Chapter 244: Fifth Young Lady

Qingzhi and Qingcao, who were following behind Pingmei, hurriedly squatted down to acknowledge the order and came to Chai Zhengzheng's side.

Her summer shirt was light and thin.

After being stained by the cold drink, the clothing around Chai Zhengzheng's waist and legs became somewhat clinging and translucent.

It hadn't been obvious while she was walking, but once she stopped...

The maids from the Zhang and Gu families nearby were all wearing a single layer of summer shirt; if they took it off, only their undergarments would remain.

Seeing this, Qingcao hurriedly took off the light, thin outer jacket she was wearing,

and wrapped it around Chai Zhengzheng's waist.

Chai Zhengzheng smiled at Qingcao and Qingzhi to express her gratitude.

At this moment, a maid from the Duke Qi Prefecture walked quickly to their vicinity and said respectfully:

"Young Lady, let us go with you to change your clothes."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded.

The maid from the Duke Qi Prefecture said:

"A few younger sisters, leave it to us."

Just as Qingcao and Qingzhi were about to let go and leave, Chai Zhengzheng said:

"Let them help me; you two go over there and take a look."

The Duke Qi maid exchanged glances, then squatted in a salute and walked toward the crowded area.

Qingzhi looked at Pingmei, and Pingmei nodded, saying:

"Be sure to be thorough!"

Qingzhi and Qingcao hurriedly acknowledged the order.

Chai Zhengzheng's maid, Miss Yun Mu, accompanied Chai Zhengzheng as she left the guest courtyard with Qingzhi and Qingcao.

On the way, Chai Zhengzheng said:

"Your name is Qingzhi, right? Are you from the Gu family or the Xu family?"

"Replying to the Young Lady, this servant accompanied the Eldest Young Lady when she married into the Gu family."

"Oh!"

After walking a distance along the long corridor and passing through a moon gate, they arrived in front of a room.

Qingzhi walked a few steps faster and opened the door.

Chai Zhengzheng and her maid walked inside.

Just as Qingcao was about to follow, she was pulled back by Qingzhi.

Seeing Qingcao's puzzled expression, Qingzhi shook her head and then pulled the door shut from the outside.

Inside the room, Chai Zhengzheng stopped in confusion and looked back:

"They..."

Miss Yun Mu was also somewhat puzzled; after a moment of contemplation, she immediately said with annoyance:

"Young Lady, it was this servant who was thoughtless. We must thank the two older sisters outside later."

Chai Zhengzheng asked:

"What happened?"

Miss Yun Mu said:

"Young Lady, let's change clothes first! Those two sisters are truly cautious and careful; it was this servant who was inconsiderate!"

Chai Zhengzheng walked into the room.

With Miss Yun Mu's assistance, she took off her summer shirt. When Miss Yun Mu used a damp towel to wipe her waist and legs, Chai Zhengzheng finally realized.

When she changed clothes, she was practically completely undressed.

Although they were all girls,

Qingcao and Qingzhi were maids of outside guests,

and Qingcao's master was a young man like Xu Zaijing.

Chai Zhengzheng had been a bit muddled to call Qingcao and Qingzhi to help; if the two of them were the type to have impure thoughts or curry favor, and after following her in, they treated seeing her body as gossip...

If she were questioned about the details of her body, and rumors spread later, she would have no way to defend herself, and what good would come of it?

Chai Zhengzheng thought again.

Actually, Qingcao and Qingzhi were also helping their master avoid suspicion. If something happened later, they hadn't even entered the door, so naturally, they would have no suspicion.

After feeling some lingering fear, Chai Zhengzheng smiled slightly.

"Young Lady, it is this servant's fault, but... how can you still smile!"

Chai Zhengzheng thought to herself, naturally she was smiling at the Xu family maids' adherence to propriety. The maids of the Xu family's Eldest Young Lady who had married out were still, after all, Xu family people.

Just as Miss Yun Mu had finished wiping for a while,

Princess Pingning walked with a stern expression to the outside of the courtyard where Chai Zhengzheng was located.

Her lips were tightly pursed, and she was frowning.

At the same time, she felt fortunate in her heart. Fortunately, they were the maids of the Xu family siblings; if they were from other families like the Duke Ling Prefecture or other nobles with poor reputations,

even if it meant tearing off the mask of civility, she would have insisted on having the maids who followed her in beaten to death.

Even so, there was still plenty of concern in the Princess's eyes.

She also wanted to see what the two Xu family maids looked like; if they were the type with loose hair and a seductive, brothel-like style, she would also strike ruthlessly.

However, if that were the case, she might have to ask the Empress to mediate.

Thinking of these things,

Princess Pingning passed through the moon gate and saw Qingzhi and Qingcao standing at the door at a glance.

Both maids had stern makeup and were looking around with vigilant eyes.

Seeing Princess Pingning approach, Qingzhi and Qingcao hurriedly squatted in a salute.

"Why hasn't Zhengzheng's undergarment been brought out?"

Hearing Princess Pingning's words, Qingzhi lowered her head and said: "Replying to the Princess, nothing has been passed out from the room."

Princess Pingning nodded and turned to leave:

"Let's go, let's go over there and see how the situation is."

As she walked out, she happened to see Madam Chai walking over.

Princess Pingning said:

"Both girls know how to avoid suspicion; they are just standing outside the door."

Madam Chai breathed a sigh of relief and said: "You go quickly, I will go watch over Zhengzheng."

"Hmm."

Arriving at the door, Madam Chai did not go in. Looking at Qingzhi and Qingcao, she smiled and said:

"Are you the Xu family's maids?"

"Are you family-born servants?"

Qingcao glanced at Qingzhi, and Qingzhi said:

"Replying to Madam, the two of us were bought from outside; we are not family-born servants."

Madam Chai was startled and then smiled, saying:

"Your Marquis Prefecture certainly knows how to train people."

"Thank you for the compliment, Madam."

During the conversation, Miss Yun Mu inside the room had already helped Chai Zhengzheng wipe clean and changed her into a completely new set of clothes from inside out.

After exiting the room, Chai Zhengzheng bowed to Madam Chai:

"Mother."

As she spoke, she took Madam Chai's arm, then smiled at Qingzhi and Qingcao:

"Thank you for your trouble. Let's go, let's return to the courtyard."

Madam Chai glanced at Chai Zhengzheng, whose expression was a bit different, but didn't say much, and they walked out together.

"Listening to you talk in the room just now, you were bought from outside by the Marquis Prefecture?"

Listening to Chai Zhengzheng's question, Qingzhi lowered her head slightly while walking in front to show respect, then replied:

"Yes, Young Lady. The two of us were sold into the Marquis Prefecture when we were five or six years old."

Chai Zhengzheng said:

"So, in that case, you have spent more time in the Marquis Prefecture over these years than in your hometown?"

Qingzhi: "Yes."

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Qingcao walking in front and asked with some curiosity in her eyes:

"Qingcao, why aren't you saying anything?"

Qingcao turned her head and smiled embarrassedly:

"I, I... this servant has a clumsy mouth and doesn't know how to speak, and my brain turns slowly. The Young Master told this servant: speak less, err less."

Hearing this, the group chuckled with good intentions.

Arriving at the moon gate,

Chai Zhengzheng continued to ask:

"Qingcao, do you and Qingzhi still have contact with your families?"

Qingzhi looked at Qingcao with eyes full of smiles and encouragement, remaining silent.

Qingcao said:

"Yes, over these years, this servant and Qingzhi sister have both sent some money home. My older brother even married a wife a while ago."

Chai Zhengzheng sighed with relief: "That's truly wonderful."

Sensing her daughter's mood, Madam Chai patted the arm Chai Zhengzheng was holding.

Chai Zhengzheng smiled, signaling to her mother that she was fine.

The group continued to walk forward, and the topic should have ended there.

But for some reason, that sentence, "That Rong Feiyan likes Xu Zaijing," suddenly echoed in Chai Zhengzheng's heart.

She had seen Rong Feiyan today; she was at the age of growing tall, born with natural beauty, bright eyes, and white teeth. Among the young ladies of the Bianjing nobility, Rong Feiyan's appearance was also among the most outstanding.

When she wasn't smiling, she held her chin high, keeping people at a distance, but when she smiled, Chai Zhengzheng, as a woman, felt a sense of closeness arise spontaneously, let alone men.

Therefore, looking at Qingcao in front, Chai Zhengzheng continued: "Qingcao, you... where are your and Qingzhi's hometowns? Is it far from Bianjing?"

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Qingzhi's eyes. Given the relationship between the Xu and Gu families and the Chai family,

this Young Lady's question was a bit too deep.

Qingcao also sensed it slightly. She looked at Qingzhi, and just as she was thinking about whether to speak, Qingzhi nodded slightly.

Thus, Qingcao said:

"Replying to the Young Lady, this servant and Qingzhi sister are from the same hometown; our hometown is in Wuzhou, Liangzhe Circuit."

Chai Zhengzheng, bearing Madam Chai's slightly reproachful gaze, smiled, nodded, and said "Oh."

Qingcao seemed to feel she hadn't answered the second question, so she hurriedly added:

"It is Wushang County, Xiaoliang Mountain, over a thousand miles away from Bianjing."

Chai Zhengzheng was startled, and her foot missed its step: "Xiao..."

"Young Lady!"

Miss Yun Mu, who was to the side, saw Chai Zhengzheng stumble and almost fall, so she hurriedly stepped forward to support her.

Hearing the exclamation, Qingzhi and Qingcao turned their heads to look.

Madam Chai also grabbed Chai Zhengzheng's arm forcefully. Feeling the pain, Chai Zhengzheng looked at her mother.

Madam Chai said to Qingcao and Qingzhi, who had turned their heads: "It's nothing!"

She then said: "Zhengzheng! How old are you, and you are still so careless when walking!"

Listening to the words and looking at the pain and reminder in Madam Chai's eyes, Chai Zhengzheng suppressed the hesitation in her heart, squeezed out a smile, and continued walking out of the courtyard.

But on the way, Chai Zhengzheng's eyes looked at Qingzhi and Qingcao from time to time.

Arriving at the courtyard where the Duke Prefecture entertained guests,

looking around, the young ladies who had been undermining each other in the pavilion just now had already dispersed.

The noblewomen of various families were still either talking at the banquet tables or playing in the corridors and pavilions.

Qingzhi and Qingcao bowed to say goodbye and returned to the side of the Xu family.

Before entering the hall where the banquet was set, Madam Chai solemnly exhorted in Chai Zhengzheng's ear:

"Zhengzheng, the matter of Qingxue concerns your reputation. Don't go asking about it without authorization; Mother will find a way for you!"

"Hmm!"

After looking at her daughter's eyes again to confirm she knew the seriousness of the matter, Madam Chai entered the hall.

"Sigh, the young ladies were careless and stained their dresses, it's fine now!"

Listening to her mother's voice inside, Chai Zhengzheng pursed her lips, then looked at Gu Tingyi, who was walking over, and revealed a smile:

"Let's go, let's go meet the expert you mentioned."

Gu Tingyi looked at Chai Zhengzheng, who had become even more graceful after changing into new clothes, and said:

"This outfit is even better looking than the one before!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Sister."

"Someone, go, invite the Sheng family's Sixth Young Lady to come play."

"Yes, Young Lady."

A maid to the side hurriedly went to find someone.

The two were talking as they arrived at the pavilion where they were playing pitch-pot.

Anmei was smiling and shaking her head as she walked to the embroidered stool to sit down.

Clearly, she hadn't won at pitch-pot.

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady was triumphantly standing with her hands on her hips: "Haha! Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me?"

Rong Feiyan to the side glanced at Anmei and stood up: "I'll try."

"Come, come, come! Don't cry if you lose!"

Rong Feiyan smiled.

Chai Zhengzheng and Tingyi sat on the embroidered stools, watching Fifth Young Lady and Rong Feiyan throwing arrows back and forth in the field.

The "battle" was somewhat intense.

At this time, the plump Minglan was also invited over, followed by the equally chubby Little Xiaotao.

Tingyi beckoned, letting Minglan sit beside her.

Watching Rong Feiyan in the field, rolling up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists, and gracefully throwing the arrows, Minglan said softly beside Tingyi:

"She is really good at pitch-pot."

Tingyi and Zhengzheng nodded in agreement. Chai Zhengzheng said:

"The person is even better looking."

"Ding."

The arrow Rong Feiyan threw hit the rim of the pot and flew out. Rong Feiyan looked somewhat uncomfortable at Tingyi and the other two who were watching.

Tingyi and the other two had innocent expressions.

"Hahaha."

Fifth Young Lady's triumphant laughter came from the side. Then, Fifth Young Lady picked up an arrow and began to aim.

Minglan looked at Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady and said softly:

"Zhang family sister's hands are really beautiful."

Fifth Young Lady's hand trembled, and she threw the arrow.

"Swish."

The arrow didn't touch anything and fell straight in front of the pot. Fifth Young Lady frowned and looked at Minglan, who had spoken:

"Hmph! Don't praise me when I'm playing pitch-pot!"

Hearing this, everyone around laughed.

Minglan's words made everyone around notice Fifth Young Lady's fingers. When Fifth Young Lady played pitch-pot, Anmei and the others' gazes were all gathered on her hands.

The result was that Fifth Young Lady didn't hit any of the two arrows that followed.

Rong Feiyan did hit two.

"Zhang family sister, I concede."

Fifth Young Lady stepped off the field somewhat annoyed, came before Gu Tingyi and the others, and stretched out her tender, white, onion-like fingers:

"Look, look, look, let you look enough!"

And the eldest sister-in-law who married out, no, the Eldest Young Lady... Pingmei,

The maids hurriedly cleaned up the pitch-pot and arrows.

Chai Zhengzheng looked around and saw no one standing up.

She stood up from the embroidered stool, came before the arrow pot, and made a gesture of invitation toward Rong Feiyan:

"Come!"

Rong Feiyan smiled and said: "Chai family sister, you go first."

"You are the younger sister, you go first."

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan nodded, picked up the arrow for the pitch-pot, gestured a few times, and threw it.

Thud!

Hit.

Chai Zhengzheng stood sideways, holding the arrow, bending her arm and standing on tiptoe, preparing to throw.

At this moment, a breeze blew, blowing her thin summer skirt against her body.

Minglan to the side said:

"Chai family sister's legs are so long!"

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng, who was on tiptoe, jumped forward a few times before steadying herself.

"Minglan!"

Looking at Minglan, who was covering her mouth, Chai Zhengzheng adjusted herself, tried hard to ignore Fifth Young Lady and Tingyi, who were staring at her with wide eyes, and threw the arrow in her hand.

Hit.

In the field, they went back and forth.

Both noblewomen were outstanding young ladies. Between their gestures, their sleeves fluttered, the ornaments on their hair buns shone, and coupled with their focused appearance,

their ten-point appearance revealed twelve-point color.

It made the young ladies off the field watch without blinking. Fifth Young Lady to the side said:

"So that's the feeling you had when you looked at me. No wonder."

Hearing Fifth Young Lady's words, when Chai Zhengzheng threw the arrow, Fifth Young Lady's fingers, which had stretched out before her eyes, suddenly appeared in her heart: they were indeed beautiful.

Ding.

The arrow hit the ear of the pot.

Missed.

Over there, Rong Feiyan threw her last one.

Also missed.

Rong Feiyan smiled at Chai Zhengzheng.

Anmei and Tingyi, who were acting as the pitch-pot officials to the side, counted the tallies in their hands and said:

"You two, tied!"

Chai Zhengzheng stepped off the field, sat on the embroidered stool, looked at Tingyi, and said: "You and Minglan go up. Let me see if you are the expert you mentioned."

Minglan and Gu Tingyi exchanged glances and walked together to the arrow pot that the maids had organized.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 245 =====