Two hours later.
Liu Ruyi returned to the Yongning Marquis Mansion with refreshments, smiling sweetly.
"Eldest miss, have you been waiting long?"
She winked and boasted about herself. "Your servant queued for a long time before finally getting the refreshments you like."
She deliberately exaggerated how crowded and tiring it was in the queue, hoping that Ning Yudan would appreciate her hard work.
Of course, the refreshments were not bought by her.
She had been fooling around with Ning Fengchen for two hours. How could she have the time to queue at the Linglong Inn and the Hehuan Shop?
It was Ning Fengchen who had spent a lot of money to buy them from others.
Liu Ruyi offered the refreshments with enthusiasm, but Ning Yudan was as cold as ice. "Okay, put them down."
Liu Ruyi had just met Ning Yudan today, but she knew that she was venomous, cold, arrogant and lofty.
She put the refreshments on the table without surprise. Her slender fingers touched the kraft paper wrapping the plum blossom cakes and felt the warmth.
"Your servant rushed all the way. The plum blossom cakes are still a bit warm. Eldest miss, eat them while they're hot."
She smiled gently and kindly, as if there had never been any conflict between her and Ning Yudan.
"Your servant also bought a few extra servings for the marquis and the second miss."
Two hours was neither long nor short.
Ning Fengnian naturally wouldn't still be in the main hall. He had left long ago.
Liu Ruyi looked around carefully and only then noticed that the maid named "Lianzi" behind Ning Yudan was also gone.
But only a trace of doubt flashed through her mind, and soon she shifted her attention elsewhere.
"You are quite considerate," Ning Yudan said, looking deeply at her. Her phoenix eyes were as black as ink. "These must have cost a lot of silver, right?"
Liu Ruyi had left in a hurry and hadn't taken any silver from the accounts room.
The refreshments at the Linglong Inn and the Hehuan Shop were not cheap. Any one of them would cost an ordinary family a year's living expenses.
Liu Ruyi used to be just a maid. Where did she get so much silver?
"When your servant was dismissed from the mansion back then, Lord Ning gave a sum of money. Over the years, your servant has also sewn and embroidered to earn some silver. There is still some private savings," Liu Ruyi replied cleverly. She could tell that Ning Yudan was suspicious.
"Now that your servant has entered the marquis mansion, she is a part of the mansion. She is willing to spend all her money to serve the masters."
"You are indeed kind - hearted," Ning Yudan said. Her expression gradually softened, as if some of her guard had been lowered, and her hostility towards Liu Ruyi was not as obvious as before.
Liu Ruyi was overjoyed. There was a hint of probing in her enthusiasm.
"Shall your servant send the remaining refreshments to the marquis?"
"No need," Ning Yudan said. She pinched a plum blossom cake with her fair and slender fingers and took a small bite. "Father has gone to the heir's mansion."
A trace of disappointment that was hardly noticeable flashed across Liu Ruyi's eyes. Soon she consoled herself.
Although she didn't get to see Ning Fengnian, Ning Yudan's attitude towards her had improved. She was actually willing to reply to her properly.
Her mind was in a mess when she saw Lianzi walking in from outside.
Her hair was a bit disheveled compared to two hours ago, as if she had just come back from doing something.
Lianzi seemed to be hiding something in her hand. When she saw Liu Ruyi, she quickly stepped aside and hid the thing behind her back.
As a result, Liu Ruyi never got a clear look at what it was.
Liu Ruyi's face darkened, but she quickly composed herself. She greeted Lianzi with a smile. "Miss Lianzi is back. Come and have some refreshments."
She was used to playing the good - guy and had even prepared a chestnut cake for Lianzi.
But when she held it out with both hands, Lianzi suddenly stepped back. She stared at Liu Ruyi's hands with a stiff and strange expression. "Dirty!"
She had witnessed with her own eyes how Liu Ruyi had used a handkerchief to seduce Ning Fengchen.
Naturally, she was worried that there was still some powder of the "Fluttering Butterflies" left on her fingertips.
Liu Ruyi instantly looked aggrieved and innocent. Her eyes fell on her clean and delicate fingers. "Your servant's hands are clean. Did Miss Lianzi see wrongly?"
But in her heart, she was angry. Ning Yudan was so pretentious and arrogant, and her maid was just like her, so fussy and troublesome.
They were all good - for - nothings!
"I won't eat," Lianzi still refused. She would never eat anything touched by this woman.
Liu Ruyi lowered her eyes pitifully. After a while, she pretended to be disappointed and looked at Ning Yudan.
She intended to gain sympathy and make Ning Yudan scold Lianzi.
But unexpectedly, although Ning Yudan's attitude towards her had improved a bit, Lianzi was still more important to her.
Not only did the gentle look on her face disappear instantly, but she also coldly told Liu Ruyi to leave. "We don't need you here. Go and serve Yuqin."
Liu Ruyi bit her lip and bowed. "Then your servant will send the refreshments to the second miss first."
Her eyes casually fell on Lianzi. It was all this damned maid's fault.
If it weren't for her random words, Ning Yudan would soon have a better impression of her.
After Liu Ruyi left, Lianzi handed the scroll in her hand to Ning Yudan.
She also told Ning Yudan about how Liu Ruyi had been fooling around with Ning Fengchen in the small mansion just now. She frowned in disgust. "Princess of the heir, she is not clean!"
This not only referred to Liu Ruyi's hands but also to the woman herself.
Ning Yudan gently unfurled the scroll. Her eyebrows knitted slightly and then relaxed after a long time. "So that's it."
No wonder she couldn't figure out why Ning Fengchen wanted to target her father.
It was actually for the woman in the painting.
Luofen Courtyard.
It was Ning Yuqin's courtyard.
The usually comfortable and natural boudoir was filled with a strange atmosphere today.
Ning Yuqin threw the pillow down in annoyance. "Get out!"
She was naturally talking to Hongqiao, the new personal maid arranged by Ning Yudan. She didn't like this new maid at all.
The latter replied calmly. "It was the eldest miss who ordered your servant to take care of the second miss personally."
The eldest miss!
It was always the eldest miss!
Ning Yuqin gritted her teeth. She didn't know what Ning Yudan had said to Hongqiao.
Hongqiao not only never left her side but also interfered in and taught her every move.
She even took care of Ning Yuqin's diet. When Ning Yuqin was so angry that she wanted to drink a cup of cold tea, Hongqiao actually stopped her.
She couldn't hold back her anger. "That's enough! Since you only listen to the eldest miss, then go back and serve her!"
But Hongqiao looked aggrieved. "The eldest miss won't allow it. The eldest miss told your servant to take care of the second miss!"
She even dared to look aggrieved!
But after all, Hongqiao was arranged by Ning Yudan, and Ning Yuqin didn't dare to offend her.
She patted her chest to calm herself down. "Since you won't let me drink cold tea, go and prepare a pot of hot tea for me."
Ning Yuqin didn't like Hongqiao, and Hongqiao clearly didn't want to serve her either.
She pouted slightly and then left after receiving the order.
As soon as Hongqiao left, Liu Ruyi happily pushed the door open and came in. "Qiner, look what mother has bought for you?"
She was holding several bags of pastries in her hand, all the most popular pastries from the Hehuan Shop.
Glutinous rice lotus root with sugar, lotus flower cakes, plum blossom cakes, almond and sesame wafer cakes, all very precious.
But Ning Yuqin was not in the mood for pastries. She grabbed her sleeve and asked, "Where have you been just now?"
Liu Ruyi rolled her eyes. The smile on her face stiffened imperceptibly. "Mother was arranged by the eldest miss to buy refreshments at the Linglong Inn and the Hehuan Shop."
Ning Yuqin didn't notice anything strange about her. She let go of her sleeve and said, "Then I'm relieved."
Liu Ruyi smiled and ruffled Ning Yuqin's hair. "Silly girl, what are you worried about?"