Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 99 Farewell, New Life

Meanwhile, at Tang Mansion, Fu'an Residence.

Madam Yun was accompanying the old lady and guests attending the birthday banquet as they strolled through the garden when Madam Wei quietly approached and whispered a few words in her ear.

While the old lady was engrossed in her conversation, Madam Yun slowly walked behind the rockery and said to Wei Mama, "The little girl is quick on her feet, knowing that things can change in the long run. Although that Miss Huanyun has a good heart, she is inevitably infatuated with love and is not worth mentioning."

There are never secrets between mistress and servant. After careful consideration, Madam Wei asked the question that had been buried in her heart: "Madam, the Cloud Garment Pendant..."

Madam Yun took some fish food from the milky-white melon-shaped jar held by Granny Wei, casually sprinkled it on the lake surface, and watched the koi carp scrambling for it. She said indifferently, "Does the wet nurse think she's not worth ten thousand taels of silver?"

"Her request to change her name was not only to show her sincerity. Just this sentiment alone is worth a hundred times more than any material possessions."

Laughter drifted from the opposite bank of the lake; several young ladies were playing together, while the second young lady sat alone in the pavilion. Madam Yun withdrew her gaze and said casually, "Nanny, you've watched me grow up since I was a child. You know how a person's character is formed and not easily changed. Perhaps I lacked decisiveness and ruthlessness when I was young, which led to a careless mistake that caused Qiuju and the others to lose their lives in vain."

“Look at Wan’er again. Only if we keep Hua Yan by her side will my master and I feel at ease.”

Madam Yun herself couldn't say for sure whether she would still insist on sending her daughter to that hellish place if she couldn't find a suitable maid to accompany her in her dowry.

Madam Wei had no objection to Hua Yan, but the memory of that incident always sent a chill down her spine. "This old servant knows Madam's thoughts; her father was truly..."

Madam Yun smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned, and said, "Someone who can make a judgment and use the head of the manor to control Ju Chang in just half a day, and who is also well-versed in the Ling Shu Pharmacopoeia, how can the wet nurse not see the truth about him?"

Taking the handkerchief handed to her by Madam Wei, Madam Yun carefully wiped her hands and said, "Hesitation and indecisiveness will hinder great achievements. I admire her decisiveness. Besides, we'll be keeping her by our side for several years. If she develops any improper intentions, how can we not have a backup plan?"

Suppressing her thoughts, Madam Wei reported, "Manager Ge sent word that Meng Shu took five thousand taels of silver, but Chunfeng Tower only accepted two thousand taels. They also redeemed a maid named Ying Chun."

"It's alright. She does want to do good deeds to cultivate her own power. Send someone to keep an eye on Jinan." Madam Yun looked at the opposite bank again. Wan Jie'er sat by the window. Although Meng Zhu and a few others were serving her, her back looked inexplicably lonely.

Today was a rare fine day. Madam Yun, supporting Wei Mama's arm, walked along the cobblestone path. Suddenly, she looked up and sighed, "I wonder if autumn in the capital is still the same as before."

The autumn wind of the forty-third year of the Qianyuan era, carrying a slight dampness, swept across the vast Jiangnan land, passing through the large and small courtyards of the Tang family mansion, and finally turned into a cool breeze, gathering into a heavy cloud that drifted past the passenger boats with sails like clouds on the canal, witnessing a small farewell on their way to the north.

As soon as they came out of Yongzheng's shop, the guards sent by the Second Miss were waiting at the door. They would escort Huanyun and the other two to travel north by boat to Jinnan County.

Inside the spacious carriage.

With tears in his eyes, Ying Chun knelt down to thank Hua Yan for redeeming her. Dong Gua, who already knew the whole story, quickly helped Ying Chun up. "Meng... Hua Yan was sick and received your care back then. It is only right that she redeems you now."

Ying Chun's eyes were red. "It's different. Even without my care, Meng Shu will slowly recover, but if she hadn't redeemed me, this life..."

Hua Yan pulled Huan Yun and the other two's hands together, unwilling to hear any more words of thanks, and interrupted, "This is your new life. When you settle down in Jinnan County, no one there will know you."

The carriage stopped in front of the dock. Dingxiang and Yingchun got off the carriage, leaving the three of them inside to talk.

Today's turn of events was sudden. Huanyun had been shedding tears behind Huayan's back. Now she said sadly, "With my status, I cannot become a maid in the Tang family. Actually, it would be fine to stay in Lin'an. Dingxiang and I can work to support ourselves, and we can take care of each other."

Hua Yan said seriously, "Sister Huanyun, I also believe that Uncle will be alright. Madam has sent people to guard Xuanquan Post Station. If Uncle shows up, they will definitely send a message back. But we can't always rely on outsiders. When you go to Jinnan, stay at Zheng Dongjia's place first. Green Willow is also there and can take care of you. Here are two letters."

Hua Yan took out a letter from her bosom. "Give one of them to Master Zheng. The guards will escort you all the way to Zheng's brokerage. The other letter contains detailed instructions on what you need to do in Jinan County."

He then took out three thousand taels of silver notes and handed them over to Huanyun as well.

Huanyun declined, saying, "I've saved up some valuables, enough to live on. You...you've lost your name. I don't know how I'll explain it to Zhou Lang when he comes back..." Before she could finish speaking, she burst into tears again.

"Sister Huanyun, nothing else matters. The Second Miss has always treated me with sincerity, and I would do anything for her if she were in trouble. There are some things I can't explain to you in detail, but after you settle down, I hope you can help me build a..."

Donggua listened to a long conversation in a daze, and weakly gestured, "Meng Shu, how about I get off the bus first..." She didn't like calling Meng Shu "Hua Yan". In Donggua's simple mind, there are no flowers in this world that never fade. This name only made her feel inexplicably sad.

Hua Yan suppressed a laugh and explained to Dong Gua, "Didn't you insist on coming out with me to see Sister Huanyun? We don't need to hide anything from you when we talk."

Donggua thought to herself that the main problem was that she couldn't understand what she was saying... She insisted on getting off the bus, and Huayan had no choice but to let her go.

After Huanyun finished listening, it took her a long time to process what she was going to say before she murmured, "Although I don't know what you're planning to do, I've been at Chunfeng Tower for so many years, and I believe I have some ability to judge people. I will do my best to help you from now on."

Hua Yan concluded, "I will inform the Second Miss and send female guards skilled in martial arts to protect your safety as soon as possible. As for news about your uncle, you must not think too much about it. All we can do for now is wait, and make other plans when we have the resources."

Huanyun nodded, took out a dagger from her bag, and said worriedly, "You should also be careful. This dagger was left by Zhou Lang that day. You should take it for self-defense."

This dagger was more than twice as long as the one Zhou Bai gave Hua Yan; it was something her uncle usually used for self-defense. Hua Yan couldn't help but chuckle, "My uncle also gave me one for my sixth birthday."

Huanyun stroked the patterns on the dagger, lost in memories, while Huayan couldn't help but sigh again.

Just before the ship set sail, the ever-thoughtful Donggua went to various places at the dock to buy a lot of food and asked Dingxiang to bring it on the ship. Huayan, however, was preoccupied with many things on her mind and forgot about it.

After seeing Huanyun off, the two strolled around the city again. Every time they went out, it was to accompany the young lady to inspect the shops or attend poetry gatherings. Donggua rarely left the Tang residence. The only time he went out was when he took Lvliu back to her wretched home. The two of them never mentioned this disgusting and sour matter.

Donggua had saved up a lot of money, and this time she took a full ten taels with her when she went out. She thought that there was no way she could spend all that money, but she was proven wrong! She made a bold statement that she would treat her best friend to lunch at a restaurant, but found that ten taels of silver could not even buy two of the signature dishes.

"It seems we still need to save more money. My master secretly told me that he's going to the capital after the New Year, which means our plans to buy shops and land will be delayed again." Donggua looked worried. He turned the corner and met a candied hawthorn seller. His eyes lit up and he bought all the candied hawthorns.

"Street food like this is so good, it's cheap and appetizing. Do you think it would be okay to use pomelo instead of hawthorn for candied hawthorn?"

Hua Yan remarked that Dong Gua's thoughts were always so erratic; in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, he could go from buying a shop to talking about candied pomelo and hawthorn...

"It doesn't seem like it's a bad idea. We can try other fruits besides pomelos. Once it's ready, you can give it to Mingyue to try first."

It's good that these strange ideas are holding her back. Hua Yan looked at the endless stream of people, then looked back at Dong Gua carrying candied hawthorns. Poor Dong Gua will probably never be able to fulfill his dream of opening a shop in this lifetime. Being the manager of a small kitchen is still feasible.

As she walked, Hua Yan realized that she had been infected by the winter melon, and she was suddenly startled by her own thought.

If the lady and the head of the family succeed in their grand plan, then... will Donggua still have a chance to become the imperial chef...?