Chapter 34: Plums and Pines Defying the Snow

Jun Jun Yiyi had numerous belongings; boxes lay scattered haphazardly across the floor of Aoxue Courtyard until noon, when Jun Jun Yiyi finally completed the move.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin did not rush to move in; after taking her midday meal, she instructed the others, saying:

"Zhou Zhou Yiniang, please trouble you to borrow a few hands from the Old Lady's courtyard, then lead the maids to sweep that place thoroughly."

"Xiao He, go find some mugwort and fumigate the place inside and out."

"Hanxiao and Miaozhu, you two, along with Nanny Dong, watch the courtyard and keep a close eye on the contents of the boxes."

Hanxiao and Miaozhu were originally maids from the Old Lady's side, quick-witted and very alert; naturally, they were two of Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's most capable assistants. Leaving them to guard the items in the courtyard was certainly safe. Nanny Dong had been frightened the previous day and was not assigned any work. Everyone received the orders and busied themselves accordingly.

In fact, Aoxue Courtyard was not originally dirty. Jun Jun Yiyi, this white lotus, appeared kind on the surface but possessed many methods for punishing subordinates; the servants' injuries were almost never visible on the surface. Those maids served with trembling caution, daring not to slack off. Every day, they rose early and diligently swept the courtyard over and over again. Whether it was the small paths in the courtyard, the flower beds in the corners, or even every inch beneath the eaves, they were swept spotless and clean. Especially the ground paved with large bluestone slabs, which was scrubbed so bright it reflected people! When sunlight fell upon it, it could even cast a person's reflection!

Although Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had instructed the servants to sweep Aoxue Courtyard and burn mugwort, she did not do this intentionally to make Jun Jun Yiyi feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.

In her past life, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin was accustomed to regularly sweeping rooms and disinfecting the living environment; mugwort could not only disinfect but also repel mosquitoes and insects and purify the air.

At Anxiang Pavilion, a maid reported that Aoxue Courtyard was bustling with sweeping and was even being fumigated with mugwort.

Upon hearing this, Jun Jun Yiyi's face turned red with anger. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin was clearly showing disdain for the place she had lived in; truly utterly detestable. Jun Jun Yiyi turned and pinched the arm of the little maid who had come to report. The maid, in pain, kowtowed and begged for mercy before Jun Jun Yiyi would let her go, scolding:

"Get out!"

It was clearly the Young Lady's order for her to monitor Aoxue Courtyard and report the situation truthfully, yet she still received a beating. The aggrieved little maid dared not even cry and hurriedly retreated.

Within the mansion, aside from a few main courtyards, Aoxue Courtyard was the largest.

This courtyard was situated in the northwest corner of the mansion. A moon gate separated the courtyard from the outside world. Upon entering the courtyard gate, a path paved with bluestone slabs wound forward, lined on both sides with various flowers and plants that bloomed throughout the four seasons without withering.

At the end of the path stood the main hall of Aoxue Courtyard, decorated with elegant refinement.

Behind the main hall lay a garden, where a rich floral fragrance washed over one's face. Following the winding path, a small, exquisite pavilion stood in a corner of the garden. Though small, this pavilion was uniquely crafted, with intricately carved pillars and an elegant roof, its surroundings covered in lush, emerald-green vines.

On the eastern side of Aoxue Courtyard was Meisong Garden, where two tall, upright snow pines stood proudly. These two snow pines had graceful shapes, with long, sturdy trunks; their branches stretched and intertwined, forming a dense canopy. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled patches of light and shadow on the ground, utterly beautiful.

The deep-green pine needles were full of vitality; when a breeze blew, the needles swayed gently, emitting a faint rustling sound. Even in the cold winter, these two snow pines retained their emerald color, fearing no severe cold; though heavy snow pressed upon the green pines, they still stood tall.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin walked along the path until she reached this spot and sighed inwardly that, of the entire courtyard, this place was the most secluded and tranquil.

On one side of the snow pines grew a grove of emerald bamboo; when the breeze blew, the bamboo leaves rustled. In the grove, birds chirped with a clear, pleasant sound. A wooden walkway ran through the bamboo forest, leading to a few rooms at the end where miscellaneous items were stored.

On one side grew plum blossoms; whenever winter arrived, the snow pines stood proudly while the plum blossoms bloomed, filling the garden with fragrance, a sight too beautiful to take in. The name Aoxue Courtyard was derived from this very scene.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin sat on a stone bench, closed her eyes, and quietly listened to the sounds of nature, savoring this moment of peace and beauty. Every blade of grass and every tree here had been arranged by the original owner's mother, Fang Fang Mengru, for her only daughter, exuding a rare elegance everywhere; no wonder Jun Jun Yiyi coveted it.

After an unknown duration, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin opened her eyes, stood up, walked around the snow pines, and proceeded forward along the path. At the end of the path stood an artificial rockery; beneath the rockery lay a small pond filled with blooming lotuses, the entire pond fragrant. Several goldfish were raised in the pond, swimming freely back and forth in the water.

To the rear on the south side were the servants' quarters, quite spacious; two nannies each had a room, and there was extra space. The three senior maids by her side also each had a room. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had not brought Xiao Xiao Lian to Aoxue Courtyard with her; she had said, "My temple is too small to support you; go back where you came from."

With the courtyard so large, two general-sweeping maids were naturally insufficient; according to established rules, there should also be second-rank maids to serve tea and fetch water. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin instructed Zhou Zhou Yiniang to arrange these matters.

Once everything in the courtyard was tidied up, the original items in the rooms had not been taken away by Jun Jun Yiyi; that mother and son pair seemed to have left untouched the things on the original owner's mother's person.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin instructed the servants to clear out the few empty rooms beside the bamboo grove. This place was secluded and elegant, cool and dry, bordered by the bamboo grove on the right and the garden on the left. She intended to arrange them as her laboratory and operating room.

Once Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's plan took shape and she had measured the room structure, she began making arrangements. The grandmother's surgery should be done sooner rather than later; it could no longer be delayed.

On the second day, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had free time and drew a design for a dress.

Dresses in Emperor Tianqi dragged on the ground, featured large sleeves, and had loose ribbons trailing from the arms; while flowing, they were also cumbersome and overly complicated, making movement inconvenient.

The dress Seeing Jun Jun Zijin designed reached the ankles, with straight sleeves of just the right size, no cumbersome ribbons on the arms, and eight ribbons cleverly sewn at the waist extending to the hem. Like flowing water, they swayed with the wind and floated along with movement, elegant and romantic. The skirt featured pleats with distinct layers, possessing a dynamic beauty.

The entire dress had smooth, natural lines, elegant and mysterious, highly individualistic; it appeared neither stiff nor constrained, yet displayed a simple and grand aesthetic.

As soon as she finished drawing the design, Jun Jun Shuyan came in to find her:

"Second Sister, you have finally moved back to Aoxue Courtyard. Auntie Zhou allowed me to come see you. I can come play again; this is wonderful!"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled at her:

"If Fourth Sister likes it, feel free to come often in the future."

To speak of it, Zhou Zhou Yiniang had treated the original owner well; when Fang Fang Mengru was alive, she got along harmoniously with Zhou Zhou Yiniang, and Zhou Zhou Yiniang never sought to curry favor with them. After Fang Fang Mengru passed away, Zhou Zhou Yiniang did not kick the fallen person down but instead secretly helped the original owner. Zhou Zhou Yiniang did not oppose her daughter befriending this Second Sister. Later, after Zhou Zhou Yiniang's son drowned, fearing something might happen to her only daughter, she confined Jun Jun Shuyan to the courtyard.

Since Seeing Jun Jun Zijin went to the manor, this was Jun Jun Shuyan's first time entering Aoxue Courtyard. Upon seeing the dress under Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's brush, her expression overflowed with admiration, and she praised:

"Second Sister, did you draw this? This dress is truly beautiful, both novel and unique. Second Sister is so clever and skillful!"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled lightly:

"Shall Second Sister make one with brocade for you as a dowry?"

Jun Jun Shuyan's face flushed red with shame:

"Second Sister, I won't talk to you anymore..."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin stopped teasing her and, with a beaming smile, accompanied the curious Jun Jun Shuyan as she wandered around, looking here and there.