High-class maid

Chapter 199 Meeting the Former Master

Shen Kun glanced at Wang Shi disapprovingly and said, "How come you're not as composed as Xing'er? Relax. Whether the masters see us or not, we still need to be polite."

"Yes, I was worrying unnecessarily. For some reason, I'm not as carefree as I was when I was working in the manor," Wang said apologetically.

Then, she rolled her eyes at Shen Kun and praised Shen Xing'er, saying, "What do you know? My daughter has surpassed her master."

Just as the family of three was bickering, the old woman who guarded the gate returned with a message.

"You three are really lucky. The First Madam is usually very busy, but today she happens to be free. She summons you. Quickly get ready and come with me to the First Madam's courtyard!"

Actually, it would have been fine for Wang Shi and Shen Xing'er to go by themselves, but the old woman thought that she might as well help them to the end and see it through to the end, so she decided to go with them again.

"That's really kind of you, elder sister. Please take this and have some tea." Wang Shi tactfully slipped a small purse into her hand. There was nothing she could do; it was just a matter of courtesy.

"You're being too polite, Brother Shen. Please have some tea here. If it gets cold, just ask the maid for some hot water," the old woman at the gate said to Shen Kun.

Since Shen Kun was an outsider, he could not enter the inner courtyard with them and had to wait here.

Shen Kun cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to her and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

As Shen Xing'er and her daughter walked along the familiar road with the gatekeeper, they felt as if they had been transported to another world. Once upon a time, they were part of this household, but now they had entered as free citizens.

Along the way, familiar maids and servants greeted the mother and daughter, and as they continued to greet them, they arrived at the First Madam's courtyard.

"You can go in now, I need to go back and watch the gate." The old woman left them there and turned to go back.

"Please come in quickly, Madam is inside!" Banxin came out just as the curtain was drawn. She showed no contempt and her attitude remained the same as before.

The mother and daughter bowed their heads respectfully as they entered the hall. The conversation inside the room stopped abruptly. Shen Xing'er did not dare to raise her head and simply stood five steps away from the First Madam to bow.

"This servant greets Madam."

"Sit down quickly. I've told you so many times, you are now of good status. Stop calling yourselves 'servants' all the time."

The First Madam was pleased with their respect, but she politely declined.

“The proper etiquette cannot be abandoned. Although I have been restored to my former status, I will always remember the kindness and favor shown to me by the household.” Madam Wang said, bowing her head.

"Look, look, the people who come out of Mother's courtyard know their manners." Xiao Luosheng's voice came from above Shen Xing'er's head. It turned out that the person talking to the First Madam inside the house was the Eldest Miss.

"You flatter me, Miss," Wang said, flustered.

"Alright, enough with the pretense of politeness. Why are you giving me such a nice gift? Save the money for Xing'er's dowry," the First Madam said.

"I am truly happy for you, young master, as I have heard that you will be getting married soon. This gift is not very valuable, but it is novel and interesting. I hope you will not find it offensive."

After Wang finished speaking, she took out the gift box in her hand at the right time.

Upon seeing this, Banxin immediately stepped forward, took the document, and opened it for the lady to see.

The First Madam saw that the box contained a set of colorful glass cups, small and exquisite in appearance. She nodded in satisfaction and said...

"That's great, you've put in a lot of effort. It must have been Xing'er's idea again."

"Yes, nothing can be hidden from Madam. I've made a fool of myself," Shen Xing'er said.

"Alright, don't be so reserved. Go to your mother's courtyard and talk to your sisters for a while. You've been together for so many years, they must miss you too," the First Madam said.

"Yes, thank you, Madam. I'll take my leave now." This time, Shen Xing'er didn't refuse; she really missed her girlfriends.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Madam Wang, the First Madam told her to go and talk to her old friends. It was already a courtesy of her to even see the mother and daughter; she couldn't possibly have time to chat with them all the time.

With her son's wedding approaching, she still has a lot to do.

Shen Xing'er and her daughter took their leave one after the other.

"Shen Xing'er, you're so lucky." The First Madam looked at Shen Xing'er's back and remembered what Sheng'er had told her about the eldest son of the Song family taking a liking to her.

"Mother is right. I never imagined that she, an ordinary girl, would win the favor of Young Master Song and even save the granddaughter of the Princess by a twist of fate. It's just like a plot from a storybook!"

Xiao Luosheng's eyes welled up with tears as she recalled the storybooks she used to read, where the heroines were just as lucky.

The First Madam rolled her eyes at her and said, "How many times have I told you to stop reading those novels? You don't look like a proper prince's consort at all."

"As long as Mother doesn't say anything, no one else will know!" Xiao Luosheng acted as if he were a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, which made the First Madam shake her head repeatedly.

"So, is this Young Master Song truly in love with Xing'er, or is it just a passing fancy?" The First Madam, also intrigued, asked in a low voice.

"According to the Second Prince, it's true. This Young Master Song usually doesn't even glance at other women, but for some reason, he's taken a liking to Shen Xing'er," Xiao Luosheng said.

"The Second Prince and Young Master Song have always had a good relationship. If he's serious, then he must be right. I just don't know if Lord Song agrees to his son marrying a commoner?" The First Madam, being from a high-ranking family, had many considerations.

"It definitely will," Xiao Luosheng said confidently, nodding as she finished speaking.

"Why do you say that?" the First Madam asked, puzzled.

“That’s how it’s described in storybooks,” Xiao Luosheng said.

"In any case, it's always good to be on good terms with their family."

The mother and daughter stayed in the mansion for about half a cup of tea's time before tacitly taking their leave.

The servants in the manor were all busy. The young master's marriage was set for the day before the imperial examination, and there was not much time left. Everyone was doing a thorough cleaning. Even the maids who were cleaning in the old lady's courtyard had been borrowed from elsewhere to repair the courtyard.

The family of three bid farewell to the old woman guarding the gate and then drove their carriage back home.

"How was it? Did you see the First Madam? Did she give you any trouble?" As soon as they got into the carriage, Shen Kun asked impatiently.

It's no wonder Shen Kun was so nervous; the main reason was that the mother and daughter had stayed in the inner courtyard for too long and hadn't come out yet.

"No! Why would Madam make things difficult for us? Father, you're starting to worry unnecessarily," Shen Xing'er teased.

"I'm just worried you'll suffer," Shen Kun said, scratching his head sheepishly.

“The First Madam treats us the same as always. Look, this basket of fruit was a gift from her!” Shen Xing’er said, pointing to the basket of pomegranates on the carriage.

In ancient times, fruits were very precious and were basically not sprayed with pesticides. So, even if ordinary families had money, they couldn't buy a pomegranate like this one, which was large and round.