Cui Ming smiled and leaned over, gently pinching Hong Ye’s mouth: "I didn’t expect you to be so discerning now."
Hong Ye brushed aside Cui Ming’s hand and looked at Qin Yuan: "It’s just for the master’s sake."
Qin Yuan laughed: "Alright, alright, I remember your loyalty. Just let me know what you want."
Hong Ye gladly accepted: "I’ll mention it once I remember."
Seizing the moment, Qin Yuan sent a maid to call Hong Mian over for a talk. Shortly after, Hong Mian arrived, unable to contain her excitement.
Through the bead curtain, Hong Mian paid her respects, saying: "Hong Mian greets the madam."
The shadows inside the curtain were faintly discernible, though she could make out Hong Ye and Cui Ming’s forms. Before going to the sewing room, she could freely come and go through this curtain as well.
Now, trying to cross this bead curtain was an exceedingly difficult task.
Hong Ye stood waiting, head down, for Qin Yuan’s instructions. After a while, Qin Yuan said: "I called you because I suddenly thought of a way for you to earn merit. If you succeed, I’ll recommend you to work at Feiyun Pavilion. What do you think?"
Hong Mian was overjoyed: "Thank you, madam. What is the task?"
Qin Yuan smiled: "You saw yesterday that Sister-in-law Cheng has trouble managing the dragon-phoenix twins in the guest room. I think you have a way with the twins, so why not serve them and bring back Xiao Hong and Zihe?"
Hong Mian hesitated for a moment and asked: "How should I handle them?"
Qin Yuan nodded, thinking she was truly resourceful.
"Keep a close watch on them, make things seem okay on the surface. If anything is amiss, report to me. Sister-in-law Cheng and Old Lady Qi will assist you."
Hong Mian felt reassured and immediately said: "Rest assured, madam, I will not make a single mistake."
Yesterday, she had a conversation with the two children at Mrs. Dai’s place and learned that their most trusted nanny was gone, which made them particularly restless. Now that she was asked to serve them—truthfully, to monitor them—her suspicions seemed mostly accurate.
It proves that success depends on human effort.
If she hadn’t shamelessly followed to the guest courtyard yesterday, she wouldn’t have had the chance to leave the sewing room.
Qin Yuan said: "First, return to the sewing room to hand over your tasks, and wait for someone to call you."
Hong Mian returned to the sewing room as instructed, focused on completing her tasks, and handed them over to Mrs. Li for inspection.
Mrs. Li didn’t say much, simply accepted them, and did not assign new work.
Hong Mian quietly sat at the embroidery table, helping the embroideresses with thread selection, and waited a while. Finally, Cui Ming came in and instructed her: "Young Master Cheng and Miss Yu had quarrels over a nanny and Zihe, which led to scolding Xiao Hong too. They feel wronged and were crying to return to the Marquis Mansion. The madam thought of you, saying your embroidery skills aren’t outstanding; working here is less favorable than serving the two little masters."
The embroideresses put down their work and watched.
Cui Ming added: "Once you’ve handed over your tasks, come with me to the guest courtyard."
Hong Mian stood up and said: "Just in time, today’s work is finished."
Cui Ming took a few steps, then turned back: "Aren’t you coming along?"
Hong Mian nodded to the embroideresses: "We’ll part ways for now, and speak again when there’s a chance."
The embroideresses laughed: "We’re all in the same mansion, surely we’ll meet eventually. You should hurry and attend to the madam’s tasks."
Only then did Hong Mian follow Cui Ming, and the two walked toward the guest courtyard. Before they reached the gate, they encountered Zihe and Xiao Hong. Upon seeing them, Xiao Hong raised her face and smiled: "Sister Cui Ming, Sister Hongmian, it’s been a long time. I’ve missed you."
Cui Ming laughed out loud.
"You’ll work in Wutong Garden, and see each other daily."
Zihe laughed: "Ever since Xiao Hong went next door, she’s been counting the days, unsure when she could enter Wutong Garden to work. I didn’t expect it to happen today; she’ll probably forget even her own surname from happiness."
Xiao Hong puffed her cheeks and said nothing.
She certainly won’t reveal her surname is Sun, lest it leads to more teasing.
Cui Ming said: "The madam favors Xiao Hong for her cleverness and you for your stable nature, and wanted both of you in the courtyard. But Xiao Hong was young, needing more experience, so the madam didn’t agree outright. Now you’ve almost risked injury protecting the masters, the madam remembers and seized the chance to bring you back."
Xiao Hong’s head shook, her little topknots wobbled in joy: "Sister Cui Ming, you’re not teasing me, right? I truly believed it; the madam wants me to serve in Wutong Garden."