Delivering Wang Yongzhu to the entrance of the Song Family, the door attendant, with sharp eyes, recognized the Third Elder of the Gu Family had arrived and hurriedly went inside to announce it.
Gu Changque declined, coldly leaving a sentence: "I’m just bringing my niece back to make sure she arrives safely."
Saying this, he mounted his horse and, with his followers, dashed away quickly.
As soon as Wang Yongzhu entered her courtyard, she imdiately sensed the difference.
The large courtyard was now lit with lanterns under the eaves, making it lively and warm.
It must be that they heard the news from the front, because by the ti she reached the courtyard gate, Bai Su had already gathered all the maids and older won of the courtyard to welco her at the entrance.
When she entered the house, it was warm inside, and the arrangent of many things had been changed, making it look more pleasing and comfortable.
As soon as she sat down, hot tea was served.
Shortly afterward, the attendants filed in, bringing hot towels and standing by.
After washing up, Bai Su personally helped Wang Yongzhu remove her hairpins and jewelry, and also combed her hair, with gentle and skillful hands, relaxing her from the scalp down.
Wang Yongzhu felt so comfortable that she couldn’t help but yawn, thinking that the specially trained maids who served the imperial concubine were indeed different, and their level of service was indeed remarkable.
The maids assigned to her by Lady Gao, whom she once thought quite good, now seed inferior even to those who tended the fires, compared to Bai Su.
The maids in attendance sensibly withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Wang Yongzhu asked, "Aunt Bai Su, did everything go smoothly when you arrived at the residence today?"
Bai Su smiled, "The Wife of the Heir-Apparent may simply call Bai Su. I cannot bear the title of ’Aunt’."
She then recounted the events of her arrival at the Song Family to Wang Yongzhu.
She was traveling in a carriage from the palace, which the door attendants of the Duke Weiguo Residence imdiately recognized and they naturally did not dare to delay.
After approaching to greet and inquire, they learned that she was a senior attendant sent by the Imperial Noble Consort at Changchun Palace.
They dared not delay and promptly reported her arrival inside.
When Lady Gao heard, she was taken aback and hurriedly had her trusted steward granny and Song Chongjuan personally escort her inside.
She even struggled to get up, changed into attire for receiving guests, grood her hair, and tried to rise.
Bai Su quickly stepped forward with a smile, gently pressing Lady Gao back down onto the couch, apologizing for disturbing the Duchess, saying it was her fault.
She further explained that although she was an attendant by the Imperial Noble Consort’s side, since she had been assigned to the Wife of the Heir-Apparent, she would be staying at the Duke’s Mansion for a few days, and henceforth would require Lady Gao, the Duchess, to take care of her.
Lady Gao was montarily stunned.
It took her a while to react, and she imdiately forced a smile, thanking the Imperial Noble Consort for her favor, while instructing soone to prepare a special courtyard for Bai Su’s temporary stay.
Bai Su, however, earnestly said she was at the Duke’s Mansion on the Imperial Noble Consort’s orders to serve the Wife of the Heir-Apparent. If she were to stay in a separate courtyard, what sense would that make? She asked Lady Gao not to make special arrangents for her, but to allow her to serve in the Wife of the Heir-Apparent’s courtyard instead.
Lady Gao couldn’t resist, agreeing but only ntioning that since the Wife of the Heir-Apparent ca back unexpectedly, she hadn’t brought back the personal maids, and the people serving her were assigned by her.
These people would henceforth take instructions from Bai Su, and if they weren’t enough, they could seek more from her tomorrow.
She also apologized, saying if she weren’t ill, she would have personally escorted Bai Su to the Wife of the Heir-Apparent’s courtyard. Due to her illness, she asked for Bai Su’s understanding and had her family’s steward accompany her.
Bai Su accepted without ceremony, said her farewells, and with two maids carrying her luggage on either side, she entered Wang Yongzhu’s courtyard.
She listened to the stewardess introduce herself, subtly checked them, and then returned to give her report.
The maids in the mansion, upon hearing Bai Su’s identity, were first intimidated and, having received instructions, naturally obeyed her in everything.
As she observed the courtyard, seemingly because Wang Yongzhu had just returned and only used it for sleeping, many places showed neglect.
She pinpointed each issue, from the arrangent of the room to the staffing of the courtyard.
With a sweep of reform, Wang Yongzhu could naturally feel the difference upon her return.
Wang Yongzhu, listening, toyed with the jewelry on her vanity before casually asking, "When Madam heard the Imperial Noble Consort had sent you, was she surprised, and nothing else?"
The hand of Bai Su paused for an instant while combing her hair, then continued, saying quietly after a pause, "The Duchess seed not just surprised, but also quite pleased?"
Wang Yongzhu nodded, this indicated it wasn’t an illusion; Lady Gao seed very glad about her closeness with the Imperial Noble Consort.
Seeing Wang Yongzhu stay silent, Bai Su softly said, "I will pay more attention to the Duchess in the future!"
Both being wise, Bai Su discerned Wang Yongzhu’s point from a single question and imdiately expressed her stance.
Wang Yongzhu neither confird nor denied by nodding gently.
Noting the late hour, with her hair having been brushed a hundred tis by Bai Su so that her entire body felt languid and sleepy, she told Bai Su to go rest.
Bai Su instead said, "According to the rules, there must be a maid or an older woman on duty in the Wife of the Heir-Apparent’s room at night. I have already scheduled the shifts, and it will always be on the night. I’ll be in the outer room, with a few maids and older won next door ready to respond at any ti. If Madam needs water or anything at night, just call for ."
In the past, Wang Yongzhu had only read about such arrangents in novels. When living in the mansion with Song Chongjin, anyone not brought from Jing County by her was not allowed personal service. Lady Gao seed to understand her temperant, and the maids dispatched by her didn’t ntion it at all.
Now that Bai Su brought it up, Wang Yongzhu was montarily stunned.
But, with Song Chongjin not present, Wang Yongzhu didn’t mind much. She knew her bedroom had a small adjoining room, with a narrow bed inside. The room had a heated wall and sleeping there wouldn’t be cold at night.
Being a personal servant sent by the Imperial Noble Consort, Wang Yongzhu got up to check the small adjoining room. Though the space was small, the bedding was thick, and upon feeling it with her hand, she found a warm stone vase tucked inside.
Wang Yongzhu was reassured, "Then you should rest too. Don’t worry, I usually don’t get up or need water at night."
Bai Su respectfully perford a courtesy, watching Wang Yongzhu get into bed, extinguished the lights for her, and then withdrew.
Even though there were people outside, Wang Yongzhu slept soundly.
In the morning, upon waking, Bai Su had already been up for a while, arranging everything.
After washing up and having breakfast, Wang Yongzhu naturally needed to visit Lady Gao, since she was still ill.
Bai Su followed behind, arriving with her at the Gao Residence.
Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu, the sisters, had also arrived early, as did the other concubines to offer their greetings and tend to her illness.
Alongside was Little Lady Hou, who had been wed to Song Chongzhao earlier this year.
Finally, Lady Hou now realized her eldest son was unreliable, placing all her hope on her third son, Song Chongzhao.
And in order to secure the Hou Family’s support, Song Chongzhao insisted on marrying one of Lady Hou’s daughters.
Originally, Song Hong did not agree, but later, considering that the heir had been determined, if the other sons married too high in society, it could beco problematic in the future, so he reluctantly accepted.
Upon marrying into the family, Little Lady Hou truly remained dedicated to supporting Song Chongzhao, and though Lady Hou might mourn her eldest, seeing the situation, she would have to rely on her second son in the future.
anwhile, Song Chongjun, after divorcing Lady Ruan, the Song Family did consider finding him another wife.
Still, he beca utterly enamored with Pearl and, after elevating her to a concubine, spent all his ti with her.
Pearl, wanting to please him, allowed him to enjoy the company of beautiful maids, and soon enough, any attractive maid in Song Chongjun’s courtyard had been slept with by him.
The won throughout the courtyard indulged him, feeling their lives as splendid as a deity’s. Why would he want to bring a wife into his life to control him?
Thus, he found all sorts of excuses to delay remarriage.
Lady Gao not being his biological mother, and Lady Hou not being anxious, left her with even less reason for concern.
It was said that Laosi, Song Chongyao, was also entering into marriage negotiations, likely marrying next year.
Thus, the mansion now had seen one Ruan leave, and one Little Hou enter.
These past few days Wang Yongzhu was often out early and back late, and her branch of the family was naturally not on good terms with Maternal Aunt Hou’s side. It was the first ti she t Little Lady Hou after returning.
Little Lady Hou was quite charming, but had sowhat sharp features indicating she might not be easy to deal with.
Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, instead of offering greetings first, she smiled and said, "Doesn’t my sister-in-law have to go to the palace to attend the Imperial Noble Consort? If you are late and get reprimanded, it would be disastrous! We lesser beings, not favored by the palace, will attend to Madam here. There’s no need to trouble you, Sister-in-law—"
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