Chapter 110 Only Before, Under the Second Master's Protection

After taking a sip of tea, Xie Yanzhi slowly put down his teacup: "I have no intention of taking a maid as a concubine."

"All she has to do is pay off her debts."

She wondered how Yan Ge'er could let this girl off so easily! It turned out that Yan Ge'er had simply changed his method to torment this girl.

The old lady felt a little better.

The First Madam also held a handkerchief and looked at Shen Qingnian with disdain in her eyes.

Being a concubine at least gave her some status, but as a maid, she still had to live under the control of her masters.

Then she'll have plenty of opportunities to teach that slut a lesson for Lingyu!

Shen Qingnian felt relieved after hearing Xie Yanzhi's words.

Since Xie Yanzhi has already said in front of everyone that he will not take her as a concubine, she only needs to endure for a year before she can leave on her own.

This was the first time she had ever found Xi Xieyan's deep voice so pleasant to hear.

Since Xie Yanzhi had already spoken, the old lady said nothing more. After giving Shen Qingnian a few instructions, she led her entourage away from Guanlan Residence in a grand procession.

Before leaving, he glanced back at Shen Qingnian kneeling on the ground.

Her posture appeared respectful, yet there was still an air of arrogance about it! She still needed to teach Yan Ge'er a lesson.

After everyone left, Xie Yanzhi glanced at the person kneeling on the ground, thought of the injury on her knee, and said impatiently, "What are you still kneeling for? Get out and sweep the floor."

Shen Qingnian was feeling pain in her knees when she heard this and slowly got up: "Yes, Your Highness." Just as she was about to turn around and leave, the servant at the door came to report: "Young Master, Concubine Su from the second branch of the family has arrived."

Shen Qingnian lowered her head and glanced at Xie Yanzhi.

Xie Yanzhi also saw those blinking eyes, cautiously probing his intentions, with a hint of expectation.

A slight smile played on his lips; everything she did now depended on his expression and his will.

"Let her in."

Aunt Su entered and respectfully curtsied: "Young Master."

Just now, when Aunt Su passed by the courtyard of Guanlan Residence, she saw that familiar figure holding a broom, sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard.

Although I was a little confused, the person didn't seem to be injured or anything.

"I wonder what brings Aunt Su here?" Xie Yanzhi asked calmly.

"I only came to see you after learning that the eldest son had returned home."

Xie Yanzhi knew perfectly well what was going on. Seeing the figure lingering outside the gate, he said indifferently, "You've seen it all, Auntie, please make yourself at home."

Without instructing the servant to take Aunt Su out, he went to the study.

Aunt Su knew that Xie Yanzhi had deliberately given her the opportunity to find Shen Qingnian, but she was unsure of Xie Yanzhi's true attitude towards Shen Qingnian.

She quickly stepped out the door, and Shen Qingnian followed.

"aunt!"

"Nian'er!"

Aunt Su noticed that Shen Qingnian was dressed in a maid's uniform and looked much thinner. It was clear at a glance that she had suffered.

Tears streamed down her face.

"After the eldest young master caught you, did he punish you?"

"No, the young master only wants me to be a maid for a year, and then I can leave on my own." Shen Qingnian felt bitter.

Being Xie Yanzhi's punching bag for a year, letting him humiliate you as he pleases, is not considered punishment as long as you don't do those things.

She didn't want Aunt Su to worry about her, so she just said it casually.

Aunt Su did not feel relieved upon hearing this.

Based on her understanding of the eldest son, this was probably just a delaying tactic.

She looked at Shen Qingnian with concern and asked solemnly, "What if the eldest young master still has feelings for you?"

Shen Qingnian said firmly, "If that day ever comes, I will have no choice but to die."

Aunt Su was startled, and tears streamed down her face again.

She didn't want Shen Qingnian to go that far.

She also had no power to demand that the eldest son let Shen Qingnian go.

The fact that the eldest young master deliberately sent her to find Shen Qingnian shows that he hasn't let go of Shen Qingnian in his heart.

She could only wipe away her tears with a handkerchief.

Seeing Aunt Su wiping away tears with a handkerchief, Shen Qingnian felt a surge of grievances she had suffered at Xie Yanzhi's hands recently.

Her eyes also reddened, and tears streamed down her face as she hugged Aunt Su and cried uncontrollably.

Aunt Su patted her back, unsure how to comfort her. If the Second Master were still alright, perhaps he could persuade the Eldest Young Master.

pity……

Finally, Shen Qingnian stopped crying first. She took out a piece of paper from her bosom and handed it over: "Aunt, look, this is the contract written by the young master."

Shen Qingnian wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and choked out, "I will definitely leave then."

Aunt Su glanced at it and thought to herself that Nian'er had underestimated a man's possessiveness, especially a man of such high position and power as the heir. How could a contract possibly sway him?

But she couldn't bear to say it out loud, so that Shen Qingnian would have something to look forward to and that life wouldn't be so hard.

Just like her, she believed that one day, the Second Master would stand in front of her and affectionately pinch the tip of her beautiful nose.

Shen Qingnian put the contract back into her sleeve, while Aunt Su stumbled and almost fell to the ground.

Shen Qingnian quickly helped Aunt Su to sit on the stone bench and saw Aunt Su rub her legs with her hands.

While massaging her legs, Shen Qingnian asked, "Auntie, what's wrong with your legs?"

Aunt Su smiled and said, "It's nothing, I probably just caught a chill and feel a bit sore and weak."

She patted Shen Qingnian's head again, her eyes full of affection.

Since Shen Qingnian left, the old lady has been punishing her by making her kneel in the Buddhist hall every day, without even giving her a cushion to sit on. Her legs have long since given out.

Today, she knelt for the required amount of time before leaving the Wenxin Hall, which is why she couldn't come with the old lady and the others.

But when she came out, she ran into the old lady and the first lady.

The First Madam leaned closer to her proudly and said, "Congratulations, Auntie! Your good niece is now the eldest young master's head maid."

Aunt Su then stumbled over.

At this moment, Yuan Qing came over carrying a teapot: "Miss Qing, the master said the tea is cold."

Shen Qingnian knew that Xie Yanzhi wouldn't let her stay with her aunt anymore, and couldn't help but glare resentfully at the study.

She turned her head and said, "Aunt, I'll come to see you again first thing tomorrow morning and take a look at your leg."

Because she has loved fragrant beads since childhood, Shen Qingnian also has some knowledge of pharmacology.

Aunt Su was afraid that she would anger Xie Yanzhi, so she waved her hand and said, "The eldest young master is calling you, so go quickly, don't be late."

Shen Qingnian got up, took the teapot from Yuan Qing, and went to the kitchen.

But when she turned around, she saw that Aunt Su had fallen to the ground again. Shen Qingnian quickly ran over and saw that Aunt Su's face was pale and her forehead was covered in sweat.

It's clear that her leg was in a lot of pain.

Shen Qingnian rolled up Aunt Su's trouser leg and saw that her knee was covered in bruises, clearly caused by kneeling for a long time.

She grabbed Aunt Su's arms and asked, "Aunt, tell me the truth, did someone punish you?"

"Was it made by the Second Madam?"

Aunt Su shook her head and said, "It was the old lady who saw that I had an affinity with Buddhism and told me to get closer to the Bodhisattva."

Old lady?

In the past, her aunt served the old lady every day, and she never saw the old lady punish her aunt.

This time... Shen Qingnian recalled Aunt Su's words that had just been trying to cover things up, and she already knew the reason.

It's probably because of her previous elopement that the old lady took her anger out on her aunt.

Shen Qingnian's eyes reddened again, and she choked out, "Aunt, it's all my fault! I've made you suffer."

Aunt Su wiped away Shen Qingnian's tears and shook her head.

Even if it wasn't about Nian'er, they wouldn't let her off the hook.

It's just that the punishment came a little late because of the Second Master's protection in the past.