Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 106 Intelligence from the Silk Pavilion

"Sister Huanyun did indeed send someone to arrange a meeting with you after you arrive in the capital," Donggua interjected as soon as he entered the main room after settling Mingyue in.

Aunt Mei slapped her forehead. "Look at my memory! Miss Huanyun sent a message yesterday afternoon saying that the embroidery shop is located on East Market Street, near our Tang family's Yongxiu Cloth Shop. Donggua has been there."

Unless it's something urgent, Huanyun wouldn't send someone to the mansion to deliver a message; something must have happened in the capital.

Hua Yan said, "Now that Miss is resting and there's nothing else to do, Aunt Mei, what about the carriage and stable area?"

“Old Fan from the carriage and horse stable is familiar with my family. When you go ahead, just say that the head of the stable has something to do.” After saying that, Aunt Mei added with concern, “You must be tired from the journey. Why don’t you rest a bit before you go?”

"It's alright, it's only late afternoon, perfect time to go out for a bit."

Hua Yan and Dong Gua returned to their room, where the furnishings were exactly the same as in Lin'an. This made Hua Yan feel a sense of disorientation; the new mansion had echoes of Lin'an in every way, only the people were different.

As a branch of the Marquis's family, and with its numerous businesses, the Tang family held a superior position in Lin'an. Although the prefect's daughter was officially honored at banquets, the second young lady was actually the one being fawned over.

Now that they've arrived in the capital, she has to advise the second young lady to adjust her mindset in time. The head of the family has no official position, and the second young lady's identity when she travels outside is that of the younger sister of the Hanlin Compiler.

In the eyes of many nobles in the capital, it probably doesn't amount to much.

Even with the Yun family as her maternal grandparents, Hua Yan coldly observed that Madam Yun's estrangement from the Yun family over the years had also affected the eldest young master and the second young lady. Although the eldest young master received his early education at the Yun family, he went to Lushan Academy under some pretext when he was just twelve years old.

As for the kinship ties with the Marquis's mansion, based on the intelligence gathered by Huanyun over the past two years, Hua Yan has gradually come to the fore, and frankly speaking, the Huai'an Marquis's mansion has truly fallen into decline...

Hua Yan composed herself, quickly changed into a servant's outfit, and went to the carriage and horse stable with Dong Gua.

Huanyun's embroidery shop was named "Taosige," located a few shops away from Yongxiu Cloth Shop. The storefront was small, but the interior decorations were exquisite. The first floor served ordinary wealthy families, while the second floor was mainly used to entertain the daughters of officials.

Such regulations naturally have their own appeal. In addition to offering expensive textiles and accepting custom designs, drinks made from winter melon and snacks similar to dough balls are also very popular. Over time, it has become a place for relaxation.

Huanyun now appeared as a married woman with her hair styled in a bun. On the surface, she was a Jiangnan embroiderer, and Huayan almost didn't recognize her when she saw her.

In a small, quiet room in the backyard of the Taosi Pavilion.

"Sister Huanyun, you look..." Huanyun looked much older than her actual age. She wasn't exactly weathered, but her appearance was partially concealed. Apart from her still ethereal气质, she looked no different from an ordinary woman.

Huanyun gently stroked her face and said with a smile, "When you're out in the public eye doing business, you naturally have to change your appearance. Make yourself look older so that people won't look down on you, and you can also cover up your age."

After Dingxiang came in to serve tea, she didn't dare to disturb Huayan, so she pulled Donggua outside to talk.

"I was in a hurry to call you here because a group of guests came half a month ago. The leader was a young lady dressed in brocade. Judging from her conversation with the others, she seemed to be from the residence of Minister Liu."

“The Minister’s Mansion, Liu?” Hua Yan murmured softly, then quickly said, “Could it be Minister Liu Tongsheng of the Ministry of Rites? Madam Yun mentioned that the father of the second young lady of the Marquis’s Mansion is an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Rites.”

“Indeed, a few people were talking quietly in the Tiaosi Pavilion. When they mentioned the name of the third-ranked scholar, the girl said something like, ‘What virtue or ability does Miss Su have? She is far inferior to my young lady.’”

Hua Yan: ...So it's related to the young master.

“The second young lady of the Marquis’s mansion has always been on good terms with the daughter of Minister Liu’s family. Sister Huanyun’s concerns are not without reason. However, it is not appropriate to inform the madam about this matter, since it is just a rumor.” Hua Yan thought for a moment before speaking.

Huanyun then mentioned some other information, mostly the lists of various families that Huayan had previously provided. These lists included the Hou family, the Yun family, and families with whom the two families were either on good terms or had strained relations.

This also includes the Jiang family woman who may become the Ninth Prince's principal wife in the future, as well as the relatives by marriage of the Third Prince's principal wife and several concubines. However, these details will not be told to Huanyun.

The list filled two whole pages. These families and related noble ladies were people that Madam Yun and Mother Wei had gradually mentioned to her over the years.

"I'm sure you know in the manor that there are two rumors circulating in the capital. One is that the current emperor intends to depose the crown prince, and the other is that the seventh and ninth princes are choosing their consorts. The seventh prince's birth mother, Consort Min, has chosen the eldest daughter of the first-rank general, Lu. As for the ninth prince, neither I nor the people I've sent out have any information about him."

Back at the mansion, Donggua went to the small kitchen, while Huayan walked back to her room, gradually becoming melancholy.

The situation in the capital is complicated. The Lu family has been brave for generations. Even in Mengjia Village in Jinnan, people have heard of the Lu family army. If the Seventh Prince marries a Lu family girl, the Ninth Prince will be at a disadvantage. Wouldn't he be even more vulnerable?

However, this is not something a mere maid like her should worry about. What is more important now is that the second young lady will inevitably meet with various noble ladies, and all aspects need to be considered.

But what Madam Yun wanted was not for the second young lady to steal the spotlight at the banquet and gain fame, but rather for Hua Yan to make no mistakes and establish herself through her simplicity before the second young lady became a concubine...