Lady Du followed Madam Zhou to the Floral Hall in the backyard, and by now she had seen about half of the residence. She knew that although this house couldn't compare with the grand mansions of the truly wealthy, it was still proper and orderly, certainly better than the Rear Government Office. For the mother and daughter, it was more than sufficient.
Along the way, all the maids and servants they saw folded their hands in salute, displaying impeccable manners.
Lady Du glanced at the maid leading the way and another by Madam Zhou's side, her eyes flashing with curiosity. These two maids carried themselves with an exceptional air; one would wonder how they were trained. Weren't they from a rural background?
Once in the Floral Hall, there were no overly extravagant decorations. On the antique shelves on both sides, there was a pair of plum vases, in which fresh winter plums were placed, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.
