eliiizabeth translations

“Seventh Miss is here!” Turning past the marble screen in the hallway, one reached the main entrance of the Rongshan Hall. Several little maids dressed in light green jackets lifted the curtain and called out cheerfully inside. Ming Wei noticed the little maids had smiles on their faces and a lighthearted tone. It seemed the Old Madam wasn’t strict with them in daily life, allowing them to be so lively. If that was the case, then the Old Madam might be easy to get along with. Affected by the atmosphere, Ming Wei smiled and nodded to them as she walked in. Inside the room, laughter and lively voices could already be heard. The two senior maids beside the Old Madam, Dongmei and Dongqing, were each holding a bolt of luxurious fabric—one in jewel blue with silver-threaded peony roundels, the other in stone blue with golden-threaded melon and butterfly patterns—standing before the Old Madam. Nanny Xu said from the side, “Look, both of these colors are excellent. Even more rare is how delica...

Ming Wei followed behind Nanny Fang, and the one to suffer next became Ming Rong. Her face showed both shame and resentment, seemingly unable to accept that the trap she had carefully laid had now ensnared herself. “Nothing better to do all day but stir up trouble!” Second Madame, burning with rage, shifted all her anger onto Ming Rong. “Stop imitating those petty, lowborn tricks of your concubine mother! We’ve spared no expense hiring etiquette nannies and tutors for you girls—was it all for nothing?” Ming Rong’s face flushed deep red. The concubine mother Second Madame spoke of was known to lack subtlety, though she was constantly scheming. Not only did Second Madame look down on her, even the other concubines in the second household held her in contempt. Now being compared to her, Ming Rong felt utterly humiliated. “You may not be my own flesh and blood, but I’ve treated all of you equally. I've done my best!” Second Madame took the opportunity to perform for Second Master, who ...

As several gazes swiftly and uniformly landed on her, Ming Wei felt a chill crawl up her scalp, her whole body going numb. What was Ming Rong trying to do, saying something like that at such a sensitive moment—was she deliberately pushing her into the fire pit? Though Ming Wei had long known that Ming Rong wasn’t as generous and kind as she appeared, she hadn’t expected that, as fellow illegitimate daughters, Ming Rong would stoop to kicking someone when they were down. Maybe Ming Rong still held a grudge from Grandmother’s birthday, when Ming Wei had stolen the spotlight… "Seventh Sister, you look a bit unwell," Ming Rong spoke boldly, confident the fire wouldn’t reach her. She smiled. "If you're feeling ill, perhaps you should ask Mother for leave—" Ming Wei was furious, and her heart sank even further when she noticed Second Madame’s unfriendly gaze. Second Madame, already cornered by Second Master and Yan Hong, had nowhere to vent her suppressed anger—and no...

The curtain at the doorway was lifted, and everyone's attention, including Ming Wei's, was drawn toward it. A beautiful woman with a seductive figure and flirtatious charm in her eyes entered, flanked by two maids. Her peach-pink robe complemented her fair skin, and her slender waist looked delicate enough to be held in one hand. Just as Ming Wei was wondering who this newcomer was, she heard several sharp gasps from Ming Rong and the others. Her brows furrowed slowly—was this someone she was supposed to know? With that thought, Ming Wei studied the woman more carefully. Judging by her appearance, she looked more like a maid once taken in by Second Master... “Greetings, Madam!” Though the woman’s demeanor was bold, her etiquette was flawless. She bowed respectfully to Second Madam and then stood to the side with poise. Second Madam’s anger flared instantly. She had just begun to relax after the Old Madam let the Linghua matter slide, when suddenly a maid was thrust into her cou...

Ming Wei felt the world spin around her. She didn’t believe for a second that Linghua had fallen into the well by accident. The vicious tone in Liu Yi’s voice that day had left too deep of an impression. What she hadn’t expected was that Liu Yi would go so far as to treat a life so cheaply. “When exactly did she drown?” Ming Wei still held onto the last sliver of doubt. “It was the day of the old madam’s birthday banquet,” Tang Li whispered, clearly unable to accept the flimsy excuse either. “The people over there just claimed she was being naughty and fell in while playing…” Ming Wei frowned. Nanny Xu and He Pozi had gone to Second Madam’s room, and Second Madam had worn that same anxious, overly sincere expression. If she wasn’t hiding something, it would be more surprising. “This matter ends here. You’re not to ask about it again.” Ming Wei steadied herself and said sternly, “Just pretend you don’t know.” Since this news had managed to come out of the old madam’s courtyard, it meant...

That day, Ming Rong and the others came out of Yuxiang Garden together and went to the main residence to pay their respects. “Seventh Sister doesn’t look quite as fresh today as the other day,” Ming Fang raised her brows, her beautiful face full of sarcasm. “Maybe Seventh Sister feels her status drops by being with us. Without those noble ladies around, she’s grown slack.” Does she get uncomfortable if she doesn’t throw a jab every day? Ming Wei thought silently, secretly recalling what she wore today: a light purple half-sleeve robe over a simple pear-blossom white long tunic. It wasn’t lavish but could be considered elegant. Ultimately, it was since the birthday banquet that Ming Fang had been finding fault with her. “Fourth Sister, that’s not quite right,” Ming Rong put on her kind act, smiling gently. “Our Seventh Sister is naturally charming. However she dresses, she’s always delightful and pretty. Sixth Sister, don’t you agree?” Was Ming Rong trying to help her? It was more like ...

Ming Wei naturally had no idea about Second Madam's furious words after her departure, but the fact that Second Madam allowed her to leave the main residence without obstruction meant she had successfully passed scrutiny. Even if Second Madam found it hard to believe, there was nothing she could criticize. The original Ming Wei was raised under her watchful eye and had lost her birth mother early. Second Madam was confident she wouldn’t have outside help. She simply considered the embroidery token incident as a stroke of luck for Ming Wei and let it go. “How did the thing I asked you to look into go?” That day, after finishing the embroidery task Second Madam had assigned her, Ming Wei gently rubbed her sore neck and asked Tangli, “Any word about Linghua?” The young maid in the grand garden that day looked vaguely familiar to Ming Wei, possibly someone who tended the flowers in the Old Madam’s courtyard. The lively Tangli, however, knew her name. Since Tangli’s godmother did rough ...

“Miss, miss, what’s wrong?” Seeing that the sun was already high in the sky and Ming Wei still hadn’t risen, Yue Lin, thinking it was time to head to the main house, lifted the bed curtain and called out. But she was met with Ming Wei’s tear-streaked face, her expression in sleep one of utter sorrow. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly. Ming Wei slowly opened her eyes to see Yue Lin’s anxious face. “Miss?” Another dream... Ming Wei forced a smile and sat up slowly. “Just a nightmare. I’m fine.” Yue Lin knew better than to ask further. At that moment, Tang Li came in with a few young maids carrying water. They began helping Ming Wei wash up and dress, preparing her to go see Second Madam. “Miss, do you think it’s because Second Madam only called for you? Could it be...” Tang Li said while combing Ming Wei’s hair, her face full of worry. After returning from Old Madam’s courtyard yesterday, Second Madam had told the girls they didn’t need to pay respects today—she wanted a quiet day of...

Ming Wei returned to her own courtyard with a calm expression, while the maid Tangli Yuelin beside her was beaming with joy. Their young mistress’s birthday gift was the most clever and praised among the young ladies. And having shown her face in front of all the noblewomen, there was naturally a good chance at a promising future. Neither of them knew what the Second Madam had said earlier, so they continued to happily assist Ming Wei in changing out of her formal clothes. Yuelin had just removed the jewelry from Ming Wei’s hair and helped loosen it before changing her into casual home attire, when they heard more noise outside. The younger maids’ voices rose with greetings. “Hello, Sister Manao!” Tangli, used to this routine, went into the inner room and brought out two brocade boxes. She quickly packed up today’s set of gold and pearl hair ornaments and placed them beside the coral set. “Greetings, Seventh Miss,” Manao said, her tone no longer as casual and dismissive as before. Whil...

Ming Wei originally wanted to follow and investigate, but just then Su Xuan and the others had returned. At the same time, someone from the Old Madam’s table summoned her and Su Xuan over, so Ming Wei had no choice but to suppress her curiosity and go with Su Xuan. Faced with Cheng Yue, Ming Wei still felt uneasy and could only present herself as a demure and obedient young daughter. Naturally, the center of attention was Su Xuan, who was loved and doted on by all. With her noble status, she was now of marriageable age, and many sought her hand. Ming Wei was merely a supporting figure—praised once or twice for her embroidery, having shown her face among the noblewomen, and then promptly forgotten. The Old Madam was elderly. Although still in good health, she couldn’t handle too much excitement. After the banquet and performances, she instructed her three sons and their wives to entertain the noble guests. Rongshantang “The Old Madam just had a happy day, and now something like this hap...