High-class maid

The group walked in silence from the old lady's room to the small kitchen. Several times, Shan Tao tried to speak, but Chen Shan's family stopped her.

Upon arriving at the small kitchen, Chen Shan's wife pulled Shan Tao along, saying, "Shan Tao and I will light the fire. We've been out for so long, it's probably already out." With that, she grabbed Shan Tao and ran off.

Only Granny Zhou and Shen Xing'er remained in the small kitchen. Granny Zhou remained silent, quietly washing and preparing the vegetables. Shen Xing'er thought for a moment, then walked up to Granny Zhou and said...

“Auntie, I know you’re angry with me. It’s my fault. I schemed against you and caused you to be fined your monthly allowance by the old lady. I’ll make up for it with all the money. You can hit me or scold me, as long as you can calm down.”

Granny Zhou remained silent and turned to the cutting board to chop vegetables.

Seeing that Granny Zhou remained silent, Shen Xing'er panicked even more and ran to her, saying...

"Auntie, I admit I schemed against you, but I had no choice. If I escaped this time, there will be a next time. I can't keep hiding forever."

I was just a lowly water-boiling maid, probably not even as good as the third-class maids at the courtyard gate. I had no choice but to use the old lady to deal with them.

Granny Zhou was silent for a while before speaking.

"I'm not angry, but I seem a little disappointed. Although I was prepared to take Chunyun as my apprentice, to be honest, Chunyun is always running around making new friends."

I know the small kitchen can't accommodate her anymore, but you come to help me whenever you have free time. Secretly, I consider you my apprentice.

Shen Xing'er felt even more upset after hearing what Granny Zhou said, and tears welled up in her eyes. She often came to the small kitchen not to show off, but simply because she thought Granny Zhou was a very kind person.

She often secretly gave her and Shantao treats, and she was always busy. Compared to Shantao, she outshone Chunyun, who was destined to be the head of the kitchen.

"If I were your age and encountered something like this, I probably wouldn't have handled it as well as you, and I might have chosen the same path as you. I understand you."

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand so I could prepare? Are you afraid I'd be reluctant to part with Chunyun?" Granny Zhou asked.

"I'm sorry, Auntie, I was afraid you wouldn't be able to bear to part with Chunyun, but I really have no other choice. I've been hiding and hiding, and they keep looking for opportunities to frame me," Shen Xing'er said.

"Don't be afraid, I will protect Chunyun. Although I was planning to take her as my apprentice, from the moment she put the poison in the kettle, she was no longer the same Chunyun."

"No matter how important she is, she's not as important as the old lady. Anyone can be an apprentice, but there's only one old lady," said Granny Zhou.

"Alright, stop standing in front of me and hurry up and get the steamer over here."

"Okay, okay, I'll go right away." Shen Xing'er smiled through her tears and quickly turned around to get the steamer.

That evening, Madam Wang rushed to the old lady's courtyard and found Shen Xing'er, who was preparing to go to sleep.

"You silly child, I heard everything from Chen Shan's family. You're too bold. Why didn't you tell your mother? Are you afraid that your mother can't help you solve this?" Wang said angrily.

"Don't be angry, Mother. I can't come to you for everything. I'm all grown up now. If I can't share your burdens, why should I add to your worries?" Shen Xing'er patted Wang Shi's hand to comfort her.

After giving Shen Xing'er a disapproving look, Madam Wang said, "You shouldn't be so reckless. Do you think Granny Zhou is stupid, or is the old lady stupid? They know exactly what's going on, and you're still here gloating."

Shen Xing'er said coquettishly, "Yes, yes, this matter is over. From now on, I will discuss everything with you, Mother. Please forgive me this time."

"Does your hand still hurt? I bought you some swelling-reducing medicine. Apply it twice a day, morning and night, and it should be better in less than three days."

"I understand, Mother. Shan Tao also gave me a bottle. You can keep this one for yourself. By the way, has my father returned yet?"

"Your father came back yesterday, and I managed to catch a glimpse of him today and we only exchanged a few words."

Your father told you that when he went to the farm, those Bao Gongs were drinking, all of them completely drunk, and they even tried to beat your father. Your father found a lot of silver in their room.”

"No wonder they handed over so little grain to the manor; they embezzled it themselves. What does the master plan to do with them?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"I don't know. The people who were sent to supervise them a few years ago have also become accomplices, falsifying accounts to deceive the people in the manor. Although I don't know how to deal with them, they certainly can't continue working at the estate."

"The emperor is far away, and the master doesn't often send people to check on the estates, so these people are getting bolder and bolder," Shen Xing'er said with a sigh.

"Alright, it's getting late, you should get some rest. Mother needs to go back too."

"Your father will be free to visit us next month during his leave. If anything happens, be sure to tell your mother. If this happens again, your mother will break your legs." After saying this, Madam Wang returned to the First Madam's courtyard.

Shen Xing'er thought to herself, "Tch, would you really hit me?" But on the surface, she obediently said, "I understand."

Since Chunyun left, no one else has been asked to come into the small kitchen. The four of them have been helping each other out, and their relationship has grown stronger.

Because they only prepared three meals a day and pastries for the old lady, the group could manage. Besides, Granny Zhou was also heartbroken and didn't want another person like Chunyun to come in.

That day, Shan Tao and Shen Xing'er sat at the door, looking at the sky with boredom, while Zhou Mama and Chen Shan's wife inside the house chatted as they cleaned.

"Did you know? Xiyun was found this morning. You'd never guess where she was found," Chen Shan's family said.

"Mother, tell me quickly where you found it?" Before Granny Zhou could speak, Shan Tao blurted out.

Chen Shan's wife rolled her eyes at Shan Tao and said, "I heard that she was found in the Second Master's study. It is also said that the Second Master stopped the servant and said that Xi Yun was already his person."

Shan Tao curled her lip in disdain and said, "Huh? Why is the Second Master everywhere? Does he have nothing better to do at home all day? Xi Yun is also quite secretive. When did she get together with the Second Master?"

“What could the Second Master possibly have to do? He bought a job as a slacker, and after court every day he has nothing to do. I bet the Second Madam won’t be able to sleep again,” said Granny Zhou.

"What happened in the end? Was Xiyun punished?" Shen Xing'er only cared about Xiyun's fate.

Although she was a transmigrator, she wouldn't be at ease as long as the culprit was alive. She was just an ordinary person who had read the original story and couldn't guarantee that Shen Xing'er's arrival would change the original story. So only when Xi Yun died could she finally put her mind at ease.