Chapter 60: Pointing Out the Bright Clouds (Part 2)

  "But have you thought about it," Yao Cunhui said with a bitter smile: "Mother is the mistress of the Yao Mansion, let alone that you are her person, even if it's any maid in this mansion, whoever she wants to marry will be who, as a daughter, can I still refuse? Taking a step back, even if I really wanted to find a way to bring you here, with Mother's temperament, do you think she would easily forgive you? The future days are likely to be more difficult than marrying Liu Zi!"

  Ming Xia's mind suddenly rang out with a clear and despairing chill, her face turned white as if all the blood had drained from it, her eyes wide open and staring blankly ahead, her soul lost in emptiness!

  "In that case, I'd rather die! Once dead, there's nothing to think about and nothing to fear!" Ming Xia muttered to herself, her whole person becoming stupid.

  Rong's mother frowned, dissatisfied with Mingxia's unlucky words, and was about to say something when Yao Cunhui stopped her with a glance.

  "Life is yours, you have to think so, no one can stop it." Yao Cunhui's voice was cold and clear, without emotion.

  Ming Xia's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but kowtow again: "Your servant begs for Second Miss's guidance! Your servant knows that anything she says now is empty and unreliable, her true intentions only known to heaven, earth, ghosts, spirits, and Guanyin Bodhisattva! She only asks to repay Second Miss in the future!"

  What a sharp mind, it's really a pity to be a maid! Yao Cunhui sighed heavily in his heart and felt a little regretful. If he could really take her as his own and make her his arm, it would be perfect! Unfortunately, this is completely impossible!

  "I don't want you to repay me," Yao Cunhui stared at her eyes, word by word: "I just want you to remember one thing from time to time."

  "Please instruct Miss, I will definitely follow!" Mingxia hastily straightened her body and composed herself.

  "Remember your identity," Yao Cunhui's voice was calm and flat, but with an undercurrent of unyielding severity that made one's heart tighten, "Always remember your identity, don't think about what you shouldn't, and don't covet what isn't yours. As long as you stay in your place and keep to yourself, you'll be worry-free and live a happy life!"

  Ming Xia's eyes sparkled for a moment, and she was momentarily stunned. She hastily said: "I only wish to survive now, I dare not have any other extravagant hopes!"

  "Hmph!" Yao Cunhui sneered, saying lightly: "You also know it's 'nowadays'. There's a saying that goes 'a snake swallowing an elephant', people who are never satisfied and always want more, there are many such people in this world, you're not the only one!"

  Ming Xia hung her head and didn't speak, it was unknown what she was thinking about.

  Yao Cunhui didn't urge her either, she just sat there leisurely, secretly observing Mingxia's expression. If Mingxia had listened to her words and hastily agreed to everything without thinking, then Yao Cunhui wouldn't have needed to say anything else, because it would have been pointless!

  "I, your servant, will remember Miss's words today and keep them in mind every moment, never daring to forget!" Mingxia raised her head, saying each word firmly.

  Although I don't dare say it's absolutely perfect, it's still quite impressive!

  Yao Cun Hui smiled slightly: "If you really think so, it's a blessing in disguise!" After saying that, she sighed and said: "As for Mother's affairs, I'm really not good at intervening. But after all, Father is the head of our family. Why don't you go ask him? Maybe it'll be useful, who knows?"

  "Master?" Mingxia was stunned, for a moment she couldn't turn around, and dazedly said: "But Master never interferes with the affairs of the back house, which brand is the slave under, can beg Master to speak on her behalf!"

  The strange way of saying that a single leaf can block one's view of Mount Tai, even clever people have times when they don't understand! Yao Cunhui gave her a profound and meaningful glance, and said lightly: "In this world, which has so many perfect methods? One can only weigh the two harms and take the lighter one. If you really don't want to marry Liu Zi, think about it carefully yourself!"

  Ming Xia was taken aback, a sudden flash of inspiration in her mind, her pupils suddenly contracted, her body and mind greatly shocked. She stared at Yao Cun Hui with wide eyes for half a moment, then bowed her head solemnly and said calmly: "I understand, thank you Second Miss for pointing it out! I will definitely remember the lesson you just taught me!"

  "Go back and rest well!" Yao Cunhui raised her hand gently and smiled softly, while Mingxia's mother quietly sent Mingxia out.

  "Second Miss, what are you going to...?" Mother Rong looked at Yao Cunhui's eyes and felt a bit complicated, her heart was stirred up by huge waves. She really didn't expect that Yao Cunhui would come up with such an idea for Mingxia. After all, she is still an unmarried girl!

  "Does Mother Rong think I'm not like a noble lady at all!" Yao Cunhui self-deprecatingly smiled. A noble lady? A noble lady with an empty shell is even more pitiful than a wooden puppet, what's the use of having this title!

  "I don't dare!" Madam Rong's eyebrows jumped, and she sighed softly: "This old servant knows the difficulties of the second young lady. If the first madam were still here, it would never be——" Madam Rong let out a soft sigh, secretly feeling guilty for her previous thought, and adding more sympathy for Yao Cunhui.

  The next morning, the sister and brother went to pay their respects to Madam Ma and returned the hair ornaments they had borrowed earlier, intact.

  Ma was very satisfied, but her expression was a picture of nonchalance, and she casually instructed Mingxia and Caixia to put the things away.

  Ming Xia and Cai Xia smiled and nodded in agreement, but when they stood beside the table next to Yao Cunhui's sisters, they opened a jewelry box and took a look. Ma saw this and scolded them, "You two are so ignorant, what are you doing? Quickly put it back for me!"

  Yao Cun Jia smiled and said, "Mother, don't blame them. They are being meticulous in handling things, which is a good thing. It's only right that they should check carefully. If something gets damaged, it can be sent to the gold and silver shop for repair in time, so as to avoid finding out later when it's needed."

  "Jia'er also makes sense!" Ma smiled and turned to glare at Mingxia and Caiyun, who quickly put on a smile and put the things away.

  Yao Cunhui secretly sneered, Ma Shi pretended to be a kind mother, and Mingxia and Caixia naturally became the villains. It was a good calculation, not speaking out early or late, but only speaking out when they were about to finish their inspection, she had both face and dignity, and wasn't afraid of being too calculating and having a short life!

  Thinking about it again, there's still stuff here and what his mother left behind, Yao Cunhui felt even more suffocated.

  "There's something I want to mention to you sisters," Madam Ma said with a slight bow and a smile, "The number of servants in your courtyard is a bit insufficient. This is also my fault as a mother. Your father mentioned it the other day too. Each of you three sisters should add two more people to your courtyard, so that the original maids can have some relief! You'll be more comfortable living there too!"

  Sisters looked at each other, and Yao Cun Hui hurriedly smiled and asked: "I don't know what level it is added to?"

  Ma looked at Yao Cunhui and smiled: "Let's just go with second-class, those who serve by our side can't be too lowly."

  Yao Cun Jia smiled and said, "Mother can just add people to Ermei and Sanmei's place, it's really not necessary for me! Adding and subtracting is also a hassle!" Yao Cun Jia said, looking a bit shy as he lowered his head.

  She was about to get married, and it wasn't necessary for her to add anything else. She rarely refused anything, but this time she had a legitimate reason to refuse, so Mrs. Ma couldn't say anything and could only laugh and agree.

  Yao Cunhui smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mother. I don't need to add anything else. With Rong Ma and Hong Lian and Hong Zhi, that's enough. If Mother is really not at ease in her heart, then I'd like to ask a favor of Mother!"

  Ma's face stiffened for a moment, and with a calm smile, he asked patiently: "What kindness is it that you'd like to talk about?"

  Yao Cun Hui smiled and said, "It's those two little maids, Xiao Xing and Xiao Li. My daughter thinks that the new ones are not as good as the original ones, these two girls are clever and handy, why not promote them to second-class, isn't it better? It also saves mother's heart!"

  Halfway through, Mrs. Ma nodded with a smile and said: "You've thought it through too, so be it!" Because of a small matter, she was arguing with her daughter, and Mrs. Ma really couldn't bear to lose face. Listening to each of them speak out their own reasons, she had no choice but to agree.

  Yao Cun Jia's sister smiled and thanked her, as for Yao Cun Mei, there were originally more people serving in Qiong Lin Garden than in Yaofangyuan and Luomei Garden, so adding more would make it too crowded. Therefore, this time, none of the courtyards added anyone. The ones who truly benefited were still Luomei Garden, Xiao Xing and Xiao Li were overjoyed, after receiving the news they went to thank Yao Cun Hui by kowtowing.

  In the afternoon, Yao Cun Jia brought the separated gifts to Yao Cun Hui's place with Ya Huan, and also sent Yao Shi Zan's share here, letting her arrange it for Yao Shi Zan.

  Rong's mother then directed Hong Lian, Hong Zhi and Xiao Xing, Xiao Li to help gather them up. Those two thousand taels of silver were unknown to Hong Lian and the others, only Yao Cun Hui and her sister knew about it, and had secretly hidden them away earlier.

  "Sister is so quick with her actions, but in just one day and night, she has managed to settle everything so clearly. She's indeed a material for a mistress of the house!" Yao Cunhui couldn't help but tease, wrapping her arm around Yao Cunjia's shoulder.

  "Shameless! You dare to make fun of your sister!" Yao Cun Jia's face turned red with anger, scolding and laughing at her as she pinched her cheek, the two sisters tangled together in a heap.

  Yao Cun Jia sat for a while before leaving with his own people. Hong Lian excitedly came out to smile at Yao Cun Hui, saying: "Second Miss, there are so many beautiful accessories and decorations, they all look very valuable! This time Second Miss also has good accessories to wear! Who dares to mock our Luomei Courtyard for being poor now?"

  "You've seen a few good things, and now you can't help but talk!" Hong Lian's mother couldn't help but glance at her with a smile. In the past, she had followed Yun Shi around, what good things hadn't she seen!

  "The servant girl looked at everything and thought it was all good, really hadn't seen anything like it before!" Honglian smiled awkwardly.

  "I haven't taken a close look either, let me take a look too!" Yao Cunhui's heart moved slightly as he smiled and stood up, and the master and servant entered the inner room.

  Mother Kong took out the key and opened the large cabinet and trunk, smiling: "Miss, please take a look, everything is here. If you like it, pick two pieces of furniture to put out, and these accessories, why not pick some out and put them in the small box on the dresser? It's more convenient to wear them every day!"