Chapter 146 Picking a Fight

That night, Xu Ruojin lay awake in bed, completely unable to sleep.

Though she desperately wished to fall asleep quickly—for before dawn tomorrow, she would have to rise and wait for the matron of good fortune to thread her face and apply her makeup, as well as entertain those coming to offer wedding gifts, await the crimson bridal sedan chair of the Liang family, and wait for her third brother to carry her onto the sedan...

Alas, her mind was filled with chaotic scenes.

She could not sleep at all.

Countless faces flashed continuously through her mind:

Her father, Madam Yang, Li Qiuping, Zhang Zhongheng, Madam Liang, even Baimai who had once served by her side, and Yan Hongwen, who had just arrived at the estate.

Especially this Yan Hongwen, who always maintained a persistent entanglement that she could not shake off. What on earth was his purpose?

And her mother... The reason her father had answered so hesitatingly today was probably not because her mother preferred to risk Li Qiuping's life to protect her grandson, but rather because she had offended Yan Hongwen.

An inexplicable disorder ran through all of this, suddenly plunging her into anxiety.

She did not know when she finally drifted off to sleep. When she opened her eyes, she heard the rustling of footsteps and soft whispers nearby.

"Chunchao, is it time?"

Xu Ruojin asked softly.

"It has just passed the end of the Yin hour and is about to enter the Mao hour. Would the Second Young Miss like to rest a while longer?"

"Get up then, I won't sleep anymore."

Xu Ruojin slowly sat up, and Chunchao immediately handed her a bowl of green tea to rinse her mouth, followed by a warm compress for her eyes. Hearing that the Second Young Miss was awake, Hongxiang went to fill the wooden bathing tub with hot water.

Submerged in the tub, Xu Ruojin looked at the floating dried flower petals and closed her eyes.

Could such a drastic difference in treatment be solely because of marriage?

Chunchao attended to her bath from the side. Realizing the time was approaching, she needed to go out and fetch fresh clothes to change the Second Young Miss into. "You must not fall asleep, Milady. This maid is stepping out and will be right back."

"I know, I am not a child," Xu Ruojin murmured softly.

Chunchao hurried out, all the more eager to return quickly...

Steam rose and washed over her face, and the fragrance of flower petals filled the air. Xu Ruojin leaned against the tub with her eyes closed. Even though she was reminding herself not to fall sleep, she drifted into a hazy doze.

With a sudden splash!

Xu Ruojin slipped down into the bathing tub, and the water rushed up her nose, startling her so much that she couldn't catch her breath for a moment.

A pair of large hands hastily hauled her up from the water. Xu Ruojin stood, coughing a few times with her face flushed crimson, and rasped, "I didn't expect to slip."

"Today is your great day of joy, Milady. Please be extremely careful."

That voice was not right!

Xu Ruojin whipped her head around to look beside her—it was Mammy Huang!

"Y-You, why are you here?" Xu Ruojin hastily sat back down into the tub.

It had been a very long time since she last saw Mammy Huang...

Mammy Huang picked up a soft cotton towel to dry her body. "Last night, this old servant received instructions from the Master to accompany you to the Liang estate. I just came over to announce myself and happened to run into Chunchao stepping out."

"You are coming with me to the Liang estate?"

Xu Ruojin's eyes widened in shock. "Father did not mention this to me."

Seeing the Second Young Miss's suspicious expression, Mammy Huang wore a bitter smile as well. "This old servant only received temporary instructions late last night. As for why it was arranged this way, this old servant does not know either. To speak from the bottom of my heart, this old servant would rather have stayed by the Mistress's side..."

Ever since she helped the Mistress go see the Master yesterday, Mammy Huang had not received any news from the Mistress since.

And facing the Master's individual directive, Mammy Huang did not dare to question it lightly...

"Today is a joyous occasion, let's not speak of this first."

Mammy Huang moved to help her up. "The water has gone cold, you must get up quickly."

Xu Ruojin still had questions she wanted to ask, but Chunchao had already walked in carrying undergarments.

Mammy Huang did not step in directly, leaving Chunchao to serve instead.

Xu Ruojin changed her clothes and left the washroom. Sitting before the dressing table, she noticed Mammy Huang was still standing to the side.

Having not seen her for so long, she too had changed...

The aging on her face went without saying, and the ravine-like crease between her brows clearly showed she had not had an easy time of it lately.

Yet why had her father made such an arrangement?

Without an answer, she could not simply chase Mammy Huang away.

Today was a day of great joy; if any further trouble were to arise, the one who would lose face was herself.

"Mammy Huang, your hair-combing skills are the finest. I must ask for your help today."

As Xu Ruojin spoke, Mammy Huang was taken aback.

She had not expected the Second Young Miss to willingly employ her, having half-expected to be driven away or told to fetch the Master in person to prove she was not lying.

"Since the Second Young Miss trusts this old servant, this old servant will overstep."

Mammy Huang picked up the comb and set to work.

When Hongxiang stepped through the door from outside and saw Mammy Huang, she was so startled that her feet froze. Just as she was about to blurt something out, Chunchao cut in first:

"From now on, Mammy Huang is the Second Young Miss's dowry mammy. Hurry and fetch two soft towels; the Second Young Miss's hair is not yet dry."

With those words, Chunchao fiercely pinched the back of Hongxiang's hand. Hongxiang took a sharp breath, snapped back to her senses, and hurried into the inner chamber to retrieve the towels, passing them over.

While Xiao Ke and Yangtao accepted Mammy Huang's addition in quiet silence without much strong feeling, both Hongxiang and Chunchao harbored a profound and instinctive sense of alienation deep within their hearts.

Once the cloud-shaped bun was neatly coiled, Chunchao brought out the phoenix crown and ceremonial hairpins that had been prepared beforehand.

Mammy Huang stopped her from putting them on immediately. "They are very heavy. It will not be late to pin them on after the matron of good fortune arrives to thread the Second Young Miss's face. There is still some time before the bride-welcoming party arrives, no need to rush."

"You are experienced, we shall follow your arrangements."

Xu Ruojin replied with ease. "Will Mother show her face today?"

Mammy Huang shook her head. Xu Ruojin merely furrowed her brow slightly and let the thought go.

Today was a major event for the Xu family. Even if Mammy Huang harbored any personal motives, she would not dare to make a move today; everything would depend on how things stood after entering the Liang estate.

Chunchao, Hongxiang, and the other two maidservants were all inexperienced, so having an experienced mammy by her side was indeed for the best.

As day broke brightly, Mother Chen sent over a table of breakfast.

Xu Ruojin originally intended to eat something simple to get by, but Mammy Huang urged her to eat as much as she could. "You won't be able to grab even a couple of bites until evening, and you've got quite a grueling day ahead of you."

"Then I shall eat a bit more. Once we reach the Liang estate, I have no idea what conditions await."

Xu Ruojin glanced at Chunchao and Hongxiang, who would be serving her closely and accompanying her...

Hongxiang did not stand on ceremony, downing two large bowls of porridge and eating several pastries. Chunchao picked up a plate of food to send out to Xiao Ke and Yangtao in the outer courtyard.

Before she could even hand it over, Qi Er came running in in a flurry. "Second Young Miss, guests have arrived to offer wedding gifts; they will be entering your courtyard immediately."

Mammy Huang acted with utmost decisiveness, issuing orders at once: "Clear away the table quickly and take it out for the maidservants to eat."

Hongxiang immediately went to work, clearing everything away in a flash.

Wondering who could be coming so early to offer wedding gifts, Xu Ruojin sat within the room and gazed toward the courtyard doors.

Two small sedan chairs had landed in the middle of the courtyard, and the accompanying matrons looked somewhat familiar to her.

A few crisp laughs rang out as Yuan Huiling and Zhao Cuiling stepped down.

"Oh, I actually thought Sister Ruojin was hiding under the covers and wouldn't come out, but you're already up! A day of great joy truly makes a difference!"

Facing Yuan Huiling's haughty and sarcastic demeanor, Xu Ruojin kept her composure.

Coming to pick a fight on her wedding day?

How could she possibly tolerate such a thing?