Soft and crispy waist

"What crime do you want forgiven?" Tao Yurong picked up the teacup, but was not in a hurry to drink it. She waited quietly for her reply.

"I shouldn't have acted on my own initiative, but Madam, please understand. When I swapped chores with Qiuying, I simply thought I was used to kitchen work and wouldn't make mistakes. I didn't know anything else. It was only later... later that I began to suspect something from Qiuying and the others' fragmentary conversations. I just happened to overhear Qiuying say... what she said in the servants' room. Madam, I truly have no ill intentions."

Tao Yurong did not respond. The lid of the cup gently stroked the tea leaves, and the occasional sound of the lid hitting the cup was like a knock on Xia Zheng's heart.

She wasn't sure whether the young lady would believe her.

But she could only say this half-truthfully, after all, she was just a little maid with no connections and nowhere else to go.

Even though this matter was not completely secret, Qiu Ying and the other two knew about it except her, and even the more shrewd housekeeper had some suspicions, but she had always abided by the rules, and all of this must have been seen by the young lady, so she could not be unaware of it, but she could not know too much either.

You have to be smart, but not too smart, so that you can be controlled by others. This is what the masters want.

As for whether her guess was correct, she could only hold her breath and wait for the answer.

"Ouch! It's all my fault!" Caiwei suddenly slapped her lips and hurriedly explained to Tao Yurong, "I was in a hurry to get back from the Marquis' Mansion that day, and I forgot to tell her. Then I got busy again when I returned to the Duke's Mansion, and completely forgot about this matter. I deserve to die, I deserve to die!"

"It's been a while since you started working, but you're still so forgetful. I've been worried for a while now," Tao Yurong said to Caiwei. "Well, now that you know, it's enough. I do want to make you the young master's concubines, but are you willing?"

"Young Madam saved my life, and I will obey you in everything."

"You are a grateful person, but this matter still requires the approval of the young master. Do you understand?"

She understood it of course.

The so-called selection of people means selecting the ones that the young master likes.

As to why the mistress of the concubine's room, who was not even a master, could not make the decision, she still had no idea. Perhaps there was another hidden secret, but this was not something she could consider now.

"I...understand." Xia Zheng's voice was shy.

A flash of coldness flashed across Tao Yurong's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. "The young master is on leave today and is hosting a banquet for his friends at Zhaohui Tower. You should go with Madam Zhao to the main kitchen to help with the cooking."

at this time?

Qiu Kui had just angered Gu Yizhi, and then he asked her to go...

But she had no right to refuse. This was probably her first and only chance.

"Yes."

After Xia Zheng walked out and her figure completely disappeared, Tao Yurong threw the teacup in her hand on the table in annoyance, and the cup fell over and the tea spilled out.

"Young Madam, be careful, it's hot." Caiwei hurriedly grabbed Tao Yurong's hand and wiped it with a silk scarf.

Tao Yurong's gaze was still fixed on the place where Xia Zheng left, and gradually froze.

Even though she had convinced herself over and over again, it was still hard for her to accept handing another woman over to her husband. But she had to do it. This dilemma and helplessness almost drove her crazy.

"Young Madam, are you really so anxious? Qiu Kui was so obvious this morning, I'm afraid the young master has already noticed it. If you let Xia Zheng go now, won't it make the young master even more annoyed, and affect the relationship between the young master and you."

"The young master has been up and down in the court for several years. Do you think that you only noticed it today?" Tao Yurong withdrew her hand, and the emotions in her eyes also subsided.

"What the young lady means is that the young master has known about you for a long time..." Caiwei didn't dare to continue, she was shocked in her heart. Then Qiu Kui coming to deliver tea today was also part of the young lady's plan. This was forcing the young master.

"Time waits for no one. This is helping me and him at the same time. He understands it and will eventually make the choice no matter how reluctant he is."

……

Zhaohui Tower.

Qin Yang stood by the window of the highest building, overlooking the Zhenguogong Mansion, and sighed: "Look, there's only a small difference between a Duke and an Earl. How come your Duke's Mansion is so much bigger than mine? With so few people in your house, it's such a waste."

"You can move in if you want." Gu Yizi picked up a white chess piece and placed it on the chessboard without looking away.

"What's the big deal about me moving in?" Qin Yang pouted and sat back in his chair, his chin resting on his hand as he looked at the chessboard. His expression suddenly became serious. "The last time I told you about that, you should pay more attention. Those people have been making moves lately. If the emperor lets go, you'll be in trouble."

Concentrating on the chess game, Gu Yizi finally dropped the black chess piece he had been holding in his hand for a long time to the back, exerting some strength. The moment the chess piece landed on the chessboard, a crack appeared on it.

Just as Qin Yang was about to speak, the steward came over to Gu Yizi and whispered, "Young Master, lunch is ready. Is it time to serve?"

"let's go."

Gu Yizi stood up and moved to the round table in the side room.

There are windows on three sides of this place. You don't need to move around. Just sit in your seat and take a glance to see the entire Marquis Zhenguo Mansion except the backyard.

The prepared dishes were waiting downstairs and were served very quickly.

By the time Qin Yang sat down lazily, all twelve dishes had been served.

"Oh, you haven't been here for half a year. Where did your Duke's Mansion invite the imperial chef from? The pastries are so exquisite." Looking at the two pastries that were as exquisite as those in the palace, Qin Yang joked curiously.

Looking at the pastries, one of which happened to be a lotus pastry, Gu Yizi frowned in annoyance for a moment and asked, "Did the young lady send someone to the kitchen to help?"

"Yes, a maid from the small kitchen was sent. She was supposed to deliver the cakes, but for some reason, it was Aunt Zhao who delivered them."

"This young lady of yours is truly considerate and virtuous. She is ranked first in the capital. Even my eldest wife praises her highly. If the Anyang Marquisate has another daughter, she will definitely give her to my good brother."

His good wife is more than just virtuous.

Gu Yizi waved his hand to let the manager go, but his eyes turned to the side window.

In the kitchen, Aunt Zhao was looking at Xia Zheng with a look of disappointment.

"Look at you, you have a stomachache in the morning and in the evening, but you have a stomachache just before you go to deliver the food." Zhao Ma really wanted to scold her for being useless. The young lady gave her this opportunity by going to the small kitchen, but she couldn't grasp it.

Xia Zheng lowered her head awkwardly and said, "I don't know why, but the pain suddenly became unbearable. Maybe... maybe it's because I'm nervous."

Seeing her so timid, Madam Zhao couldn't bear to watch her.

Bai was born with such a good appearance and such a personality, it would be strange if he could become the master.

Seeing that it was a futile act, Madam Zhao was too lazy to accompany her. "Come on, just wait for the master to finish his meal. I'll be leaving now."

Only after Nanny Zhao walked away did Xia Zheng take a deep breath.

In order to pretend to be genuine, she stood in the bathroom for a moment.

After patting her clothes to get rid of the smell, Xia Zheng turned and walked towards the manager who had just returned.