Chapter 56 Handkerchief
Moreover, this is not foolish kindness, it is clearly blind filial piety!
The Xiao family has treated her like this, so why should she care about whether they will worry or not? To allow an adopted daughter to climb over her own daughter, and for the own daughter to be so submissive and try to maintain harmony in the family, Lanxin would say that the Xiao family is blind and incompetent. How could such a family be able to rise to the ranks of the upper class? They will be finished sooner or later.
Lanxin had been in contact with these high-ranking officials and nobles since she was a child, and she had her own set of standards for judging people.
Girls like Xiao Yuxuan are the most disadvantaged. Her elder brothers don't love her, and she has an adopted daughter who causes trouble. She was only recently found from the common people and didn't have the manners of a noble lady from childhood. She also doesn't have any close friends in the capital and is isolated and helpless. On top of that, she has such a kind heart. She will surely be tormented to the point of madness by the Xiao family in the future!
If the Xiao family were to casually hand her over to a lazy, good-for-nothing husband's family, without her own family to support her, she wouldn't be able to stand on her own two feet. Her life would be completely ruined, and she would be worse off than ordinary people.
It's pitiful that even a servant like her worries about Xiao Yuxuan.
Lan Xin felt conflicted and sighed softly. She had never seen the only daughter of a high-ranking official of the second rank living such a miserable life.
"I understand, Miss Xiao. Please rest assured, I will report to the Princess truthfully. At least when you are in the Princess's residence, you will not be bullied by others."
Xiao Yuxuan nodded gratefully, then turned her head away, covering her face with a handkerchief, and said somewhat shyly:
"I'm so sorry to have made a fool of myself in front of Miss Lanxin. I've really lost my composure today..."
The room where Xiao Yuxuan slept yesterday was still reserved for her. Lanxin washed and dressed her again before accompanying Xiao Yuxuan to the girls' school.
Zhao Mei seemed a little down today. Xiao Yuxuan asked her and found out that she might be going back to her hometown of Qinghe soon.
"Why so suddenly? Didn't you only start school a few months ago?"
"I only made this guess because I overheard my father and mother talking last night. Apparently, there's news from the palace that the supplies we receive are not good and they're going to replace them with something from a distant relative of the Imperial Concubine."
"As you know, my family is just a merchant family, with no connections in the imperial court or the inner palace. Since such rumors have spread, I suppose it won't be long before I return to my hometown."
"But I still want to stay here. There's nothing fun in Qinghe, and I don't know any of the people there..."
After Zhao Mei finished speaking dejectedly, she lowered her head and rested her chin on the table. The books in front of her were still clean, showing that she hadn't been paying attention or taking notes during the entire class.
Replace the imperial merchant?
Xiao Yuxuan thought back for a moment, and she seemed to remember this incident.
The imperial merchants had just changed, and the quality of the goods supplied to the palace plummeted. Even the items used by the emperor and empress were of inferior quality. It was soon discovered that the new imperial merchants were embezzling funds, and most of the money had ended up in the hands of the imperial concubine, which shocked the harem.
The fourth prince knelt on the palace road for three days and three nights before he succeeded in pleading for mercy, only to have the imperial concubine be punished with a reduction in her salary and imprisoned for half a year.
Later, a plague broke out, and the eldest princess and the crown prince died one after another. The empress was greatly affected, and the imperial concubine and the fourth prince reverted to their old ways and became lively again.
Lin Chuanxu saved Xiao Yuyao before, but didn't let the two get together. Xiao Yuxuan had no doubt that Xiao Yuyao hadn't given up on the Fourth Prince.
"You have already told me the solution to this problem yourself."
Xiao Yuxuan looked at her with a smile.
Zhao Mei sat up straight, staring at her with wide eyes, clearly not quite understanding.
"Your family has no connections in the imperial court or the inner palace, but the new imperial merchant who is supposedly going to replace you is a distant relative of the Imperial Concubine. Now, it will soon be clear who is doing the real work and who is just a crony."
"Even if it really changes, it will only be temporary. As long as you continue to establish yourselves in the capital and focus on doing your own business, in the long run, you will eventually be noticed by the important people."
Xiao Yuxuan didn't make any definitive statements. Zhao Mei seemed to be deep in thought, and then, as if struck by a sudden realization, she excitedly grasped Xiao Yuxuan's hand.
"I understand! You mean we're definitely better than that distant relative!"
That's what I mean.
Zhao Mei's voice was so loud that everyone in Class D turned to look. Xiao Yuxuan put a finger to her lips and made a "shh" gesture. Only then did Zhao Mei calm down, and the dejection on her face lessened considerably. She happily ate the pastries, but when she saw her blank book, her eyes drooped again.
"I was so caught up in my sentimentality that I forgot to take notes. Can I borrow yours to copy?"
Time always flies when you're studying. As it was almost time to leave school, a man was waiting at the door.
It was Master Shi. He looked much more haggard and dejected, with bloodshot eyes and a tired expression.
He called out to Xiao Yuxuan, his tone calm:
"Miss Xiao, please wait!"
Xiao Yuxuan was secretly puzzled. It hadn't been long since he had deliberately made things difficult for her in math class, so why was his attitude so normal now?
Shi Qi was the youngest son of Marquis Wencheng, and his family favored him. Even though he failed the imperial examinations repeatedly, they never blamed him and even arranged a leisurely job for him at Yuxiu Academy. Logically, he shouldn't be showing such a dejected expression.
Zhao Mei, standing beside her, gently tugged at her sleeve and whispered:
"What does Master Shi want with you? Is he going to scold you again...?"
She was frightened by Shi Fuzi's appearance last time, and she is still afraid when she sees him now.
Xiao Yuxuan shook her head, turned around and greeted Shi Qi:
"What business does Master Shi have with his student?"
Shi Qi glanced at the students who hadn't gone far, thought for a moment, and said:
"This isn't the place to talk. Would you mind moving over there?"
Xiao Yuxuan looked over and saw that he was referring to a pavilion not far away where students could rest. There were tables and chairs inside, so it seemed that they were going to have a long talk.
"Master Shi, please speak frankly. If you are open and honest, you may speak your mind directly; if not, then I am afraid I cannot fully accept your teachings."
Lan Xin followed behind her, giving Shi Qi a warning look.
Shi Qi was startled when he met Lan Xin's gaze.
Not to mention that he had entered the palace with his mother when he was a child and had met the Princess, even as a teacher, he often visited the headmaster of Yuxiu Academy. It is clear that this is a maidservant of the Princess.
But why would someone close to the Princess serve Xiao Yuxuan?
Shi Qi forgot everything he was going to say, leaving him only with a head full of questions.
"Weren't you serving the Princess?"
Lanxin didn't want to explain to him, she only said:
“Miss Xiao has finished school and should be going home. If Mr. Shi has nothing urgent to attend to, please make way.”
Even Zhao Mei looked at him with a strange expression. Shi Qi snapped back to reality, gritted his teeth, and took out a small box from his sleeve—
"Please pass this on to your fourth sister for me."
"Also, it was my fault for speaking so rudely that day. I believed those unfounded rumors and thought you... had a bad temper. But after seeing things with my own eyes these past few days, I know that the rumors are not credible. I am also ashamed to continue teaching and educating people, and I have already resigned from my post to the Princess."
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