Because the Yuan Family was now a criminal, the Yuan Family members who had been sent to various places as slaves did not receive preferential treatment from any family. The kinder ones ordered them around like normal servants. The sharp-tongued ones, in order to curry favor with the Emperor, would even purposely make things difficult for them. Thus, in less than a month, a few of the Yuan Family's younger generation, who were usually pampered, committed suicide.
When Yuan Shu Yi heard that her cousin who had a good relationship with her had committed suicide, she was so frightened that she hid in her little room and cried for half the night. But the next day, she still had to learn the rules from the steward of the wang fu.
The rules in Xian Wang Fu were very strict. There were very few conflicts among the servants. Thus, after Yuan Shu Yi entered the fu, she did not receive any difficulties. In the eyes of these people, she was no different from the other rough servants.
However, because there was no difference, she felt an indescribable sense of embarrassment and awkwardness. She could even guess the mockery of these servants under their expressionless faces. The high and mighty Commandery Princess had become a criminal slave who was even worse than them. How ironic. These people finally had something to talk about after dinner. How good was that?
"You newcomers have been in the wang fu for almost a month. Although you are still clumsy, you can still be ordered around. Now, I will send you to your rooms. The steward of each room will arrange your duties." A steward looked at the dozen or so men and women in front of him. Among them, other than three people who had special identities, the others had been carefully selected to enter the wang fu. They were quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and had clean backgrounds. They could barely be assigned to more important positions.
As for the three girls of the Yuan Family …
The steward remembered the instructions of the Wood-main Pipe. Without changing his expression, he said, "Those whose names are called, report to the steward's office."
Yuan Shu Yi was assigned to a steward who specialized in taking care of the flowers and plants in the wang fu. This job was not too tiring, and the people were simple. However, she could not easily enter the houyuan. The servants who had the qualifications to send flowers and plants into the second gate had been in the fu for at least three years. People like Yuan Shu Yi could not even touch the threshold of the second gate.
After working in the Flower Pavilion for almost two months, Yuan Shu Yi finally gave up on the idea of using sending flowers and plants to get close to Xian Wang. On the surface, she was more and more willing to work, but the hidden desire in her heart grew stronger.
If she was purposely made difficult after entering the fu, she could find an excuse to forcibly meet with her cousin. However, no one made it difficult for her. There was not even a shadow of Hua Xi Wan's people. It was as if her existence was not important to Hua Xi Wan.
She did not believe that Hua Xi Wan did not know that she was interested in Biaoge. But seeing her enter the wang fu, Hua Xi Wan did not react at all. Was Hua shi so patient?
Just as she was worrying about the future, a steward from above came and casually picked a few of them.
"Go outside and look carefully to see if there are any weeds. In a few days, Wang Fei is going to entertain Nghi An Marquis and the honored guests from General Lu's fu in a crab feast. There cannot be any mistakes." The steward swept a look at the people he had picked. Putting his hands behind his back, he said, "Wang Fei has been married into the wang fu for a long time. This is the first time she is hosting such a grand feast for honored guests. If there is anything inappropriate that displeases the honored guests, then you will be punished."
Yuan Shu Yi's head was lowered, but she sneered inside. What honored guests? The Lu Family was Hua Xi Wan's maternal family, and the Hua family was her paternal family. They were just her paternal family. Was it necessary for the entire fu to treat them so seriously?
She did not think much of it, but she had to admit that with the importance Xian Wang placed on Hua Xi Wan, the status of Hua Xi Wan's paternal family in the wang fu would rise.
The crab meat of the autumn season was very plump and delicious. After receiving the gifts from the servants, Hua Xi Wan had originally planned to send some to her paternal family. However, Yan Jinqiu said that he had not properly entertained her paternal family, so he wanted to use the crab feast as an excuse to get closer to her paternal family.
Hua Xi Wan did not refuse. Even though she didn't know if Yan Jinqiu was purely trying to get closer or if he had other intentions, she still intended for her paternal family to converse more with Yan Jinqiu. With the current situation in Jing, even if the Hua family and the Lu family wanted to stay out of trouble, in the eyes of others, they were still part of Xian Wang's faction.
Since the matter had reached such a heated point, she would not naively think that the Hua family and the Lu family did not have any other thoughts. Therefore, she allowed the two sides to meet. As to the result, she would not interfere.
After Yan Jinqiu gave the order, the entire wang fu became busy. Hua Xi Wan had only taken an afternoon nap, but the wang fu had many more colorful chrysanthemums. They were very beautiful.
In her previous life, the chrysanthemum was ranked first in the ranking of fresh flowers that had been ruined. It was clearly a symbol of nobility and beauty, but it had been twisted into a synonym for crabs.
"Wang Fei, the chrysanthemums outside are very beautiful. Do you want to go take a look?" Hua Xi Wan had always been lazy. In the afternoon, she liked to curl up on the soft couch and was unwilling to move. Therefore, her servant girls always thought of ways to get her to move more. Today, they finally found an excuse to admire the flowers.
Hua Xi Wan looked at the sun in the west and then looked at the expectant gazes of her servant girls. She could only nod helplessly and lead the group of servant girls out.
The scenery inside the second gate did not need to be said. It was very beautiful, and there was a new view every three steps. The chrysanthemums placed there were all carefully cultivated and very expensive varieties. It reflected the nobility of the wang fu.
Walking to the second gate, Hua Xi Wan did not plan on going out. She only saw a familiar figure in the corner of the second gate. She narrowed her eyes and examined the person. Hearing a slight movement from outside, she couldn't help but look into the distance. Yan Jinqiu was walking towards the second gate with two attendants. The servants on both sides of the road bowed.
Yan Jinqiu was striding towards the inner compound. Seeing Hua Xi Wan standing at the second gate, he quickened his steps and walked in front of Hua Xi Wan. He very naturally grasped her hand: "Why are you standing here?"
"Just now, these servant girls coaxed me to come out and admire the chrysanthemums. I couldn't resist their begging and came out to take a look. In the end, I unknowingly walked here." Hua Xi Wan smiled at Yan Jinqiu. "Why did you come back so late today? The soup I had the servants boil for you is overcooked."
"The soup will taste better if it is stewed for a while." Yan Jinqiu smiled and said, "There are many matters at court these days. When I have some free time, I will accompany you to the manor to soak in the hot springs." Finishing, he took Hua Xi Wan's hand and prepared to walk inside.
"Clang!" The sound of a flower pot falling to the ground sounded.
Yan Jinqiu turned his head and looked at the broken flower pot and the chrysanthemums smashed in mud. His tone was indifferent as he said, "You did not do your job well. Your salary will be deducted for a month."
Yuan Shu Yi's expression was ashen as she looked at the broken flower pot in front of her. Thinking of how her cousin had looked at her as if she was a stranger, her expression couldn't help but become uglier.
Cold gazes fell on her from all around. No one said anything sarcastic, but this kind of silent embarrassment trampled her self-esteem to the bottom of the mud.
It shouldn't be like this. Cousin was a warm person, and she was talented. Even if Cousin didn't have such feelings for her, he should at least have some pity. Why would he look at her like that? It was as if he was looking at a real servant. She had nothing to do with him.
The unwillingness in the depths of her heart gnawed at her heart, making it impossible for her to calmly face all of this.
What was so good about Hua Xi Wan? Wasn't it just that she had a face that was more beautiful than other women?
Regardless of how unhappy Yuan Shu Yi was, Hua Xi Wan and Yan Jinqiu happily finished their dinner. Then they comfortably listened to the zither player play.
The sound of the zither was melodious. Yan Jinqiu looked at Hua Xi Wan with a face full of smiles. "Tomorrow, Grandfather's family and my father-in-law will come to our fu. Tell me again, what taboo do they have?"
"In front of Wang Ye, what taboo do they have?" Hua Xi Wan's lips curved. "The only thing to take note of is that my grandfather's family likes meat and doesn't know how to beat around the bush."
"The Lu Clan is full of loyalty and good people. It's normal for them to be upright and straightforward." Yan Jinqiu sighed. "If all the officials in the world are as open-minded as my grandfather's family, then the common people are lucky."
Hua Xi Wan shook her head. "Wang Ye's words are wrong. It's true that my grandfather's family is upright and straightforward, but if all the officials are like that, then it won't be easy for them to do official business."
For example, in places like the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Hanlin Academy, if every official acted like her grandfather's family, there would be endless conflicts every day and the entire department would not be peaceful.
Yan Jinqiu didn't expect Hua Xi Wan to say something like this. He smiled helplessly. "You're right. I thought too simply."
Hua Xi Wan smiled and didn't comment. How could someone like Yan Jinqiu not think of this? He was just trying to elevate her grandfather's family in front of her. But she didn't want Yan Jinqiu to keep elevating her grandfather's family. She didn't want Yan Jinqiu to keep elevating her grandfather's family.
The two of them talked about some gossip about Jing that was not a major matter. Hua Xi Wan suddenly said, "You saw Yuan Shu Yi in the afternoon?"
Yan Jinqiu carelessly changed Hua Xi Wan's cup of hot tea. "What, she didn't follow the rules?"
"It's okay." Hua Xi Wan slightly moved her gaze away. "I just feel that it's not easy for her."
Yan Jinqiu's lips curved as if he was mocking her. "She was sent to our fu. How can she be a useless person?"
The Emperor didn't like the deposed empress, and he also hated the Yuan Clan that was close to the deposed empress. Thus, he wasn't willing to send Yuan Shu Yi to his fu. This wasn't the Emperor's style.
Thus, the only possibility was that someone had pushed Yuan Shu Yi behind the scenes, allowing her to smoothly enter Xian Wang Fu.
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