Chapter 207 Sending Another Hairpin
In the backyard, an old maid was walking to and fro, quite anxious!
As a creak finally came from the door behind her, she turned instantly and saw Qing Xue coming in a hurry. Instantly, she was overjoyed, reaching out her hands to pull her to a corner next to her. After craning her head to look at the door and find no one was tailing, she was relieved.
âAuntie, anything else?â Qing Xue broke free of the old maidâs hands unhappily, asking, âPreviously, didnât you say you wouldnât come again?â
The so-called âpreviouslyâ referred to the time after the news that Dong Xiuer was to send the hairpin was spread.
âSomething happened, the hairpin is missing!â the auntie said helplessly.
âWhy missing? Everything was done according to plan, wasnât it?â Qing Xue said anxiously. At this time, anyone would be anxious when hearing the item they sent out after overcoming difficulties was missing.
âDonât you worry, our miss is also trying to find a way!â The old maid gave a flattering smile.
âNo other ways!â Qing Xue opened her palms. âOnly one hairpin, no more, how can we get another one now? How did your miss make this happen!â
Qing Xue turned more sullen.
âCould you find another one?â the old maid hesitated and said.
âFind? From where?â Qing Xue couldnât help speaking a little louder, and the old maid was scared to shudder and cover her mouth instantly, whispering, âNo, my dear lady, please lower your voice; it is bad if others hear us!â
âI canât find another one from anywhere. Madamâs people only asked me to cooperate with you and send some news, but never said I should find another hairpin for you!â Qing Xue pushed the old maidâs hands away unhappily. âIt is Madam giving me the hairpin, or how could I have something so expensive? You lost one and must return us one!â
âLetâs do it this way. Our miss lost the hairpin, now we return you one!â The old maid took an exquisite hairpin out of her arms and passed it to her.
âThis isâŠâ Qing Xue asked confusingly.
âAlso, our miss prepared a pair of eardrops for you. Youâve helped us for so long, our miss also extends her gratitude. Recently, has your madam asked you to do anything?â The old maid took out another pair of eardrops, very beautiful catâs eye gems, making Qing Xue happy as she saw them.
âThe eardrops for me?â
âOf course for you, we always ask you to deliver messages. Although this is Madam Diâs idea, our miss also needs to thank you!â The old maid put the eardrops in Qing Xueâs palm.
With the earrings, the twoâs talk became harmonious. âRecently, our mansion has been busy with the marriage of First Miss and Duke Yongâs son, so Madam has no time to give me tasks. Besides, I am also Second Missâ girl servant, and Madam cannot meddle in Second Missâ business that much!â
âYour Second Miss and Madam Di have disputes, right?â the old maid asked with a gossiping look, putting the hairpin thing at the back of her mind.
This was but a beginning.
âOf course!â Qing Xue tucked the eardrops away. Looking around and seeing no soul, she approached the old maidâs ear and whispered, âOur madam dislikes Second Miss most; she asked me to serve her and keep an eye on her.â
âKeep an eye on your Second Miss? Why do that? Your Second Miss is not beautiful and is also small, even not beautiful than a girl servant like you, why keep an eye!â The old maid pursed her lips, showing she had seen Qin Wanru before.
âNot eye-catching? Not beautiful?â
Qing Xueâs look twinkled, and she thought the speaker was blind indeed!
âIf Second Miss were not eye-catching or beautiful, who would be in the world?â
âMadam dislikes Second Miss indeed. Previously in Jiangzhou, Madam also sent men to kidnap Second Miss. That time, she was burning incense in the temple.â Driving the ridicule in her mind away, Qing Xue lowered her voice further, looking like she had been completely bribed by the eardrops.
âWhat? Such a thing even happened!â The old maid was quite shocked.
âYes, she wanted to kidnap Second Miss and sell her!â Qing Xue pursed her lips.
âYour madam really has an evil heart!â the old maid was dumbstruck and whispered.
Hearing her comment, Qing Xue lowered her head. Instantly, she seemed to have thought of something and turned silent.
âYour madam has such an evil heart, and now you serve your Second Miss but works for her. In the future, if something bad happens, you wonât have a good result!â The old maid looked very sophisticated.
Qing Xue nodded, but said helplessly, âBut my indenture is in Madamâs hands.â
âYou can ask your Second Miss to get it. You are her girl servant, why should your madam keep your indenture?â the old maid turned her eyes and instigated.
âOur Second Miss is still young and doesnât know such things. Besides, I had contacts with Madam in the past, and Second Miss doesnât really believe me!â Qing Xue heaved a sigh.
âThis is not good for you, stay between the two masters and shift your stances. As a servant, this is the worst thing. Especially in the capital city, a servant must be loyal, or you wonât have a good result.â Looking experienced, the old maid extended her hand to pat Qing Xue on the shoulder, agreed very much, and said, âYou yourself should plan early, or you will probably be taken out as a scapegoat!â
Hearing the old maidâs words, Qing Xue became dispirited with the tip of her shoe rubbing the ground several times and nodded.
âTake the hairpin first. Once successful, our miss is bound to thank you with lots of rewards. Being our miss, she can ask you directly from Madam Di or your mansionâs Second Miss. In fact, thatâs not difficult, and you wonât have to shift stances between your two masters.â
The old maid pushed the exquisite hairpin in her hands to Qing Xue.
These words seemed attractive to Qing Xue, who didnât refuse anymore, extending her hand to receive it. âWhat shall I do?â
âCan you send the hairpin to your First Miss?â the old maid smiled and said. Her miss was sure Madam Di wouldnât tell the previous cooperation with her to her daughter.
With such a thing troubling her, Madam Di wouldnât notice the girl servant, either. This girl must have no idea that it was her miss who made the trouble.
This was a very good opportunity!
âWhy?â Qing Xue was shocked, asking, âWhat does this have to do with First Miss?â
âNo, now go to First Miss, give Dong Xiuer a hairpin as a gift through First Miss, or how could Dong Xiuer have such a good hairpin?â the old maid asked in reply and made Qing Xue speechless.
âIn fact, you wonât have to disturb First Miss, and you can ask her girl servant to help you. Anyway, it must be those around the master. Didnât you say you are not in Second Missâ favor? How could you have such expensive hairpins again and again? If you ask Fist Missâ girl servant to help you, you wouldnât be dragged even if something went wrong, right?â
The old maid persuaded.
These words and the words said before made Qing Xue hesitant.
Since she was silent, the old maid knew the thing could be done and persuaded with a whisper instantly, âLady Qing Xue, considering your position, you had better not get involved. With such a madam, you will perhaps die tragically in the end. âTake this hairpin to First Miss or her close girl servant silently, then go and tell Madam, your madam will definitely agree.â
âMadam doesnât like to get First Miss involved in this!â Qing Xue lowered her head anxiously.
âSo, you may put it there silently, once done, let me know. I will try to find First Missâ girl servant and ask her to send the hairpin to Dong Xiuer. In this way, you are not involved. Anyway, Madam and our miss had a very good relationship in the past, and this is not something big!â
The old maid spoke more earnestly, looking like she stood so much on Qing Xueâs side to think about the thing.
âCan this work?â
âYes, of course. As long as you put the hairpin in your First Missâ or her girl servantâs place, the thing is done, and the rest wonât have any relations with you!â the old maid pointed the hairpin and said.
âBut⊠I donât know how to send it!â
âYou can put it on the road as you see First Miss coming. Such a beautiful hairpin, your First Miss is bound to like!â Qing Yueâs concern was what the old maid wanted to mention, so she smiled and provided a solution instantly. âIn this way, you donât have to show yourself or have contacts with First Miss and can also be an outsider!â
âThen, okay!â Qing Yue was persuaded successfully and nodded.
âThese days, I will be in the shop across the street behind your mansion every day. After you put the thing, come to find me, and our miss will do the rest!â The old maid looked confident.
âGood!â Qing Xue nodded.
As the negotiation was done, Qing Xue tucked the hairpin away. Returning to her mansion and closing the back door, she smiled at the old maid doorkeeper and went back.
When she returned to Zhifang Pavilion, Qin Wanru had already returned. After she asked to see Qin Wanru under the porch, Qing Yue led her in.
Also, Qin Wanru had just arrived in the room.
âFirst Miss, this is what the previous âauntieâ sent. She asked me to send it to First Missâ or her close girl servantâs place, and gave me these eardrops!â As soon as Qing Xue stepped in, she told the thing in detail for once, and then took out the hairpin and eardrops, handing them in respectfully.
Yujie came over, took the hairpin and eardrops, and put them on the table before Qin Wanru.
The eardrops were inlaid with the catâs eye gems, which were translucent with good quality, and the hairpin was even more exquisite. As Qin Wanruâs look swept across the top of the hairpin, her eyes became deep. This hairpin was exquisite indeed, or even exceptionally exquisite, but the style did not look new.
Qing Xue could not see it through, but she could!
This was not a newly made hairpin, but one passed from ancestors, and an ordinary family could not have such a hairpin.
She took up the hairpin and observed it carefully against the light. It seemed there were no marks on it, but in the sun, she could see a very very small ancient Chinese character on a butterfly wing pattern consisting of exquisite gold accessories on one side.
Seeing the character clearly, Qin Wanru smiled. âCoincidental, really coincidental, it looks like Ning Caixian also spent so much energy.
âVery good! Ning Caixian, Qin Yuru, and Madam Di are all not easy to deal with. With evil hearts, they are those who will sacrifice others for their own profits. So, let them attack one another like wild dogs!â
âDo as she said!â