Madam Liu came near Chow Yi Nuo and whispered softly in her ear, " I will do anything that the seventh mistress want me to do, please do not complain about me to Madam Lin Leizu."
"Don't step back later, Madam Liu," Chow Yi Nuo said and the big mahogany doors opened and Chow Yi Nuo stepped in together Madam Liu and Zhi Meng Yao who had been walking behind her from a distance all that time.
The night was already young as the dogs could be heard barking in the distance and darkness had crept into the land. The street lanterns had been lit up. The lanterns in the Zhong Mansion had also been lit and the candles in the different rooms lit. The shadows of the different people danced with the faint light of the flickering candles.
As soon as the mahogany doors opened, Chow Yi Nuo walked in and stopped at the doorstep. The whole Zhong Family was staring at her, there were five concubines; Zhi Xin Yan, mother to Zhong Ah Lam , Luo Xiang, mother to Zhong Yu Ming , Tang Hua, mother to Zhong Xin Yan, and Fang Jing, mother to Zhong Caihong, Lan Fen Yu, mother to Zhong Xin Yi, one first wife;Lin Leizu, the man of the house; Zhong Mingze and his six daughters;Zhong Guiying ,Zhong Caihong, Zhong Xin Yan, Zhong Yu Ming, Zhong Xin Yi and Zhong Ah Lam.
She looked at their sitting arrangement, Lin Leizu and Zhong Guiying had sat next to Zhong Mingze and the others followed. Her seat was the last one, she was at least pleased by that. Chow Yi Nuo looked deep into her father's eyes and bowed slightly before him and the others.
"Greetings father," she said softly and sat down.
She looked at the delicacies on the table from the fried spring rolls, dumplings, large meatballs, spicy diced chicken with peanuts, the pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup, hot pot , instant-boiled mutton , beer fish, chicken soup,spicy chicken noodles and sliced fruit. She immediately took a porcelain bowl and chopsticks and filled it with a mouthful of spicy chicken noodles, instant-boiled mutton, dumplings, spicy diced chicken with peanuts, large meatballs, fried spring rolls and soup then started eating silently. She then picked a mouthful of noodles using her chopsticks and ate them in small bites.
"My dear Guiying, eat all that you can. The Crown Prince Jun Yuanchao won't want a weak wife for his Crown Princess." Lin Leizu said as she added Zhong Guiying more noodles. Chow Yi Nuo who was being mocked did not even look at them but continued eating.
Chow Yi Nuo observed how Zhong Guiying ate. She was graceful and polite when taking food with chopsticks, she did not make much noise when eating or drinking soup, she did not talk when there was food in her mouth, she did not point someone with chopsticks or play with chopsticks like her.
"Aunty, I thought that slim women are beautiful. If Guiying becomes plump, won't the prince reject her and people make fun of her just like how the shameless and mannerless servants of this household do?" Chow Yi Nuo inquired as she stuffed the large meatballs into her mouth using her chopsticks.
Lin Leizu simply sneered at her and continued eating. She then clicked her tongue and added Zhou Guiying more food.