Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 149 I wish the days before we parted could slow down a bit.

The day after Hua Yan returned to her residence, the first snow fell in the capital.

The heavy snowfall was a rare and novel experience for the second young lady and Mengzhu, who had grown up in Lin'an.

For people like Hua Yan and Dong Gua, the long winters in the north were a hardship.

Even though Donggua no longer needs to collect reeds for summer and autumn to make cotton clothes, winter doesn't hold any good memories for her.

The Tang family mansion has been bustling with guests lately, and the second young lady has been busy visiting guests at Fu'an Residence and Yun Gui Courtyard, as well as spending time with her younger sisters. This winter has been exceptionally busy for the second young lady.

Only the night belongs to her.

These past few days, Hua Yan has watched as the Second Miss has been constantly flattered and praised, and the Prince of Jin's charisma has gradually become a tangible reality in the mouths of the guests. In Hua Yan's eyes, the Second Miss's anxiety and nervousness before her wedding have gradually transformed into anticipation.

Hua Yan belatedly realized that for a woman, marriage, regardless of whether it goes as she wishes, is a genuine girlish dream.

·

The weather grew colder day by day, but fortunately, on the day of Tang Lin's wedding, the sun shone brightly and the sky was clear.

The Tang mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Red silk and lanterns adorned the gates and courtyards. The servants were all beaming with joy. Tang Xian and Madam Yun were also dressed in their formal attire, waiting for Tang Lin to return as their bride.

The welcoming party was not grand. Several young men from the Marquis of Huai'an's residence and Tang Lin's classmates served as "best men" and rode with Tang Lin to the Su residence.

Amidst the sounds of voices, drums, and firecrackers, Ruizhu and Mingyue huddled in the crowd, heads bowed, picking up lucky money—it was quite a lively scene.

The newlyweds walked hand in hand across the brazier to Yunqi Courtyard.

Hua Yan and Meng Zhu stood on either side of the Second Miss, far away behind the screen. The Second Miss was now a concubine, and her brother could not personally attend the wedding ceremony in the flower hall.

With her hair adorned with flowers, she exuded elegance, and the two of them complemented each other as they bowed to their ancestors in the wedding ceremony.

Tang Hanjing was the master of ceremonies for the wedding. After the newlyweds had finished their ceremony, Tang Xian's voice could be heard.

"Today, my son and his bride are getting married. My son should uphold the virtues of a gentleman and treat his wife with courtesy. Now that the bride has entered our family, she should also follow our family's ancestral teachings and rules, be a good wife and mother, and respect her elders."

Madam Yun's voice followed: "Husband and wife should be like a harmonious zither and lute, of one heart and one mind. May you two grow old together and enjoy lasting happiness."

The second young lady supported Hua Yan's arm, "Let's go back."

Mengzhu led the way, and the three of them, master and servants, came out from the back door of the flower hall and returned to Yunyi Courtyard.

Before long, Ruizhu and Mingyue returned to the embroidered building, chattering about the excitement of the ceremony.

The second young lady listened with a smile for a while, when a maidservant lifted the curtain and came in to report that the two young ladies from the Marquis of Huai'an's residence had arrived.

Tang Yu'er is two years older than the second young lady. Because of the old Marquis's passing and the need to observe mourning, no marriage was arranged. Now that the second young lady has married into the royal family, it has inadvertently elevated the Tang family's daughters who are ready to be married to a higher level.

I heard that Tang Yu'er is currently discussing marriage with a young master from Prince Rui's mansion, something that the Marquis of Huai'an's mansion would never have had the chance to achieve in the past.

Prince Rui and the Emperor were born of the same mother. Princess Yongping was Prince Rui's legitimate daughter, and the man who was engaged to Tang Yu'er was Princess Yongping's youngest brother.

Therefore, Lady Huai'an Marquis was even more enthusiastic about the Tang family, and the Tang sisters, Yu'er and Tang Yu'er, would often come to the mansion to chat.

The three young ladies greeted each other and took their seats.

The Tang sisters, Yu'er and Ling'er, were naturally there to attend Tang Lin's wedding. After the ceremony, they talked to the second young lady about Miss Su's current sister-in-law. Tang Ling'er's tone was still charming, but she had lost some of her innocence.

"How dare Liu Yuhe compare to my cousin's wife? She even dares to dream of my cousin! If it weren't for my elder sister stopping me, I would have spread this throughout the capital and ruined her good time!"

Tang Yu'er coldly stopped her: "The young lady from Minister Liu's mansion will soon become a concubine in Prince Heng's mansion. It would be better for you to keep these words to yourself, sister."

Hua Yan beckoned the second-class maid to leave, and Rui Zhu brought in tea and fruit with Dong Gua.

The second young lady said, "The Minister of Rites is the head of the six ministries, so my second cousin must be careful with her words and actions."

Tang Ling'er handed the landscape and plum blossom copper hand warmer to Cui Qi behind her, picked up the hot milk tea and carefully took a sip. Thinking of her confrontation with Liu Yuhe at Yongbaolou last time, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

But the offense was already committed long ago.

Tang Yu'er couldn't help but shake her head. Her younger sister had been spoiled rotten by her mother and brother. When she was little, she always compared herself to others, comparing clothes and jewelry. But the Huai'an Marquis's mansion had already fallen into ruin, so she naturally couldn't win against her peers. As a result, she developed a personality that was both inferior and arrogant.

He has a handsome appearance but no brains.

The second young lady looked at the maid behind Tang Ling'er and asked curiously, "Why didn't I see Cuihu following along? Before, whenever my second cousin came to Lin'an Mansion, it was always her and Cuiqi who accompanied her to serve her."

Tang Ling'er looked guilty, and Tang Yu'er said, "That girl has a bad temper, so I sent her far away to the estate."

Upon hearing this, Hua Yan turned her head to look at the eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion, and after pondering for a while, she understood.

The eldest daughter of the Marquis's family has probably taken steps to reorganize the household affairs on behalf of her mother. The Marquis's wife has a narrow vision and can't uphold the family's reputation; the eldest daughter is probably afraid that her family will be in even worse shape after she marries...

The second young lady quickly understood and said, "My eldest cousin meant well."

Tang Ling'er was somewhat displeased upon hearing this, but she was very shrewd and knew that the Second Miss was of high status and dared not offend her, so she stood up and said that she wanted to talk to the Fifth Miss.

Cuiqi looked apologetically at Huayan, signaling her to ask her to say some good words to the Second Miss, and then chased after her out the door with her mistress's cloak and hand warmer in her arms.

Tang Yu'er's eyes turned cold as she sighed and said to the second young lady, "Cousin, please don't be offended. Her temperament still needs to be tempered. I have already spoken with my grandmother and mother, and it would be better for Ling'er to marry someone of lower status in the future."

The second young lady and Tang Yu'er got along well, and she said nonchalantly, "It's alright, but I'm afraid my aunt won't agree, and I don't want to wrong my second cousin."

Tang Yu'er came here only to express the attitude of the Marquis's Mansion. She said solemnly, "Times have changed. The Marquis's Mansion is now weak. Father will never allow the younger generation of the family to make mistakes and disgrace the family."

·

That night, the second young lady tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

He said to Hua Yan:

"Only now do I realize how hard my father and mother have worked, from the capital to Lin'an, becoming merchants, and then back to the capital. Now even the direct line of the Marquis's family has to give way to them."

While Hua Yan admired the methods of the family head and Madam Yun, her thoughts were more insightful than those of the Second Miss.

"What the eldest daughter of the Marquis's mansion said today is about the principle that we all prosper together and suffer together. Miss, now that our Tang family is standing with the direct line, we are betting on the future of the entire Tang family. That is why the Marquis has to be cautious."

However, betting on Prince Jin at the Prince's residence is merely sitting in the game of chess; the subsequent bloodshed and intrigue will all be borne by our Tang family.

·

A few days after Tang Lin's wedding, it was almost the end of the year. The second young lady was embroidering her wedding dress with Hua Yan in the embroidery room. Meanwhile, Lvliu and Yingchun came to the mansion with Zheng Dongjia.

Hua Yan invited Dong Gua and Lv Liu to meet.

Green Willow is now poised and confident, her features have gained a touch of heroism, and she moves with ease. However, after only a few words, she burst into tears while holding Flower Face, reminiscing about the time they shared a room in Langya Courtyard, as if it were a lifetime ago.

People's fates change with time and people. Green Willow always regarded Flower Face as her benefactor. Thinking that she might never see her again, she couldn't help but feel sad.

The Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions, but several farewells were staged ahead of time at Yunyi Academy.

With red eyes, Hua Ying held the gifts Hua Yan had given her: a brand-new embroidered winter coat and a jade pendant with the image of the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union.

Hua Yan smiled and said, "Sister Hua Ying, I can't wait for your wedding day. I've only prepared a small gift to add to your dowry."

The other scene was on the eve of the second young lady's wedding.

Manager An was wearing thick winter clothes, which were covered with Donggua's tears and snot. Donggua, with red eyes, clung to Manager An's arm and walked him all the way to the back gate.

Hua Yan and Meng Zhu Rui Zhu accompanied the group, carrying boxes and large bundles. The luggage and the gifts from the old lady and Madam Yun filled the carriage.

Steward An stroked Donggua's cheek with his withered hand and said with a smile, "You're crying and making a scene. You have to serve the young lady well. Don't neglect your skills at the white table just because you're busy making new food. You have to make the snacks that the young lady likes often. And don't worry about this old woman."

Hua Yan stepped forward and pulled the winter melon off Steward An's arm, giving Steward An a chance to say a few words to Hua Yan.

"Hua Yan, you are the most intelligent and clever. Keep an eye on my apprentice for me from now on. It will not have been in vain for the good words I spoke for you to the old lady a few years ago." Steward An held Hua Yan's arm.

Hua Yan's nose tingled with sadness as she recalled the care Steward An had given her in Lin'an. She nodded and said, "Steward An, please rest assured, have a safe journey."

After saying that, he instructed Green Willow to take good care of Steward An along the way.

Manager An chuckled, reached under his neck, and laboriously removed the gourd-shaped pendant, saying to Hua Yan, "This is the best gift this old woman has ever received."

Donggua stared blankly at the pendant, then burst into tears and knelt on the ground, kowtowing three times to Steward An.

Green Willow helped Steward An onto the carriage. Steward An, with his back to Winter Melon, called out, "Winter Melon, take good care of yourself from now on."

I wish the days before we parted could slow down, but day and night keep turning and never stop.

On the fourteenth day of the first month of the forty-eighth year of the Qianyuan era, it arrived as scheduled.