After settling in, Qi Zhenzhen and Song Mingyue accompanied Song’s parents for a stroll to get acquainted with the neighborhood.
“Mother, every morning and late afternoon, there are vendors selling vegetables. They are farmers from outside the city, and their produce is quite fresh and reasonably priced,” Song Mingyue explained.
Madam Yu noted down everything her daughter said, so she wouldn’t be lost when she went out.
After about an hour of looking around, they had learned what they needed to know, and the group headed back. Qi Zhenzhen thought they had been out for a while and prepared to return.
“Zhenzhen, noble families have strict rules, and your status is precious. Don’t always worry about us; it’s enough if we see each other occasionally,” Madam Yu said, holding Qi Zhenzhen’s hand.
She was clearly thinking of her, fearing that frequent outings might displease some people.
Qi Zhenzhen squeezed Madam Yu’s hand back, “Auntie, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Madam Yu nodded, “You’ve always been sensible, and that puts my mind at ease. Please give my regards to your mother and tell her I miss her.”
Qi Zhenzhen agreed and left the Zhang residence under Madam Yu’s reluctant gaze.
She had intended to return directly to the manor, but remembering that the Old Madam liked pastries from Bazhen Tower, she detoured to buy some Yunpian cake and red bean pastry to please her.
At this time, Bazhen Tower was bustling with business. Qi Zhenzhen had Fei Xu queue up while she sat in the carriage, slightly lifting the curtain to watch the people passing by, feeling bored.
Just as she was wondering when Fei Xu would finish buying, two figures suddenly appeared in her line of sight. They seemed familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before, yet Qi Zhenzhen was certain she didn’t know them.
Judging by their attire, they seemed to be a mistress and her maid. The taller, well-dressed one was the mistress, and the shorter one was carrying a box of pastries from Bazhen Tower.
They were talking in low voices and didn’t notice Qi Zhenzhen watching them.
Who could they be? They looked so familiar, yet she couldn’t recall their names.
“Miss, I think the Heir Apparent has feelings for you. Otherwise, why would he accept the soup you send every day? And he accepted the clothes you made for him when you went out this time,” the maid’s voice was clear, and as they happened to pass by the carriage, Qi Zhenzhen clearly heard this sentence.
Perhaps it was a young lady from another family who had a crush on someone but hadn’t confessed her feelings. No, if she were a young lady from another family, how could she send soup every day? In different manors, such things would be easily discovered, and her reputation would surely be affected. This young lady couldn’t possibly not understand this.
Thinking this, Qi Zhenzhen became even more curious about the familiar-looking pair.
By this time, Fei Xu had bought the pastries and was walking quickly toward the carriage with the box.
“Miss, there’s freshly made Furong cake. I bought some too. Don’t you like eating Furong cake?” Fei Xu raised the pastry box in her hand.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded, lifted the window curtain, pointed at the two figures, and asked, “Fei Xu, those two look familiar to me, but I can’t recall who they are. Do you have any impression?”
The figures had already walked away, and Fei Xu only caught a blurry side profile. She shook her head, “I don’t have any impression.”
Since Fei Xu didn’t recognize them, Qi Zhenzhen stopped dwelling on it.
“It’s been a while since I had Furong cake. Fei Xu, you’re so thoughtful,” Qi Zhenzhen praised.
The carriage moved back at a steady pace, arriving home in just over fifteen minutes.
She first went to Chaohui Hall to deliver the pastries and then chatted with the Old Madam for a while. Seeing that she looked tired, Qi Zhenzhen then left.
Madam Yun was concerned about Madam Yu’s arrival in the capital, so Qi Zhenzhen had to inform her.
Madam Yun also liked Furong cake, so Qi Zhenzhen took some Furong cake to Tinglan Courtyard.
“Has Hong Tao been behaving herself recently?” Qi Zhenzhen asked Fei Xu.
“She’s been very arrogant, acting as if she’s in charge of Tinglan Courtyard,” Fei Xu said. “Our concubine is gentle and doesn’t manage much, which has made her quite presumptuous.”
Hong Tao’s arrogance stemmed from the Marquis of Changping.
Qi Zhenzhen snorted, “We’ll just wait and see.”
As they spoke, they soon arrived at Tinglan Courtyard.
The old woman guarding the door saw Qi Zhenzhen and bowed, saying, “Second Miss, please wait. This old servant will go and inform Miss Hong Tao.”
The gatekeeper was over forty years old, yet she respectfully called Hong Tao ‘Miss.’ This showed how influential Hong Tao was in Tinglan Courtyard.
“Presumptuous! Open your eyes and look! This is the Second Miss of the manor, a mistress!” Fei Xu said with a frown, scolding, “Since when does the Second Miss need a servant’s permission to visit a concubine’s courtyard? What kind of logic is this? Can a mere servant possibly overstep a master?”
The old woman was reprimanded by Fei Xu and cowered, “It’s not that this old servant is being disrespectful to the Second Miss, but Miss Hong Tao said that if the rules are not followed, one will be beaten.”
Fei Xu was about to retort, but Qi Zhenzhen stopped her, “Then hurry up and go inform her.”
The old woman looked gratefully at Qi Zhenzhen and hurried off to report.
“Miss, you’re giving her too much face,” Fei Xu said, somewhat puzzled.
“The more pleased she is now, the more disappointed she will be later!” Qi Zhenzhen said with a half-smile. “Only then will she know pain and become completely obedient!”
A moment later, Hong Tao came running over.
“Please forgive Second Miss for waiting. This old woman is not adaptable. I told her not to let unrelated people in casually. Second Miss, you are a mistress, yet you were stopped. I sincerely apologize. I will teach her some manners later,” Hong Tao said with a fawning smile.
Qi Zhenzhen walked inside, saying calmly, “Miss Hong Tao manages the rules well. There’s no offense.”
Hong Tao’s eyes revealed unconcealed pride, “This is also my duty. The Marquis instructed me to serve the concubine well and ensure that nothing goes wrong in any aspect. I bear a heavy responsibility and am filled with trepidation, so I can only do my best to fulfill the Marquis’s instructions.”
Qi Zhenzhen glanced at Fei Xu, who reluctantly took out a piece of silver from her purse, “Sister Hong Tao, thank you for your hard work.”
Hong Tao happily accepted it, her face full of smiles, “Thank you, Second Miss.”
Qi Zhenzhen nodded and walked into the room. Fei Xu seized the opportunity to stop Hong Tao, “Miss will have private talks with the concubine. We servants should not go in and get in the way.”