Chapter 11: The transparent girl is very smart and insightful, not at all like...

Seeing his mother so flustered, Qi Shaozhang sneered and said sarcastically, "I don't know how many people in the capital are talking about this right now. How can you still be short of a son?"

After saying this, he glanced at Zhan again and asked with a hint of understanding, "Why didn't Aunt tell Mother about such a big thing happening in the mansion yesterday, in case Mother was kept in the dark and said something inappropriate that might offend Cui Linghui?"

Zhan Shi couldn't help but understand the meaning of her son's words. She also had some resentment towards her sister-in-law in her heart, but thinking of her sister-in-law's current status, she finally said to her son, "Alright, we just came to the mansion yesterday. Your aunt is in charge of the household affairs of the Marquis' Mansion. I don't know how many things she has to do every day. I'm afraid she hasn't had time to talk to me, her sister-in-law, about these things."

"Besides, as a stepmother, she must have her own difficulties in the mansion, and she must have some concerns in her heart. We, her family, should be considerate of her."

Qi Shaozhang sneered, "Mother, if you are willing to understand, then please do so. If your son is not used to living in the mansion, he will find a chance to move out so that others won't look down on him."

Before Zhan could say anything, Qi Shaozhang put down the teacup in his hand, stood up and strode out.

Seeing his leaving figure, Zhan sighed repeatedly and said to Qi Ruorou, "Look at your brother. How can he be so angry at such a young age?"

After saying this, her face became even more gloomy and complaining. "Your cousin is the same. He doesn't give your brother any face at all. It's true that he has been weak since childhood, but from what I saw yesterday, he was no worse than others. It's obvious that he looks down on our relationship and is just finding an excuse to reject your brother."

"No wonder your brother is so angry. When he was at home, had he ever been slapped in the face like this?"

Qi Ruorou also felt a little uncomfortable, thinking that her cousin Cui Shenbo looked down on her brother, but she also understood that her cousin was born in a marquis's mansion and was valued so much by her aunt Qi, so it was natural that he acted somewhat recklessly without having to consider other people's thoughts.

What's more, my cousin is already weak, so these words may not be an excuse. Moreover, even if they are excuses, at least they are an excuse, otherwise my brother would be really embarrassed.

With these thoughts in mind, Qi Ruorou gently advised, "Don't overthink it. Maybe my cousin is really unwell. Besides, when you live under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. After all, we live in the Marquis' Mansion. We must be harmonious so that we can get along well in the future."

Mrs. Zhan understood what her daughter meant. She was not the one who was confused. She was just a little angry because her son was humiliated by his cousin.

Hearing her daughter's words of comfort, she calmed down a little, patted Qi Ruorou's hand and said, "Don't worry, mother won't lose her composure over such a small matter. Our Qi family is not as powerful as the Cui family, and we have something to ask of them, so naturally we have to endure these grievances."

"Fortunately, your cousin Yan is not such an ungrateful person. She remembered how much our Qi family has taken care of her for many years and knew to come and accompany me. Otherwise, I would have been really upset."

Izumo-in Temple

Bi Tao came in from outside and whispered in Cui Lingyan's ear, "Miss, I just went to the main kitchen to get some snacks. On the way back, I ran into my cousin. He looked like he was coming from my aunt's place and he looked a little unhappy."

Cui Lingyan was stunned for a moment after hearing this. Although she didn't show it on her face, she had some guesses in her mind.

She had lived in the Qi family for so many years and knew that her cousin Qi Shaozhang had always been somewhat arrogant. In that dream, she was even more aware of the strong self-esteem and inferiority complex that Qi Shaozhang had hidden deep beneath the surface.

It's understandable that someone like him, living in the Ningshou Marquis's Mansion, who isn't a proper master, might not be used to it for a while.

What's more, she knew that her mother Qi didn't go to her aunt Zhan's place today. In the eyes of her nephew Qi Shaozhang, this action was considered to be looking down on the Qi family, so it was no wonder that he was embarrassed.

Cui Lingyan thought this in her heart, but she did not show it on her face. She said to Bi Tao, "Just pretend you don't know. My aunt will take care of my cousin's affairs. There is no need for us to worry about it."

Birou listened to her daughter's words and nodded. She felt that her daughter had become somewhat alienated from the Qi family since she came to Beijing.

If someone else had acted this way, she would have thought that person was cold-hearted. However, she had served the girl for many years and knew her personality best. She must have her own reasons for doing this.

Besides, isn't the young lady accompanying her aunt and wife, Mrs. Zhan, today? She has already fulfilled her due courtesy, so there's no need to force it.

After all, my aunt and uncle can't stay in the capital forever. They will have to go back to the Qi family soon. By then, I don't know if I will ever see them again.

After saying this, Bi Tao whispered again, "Miss, Sister Bi Rou has just come to serve you, and you are giving her things like silver, money, and jewelry. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

After the old lady delivered Birou's indenture today, the girl gave all the important things around her to Birou for safekeeping.

In the past, these were all kept by her, and she dared not neglect them at all.

She didn't feel that Birou had taken her job, nor was she afraid that she would lose her status in front of the girl. She just felt that the girl trusted Birou, a newcomer, too much.

Cui Lingyan couldn't help but guess what Bi Tao was thinking. She smiled and said, "If you employ someone, trust him. If you doubt him, don't employ him. How many valuable things do I have? Bi Rou is someone close to my grandmother. It would be a waste of her talent to come and help me."

"Besides, if I leave her alone, what will Grandma think if she hears about it? It's not worth offending Grandma over such a small matter."

"Since Grandmother has given me this person, I must use him well."

As the two were talking, they heard footsteps outside. They looked towards the door and saw Nanny Jiang walking in with a tall and pretty maid wearing an emerald green jacket.

Nanny Jiang bowed and explained her purpose: "Third Miss, Madam knows that you are short of help here, so she has transferred Qiu Zhi, the maidservant who is useful to you, to serve you."

Cui Lingyan felt a little apprehensive when she heard this. She didn't like using people close to Qi. Furthermore, Qi had sent the person here without mentioning the indenture. So, did Qiu Zhi listen to Qi, her mother, or to her? She probably only respected Qi in public, but in her heart, she still treated Qi as her master, acting as a spy.

Although thinking this in her heart, Cui Lingyan knew that since Qi had sent Nanny Jiang to deliver the person, she had no choice but to accept him.

If she refused to accept it, it would be a slap in the face of Qi, the mother. If she was not careful, there would be discord between mother and daughter, and she would be branded as an unfilial person.

Cui Lingyan nodded and said with a smile, "Of course, the people around mother will be of use. Thank mother for me, and please come over, Madam."

Cui Lingyan didn't ask for Qiu Zhi's indenture, knowing that asking would come across as petty and hurt the mother-daughter bond. If Qi was willing to give it, she wouldn't have to ask for it.

Nanny Jiang knew that the old lady had given Birou's indenture to Cui Lingyan. Seeing that Cui Lingyan did not mention Qiuzhi's indenture, she felt relieved for a moment.

I just thought that Cui Lingyan had been living in the Qi family since she was six years old. A small family like the Qi family is not as complicated as a family like the Ningshou Marquis Mansion. I think because of this, Cui Lingyan has a simple mind and doesn't take the matter of the indenture to heart.

This is also good. After all, because of her excessive partiality, the lady did mistreat and criticize the third lady, her own daughter.

If the third young lady is thoughtful and keeps all these grievances in mind, it will be a headache for the mother and daughter to get along in the future. If it gets to the old lady, she will be displeased with the lady. Not to mention that if the news of the discord between mother and daughter gets outside, it will also affect the reputation of their Ningshou Marquis Mansion.

It is just right that the third girl has a simple mind and no scheming like she does now.

Thinking of this, the smile on Nanny Jiang's face became even wider. She said a few more words to Cui Lingyan and then took her leave.

Seeing Nanny Jiang leave, Cui Lingyan's eyes fell on Qiu Zhi and said gently, "We are not many people in Chuyun Court. Besides me, the master, there are Birou and Bitao. Now that mother has sent you here, there is one more. You and Birou both served in the Marquis' Mansion. I think you are familiar with each other and will definitely get along well. Although Bitao has been serving by my side since she was a child, she is young and inexperienced. You should give her more advice to prevent her from making mistakes."

Qiu Zhi had originally served in the main courtyard, enjoying a respectable position, and had no desire to move. She had thought that Madam had assigned her to the eldest daughter, Cui Linghui's, and that she would have a bright future. But when she arrived at the residence of the third daughter, who had just returned and was disliked by Madam, she felt deeply uncomfortable, as if her former sisters were laughing at her and feeling inferior to her for no reason.

Now that he met Cui Lingyan and heard Cui Lingyan's humble words, he not only did not feel flattered, but instead looked down on Cui Lingyan as his master.

She had a contemptuous thought in her heart, but after hearing Cui Lingyan's words, she smiled and responded: "Don't worry, young lady, I will give her some advice."

Just at this moment, Birou came in from outside and heard these words. She shook her head in her heart, thinking that Qiuzhi was really too arrogant.

Although she had only served the girl for half a day, she could see that although the girl had a good temper, she was not someone who could be manipulated. She had her own plans for many things.

For example, when she arrived, the girl gave her the most valuable clothes and jewelry, which not only showed her respect but also pleased the old lady. From this alone, she knew that the girl was very smart and insightful, not at all what she appeared to be.

Qiu Zhi underestimated the girl and she's afraid that she'll suffer in the future.