High-class maid

As the saying goes, one's character is reflected in their chess skills. As an important official in the court, the Grand Master had met countless people, but very few had earned his praise.

Seeing that he rarely praised someone so highly, the old lady nodded and said nothing more.

The next day, the masters all went to pay respects to their ancestors.

"After being so busy for so many days, it's really hard to get used to having so much free time," Shen Xing'er said, sitting in the sun by the doorway.

“Yes, we’ll have even more free time in the future. The people of Jinling are guarding against us like we’re thieves, afraid of jeopardizing their chance to shine in front of their masters,” Shan Tao said idly from the side.

"Such beautiful weather, it would be so nice to draw patterns in the sun, but it's a pity we don't have paper and pen," Shen Xing'er said regretfully.

"Then why don't you embroider with me? Even though you can't sell your embroidery for money, it'll be good practice," Shan Tao suggested.

So the two young maids began their embroidery in the sun. The sunlight on them wasn't hot at all, just warm and cozy. The occasional chirping of birds from the trees added to the peaceful atmosphere.

Shen Xing'er had never been interested in embroidery, but seeing Shan Tao so engrossed in her work, she looked up at the sky and, figuring it was time for lunch, put her purse on the stool and got up to fetch the food for the two of them.

"I'm so stupid, I took the wrong path again. I won't take this path again." When Shen Xing'er took the wrong path again, she smiled helplessly and turned to go back.

"Mother, you've given me far less money these past few days, less than half of what I used to. Are you doing this on purpose?" Just as Shen Xing'er was about to leave, a man's voice drifted on the wind.

"Strange, why are there men in the inner courtyard?" Shen Xing'er thought to herself, not daring to move her feet.

"My son, please be patient for a few days. The masters have all returned from the capital. How could I dare to be greedy for so much more!" A woman's voice came from behind.

"Then I'll go find my dad!" The man, with the mentality of a child, turned to leave.

"Hey, hey, don't go! Didn't I tell you you don't have a father? Your father died a long time ago!" The woman unconsciously raised her voice, then realized she was being too loud and looked around to see if anyone could hear her.

"Hmph, if it weren't for you, I would also be living that noble life. Unlike now, everyone else has a father, but I don't!"

Hearing this, the woman felt sorry for her son and her tone softened considerably. She said, "Son, please be patient for a few days. Don't come to the inner courtyard. Other mothers will have what you need!"

"Hmph, no need to pretend, you'll always owe me!" After saying that, the man turned and ran away, afraid of being discovered.

After Shen Xing'er saw him leave, she breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to sneak away, she stepped on a tree branch.

"Who?!" the woman shouted, both angry and alarmed.

Shen Xing'er glanced down at the damned tree branch, cursed her bad luck under her breath, looked around, and saw that there was barely enough room for one person to pass behind the artificial hill. She figured that since she was thin, she could get through.

When no one responded, the woman thought she had misheard. But then she thought, what if someone really heard? So she lifted her skirt and approached Shen Xing'er's hiding place step by step.

"There really is no one here. I'm getting old. Oh well, I have to hurry back to my post." Seeing that there was indeed no one behind the rockery, she felt relieved and left completely.

After Shen Xing'er saw that she had completely left, she jumped down from the artificial hill. She patted her chest and muttered to herself, "What kind of trick have I fallen for? Every time there's a secret, I have to stumble upon it."

She was afraid that if she stayed out too long, Shan Tao would come looking for her in the kitchen, and then she would be exposed, so she didn't have time to think it through and went out.

"Oh my, the girls from the capital are really something else. Look at their delicate skin and tender flesh, each one more beautiful than the last." Shen Xing'er had just arrived at the kitchen when she heard an old woman praising Lü Mo.

"Granny, please don't flatter me. You look so elegant and wealthy. If you went out and said you were the mistress of some family, people would believe it," Green Ink flattered.

"Hahaha, you're so sweet-talking, unlike my son, who only knows how to make me angry."

Shen Xing'er recognized the voice. She looked up and saw the person wearing purple clothes, which confirmed her suspicion that she was the one who had just spoken to her son.

Recalling her conversation, Shen Xing'er seemed to understand why the meals she had been eating these past few days had been so simple.

"This young lady is even more beautiful. I wish my future daughter-in-law could be so pretty." The old woman began to praise Shen Xing'er again after seeing her.

Shen Xing'er didn't want to get entangled with her any longer, so she smiled and didn't say anything.

"Miss, why is your skirt dirty? Where did it go?" The old woman changed the subject and asked, looking at Shen Xing'er's skirt.

"Xing'er, so you're in the kitchen. I thought you'd gone somewhere else." Before Shen Xing'er could reply, Shan Tao's voice came.

"I saw you were engrossed in your embroidery, so I didn't call you and let you get your food yourself," Shen Xing'er explained.

The old woman serving the food overheard their conversation, her expression enigmatic, as if she were deep in thought.

Those who work in this mansion are all shrewd and capable. Seeing the old woman's expression, Shen Xing'er understood everything. After thinking it over, she decided to find an opportunity to tell Wang Shi about this matter.

The next day, Shen Xing'er went to the First Madam's courtyard to find Madam Wang.

"Mother, don't you have to work today? Will the Madam scold you?" Shen Xing'er asked, puzzled, as she saw Madam Wang leisurely drinking tea in her room.

“These past few days, all the old women and maids in Jinling have been scrambling to get close to the First Madam. Why should I compete with them? Anyway, the First Madam will still take me with her when she returns to the capital.”

Wang poured herself a cup of tea and then poured one for Shen Xing'er, saying nonchalantly.

"Mother, your daughter might be being targeted," Shen Xing'er said cautiously.

"What?" Wang was both surprised and frightened. "What happened? You stay in the inner courtyard every day, who could be watching you?"

Then, Shen Xing'er told Wang Shi what she had seen and heard the day before.

“I see. This old woman is shrewd. She’d rather kill a hundred innocent people than let you go. If you expose her, her good days will be over,” Wang Shi analyzed.

“Yes, the old women in the kitchen said last time that working in the Xiao family mansion is the easiest job, since the masters are rarely home, but they still get their monthly allowance as usual,” Shen Xing’er said.

“However, this is also a good thing,” Wang said, changing the subject.

"What do you mean?" Now it was Shen Xing'er's turn to be confused.

It turns out that yesterday, the maids around the First Madam were gossiping that since arriving in Jinling, they had been eating potatoes every day and hadn't had any meat at all, which the First Madam overheard.