(Why can't I see the messages from the girls?

Sob sob sob, is Ah Lan working alone?)

Mu Xiang was Matriarch He's most important servant girl. How could Chu Lian want her?

She shook her head. Her clear eyes blinked, looking intelligent and charming.

"Grandmother, I don't lack servants. Besides, I'm the only master in Songtao Court now. Husband isn't here, so it's useless to have so many servants. Before Husband went to the north, he specially arranged for Wenqing, Wenlan, and Zhong momo to stay by my side. Ming Yan isn't here now, so let Wenqing take her place."

Matriarch He thought it was a good idea. Chu Lian didn't lack servants now that Wenqing and Wenlan were here. Since that was the case, she didn't force it.

"Alright, since you don't lack servants, grandmother won't give them to you.

You did very well today. Even if that girl Ming Yan comes back in the future, find a way to get rid of her. The one by your side called Xiyan is a sincere one. "Old Matriarch He saw through Chu Lian's intentions with a single sentence.

Chu Lian smiled sweetly. "Grandmother's eyes are like a torch."

Matriarch He saw her smile sweetly and reached out to touch her brow. "I couldn't tell. You're such a shrewd person. It's good this way. You can't keep someone who's always taking care of you."

Chu Lian nodded.

Chu Lian left after the grandparent and granddaughter had shared their intimate conversation, bringing Xiyan back to Songtao Court.

Xiyan followed behind Chu Lian, feeling proud in her heart. This time, Third Madam really trusted her.

After returning to Songtao Court, everyone soon learned that Ming Yan had stayed at Duke Zheng fu to take care of the bedridden husband. All the servant girls in the yard had uncertain expressions and all kinds of thoughts.

Chu Lian handed the matter over to Gui momo and Xiyan and went to rest.

Without Ming Yan, Chu Lian had one less first-rank servant girl. After discussing with Zhong momo, Gui momo let Wenqing take Ming Yan's place and be in charge of the things Ming Yan usually took care of.

Wenqing and Wenlan were previously second-rank maids, but now Wenqing was promoted to first-rank, and second-rank Gui Momo was added by two more people. In the end, the maid Bai Cha, who was doing rough work in the courtyard, was promoted to third-rank.

Bai Cha didn't expect such a good thing to happen to him. He was so touched that he started crying on the spot. Luckily, he was stopped in time.

After the arrangements were made in the courtyard, Gui Momo waved her hands and dismissed everyone to return to their respective positions.

Chu Lian's four head servant girls took turns. Originally, it was Xiyan and Fuyan in one group, Ming Yan and Jing Yan in another. Now that Ming Yan stayed in Duke Zheng fu, and Xiyan had just returned with Chu Lian, the ones serving Chu Lian today were Fuyan and Jing Yan.

It wasn't time for afternoon tea yet, so most of the maids and senior servants in Songtao Court were still resting in their rooms. Chu Lian was also taking an afternoon nap in the inner room.

Nanny Gui and Nanny Zhong took Wenqing and Wenlan to Xiyan's room, probably to ask about what happened in Duke Zheng's Mansion today.

In the side room, Fuyan and Jing Yan were sitting around a small table drinking tea and eating snacks.

Jing Yan took a sip of the tea and sighed. "Ming Yan's luck is really good."

She and Ming Yan had been sent to Chu Lian's side as her dowry maids before she married. The two of them weren't born into the family and had been bought into the fu from a middleman.

How could the stepmother of the second branch be so devoted to Chu Lian and be ordered around by a commoner she knew so well?

Fuyan glanced at Jing Yan. "This also depends on luck. Before Third Young Madam went to Duke Zheng fu, we didn't know that there was such a good thing."

That's right!

If she had known, she would definitely have fought for it.

Jing Yan pursed her lips and was extremely vexed. If she had replaced Ming Yan and gone out with Third Young Madam today, she would have been the one left behind.

Duke Zheng fu! Furthermore, they took care of her husband's diet. She knew all the dishes that Ming Yan knew!

Putting aside the wealth and riches of Duke Zheng's Estate, the old duke was a person that even the emperor respected. If she served him well, she would be valued by the old duke, and he might even take her in as his foster daughter. Even if she returned to Duke Jing 'an's Estate in the future, her status would still be elevated, and she would be different from Xiyan and Fuyan.

Moreover, it was said that Duke Zheng fu only had one son for three generations. The current heir was in the prime of his life!

Heir Zheng was studying at the Imperial College and was elegant. When he came to Duke Jing 'an fu as a guest last time, he didn't come to the inner courtyard. Otherwise, he would have found a chance to sneak a peek.

Fuyan looked at Jing Yan disdainfully. She looked down on her shortsightedness. After all, she was bought from outside. She was blinded by a bit of riches and couldn't be put in an important position. It was a waste of Third Young Madam's nurturing.

Jing Yan couldn't even eat the snacks because she was depressed.

She said gloomily, "Fuyan, don't you want to go to Duke Zheng fu?"

Fuyan threw the leftover fish-skin peanuts into the porcelain plate on the small table and dusted her hands. She stood up and said, "I don't want to. I've been serving Third Young Madam since I was young. I don't care about taking care of Old Duke Zheng!

Only you young maidservants who came later are short-sighted. "

After Fuyan finished speaking, she twisted her waist and went to the outer room of Chu Lian's bedroom to guard it.

Jing Yan didn't expect her to say that and was instantly angered. She stood up angrily and pointed at Fuyan's back. She gritted her teeth, but she didn't dare to scold her. After all, there were still a few young maidservants guarding outside!

In the end, Jing Yan could only angrily scold Fuyan for being a hypocrite in her heart. She was obviously envious, but she still pretended to be calm. How pretentious.

What did they have to look forward to staying in the inner courtyard of Duke Jing 'an fu? The male master was far away at the border, and the first branch of the fu was very far away from them. The young master of the second branch only came back once or twice a month, so they had no chance to get close to him. In the future, when they were old enough, if Third Young Madam was happy, she could assign them a steward. If she wasn't happy, she might just send them to do rough work. In the future, there would be no chance for them to make a name for themselves.

Ming Yan had a good life. With this opportunity, even if she couldn't become Heir Zheng's wife, she might be able to marry a minor official and become the wife of an official.

As for her, if she stayed by Third Young Madam's side and was locked up in Songtao Court, what hope did she have?

Ming Yan's sudden departure immediately caused Jing Yan's thoughts to waver.

Fuyan walked in the direction of the reception pavilion. In reality, she wasn't as calm as she appeared on the surface. How could she not be envious of Ming Yan?

It was just that he had another shadow in his heart, so he had to be more composed than Jing Yan.

When she thought of He Changdi's handsome figure, jade-like features, and that inexplicably cold and melancholic aura that attracted her, Fuyan felt like her entire body was about to tremble with excitement. She would definitely wait. No matter how many years, she would wait for the day that Third Young Master returned. With that letter in her hands, she wasn't afraid that she wouldn't be able to receive Third Young Master's love.

Chu Lian lay on the soft bed and hugged the lightly scented brocade quilt. She slept soundly and didn't have the time to care about what the maidservants in her courtyard were thinking.

In the next few days, Chu Lian was busy with the opening of Guilin Restaurant. Time flowed by like water, and in the blink of an eye, there was only one day left until the opening of Guilin Restaurant on the first day of the ninth month.

Ming Yan had stayed at Duke Zheng's Estate to take care of the old duke's meals for five to six days.

Eating the delicacies personally cooked by Ming Yan, old Duke Zheng's spirits returned. In just a few days, his body had more or less recovered. On the fourth day, he could get out of bed and walk around. On the sixth day, he could already practice the Five Animal Frolics in the morning.

On this day, Heir Zheng arrived at his grandfather's courtyard early in the morning. Duke Zheng had changed into his short robes and was preparing for his morning exercises. When he saw his grandson arrive, he cheerfully said, "Tiancheng, come practice boxing with grandfather."

Hearing his grandfather's invitation, Heir Zheng grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. He immediately took off his outer robe and threw it to his regular attendant. He strode over to his grandfather's side and began his morning exercises with the old duke.

"Brat, you came to grandfather's courtyard so early in the morning. Are you here to freeload?" The old duke scoffed.

Heir Zheng was a talkative person. "Grandfather still understands your grandson. However, your grandson didn't come today just for the desire for good food."

"Oh?

What is it?

Tell me. "

The old duke was full of energy and his fists were like tigers. Looking at him now, he didn't look like he had just experienced life or death five to six days ago. The frailty from fasting on the sickbed had completely disappeared.

The power of delicacies was truly amazing.

"Duke Jing 'an's Estate's Third Young Mistress, also known as Jinyi Village Lady's restaurant, is opening tomorrow. Grandfather, would you like to go take a look? I happen to have two invitations here."

"Jinyi Village Lady is the maidservant who came to the estate with Matriarch He the other day?"

"That's right. Grandfather's current favored maidservant was left behind by Jinyi Village Lady."

"That's interesting. Why don't you leave an invitation for grandfather as well?"

Heir Zheng was so happy that his eyebrows were raised.

The grandfather and grandson practiced boxing for almost an hour. After they were served by the servants, they took a bath. After that, a servant entered the main room to inform them that the court food was ready.

The old duke brought his grandson into the reception pavilion and saw that there were already several types of food on the table. There were steamed rice cakes, flower rolls, steamed dumplings, fried dough sticks, and piping hot lean meat porridge.

The aroma of the food could be smelled from the entrance of the reception pavilion. The grandfather and grandson's stomachs were rumbling with hunger, so they quickly walked to the table and sat down.

The old duke looked at the table full of dishes that he had never seen before. His eyes shone with a fervent light. He glanced at Ming Yan, who was beside him. "Ming Yan, tell me, what are these?"

When the old duke asked this, Heir Zheng turned to look at Ming Yan, who was standing by the table. Ming Yan lowered her head and noticed that Heir Zheng was looking at her from the corner of her eyes. Her cheeks immediately blushed, but she still explained softly, "In reply to Old duke and Heir, the plate at the very edge is the Golden Twin Spears. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside …"

Ming Yan's soft and gentle voice sounded in the reception pavilion. However, the more Heir Zheng listened, the more he felt that something was wrong.

Although this maidservant had given a good introduction, she didn't mention a single word about Jinyi Village Lady. What she was implying was that she came up with these dishes herself. How was that possible?!

Heir Zheng frowned slightly and glanced at Ming Yan. At this moment, Ming Yan also looked at him. Her large eyes were filled with affection, like rippling autumn waves, soft and gentle.

Heir Zheng was startled. In the next moment, he shifted his gaze.

What kind of person was the old duke? These small actions had long fallen into his astute old eyes.