Chapter 169 Punishing Servants
Zhao Xiao is a very easy child to take care of. He rarely cries or fusses and most of the time he just blinks his big, dark, glassy eyes at his mother or father.
Xu Chumian's heart was almost melted by the cuteness.
Except when the little one is taken to be fed, he spends most of his time in the main room of Heyun Courtyard, where there is a cradle next to his bed.
Xu Chumian couldn't get out of bed, so she leaned against the headboard and played with the little one's toys.
Both Madam Zhang and Old Madam Zhao adored this boy, Xiao Ge'er.
They say he's an extremely easy child to raise, even more well-behaved than Zhao Yu was when he was young.
Xu Chumian smiled slightly. She had only been in postpartum confinement for about ten days and had to wipe herself several times a day. After her mother-in-law and grandmother left, Zhao Yu returned from his shift not long after.
These past few days, the Dali Temple has been busy, and Zhao Yu has been unable to leave, so he can only go home as early as possible each day.
He strode into the house.
Xu Chumian was asleep when Xiaoge'er was taken away to be breastfed.
Zhao Yu approached the bedside, gazing at Xu Chumian with eyes full of deep affection. He leaned down and kissed the corner of her lips.
Xu Chumian muttered, "He'an, stop fooling around."
He turned over and went back to sleep.
Zhao Yu's heart softened, and after changing his clothes, he went to see his son again.
Zhao Xiao has recognized his father these past few days, and when he sees his father arrive, he stretches out his hands to him.
Zhao Yu skillfully carried his son back into the house.
Xu Chumian was still asleep, and Zhao Yu didn't disturb her. He just held his son and looked through the documents in the outer room.
When Xu Chumian woke up, she heard laughter and playfulness coming from the outside room.
Xu Chumian smiled.
She didn't gain much weight during her pregnancy, and after resting well during her postpartum period and taking good care of herself with daily nutrition, her complexion looked much better than when she was pregnant. Her eyes were gentle, her face was fair, and she was even more beautiful than before.
When Zhao Yu brought his son in, Xu Chumian was drinking bird's nest soup.
She put down the bowl, wiped her lips, and looked at Zhao Yu with gentle eyes, "You're back."
The maidservant took the bowl and left.
Zhao Yu sat on the edge of the bed, holding his son, and stroked her cheek. "How are you feeling today?"
It's still the recovery phase, and I'm getting better every day.
For the first two or three days after giving birth, Xu Chumian couldn't straighten her back, but she's much better now.
Zhao Yu kissed her lips.
Xu Chumian didn't react for a moment. Her face flushed, "The baby is still here."
Zhao Yu smiled wryly, "He doesn't know."
Xu Chumian glared at him. "In any case, it won't work."
Xiao Ge'er's eyes darted around. The baby had lost its red monkey-like appearance when it was first born and had become increasingly fair and adorable. It looked like a soft little dumpling that anyone who saw it would want to kiss.
These past few days, Zhao Yu has been sleeping on the soft couch in the inner room, worried about running into Xu Chumian.
Xu Chumian asked Zhao Yu to sleep in the next room, but Zhao Yu refused no matter what.
He was happy to take care of Xu Chumian.
So Xu Chumian stopped paying attention to him.
During dinner that night, Zhao Yu fed Xu Chumian bite by bite.
Then Xiao Tao came to wipe Xu Chumian's body.
Xu Chumian refused to let Zhao Yu stay in the room no matter what she said.
Zhao Yu took his son outside for a stroll. When they reached the bamboo grove, a maid was picking flowers nearby.
Upon seeing Zhao Yu arrive, she immediately bowed and said, "This servant greets Your Highness."
Zhao Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, "Which maidservant is she from?"
The maid thought she had caught Zhao Yu's eye, so she thrust her already ample breasts even higher.
“My name is Huang Li, and I am a seamstress in the embroidery room. I am seventeen years old.”
Zhao Yu said coldly, "Get out."
The oriole was taken aback. "What?"
Granny Liang was in the courtyard when she caught sight of Zhao Yu talking to a maid, and she immediately frowned.
Before Granny Liang could get close, Zhao Yu called out to her.
"Throw this maid out."
Granny Liang's expression changed, and she immediately glanced at Huang Li.
Granny Liang had a vague impression of the maid. She thought the maid was decent-looking and young, and was somewhat arrogant. She never expected that the maid would actually dance in front of the young master.
Granny Liang immediately replied, "Your Highness, rest assured, this old servant understands."
The oriole immediately protested her innocence, saying she hadn't done anything.
How did they get kicked out of Heyun Academy?
Everyone in the manor knew that working in Heyun Courtyard was easy; all they did was make clothes for the young master, and the rewards were high. Yet, they were kicked out just like that.
"Granny Liang, where exactly did I go wrong?"
Granny Liang then recalled that Huang Li had not been in the embroidery room several times, and the young master's clothes had not been made despite Granny Liang's repeated instructions.
So all their free time was spent waiting for the young master!
Granny Liang slapped Huang Li across the face with her backhand.
"You blind fool, how dare you aspire to be related to the young master?"
When the oriole realized her thoughts had been exposed, she was terrified.
"Granny Liang, I will never dare to do it again. Please don't send me away."
Granny Liang said coldly, "This is the young master's order. The young master hates servants with ulterior motives the most. Considering that your embroidery skills are not bad, you can go to the front courtyard embroidery room. At least you will have a job to support your family. If you dare to be disobedient again, you can expect to be sold out of the mansion."
The oriole then quieted down.
The embroidery room was nearby, and seeing this, they couldn't help but peek out to take a look.
Only after Granny Liang had walked away did she dare to speak: "I knew she wasn't honest. Even someone as beautiful as the young master's wife is someone she can't fool."
"He doesn't even take a piss to see what he looks like, yet he dares to presume to be associated with the young master."
"The young master and his wife are deeply in love; no one else can interfere."
Huang Li felt she had suffered a great humiliation and immediately rushed out of Heyun Courtyard.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Tao went to ask Granny Liang about it several more times.
Seeing Granny Liang's ambiguous expression, Xiao Tao immediately understood.
Xu Chumian and Xiao Tao have known each other for many years. Just one expression from Xiao Tao is enough for Xu Chumian to know what's wrong.
Xu Chumian asked with a gentle smile, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Tao bit her lip. Seeing that no one was outside, she whispered what had just happened.
Xu Chumian was taken aback, not expecting it was because of this.
Seeing that Xu Chumian remained silent, Xiao Tao secretly regretted her actions. "Madam, the young master did nothing but let that maid leave. I have offended you for no reason. Please punish me, Madam."
Xu Chumian found it amusing. She glanced at Xiao Tao and said, "You're quite something, now you're learning these tricks."
Xiao Tao muttered, "This servant must keep an eye on things for you."
Xu Chumian showed no unusual expression. She smiled faintly and said, "Let's go out first. I want to rest for a while."
When Zhao Yu brought Xiaoge'er back, the inner room was very quiet.
He went inside and saw Xu Chuming still reading. He couldn't help but say, "The light is bad at night, be careful with your eyes."
Xu Chumian couldn't help but laugh, "There are several lamps lit in this room, and there's also a luminous pearl."
Zhao Yu sat on the edge of the bed, holding her son. "Xiao-ge'er, keep your mother company and talk to her."
Xu Chumian laughed and said, "He doesn't understand anything yet."
Xu Chumian hugged the soft little bundle and placed a kiss on his forehead.
"Good boy Xiao."
Xiao Ge'er recognized his mother and kept smiling at Xu Chumian.
Xu Chumian held his little fist and started talking to her son.
As soon as Xiaoge'er got into Xu Chumian's arms, he couldn't help but burrow into her chest. Xu Chumian blushed and quickly moved her son away from her.
"No, that won't work."
Xiao Ge'er couldn't understand, and pouted in grievance.
Xu Chumian could only look at Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu was lighting the lamp in the room when he heard the sound and looked over. He met Xu Chumian's pleading and aggrieved eyes, and his heart softened. He took his son and handed him over to the wet nurse.
Back inside, Xu Chumian's mood suddenly plummeted again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
