High-class maid

"Shantao, you little glutton, this is the osmanthus cake I brought for you, here." Shen Xing'er handed the osmanthus cake to Shantao.

"Ah, Xing'er, you're so good to me. I regretted not telling you to bring me osmanthus cake after you left. Who knew you would actually bring it to me? We're so in sync!" Shan Tao excitedly hugged Shen Xing'er and said.

"Alright, hurry up and eat. It won't taste good tomorrow. Share some with your aunt too," Shen Xing'er said.

Shan Tao took a few pieces of osmanthus cake to her mother. Shen Xing'er would only start her job tomorrow, but she was bored staying in her room by herself, so she decided to go with her to the tea room and listen to any new gossip in the mansion these past few days.

"Mother, this is osmanthus cake that Xing'er brought for me. It's from Qianshan Su. I gave you a few pieces. Eat them if you get hungry in the middle of the night." Shan Tao said, handing the osmanthus cake to Chen Shan's family.

"Good child, it's kind of you to come all the way home and still remember Shantao. Auntie appreciates your kindness, but please don't spend so much next time," said Chen Shan's wife as she accepted the osmanthus cake.

Shen Xing'er smiled but didn't reply. She assisted Chen Shan's family in the small kitchen. Because the tea room and the small kitchen were close together, the group of girls, except for Chunyun, had always had a good relationship.

"Did you know? I heard that the Second Master slapped the Second Madam, and she's making a scene about going back to her parents' home!" Granny Zhou said while picking vegetables.

"Ah, I was wondering why the old lady's maids weren't smiling today. It turns out she's troubled again. And that second master, he's really something, why can't he just calm down? Anyone who didn't know better would think he was deliberately trying to upset the old lady," said Chen Shan's wife.

In fact, the second master's daily life of being a troublemaker has only just begun, and it will become more and more outrageous in the future. In the book, the second master married six concubines, and later his concubines even tried to harm his legitimate son.

He angered the old lady so much that she vomited blood, and finally angered the Minister, who ordered his legs to be broken and sent him back to the countryside to look after his ancestral graves.

"Auntie, why did the Second Master hit the Second Madam?" Shan Tao asked Zhou Mama gossipy.

"It's all because of the Second Master's beloved concubine. She came to serve tea to the Second Madam on her second day after entering the mansion. The Second Madam wanted to give her a hard time and make her kneel for a while longer, but instead, she just fainted."

Before the second mistress could even call the physician, the second master arrived upon hearing the news. The two argued fiercely, and the second master slapped the second mistress. "That's what Granny Zhou said."

“This concubine of the Second Master is really something else. How come the Second Master came right after she fainted? Did she send a message to the Second Master beforehand? Did she anticipate that the Second Madam would give her a hard time?” Shen Xing’er asked.

"Yes, Xing'er is smart. That's definitely what she was thinking. Although the Second Madam has a fiery temper, she is still the principal wife. The Second Master beat the Second Madam in public for the sake of a concubine. He not only beat the Second Madam, but also disgraced her family." Chen Shan's wife sighed.

“But everyone in the manor says that the Second Madam’s family are merchants, and they have nothing but money. The Second Master shouldn’t be afraid of her,” Shan Tao asked.

"He is indeed a businessman, but the Second Madam's family has given the Second Master a lot of help over the years, both openly and secretly. His official position was bought for him by the Second Madam."

"The second master complains that the second mistress is from a merchant family, yet he takes her dowry for granted. I really don't know what to say," said Granny Zhou.

Shen Xing'er thought to herself, "In modern terms, he's a scumbag. He's a scumbag and abusive. The second wife is quite pitiful."

While whispering gossip, the group quickly prepared dinner for the old lady.

"Xing'er, come and get the steamer for me," Granny Zhou instructed Shen Xing'er while kneading the dough.

"Okay!" Shen Xing'er quickly went to get it.

"Old Zhou, I'm not trying to be mean, but ever since Chunyun met Xiyun, she hasn't gone out a single day. We should be preparing dinner now, and she still hasn't come back. This has been going on for more than a day or two."

"Even though she's been helping you in the kitchen ever since she started working there, you still have to speak up. If she offends the masters one day, it will implicate you too," Chen Shan's wife advised.

Granny Zhou did not respond to her words.

Because Granny Zhou had no children, her husband had died when he was young, while accompanying the Minister of the State (the old lady's husband) on a business trip. They were robbed by thieves, and he took an arrow for the Minister and died.

From then on, Granny Zhou was heartbroken and confined herself to the small kitchen, focusing solely on her work. In her heart, she had already come to regard Chunyun as her future apprentice.

But she was unwilling to admit that Chunyun was a bad person; in fact, she was more unwilling to accept that she had misjudged her.

The next day, Chen Shan's wife called Shen Xing'er to her side and said...

“Xing’er, yesterday I overheard Chunyun and Xiyun talking about something like the medicine arriving the day after tomorrow and how they would make her pay. I’m worried that Xiyun might be trying to frame you, so I’m just giving you a heads-up.”

Shen Xing'er wasn't too surprised; instead, she felt a sense of relief that it had finally arrived.

She knew Xiyun would definitely frame her, and she also knew Xiyun was doing so through Chunyun. She just hadn't expected it to happen so soon; perhaps it was the butterfly effect.

Shen Xing'er thanked Chen Shan's family for their kindness. She knew that if it weren't for her good relationship with Shan Tao, Chen Shan's family wouldn't have told her.

It seems that Xiyun is already impatient; she can't wait either.

The next day, Shen Xing'er was working in the tea room when Chunyun came over and pulled her aside, saying...

“Xing’er, Xiyun is actually quite sad too. She has told me more than once that she is sorry for you. You are her first friend after entering the manor. We are all in the same courtyard and see each other all the time. Please give your sister some face and give her a chance.”

“Alright, since Sister Chunyun has spoken, I will respectfully comply. What does Xiyun want to do?” Shen Xing’er asked, playing along with the plan.

“When things weren’t busy at Shenshi (3-5 PM) today, Xiyun prepared two dishes and a pot of plum wine in her room, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding with you. Would you like to go, little sister?” Chunyun asked tentatively.

"Alright, I'll give you face, sister," Shen Xing'er said. Rather than hiding forever, she might as well play along. After all, she was a bookish person; she had nothing to be afraid of.

Chunyun visibly breathed a sigh of relief and left.

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), Shen Xing'er and Chunyun arrived at Xiyun's room.

Xiyun's eyes reddened as soon as she saw Shen Xing'er, and she stepped forward to take Shen Xing'er's arm and said...

"Xing'er, I was afraid you wouldn't come. I'm so happy you did. Thank you for forgiving me. I still don't want to lose you as a friend."

Hmph, if I hadn't read the original work, I would have been fooled by your acting skills.

You're such a money-grubber, willing to spend money on groceries to frame me, but unwilling to let me go as a stranger. What a cruel heart you have! Fine, I'll play along!

Shen Xing'er thought to herself.