Because they had played late the previous night, Gu Liyue woke up when it was already broad daylight. She was startled and quickly got up to wash up. When she saw Tangyuan coming over, she asked, "Tangyuan, why didn't you wake me up? I might miss the time to pay my respects to the madam."
Tangyuan replied, "Didn't the madam excuse you from paying respects? I saw that you went to bed late last night and thought you must be tired, so I planned to wake you up a bit later. Then Yuanxiao told me she had something to do and said she would wake you up later. Why, didn't she?"
Gu Liyue pursed her lips and shook her head. "The madam is kind - hearted and excused me, but I can't be so disrespectful."
Without saying more, she quickly went to the madam's place. She could hear cheerful laughter and voices inside, and it was Jiang Yingyue's voice.
Yuanxiao lifted the curtain and just saw Gu Liyue. She said in a hurry, "Miss Liyue is finally awake. The young lady has been here for a while."
Tangyuan was a bit unhappy when she heard this. "Yuanxiao, didn't I tell you to..."
Yuanxiao seemed not to hear. She supported Gu Liyue and walked inside, saying with a smile, "Madam, the young lady is here."
Gu Liyue gave Tangyuan a reassuring look and followed Yuanxiao inside. She obediently paid her respects.
Madam Jiang was in a good mood today. Seeing Gu Liyue made her even happier. She playfully poked Gu Liyue's forehead and said, "You little lazy cat. What time is it and you just got up?"
Before Gu Liyue could answer, Jiang Yingyue on the other side gave a sweet smile. "Auntie, last night's Lantern Festival was really fun. It was Liyue's first time participating, so of course she had a great time. Not only her, but even I played a bit too much and almost couldn't get up this morning."
Madam Jiang then tapped her nose. "You're the one who loves to have fun the most."
Gu Liyue was surprised. When did Jiang Yingyue become so kind - hearted and speak up for her?
Jiang Yingyue waved to Gu Liyue and said, "Coincidentally, the palace has bestowed new brocades. Auntie said we can choose first and each make a new set of clothes. Liyue, what do you think of the colors of these two bolts of brocade?"
Gu Liyue looked back. One was a tender pinkish - red and the other was a light yellow. Both were suitable for girls of their age. And these two were the most beautiful patterns among all the brocades. Did Jiang Yingyue mean to let her choose first?
Jiang Yingyue ran over, pulled Gu Liyue's hand in front of the brocades, and let her touch them. "Touch them. You've been doing embroidery before and are used to different materials. You must understand better than me. Aren't they beautiful? Do you like the red or the yellow?"
Gu Liyue was a bit stunned. She didn't understand why Jiang Yingyue was suddenly so nice.
Jiang Yingyue playfully pinched Gu Liyue's cheek and then turned back to Madam Jiang to act coquettishly. "Auntie, look how long Liyue has only been here, and you've already raised her to be so delicate and charming. With her fair skin, any color will suit her. She's making me look bad."
Madam Jiang burst out laughing and pointed at Jiang Yingyue, saying to Nanny Chao, "Look at this girl. She's just trying to say I'm partial in a round - about way."
Jiang Yingyue wasn't shy either. She wrinkled her nose and said, "You are being partial. Liyue, if you don't choose first, I'll choose. I'm not as fair - skinned as you. The red doesn't suit me. Can I take the yellow one?"
Gu Liyue naturally wouldn't refuse. She nodded repeatedly. "You can choose, miss."
Jiang Yingyue came over again and pinched Gu Liyue's cheek. "Why are you so easy - going?"
Seeing Gu Liyue was a bit uncomfortable, Madam Jiang called her over and said, "Your elder sister was confined for half a month. She has thought things through. She admitted her mistakes to me. From now on, you two are sisters and should love and care for each other. Do you understand?"
Gu Liyue looked at Jiang Yingyue. She saw her lying beside Madam Jiang, making funny faces and smiling. She also returned a smile and nodded in agreement.
For several days in a row, Gu Liyue didn't write or read books. She had been doing embroidery.
Tangyuan didn't quite understand. When she saw Gu Liyue stop to take a break, she quickly asked, "Miss, did the madam ask you to do embroidery?"
Gu Liyue shook her head. "The madam has a headache problem. It's getting colder. I want to make a headband for her."
Tangyuan nodded blankly. "A headband... But you've been doing it for many days."
Gu Liyue said, "One is surely not enough. Making four or five should be about right, and then three or four hand - warmers. If I have time, I'll make a few scarves for the madam too."
Tangyuan didn't understand. "It's still early before the deep winter."
Gu Liyue pondered for a moment. "It's not early. I have to finish them before..."
"What? Before what?"
Just then, Jiang Yingyue's voice came from outside. "Liyue, are you in your room?"
Gu Liyue paused. She put down the embroidery in her hand and turned to greet her. "Why did you come today, miss?"
Jiang Yingyue said with a smile, "I've told you that you're half a year younger than me. Just call me elder sister. Don't call me miss. I'm here today to see your cat."
Gu Liyue asked in confusion, "Aren't you afraid of cats?"
Jiang Yingyue shrugged. "I was scratched by a cat when I was a child, so I was afraid. But now I'm grown - up. Auntie likes cats and you like them too. Naturally, I'm itching to get close to them. Liyue, where's your cat? Is it with Xiuqiu?"
Gu Liyue shook her head. "No. I returned the cat."
Jiang Yingyue was stunned. "Returned it? Why?"
Gu Liyue explained, "It's not my cat. I always felt a bit embarrassed. If you like, you can ask the madam to get another one."
"No, no..." Jiang Yingyue waved her hands repeatedly. Feeling that her fear was too obvious, she gave an embarrassed smile and quickly walked into the room and asked, "What are you doing?"
Gu Liyue replied, "I'm just doing some embroidery when I'm free."
Jiang Yingyue pouted. "You're the daughter of the Duke's Mansion now. You don't have to do these things anymore."
Gu Liyue didn't argue. She chatted with Jiang Yingyue for a while. After all, she didn't talk much. Jiang Yingyue forced herself to chat about this and that for a while. When she really couldn't find anything to say, she had to get up and say goodbye.
After Tangyuan saw Jiang Yingyue off, she couldn't help laughing. "The young lady used to be so arrogant. It's good that you came, miss. You've made her much more modest."
Gu Liyue smiled faintly and didn't say much.
Tangyuan added, "I heard that she cried in front of the madam for a whole morning before, saying that she was sorry to you. It really changed the madam's impression of her. Even I was quite touched. After all, she's the young lady. It's really rare."
Gu Liyue's expression was calm. She let out a soft sigh and said, "Tangyuan, if I leave, where will you go?"
Tangyuan was startled and quickly asked, "Are you leaving, miss? Where are you going?"
Gu Liyue said calmly, "I'm just a guest here. I'll eventually go back to my own home."
"But, but the madam wants to adopt you. In the future, you'll be a daughter of the Jiang family. This is your home. And the young lady doesn't oppose you anymore."
Gu Liyue looked up at Tangyuan and smiled. If Jiang Yingyue really didn't oppose her and really liked to be with her, she would have apologized to her instead of the madam that day.