The old lady had spoken, and Madam Bai could no longer harp on Wang Qingyao.
However, Dongmei was still a servant from Wang Qingyao’s courtyard. As the mistress of the courtyard, she couldn't entirely shirk responsibility for her maid's base actions.
"Second Miss will be a princess consort in the future. If she can't even manage the maids in her own courtyard, how will she manage a grand royal estate?" Madam Bai feigned concern and turned to the old lady. "Why not punish Second Miss with a month of confinement? It would be a small warning to teach her a lesson."
Damn it, a whole month?! What a venomous woman!
Wang Qingyao despaired. Without a phone, computer, or even a television, how could she endure a month? Would she be doing needlework with Yin Zhu and Zhi Zi?
She opened her mouth, intending to plead for herself. At this moment, the old lady pondered for a moment and said, "A month is unnecessary. Seven days will suffice. Qingming is approaching, and it wouldn't be right to confine the young ones from enjoying the spring outing."
The old lady smiled kindly, like a grandmother who genuinely doted on her granddaughter.
But Wang Qingyao knew she must have wanted her to go on the spring outing with Xiao Yun.
"Seven days?" Madam Bai's suggestion of a month was instantly reduced to seven days by the old lady. Madam Bai’s face fell. "Isn't seven days a bit too short?"
The old lady replied, "Fortunately, Brother Jing managed to keep his composure this time and didn't make a grave mistake. A light punishment is enough." She then looked at Wang Qingyao, "You must exert your authority as the mistress from now on and not indulge your servants."
Wang Qingyao nodded in agreement.
Madam Bai was unwilling, but she couldn't openly defy the old lady's wishes. Her face turned purple with suppressed anger.
The matter was thus settled. After being beaten, Dongmei was sold to a human trafficker. As for where she was sold to, no one knew.
By this point, only Qiu Ju remained in Lengxiang Courtyard, trembling, among the four maids Madam Bai had sent.
Wang Qingyao's confinement period was surprisingly fulfilling. In the mornings, she practiced calligraphy and wrote novels, and in the afternoons, she learned embroidery and played with Lightning alongside Yin Zhu and the others.
Xiao Yun had gifted her a pair of exceptionally beautiful and expensive shoes, and she felt obligated to return the favor with a sachet.
Yin Zhu held up the embroidered shoes, beaming, "Prince Ding'an is quite affectionate." A moment later, she frowned, "It's a pity he's not destined for a long life."
Wang Qingyao said, "Look at the mandarin ducks I've embroidered."
Yin Zhu retorted, "Miss, these don't even look like birds. Are they little chicks?"
Wang Qingyao lacked talent in this area. After a few failed attempts, she abandoned the sachet and decided to make a handkerchief instead. She had Yin Zhu cut a small square of cloth, serge the edges crudely, and then embroidered a "Yun" character in one corner. This, she considered, was complete.
Yin Zhu asked, "Miss, isn't this handkerchief a bit plain? Perhaps embroidering some orchids or small flowers? Those are simple."
Wang Qingyao said earnestly, "Handkerchiefs for wiping the face and hands should be soft and unadorned, otherwise, they'll chafe the skin."
Yin Zhu asked skeptically, "Really?"
In any case, after embroidering this one handkerchief, Wang Qingyao had no intention of touching needle and thread again.
Seven days passed in a blink. The day before the Qingming Festival, the entire Wang family participated in ancestral worship and tomb sweeping. Wang Qingyao also kowtowed at the graves of her original parents. In the evening, the family gathered for a meal. Unexpectedly, Wang Qinglin took the initiative to approach Wang Qingyao, asking, "Did Prince Ding'an arrange to meet Second Miss tomorrow?"
Wang Qingyao nodded indifferently.
Wang Qinglin then covered her mouth and smiled, "Brother Yu has also invited me. Why don't we go out together? It will be more lively with more people."
Wang Qinglin bore a striking resemblance to Madam Bai, both possessing a dignified and graceful demeanor. Even her smile appeared elegant and charming. Wang Qingyao couldn't smile as prettily; whenever she tried, it felt particularly affected, and she couldn't stand it herself.
Wang Qingyao looked at Wang Qinglin's beautiful face and felt a pang of reluctance to refuse the beautiful woman's request.
However, despite the beauty, they were not compatible.
More people for liveliness? Who would believe that!
Wang Qingyao was almost certain that Wang Qinglin was up to some new mischief.
As she was pondering for a moment, intending to refuse, Madam Bai preempted her, saying, "That would be good. Let's bring Third Miss and Fourth Miss along as well. It will be good for everyone to look out for each other."
Wang Qingyao's hackles immediately rose.
When things are unusual, there's bound to be a trick!
Wouldn't it be better for everyone to go their separate ways? They weren't truly sisters who loved each other deeply!
But before she could find a suitable reason to refuse, the old lady also nodded, "Yes, young people should play together." She then smiled at Wang Qingyao, "Did the Prince mention if any friends would be joining? The Prince has a younger brother who is quite close to several of the imperial princes, as well as a few cousins from the Prince's maternal family..."
The old lady knew a great deal.
Wang Qingyao shook her head, "The Prince didn't say."
The old lady showed a look of disappointment.
The next morning, Yin Zhu dragged Wang Qingyao out of bed. She meticulously applied eyebrows, powder, and lipstick, then styled her hair into a popular "Feiyun bun" among young girls. She adorned her temples with jade butterfly hairpins, interspersed with a few pink silk flowers. For her attire, she chose a pleated "Ruyi Moon Skirt," suitable for outdoor excursions while retaining a maiden's delicate charm.
"Today is a grand occasion for Miss, so our young lady must not fall behind others," Yin Zhu declared.
Wang Qingyao glanced at herself in the mirror, turned around, and, satisfied, put on the embroidered shoes Xiao Yun had gifted her.
Yin Zhu flattered her, "Wow, Miss, with these shoes on, you look like a fairy descended to earth."
Zhi Zi chimed in, "Would anyone notice what shoes a fairy is wearing?"
Yin Zhu: "..."
Currently, the only person to be wary of in Lengxiang Courtyard was Qiu Ju, who, after Dongmei's incident, was too afraid to make a move and had been very low-key lately. Wang Qingyao left Zhi Zi and Granny Nian at home and, with Yin Zhu, headed out of the courtyard towards the entrance.
On the way, they encountered Wang Qinglin and her two sisters. At first glance, they were resplendent, adorned with jewels and pearls. Although their shoes were not as luxurious as Wang Qingyao's, Wang Qinglin proudly stated that all three had made them themselves.
"Did Second Miss's shoes also made by yourself?" Wang Qinglin asked knowingly.
When Wang Qinglin was young, Madam Bai had specifically hired renowned embroiderers to teach her needlework. Wang Qingzhen and Wang Qingzhu, as illegitimate daughters of the eldest branch, had also attended a few lessons, but they hadn't grasped the skills as thoroughly as Wang Qinglin, who received one-on-one instruction.
There was no need to mention Wang Qingyao; she hadn't learned anything.
Wang Qingyao felt no shame. "I bought these ready-made."
The shoes Xiao Yun had custom-made for her were embroidered with gold thread. As it was still early and the shoes were hidden beneath her skirt hem, their extravagance was not apparent. Wang Qinglin thus assumed she had purchased them from an ordinary shoe store.
"It's still best to make them yourself," Wang Qinglin said. "We used to compete with our sisters in needlework."
Wang Qingyao replied, "It's fine, I won't participate. You can compete amongst yourselves."
Wang Qingyao remained unfazed. Wang Qinglin felt as if she had punched cotton; there was no reaction, and it was she herself who felt uncomfortable.