Volume 1 Chapter 98: Nalan Xiang Draws Her Sword

  Although there are rules and regulations in the mansion, Lan Xiang and Liu Li dare not cross the line, but they are no longer as obedient as before, intentionally or unintentionally revealing some thoughts.

  "Jia'er, what kind of maid are you! If I weren't considering your face, humph!" Xie Fu fanned the air with her fan, still feeling hot despite the breeze.

  Yao Cun Jia couldn't help but sigh, throwing up his hands: "I don't want to either, but what can I do to refuse?" The dowry maid chosen by his mother, as a daughter, how could she not accept? Not only did she have to accept, but once at her husband's home, she had to treat the maid like one of her own people!

  Xie Fu Yun raised an eyebrow and gave her a deep glance, then reached out to pull her into his arms, slightly tilting his head and furrowing his brow in silence.

  Her birth mother had long since passed away, and the maid who accompanied her was chosen by her stepmother. What did he not know about this? Precisely because of this, he became even more disgusted with those maids, and in his heart, he had already coldly laughed countless times: Did he think the Shes were fools? Had they never seen a woman before? How dare they scheme against him! The beauties of Jiangnan were numerous, and if he wanted one, there would be many to choose from; even if they lined up, it wouldn't be their turn!

  Yao Cun Jia was also disheartened, and as soon as she got married, she hastily sent away the people she had brought with her. This would lead to gossip and have a very bad impact on her own image. The lower-ranking servants in the mansion couldn't help but think that if she treated the people she had brought from her natal family so heartlessly, what would happen to those who weren't even under her control and were following her orders?

  "If I were to get rid of one or two, do you have any opinions, Jia'er?" Xie Fu's expression seemed to be smiling yet not smiling. He was also getting a bit annoyed by their stares, that kind of feeling like having flies stuck on him that couldn't be shooed away was unbearable.

  "What clever method do you have?" Yao Cun asked with a smile.

  Xie Fu Yun's spirit lifted, and he chuckled: "It's not a particularly clever trick. It all depends on whether the young lady-in-waiting by Madame's side has caught the eye of one of Master's attendants, and whether Madame is willing to grant him a favor!" As Xie Fu Yun spoke, he tugged at Yao Cun Jia's sleeve with an air of supplication that was almost comical.

  Yao Cun Jia couldn't help but burst out laughing, and after thinking for a moment with her head tilted to one side, she also laughed and sighed: "The people by your side must be reliable, and they don't disappoint! Moreover, you've already said so much, I take my husband as heaven, how can I refuse your kind intentions?"

  Marrying off a person is a way of solving problems once and for all.

  Xie Fu Yun burst out laughing and said: "Alright then! It's settled! One thing that won't trouble the two masters is Lanzhuang!"

  Yao Cun Jia also deeply felt the same way, and finally lightly sighed: "Is my wife not very useless? Such things all need husband to do for me!"

  "You and I are originally one body, why must Xia'er say such things? You're the new daughter-in-law, some things aren't suitable for you to take charge of. Besides, those few maidservants are really too arrogant! If they make a fuss, it won't be good-looking. I know what you're worried about." Xie Fu Yun smiled lightly and turned around to comfort her.

  Yao Cun Jia felt both moved and bitter in his heart, for a moment he didn't know what to say.

  Lan Xiang, upon learning that the young man who had a chance encounter with her was asking to marry her, cried in front of Yao Cun Jia and knelt before him, repeatedly saying that she was willing to serve as his servant for life and begging him not to drive her away.

  Yao Cun Jia helped her up, smiling: "Silly girl, don't mention anything about serving for a lifetime. Wouldn't that be me, the master, being selfish and wronging you? I..."

  "I don't want to! I only want to serve the eldest lady!" Yao Cun Jia hadn't finished speaking when Lan Xiang interrupted, crying out loud.

  "Shut up!" Green Lotus, unable to bear it any longer, coldly scolded: "Big Madam hasn't finished speaking and you dare to interrupt? Who gave you the guts? You're not even considering the hierarchy here! Tell that to the housekeeper's wife, or else your mouth will be smashed!"

  How dare you say that I am not the one given by the mistress? What are you?

  "What about me? Can I talk to you?" Yao Cun Jia couldn't help but get angry, coldly saying: "Is Green Lotus someone you can talk to? You know that Madam has given her to me, so can I be your master? If Mother knew about your lack of respect, she would be the first to punish you!"

  Lan Xiang's face changed slightly, she gritted her teeth and shouted: "In short, I won't marry! I don't want to get married!"

  The green lotus was about to speak, but was gently pulled by the green leaves and barely held back. She glared at Lan Xiang with hatred, and Xing Er and Ruo Fang were also stunned for a moment: They had never seen such an arrogant maid! The two looked around again, thinking that it was strange that the madam had driven out all the little maids. If someone saw this and spread the word, how could the madam live with herself?

  "Don't want to get married?" Yao Cun Jia smiled and said: "Alright, you swear that this life you won't get married, I'll agree with you! And the money for your old age, I'll also help you solve it, how's that?"

  Her face turned pale and then red again. She had always wanted to marry, but she wanted to marry the master!

  "What's wrong? Are you still hesitating?"

  Lan Xiang's face suddenly turned red, she took a deep breath and said: "Since we are the dowry maids of the eldest lady, it is natural that we should follow the young master. How can we marry someone else? Doesn't the eldest lady know this?" Lan Xiang said, her eyes sweeping across Liu Li, Su E and Su Yan.

  Xing Er and Ruo Fang were stunned and disbelieving, while Lu He almost cursed out loud.

  "How dare you!" Yao Cun Jia's body trembled with rage, and he sneered coldly: "How convenient! You're actually telling me this yourself, old master! I'm putting my words here today, I absolutely won't let my personal maid become a concubine for the old master, so you can just give up on that idea!"

  The words had already been spoken, and the face was already torn apart. Lan Xiang suddenly became bold and coldly sneered: "What kind of family is the Xie family? The eldest lady actually says such things, isn't she afraid of losing her own dignity? In the past, I thought the eldest lady was virtuous, but it turns out she's a jealous woman who can't tolerate others! Now that the eldest lady is pregnant, she still occupies the master's attention. Which high-ranking madam or lady from a noble family would do such a thing?"

  "What a sharp-tongued and quick-witted little girl!" Yao Cun Jia couldn't help but laugh at her. She had always been gentle and warm in nature, but when faced with someone as mischievous and unruly as Lan Xiang, she was at a loss for what to do. All she could feel was a surge of annoyance rising up in her chest, which she struggled to calm down. Glaring coldly at Lan Xiang, she said: "Just because of the way you spoke today, disregarding the distinction between master and servant, I will definitely not let you stay here any longer!"

  "I was brought here by your mother, you can't drive me away!" Lan Xiang's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly felt a little afraid and uneasy, her head hot with anger as she shouted.

  "If you don't want to get married, then don't get married!" Yao Cun Jia pointed at Lan Xiang and said to Qing He, Xing Er and others: "Take her down for me, shut her mouth, and send her to the villa tomorrow! She's sick, she should have a quiet place to rest and recover!"

  "You can't——" Lan Xiang was shocked and pale, but before she could finish her sentence, she was grabbed by Lu He and others. Lu He was furious, and she balled up a handkerchief and stuffed it into Lan Xiang's mouth with great force, almost choking her. Lan Xiang's eyes rolled back in her head.

  "Alright, Granny, we'll do it right away!" Green Lotus replied with alacrity.

  "Ruofang, go prepare a bowl of medicine." Yao Cunjia instructed calmly.

  Everyone was shocked, and the faces of Liu Li and the other two changed greatly. Their bodies couldn't help but tremble slightly; Lan Xiang's eyes were wide open, staring fixedly at Yao Cun Jia, her body immediately going limp.

  "Yes, grandma." Ruo Fang replied nonchalantly and went off to prepare.

  In a wealthy family, they were all too familiar with abortifacients and the like, and prepared them quickly. That night, they gave Lan Xiang a bowl to drink, and the next morning, a horse-drawn carriage sent her away, driven by one of the trusted men of the Xie household.

  Inside the house, a maid was dismissed, but it was just a small matter. In the mansion, except for vague rumors that she was "ill", nothing else was known. Seeing the master and mistress as usual, as if nothing had happened, people couldn't sniff out any gossip, so they let go of the matter.

  The second day after Yao Cun Jia found out she was pregnant, the Xie family sent someone to send a message to the capital. The purpose was not only to let the relatives and elders of the Xie family know, but also to spread the news in the capital. The Xie family's eldest son had few descendants and occupied such a lucrative position, so many people were jealous. Now that the new daughter-in-law had brought good news soon after entering the household, the Xie family could finally hold their heads high.

  Yao Cunhui listened to Rong Ma and Hong Lian say a few words, then smiled and said: "I don't know when the people from the Xie family will return. I want to write a letter to my sister!"

  Rong's mother exchanged a glance with Honglian and smiled: "This old slave really doesn't know, I'll go ask the young lady!"

  "Hurry up and come back! Most of the Xie family members won't stay long in someone else's home!" Yao Cunhui smiled.

  Rong's mother nodded and went off in a hurry, returning after a while with a smile: "Guess what, Miss? She said that tomorrow after breakfast, he'll be back to report for duty. The old master and mistress tried to persuade him to stay longer but he refused! Hehe, the mistress even joked that it's a pity they can't ask for a safe passage charm for him to bring back!"

  Yao Cunhui raised an eyebrow and exchanged a smile with Rong Ma and Hong Lian. The peace charm that Madam Ma went to ask for? Even if she got it, would Yao Cunjia dare to wear it?!

  That night, Yao Cunhui lit the lamp and wrote through the night, writing hastily until the end of the second watch. He yawned and carefully tidied up the thick stack of papers, put them in an envelope, sealed it, and went to bed to sleep.

  Pregnancy is a dangerous thing for women in the big house, and it's always good to prevent it. Yao Cunhui reminded Yao Cunjia of many things in his letter, and wrote down many modern knowledge and key points about how to calm the fetus, including diet and living habits, and urged Yao Cunjia to pay attention.

  After daybreak, Yao Cunhui hastily tidied herself up and, upon inquiring, learned that Old Master Yao had spent the night in his study. She quickly grabbed the letter and rushed over.

  When Yao Cunhui arrived, Old Master Yao had already gotten up and was in the courtyard looking at the goldfish in a tall ceramic vase as high as half a person, stretching his limbs. Seeing Yao Cunhui arrive, he was taken aback for a moment, then walked over with a smile and said: "Hui'er, why are you so early?"

  "Father, it's getting late!" Yao Cunhui smiled and said: "I didn't disturb you, did I?" As he spoke, he handed over the thick letter with both hands, requesting him to pass it on to the person from the Xie manor. He asked the person from the Xie manor to be sure to hand the letter directly to Yao Cun Jia's hands.