♂?，，

  Chapter 16: The Cost

  Subscribe, please ^_^

  ——————

  The maid lowered her head and stood at the door, reporting that just now, the woman from the yard had come to report that someone had been sent from the master's side, asking Madam to prepare dinner for Master tonight.

  Liu Yiniang's joy disappeared, her eyes turned cold, and she said faintly. She turned her head to Chu Keqi with a slightly apologetic smile, because the maid's report made her somewhat absent-minded, her eyebrows lightly furrowed, and she sighed before saying "Then I'll go."

  Chu Ke saw the fleeting coldness in her eyes, not a pretended calmness, but a kind of coldness that came from the bone marrow, possibly even more than Liu Niang didn't. After hearing those words, her expression was far different from what it had been just before.

  Chu Ke nodded and stood up, saying "That auntie is walking slowly."

  After Liu Yiniang left, Chu Ke sat on the kang and slowly ate the big pomegranate, then had dinner. She also ordered Jing'er and Qingguo to find all the needles and threads from this side, looked at the threads and found that many colors were missing, so she ordered Jing'er to take a pen and write it down, and go to the warehouse on the other side of the mistress's house to pick some up tomorrow.

  The actions on this side will definitely not be able to deceive the old lady and the ladies, so she won't deceive them, and everything should be done openly and honestly in front of them.

  Of course, the matter of embroidering the dowry cannot be mentioned, anyway she also has a heart to make a dress for her aunt, just right to cover it up.

  She actually agreed to embroider the dowry because she wanted to get closer to Liu Niang, but in fact, she felt that Liu Niang was quite willing, and since she was confined at home with nothing to do, she might as well keep busy with some embroidery.

  The next day, Mrs. Liu sent over seven or eight pieces of fabric, in a variety of colors, including a piece of bright red satin brocade and a piece of soft white cotton cloth for lining.

  Chu Ke's enthusiasm was high, and all the fabrics were left behind. On the spot, she cut a piece of lotus green silk, originally intending to make clothes, but unfortunately, her craftsmanship was not skilled, and she cut it badly. She could only stop with a smile, admitting in her heart that making clothes was not an easy task, unlike what it seemed.

  All the maids in her house were busy, but Jing'er's craftsmanship was still the best. She cut out a few suitable pieces of fabric and Chu Keji ordered Bai Guo to go to Liu Niangniang's place to find an old dress of hers as a sample. They cut a piece of light purple gauze and planned to make it for Liu Niangniang.

  Although it's not quite proper, who among the old ladies and madams in front of the courtyard can control her now? She is so honest and stays at home doing needlework, which is what they wish for, so naturally no one says anything.

  Chu Xue's hands were not skilled, so she handed over the task of making clothes to her. She used that broken lotus green silk to practice her hand, making some small and exquisite things, such as... a pillowcase.

  Who would have thought that she had other intentions, Chu Ke'er became proficient in making pillowcases and then started learning to make quilts. In the middle, she also learned to make clothes. Everyone said her embroidery was good, but from start to finish, she didn't even embroider a single flower. Every day, it was just cutting and clipping, as if it were a hobby.

  During this time, Liu Yiniang came over a few times. Twice she was called away by the maid because Chu Nanchen had gone to her place. Chu Kuiyi knew that Chu Nanchen had been going to Liu Yiniang's place more frequently these days...

  Perhaps Chunan was resentful of Chu Gaoshi because of what happened with Chu Yunqing, wasn't it that day when he slapped Chu Gaoshi in a fit of rage? That's why these days, Liu Niangniang has been more involved. However, Chu Kui didn't think this was a good thing and instead felt uneasy, thinking that if things continued like this, Chu Gaoshi wouldn't let it go and something would eventually happen.

  ……

  "Who cut this?" In the room, Jing'er held a piece of sleeve on the fabric on the kang and compared it, lowering her head without looking at others, saying that after cutting off a large section, what can be done with this? The material is not enough.

  She talked for half a day without anyone responding, she raised her head and swept a glance at the green fruits and white fruits in the room, seeing that both of them were shaking their heads towards the door, she suddenly looked bitter and thought "won't it be..."

  The door came Chu Ke's soft voice "I cut the other sleeve according to the one I cut, will it be short?" He said, rubbing his nose and walking up.

  Jing'er compared the two sleeves and said, "Miss, the sleeve should start from the shoulder, not from the armpit..."

  "Chu Ke's throat hurts like crazy, and she starts coughing uncontrollably. Then, in a dejected mood, she sits on the edge of the bed and refuses to do anything else. From then on, I didn't even make a purse, what a waste of effort."

  The three maidservants looked at each other in dismay, Qing Guo hastily accompanied by a smile to comfort her: "Miss's embroidered pouch is very pretty, the flowers are also exquisite, I've seen so many ladies' needlework, but none can compare to Miss's."

  Bai Guo also hastily said: "The sash tied by the young lady is beautiful, no one else can weave such a pattern."

  "Jing'er saw that she had caused trouble, and hurriedly accompanied a smile, saying 'Yes, Miss, the peacock screen you embroidered is very much liked by the old lady.' She quickly went to fetch the finished clothes, 'Miss, don't be angry, we haven't wasted our work. Look, we've finished making Aunt's clothes.'"

  It turned out that she had done a good job, but Chu Ke'er took one look and immediately beamed with joy, picking up the clothes to compare them left and right, liking them so much that she couldn't stop saying how good they looked, this color is really great, hurry up and call Nainai to try it on... didn't Nainai come today?

  "It's been several days since I've had time to come."

  "Is Chu Ke's way empty? Busy?"

  When the three girls asked, the maids didn't dare to speak. Chu Keji said indifferently, "Auntie is busy, we'll send it over for her." As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves.

  "Jing Er was shocked and asked if she should send it away? But... isn't it that girls can't..."

  "Can't go out? I haven't gone out, have I? The old lady's words, didn't she say it was okay to leave the courtyard gate? Don't add unnecessary words, there's a distinction between the inner and outer courtyard gates, or maybe even the entire mansion's back gate?" Chu Ke asked if not leaving the backyard counted as going out, would they really keep her locked up in the house? What had she done wrong?

  She kept talking, Jing'er listened more and more in shock, Qing Guo was teased into lowering his head to hold back a smile, Jing'er also smiled "Miss is going out, she needs to change her clothes too."

  Chu Keqi finally smiled and changed into a new set of clothes. Jing'er had already neatly folded the finished clothes in her arms, and Chu Keqi instructed Qingguo to bring up the large food box - empty, it was prepared to go to Liu Niang's place to pick up some food. Sometimes Liu Niang would personally make some dishes for Chu Keqi, who thought they were delicious, so she couldn't just go there empty-handed, bringing something with her. The master and servant came out of the house, swaggering towards Liu Niang's place.

  The place where Liu Yiniang lived was in a small courtyard at the back of the main courtyard, which was not very big and quite far from Mr. Chu Nancai's courtyard. Since the fire in Mr. Chu Nancai's west wing, Chu Yunshi took the opportunity to move Liu Yiniang out, sending her far away. Liu Yiniang had been living here for over a decade.

  Chu Ke walked up to the gate of the courtyard, and the old woman at the gate was already smiling and greeting her: "The young lady has arrived? What a rare guest!"

  Is Auntie here? Don't jump words.

  "Come in, young lady." The old woman said with a smile.

  As soon as she entered the inner courtyard, the maids at the entrance came to greet her, and some of them hurried in to report. By the time Chu Ke'er entered the inner courtyard, Liu Niang had already come out to welcome her with a look of surprise on her face, seemingly not expecting that the young lady... had arrived?

  Chu Ke smiled and said, "The clothes are ready, Auntie hasn't gone out for the past two days, so I'll send them over. Try them on to see if they fit."

  "Come in, come in... Quick, Xi'er, bring out the Bi Luo Chun tea. Feng'er, go to the kitchen and bring out the pastries I made." She smiled at Chu Keqin, "You've arrived just in time, I was just making a batch of pastries in the kitchen. Try some, if you like them, take some with you when you leave."

  Chu Ke nodded with shining eyes, "Good!" She pointed at the green fruit, "Actually, I was thinking of bringing some food too."

  Liu Yiniang couldn't help but burst out laughing and said "Oh my"

  Just then, a man's voice was heard outside, "What's so exciting?" Chu Ke's face changed slightly as she saw the smile on Liu Niang's face disappear. She turned around to welcome him and only then realized it was Chu Nancai.

  She stood in the house for a moment, and then Chu Nancai laughed again outside, "Is everyone happy today?" Chu Keqi could only hurry to the outer hall, just wanting to cough, but heard Liu Niang say softly, "Third sister has arrived."

  Just then, Jing Er also called out in a loud voice: "Third Sister is inside the house."

  Chu Nancai's laughter disappeared, and then the door curtain was lifted. Chu Nancai walked in with a surprised face, followed by Liu Yiniang. Chu Kei paid respects to her father, saying "Daughter has seen Father."

  "Will be here?" Chu Nan was still very surprised.

  Chu Ke said with his head slightly lowered, "It's nothing, just forget it."

  Chu Nancai's expression turned serious, and he nodded slightly before entering the inner room. Liu Yiniang glanced at Chu Keqi, then followed Chu Nancai in, her face showing some anxiety.

  "My daughter has retired." said Chu Keqi.

  Chu Nan had just taken off his outer shirt and changed into a casual cloud-patterned long shirt when he walked out. "Since you're here, let's have dinner here."

  Chu Ke didn't hesitate and hastily agreed, actually she also wanted to see how Chu Nan would interact with Madame Liu.

  Chu Nancai sat at the top, Liu Yiniang stood beside him, and Chu Keqi sat on the left. The maid next to Liu Yiniang hurriedly brought tea and water, several maids held basins and towels for washing faces, Liu Yiniang wrung out the towel, handed it to Chu Nancai with both hands, Chu Nancai wiped his face and asked, "What have you been doing in the house these days?"

  "Embroider flowers, cut clothes, or read a book." Although Chu Nancai's face turned stern as soon as he entered the door and saw her, in Chu Kui's heart, she was actually not afraid of him at all. Moreover, because Zhu Yuhuan had already given her the impression that "Chu Nancai is not a good person", Chu Kui actually felt very disgusted with Chu Nancai.

  "Stay quietly in the house, if you're feeling bored, go sit with Grandma, Auntie or Madame Liu, just don't wander around elsewhere." Chu Nancai seemed quite satisfied with Chu Kejie's behavior over the past few days and nodded.

  "How are my second sister and fourth younger sister?"

  "What are you asking this for? This isn't something that should be asked."

  "One is me, one is also me, I'm just asking..."

  "Alright," Chu Nan interrupted her loudly, saying "it's not something that should be asked."

  On the side, Liu Yiniang hurriedly reached out and pressed Chu Nancai's arm, "Third sister is also concerned about second sister and fourth sister... let's not ask, no need to get so angry." She looked at Chu Keqi with a hint of anxious restraint on her face.

  Chu Nan Cai looked at the white fingers pressed on her arm, raised his head and glanced at Liu Niang's face. The anxiety and worry on her face were very obvious. He had never seen such a worried expression on Liu Niang's face before, always with a cold and indifferent look. Now he finally saw that she also had anxious moments. He snorted and paused for a moment before saying, "The two of them are fine... Don't ask anything else." With an air of suppressing his anger for Liu Niang's sake.

  Chu Xue nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions. In fact, she had already understood that this concubine-born daughter was not considered important in Chu Nancai's eyes.

  Madam Liu finally felt relieved and hastily asked the maid to go to the kitchen to take a look, if the dishes were ready, then set the table and bring them up.

  The maid responded and left, but Chu Nancai asked again about the matter at the Duke's mansion. Chu Keqian casually glossed over it with a few words, while Liu Yiniang, standing there, listened seriously as well. She also wanted to know what had happened at the Duke's mansion, but didn't dare ask Chu Keqian.

  The maidservants brought up the dishes, and as before, Chu Nancai sat at the head of the table, Chu Kejie on his left, and Madame Liu stood behind him to serve the meal.

  Chu Ke looked at Chu Nan's carefree and contented appearance, probably even if it was just the two of them eating together, he would still have Madame Liu serve him like this.

  Liu Yiniang stood behind him, quietly without saying a word, which was very different from the expression when she sat down to chat with Chu Keqin these days. The coldness was not on the surface, but came from the heart, and her whole body emitted a kind of indifference, as if it were a deep pool of water, without any ripples.

  Twenty years, so many things have happened, how did Liu Niang's heart become so disheartened? Chu Ke didn't need to ask anymore.

  Without saying a word, Chu Ke ate and then bid farewell. Madame Liu couldn't see her off in person, so she had to ask the maid to send Third Young Miss off instead.

  Chu Nancai, this father, has always given Chu Ke a very faint feeling, because she rarely comes into contact with him. Sitting together for dinner like today is probably only the first or second time, and at that time it was still a big family, so there's no particular impression. However, looking at it now, what Brother Zhu Yuhuan said about how Chu Nancai used to treat Liu Niangniang in the past is absolutely not exaggerated.

  The next day, Liu Yiniang came to see her with some apology, but Chu Keqi didn't mind at all and treated her the same as before. The two of them also didn't mention a word about Chu Nanchen.

  It is by.

  div

  baidu_clb_lt_id=519311

  Complete works txt download, full text free, e-book, remember 77 reading books