High-class maid

Granny Zheng's palms were sweaty with nervousness; she hadn't expected the Madam to find out so quickly. Her mind raced. Rather than being kicked out of the manor, she thought it better to marry Jingpan off and at least maintain a good reputation.

"Yes, this girl is so lucky to have been introduced to you by the First Madam. She's so happy she's practically delirious. Please don't take it personally, First Madam."

Granny Zheng forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and began to fawn.

"Mother, what do you think?" the First Madam asked, looking at the Old Madam.

The old lady looked at the First Madam, then at Zheng Mama, and then recalled Jingpan's slip of the tongue earlier. There was something else she didn't understand.

"Fine, since you've brought it up, I'll reluctantly give up on you. Jingpan, you may leave now. Pack your things and go home to wait for your wedding."

The old woman's deep eyes stared at Jingpan, as if trying to see through the secrets hidden in her heart. Jingpan couldn't help but tremble, frozen in place for a moment.

"Oh dear, this child is too happy to speak. Hurry up and thank the emperor!" When Granny Zheng saw that she was not speaking, she quickly nudged her.

"Yes, this servant thanks Madam for her kindness."

"No need to thank me, and you don't need to be afraid. I've seen the grandson of Granny Li, the gatekeeper, from afar. He's good-looking, reliable, and capable. As long as you behave yourself, you'll have endless good days ahead!"

The First Madam spoke in a tone that was half comforting and half threatening.

"Yes."

After the First Madam left, the Old Madam dismissed everyone else in the room, leaving only Granny Zheng and her granddaughter.

Granny Zheng knelt down on the ground with a thud. The old lady didn't tell her to get up, but looked at them with a gloomy face.

"Tell me, what happened?" the old lady asked.

"Yes, it was my good-for-nothing granddaughter who coveted becoming the eldest young master's concubine. She even made outrageous remarks, which were then relayed to the ears of the first madam by someone with ulterior motives."

Granny Zheng lowered her head, and her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.

"Ha, quite the boast." The old lady almost laughed in anger; how could there be such a stupid person in the world?

"You're all brains and empty shells. Even if An'ge'er takes you in as a maid, he'd better think twice. You dare dream of becoming a concubine? There are plenty of women who want to marry our An'ge'er. Who do you think you are?!"

The old lady was furious and spoke without any restraint. It was one thing to scheme against her, but to scheme against her precious grandson was intolerable.

Granny Zheng also felt extremely embarrassed. She had worked in the mansion for most of her life, and this was the first time she had been scolded by the old lady.

The old lady then scolded Zheng Mama: "I've turned a blind eye to the fact that you're an old servant in the mansion and that everyone who works in my courtyard is related to me. But you can't just stuff any kind of person into my courtyard!"

With her eyes closed, Zheng Mama looked as if she were facing death: "Yes, this servant was confused. Please, old lady, don't be angry. It's not worth getting sick from anger."

The old lady gave her a look of disappointment. Of course, she knew that Granny Zheng wasn't the kind of person who had lofty ambitions. Her granddaughter was probably instigated by her mother.

"Alright, you can get up now. Since the Madam is kind-hearted and hasn't punished you, and is willing to give you this decency, I won't say anything more. Pack your things and go home to prepare for the wedding."

At this moment, Jingpan was filled with regret. She was only fifteen years old and was about to be married. Although there were many people outside who got married at the age of fourteen or fifteen, she still wanted to continue working in the mansion and make some extra money.

"Yes, thank you for your kindness, Madam. This servant will take her leave." Jingpan bowed deeply and withdrew.

As soon as Granny Zheng returned to her room, she fell ill. These old servants lived only because of the respect given to them by their masters. Now, being scolded by the old lady was worse than death for them.

Not many people knew the inside story, but Danxue was one of them. After everyone had left, she came over with a cup of tea.

"Grandma, have a cup of tea to calm down. Now that Jingpan is gone, we're short one third-class maid. Who can replace her?"

"You can decide for yourself, but don't go looking for someone with such a deep mind; I can't afford to use them."

The old lady picked up her teacup, took a sip, and admitted that she was indeed quite thirsty after talking so much.

"Someone who's not too cunning but clever... Ah, I know someone like that." A name flashed through Danxue's mind, and she recommended him to the old lady.

"Who? Tell me."

"The woman who works in the tea room is Shan Tao. Her mother is the cook in your small kitchen and she is good friends with Xing'er."

The old lady couldn't help but think of the time she stood up for Shen Xing'er, and nodded, saying, "That's right, the mansion lacks human touch. It's rare to find someone so kind and righteous. Let's choose her."

When Danxue saw that the old lady no longer wanted to wait quietly, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that the old lady would get sick from anger.

Meanwhile, inside the small kitchen.

"Xing'er, why are you here again? If Sister Danxue finds out you're slacking off, see if she punishes you."

When Shan Tao saw Shen Xing'er come to the small kitchen again, she couldn't help but tease her.

"Hey, hey, don't talk nonsense. He's on official business. What do you know, you little girl?" Shen Xing'er cleared her throat deliberately, which made everyone in the small kitchen laugh.

"Alright, Shantao, say less. Is there anything the old lady wants?" Chen Shan's wife asked.

Shan Tao stuck out her tongue at Shen Xing'er and didn't say anything more.

"Guests have arrived at the manor. Sister Danxue asked me to pass on the message that we should prepare more of her signature dishes today."

Chen Shan's wife nodded to indicate that she understood, and then turned around and got busy.

Seeing that the message had been conveyed, Shen Xing'er turned around and went to Shan Tao, pretending to be sad as she shook her head and said...

"Sigh, someone specifically took on this errand just to see you, but someone accused them of slacking off. I'm so sad." She finished speaking, clutching her chest as if she were truly heartbroken.

"Good Xing'er, I was wrong. I judged you by my own petty standards. How about a box of osmanthus cake?"

Shen Xing'er shook her head and remained silent.

"Two boxes? Any more and I won't have any money!" Shan Tao said.

Shen Xing'er nodded: "Alright, then I'll reluctantly accept it."

Just as the two sisters were laughing and playing, Danxue went to the tea room.

"Shantao? Come here for a moment." Danxue smiled and beckoned to her.

"Me?!" Shan Tao glanced at Shen Xing'er, trying to glean some useful information from her eyes.

Shen Xing'er, unaware of this, said to her, "Go ahead, you haven't done anything wrong, what are you afraid of?"

Shan Tao walked up to Dan Xue and asked, "Sister Dan Xue, is there anything you need?"

"The First Madam has arranged a marriage for Jingpan, which has created a vacancy for a third-class maid. I have always seen that you are meticulous in your work, so I have recommended you to the Old Madam for the position of third-class maid."

Danxue smiled as she looked at Shantao, wanting to see how she would react.

"Me? Really? Sister Danxue, you really are... Oh dear, I thought I could only work in the break room."

Yamamoto was so excited that she became incoherent and burst into tears.