"Go pay your respects to Mother."
Anning got up and led Yue Niang out.
As they reached the door, she turned back to instruct the young maids: "Remember to close the windows in a while, move the parrot from the corridor into the house, and if I haven't returned by evening, remember to water the flowers in the courtyard."
The young maids, who had just begun wearing their hair up, replied in unison.
Anning left her small courtyard and not far beyond a semi-circular archway arrived at Mrs. Luo's residence.
Mrs. Luo's courtyard wasn't very large either, with three main rooms, an east and a west side room, plus a few wing rooms. There were no trees planted in the yard, only some flowers and plants. A row of flower pots were placed under the corridor, filled with plants to repel mosquitoes.
"Second Miss is here."
