three o'clock, which was not difficult to understand. Hu Jin must have arranged to meet Feng Chuner in the stone cave and was worried that she couldn't read, so he drew a picture to indicate it.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Li put the note back in place and climbed out.

From being pampered by Lady Xu to enduring all the hardships in the He Mansion, Liu Li was no longer the innocent little maid who used to study the classics and calligraphy in Lady Xu's arms. She had experienced and witnessed too much of the world at the bottom of society, unlike the noble young ladies confined to the embroidery room. As a virgin, she should have felt embarrassed by these dirty matters, but for someone who had already died once, there was hardly anything that could make her so affected.

In this respect, the He Mansion had given her too much, perhaps more than she could enjoy in her lifetime.

Liu Li returned to her room and picked up a scripture book.

The gentle light of the new moon gently sprinkled on the flowers and trees in the courtyard, as tender as a dream. As she read the third page, the courtyard door opened, and a lantern came in, followed by the person holding it, and finally, He Congli, with his hands behind his back, entered and glanced around before sitting at the sandalwood table.

Liu Li stood up and greeted him at the door, "Greetings to the master."

He Congli stroked his beard and nodded, then sat down at the table.

Liu Li started to make tea. He Suo Li asked, "What kind of tea is it?"

Liu Li replied, "I know the master prefers light tea, so I brought some Emei bamboo green tea specially for him." He Suo Li nodded and said, "I can smell it too." Then she took the ordinary wide-mouthed white porcelain teacup that was handed to her, hesitated for a moment, and took a sip. When she looked up and saw Liu Li still standing, she pointed to the opposite side and said, "There's no one else here, please sit down." Liu Li then sat down next to the small round stool.

He Suo Li sighed softly, "It's hard for you to have learned all these manners at such a young age."

Liu Li didn't understand these manners at first, but Mrs. He had really put in a lot of effort over the past eight years, and it had become second nature to her. But she couldn't reveal this. She lowered her head and filled his cup again, speaking softly, "My mother taught me well when she was alive. She always told me that a woman should be gentle and understanding to be attractive, and humble and kind to be charming. I dare not forget her words."

He Suo Li praised, "Indeed! Your mother was very gentle and charming!" Then she sighed, "When I followed the prince out of the capital and met your mother, it was such a fortunate thing. If it weren't for the trouble in the court later on, things wouldn't have turned out like this..."

Liu Li hung her head and said, "My mother's greatest concern in her life was the master. She always hoped that the master would come back to take her. Later, it was because she couldn't take care of me that she came to the capital. Fortunately, now I can accompany the master day and night on her behalf, and she can rest in peace."

Liu Li lifted her head, looking satisfied.