Chapter 8 I'm just a country bumpkin, what could I possibly know?

A dog that relies on its master's power will bite.

At this moment, relying on the power of the Duke's mansion, Si Niannian wanted to hit people instead of biting them.

Si Niannian said expressionlessly, "She slandered me, we can't just let it go like this."

Song Qinghan's eyes instantly filled with tears, and she even looked helplessly at Jie Ge'an.

A smile flickered across Jie Ge'an's lips as he toyed with the teacup in his hand, not even glancing at Song Qinghan, and said to himself, "I've heard that the Song family is very strict in managing their household, so I suppose they have no shortage of strategies for governing their subordinates?"

Servants who slander their masters should not be kept.

If this were in the Duke's mansion, any servants who spewed such foul language would be dragged out and beaten to death as a warning to others.

But this is the Song family's residence.

How to punish them should be up to the Song family.

However, Ling Shuang was Song Qinghan's personal maid.

Song Qinghan even stepped in to plead for leniency.

Madam Song was unwilling to believe that Si Niannian was innocent, and of course she was reluctant to punish her severely.

but……

Seeing that Si Niannian was unwilling to give up, Madam Song said with a gloomy face, "Take her out and slap her!"

"Beat her until she admits her mistake!"

Ling Shuang was pulled out with her mouth covered, and muffled thuds accompanied her cries of pain.

Looking at Song Qinghan, whose face was full of heartache and who looked even more frail, Si Niannian sighed, "Madam is indeed a great philanthropist who is strict with her daughter and lenient with her children."

Punishing one's own child is a severe punishment, punishable by death.

Punishing a maidservant actually made me feel quite reluctant.

The Song family members all looked embarrassed, but since the punishment had already been given, the matter was considered closed.

Even Jie Ge'an couldn't keep pressing the issue.

Jie Ge'an rubbed the thumb ring on his thumb, turned around and walked to Si Niannian. He solemnly clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Thanks to your quick thinking, my family was safe during the night at Canglang Mountain."

Mountain bandits were rampant.

If it weren't for Si Niannian, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Jie Ge'an said, "I have come today for two reasons: first, to express my gratitude for your great kindness, and second, to deliver an invitation from my mother to invite you to the Duke's mansion tomorrow."

Si Niannian accepted Jie Ge'an's bow without flinching, and then slowly said, "You're too kind, Lord Marquis."

"But I only realized it today..."

"She'll go!"

Fearing that Si Niannian might say something outrageous, Madam Song quickly interjected, "Since the old lady has spoken, she will go no matter what!"

That was the ancestor of the Duke's mansion!

How could the Song family, who usually couldn't even curry favor with powerful and influential families, miss such a rare opportunity?!

Even if it's uncomfortable to fall into the water, or even if knives were falling from the sky, it shouldn't stop me from going to the Duke's mansion!

Not only will Si Niannian go, she will also go with her personally!

Jie Ge'an ignored Madam Song's certainty and just looked at Si Niannian.

Si Niannian slowly exhaled and told the truth: "My lord, I'm not feeling well."

"I'll visit the old lady again next time."

She was in so much pain all over her body that she could barely breathe while standing.

She didn't want to go, and she was too lazy to build a ladder for Madam Song to ascend to heaven.

Madam Song's expression changed drastically in an instant, but Jie Ge'an spoke first: "That's also acceptable."

"Then I will go back and inform my mother first. I will come to invite you again when you are feeling better."

Seeing Si Niannian nod, Granny Xi smiled and said, "If you ask me, why be so formal, Miss?"

"It just so happens that the Imperial Censor's residence doesn't have a place for the young lady to stay for the time being. Why don't you go to the Duke's residence to stay with our old lady for now, and then move back here once things are settled?"

Lord Song's expression changed upon hearing this.

Si Niannian just returned today and immediately went to stay at the Duke's mansion. If word gets out, what will the court think of him?!

How could such a large Censorate not be able to accommodate a single person like Si Niannian?!

Lord Song said with a dark face, "Niannian, why don't you quickly thank the Marquis for his kindness?"

Si Niannian looked at him quietly with her clear black and white eyes.

Lord Song feigned a kind father's smile: "Knowing you were coming back, your mother had already prepared the courtyard for you. How could we trouble such an important person?"

Si Niannian's lips curled up silently, a mocking glint flashing across her face: "If I'm not going to bother the Duke's mansion, where should I stay?"

Madam Song nearly ground her back teeth to dust, but she had no choice but to say in public, "The Jiuyou Hall has just been cleaned up and is just waiting for you to move in."

Jiuyoutang had originally prepared this as a birthday gift for Song Qinghan, but now it's just going to benefit Si Niannian!

Under the watchful eyes of many, Si Niannian seemed to be carefully considering her options.

The Song family members did not dare to interrupt.

It wasn't until Si Niannian seemed to have finally made up her mind that she reluctantly blurted out, "Okay, although it's not as good as the Duke's mansion, it'll do."

"Granny Lao, go back and tell the old lady that I will invite her to come over for a visit in a few days."

Granny Xi nodded with a smile: "That would be wonderful."

“Since you’re not going to the Duke’s mansion, then let’s wait until you’re feeling a bit better. This old servant will accompany the old lady to your Jiuyou Hall for some fun.”

I'm putting my words here, let's see who dares to change the agreed-upon courtyard!

Si Niannian blinked and thanked Granny Xi for her kindness, ignoring Jie Ge'an who was about to take his leave, and sat as steady as a mountain.

Madam Song, her back covered in cold sweat, immediately arranged for Song Wen and herself to go out and see the guests off.

As soon as the others left, Madam Song turned around and her expression immediately changed. She glared at Si Niannian, who was lying on her stomach like a turtle: "How could you refuse when the old lady asked you to visit her?"

Si Niannian said matter-of-factly, "Because I'm human, and I feel pain when I first crawl out of the water."

Both of them had fallen into the water, but as soon as Jie Ge'an left, Madam Song immediately had someone help Song Qinghan back to lie down.

She's been standing here for ages, doesn't she deserve to say a word of pain?

Madam Song completely ignored the question and continued to berate her: "That's the ancestor of the Duke's mansion! Do you even know that...?"

"What could a country bumpkin like me know?"

"Madam wishes to go?" Si Niannian asked considerately, standing up. "The Marquis and the others haven't gone far yet. How about I go and tell them now, you..."

"stop!"

Madam Song was furious: "Stop right there!"

Does Si Niannian even know how to spell the word "shameful"?!

Ignoring the anger stirred up by Si Niannian, Madam Song suddenly asked sharply, "What were those three things you just mentioned to the Marquis?"

Jie Ge'an holds a high position and wields great power; he's not willing to help just anyone.

Even if Si Niannian had done a favor for the Duke's mansion, why would she agree so readily?

Si Niannian glanced at her and said in a tone that was infuriatingly infuriating, "Want to know?"

Madam Song: "You..."

“If you want to know,” Si Niannian stood up, “you can ask her yourself, Madam.”

"Si Niannian!"

Si Niannian looked at her expressionlessly.

For some reason, Madam Song's heart skipped a beat. Avoiding Si Niannian's gaze, she angrily said, "Take her to Jiuyou Hall!"

"You are not allowed to come out without my permission!"

Mrs. Song was concerned about Song Qinghan, and after saying that, she turned and left.

The servants also followed suit and flocked away.

Si Niannian followed the maid who led the way to the front of Jiuyou Hall, but only saw the old woman who had given her clothes not long ago.

She claimed that her husband's surname was Lai, and people called her Granny Lai. She had always done menial chores such as sweeping and cleaning in the mansion.

Lai's mother said awkwardly, "Jiuyou Hall was originally newly built as a birthday gift for the Second Miss, so... there is no one to serve us here for the time being."

If Song Qinghan moves in, the servants who have been serving her will naturally come with her.

Now that Madam Song hasn't arranged anyone to serve Si Niannian, Si Niannian has to do everything herself to get what she wants.

Fortunately, Si Nian didn't care about this.

Si Niannian found the location of the bedroom, paused slightly as she entered, and leaned on the door frame as if she were losing strength.

Lai's mother asked nervously, "The eldest daughter?"

"It's nothing," Si Niannian waved her hand behind her back, tossed something into her hand, took a breath, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Mom. Could you please fetch me a few buckets of cold water?"

Water can extinguish fire.

Her body was covered in burns from invisible flames, and she could only temporarily relieve the excruciating pain with cold water.

Lai's mother instinctively caught the object thrown to her, but before she could speak, she was startled by the golden light that caught her eye and gasped sharply, grimacing as she bit down.

Gold...gold beads?

A gold bead the size of a finger?!

Wasn't Si Niannian raised by a poor family in the countryside?

Where did she get those gold beads?!

Si Niannian noticed her surprise and asked teasingly, "What? Not enough?"