Chapter 033
Chapter 33: The Gossip Sisters
The three sisters had been lively on the way to Green Briar Court, but when they left, they were just as quiet and lonely.
They walked with drooping heads behind the guiding maid, and no one dared to speak first. The air felt heavy with one shared thought: [A great trouble is coming.]
Grandmother’s blade sharp stare still pierced their hearts and would not come out. Only when they reached the turn of the covered walkway and were sure they were far from Green Briar Court did Lin Yu Jiao stop and grab Lin Yu Ning’s small arm: “This is all your fault.”
Even lowered, her anger almost burst out as she hissed: “I told you not to talk nonsense and not to speak first. Now look what happened. Grandmother is going to clean up the whole manor. None of us can escape.”
Lin Yu Ning’s arm hurt under her grip; her little face turned red and tears filled her eyes. She shook off Lin Yu Jiao’s hand, wronged and choking up: “How was I supposed to know it would end like this. I told the truth. Xiao Tao told Chun Cao, and Chun Cao told me. Grandmother usually loves me the most, so I thought…”
Lin Yu Jiao snapped without thinking, words flying out: “You thought what. Who do you think you are. With that tiny bit of cleverness, do you think you can stand before Grandmother. Now you have dragged all of us into this. When they check the whole house, they will start with our courtyards first. Are you happy now.”
Lin Yu Wan could not bear it anymore; she spun around, eyes cold and stern, making the two Little Sisters shiver, and burst out: “Enough. Both of you, be quiet. Is this the time to push blame around.”
She took a deep breath, chest heaving, and hammered each word: “Grandmother has already spoken. Do you think this is a joke. Instead of blaming each other here, hurry back to your own courtyards and keep your people in line.”
Her gaze fixed on the youngest, voice stricter than ever: “Especially you, Lin Yu Ning. Your Head Maid, Chun Cao, must stop dealing with Xiao Tao from Elder Uncle’s Manor. That Xiao Tao likes to stir trouble. I do not care how you do it, make them shut their mouths at once. And if your Head Maid still cannot control her tongue, she will be sold off.”
She added without mercy: “Grandmother said she will send a Nanny over tomorrow. If they find any gossiping servants in your courtyard, the first to lose face will be you.”
Lin Yu Ning trembled at the scolding, and her tears fell in big drops. She wanted to argue, but one look at her eldest sister’s icy face and she could not say a word.
Lin Yu Jiao wilted too. She knew the eldest was right. The storm their gossip started was now out of control. Now the most important thing was to protect themselves.
Still unwilling, Lin Yu Jiao asked softly, trying one last time: “Eldest Sister, then what about Elder Cousin’s situation.”
Lin Yu Wan glared: “Do not bring it up again. Do you think we have not caused enough trouble. From now on, no one is to mention Elder Cousin or that maid. The manor will be fixed up, and we will start by keeping our own mouths shut.”
With that, she ignored her two Little Sisters, lifted her skirt, and hurried back to her courtyard. Her back looked firm and heavy.
Lin Yu Jiao and Lin Yu Ning stayed where they were and looked at each other. The cheerful “gossip sisters” from moments ago had now fallen apart. A cold wind blew. Lin Yu Jiao shivered, forgot to cry, grabbed her maid, and ran back in a panic.
Only Lin Yu Ning was left standing in the wind. Her small body looked especially thin in the large manor. She wiped her tears, feeling both wronged and afraid, and grumbled inside: [A second ago they wanted me to ask around, and the next second they both blamed me. Those two heartless sisters.] She sniffled and muttered as she cried: “I will never share any tips with you again…” But everyone knew how Xiao Yu Ning was. Once the storm passed, in a couple of days she would be saying Sister this and Sister that all over again.
In the servants’ quarters, Xiao Tao threw herself into her mother Nanny Zhang’s arms and burst into tears: “Mother, why. Why can Yao Xiao Man go to Auspicious Cloud Residence but I cannot.”
She sobbed so hard she could barely breathe, pounding Nanny Zhang’s back, full of unwillingness: “How am I worse than her. Looks, I am prettier. Figure, I move better. If the Eldest Grandson Young Master saw me, there would be no room in his eyes for that wooden stump.”
Nanny Zhang had served in the Heir Apparent Manor for decades and had seen every kind of storm. She sighed, patted her daughter’s back, and spoke with patience: “Silly girl, the master has his own reasons. How could servants like us guess them. Your father is at least the Second Steward of the West Court. Our family does not live worse than others. Do your work honestly, and when the time comes I will find you a good match. Isn’t that fine.”
Xiao Tao shoved her away, eyes red and blazing: “What good match. I do not care for it. Who in the manor is not jealous. He is the Eldest Grandson Young Master, the only Heir Grandson. Whoever can reach him is half a master and will be rich for life.”
Nanny Zhang gave a cold laugh: “Riches. I have seen too many maids who ruined themselves. Who had a good end. Some were beaten half to death by the Household Matriarch. Some were married off to any lowly runner just to be sent away. Worse, some were shipped to the estates, never to return. Auspicious Cloud Residence was peaceful before because the Eldest Grandson Young Master focused only on worship. Now the First Madam has personally sent someone in there. The water runs deep. Can you not see how all the old hands are shrinking their necks and do not dare to move. Only you are foolish and rush forward.”
Xiao Tao yelled, stubborn to the core: “I do not care. I refuse to accept this.” It was hard to persuade someone bent on trouble. She wiped her tears, and the fire inside burned hotter. She refused to accept fate. If Yao Xiao Man could do it, why could she not.
At once she found three other maids who shared her flying dreams. They put their heads together and decided to give Yao Xiao Man a hard warning.
On the third day, the chance came. The Eldest Grandson Young Master went out with Shi Tou to teach the Dharma. The steward’s Granny Chen slipped out to play flower cards. Old Chen had eaten lunch and was napping. The entire Auspicious Cloud Residence had only Yao Xiao Man left.
Xiao Tao waved her hand and gave the order: “Go.” With three girls who shared her Concubine dream, she marched on Auspicious Cloud Residence with fierce momentum.