Due to the medicine applied, Hai Yue's hand was almost healed by the next day, and she was still the earliest riser among all the second-class maids.
By the time others got up, she had already finished watering the flowers and feeding the birds.
"Sister Hai Yue, you're truly diligent. If we wake up any later, you would have done all the work. It's a blessing for us to follow you."
Hai Yue was very humble: "I just did some trivial chores on the side, I can't help with the bigger tasks, certainly not enough to call myself diligent."
Others didn't understand her pursuit and only took it as her natural inclination towards working. Only she knew that if she wanted to live easily in the future, she must work diligently now to be seen by the master.
She either didn't do it or did it the best, surpassing everyone so she could have the possibility to stand out.
In less than two months the Princely Heir would return, she must leave the best impression on Mrs. Pei before then.
"Sister, why work so hard? If things are done well, Mrs. Pei will naturally notice. Otherwise, look at Haitang, she easily prepares medicine daily and still gets special treatment from Mrs. Pei."
Hongtao came to find Hai Yue, seeing her working diligently alone, couldn't help but advise a bit.
Hai Yue smiled and said to Hongtao, "How can I compare with Haitang? She knows medicine; it's different. I can only make the master see me this way."
Hongtao sighed helplessly, realizing that striving for a higher status requires a certain cost.
Turning around, she spoke well of Hai Yue in the mansion, saying how diligent she was.
Hai Xia also heard about it and only then realized Hai Yue had such a good reputation in the mansion, with people praising her diligence everywhere.
Then she talked about this to Sister Haitang.
"Those people are so foolish, praising her without knowing they're being compared as lazy. Hmph, she's just showing off!"
Hai Xia, also from Mrs. Pei's courtyard, idled around every day and naturally feared being called lazy by others.
Qu Fulan, thinking from her perspective, couldn't help but ponder over Hai Yue's intention to leave an impression of diligence on everyone.
But Qu Fulan currently couldn't be sure if Hai Yue intended to work beside the Princely Heir or hoped for promotion to become the head maid by Mrs. Pei's side.
No matter the pursuit, it required beforehand to leave a good impression on Mrs. Pei.
When Qu Fulan went to deliver medicine to Hua Hao, she saw Hai Yue bringing food to Hua Hao and Yueyuan.
"These are some snacks made in the small kitchen. The others have had some, so I brought some for you two to try. Hope you don't mind."
Yueyuan took a bite: "Not bad culinary skills. If Mrs. Pei didn't have a dedicated chef, your cooking could serve her meals."
Hai Yue felt very embarrassed: "Sister, you overpraise. Isn't Sister Hua Hao eating?"
"Oh, I'm on medication recently and can't eat these, but thank you for your thoughtfulness." Hua Hao said and then saw Haitang coming over, "I was just about to find you, and here you are yourself, thoughtful of you."
Qu Fulan handed over the medicine: "You never know when I might have the medicine ready. Anyway, I'm free, so I brought it."
Yueyuan invited everyone inside, sat down, and said to Haitang: "This morning I felt a little unwell, can you check what's wrong."
Qu Fulan checked her pulse, examined through inquiry and observation, and then said, "You've caught a slight chill, even though it's summer, still be careful during the night, even if you don't want to cover with a quilt, something needs to cover your belly. I'll prescribe some medicine to take, and you'll be fine."
Yueyuan repeatedly thanked her.
Hai Yue watched from the side, her expression unchanged, but she couldn't help feeling envious and jealous inside, thinking no matter how much she did, it couldn't compare to one medical checkup.
However, she didn't think she was inferior to Haitang. The masters in the mansion were not short of doctors but lacked obedient servants. As long as she was diligent and thorough, Mrs. Pei would definitely think of her when it mattered.
As they were chatting, a little maid ran over.
"Two sisters, Third Madam is here at Fushou Hall."
Hua Hao and Yueyuan, being Mrs. Pei's close maids, naturally had to go to serve her closely when someone came looking for Mrs. Pei.
By the time they arrived, Third Madam had just entered, her expression not looking good.
Mrs. Pei asked upon seeing this, "What's wrong?"
Third Madam glanced at Hua Hao and Yueyuan, and they knowingly withdrew, even closing the door.
Third Madam then felt at ease to speak, "Today someone from the Yao Family came."
This phrase was vague and confusing, generally prompting further questioning.
Mrs. Pei remained calm, not bothered to ask further, whether spoken or not.
Third Madam, seeing Mrs. Pei unresponsive, with an embarrassed expression, laid all her cards on the table for she had a request.
Still, as the saying goes, secrets can't be hidden easily in a big mansion, even if Mrs. Pei's people were dispersed, some news still spread like wings throughout the mansion.
Hai Xia had heard it from elsewhere and shared it as a joke with Qu Fulan.
"The Yao Family is the family of the Third Young Master's prospective bride. Today the Yao Family sent over a few matrons and maids, openly settling in a small courtyard at the third house, which was quite a spectacle. Who sends people to stay at the future husband's place before the wedding? But the Yao Family dares and openly says it's to better negotiate wedding-related matters, but in reality, they are sent to probe the Third House's situation, it almost made me die of laughter."
Qu Fulan knew about this engagement, it was mentioned in the novel. Although the process wasn't detailed, it was briefly touched on, mainly to lead to the Heir Pei's early return.
This engagement was sought by Third Madam herself, though she was of concubine birth, marrying into the Pei Mansion elevated her status. But as Third Lord wasn't capable, she didn't enjoy much glory with him.
Therefore, she had to be more attentive to her children's marriages, arranging an impressive engagement early, taking advantage of the First House's influence in the Pei Mansion. The bride's family had a consort, though not yet highly ranked, poised for advancement.
What Hai Xia mentioned about scouting was the bride's family worrying about any unsavory characters in the groom's house and sending people to check; if there were such issues, they must be resolved in advance, or else the engagement wouldn't proceed.
Such actions were generally done by confident families. Given this engagement was a social climb for the Third House of the Pei Family, the bride's family dared to approach so boldly.
This somewhat carried an air of insult, thus Third Madam sought Mrs. Pei's intervention to keep the Yao Family in line.
Mrs. Pei's reputation was certainly formidable, not to mention the First House's distinguished status, and with Mrs. Pei's involvement, it represented the First House's stance, prompting the Yao Family to exercise restraint.
Qu Fulan was very curious.
"Did Mrs. Pei agree to step in and handle it?"