Four Seasons Brocade – CH 110

Chapter 110 ☆、

Chu Mao did not step into the Yulan Hall again until dinner time, but the short time before that was enough for Zi-Shan to tell Ah Wu the information she had gathered.

“The Prince’s study is called the Bingxue Forest in the southeast corner of the garden. Behind the Bingxue Forest is a large orchard. The Princess will know how to get there once she sees the orchard.”

“The Prince often receives guests at the Xu Xian Hall in the garden.”

“The Prince is used to practicing a set of boxing exercises morning and evening, right next to the Qing Lai Pavilion.”

Every word Zi-Shan spoke revolved around Prince Qi, Chu Mao. Ah Wu could not help but glance at her. Zi-Shan was precocious, and her face flushed when Ah Wu looked at her. It was not that she had any particular thoughts, but seeing such a handsome and ethereal person, even a heart made of stone would skip a beat. However, Zi-Shan was not one to be delicate. She quickly explained, “This servant thought that in this mansion, Miss’s greatest support is still the Prince, so I wanted to find out his preferences first, to avoid offending him and making things difficult later.” To be honest, Zi-Shan still preferred to address Ah Wu as “Miss.”

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After Zi-Shan finished speaking, she was glared at by Nanny Sang. She shrank back. “This servant was in a moment of panic and almost forgot. Nanny, please do not punish me.”

“I also think calling me ‘Miss’ sounds better,” Ah Wu said protectively of Zi-Shan. After so many years of mistress and servant, Ah Wu did not believe Zi-Shan would betray her for a little scheming. Besides, Ah Wu thought this was good. If Zi-Shan willingly helped her win over Chu Mao, it was better than letting someone else get him, and it would also fulfill Zi-Shan’s feelings—why not?

However, she could not make decisions for Chu Mao now, so Ah Wu could not guarantee anything and could not say she would not keep her promise.

Seeing that Ah Wu’s expression was calm and showed no sign of reproach, Zi-Shan continued boldly, “Miss, why name a perfectly good study ‘Bingxue Forest’? It sounds rather cold, and it’s clearly a room, so why use ‘forest’?”

Zi-Shan was a restless soul. Back when Ah Wu had taught her and Zi-Yan to read and write, she could only recognize a few hundred characters before becoming unable to sit still, so her literacy level was not actually very high.

The name “Bingxue ^{(snow and ice)} Forest” reminded Ah Wu of a poem: “In snow and ice forest enclosed; No peach nor plum blossoms’ scent blows; Unbidden one night, arises a pure fragrance; Spreading spring ten thousand miles of the vast expanse.”

The preceding aloofness and the following ambition were all contained within the three characters of “Bingxue Forest,” and Chu Mao’s current predicament also fitted the description of “Bingxue Forest.” But of course, these thoughts could not be told to Zi-Shan. Ah Wu said, “I told you to study more, but you would not listen. Now you are making things difficult for me. I cannot be bothered with you.”

A moment later, Chu Mao entered, and the people around Ah Wu dispersed. Ah Wu rose to greet Chu Mao, then he went to the washroom to change his clothes before coming out. It was time to set the table for dinner.

Dinner was served in the west side room: four dishes and a soup: sweet and sour cucumber, braised deer tendon in a casserole, fish slices in cream sauce, wild fern, and Longjing bamboo fungus soup. Although the dishes were few, they were exquisitely prepared and served in bowls and plates painted with pink backgrounds and green peach leaves, looking quite neat. However, with Ah Wu’s discerning eye, although the table was arranged in a uniform style, the dishes did not actually complement the food, failing to whet the appetite.

No matter how leisurely and indifferent the Fourth Prince Chu Mao appeared on the surface, Ah Wu knew he was actually a very busy man, his mind full of schemes. Although he had excellent taste, he did not have time to concern himself with even the simplest details, like the selection of cups, plates, and chopsticks.

Ah Wu’s lips curled up slightly. Perhaps this was a good breakthrough.

After the highest-ranking member of the Prince’s household took his seat, Ah Wu slowly sat down. Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng stood on either side of Chu Mao and Ah Wu, offering each of them a cup of light tea. The tea was extremely weak; she held it in her mouth, swirled it around, and then spat it into a bowl brought by a maid before beginning her meal.

Ah Wu glanced at Zi-Zhui, who had been pushed aside, and glared at her, as if to say, “You good-for-nothing.” Zi-Zhui glanced at Mei-Meng’s shapely buttocks, as if to say, “Miss, you do not know how powerful her buttocks are. With one twist and a push, she pushed me aside.”

“Let’s eat,” Chu Mao said to Ah Wu, taking the first bite.

Ah Wu glanced at the arrangement of chopsticks and dishes on the table. Seeing that Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng each had a pair of serving chopsticks beside them, she knew Chu Mao definitely did not like people putting their saliva-covered chopsticks into the food; only serving chopsticks were allowed.

Ah Wu was not oblivious to this, so she glanced at the refreshing-looking sweet and sour melon she was about to try. After waiting three breaths without Mei-Meng making a move, Ah Wu thought, “This is a subtle way of putting her in a difficult position. Quite clever,” she thought. She could use the excuse of not knowing Ah Wu’s preferences to get away with it. But given Mei-Meng’s ability to become Chu Mao’s head maid, this little thing should not be difficult for her.

Ah Wu understood but did not say anything. She picked up her chopsticks, but before she could even lift them slightly, Mei-Meng picked up a pair of serving chopsticks and put the food on Ah Wu’s plate.

“Princess, please just tell me what dishes you like. I would not dare trouble you to do it,” Mei-Meng said softly.

Ah Wu, instead of being angry, smiled and said to Chu Mao, “I am used to being waited on hand and foot. I do not have many opportunities to do things myself. Even just lifting my chopsticks while eating is a way to keep moving, so my hands do not become useless. I prefer to do things myself.” Ah Wu’s words were laced with barbs, also a subtle way of telling Chu Mao not to be lazy. This was not a mother-in-law making things difficult for her daughter-in-law; it was just a casual meal. Why make such a fuss?

Mei-Meng had come at the perfect time. Could Ah Wu not have timed it perfectly? She had to return to her parents’ home tomorrow. Chu Mao could not let her complain as soon as she got home. Master Rong was his teacher; even as a prince, respect for one’s teacher was essential.

Chu Mao looked at Ah Wu, a slight smile playing on his lips. He found it rather interesting. Even the proud He Peizhen and Tao Siyao, when they entered the mansion as arrogant as peacocks, never retaliated so openly when Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng tried to bully them like this.

Ah Wu instantly understood Chu Mao’s meaning. The purpose of marrying a virtuous wife was, of course, to manage the entire household well, so the man would not have to worry about the home while he was out working. If the mistress of the household could be easily bullied by a maid, she was certainly an unqualified mistress and certainly not a qualified princess or the future Empress.

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Ah Wu was bound to target Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng; if you were going to kill chickens, you had to kill the two biggest hens. Thinking of this, Ah Wu chuckled inwardly, a rather unkind smile playing on her lips.

But it was not without reason that Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng were going against Ah Wu on the second day after she entered the mansion. This was a major issue of territorial disputes. If they had not suppressed Ah Wu now and shown her their power, given Ah Wu’s looks, once she developed feelings for the prince, they would have been doomed.

But things were different now. The new princess, Ah Wu, had only been in the mansion for two days and did not consummate her marriage with the prince last night, showing he did not care much for her. The sisters, however, were different. They had been with Chu Mao for eight years; they had developed a bond with even a dog. Now, by secretly competing with Ah Wu in front of Chu Mao, it was easy to imagine that Chu Mao would favor the two beautiful maids. At least this theory had been proven true with the Concubines He and Tao.

Moreover, if Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng suppressed Ah Wu now, knowing Chu Mao as they did, they would know he would not like such a timid mistress. This would also show the whole household whether the Princess Consort or the sisters were more powerful and prevent them from rushing to curry favor just because a new mistress had arrived.

In an ordinary household, Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng, no matter how bold, would not dare to oppose the mistress. But in Prince Qi’s mansion, it was different. There were too many factions here. Not to mention the people behind the scenes; just Lady He and Lady Tao alone were enough to give this mistress, Ah Wu, a hard time. Therefore, Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng figured that even if they offended Ah Wu, it would not be a big deal. In the future, if this mistress wanted to suppress the two concubines, she might have to humbly try to win over these two maids who served the prince closely.

Moreover, Mei-Ying and Mei-Meng were used to being the big sisters in the mansion; they were the type who could not bow down, not even to the Princess Consort. It was a matter of personality.

These two were shrewd. Before Chu Mao could speak, Mei-Meng interrupted Ah Wu, saying, “Your Highness, the Prince does not like people using used chopsticks to pick up food.”

Mei-Ying remained silent, head bowed, continuing to serve food to Chu Mao.

Ah Wu had a rough idea of ​​their personalities. She ignored Mei-Meng; a lowly maid was not worth arguing with as the Princess.

So Ah Wu turned to Zi-Zhui, “Zi-Zhui, you can go now. There are too many people; I cannot eat.”

Zi-Zhui quickly left. Ah Wu then glanced at Mei-Meng. “You can go too. I do not need anyone to serve me.” Mei-Meng then saw Ah Wu pick up the serving chopsticks, place a piece of soft, braised deer tendon on her plate, and then switch to her own chopsticks to eat. Her movements were elegant and graceful, as if she had been using chopsticks like this her entire life.

Mei-Meng was naturally unwilling to accept this. Seeing Chu Mao remain unmoved, she realized she was the prince’s maid, not the princess’s.

Ah Wu glanced at Mei-Meng, then at Chu Mao, her brows furrowing slightly, perfectly conveying a poignant sense of unspoken grievance. She, a princess, could not even command a mere maid.

In truth, beauty, when used well, could be a powerful weapon, and Ah Wu’s weapon, if judged by swords, was at least as fine as the legendary swords Mo Xie or Gan Jiang.

However, whether Chu Mao was concerned about Ah Wu’s furrowed brows or her father, who was her teacher, Chu Mao spoke up, “You may leave now.”

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Mei-Meng glanced at Mei-Ying, and seeing that Mei-Ying did not speak up for her, she reluctantly retreated to the door, waiting outside.

Originally, the first contest between Ah Wu, Mei-Ying, and Mei-Meng should have ended here—a wise decision to stop while one was ahead—but clearly, Mei-Ying had misjudged the situation.