A stew of the Red Chamber

After seeing Ping'er off, Sister Liu sneaked into the study.

Before she could even step forward to flatter him, Wang Qing asked in a deep voice, "Did the Second Madam instruct you on anything?"

"Second Madam?" Aunt Liu was taken aback at first, then her face flushed red as she said, "The...Madam instructed me to teach Wu'er to serve the Master well!"

That's it?

Why is it not quite what I expected?

Wang Qing pressed on, "That's it?"

"Yes...yes...it's the rule in the manor. When the men get older, there have to be two people in the room...let Wu'er follow the manor's rules..."

Wang Qing stared at Liu's face for a long time, but couldn't find any trace of acting. After thinking for a moment, he said, "If Second Madam has any instructions later, just agree to them and report back to me later!"

"Yes! Yes!" Sister Liu quickly replied, then said sullenly, "Then this servant..."

I thought Wang Qing had something to ask, but it was just an excuse. I never expected that he really did ask a question.

Unexpectedly, before she could take her leave, Wang Qing said in a deep voice, "Then let me see how you've taught them!"

"Huh?" Sister Liu looked up in surprise and saw Wang Qing pointing at the table in front of her.

She immediately understood and quickly climbed up.

……

The next day.

After completing her morning and evening greetings, Madam Wang returned to Rongxi Hall. She had just removed three layers of clothing, revealing her home clothes underneath.

Just then, someone outside announced, "Madam! Master Qing is here!"

"Ah!~" Madam Wang was overjoyed and quickly said, "Quickly! Please come in!"

At the same time, she thought to herself, "Is the effect of Granny Ma's ritual really that obvious?"

While she was busy enjoying herself, Wang Qing, who had just entered the room, was taken aback when he saw Madam Wang dressed in a revealing outfit.

The half-open collar, the purple lace, and the deep white skin faintly visible through the openwork, all seemed to magnetically draw Wang Qing's gaze in.

Noticing Wang Qing's gaze, Madam Wang was also taken aback, and subconsciously raised her hand to clench her fist, trying to cover her chest.

However, instead of covering up, her punch caused the fullness in her chest to spill out.

But then he remembered the scene from his dream, and hurriedly lowered his arm, causing the ground in front of him to shake violently.

Madam Wang quickly turned around, hurrying towards the edge of the kang (heated brick bed) while feigning composure, and asked, "Qing... why is Qing-ge'er here?"

Her round buttocks, which were barely visible beneath her skirt, now rippled like a full moon reflected in water with each step.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Wang Qing seemed to hear a swallowing sound in Madam Wang's words.

He was momentarily moved by her words and couldn't help but say, "There's something I'd like to trouble you with, Second Madam!"

trouble?

Madam Wang's heart skipped a beat. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly turned around, sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and casually waved to Jin Chuan and the others, saying, "Since Qing-ge'er has something to discuss, you may all leave now!"

Wang Qing's so-called trouble was just a polite remark, but Madam Wang took it seriously.

Although she knew that sending Jin Chuan away would easily lead to suspicion, she was even more worried that Wang Qing might say something shocking that the maid might overhear.

We can only choose the lesser of two evils.

Upon hearing this, Jin Chuan and the others were taken aback and quickly bowed their heads to take their leave.

Upon seeing this, Wang Qing thought to himself, "Could it be that Madam Wang learned of my extraordinary talent from Sister Liu?"

But Sister Liu's acting skills are so outstanding that even she was fooled by her?

Thinking of this, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the sunken cushion beneath Madam Wang.

This caused Madam Wang to have a stress reaction, and she swayed her ample body restlessly, wriggling from side to side a couple of times.

He cleared his throat and asked tentatively, "I wonder what trouble Qing-ge'er is in? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Wang Qing took a deep breath and said, "Liu Wu'er has recovered completely and is now serving me in the house. I've also gotten used to the servants in the courtyard. I was wondering if I could trouble Madam to transfer their indentures to me as well..."

A dozen or twenty servants wouldn't be worth much money, so discussing buying them would be awkward. Wang Qing didn't try to be coy with Madam Wang.

"That's it?" Madam Wang exhaled a breath of stale air, her meaning unclear. "It was my oversight! I'll have someone send you the indenture right away!"

Seeing that she answered so readily, Wang Qing couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

Jin Chuan and the others were clearly suspicious, so he dared not make any rash moves. He quickly bowed to express his gratitude and took the opportunity to leave.

After Wang Qing left, Madam Wang absentmindedly pulled a thin blanket over her legs.

Although Wang Qing's request relieved her, it also inexplicably stirred up a sense of melancholy.

However, just yesterday, Madam Ma performed a ritual to apologize, and today Wang Qing took the initiative to come to her door with a favor to ask. For Madam Wang, this had an immediate effect and gave her peace of mind.

Remembering that Granny Ma had made a great contribution, she quickly ordered, "Quickly! Prepare another twenty taels of silver and send it to Granny Ma!"

After giving her instructions, she was suddenly startled again.

This is something Wang Qing shouldn't have had to say. If it weren't for Ma Daopo performing a ritual to apologize yesterday, he probably wouldn't have told him the truth.

We should find someone to keep an eye on things, so that Wang Qing doesn't have to ask for help every time.

Thinking of this, she quickly ordered, "Quick! Go and fetch the Liu family's wife from Qing-ge'er's courtyard!"

While waiting for Sister Liu to arrive, Madam Wang summoned several older housekeepers, including Zhou Rui's wife, to inquire about Sister Liu's situation and ordered someone to fetch her indenture.

When Sister-in-law Liu arrived as ordered and finished her greetings, Madam Wang said with a gentle smile, "Just now, Qing-ge came over and praised you for your diligence. Wu-er also went inside to serve you. Why didn't you report such an important matter to me?"

Sister Liu's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said, "This servant...this servant wouldn't dare disturb Madam..."

"What are you saying?" Madam Wang laughed. "Qing-ge'er is a distinguished guest in our family, so naturally we should make him feel at home. If we have to ask him to do everything, wouldn't that be a breach of hospitality? You came to me with this, and I will only praise you for being sensible. How could it be considered a disturbance?"

Upon hearing this, Sister Liu was struck dumb.

Wang Qing brought up this matter last night, and Madam Wang gave the order today.

She secretly wondered, could the old man possibly be a prophet?

Remembering Wang Qing's instructions, she quickly lowered her eyes and said, "This servant understands!"

Madam Wang gestured towards Jin Chuan with her lips, and only after Jin Chuan handed the indenture to Sister Liu did she smile and say, "Since Qing-ge'er finds you two useful, you will follow him from now on..."

At this point, she changed the subject, saying, "However, since you're ultimately coming from the manor, if they lack anything or are short of anything, you must come and report to me. Do you understand?"

"Understood! Understood!" With Wang Qing's prior instructions, Sister Liu naturally complied with his requests.

Madam Wang nodded in satisfaction and said meaningfully, "Your fifth son is now serving Qing-ge'er, so he should have more dignity. I heard you have a brother who works in the front. I'll talk to the outsiders and promote him to be a gatekeeper."

"Thank you, Mrs. Liu!" Sister Liu said, but inwardly she was groaning.

Madam Wang can promote, and she can also punish; even if Wang Qing isn't a prophet, he at least anticipated the current situation.

Fortunately, Wang Qing seemed to have ulterior motives. For now, the only option was to follow his instructions, agree to Madam Wang's request, and then seek a solution from Wang Qing.

……