Chapter 159: Heartache

Xu Ruojin did not return the packet of medicine to Fengying. Instead, she had someone instruct Ningxiang to find another packet and brew it for the Fourth Young Master.

Tomorrow would mark the third day since the wedding, the traditional day for the bride to return home to visit her family. Xu Ruojin temporarily set the matter aside to prepare the gifts she needed to bring back to her maiden home, as well as the reward money for the maidservants and old hags.

She had been criticized and gossiped about when she was married off. Now that she was returning for a visit, she had no idea how many people would be watching her every move.

Had it not been for the words spoken by Liang Fangru, she might not have harbored any deliberate desire to show off, but now she intended to return in grand and glorious style.

She wanted those who were waiting to make a fool of her to lift their chins and shut their mouths.

Selecting another set of bright red wedding attire, Xu Ruojin deliberately matched it with her finest hairpins and head ornaments.

As for Chuncao and Hongxing, who were going to accompany her back, she specifically instructed them to wear garments made of high-quality fabric, and even retrieved raccoon pelts from the storeroom to give to them.

Chuncao was overjoyed and worked through the night to make two collars, one for herself and one for Hongxing.

Xu Ruojin additionally gave Xiaoke and Yantao a rat-fur collar each. Not feeling a shred of jealousy toward Chuncao and Hongxing, the two smiled and went to sew them onto their own cotton-padded jackets.

Yantao could not bear to throw away even the tiny remaining scrap; she wove it into a few small flower shapes to serve as button loops for Xu Ruojin's garments.

Having rewarded her own maids, Xu Ruojin did not leave out Ningxiang and Fengying either.

Retrieving a fox pelt, Xu Ruojin had Hongxing deliver it to Fengying. "Take this to her and Ningxiang. How they wish to alter and make it is entirely up to them."

"Such a fine item, and Your Ladyship hasn't even used it yourself yet."

Hongxing felt a pang of reluctance.

Having just been snubbed by Fengying earlier that morning, the Fourth Young Madam was still going to treat them with such kindness...

"Go on, be a good girl and do as I say."

Xu Ruojin offered no further explanation, coaxing Hongxing so she would not throw a childish tantrum.

Swallowing a breath of helpless frustration, Hongxing had no choice but to deliver the pelt.

Before long, Xu Ruojin faintly heard the sounds of an argument drifting in from outside.

"Just a single fox pelt? Didn't you pocket the rest for yourself? There are two of us, you know, me and Ningxiang."

"The Fourth Young Madam didn't even have the heart to keep it for herself and gave it to you instead. What are you still nitpicking about?"

"Listen to you talk. Anyone would think the Fourth Young Madam is so poor she doesn't even have decent things to use..."

"It was given to you, yet you still talk so much nonsense? Chuncao and the rest of us got raccoon pelts; the best one was given to you."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to feel a cut above the rest, is that it?"

With a burst of exasperated footsteps, Hongxing stormed into the room and stomped her foot hard, only to find Xu Ruojin looking straight at her.

There was no need for further scolding; clearly, the Fourth Young Madam had heard everything.

A short while later, Fengying and Ningxiang entered the room to express their gratitude. Raising her head to see Xu Ruojin sitting inside sipping tea, Fengying froze for a moment.

"Thank you, Fourth Young Madam, for your generous reward. We, your humble maids, offer our thanks to Your Ladyship."

The two of them bowed in unison. Xu Ruojin looked at Fengying. "The items are scarce, and there is only this single piece. I do not know if it is enough to make collars for both of you. If nothing else, making a pair of collars should be possible."

With a light chuckle, Xu Ruojin continued, "I am truly entirely clueless when it comes to needlework and embroidery. What do you think?"

Fengying had assumed the Fourth Young Madam was stingy and merely wanted them to feel indebted, but she had not expected such courteous words.

Yet the courtesy did not earn respect, but rather disdain...

"The two collars do need some altering. Though it's not a small task, this maid is still capable of doing it."

"That is good then."

Xu Ruojin smiled and turned her gaze to Ningxiang. "Since Fengying has willingly taken on this task, you should share some of the burden as well. Starting these next few days, you will be the one attending to the Fourth Young Master. Fengying's eyes will grow weary from needlework, so there is no need for her to rise early and toil late."

Ningxiang was instantly stunned. Seeing the Fourth Young Madam looking at her, she immediately bowed and accepted the order.

Fengying's face turned beet red with suppressed anger. She never expected that by boasting of her own competence, she would be caught in a trap set by the Fourth Young Madam, keeping her away from the Fourth Young Master?

"This maid is not afraid of fatigue," Fengying quickly added to remedy the situation.

Xu Ruojin shook her head, adopting an expression of magnanimous consideration as she said,

"Just listen to my arrangement. Once the needlework is done, the two of you sisters can discuss and divide your duties amongst yourselves. I shall not meddle further."

Just as Fengying was about to speak again, Xu Ruojin wiped the smile from her face and stared straight at her.

Ningxiang hastily pulled at Fengying's sleeve. "Why aren't you thanking the Fourth Young Madam?"

Though seething with resentment inside, Fengying knew she could no longer push back, lest she hand them an excuse and have the Madam show her no mercy.

"The Fourth Young Madam is truly considerate of this maid. I am endlessly grateful, and will take my leave now."

Drawing in a sharp breath, Fengying forced out, "This maid will also make sure to finish the work as quickly as possible, so as not to let personal matters delay my service to the Fourth Young Master and the Fourth Young Madam."

"Very well, go along. You are not needed here."

Xu Ruojin waved her hand, and Fengying and Ningxiang immediately withdrew.

Scarcely had they crossed the threshold when Hongxing's bright, hearty laughter rang out...

Stomping her foot in fury, Fengying trotted away in a huff.

Inside the room,

Xu Ruojin cast a reproachful glare at Hongxing. "Disobedient child! I told you not to bicker with her, yet you still had to exchange words!"

"She was simply too atrocious! Saying such things about you and sneering at you—how could this maid possibly endure it?" Hongxing's heart was filled with indignation, her lips poked out almost far enough to reach the outer southern gate.

Xu Ruojin wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. "This time I heard her arguing from inside the room, which forced me to mete out a small punishment. If you ever bicker with her again, I will punish you instead."

Seeing that Xu Ruojin was not joking, Hongxing felt her heart skip a beat.

Yet she truly could not understand why the Fourth Young Madam was so indulgent toward Fengying.

She was merely a maidservant serving the Fourth Young Master, and one sent by Madam Liang not long ago at that. Was all this really necessary?

Mother Huang perceived that the mood was amiss and chided Hongxing.

"In the future, you are forbidden from bickering even when out of sight, and even if you do argue, you must put on a wronged expression. You clever girl, you are usually so sharp, yet how did you become even more foolish upon arriving at the Liang residence? Have you ever seen the Fourth Young Madam come out on the losing end? Hmm?"

Reminded by Mother Huang, Hongxing blinked in sudden realization.

That was true. When had she ever seen her own mistress suffer a loss?

Every single time, it was always the others who came to grief...

Hongxing looked at Xu Ruojin, who simply blinked playfully at her without a word.

Grinning foolishly, Hongxing carved the lesson deep into her heart, anchored even more firmly by trust.

The one she ought to trust above all was her own mistress—she was the cleverest person of all!

When Liang Xiao returned that evening, Fengying and Ningxiang were in the middle of a dispute.

"I am going to serve the Fourth Young Master every single night! Let's see what she can do about it!"

Glaring at Ningxiang, Fengying said, "If you still remember that the two of us are on the same side, listen to me. We have the Madam backing us up; why should we be afraid of her? She thought she could buy both our hearts with a single fox pelt—pah! How could that ever show loyalty to the Madam?"

"I am going tonight, and I will go tomorrow as well. I want to see if she dares to lose her temper at me!"

A bitter expression crossed Ningxiang's face, but unable to stubborn her way past Fengying, she could only watch as the latter snatched up the packet of medicine, letting out a helpless sigh.

At that moment, Xu Ruojin was listening to Liang Xiao outline the arrangements for the next day.

"Two carriages have been arranged, and forty attendant-loads of gifts are prepared to be returned to the Xu family. If you have any other thoughts, voice them all now. There is still time to make preparations tonight."

"Forty attendant-loads of gifts to be returned?"

Xu Ruojin widened her eyes in shock. "Why is that? Why are they being returned?"

"Still being so stingy toward your maiden family?" Liang Xiao looked at her with amusement. "The gift inventory is right here; you may review it and handle it as you see fit."

Xu Ruojin snatched the list away and frantically flipped through it.

If all of these items were to be given away, how much silver would that cost?

Earlier, she had thought that leaving her maiden home with over a hundred attendant-loads of dowry made her exceptionally wealthy; now, thinking about returning nearly half of it, why did her heart ache so terribly?