The next day, Su Shuilian hadnât had time to check if there was a vague relationship between Chun Lan and Chief Guard Xiao, when Jiang Ying Yun arrived. And, as per her big sister Jiang Ying Yueâs order, she came to pay the salary of the last six months of the year. And, she had even brought with her a horse carriage full of items prepared for the labor, including the loose, white cotton gowns that Shu Shuilian would need after her deliver, and the babiesâ little shirts, pants, doudou, and socks.
âConfess honestly, how do you do maintenance?â Jiang Ying Yun meticulously observed Shu Shuilian for a while. She couldnât help but enviously ask. In this moment, Su Shuilian was leaning on the opposite soft couch, picking a big apple that had just been harvested, eating elegantly.
It was so unfair. As they both were pregnant, the wife of the tea houseâs owner, her neighbor, and Su Shuilian had their due days not much different. However, she wasnât as lucky as Su Shuilian: She got brown freckles and swelling hands and feet. She was so different from the eight-month pregnant woman in front of her: She got snow-white skin, which was soft and elastic⌠Sigh, it was really indignant when you compare people!
Su Shuilian smiled when she saw Jiang Ying Yunâs exaggerated reaction. What could she say? That Lin Si Yao protected her too well? Or the Jade Essenceâs effects were beyond excellent?
âThen again, I canât believe youâre the Fourth Young Lady of Prince Jingâs mansion from the Imperial CityâŚâ Seeing Chun Lan deliver tea and fruits and leave quietly, Jiang Ying Yun sighed. Her big sisterâs plan was ruined. They had expected that after Su Shuilian was done with her puerperium, she would accept more embroidery projects. Moreover, her Chief Embroiderer contract could be renewed timely next year. They didnât expect thatâŚ
Now that they know she is the Fourth Young Lady of the Princeâs mansion, they didnât dare to sign more contracts with her.
âI didnât want to concealâŚâ Su Shuilian listened to Jiang Ying Yun with an aggrieved expression. She actually didnât know that this body of her had such a complicated identity.
âItâs fine, I donât blame youâŚâ Jiang Ying Yun wielded her hand, talking open heartedly. âAs long as Prince Jingâs Mansion doesnât trouble Yue Yun (Embroidery Floor), it would be alright.â
âYing Yun!â Su Shuilian called Jiang Ying Yun, feeling sorry. Pondering for a while, she continued, âYing Yun, Iâm afraid I wonât have a chance for a long-term cooperation with Yue Yun. You know, with twins⌠Iâm afraid I donât even have free time to embroiderâŚâ
âI knowâŚâ Jiang Ying Yun nodded. Having twins all of a sudden, anybody would have a headache.
Let alone Su Shuilian didnât have in-laws to support her. Fortunately, Jiang Ying Yun swept her eyes over Chun Lan, who was waiting to serve several steps away from Shu Suilian, as well as the many maids, servants, and nannies Prince Jingâs mansion had prepared for her. Otherwise, with only her cold-faced, loving but over-protecting husband, they would be overwhelmed by the responsibilities.
âChun Lan, help me bring that brocade bag in the big closet in the bedroom, pleaseâŚâ Shu Shuilian called Chun Lan.
A moment later, Chun Lan returned with a brocade bag. âMy Lady, this one?â
âYes, thatâs itâŚâ Su Shuilian received the bag then nodded at Chun Lan. âChun Lan, go to the kitchen to check if the mung bean and lily sweet soup is done. If it is, take a bowl for Lady Jiang to taste.â
âYes, Chun Lan will go now. My Lady, you should drink jujube and honey sweet soup. The mung bean and lily soup has cool properties. Itâs not suitable for you to drink that soup nowâŚâ Chun Lan said then gave the others a tender smile. Then, she walked to the kitchen.
âDid you want to send her away?â Jiang Ying Yun smiled as if she didnât smile, glancing at Shu Shuilian. She had managed to find a good excuse to shoo her maid away. Worth being the noble lady from the Princeâs mansion.
âI also want you to try their cooking talentâŚâ Shu Shuilian added with a smile.
She had sent Chun Lan away because she didnât want her to see her almost-perfect embroideries.
Although she didnât know if the former Fourth Young Lady could embroider or not, or what her level was, with the two sets of clothes â one on her body and the other in her bag to change at that time, she could say that her level was just ordinary, or just a little flashy. The fabric materials were precious and luxurious, but the seams and stitches were really ordinary.
Thus, Su Shuilian didnât want to let the momos and maids from Prince Jingâs mansion know how excellent her embroidery talent was. Even though they could guess something from the clothes she and Lin Si Yao wore, she did not want to openly say it.
âYing Yun, what do you think about this embroidered picture?â Su Shuilian took out an embroidered picture around one meter wide and half a meter long. It was a smaller version of the
âAlright, anyway, after I get it appraised, I will come and pay you the extra amount if there is any. Although I believe that the Fourth Young Lady of Prince Jingâs mansion doesnât lack money, I insistâŚâ Jiang Ying Yun sighed. Eventually, she had to accept Su Shuilianâs goodwill. She carefully rolled the embroidered picture and put it back into the brocade bag, keeping it by her side.
âYing Yun, you donât need to do thatâŚâ Su Shuilian smiled, shaking her head. However, seeing Jiang Ying Yunâs âI-insist-faceâ and Chun Lan bringing two bowls of sweet soups from the kitchen and walking from the cherry tree, the two of them stopped this topic tacitly.
ââ
At night, Lin Si Yao opened the big closet to take his clothes to go and take a shower. Just as he guessed, the brocade bag had gone.
He curled his lips, concealing his smile in his eyes. Although he said nothing about his beloved woman spending more than four months on that embroidered picture, he wasnât really pleased. Anyway, today, the second owner of Yue Yun Embroidery House had come and taken it, it meant from now on, Shuilian didnât have the burden in her heart of signing the contract and doing nothing.
Taking off the clothes that had dust and splinters of wood, he showered with a big barrel of water in the yard. He changed into a thin, cotton nightgown and slipped into the bed.
âHow was your day?â He hugged the petite woman who had already lay under the warm blanket made of bearskin, stooping his head and quietly asked.
âIt was good. And yours? You must be exhaustedâŚ.â Shu Shuilian tenderly stroked his face that had been a tone darker, as she guilty asked.
Lin Si Yao wanted to move into the new house before her due date. And in order to do that, they sped the work with the construction workers and carpenters. Situ Yun and Da Bao were even dragged along with him. And at twilight, when the two adolescents returned, they would come to her and complain for a long time. It was only until Chun Lan agreed to make them dessert the day after would they contentedly leave her.
From the day Prince Jingâs Mansionâs maids and servants moved in the four-acre house, Situ Yun picked a small room in Si Chongâs courtyard to stay. He said it was to make sure that his teacherâs and uncleâs homes were safe.
âNot tiredâŚâ Lin Si Yao sucked her lips, gently rubbing and intertwining.
âA Yao⌠.â Su Shuilian couldnât help but moan. Her hands wrapped around his neck, closing the gap between her and him.