Chapter 41 Rewards
Xiao Su paused, cleared his throat, and his expression softened:
"I asked this question because Yu Xuan used to always bully Yu Yao."
"Madam, please rest early. You can look at these account books again tomorrow. It's getting late, and you might hurt your eyes."
Xiao Su was already a refined and elegant man, and with his gentle face and caring words, Madam Xiao's displeasure dissipated considerably.
It was this face that initially made Madam Xiao fall in love at first sight and want to marry him. Now that he has softened his stance, she will not say anything more.
"Go and see Yuyao quickly."
Xiao Su nodded readily and left, but once outside the main room, his face turned cold again.
"Someone, tell me in detail what happened to the Fourth Miss today."
This morning, just as dawn broke, Cheng Bu, a servant of Xiao Jin, was ordered to deliver something to Baozhen Courtyard.
He wasn't on duty today. Xiao Jin had received gifts from the nobles in the palace yesterday, so he asked him to deliver them to his two younger sisters to choose some toys early this morning.
The Imperial Concubine and the Fourth Prince were always generous, and the gifts they gave were exquisite and expensive items without the imperial seal, which they often bestowed upon them.
Previously, there was only one young lady in the household, so the way she was sent away was self-evident. But now there are two young ladies in the household—
Cheng Bo was young, but quick-witted and sweet-talking. He found out where Madam Xiao was and planned to go and deliver the item to her first, and then follow Madam Xiao's advice.
So he took a box of precious objects and went to the Treasure House.
"Cheng Bu? He's here to deliver palace trinkets to the young lady again, isn't he?"
Caihe was scolding the maid, but as soon as she saw him, a smile immediately appeared on her face.
The maids in Baozhen Courtyard had long been familiar with him. Whenever he came to deliver things, the Fourth Miss wouldn't take them seriously, which meant these maids who served her would benefit from them.
Good morning, Sister Caihe. Is Madam here?
He made a quick bow and asked with a smile.
"We're inside trying to get the girl to take her medicine. She just woke up and is threatening to commit suicide, which terrified us..."
Caihe, worried about her master, mumbled a few words, then looked at the carved wooden box in his arms and murmured "Amitabha" twice:
"You've come at just the right time; Fourth Miss will surely be delighted to know!"
As he spoke, he actually lifted the curtain and went inside to pass on the message.
Before Cheng Bu could finish his explanation, Caihe had already gone inside.
Just as he was worrying about whether he would be scolded by the Third Young Master when he returned, Caihe quickly poked her head out again and called to him:
"Cheng Bu, come in quickly, the madam and young lady are calling for you!"
Seeing that Cheng Bo was standing there dumbfounded and didn't move, she smiled and gave him a push.
"Hurry up and send the things in, lest the young lady get impatient."
Cheng Bu seemed to realize something, exclaimed "Eh!", and went inside, hunched over, carrying the box.
Anyway, the lady is inside. If she decides to leave everything behind, there's nothing he can do.
Then, just like every other time I delivered things to Baozhenyuan, that was the plan.
The fourth young lady sat in Madam Xiao's arms, her eyes red and her voice still soft and hoarse from crying, but she could not hide her joy at seeing something.
Xiao Yuyao had just learned that Lin Chuanxu had saved her, and rumors had spread throughout the capital that she was going to marry Lin Chuanxu. She thought that there was no possibility for her and the Fourth Prince anymore. Just when she was feeling disheartened, she received something from the palace.
If the Fourth Prince sent something, wouldn't that mean he's trying to win her favor in a roundabout way?
Most of the things that the Fourth Prince used to bestow upon Xiao Jin would be sent to her. The Fourth Prince himself knew this, which shows that he still had feelings for her!
She knew that the Fourth Prince was definitely not the kind of person who would start a relationship and then abandon it!
But with her mother still standing there, she hesitated before asking:
"Who bestowed these gifts upon you?"
Cheng Bu was hesitant about whether to say that these were for the two young ladies, not just the fourth young lady, when he was interrupted by this question, and quickly said:
"The Imperial Concubine and the Fourth Prince are both here. The Third Young Master is working hard in the palace to accompany the Fourth Prince in his studies, and all the noble ladies have seen it. Madam and Fourth Miss, please don't worry."
Xiao Yuyao felt relieved and stopped saying anything suicidal. She nestled obediently in Madam Xiao's arms.
Madam Xiao had been taking care of Xiao Yuyao for days, and now she looked extremely haggard. Knowing that her youngest son was able to win the favor of the noble ladies while studying in the palace, she felt greatly comforted and said:
"You're a good one too, your name is Cheng Bu, right? Go back and collect your reward from Mother Li. Just leave the things here."
Once Madam Xiao spoke, there was no point in Cheng Bu hesitating any longer. He obediently responded, quickly put the things down, and quietly slipped out.
He felt somewhat awkward when he went to collect the reward money from Li's mother.
Madam Li had been in this household for many years, and she knew exactly what these young servants were up to just by looking at them. Seeing his expression, she immediately took back the purse she had just handed over.
"What are you hiding? Confess and you'll be treated leniently. Don't say I don't care about you."
Cheng Bu was born into a family; his parents were elderly women who had served the Xiao family for most of their lives, and they had some connection with Li Mama.
Cheng Bo's slight unease vanished immediately. With a bitter face, he explained the whole story, and only then did he finally feel a little relieved.
"You're such a petty person, always ready to pounce or hide. Do you think the master won't blame you if you keep quiet?!"
After scolding him, Li's mother still planned to go to Baozhen Courtyard to explain the situation herself.
However, she was too late.
"Fifth sister, come quickly! It was your cry for help that day that allowed second cousin to save me. I haven't thanked you for saving my life yet."
Xiao Yuyao had a delicate and pretty face, and an innocent and generous expression. She asked Xiao Yuxuan to sit next to her, and they were very affectionate, as if they had been good sisters since childhood.
She beckoned, and a maidservant brought over a brocade box decorated with gold and lacquer.
“Look, these are little trinkets that the Imperial Concubine and the Fourth Prince gave to my Third Brother. He always saves them to bring to me. They are all good things from the palace. I thought you had never seen them before, so I specially brought some for you to enjoy.”
The girls' school let out early today. As soon as she got home, Xiao Yuyao sent someone to invite her over, saying that there was something important to discuss.
Although she didn't know what Xiao Yuyao was up to, she was prepared to face whatever came her way and was not afraid of Xiao Yuyao at all.
Xiao Yuxuan glanced at the exquisite box, which contained mostly purses, bracelets, and fan pendants, each one delicate and unique, without the marks of palace artisans, making them easy to appreciate.
Such things have happened in my past life too.
At that time, she felt wronged because her third brother gave it to Xiao Yuyao but not to her, and she would refuse all such things, claiming that she didn't care about them since they had already passed through a third party.
Now, she's calculating how much money these things are worth, and she thinks it's a waste not to take them.
Without any hesitation, she carefully selected a few inconspicuous items and even asked her maid to find a new box to pack them in, looking completely at ease.
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