Soon, the news of the punishment of Xie Yunxi and her mother spread throughout the Marquis Mansion.
The people in the Green Pine Courtyard didn't try to hide it at all. Concubine Yuan was dragged to kneel in front of the ancestral hall, and Xie Yunxi was confined in the courtyard to learn the rules.
"Miss, miss, have you heard? Concubine Yuan has been punished to kneel!"
Liu Yi ran in out of breath from outside the door. She stopped just before crashing into Xie Fengran, stood firmly, and bowed properly. However, the smile on the corner of her mouth couldn't be suppressed no matter what.
"Miss, why aren't you surprised at all?"
Xie Fengran put down the book in her hand, glanced at her, and said nothing.
Lan Fang walked over from the side and pinched Liu Yi, "Miss has told us many times that we should not show our emotions on our faces. If you act so rashly, how will others talk about the miss?"
Liu Yi covered her mouth and quickly begged for mercy, "Miss, this slave was wrong. This slave will never dare again."
"All right. From now on, all of you should keep your mouths shut. Don't say what you shouldn't. What happens to Concubine Yuan has nothing to do with us."
Liu Yi nodded like a rattle, "This slave remembers. But miss, this slave heard that just now it was the people of the Third Princess who sent an invitation card to the Second Miss. That's why the old madam released the Second Miss from the ancestral hall and confined her in the courtyard to learn the rules. Instead, she let Concubine Yuan kneel in the ancestral hall."
"However, the people in the Green Pine Courtyard said that Concubine Yuan violated the rules and angered the old madam, so she was punished."
"Then the Second Miss won't be punished?"
"The old madam didn't say anything. She just told the Second Miss to go back to the courtyard to learn the rules."
Lan Fang looked at Xie Fengran and mumbled, "The Second Miss made such a big mistake, and she was just let off so lightly?"
Xie Fengran was not surprised at this result at all, "Wasn't Concubine Yuan punished?"
Lan Fang was not satisfied, though. "Miss, why does the Third Princess target you like this? You didn't provoke her either!"
"Sister Lan Fang, you don't know this. The Third Princess is just jealous." Liu Yi said huffily, "Two months ago, our miss encountered some trouble on the street. Young Master Sun happened to help her out. The Third Princess saw this and has been targeting our miss ever since."
"Miss, there's actually such a thing. The Third Princess is so unreasonable!"
"All right!" Xie Fengran stood up and scolded Liu Yi, "Don't talk nonsense. Go to mother's place and tell her that I won't go there for the next few days."
Liu Yi stuck out her tongue, agreed, and quickly walked out.
On the contrary, Lan Fang looked at Xie Fengran with a complicated expression, "Miss, does Young Master Sun... have feelings for you? Do you like him?"
"Hey, you silly girl. Do you know what it means to like someone or not?"
"Although this slave doesn't know what it means to like someone or not, this slave knows that the miss doesn't like what the old madam has arranged for you." Lan Fang stopped her work, looked at Xie Fengran, and asked, "The old madam likes you so much. Can't you just tell her directly?"
Xie Fengran shook her head. This maid of hers was good in every way. She was loyal and tight - lipped, but she was just a bit naive.
"What do you want me to say? Should I say that I don't want to go to the palace to be picked and chosen by them, or should I say that I don't want to get married?"
She would probably be considered a fool then!
"Miss, Nanny Xin, the wet - nurse of the Second Miss, is here."
The little maid lifted the curtain and announced. Xie Fengran and Lan Fang glanced at each other.
Lan Fang walked over and scolded, "Didn't I say that the miss doesn't see anyone? Let her go back!"
The little maid stammered, "But she said that the marquis sent her here. She has something to do with the eldest miss."
Lan Fang remembered the incident just now when the marquis' people forced their way in to see the eldest miss. She stamped her foot, "Miss, I'll go and have a look."
"All right. She's just a servant. Let her come in and ask what she wants."
The little maid quickly turned around and called Nanny Xin in.
Nanny Xin was a woman in her forties. She always had a faint smile on her face when seeing people, looking very amiable.
Seeing Xie Fengran, she quickly bowed, "This slave pays respects to the eldest miss."
Xie Fengran nodded, "Nanny, do you have something to say?"
"Oh, eldest miss, this slave knows that you are under house arrest, but the marquis has given an order, and this slave has to follow it."
"Nanny Xin, just say what you have to say directly. Otherwise, if the old madam blames us, don't drag our eldest miss into trouble."
"Yes, yes, yes. Look at this slave's mouth. It deserves a beating!" Being rebuked by Lan Fang like this, Nanny Xin pretended to slap herself and said, "It's like this. The Second Miss will also attend the palace banquet the day after tomorrow, but she doesn't have a suitable dress. The marquis heard that the old madam had made a few sets for you. You and the Second Miss are about the same height, so he wants you to lend one set to the Second Miss."
"What do you mean about the same height? Our miss is much taller than the Second Miss. The size won't fit."
Nanny Xin smiled, "Miss Lan Fang, you're being too rigid. It can be adjusted to fit. There are still two days. It's really too late to make a new set. The marquis said that the eldest miss has always been very kind to her younger sister. You surely won't be reluctant to part with a set of clothes."
Lan Fang was so angry that her face turned red. This must be the Second Miss pestering the marquis for it.
How could this person be so shameless!
"Nanny Xin makes a lot of sense. However, the clothes that grandmother made for me were specially customized by the embroiderers in the palace. The designs were drawn by the master craftsman, Master He, and he cut them himself. Then they were sent to the palace for the embroiderers to finish. They were just delivered to the mansion a few days ago. I wonder which embroiderer Nanny Xin has found who can adjust such clothes?"
"This..." Nanny Xin shifted her eyes, not sure whether what Xie Fengran said was true or not.
"All right, Nanny. You go back and ask father whether this kind of clothes should be worn by me or given to my younger sister. Of course, you also have to ask grandmother's opinion. After all, this dress is grandmother's favor. I don't dare to make my own decision."
Nanny Xin forced a smile and didn't dare to look into Xie Fengran's eyes. She slunk away.
"Miss, the Second Miss is really going too far! She even has her eyes on your clothes. It's okay for you to let her have her way in the past, but this is the dress for the palace. If you give it to her, what will you wear?"
"It's not the first time. Don't be angry."
Xie Fengran walked behind the desk, sat down, and picked up a pen to write something.
As soon as she put the pen to the paper, she suddenly remembered the inexplicable look she saw in the Sun family today.
Whose look was it?
After thinking for a while, she quickly started writing.
On the other side, Lan Fang saw that the miss was writing again. She quickly lightened her movements, tiptoed to close the door, and went out.
As soon as she went out, she happened to see Liu Yi coming back. She asked, "What did Nanny Xin come here for just now?"
Lan Fang lowered her voice and hissed, "The miss is busy!"
"The Second Miss is eyeing our miss's clothes again, but our miss sent her away."
"This is really too much!" Liu Yi rolled her eyes, "You watch here. I'll go to the Green Pine Courtyard."