High-class maid

"I'm only giving you this one chance. If you answer truthfully, I'll spare your life and let you live out your days in peace in this manor. But if you dare to hide anything, I'd rather be cursed by the world than not get rid of you."

Xiao Yi'an hardened his heart and turned to the green ink-stained figure.

“It’s…it’s her,” Green Ink said, pointing at Old Madam Xiao.

"Have you thought this through? I only listen to the truth, not to make baseless accusations." Liu squinted at Lümo, it seemed the truth was indeed exactly as she had imagined.

"It was her. That day, when the young master came to pay his respects, he heard she was there and turned to leave. I followed him, wanting to say a few words, but she saw me. Later, she sent someone to find me, saying that if I cooperated, she could help me become the young master's concubine..."

Green Ink's voice grew softer and softer, but his eyes remained filled with resentment.

"You're spouting nonsense! How could my grandmother be so bored as to help a mere maid like you? If you want to distance yourself, you should at least check if what you're saying is true!" Xiao Erfeng rushed forward, even trying to hit her.

"And you! You're the one who made me lead the way, and then you let me go in and serve the young master while he was unconscious. You're no good either!" Green Ink was now completely reckless and roared at Xiao Erfeng.

The old lady watched the two of them fighting like dogs, and closed her eyes in heartache. All the maids in her courtyard were eyeing Yi'an. It seemed that they would have to fight over her again after returning to the capital.

"Cousin, Aunt, you have to believe me! How could I harm you? It must be this maid who deliberately lied to stay in the manor. She can't be allowed to live!" Xiao Erfeng panicked and turned to Xiao Yi'an and Liu Shi to beg for mercy.

"Erfeng, that's not what you said just now. You were trying to persuade me to stay. Isn't it a bit too fast for you to change your tune now?" Xiao Yi'an said.

"Yi'an, there's nothing to say. Whether it's true or not, just report it to the authorities. The government isn't just sitting around doing nothing!" Liu interrupted him and turned to order someone to report it to the authorities.

"Auntie, Auntie, please don't report this to the authorities! It's all my fault. I was confused for a moment. I took pity on this maid because I was happy with Yi'an's brother." Seeing that Liu was determined to report this to the authorities, Xiao Erfeng hurriedly knelt down to admit his mistake.

The old lady was so angry at his utterly disrespectful behavior that she laughed at herself. She said, "You really know how to talk a good game. You were clearly trying to get your cousin into the public eye, but now that things aren't going well, you're turning around and saying you're just a brother who cares about his brother!"

“Mother, please calm down. Since you say that this maid is Xinyue and Yi'an, how do you know that? A few days ago, only your grandmother and your mother came to the mansion,” Liu asked.

Xiao Erfeng looked at his grandmother, then at his mother, and didn't know how to respond.

"Oh dear, don't take it so seriously. It's all my fault for being so talkative. I said a few words to Feng'er after we got back home, and that's how this happened. It's my fault, my fault." Seeing that things were not going well, Old Madam Xiao had no choice but to step forward and admit it.

A crisp clap rang out, instantly silencing the previously noisy study.

"You, you hit me? How dare you hit me?" Old Mrs. Xiao covered her face, looking at the person in front of her in disbelief.

"That's exactly what I'm going to do! This slap should have been delivered to your face years ago! You've been up to no good, not only scheming to take our family fortune years ago, but now you're even scheming against my grandson!" The old lady stood in front of her, looking down at her.

"Then you can't hit my grandmother! We're both daughters-in-law of the Xiao family, what right do you have to do this!" Xiao Erfeng ran to his grandmother in a few steps, protecting her and shouting.

"What, try touching my grandmother!" Xiao Yizhou's voice came from outside the house. He then quickly walked to the old lady and said in a low voice.

"Grandmother, your grandson is late."

The old lady felt a warmth in her heart, patted his hand and said, "Good child, don't be afraid, he won't dare touch me. Go and watch over your brother."

Xiao Yi'an had just been drugged and was now completely weak. Hearing that he had been tricked and that so many people had seen him, he was filled with anger and was unable to get up from his chair. Otherwise, he would have been the one protecting his grandmother earlier.

Xiao Yizhou nodded, glared at Xiao Erfeng, and turned to find his brother.

The old lady ignored him and turned to instruct the maid behind her to report to the authorities.

"Grandma! Please spare my brother and grandmother! My brother isn't engaged yet! And my grandmother, she's old, how can she go to the government and cause trouble! I beg you!" Xiao Huarong pleaded, kneeling on the ground, ignoring everything else.

"What about my brother? Have you considered that my brother is about to get engaged? Isn't my grandmother old? It's been so many years since we last met, and you're still so selfish!" Xiao Luosheng's voice came from outside the door, and then she walked in.

Kneeling on the ground, Xiao Huarong looked at her cousin, who was dressed in a complete silk outfit, with a large white cloak draped over her shoulders, made of a single piece of leather, and even her shoes were embroidered with many pearls. In contrast, she herself...

"Sister, please, please persuade Aunt not to report this to the authorities. As long as it's not reported, anything is fine. Please say something, Mother!" Xiao Huarong looked at her mother with exasperation.

The slap had such a strong impact on Miao that she remained stunned. Although her mother-in-law was very domineering in the mansion, she still felt extremely ashamed to be slapped in someone else's house.

"Auntie, please be merciful! My mother-in-law is headstrong and arrogant at home. Please don't take her to heart!" Madam Miao knelt down and pleaded.

She desperately wanted her mother-in-law to be sent to the authorities so that she could have absolute power in the family, but for the sake of her daughter and son who were not yet engaged, she had no choice but to plead for them.

"Fine, we're all family behind closed doors. Since you're all being so humble, I'm not that heartless. But you'll have to pay the price."

The old lady turned around and sat back in her chair, saying casually.

Grandma Xiao still acted like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water. Miao cursed inwardly that her mother-in-law was pretending to be dead, but she was the one who had to ask for help.

"Please speak, Auntie. It's only right that we do this," Madam Miao said with a smile.

"Five thousand taels, and this matter is settled. Otherwise, we'll see each other at the government office," the old lady said, extending her hand.

"What?!" the group exclaimed in unison.

"Aunt, you know our situation. The whole household is now living off my dowry." Madam Miao wiped away her tears with a handkerchief; this time, she was truly crying.

"This is your business. If you don't want to report it to the authorities, send your servants to fetch it. Otherwise, we'll see you at the government office," the old lady said, losing her patience.

“Mother! Why are you so afraid of her! Report it if you want, at worst your son won’t get married or become an official!” Xiao Erfeng said.