High-class maid

The First Madam glared angrily at Xiao Yi'an, wanting to scold him, but knowing there were many people outside, she had no choice but to suppress her anger.

"Hurry up and get dressed, then come with me!" the First Madam ordered after calming down.

"Sister-in-law, what's going on inside? Why is there a woman's voice? Could it be that Yi'an is..." Old Mrs. Xiao asked with concern, but her face showed an expression of watching the excitement.

The old lady had seen it all. Seeing this, she understood everything. Suppressing her anger, she continued, "It's just a family matter. Hua Rong just recovered from a cold. Take her home quickly."

“Since it’s a family matter, why is my sister-in-law avoiding it? We can resolve this behind closed doors! Feng’er, tell me what happened?” Seeing that she wouldn’t budge, Old Mrs. Xiao turned to ask Xiao Erfeng.

"This... my cousin suddenly fainted. I told my page to go and call for help, but after he left, my cousin somehow fell off the soft couch. I couldn't pull him up, so I had to call the maid outside the door..."

"Oh dear, what kind of mess is this! And Yi'an, doing this in broad daylight..." After hearing this, Old Mrs. Xiao was filled with grief and indignation, and slapped her thigh. Anyone who didn't know better would think that it was her own grandson who had gotten into trouble.

"Sister-in-law, please be careful what you say! Yi'an is just feeling unwell and is resting in the study. How do you know that it was just the two of them in the room?"

Old Madam Xiao fell silent after being rebuked. Since the matter was already settled, whether the maid could become a concubine or not depended on her fate. She shut her mouth and waited for the others to come out.

The First Madam opened the door and saw a line of people still standing outside. Even the servants in the courtyard were starting to glance at her, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally. She composed herself, chuckled, and said...

"It's really touching that your aunt and her family are standing guard outside in this cold weather. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were waiting to see them make a fool of themselves."

After saying that, he helped the old lady into the study and served her to sit down.

Seeing how filial other people's daughters-in-law were, while her own daughter-in-law just smiled foolishly with a handkerchief, and being mocked openly and subtly by Liu, Old Mrs. Xiao felt even angrier. However, when she thought of her precious son being schemed against by the maid, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

"Why does this house smell strange?" the old lady asked.

"Yes, An'er's inexplicable fainting is probably related to this smell." After saying that, Liu turned to look at Xiao Erfeng.

Xiao Erfeng scratched his head and hid behind his mother.

The old lady understood immediately. She instructed, "Wang Mama, go and fetch the imperial physician again to see what this fragrance is. Why did my grandson faint for no reason?"

Old Madam Xiao and Madam Miao were taken aback. Why was this old woman acting differently from what they had expected? Shouldn't they be kicking the maid out and telling everyone to shut up? Why were they calling for the imperial physician?

Miao glanced uneasily at her mother-in-law, but Old Madam Xiao gave her a reassuring look and whispered, "Don't be afraid. As long as we get into this house, we won't be afraid to skin her alive."

Madam Miao nodded, took a deep breath, and then waited for the physician with everyone else as if nothing had happened.

"Reporting to the old lady, this book contains sedatives that induce pleasure and fainting, which is why the young master..." The physician examined the young master, then held up several books, speaking rather tactfully because there were women in the room...

Even so, Xiao Huarong blushed with embarrassment. She lowered her head and rubbed her nose awkwardly.

“Grandmother, this book was a gift from Erfeng,” Xiao Yi’an said.

"Innocent! If I had drugged him, why would I be stupid enough to deliver the book myself? I was just deliberately giving people something to talk about!" Xiao Erfeng stepped forward and cried out his innocence as soon as Xiao Yi'an finished speaking.

“Yes, Auntie, although Erfeng is a bit unreliable, he wouldn’t be so bad as to scheme against his own cousin! Isn’t that foolish?” Miao Shi stepped forward and protested.

"Alright, alright, what are you two doing? Anyone would think you're guilty! Sit down!" Old Mrs. Xiao scolded them lightly, then continued...

"Sister-in-law, I think it's best not to make this public. Yi'an is about to get engaged. If this gets to the capital, will the girl still be willing?"

"How do you know my son is getting engaged to someone else? You always seem to know all about these baseless rumors." Liu didn't pretend anymore and started to retort.

"You, is this how you talk to your elders? I know your family moved to the capital, right under the emperor's nose, and we wouldn't dare compare ourselves to you, but you don't even have the most basic respect?"

Old Mrs. Xiao immediately flattered Liu.

"Alright, you should say less. Anyone who doesn't know better would think you're deliberately causing trouble for us," the old lady interrupted her, then said to the first wife.

"Calm down. I won't tolerate this either. Let's report it to the authorities."

"What?!" Mrs. Miao and Old Mrs. Xiao exclaimed in unison.

“Sister-in-law, are you crazy? If we report this to the authorities now, how will Yi’an get engaged? In my opinion, it’s better to keep this a secret. She’s just a concubine; we can keep her.” Old Mrs. Xiao said.

“Your words are absurd. Xinyu is not yet married into the family, but I already have a concubine. This is not fair to her. After the truth is revealed, I will tell her the truth. If she is unwilling to get engaged because of this, then we are not destined to be together.” Xiao Yi’an said a lot in one breath.

The old lady nodded and said, "Yi'an is right. Rather than becoming someone else's leverage in the future, we should take the initiative to confess. Anyway, we were framed, and I'm sure Xinyu will make a decision in her heart."

Seeing that things weren't going as she expected, Old Mrs. Xiao gradually panicked. At this moment, Mrs. Liu turned to ask the green ink...

"Whether it's a coincidence or a conspiracy between you and others, anyone with a brain can see it. If you still want to stay in this mansion, tell me the truth."

Green Ink's eyes darted around, hesitating whether to speak. She looked up and saw the old woman's disappointed gaze, a sudden panic gripping her. Just as she was about to speak...

"Sister-in-law, as the saying goes, family scandals should not be aired in public. Yi'an will be an official next year. Isn't this leaving a handle on his career?" Old Mrs. Xiao said with a pained expression, as if she was concerned for him.

"You don't need to worry about that. Outsiders have already come to plot against my residence. If I were to swallow my anger, I would be unworthy of being an official!" Xiao Yi'an said firmly.

Seeing his unwavering resolve, Xiao Erfeng panicked and said, "Cousin, why are you being so serious? If I were you, I would just take her in and keep her as a pet!"

"Then you'll take her in?" Xiao Yi'an rolled her eyes at him and asked.

"No, no need, my mother will beat me to death." Xiao Erfeng was so frightened by his lack of respect that he stammered.