After Xiao Jin nodded, Xiao Ye picked up a walnut pastry. Just as Xiao Jin was about to tell him to eat slowly, Xiao Ye turned his chubby body, raised his plump little hand, and held the walnut pastry in front of Xiao Jin.
He opened his large, clear eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering, and said, "Sister, you eat—"
Xiao Jin's heart felt as if it had been violently clenched by an invisible hand, yet in an instant, it softened completely. Tears welled in her bright eyes as she took the walnut pastry and took a small bite. "It's delicious, Ye'er, eat quickly too."
Xiao Ye then picked up a walnut pastry and slowly ate it, while Xiao Jin felt her heart swell with joy.
Before Xiao Jin's emotions could subside, Cui Zhu's deliberately raised voice came from the corridor, exactly the same as when Ying Niang arrived. "Young Miss, you've come!"
*****************
The usually quiet Jinrong Courtyard was bustling with activity today!
No sooner had Yingniang left than Yaoniang hurriedly arrived with her maid.
Seeing Xiao Ye cower when he heard that Yao Niang was coming, Xiao Jin knew that Xiao Ye must have suffered a lot at Yao Niang's hands. He smiled and asked Zi Wan to take him to the warm pavilion.
Huan Yue rushed over upon hearing the news. Her face was pale, but she dared not persuade Xiao Jin to feign illness and decline the offer.
"Sister!" Xiao Jin put on a smiling face and bowed respectfully to Yao Niang.
Yao Niang didn't even bother with formalities with Xiao Jin; she simply pursed her lips and snorted as if to agree.
"Sister, you seem to be in a good mood to come here today!" Xiao Jin thought helplessly. She knew very well that if it weren't for Aunt Xu and Aunt Chen's rivalry, and Yao Niang's secret competition with Ying Niang, Yao Niang probably wouldn't have bothered to come here.
"Yingniang just came by?" Yaoniang asked bluntly, getting straight to the point. "What's she doing here?"
"Yingniang just came over for a stroll." Yaoniang's expression softened only after a flicker of fear flashed in Xiao Jin's eyes. Xiao Jin simply lowered his eyes. "Nothing's wrong."
Yao Niang remained silent, her eyes like two sharp knives scanning Xiao Jin several times, only stopping when she couldn't discern anything unusual.
"Huanyue, go pour some tea." The atmosphere was really awkward, so Xiao Jin instructed, "Oh, and bring up the snacks that Yingniang brought earlier."
"Yes." Huan Yue understood Xiao Jin's meaning when she was told to pour tea, and replaced it with the Pu'er tea they usually drank. She was secretly glad that Zi Su wasn't there, as the young lady had always disliked Zi Su.
Yao Niang keenly caught the information in Xiao Jin's words. She raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "Ying Niang just brought you some snacks? When did she have such leisure time!"
Xiao Jin pretended not to notice Yao Niang's displeasure and said softly with lowered eyes, "Yes."
Yao Niang's expression immediately changed. The atmosphere became extremely tense, and the maids serving nearby didn't dare to even breathe loudly.
Yao Niang looked remarkably like Aunt Xu, with fair skin and delicate features. At fourteen, she had blossomed into a stunning beauty. The simple white jacket she wore accentuated her delicate and graceful charm.
However, her temperament didn't quite match her delicate appearance.
"Jinniang." Yaoniang suddenly switched to a sweet, coquettish voice, almost overwhelming Xiao Jin. "When did you become so close to Third Sister? Are you upset that your eldest sister hasn't been visiting lately?"
Things are changing so fast!
Xiao Jin would rather she spoke to her imperiously, at least she wouldn't have to bother dealing with her. Even so, she still showed an expression of flattery, "Elder sister is too kind. I know how good you are to me!"
Yao Niang was not stupid; how could she not guess Ying Niang's intentions? It was nothing more than to spy on the situation in Jinrong Courtyard and to win over Xiao Jin. After all, the mistress of the scholar's mansion would probably have to be either her mother or Concubine Chen, and Ying Niang was starting to get restless.
Thinking of this, Yao Niang clenched her fists, but then relaxed them instantly, a warm smile on her face. "That's good. We sisters have always been close. I was just afraid that my lack of contact with my sister these days might have led to some malicious people stirring things up and causing us to drift apart!"
"Meixiang—" Yaoniang smiled and beckoned to her maid, "Open the bundle."
Meixiang stepped forward as instructed, untied the bundle she was carrying, and several pieces of snow-white cloth were revealed from the snow-blue satin bundle. She carefully placed them on the high table between the two of them.
"These are some new pieces of fabric I acquired a few days ago. I've been meaning to send them to you, but I've been so busy with Mother's affairs that I forgot about them," Yao Niang said with a smile. "This is top-quality fine cotton cloth, which costs five taels of silver a bolt outside! It's perfect for making undergarments; it's light, soft, and incredibly comfortable to wear next to the skin!"
When Yao Niang said this, there was an undeniable hint of resentment towards Ying Niang. She had just acquired these pieces of fabric, intending to have Zi Su, the most skilled craftswoman at Xiao Jin's place, make her undergarments. But Ying Niang had already shown interest, and she couldn't let Ying Niang have all the glory!
Seeing Yao Niang's obvious pain yet forced feigned generosity, Xiao Jin couldn't help but laugh. She naturally knew Yao Niang's true intention: parting with the fabric was purely a way to compete with Ying Niang. It was actually a win-win situation for her!
"Such a wonderful thing..." Xiao Jin's eyes showed a hint of infatuation, and her voice hesitated before refusing, "Why don't you keep it, sister!"
Yao Niang was displeased upon hearing Xiao Jin's words. She raised her eyebrows and said coldly, "Jin Niang, does that mean you only like Ying Niang and won't accept my things?"
"Sister, don't misunderstand!" Xiao Jin said anxiously, her words tumbling out incoherently, "I just think this material is too good! Since you say so, thank you, sister, I'll accept it!"
Yao Niang nodded in satisfaction and softened her voice, "That's right."
The glaring white made Yao Niang increasingly displeased, but since she had given it away herself, she couldn't very well go back on her word. She simply decided to ignore it. "I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now!"
"Have some tea before you go, sister," Xiao Jin said, feigning concern. "And there are some snacks that my third sister brought..."
"Let's do it another day." Yao Niang forced a stiff smile, immediately stood up, and hurriedly left Jinrong Courtyard with her maids Mei Xiang and Bi Zhan.
Watching Yao Niang's departing figure, Xiao Jin leaned against a stone pillar in the corridor and sighed, "Luckily, I don't have ten sisters!"
"Miss, you're joking again!" Huan Yue smiled, pursing her lips. She dismissed the maids and personally lifted the curtain for Xiao Jin. "This fabric... are you really going to accept it?"
Xiao Jin leaned against the large cushion on the soft couch as if she had no bones. Once she found a comfortable position, she slowly said, "Of course not. If I really swallowed them all, wouldn't all of Yao Niang's hatred for Ying Niang be transferred to me?"
"What Miss means is..." Huan Yue nodded. She understood the principle, but how could she repay the favor without offending the young lady?
"It's simple. She originally wanted Zisu to make it anyway, so let Zisu make it herself. I just said I wanted to give her one set." Xiao Jin's lazy smile revealed a slyness. "It's just that Zisu will have to work hard again! Who can blame her for being so skillful?"
Huan Yue imagined Zi Su's expression upon hearing the news and couldn't help but chuckle, "Miss, what a brilliant plan! This is what they call 'the capable should do more'!"
Previously, Yao Niang would always ask Zi Su to do needlework, so Zi Su often stayed up until the middle of the night, her eyes were sore from staying up so long that she would bring the needlework to Yao Niang with dark circles under her eyes. In return, Yao Niang would not bother her for a while.
Zisu was skillful, which was one thing, but Xiao Jin guessed that her older sister was just jealous of Zisu's good looks.
Yao Niang was extremely jealous and couldn't tolerate anyone being better than her. Even though Zi Su was just a lowly maid and posed no threat to Yao Niang in the slightest, she still hated Zi Su.
Perhaps it's related to Aunt Xu's upbringing? Xiao Jin didn't understand either. Yao Niang was, after all, a young lady from a scholar's family. How could she be so narrow-minded? Perhaps Aunt Xu, having come from a maid's background, was more cautious about these matters.