Hai Yue has been in the mansion for a year now and naturally has a few companions who she gets along well with, both from the second house and third house.
Among them, the third house maidservant Hongtao has the best relationship with her.
They entered the mansion at the same time and went through hardships together, so naturally their friendship is different from others.
But Hongtao was somewhat demure, so she was assigned to the third house, whereas Hai Yue went to the matriarch's courtyard.
"I heard that they added a second-class maidservant to your house, isn't she the one who is currently the most favored in the matriarch's courtyard?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Naturally, I'm worried about you. You used to be the most outstanding among the second-class maidservants, but now that she's here, I'm afraid it will affect your status."
"What kind of status do I have to talk about?"
"Why are you being polite with me? Others might not know, but I can understand your intentions, right? You want to become the maidservant beside the Young Master. Now that she's here, who can become the maidservant beside him in the future is uncertain.
I'll quietly tell you something, don't spread it around. The Third Young Master's engagement might be moved up. When the Third Young Master marries, the Young Master will surely return."
"Is the news correct? Wasn't the Third Young Master's engagement to be held at the end of the year?"
"It's said the girl's grandmother is ill and might not survive, so they are concerned about the three-year mourning period. Therefore, there is a plan to move up the wedding. The exact date is still under discussion, but it is roughly within two months. Once this matter is finalized, the return of the Young Master will also be determined."
Now, with the border stable, the matriarch has been eagerly anticipating the Young Master's early return, sending several letters within a month. This time upon his return to the capital, he might stay at home for a longer period and will surely need to add maidservants beside him.
The Young Master has a habit of keeping only one close maidservant in his courtyard to serve him, prepare paper, and grind ink. When he left the capital, that maidservant was also of age and got married.
"The matriarch adores the Young Master so much; she will surely select trustworthy maidservants from her courtyard to serve him when the time comes. The big maidservants cannot leave the matriarch. The ones available are the second-class maidservants, and originally, you had the greatest hope.
The Young Master is extraordinarily handsome. Who in the mansion wouldn't want to serve beside him? Serving him over time, isn't it likely to become his close confidante and lead to a lifetime of immense fortune?"
Hai Yue is beautiful, and if she were to become the Young Master's confidante, she could bask in the glory as well.
Upon hearing this, Hai Yue blushed, "Don't talk about it anymore, lest someone hears."
"Here in this pavilion by the water, there is no one around but the gentle sound of flowing water; who else but you and I would hear it? I know you are cautious, but I consider you a true sister and earnestly wish for your success. Advising you to guard against her is always right, especially since she has received gifts from the Young Master."
"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."
Besides being articulate, Hai Yue is very diligent. Otherwise, relying solely on words, she couldn't have come this far.
Before any competitors appeared, she was already working hard. Now, with a competitor, she works even more meticulously.
She serves tea to the matriarch, helps during meals, but tasks involving intimate service to the master were naturally beyond her reach. Yet, when it comes to setting up meals and similar tasks, she does them with utmost precision.
What dishes the matriarch likes, and which dishes should be placed before her, she never makes a mistake.
The flowers and plants around the house, she also takes care of expertly, ensuring none wilt without being promptly tended to.
If she knew some medical skills, she would even want to take over Haitang's pharmaceutical tasks.
In such an effort to prove her diligence, after the third house set the wedding date for the Third Young Master, the mansion started preparing for various matters, and maidservants from various houses were brought in to help, Hai Yue couldn't sit still.
Each house was assigned different tasks. The maidservants from the matriarch's courtyard were assigned to cut paper, make celebratory cakes, and sew pouches. At that time, the entire mansion would be adorned with the 'xi' character, including on the red lanterns. That was no small workload.
The third-class maidservants in Fushou Hall were given rough tasks and had no time for intricate tasks, while the big maidservants had to care for the matriarch and were also unavailable, leaving the eight second-class maidservants the most suitable for this work.
Hai Yue was the most capable among the second-class maidservants. Previously, all matters were arranged by her, and it was the same now when she distributed the tasks of cutting the 'xi' characters and sewing pouches, specifying the quantity each maidservant must complete.
All maidservants were assigned tasks, except for Qu Fulan.
Hai Yue explained to Haitang this way: "You need to prepare medicine for the matriarch; the seven of us can manage these tasks; you just focus on making medicine for the matriarch."
But every time Qu Fulan finished her medicine-related tasks and went to help, Hai Yue pushed her away.
"This is not your place to be; making the decoction for the matriarch is urgent."
Qu Fulan ended up being kept outside.
After several attempts, those who were unaware of the situation said Qu Fulan was shirking work, using the excuse of preparing medicine for the matriarch.
Somehow, this matter was passed on to the Third Madam, who naturally became displeased. Her son was to marry, and it was a blessing for the maidservants to contribute to this marriage. How could there be such an unscrupulous maidservant shirking work, this was indeed embarrassing.
Upon investigation, it was found that the matriarch's courtyard was involved, specifically Haitang.
This maidservant left an impression on her, as her daughter once wanted to bring her back for training, but due to an accident, it was abandoned. She's considered an unlucky maid.
"Go and send a message to Yueyuan, indicating that she has an unruly maidservant under her command and asking her to discipline her properly."
At that time, Yueyuan was serving beside the matriarch when a maidservant came in to say Nanny Fang was looking for her.
The matriarch heard it, so naturally instructed to let the person come in to speak. How could there be a secretive conversation under her nose?
Nanny Fang had this intention, so she immediately reported without hesitation.
"We know she's busy with the matriarch's medicinal meals and do not expect her to make a big contribution, but she should at least participate, even if it's just sewing a pouch, it would express her intention. Otherwise, if her name wasn't on the original list, nobody would say anything. Now that she's on the work list and refuses to contribute, isn't that unlucky?"
Yueyuan, upon hearing, instinctively felt Haitang was not such a person, there must be a reason, but now she did not understand the reason, so she did not know how to explain for her.
The matriarch is not someone who believes just anything said, she immediately summoned to have Hai Yue found.
Since she was in charge of task arrangements, naturally, she would inquire her first.
As soon as Hai Yue arrived, she quickly explained: "This is a misunderstanding of Haitang, I saw she was busy with medicine for the matriarch so didn't let her participate."
Nanny Fang sneered beside: "Making medicine is important, but how could someone be making medicine all day long? Moreover, so many people saw her idling, could it be everyone wrongly blamed her?"
After pausing, Nanny Fang looked at Hai Yue's hand and continued, "You must have taken over all the needlework for her, right? Look at your hands, they're pricked beyond recognition."
Hai Yue was stunned for a moment, then hastily hid her hands behind her back, seemingly very unwilling for the matriarch to see.
The matriarch saw it, her expression was inscrutable.
"Bring Haitang over."