High-class maid

"These pomegranates are so big and round, we can't possibly eat them all. Why don't we share some with our neighbors?" Shen Kun said, looking at the basket full of pomegranates.

"Okay, give two to Uncle He, two to Dali's family, two to Doctor Liang's family, and we'll eat the rest." Wang quickly made the distribution.

After arriving home, Shen Kun went to park the carriage, while Shen Xing'er and Wang Shi went to deliver the pomegranates.

The neighbors were pleasantly surprised to receive the pomegranates they gave them, and when they heard that they were a gift from the masters of the mansion, they treasured the pomegranates even more.

"Thanks to my sister and Xing'er, I can finally taste what this pomegranate tastes like," Han said with a smile.

She had lived a frugal life in the first half of her life. Now that her son could earn money, she still needed to save money for his wedding. Therefore, she was absolutely reluctant to eat this fruit.

“Sister, you don’t need to be so polite. I’ve eaten so many snacks from your family every day, and all I’m giving back now are two pomegranates,” said Madam Wang.

Madam Han remained smiling. During her recent interactions with the Shen family, if she initially valued Shen Xing'er's family background and status, after getting to know them, she found that the Shen family was indeed well-mannered and treated their daughter very well, making them an excellent choice for in-laws.

The more she looked at Shen Xing'er, the more satisfied she became. It seemed that she would have to discuss it with her son when he returned. If he agreed, she would have to go to his house to give him a hint.

"Auntie, you're busy, so we'll head home now." Shen Xing'er said goodbye to Madam Han.

"Go back, child. Thank you for making this trip, mother and daughter." Madam Han looked at Shen Xing'er with a smile, as if she were already her daughter-in-law.

After returning home, Shen Xing'er and Wang Shi prepared lunch.

"It smells so good." Shen Kun walked in, drawn by the aroma.

"You glutton, eat up!" Wang glared at him, though she said it with disdain, she still served Shen Kun a full bowl of rice.

"My wife still cares about me the most," Shen Kun said with a grin, looking at Wang Shi.

Shen Xing'er covered her eyes; she really couldn't bear to look.

"Guess what I heard today?" Wang asked impatiently at the dinner table.

"What?" Shen Kun asked.

"I heard that the Second Madam wants to go to Jinling, but the Second Master won't allow it. The two have been arguing for days," Wang said, sharing the gossip she had heard.

"Why go to Jinling? Isn't the capital city good enough?" Shen Xing'er asked, puzzled.

"I heard that the Second Madam has lost heart towards the Second Master and is unwilling to live with him. The Second Young Master is also engaged, and the children's lifelong affairs are settled. That's why the Second Madam wants to go to Jinling, so she can avoid seeing him and being bothered by him," said Madam Wang.

The second young master also got engaged this year to the eldest daughter of a fifth-rank official. The two are scheduled to get married at the end of the year.

“But what about the Second Miss? The Second Madam has gone to Jinling, who will arrange a marriage for the Second Miss?” Shen Xing’er asked.

As the youngest mistress of the Minister's mansion, the second young lady was not born of the principal wife. Her biological mother died in childbirth, and she had an unreliable biological father. It is likely that her marriage will be very difficult.

"I heard that the Second Miss is also willing to go to Jinling. Naturally, she will go wherever the Second Madam goes," said Madam Wang.

"Could it be that she's also planning to find someone to marry in Jinling?" Shen Kun was also quite surprised.

This second young lady is willing to give up the luxurious capital city and follow her stepmother to Jinling. I wonder if she has truly entrusted her life's most important matter to her stepmother, or if she has no other choice.

Madam Wang shook her head. The affairs of the Gao family were too complicated, and now that they were no longer working in the mansion, they could not speculate at will.

“I think Miss Shen’s move is wise,” Shen Xing’er said.

"Why does Xing'er say that?" Wang Shi and Shen Kun asked in confusion.

The Second Master acts erratically. Although he has improved a lot in the last two years, everyone in the capital knows his old ways. The Second Miss is not the legitimate daughter, and her status in the capital is not high enough. But if she goes to Jinling, it will be a different story.

“That’s right. Although she was raised by the Second Madam, she hasn’t been officially registered in the family genealogy. In essence, she’s still a concubine’s daughter, and she won’t find a good husband in the capital.” Madam Wang nodded in agreement.

"Alas, a child without a mother is like a blade of grass. The second young lady is so pitiful. Although she comes from a high family and enjoys wealth and luxury, I think she is not as happy as I am."

Shen Xing'er sighed.

Meanwhile, the second young lady, who was being reminisced about by the Shen family, was packing her bags inside the house.

"Miss, are you really going to Jinling with Madam? Jinling is not like the capital. You are about to get married, so it would be better to stay in the manor!"

Pinxing, Xiao Luoyu's personal maid, was so anxious that bubbles were forming at the corners of her mouth.

“Pinxing, if you don’t want to go, I can let you stay, but I definitely have to go to Jinling.”

Xiao Luoyu stopped packing his bags and looked at Pinxing.

Pinxing knelt down with a thud, crying as she said, "Miss, I will follow you wherever you go, even if it means going through fire and water. I just want to advise you to think about your own future!"

Xiao Luoyu's expression softened. She bent down to help Pin Xing up and said gently.

“My status is not prominent in the capital, but if I go to Jinling, I will be a young lady of a prominent family, and at least I can be the head of a household. My father is so muddle-headed, what if he arranges my marriage at the dinner table? By then, it will be too late to escape to Jinling.”

Upon hearing the Second Miss's words, Pinxing even forgot to cry. Oh right, how could she forget about the Master? What if the Master, so unreliable, arranged the Miss's marriage?

“But… even if things don’t go well, there’s still Grandma. Grandma won’t just stand by and watch you marry someone else!” Pinxing tried to persuade her, unwilling to give up.

"If Father makes such a boast, even if I don't get married, I won't be able to find a good marriage partner. Rather than being passive, I'd rather leave on my own initiative. Although my stepmother has a bad temper, she has never schemed against me."

Xiao Luoyu lowered his eyes, thinking of the Second Madam.

All these years she has been careful to please, gentle and polite, all for the sake of a good marriage. Although the second wife has a bad temper, she has never lacked for her own food, clothing and daily necessities. Moreover, the two have developed feelings for each other over the years, and she believes that the second wife would not harm her.

Xiao Luoyu guessed correctly. Inside the Second Madam's room, Banjian was also talking about the activities in the various courtyards.

"Madam, the First Madam hasn't responded, nor has the Old Madam. The Master is so angry that he went to find the First Master. On the other hand, the Second Miss is already packing her bags."

The second wife paused in flipping through the account book, then chuckled and said, "This girl, who usually seems so docile, turns out to have quite a temper. She actually dared to come with me to Jinling."

"Yes, the second young lady has always been respectful to you. Now that you've gone to Jinling, how could she bear to stay in the capital?" Banjian said.

"I don't know if she's really stupid or just pretending, but she actually dared to give up the wealth and status in the capital to come to Jinling with me. If she's afraid that her father will arrange a marriage for her indiscriminately, I can ask my mother and sister-in-law. With them keeping the master in check, Yu'er's marriage won't be too absurd."

The second wife said.