Chapter 17 Getting to Know People in the East Courtyard
Rather than being familiar with the Chen Mansion, Liu Yu felt that he should first understand the situation in the East Courtyard, as well as what taboos Mr. Chen Sanye had in his daily life.
Faced with Lian Baoer's repeated pleas, Liu Yu flatly refused on the grounds that the things they moved in yesterday had not been sorted out yet, but he also promised her that he would go out with her after the Tao family came to propose marriage.
The two returned to the East Courtyard. Lian Baoer was still a little sulky, so he didn't go back to Qinyuanju with her.
Although the things brought yesterday were almost sorted, it would be difficult for Guyu and the others to classify the books, flowers, etc. without her instructions.
Guyu's maids are smart, but they know only a limited number of words. They also don't like the placement of flowers and plants in the yard, as others have done, so they may not be what they like.
When she went to pay her respects to the old lady in the morning, she was wearing a wide-sleeved gauze shirt, which made it very inconvenient to work. As soon as she returned to Qinyuanju, she called Guyu to help her change into a narrow-sleeved shirt.
After changing her clothes, she did not sit idle either. She went to the side room, which she had marked out to store books and some precious embroidery.
That’s right. Ever since she asked someone to take the handkerchief to the Nanshi neighborhood last time, Ah Zhong unexpectedly received several orders for custom-made clothes. She carefully stored the precious fabrics provided by the customers together with her books.
She would feel more at ease if she did these things herself, and the side room had already been cleaned spotlessly by Guyu and the others.
Liu Yu opened several boxes, three boxes of books and two boxes of cotton and silk fabrics.
Her books are very diverse, not only story books, but also a few books of poetry and prose, as well as strategies.
"Guyu, these books should be arranged according to categories. I have posted them on the bookshelf." As she said this, she picked up a handful of books, walked to the bookshelf, and put the books into each grid according to their types.
Seeing that Guyu had difficulty sorting the books, Liu Yu took the books from her arms and put them on the bookshelf, and simply asked Guyu to move them. She sorted and arranged them, with clear division of labor.
Both of them were very tired, and it took about two hours for her to come out.
As soon as she stepped into the main room, she saw Master Chen San sitting at the table with his eyes closed. He was only wearing a crescent-white inner lining. When he fell asleep, he no longer had the aloofness that he usually showed, nor the fierce and imposing aura of a high-ranking official. At this moment, he was elegant and gentle, as if a layer of light had been cast around him.
He was awake when she entered the room.
He opened his eyes and saw a pair of eyes as pure as Xiao Lu's staring at him.
The corners of Mr. Chen San's lips curled up unconsciously, but when his eyes touched her dusty body, his brows wrinkled slightly, but his expression returned to normal in an instant.
It was so fast that Liu Yu thought he was having an illusion.
Liu Yu smiled and walked in:
"Didn't you get a good rest yesterday, Third Master?" He reached out and poured him a cup of tea.
Mr. Chen San did not answer. He rubbed his eyebrows, reached out to take the drink and took two sips.
Feng Mo, who was standing nearby, saw this and took over Liu Yu's words:
"The Third Master was busy in the study until very late last night."
Liu Yu understood, and seeing the black spots under his eyes, he said with concern:
"Third Master is busy with official duties, so please take care of your health."
Mr. Chen San nodded and his eyes fell on her dusty body.
Liu Yu smiled and explained:
"I just helped to organize the books."
Fearing that he might have mysophobia, she took two steps back, put down the teapot in her hand, and bowed to Master Chen San: "Master San, I will go downstairs to change my clothes. Can you wait for a moment?"
"Okay." Mr. Chen nodded, and after Liu Yu walked out, he instructed Feng Mo behind him:
"Go to the palace and ask them to send two literate maids over. Also ask the steward to bring all the servants and account books from the East Courtyard."
Feng Mo was surprised. Is the master planning to let Lady Liu manage the East Courtyard? But Lady Liu is just a concubine, how could it not be her turn? And it was the second day after Lady Liu entered the mansion. Wouldn't it be bad if this got out? The master was going to marry a wife in the future.
However, the master always keeps his word, so Feng Mo could only step back and do as he was told.
It wasn’t a big deal that there were no women in the East Courtyard before, but now Liu Yu and Lian Baoer are suddenly here, and it’s no longer a good idea for the backyard to be the same as before.
Compared to Lian Baoer, Liu Yu is obviously more suitable.
Although he didn't understand the affairs of the rear house, looking at the situation in Qinyuanju, there was not even a servant or maid. The people below might be trying to make a show of force. If he didn't make it clear and give them a warning, her life in the East Courtyard would be difficult in the future.
Soon Liu Yu came out after dressing up and changing her clothes, and saw servants and maids all over the yard. Master Chen San was sitting in the rocking chair in the main hall that she had not yet moved into the room, with his eyes closed, as if he could sense someone was watching him.
Mr. Chen San raised his eyelids.
Her gaze collided directly with his inky black eyes, and her heartbeat slowed down unconsciously. . .
Mr. Chen smiled faintly and waved at her: "Come here."
Liu Yu came back to her senses, her cheeks flushed slightly, she immediately looked away, turned her head to look at the people in the yard, walked towards him, and asked in confusion:
"Third Master, why are there so many servants?"
She just asked Ah Zhong to go out and inquire about the news of the East Courtyard, and that was done secretly. There was no reason for so many people to come! There was only one answer, these people were called by the person in front of him.
But why did he call these people here? Did he want to support her?
Could she say no? Seeing the look in Aunt Hua's eyes, Liu Yu felt that there would be no more days in the other courtyard in the future.
Nanny Hua was transferred from Shou'an Hall, and she watched Master Chen San grow up. In the East Courtyard, she was proud of her status and always acted like the master.
All affairs in the East Courtyard and the rear quarters are also managed by Nanny Hua.
Two days ago, Mr. Chen San found her personally and asked her to clear out the two best courtyards in the East Courtyard and give them to concubines who were brought in. She was very alarmed and decided to teach them a lesson, so she deliberately did not report it.
Unexpectedly, I was summoned to Qinyuanju the next day.
At the same time, I was wondering, didn't my wife rest in Tingzhu Pavilion last night?
Looking at the situation, Nanny Hua had some vague guesses about what the Third Master was going to do, and she felt increasingly uneasy.
The look he gave Liu Yu was one of deep vigilance.
Aunt Hua stepped forward, looked at Mr. Chen San in the room and saluted, then asked nervously:
"Third Master, do you want to ask us to come here to tell you something?"
Mr. Chen ignored Nanny Hua and called the East Courtyard Manager:
"Manager Lin, take Aunt Liu to meet some people, and let her handle the affairs of the East Courtyard."
At this moment, another guard of Master Chen San, Feng Xiao, hurried into Qinyuanju:
"Third Master, the Emperor urgently summons you..."
"What happened?" Mr. Chen San stopped what he was doing, stood up with a cold expression, said to Liu Yu, "Wait until I'm done," and left Qinyuanju.