The Mansion of the Marquis Who Secures the State!
After Lan Fang entered the second gate and walked not far in the direction of Green Pine Courtyard, Nanny He came to greet her.
Lan Fang quickly bowed and said, "How could I dare to trouble you, Nanny, to come out and greet me? If the young lady knew about this, she would surely scold me."
Nanny He quickly stopped Lan Fang and said, "Miss Lan Fang, you don't need to be so polite. The old madam said that since you're coming back at this time, the eldest young lady must have something to do, so she asked me to come out and greet you."
"The old madam really understands the eldest young lady. Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month, the day when the Huguo Temple makes vegetarian pastries. The eldest young lady specifically sent Hexiang to wait in the kitchen early this morning and managed to get a box. She asked me to bring it back specially."
Nanny He raised her eyebrows and clapped her hands in admiration. "The eldest young lady is really smart. The pastries from the Huguo Temple are only available for one hour on the fifteenth day of every month. The old madam has been talking about them for a long time."
After saying that, she pulled Lan Fang and asked, "Is this Hexiang the second - ranked maid beside the eldest young lady?"
Lan Fang replied with a smile, "Nanny has a good memory. Hexiang used to be a second - ranked maid. The eldest young lady appreciates her very much because of her steady personality."
Nanny He nodded, understanding the situation, and then changed the topic. Lan Fang asked a few more questions about the old madam's illness.
Nanny He let out a long sigh, waved her hand, and the people following her stepped back a few steps. Then she lowered her voice and said, "I'll tell you this first, Miss. The madam is paying her morning and evening respects to the old madam and is in Green Pine Courtyard now. The old madam sold the madam's steward nanny this morning. When you see the madam later, be careful."
Lan Fang was shocked and nodded. "Thank you, Nanny!"
The nanny beside the madam was sent by the marquis after the madam entered the mansion and had been serving her all the time.
She had the best relationship with the madam, and the madam always listened to her.
That nanny had often sown discord between the madam and the young lady. It was better for the old madam to sell her, but the madam must be in a bad mood now!
Lan Fang secretly became more vigilant.
Soon they arrived at Green Pine Courtyard. After turning the screen wall, they saw Mrs. Yun kneeling stiffly in front of the main house.
Lan Fang immediately stopped and looked at Nanny He. If she went up now, it would only add fuel to the fire.
Nanny He also didn't expect to see such a scene.
Fortunately, Nanny Su soon came out of the house, helped Mrs. Yun up, and said something. Mrs. Yun nodded with a gloomy face and turned to leave.
Seeing this, Lan Fang quickly stepped aside and waited with her hands down for Mrs. Yun to pass.
Mrs. Yun was wearing a red brocade jacket and skirt. Her wide skirt swept across the ground in front of Lan Fang and suddenly stopped!
"Are you the maid beside Xie Fengran?"
"Greetings to the madam!" Lan Fang bowed gracefully. "I'm Lan Fang, the personal maid beside the eldest young lady!"
"Good! Very good!" Mrs. Yun's face became even uglier. "The old madam is ill, and your eldest young lady doesn't serve her. What kind of propriety is this? You go back today and tell her to come back to me!"
"Madam, the eldest young lady went to the Huguo Temple to ask the Abbot Yuanning for a safety amulet for the old madam. The abbot of the Huguo Temple has already agreed, but the eldest young lady has to fast for seven days and pray for the old madam in front of the Buddha for seven days for it to be effective. I dare not make my own decisions about this matter."
"What a glib - tongued maid. You tell her to wait for me!"
Mrs. Yun pointed at Lan Fang, left a word, and left aggressively.
Inside the house, Nanny Su was telling the old madam exactly what had happened in the yard.
Old Madam Xie was reclining on the couch, wearing a headband. Hearing this, she lifted her eyelids and snorted. "She only has this much ability. Let that maid come in."
Hearing the old madam's summons, Lan Fang quickly straightened her expression, followed Nanny Su into the room, knelt on the ground, and presented the pastry box in her hand.
When Old Madam Xie saw the pastries, her expression softened, and she motioned for Nanny Su to take out one.
Nanny Su picked one up and handed it over. Old Madam Xie took a bite. "It's really better when it's hot. Usually, when I go, they're so hard that they don't taste good. Just because they're from the Huguo Temple, everyone wants to get a lucky token."
Nanny Su chimed in, "What the old madam is eating is not just pastries, but the eldest young lady's heartfelt care."
A smile appeared on Old Madam Xie's face. "It's really kind of Fengran to think of me. You can get up first."
"Thank you, old madam." Lan Fang stood up from the ground, lowered her head slightly, and didn't look around randomly.
Old Madam Xie asked again, "Does your eldest young lady have anything to tell you?"
Lan Fang nodded, showing a bit of hesitation on her face. Nanny Su quickly took her away, and Nanny He guarded the door.
Lan Fang knelt down again. "Old madam, I do have something important to report."
Then she told the story of what had happened last night selectively, emphasizing how Zhang Yao had plotted against the eldest young lady. As for Qin Junxing's feelings, Lan Fang didn't know and didn't elaborate.
"Going too far!" The old madam sat up straight, slapped the table with one hand, and the teacup spilled all over the table.
Nanny Su quickly went to clean it up, poured a new cup of tea, and advised, "Old madam, don't be angry first. Let's listen to what Lan Fang has to say."
Lan Fang was also afraid that Old Madam Xie would get angry and hurt herself. She then told the story of Zhu Qing pushing those two people out of the carriage. "Old madam, the eldest young lady originally didn't want to tell you, but she was afraid that you would be worried and angry if you heard any rumors in the mansion. That's why she sent me here. This matter can't be concealed. The Zhang family will surely spread rumors that are unfavorable to the young lady. Please don't be angry at that time."
"The Zhang family has now become the emperor's lackey and has forgotten who their master used to be!"
Her tone was light, but the words she said made the people in the room change their expressions.
Nanny Su quickly dissuaded her. "Old madam, be careful with your words!"
A trace of hostility flashed in Old Madam Xie's eyes. Pointing at Lan Fang, she said, "You go back and tell Fengran to rest assured about the affairs in the mansion. Tell her that as the legitimate eldest young lady of the marquis's mansion, even when facing a princess, she doesn't have to give in everywhere!"
"Yes!" Lan Fang replied respectfully. "I will surely tell the young lady. The young lady also has something else to report to the old madam."
Lan Fang then told the story about Zhu Qing. "This time, when the young lady was plotted against by Miss Zhang, it was all thanks to Zhu Qing protecting her. The young lady wants to keep her by her side. And Hexiang is also loyal and does things properly. The young lady's intention is to promote them to senior maids."
Old Madam Xie nodded while listening. "Fengran is right. I agree to this. You go back as soon as you finish your business."
"Yes!"
After Lan Fang left Green Pine Courtyard and returned to her own yard, Liu Yi not only watched the yard but also kept up with the news in the mansion.
Not to mention anything else, just on the day Xie Fengran left, the madam's maid was sold, and Concubine Yuan's place was also in an uproar.