Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 130 Hua Ying's Wedding

Inside the elegant room, Hua Yan said, moved, "This servant thanks you, Miss, but I have never felt wronged, as I have always done my duty as a servant. Being able to serve the Second Miss in the Tang household these past few years is a blessing I earned in my past life..."

The second young lady placed her finger near Hua Yan's lips across the chessboard, then gently lifted Hua Yan's chin with her index finger, her tone unusually coquettish. "This time, could you perhaps play a serious game with me?"

Hua Yan smiled gently, and then won three games in a row...

Second Miss: ...What should I do if I regret revealing my true feelings for the first time!

"Hua Yan, did you really learn chess when you accompanied me to study at Muyunzhai?" The second young lady was no saint. She claimed that her chess skills were truly taught by Mr. Lin, but she was defeated in the end. She asked with a hint of resentment.

Hua Yan pursed her lips and recalled, "Among my mother's dowry were many miscellaneous books left by my maternal grandfather. Later, my uncle saw that I liked them and collected many of them as well. Among them was a chess manual for beginners. I often read it in my spare time. Later, I followed the second young lady to study and learned some of it as well."

The second young lady rested her chin on her hand, exhausted. She shouldn't have asked.

Thinking back to how I started learning at the age of six and studied diligently for nearly nine years, I realize that I am not as good as someone who learns casually.

Such talent is truly enviable.

Hua Yan was quite sensible. It was a blessing that her master was willing to show her favor, but everything had its limits. So she turned to discuss a few games of chess with the second young lady. She learned quickly, but more importantly, she was good at adapting, a method that was especially suitable for learning chess.

After a few words of explanation, it was almost noon.

Aunt Mei called Ruizhu in to report. The second young lady, still not finished, put down the chess pieces and went to the front flower hall.

When it was time to distribute festival gifts to the servants in the courtyard, Aunt Mei had already gathered everyone in Yunyi Courtyard together. When the Second Miss came out, a whole bunch of them knelt on the ground.

The four first-class maids, including Hua Yan and Dong Gua, each received a bolt of brocade, doubled their monthly allowance, and a pair of pearl earrings.

As the mascot of Yunyi Academy, Donggua received an extra basket of plump crabs, making her and Mingyue drool with delight. These two, one fat and one thin, were famous throughout Yunyi Academy for their enormous appetites.

Second-class maids received pearl hairpins and half a bolt of ordinary cloth, but no earrings. As for basic necessities, they only received two pearl hairpins and a handkerchief.

But the monthly allowance is doubled regardless of rank.

Therefore, everyone's face was rosy. Not only did the second young lady bestow these gifts in the courtyard, but the public also distributed festival gifts, such as snacks, mooncakes, hair ties, and handkerchiefs.

The second young lady sat at the head of the table, looking down at the two rows of servants below. "If the servants can finish their errands in the afternoon, they may go and reunite with their families."

Hua Yan led everyone to kowtow to their mistress and then stepped forward one by one to receive their rewards. This was a rare opportunity for the maids and servants to see their mistress, and some of the clever ones would seize the chance to say a few auspicious words.

After Aunt Mei and the others had finished receiving their gifts, she announced loudly, "Miss is kind enough to allow servants to reunite with their families. In the afternoon, Miss will attend a banquet at the Old Madam's courtyard and will return in the evening. Apart from Hua Yan and a few others who will accompany you to serve, the rest of you can relax a bit."

Mother An led the kitchen staff to prepare a sumptuous dinner, but with one rule: no alcohol. If you neglect your duties, come to me for punishment.

Everyone agreed and dispersed with smiles on their faces.

Donggua, carrying a basket of crabs, winked at Huayan Mingyue, who nodded slightly.

No one knows how he managed it, but Donggua actually managed to smuggle three jugs of chrysanthemum wine from Steward An. The Second Miss had tasted it a few years ago and had taken a liking to it. However, due to the rules of the manor, the young ladies were not allowed to drink wine casually, and could only indulge in it at banquets during the Mid-Autumn Festival or the New Year.

This year, the security manager is working at Yunyi Academy, which is a rare opportunity.

Hua Yan hid two flasks in the octagonal cabinet in the second young lady's boudoir early in the morning, leaving them for the second young lady to drink secretly. The second young lady said that the kitchen should prepare some good dishes for Hua Yan and the others to have a get-together and relax in the evening.

Winter Melon received the signal and happily took the crab to the small kitchen.

The Tang family banquet lacked the casualness of their time in Lin'an. The decorations at Fu'an Residence were no longer simply opulent. While the masters enjoyed the flowers and chatted, Hua Yan also had time to chat with Hua Ying.

Hua Ying had helped her a lot, from hairstyles and makeup to clothing and jewelry matching, and she also remembered the time when Dong Gua was ostracized for giving her advice. Hua Yan always kept these things in mind.

"I heard that the old lady has arranged a marriage for Sister Huaying?" Hua Yan asked with a smile.

As mentioned earlier, in Lin'an, of the four head maids of Fu'an Residence, only Mu Jin got married. Hua Ying and the other two were also of marriageable age, and the old lady had been looking into marriages for them for several years.

Suwen and Guangbai were both born into a family. The old lady arranged for Suwen to marry the eldest son of Gong Facai, the head manager of Yongbaolou, and Guangbai was also engaged to the young manager of Yong'an Pharmacy. Both of them were to get married after the New Year.

When it came to Huaying, she was the most sought-after.

Many of the shopkeepers' families took a liking to her when they came to visit the old lady during the festival. Huaying had the best temper, a plump figure, and a round face. She was very kind when she smiled. Although she was not as beautiful as Suwen in front of the old lady, she was considered a rare and auspicious face in people's eyes at the time.

When the topic of her marriage came up, Hua Ying didn't mince words. She tapped Hua Yan's little head and laughed for a while before saying, "Even you dare to tease me now. Speaking of which, you even know that person."

"I recognize you?"

Hua Yan went through the stewards and servants in the mansion and the shopkeepers in the shops, and suddenly her eyes widened as she thought of someone.

Seeing Hua Yan's expression, Hua Ying took her hand and walked to the side.

She whispered, "I won't hide it from you. It's Mu Feng, the young master's servant. He's currently working at the hot spring resort, but... he'll be transferred back to the manor to continue serving as the young master's steward. At that time, I'll also go to the young master's courtyard next door to serve as his steward."

Before Hua Yan could speak, Hua Ying looked at the old lady through the screen and said, "At least she's still in the mansion, so I can see her often."

Bathed in the breeze and jacaranda blossoms...

Hua Yan clutched her handkerchief, feeling unusually guilty.

A few days ago, Mu Yu had asked her to persuade Mu Feng to accept the young master's arranged marriage. She never expected that the young master would arrange for Mu Feng to marry Hua Ying from the old lady's courtyard!

Hua Ying said to herself, "The old lady asked me if I liked him. I had only seen him a few times from afar in the past few years. To be honest, I don't know if I liked him. But Suwen and Guangbai have both married out of the mansion. I thought about it for a long time and still couldn't bear to leave our mansion, so I nodded."

Hua Yan looked up and saw the blush on Hua Ying's face. She realized that Hua Ying probably didn't know that Mu Feng had once had feelings for her...

These words were difficult to say aloud, and she felt she had no right to speak, but she was genuinely worried that Mu Feng wouldn't treat Hua Ying well after their marriage. Therefore, Hua Yan experienced for the first time the embarrassment of being speechless.