C13

Mo Chu's respectful voice sounded from outside the door, "Madam, the third lady and Concubine Ning are here."

The smile in Madame SHen's eyes dimmed a little, and she said calmly: "Let them in."

The three young ladies, Ye Jinxian and Concubine Ning, entered the house and respectively bowed towards the Madame SHen.

"Mother."

"Madam."

The Madame SHen waved her hand, "Get up and sit. Hui Xiu, serve tea for the three miss and the Concubine Ning."

"Yes." Hui Xiu replied.

Ye Jinxian and Concubine Ning sat on the left and right side of the small Wooden Pellet.

"You're still running outside in the heat? What would happen if you got hit by the heat?" Although Madame SHen's tone was distant, it revealed a hint of concern.

The light in Jin Lan's eyes flickered, and he silently raised his eyes to size up Concubine Ning.

Her eyebrows were like the bright moon, and her face was like a bright moon. She wore a Ginkgo colored double-striped satin dress, and her waist was tied with a brocade belt that outlined her slender waist. She didn't look like a woman who had already passed her twenties. A pair of Southern Pearl earrings hung from her round earlobes. Her lowered eyebrows were pleasant to the eye, and she looked like an orchid blooming in the middle of a valley. She appeared even more gentle and refined.

This Concubine Ning had been serving Ye Lin since childhood, and before Madame SHen even entered the room, she had become Ye Lin's concubine. From the looks of it, he was quite extraordinary, just that her personality was too soft. Even the Concubine Shao was able to climb up faster than her, and only helped her become an aunt after Ye Jinxian was born.

However, even if she had a reputation, she was still someone with an uncontainable character and couldn't wait to disappear in front of everyone's eyes. When Madame SHen first entered the courtyard, apart from the morning when she was unconscious, she had almost never taken a step outside of the courtyard. Now that the Madame SHen was bedridden, after being relieved of the need to pay respects, it was even more simple and did not show her face. If not for the fact that Ye Lin reminisced about his old friendship and went over to sit at her place for a while from time to time, he probably would have forgotten that there was such a person in the residence even from the bottom of the Ye Family.

In his previous life, although Jin Lan was close to Ye Jinxian, he didn't have many opportunities to see her. Looking at her now, this Concubine Ning's personality was as calm as the rumors say.

The Concubine Ning smiled humbly, "Madam, where are you saying this? This servant is here to pay respects to you, it is only right for me to do so. I am just afraid that I will disturb you." As she spoke, she opened the box she had been holding in her hand. "I made a concoction for my wife, but I don't know if it fits."

A jade-green color spread out from Concubine Ning's hands, like rippling lake light, with a thousand ripples, and lifelike peach blossoms embroidered at the bottom of her clothes. At first glance, it looked like flowing water reflecting falling flowers, and her mental state was being born.

Madame SHen praised: "Your Female Red has become more and more proficient."

Concubine Ning carefully folded the weasel in her hand and put it back into the embroidered box, "As long as Madam does not mind me making it rough."

Jin Lan couldn't help but glance at the brocade box on the table. This piece of emerald colored satin was extremely beautiful, and it would probably take a lot of effort for the best embroidery lady in the mansion to produce it, right?

Madame SHen looked at Concubine Ning who was sitting upright, and sighed after a long time: "Ru Lan, it's been so many years, you haven't changed one bit."

Concubine Ning looked up and quickly lowered her head. She muttered: "Madam … "It hasn't changed either."

Madame SHen was startled, but then her eyes immediately revealed traces of bitterness. Yesterday, the person was more delicate than a flower, but today, it was overshadowed. How could it be said that she hadn't changed from the proud spring breeze to the sickly bed?

Although Jin Lan was paying attention to the Concubine Ning, Ye Wen did not neglect the Madame SHen. Seeing his downcast expression, the hand that was grabbing her couldn't help but tighten.

Madame SHen understood her daughter's thoughts, so she gave Jin Lan a comforting look, and laughed: "Forget about all this nonsense, it's fine if you came alone, why did you bring Jinxian here too? Not to mention the fact that the sun is high outside, it would be bad if you come here and get sick. "

"Did my mother despise me?" Ye Jinxian answered ahead of the Concubine Ning. She blinked her bright eyes, pouted her lips, with a wronged look on her face, "Even the Second Sister Sis can come, why can't I? Mother was clearly afraid that I would finish all of the delicious pastries in the Shuixie Pavilion. " Her tone was sweet and innocent, like a naive child who had no experience in the world. She didn't seem angry at all when she heard it, but she felt cute and mischievous at the same time.

The corner of Madame SHen's mouth rose in a smile, "Look at this little mouth, the reason why you are here is for the pastries." He then looked towards Hui Xiu who was carrying the tea to the side and waiting at the side, "Go and see if there are any pastries, bring them here for our three young misses to have a taste."

Hui Xiu laughed, "This servant remembers that the morning kitchen made rose cake and a hibiscus cake, and it should still be hot, this servant will go and bring it over right away."

Concubine Ning's lips slightly closed, as though she wanted to say something, but after looking at the happy Ye Jinxian, she finally chose to remain silent.

Ye Jinxian happily got up and kneeled in front of Madame SHen: "Thank you, mother!" He then looked at Jin Lan with a burning gaze. "Second Sister Sis, now we have something good to eat."

Looking at Ye Jinxian whose eyes lit up like a greedy cat smelling fish, Jin Lan covered his sleeves and laughed. Even the Madame SHen could not help but chuckle.

For a moment the room was happy.

Before Hui Xiu could even bring out the pastries, Mo Chu called out from outside: "Madam, First Miss and Concubine Shao are here."

Silence filled the room. Jin Lan subconsciously raised his head to look at the door. Why were they here?

"Come in." After a moment of silence, the Madame SHen finally spoke. The smile that was originally on her face disappeared without a trace, and was replaced with an endless indifference.

Mo Chu lifted the curtain and Concubine Shao entered the house. Behind the two of them were Su Xin and Si Ling, who was still holding onto a round cyan and white jar with glazed flowers. Seeing that there were so many people in the room, Concubine Shao was slightly surprised, then she laughed: "So Third Young Miss and Big Sister Ning are also here." Without waiting for Concubine Ning to react, she immediately bowed to him, "Madam."

Ever since Ye Jinwei entered the room, she had not glanced at the Concubine Ning and Ye Jinxian at all, as if they were transparent air. After seeing the Concubine Shao greet him, she also kneeled down, "Mother."

After Ye Jinwei greeted her, Jin Lan nodded at her. "Big sister."

However, Ye Jinxian stood up and said, "Big sister."

Ye Jinwei maintained a certain degree of gentleness towards Jin Lan, "Second sister." When she looked at Ye Jinxian, her eyes seemed to have a hint of coldness, "Third sister."

Madame SHen's lower jaw slightly rose, "Sit."

Seeing that, the Concubine Ning immediately got up and sat below Ye Jinxian, and gave him the seat on the right. But Concubine Shao did not follow her instructions and sat down. Instead, she took the porcelain jar from Su Xin's hand and laughed: "This is a Candied Begonia from the Soup Temple, it is the most sour and sweet of all. Eating a pill will remove the bitterness in your mouth, I especially brought it for you to taste."

Amongst them, candied Begonia were the rarest. They only sold a small jar each day, and even if one was rich, it was not certain that they would be able to buy it. The Concubine Shao was busy with matters of power, she did not have the time to bother with them. Presumably, it was Ye Lin who brought him here.

Madame SHen laughed coldly in her heart, she glanced at the porcelain jar in Concubine Shao's hands and said: "Thank you for your trouble."

"If Madame likes it, I'll send someone to buy more from the Sapidity Temple." Concubine Shao personally placed the porcelain jar on the round table beside her bed. Then, he turned around and returned to the seat that Concubine Ning had given him and sat down.

Seeing Concubine Shao flattering him in front of Madame SHen, Jin Lan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. The scene from last night was still vivid in her mind. She didn't believe that the other party had specially come to deliver the candied fruits. However, with what Ye Lin had said last night, the Concubine Shao should not have thought about it anymore.

Thinking of this, a hint of worry surfaced in her eyes.

Sure enough, after sitting for a while, Concubine Shao opened her mouth and said, "Today, I have something I want to ask Madam for."

Madame SHen looked at Concubine Shao and asked, "What is it?"

Seeing Madame SHen's gaze, Concubine Shao could not help but sit up, "According to the rules, this year, there will be a group of servants in the house. Attendant has reached the age where they should be released, I am here to ask Madam for her permission.

"According to the rules, I'll do whatever I have to do." After a long while, Madame SHen's indifferent voice came out from the house.

As if he was waiting for Madame SHen's words, the smile on Concubine Shao's face became even wider, "Just that, of the maids released this year, Man Ping and Hui Xiu are also included."