Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 165 Entering the Mansion as a Consort to Protect the Second Sister

The fourth young lady's words were abrupt and harsh, so much so that the entire room fell silent.

The third young lady was immediately covered in cold sweat. Fortunately, this was in the Tang residence. If the fourth sister had spoken so recklessly outside, comparing the princess to a maidservant, she would have committed a grave offense of disrespect.

Hua Yan continued holding the plate, feeling utterly foolish in the face of the Fourth Miss's provocation. After a moment of stunned silence, Dong Gua's face showed a hint of anger, but as a maid, she had no right to speak in front of her masters.

However, when Consort Zhen returned to the Tang family, she became the incomparably beautiful legitimate daughter of the Tang family.

The second young lady said coldly, "I haven't seen you for a few days. I never thought that my fourth sister would be so arrogant. How dare you, a mere concubine's daughter, comment on the princess's appearance? Not to mention the princess, even the maids around her are not for you to talk about."

The fourth young lady's eyes were red, and her eyes darted around again: "Second sister, why do you belittle me like this? I only meant well. Hua Yan is born with a foxy look. She has been living a life of luxury in Yunyi Courtyard all these years. I'm afraid even the young ladies of ordinary wealthy families can't compare to her. If she is even better than the princess, and later gains the prince's favor and develops inappropriate thoughts, what will you do, sister?"

Hua Yan narrowed her eyes slightly. The Fourth Miss had always harbored resentment towards the legitimate daughters of the household, and these words didn't seem like something she would say. Moreover, she had already entered the household with her mistress, so if these words were meant to express concern for the Second Miss, it would seem too late.

The third young lady wanted to offer some words of advice, but upon hearing this, she immediately lowered her head and remained silent.

The lady and the old lady personally selected the maidservant for the second sister's dowry, which shows they had given it a lot of thought. The younger sister's words were not only superfluous, but also malicious, with the intention of sowing discord between the mistress and the servant.

The wet nurse was right. After the New Year and her birthday in June, she would be of marriageable age and it was time to make plans for herself. She dared not and did not want to get involved anymore.

Now she finally understood that Aunt Lu and her sixth sister were the most pragmatic. Over the years, not only had her sixth sister been closest to her fifth and seventh sisters, but Aunt Lu had also frequently made incense to please her stepmother and the old lady. Now, whenever there was something good in the mansion, the old lady would never forget to send a portion to her sixth sister's courtyard.

Su Wanwan was stunned for a long time. Her gaze unconsciously swept over Hua Yan, and she was also amazed. She had seen Hua Yan's real appearance before. Although she didn't know what she had used to cover it up, her eyebrows and eyes still gave people a very comfortable feeling.

Before her marriage, Madam Su had told her about the Tang family, including Hua Yan. So Su Wanwan sat quietly and, seeing that the second young lady seemed very angry, reached out and pressed her hand to comfort her.

Madam Yun put down her spoon and stopped the second young lady from speaking. In the past, she could let the old lady off the hook because of the kinship between the old lady and Aunt Wen, but today, this girl could not be allowed to stay.

The fourth young lady remained oblivious, but she no longer pretended to be innocent; the words "illegitimate daughter" filled her with intense jealousy.

"Besides, this is in our own residence. What's wrong with a few casual remarks? Do you think anyone would dare to spread them around?"

"Aunt... I was just trying to remind you and Mother that, according to the rules, even though the maids are chosen from the dowry, we should still choose someone trustworthy. Which of the servants from our Tang family's collateral branches or the household's servants isn't more loyal and reliable than that vixen's beautiful face?"

Madam Yun looked at the Fourth Miss and asked a meaningful question: "Oh? In your opinion, Fourth Miss, who would be more suitable to be your Second Sister's concubine?"

The fourth young lady was overjoyed to hear her stepmother speak, and immediately said, "We are both Father's daughters. Let my second sister mention to the Prince that my third sister and... could enter the manor as a seventh-rank concubine. Then, with sisters working together, wouldn't it be even better to protect my second sister..."

The third young lady was terrified by her younger sister. She had never entertained such thoughts before, and her face turned deathly pale—it turned out that her sister had gone through all this trouble just because she had such a stupid idea!

The old lady slammed her hand on the table and said heavily, "Shut up! You're spouting nonsense and have no shame!"

"Very well, Aunt Wen must be lonely all alone in Lin'an. Fourth Sister, go back to your courtyard and pack your things, then go to Lin'an to keep your aunt company immediately. Suwen, go and supervise her packing."

Suwen responded and walked up to the Fourth Miss.

The fourth young lady began to panic. Seeing that her elder sister beside her remained silent and that her stepmother had not looked at her directly from beginning to end, her heart sank.

Aunt is right. The old lady will only truly care for Second Sister. If they don't fight for their own marriages, they might not even be as good as First Sister back then.

"Why should I? Even if I said something wrong and disrespected the Princess at the beginning, what does it matter? Besides, I didn't say anything wrong. Third Sister is already fifteen years old this year. Since the family can find a good marriage for Second Sister, why can't we? Why does the old lady still have the heart to send me to Lin'an?"

The fourth young lady exclaimed in surprise, looking utterly aggrieved. "If my second sister can become a concubine, does that mean we can't even dream of being a mere concubine...?"

"Snapped!"

Before the Fourth Miss could finish speaking, the Third Miss's blood boiled with anger. She suddenly stood up and, unable to hold back any longer, slapped the Fourth Miss hard across the face.

She trembled with rage, her voice hoarse with fury: "You dare to have such a foolish thought? Don't try to use me as a scapegoat! We're siblings from the same mother! Have you lost your mind? Old lady, Mother, I'll take her away to reflect on her actions right now..."

Seeing the old lady hesitate, as if she were about to gently put the item down again, Madam Yun said coldly:

"No need for that, Granny Wei. Gag Fourth Sister, and there's no need to pack her luggage. The estate has nothing to lack. Immediately cut off her hair and escort her to the side gate. Instruct Zheng Shan to personally deliver her to Lin'an. She shall never step out of the estate again in her lifetime."

The personal maids of the young ladies in the flower hall were all silent with fear, wishing they could plug their ears and close their eyes. If even the slightest hint of this scene were revealed, they would not be able to stay in the Tang residence.

The fourth young lady stood frozen in place, clutching her swollen cheek. She was shocked to realize that things were not going as her aunt had predicted. A chill ran from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, and fear flashed in her eyes. Her sharp voice was almost hoarse.

She first said fiercely to the third young lady, "We are all doing this for your own good. You don't appreciate it, and you even dare to hit me."

Then, she said viciously to Madam Yun, "Mother has finally revealed her true venomous nature! You can't treat me like this! I'm about to come of age, and I want to see Father! How can you be so biased? Sister, go find Father quickly..."

Granny Wei stepped forward with a gloomy face and said, "Excuse me, Fourth Miss," before covering the Fourth Miss's mouth with her hand. Suwen looked at the old lady, who sighed as if all her energy had been drained away, and waved her hand.

Suwen then, together with Granny Wei, led the struggling Fourth Miss away from the flower hall.

The third young lady watched helplessly as her younger sister was taken away. Overwhelmed by worry, fear, and terror, she was like a drowning person pulled ashore, her whole body soaked in cold sweat.

"Grandma, I never had such a thought. I am responsible for not disciplining my fourth sister properly. I beg... Grandma and Mother to punish me."

The third young lady rose and knelt down, looking around blankly. She felt that the road ahead was bleak and there was no chance of turning back. Two lines of clear tears unknowingly soaked her front.

The old lady originally intended to send the fourth young lady to Lin'an and then leave it at that. However, seeing her daughter-in-law give the order without making a sound, she was not angry at all, but also regretted that she had been too soft-hearted all these years.

“Your younger sister… was corrupted by Aunt Wen since she was little. From now on, just pretend she doesn’t exist.”

It was supposed to be a joyous occasion for her granddaughter's return home, but this incident left the old lady deeply disappointed. Fortunately, the third daughter wasn't too foolish.

Madam Yun nodded slightly to Hua Ying. After Hua Ying helped the Third Miss up, she dismissed all the maids in the flower hall, as she had to issue a rule regarding what had just happened.

Seeing that her mother-in-law seemed to have something to say, Su Wanwan also stood up and bowed, leading the Fifth Miss and the others to a side hall to avoid them.

"If it weren't for your aunt's letter instigating her, Fourth Sister wouldn't have had such thoughts for no reason."