"These are what I want to leave for Hui and Xin'er. If you don't take them, people will covet them here," Old Madam Lu said as she rolled up the land deeds and pushed them into Mrs. Lu's hands for safekeeping.
"Mother, I have my own things to leave for Hui and Xin'er. Keep these for yourself, so you'll have more money to spend," Mrs. Lu refused, unwilling to let her elderly mother suffer for her sake.
As mother and daughter went back and forth, they heard voices outside, "The Madam is here."
"I heard from the servants that my little sister has returned. I'll go see her," Lu Madam said, walking into the room. The servants couldn't stop her.
Hearing the voice, Old Madam Lu's face changed. She stuffed the land deeds into Mrs. Lu's bosom and handed the box to Yue Chu beside her. Yue Chu quickly put it back in its original place.
Mrs. Lu had no choice but to first tuck the deeds into the hidden pocket of her sleeve, then rose to greet Lu Madam, "Elder Sister-in-law."
"Little Sister, it's been years. Your charm hasn't changed a bit," Lu Madam said with flattery, but Old Madam Lu was displeased to hear it. Because of her husband's affairs, Mrs. Lu had rushed to the capital in fear and worry, aging considerably, her complexion poor.
"Wan Er has been away from the capital for many years and misses the taste of home. Tell the kitchen to make more of her favorites," Old Madam Lu instructed coolly.
"Yes, Mother," Lu Madam agreed, but didn't move. Instead, she surveyed the room, seemingly trying to see if anything was missing. Old Madam Lu's face darkened, about to flare up when she saw her son walk in and glared at him.
Uncle Lu, bewildered by the glare, understood upon seeing Lu Madam's demeanor. "Little Sister is here. Go to the kitchen and oversee things."
Old Madam Lu watched as Lu Madam finally left reluctantly. "I truly regret it."
"Mother, please don't be like this," Uncle Lu also regretted, but she was the wife he had insisted on marrying back then.
"Brother, I've come this time to ask for your help," Mrs. Lu's words made Old Madam Lu and Uncle Lu stop discussing Lu Madam's affairs.
"Sister, just speak plainly. How can you use the word 'ask' between siblings?" Uncle Lu said kindly, but when Mrs. Lu stated her request for help, his face showed difficulty. "Sister, it's not that your brother won't help. It's just that although I still hold a position, because of the Lin Family's matter, I have no voice in the yamen." His tone shifted, "But your nephew has talent and a good relationship with the young master of the Chengen Marquis Residence."
Mrs. Lu hadn't held much hope, so she said no more upon hearing this. She accompanied Old Madam Lu, chatting, had dinner, and then returned to Osmanthus Alley.
In the carriage, Mrs. Lu lamented to Chunlu Granny, "My brother is useless."
Sitting beside Mrs. Lu, Chunlu Granny remained silent. Mrs. Lu took out the land deeds from her sleeve's hidden pocket and handed them to Chunlu Granny, "Nanny, keep these for me. Return them to Mother later."
Chunlu Granny, looking at the weary-faced Mrs. Lu, felt heartache. "Miss, close your eyes and rest a bit. Once we're back at Osmanthus Alley, have a good sleep."
Mrs. Lu hummed in agreement, leaning into Chunlu Granny's embrace to rest. Little did she know, Osmanthus Alley was bustling at that moment.
Early that morning, when servants led Auntie An and Aunt Wang to the Plum Blossom Pavilion for washing, they were dissatisfied with the courtyard, finding it too small. After breakfast, Mrs. Lu had to rush to the Lu Residence and hadn't instructed how to arrange the lodgings for the three concubines.
But this residence wasn't large. The Main Courtyard was where Mrs. Lu lived, the East Courtyard was Li Qing's, and the concubines couldn't possibly live there. The second courtyard was Li Hui's residence, where Li Chou and Li Guang also lived.
The only place Auntie An, Aunt Wang, Li Shan, and Li Yao could live was the West Courtyard. Auntie Mei lived in the main house, and both women had their eyes on it. Auntie Mei didn't say much, just ordered her belongings packed and moved to the three rooms on the right side where Li Xia lived.
The three rooms of the main house and the three side rooms on the left were vacated for Auntie An, Aunt Wang, Li Shan, and Li Yao. As for how to divide them, Auntie Mei didn't care.
Aunt Wang, claiming they had more people, wanted the main house. Auntie An naturally objected, arguing that as the eldest who had served the master the longest, she should live there. Neither concubine would yield, standing in the courtyard arguing.
On the side, Li Shan cast a sidelong glance at Li Xia's rooms, her eyes red with jealousy.
The noise in the courtyard was so loud it could be heard in the Main Courtyard. Aunt Liu Xiao came over, learned of the situation, and directly brought people to divide the rooms.
Auntie An got the east room and the central hall of the main house. The west room went to Li Shan, and the three side rooms on the left were for Aunt Wang and Li Yao.
Seeing they still wanted to say something, Aunt Liu Xiao directly cut them off, "If you're not satisfied, go sleep in the servants' quarters."
In the right side rooms, Li Xia was discussing with Auntie Mei, "Auntie, you sleep in the bedroom, I'll go sleep in the study." Li Xia's study had many things. Fearing they'd mess up Li Xia's things, Auntie Mei had people set up a small bed in a corner of the study.
"I can sleep there," Auntie Mei disagreed.
"I'm small, I can sleep in the study. Don't argue with me, Auntie. Qiu Chan, move Auntie's things to the bedroom," Li Xia said, instructing Qiu Chan to move Auntie Mei's belongings to her bedroom.
The servants quickly moved Auntie Mei's things to Li Xia's former bedroom. Li Xia's things were also moved to the study. Some less-used items in the study were packed and stored in the storeroom. The bed and desk each took up half the space, with a screen in between.
By the time they finished tidying, it was dark. Qiu Chan went to the kitchen to bring back meals. There was no space in Li Xia's study for a dining table, so Li Xia went to Auntie Mei's room to dine.
Four dishes and a soup, two bowls of rice—too much for two people. Auntie Mei had Qiu Ju take some down first for them to share. Qiu Ju used chopsticks to portion some out and took it to the side to eat with Qiu Shui and the others. After an afternoon of physical work, they were all hungry, especially Qiu Chan, who ate quickly.
Li Xia had just put a piece of cured fish in her mouth when she heard a coquettish cry, "Is this even fit for human consumption?" followed by the sound of bowls and plates smashing on the ground. From the sound, it was Li Shan. Li Xia spat out the fish bones, unaffected, and continued eating.
"You eat first, I'll go see," Auntie Mei put down her chopsticks and rose to leave.
Li Xia quickly took two more mouthfuls of rice, put down her chopsticks, and followed. Her maids started to rise, but Li Xia waved them off, indicating they should continue eating and not follow.
Li Xia followed behind Auntie Mei to the door of the west room in the main house, seeing the table inside overturned, dishes scattered all over the floor.
Aunt Wang, also drawn by the noise, looked hesitantly at the soup-covered floor, unable to step in.
Auntie An, living in the east room, leaned against the doorway watching the show, her mouth making constant tsk sounds. "In all my years, this is the first time I've seen a well-bred young lady flip a table," she said, tsking a few more times, her tone indescribably schadenfreude.
Li Shan flipped the table and immediately regretted it. After hearing Auntie An's words, she felt even more uneasy, knowing that she would surely be punished by Mrs. Lu. When Auntie Mei approached, Li Shan found an excuse, "Auntie Mei, how are you managing the kitchen? What kind of dishes are you sending?"
Auntie Mei, not understanding the situation, wondered how this had turned into her problem. Not wanting to stoop to the level of a young girl, she looked at Aunt Wang and said, "Aunt Wang, she's your daughter, you teach her," then turned and left.
