There Are Many Good Days

It was good that Xiangxiang suggested that Xia Qing should serve Lu Yue instead. It was better than having someone dying when she was not paying attention to the affairs at home.

She was not a kind person, but she had regard for human lives.

"Old Madam, it's really lively here. What did the Third Miss say to make Old Madam so happy? Can you tell me so that I can join in the fun?" Concubine Fang did not seem to notice the Old Madam's ugly expression. She walked to the stool beside Lu Xiang and sat down. She looked at the Old Madam with a smile.

Lu Xiang smiled gently. "Concubine Fang, you have heard wrongly. Miss Qingya is telling us a joke."

Miss Qingya?

Concubine Fang was stunned. Who is this Miss Qingya in the Old Madam's Fuyuan Hall?

Concubine Fang's confused gaze lingered between Lu Xiang and the Old Madam. While she was puzzled, she heard a gentle and moving voice.

"Greetings, Concubine Fang."

She turned around and saw a pretty girl beside Nanny Wen, who was bowing to her then.

She had a small face and bright eyes. She was in a dress that had been washed until it was almost white, but her smile was lively, as if a refreshing ray of sunlight had shone in from outside the house.

Concubine Fang smiled and said to Old Madam, "Since when did Old Madam have such a beautiful girl by your side? Look at her watery eyes. It's as if they can speak."

Hearing Concubine Fang's praise, Zhao Qingya smiled shyly. "I'm ashamed to accept Concubine Fang's praise."

Her manner was natural and unrestrained, which made people feel very comfortable to be around her.

The old lady seemed to like Zhao Qingya very much. Her wrinkled face was filled with warmth. "She's Nanny Wen's niece. Her parents died, leaving her alone, so she came to seek refuge with Nanny Wen. I liked her the moment I saw her, so I am keeping her by my side to serve me."

"I'm so lucky to receive Old Madam's pity." Zhao Qingya's beautiful face was filled with gratitude when she heard the Old Madam's loving words for her.

"Such a gentle and beautiful girl. Not to mention the Old Madam, I like her very much when I see her too." Concubine Fang covered the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled.

"Since you like her a lot, should I arrange for her to serve you instead?" The Old Madam suddenly said.

Concubine Fang choked, and her smile instantly disappeared from her face.

Couldn't the Old Madam decipher what were the true intentions behind her words?

"Old… Old Madam, that's not good. She's the person you like. How can I snatch what you like from you? That's against the rules."

Although Zhao Qingya was not as pretty as Xia Qing, she had an aura of a damsel in distress about her and that was just the type that men liked.

She hadn't managed to chase Xia Qing away yet. If Zhao Qingya was posted to her courtyard, wouldn't she be inviting a wolf into her house? How could she live like this?

The Old Madam snorted and secretly rolled her eyes. She had just said it casually. Even if Concubine Fang wanted Qingya to serve her, she was unwilling to oblige.

Although Concubine Fang's family was not rich and her father was only a small Imperial Court official. She was also the daughter of a concubine, and although Concubine Fang had studied for a period of time, her words and actions were not those of an educated person at all.

Qingya was Nanny Wen's niece. Although she was only a maidservant in Fuyuan Hall, the Old Madam treated her as her own niece. Concubine Fang was narrow-minded and she was also afraid that she would torture her.

"Hmph!" The old lady snorted coldly and glanced sideways at Concubine Fang. "Haven't you done enough things that are against the rules?"

The corners of Concubine Fang's mouth twitched. Her fingers twisted the handkerchief in her hand. She was a little dissatisfied with the Old Madam ridiculing her, but she did not dare to show it outrightly.

"Hehe, Old Madam, look at what you're saying. How would I dare?"

The old lady didn't say anything else to her and went straight to the point.

"I won't argue with you anymore. We're moving the entire family to the capital in the second half of the year. At that time, we won't have enough servants in the manor to serve us. I've already asked the broker to bring the maids and servants who have been trained into the manor in a few days so that we can familiarize ourselves with them for half a year before bringing them to the capital. I will arrange for the children to have more of the old-time servants by their side. Take a look and transfer your trusted maids to Yue'er's side. At that time, it'll be easier for them to teach and guide the newcomers."

Concubine Fang knew why the Old Madam wanted to see her when Nanny Wen came to pass the message. She was overjoyed to get the Old Madam's agreement. This way, she could openly transfer Xia Qing to her daughter's side. Moreover, any other maids who could be considered as attractive could also be transferred over to avoid any potential trouble. She immediately smiled and said, "I'll listen to the Old Madam."

"Alright, I'm tired. You can all go back." The Old Madam waved her hand and said.

Lu Xiang and Concubine Fang stood up and bowed to the old lady before leaving.

"Old Madam has already spoken. You have to work hard when you go to the Fifth Miss' place," Concubine Fang said to Xia Qing as soon as they left Fuyuan Hall.

Xia Qing walked alongside her and nodded obediently.

"Yes."

Concubine Fang suddenly gave Xia Qing a meaningful look and said, "Old Madam said that the new servants will enter the manor in a few days to prepare for us to enter the capital in the second half of the year. If you go to the Fifth Miss' place, you will be one of her personal maids. As long as you serve her with all your heart, you will have a good life in the future."

Xia Qing immediately expressed her loyalty. "I understand. I am indebted to Concubine's kindness and would be loyal to Concubine Fang and the Fifth Miss."

She emphasized the word 'indebted'. Concubine Fang was still immersed in Xia Qing's obedience and did not notice the flash of hatred in her eyes.

…

The windows were bright and clean. Sunlight shone in diagonally through the carved window lattice, making the ground look as if it was covered in gold.

Wu Yue hurriedly walked into the courtyard with the lacquered food box. Just as she was about to enter, someone suddenly walked out and the two of them bumped into each other.

"Aiyo!" Wu Yue cried out involuntarily. She hurriedly protected the food basket in her hand to prevent it from overturning.

However, her body was wet from the water in the copper basin opposite her.

"Sister Wuyue, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose."

Cai Yun looked at Wu Yue's wet clothes and apologized profusely.

Wu Yue lifted her wet skirt and looked at Caiyun in surprise. "Caiyun?! Why are you in the room? Where's Yun Zhe?"

Cai Yun was only a cleaning maidservant in Xixia Hall. To put it bluntly, she did not belong to the Third Young Miss. According to the house rules, she was not allowed to enter the Young Miss's room at will, so why was she inside today…

"Sister Yun Zhe said that she wasn't feeling well. The Third Miss just woke up from her afternoon nap, so I went in to help her wash up," Caiyun said.

Wu Yue nodded in understanding and said, "Understood. You may leave. I'll take care of Miss."

"Yes." Cai Yun replied and turned to leave.

Wu Yue entered the house and opened the food box. She took out the cold green bean soup and placed it on the table.

Fortunately, she protected it and the soup did not spill over.

Lu Xiang smelled the fragrance of the soup and sat over.

"Miss, I've kept this green bean soup in ice for a long time. It's cool. Please try it."

Lu Xiang took the white and blue porcelain bowl from Wu Yue's hand and took a sip. Instantly, she felt refreshed from head to toe. She sighed comfortably. "It's a pity that ice is rare. If I can drink a bowl of cold green bean soup every day during summer, that would be simply awesome."