Chapter 506 - Using Dirty Tricks to Get the Picture Album
Chapter 506 Using Dirty Tricks to Get the Picture Album
The old maid of Duke Xing’s Mansion went back in disgrace. Qing’er went up the mountain on a carriage. In fact, the two carriages passed by each other on the mountain road.
Qing’er lifted the curtain and was enjoying the scenery. When she saw the carriage of Duke Xing’s Mansion coming down from the mountain, she was stunned for a moment. Then she saw the supervisor old maid looking out of the window. As the carriage passing by each other, they glanced at each other silently and then separated. Then the curtain fell and the carriage flew in the opposite direction.
When she came to the top of the mountain, Qing’er got off the carriage and looked for Shao Wanru anxiously. Along the way, she was in a hurry and almost bumped into several nuns. As she apologized, she hurried forward. At first glance, the nuns knew that something was wrong. Then looked at the things in her hands, some of the nuns were surprised while some were proud.
Qing’er didn’t notice who she hit. She couldn’t recognize all the nuns in this nunnery. At this time, she certainly wouldn’t spend so much effort to find out who it was.
Under the shocked gazes of a group of nuns, Qing’er was almost in a hurry. She returned to Shao Wanru’s courtyard in a state of despondency and then closed the door heavily. Everyone would not know what would happen next.
It seemed that it was not a small thing to scare this naughty and lovely little girl in the past to such an extent. Did something terrible happen? The people who saw her were all suspicious and felt that Fifth Miss Shao might be very anxious.
Of course, some were anxious, and some were happy. Both Huiqing and Huiming went to report to their master with a smile on their faces!
The silence room was not as chaotic as how others imagined it to be. The young masters and servants were not in a state of panic and were very at ease. Shao Wanru did not read the album carefully last night and was reading it right now. She nodded after reading through it and said with a sigh, “This picture album is not bad. It’s just like the original one! I can’t tell that the one inside is added later. Grandmother’s movements are really quick and really good.”
“Miss, this picture album was made by the Prince. Last night, Great Elder Princess couldn’t do anything, so she asked me to give it to the Prince and let him think of something!” Qing’er pouted and complained for her Prince.
“It was grandmother who asked him to do it!” Shao Wanru said seriously.
“But it was Prince who did it!” Qing’er whispered, but she didn’t say anything else. She saw that her Miss’s ears were a little red. “Miss, when I went up to the mountain, I encountered a carriage of Duke Xing’s Mansion. Did she come here to see you?”
Shao Wanru was not like what Qing’er thought. She blushed when she talked about Chu Liuchen because she was angry and ashamed when she thought of how she clung to Chu Liuchen’s waist tightly on the tree yesterday. She would never climb the tree again!
“Yesterday’s old maid came with Huiming and asked for the picture album that Miss saw yesterday. Obviously, the picture album was soiled by them, but if the original one is taken out again, I don’t know what will happen!” Yujie said angrily. When she remembered that the old maid said to her coldly before leaving that she would definitely come to take the picture album and said that her Miss couldn’t hide it even if she wanted to, she felt depressed.
“If they want to get it, let them do it!” Shao Wanru put the picture album aside carelessly. Her watery eyes looked cold. She had just been here to feel out her before, but now this one was serious.
Sure enough, in the afternoon, Duke Xing’s Mansion sent people again. This time, they knew each other very well. Nanny Yu, who served Old Madam, immediately smiled when she saw Shao Wanru. She was very respectful to Shao Wanru, and called her Fifth Miss intimately. Those who didn’t know the reason might think that Nanny Yu really regarded Shao Wanru as her master.
“Fifth Miss, can you let me take this picture album with me? Both Old Madam and Empress Dowager are waiting for it!” After gossiping for a while, Nanny Yu said the purpose of her visit with a smile.
“Empress Dowager?” Shao Wanru frowned. What did this have to do with Empress Dowager?
“Empress Dowager asked Old Madam to go to the imperial palace to talk, and happened to talk about it. She said that the picture album of Yuhui Nunnery was exquisite. It was not only designed carefully, but also painted by the Pushan Nun. There was only one book in the world, and it was drawn by Master Pushan. You know that it’s difficult to get the paintings outside. But we didn’t expect that she made the picture album for the sake of the religious rite. Empress Dowager was curious, so she asked me to come and take it.”
Nanny Yu explained with a smile.
Therefore, this matter was exposed to the Empress Dowager. Shao Wanru moved her hand. As the teacup fell, a trace of deepness passed through her watery eyes. She was a little surprised, and also not so much surprised.
With such excellent painting skills and such an exquisite picture album, the paper and the paint were all exquisite. The only one who could draw it in Yuhui Nunnery was only Master Pushan.
Fortunately, she had been practicing all these three years. Fortunately, in her previous life, she was also good at painting. Otherwise, she couldn’t find a person who could paint according to the painting for a while!
She smiled silently. Old Madam didn’t want to be blamed for her unkind behaviors. So she sent herself to the Empress Dowager. Even if the Empress Dowager was angry by the damaged album then, it would have nothing to do with her. What a good plan!
Shao Wanru frowned slightly and asked softly, “Master Pushan’s painting? I didn’t recognize it at the moment.”
“Yes, First Miss has been praising her since she went down the mountain. I didn’t expect that Old Madam sent the trouble-making old maid yesterday to fetch it. This time Empress Dowager wants to see it. Old Madam thinks it’s better for me to come here, so as not to have any accidents!”
Nanny Yu said with a smile.
What she said was very satisfactory. Besides, she blocked Shao Wanru’s explanation, so she had to send the picture album away even if she didn’t want to.
“I liked this picture album when I saw it yesterday. It was very inappropriate for me to throw it casually. So I purposely made a bag. I wanted to put the picture album in it. It would not be damaged when I take it out in the future, but it’s still in producing…”
Shao Wanru seemed hesitant as she spoke. She looked as if she was in a difficult position.
“There’s still a hole. I’ll wait for it and then leave!” Nanny Yu said enthusiastically.
Since she said so, Shao Wanru seemed to have no way to avoid it. She could only ask Yujie to find the bag she made before and picture album, and the bag only lacked a few needles. The cloth was good and was made into a long shape that could fit the picture album. Shao Wanru asked Yujie to put the picture album into the bag. Then she picked up the needle and inquired about the matter of Old Madam while sewing.
Nanny Yu answered very carefully.
Everyone looked down on this Fifth Miss, but Nanny Yu would never look down on her. Since Fifth Miss saved Old Madam, Nanny Yu felt that this Fifth Miss was not an ordinary person and could not treat her as an ordinary Miss.
After the two chatted for a while, Shao Wanru cut off the thread in her hand. Suddenly, she let out a cry.
“Fifth Miss, what’s the matter?” Nanny Yu’s heart skipped a beat and she asked hurriedly. Her gaze landed on the cloth bag in Shao Wanru’s hands.
Shao Wanru pulled the opening of the bag and said, “Just now, we chatted all the time and I sealed the opening. Did, did I have to break it down and redo it again?”
There was only an opening to be sewed before, but now the bag was sealed completely. Nanny Yu had been talking with Shao Wanru carefully before, so she didn’t notice the needlework in her hands. At this time, she was stunned when she saw the sealed bag. If she wanted to take out the picture album, she would have to tear the bag forcefully.
“Nanny Yu, wait a minute. I’ll redo it. After I finish it, I’ll send it into the palace,” Shao Wanru said. She looked guilty as she tugged at the opening.
Nanny Yu couldn’t help looking at the sky outside. Even if they went downhill now, it had been late. If they delayed for a while, Old Madam and First Miss would have to go out of the palace. It would be too deliberate to mention it next time. Thinking of Shao Wanru’s gossip just now, Nanny Yu immediately felt that Shao Wanru was deliberately stalling for time.
Besides, it was also good to seal the bag up. At least, she wouldn’t be suspected! Originally, after the incident, she was afraid that Shao Wanru would blame it on her. Now, it was better!
She immediately laughed and said, “Fifth Miss, this doesn’t matter. When the time comes, we can just open the bag in front of Empress Dowager. Who knows if Empress Dowager would think that you’re so clever that you’ve actually protected the picture album so well?”
Shao Wanru seemed to flush because of the praise. She pinched the needle and thread in her hand uneasily and said, “I did the wrong thing. How can Empress Dowager praise me!”
“I don’t think so. Look at the embroidery, Empress Dowager might not even want to open it!” Nanny Yu teased. She reached out and took the picture album from Shao Wanru’s arms. She stood up and bowed to Shao Wanru and said, “I’m going to report it to Old Madam at this time.”
Then, she turned around and left in a hurry, as if she was afraid that Shao Wanru would hold her back.
The smile on Shao Wanru’s face faded away as she looked at the maid leaving quickly. Her eyes were cold. She wanted to know how her good grandmother would “deal with” this matter!
In the Palace of Benevolent Peace of Empress Dowager, there was not only Old Madam of Duke Xing’s Mansion, but also the other two Old Madams. After talking with Empress Dowager for a while, Shao Yanru whispered a few words to Old Madam, and the smile on Old Madam’s face faded a little.
Empress Dowager’s eyes turned around and happened to see the scene. She asked with a smile, “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. It’s just that Ru’er is worried about Fifth Miss. The nanny has been there for so long and hasn’t come back yet. Ru’er is worried about her!” Old Madam explained with a smile.
Her words reminded the Empress Dowager of the picture album in the Yuhui Nunnery. She raised her hand and said, “Go to the gate of the palace to have a look. Why hasn’t she come back yet? At this time, she should have come back from the mountain!”
A eunuch left the room with a nod.
Shao Yanru stood up and softly explained to Empress Dowager, “She should be here soon. I’m afraid that my fifth sister is insensible and doesn’t take the picture album seriously. Since it’s drawn by Pushan Nun, it is not easy to get. I used to learn how to paint from Pushan Nun on the mountain, and she seldom draws by herself!” Shao Yanru blushed.
She followed Old Madam into the imperial palace. She said that her grandmother was old, so she was worried about her. She escorted her all the way to the imperial palace, and then went back.
She looked so filial and gentle, and the other two Old Madams envied her Old Madam so much. They even held Shao Yanru’s hand all the time to praise her just now.
The Empress Dowager liked Shao Yanru, who was so elegant and gentle. She couldn’t help but wonder which grandson she should let such a beautiful girl marry.