Shen Zhiyi slept soundly and woke up late the next day. If she were in the Marquis's mansion, where she had to follow the rules every day, it would naturally not be as comfortable as being at home.
As Hongrui helped her wash up, she whispered, "Miss, when Cuilan sent someone to tell you yesterday, she had something to ask you."
"Send her out of the manor?"
"right."
"Tell her that as her mother-in-law's personal maid, she knows so many secrets of the Marquis's mansion and is familiar with the old lady's methods. It will probably not be easy for her to leave the mansion. Even if she does leave, she will have to live incognito and in secret."
Shen Zhiyi sat in front of the mirror, letting Hongrui help her with her makeup. "My mother-in-law had an accident, and the old lady is getting old. The Marquis's mansion is also lacking a person to manage the household."
"Instead of running away, why not turn the tables and become the master?"
"Having been a servant her whole life, didn't she ever think about taking control of her own life?"
Hongrui chuckled and simply nodded in agreement.
Shen Zhiyi examined the jewelry laid out before her, stroking a gold hairpin, a slight smile playing on her lips:
Song Yuxiu, trying to scheme against me, is resorting to the same old tricks.
Then I should give you a gift in return.
Since your own mother is already in prison, then I will...
Send a stepmother!
Turquoise was intelligent and naturally knew what to do.
Song Yuxiu's father, though he only had one wife and no concubines, frequented brothels and taverns, but he was only good at putting on a show.
When Shen Zhiyi was having her meal, she had just taken a sip of porridge when she frowned slightly. "Did they change chefs today?"
Green Lotus shook her head. "Since returning to the manor, your daily meals have been mainly prepared by Guard Xiao. However, he was dragged out by the young master at dawn, supposedly for morning exercise, and has not returned since."
Xiao Zhongxuan's status has changed, and everyone in the mansion now calls him Guard Xiao.
"What?"
Is the older brother doing morning exercises?
Those are training people to the point of exhaustion!
After all, they came from the military; the intensity of their training is something most people couldn't handle.
With Xiao Zhongxuan's small frame, I hope he won't be ruined by the training.
Shen Zhiyi frowned, put down the bowl, and went into her elder brother's courtyard.
At a glance, one could see that the elder brother was still instructing Xiao Zhongxuan on how to wield a knife and practice swordsmanship, fighting and killing enemies.
It was rare to see Xiao Zhongxuan wearing a tight-fitting outfit, and his hair was no longer usually half-down, giving him a delicate and frail appearance. When his hair was all up, he no longer looked weak and frail, but rather spirited and energetic.
The older brother, however, frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with him.
"Brother," Shen Zhiyi called out, interrupting the two.
Shen Jingchuan then let Xiao Zhongxuan go and looked at his younger sister, "Why are you here?"
"I heard that you haven't had breakfast yet, and I'm worried that you might be hungry."
"Have you eaten?"
"not yet."
Xiao Zhongxuan put down his sword. "Then I'll go prepare breakfast."
Shen Jingchuan stared at his departing figure before turning to his younger sister, "Although this kid is a bit weak-looking, he does have some skills and is humble and willing to learn."
"Brother, he's not one of your soldiers, don't be so demanding of him."
"Feeling sorry for him? Protecting him?" Shen Jingchuan raised an eyebrow.
"I don't."
"There's never a bad thing to exercise more, but this kid is too good-looking, I always feel he's not going to stay at home."
"..."
Shen Zhiyi smiled sullenly, unsure of what to say.
After Xiao Zhongxuan prepared the food and put it on the table, Shen Jingchuan took a bite and was somewhat surprised. He looked at the person in front of him, seemingly surprised that he had such culinary skills.
It seems that this kid isn't entirely useless, aside from his face.
If I can cook, I can at least fatten up my little sister.
"Young Master, what do you like to eat? Is the food to your liking?" Xiao Zhongxuan asked with a smile.
"improvise."
Chen Zhiyi raised an eyebrow:
He ate two extra bowls of rice, yet still said it was just enough.
I never realized my older brother had such a stubborn side.
“Brother,” Shen Zhiyi put down her chopsticks and looked at her elder brother, “Yesterday, Sister Wen injured her leg while saving me. Today, could you go to the Wen residence and bring her some ointment to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis?”
"Why don't you go?" Shen Jingchuan raised an eyebrow.
“I…” Shen Zhiyi couldn’t very well say that she wanted to bring the two of them together, so she just smiled apologetically and said, “I was probably frightened by the assassination attempt yesterday and didn’t sleep well last night. I’m still a little sleepy and want to catch up on some sleep.”
“Shen Yiyi, if you want to shirk your responsibilities, come up with a better excuse.” Shen Jingchuan understood his younger sister.
"Good brother, please go and check on Sister Wen for me, okay?!"
Shen Zhiyi was pampered since childhood, so she was naturally adept at acting cute and charming.
Shen Jingchuan fell for her act and nodded in agreement.
Xiao Zhongxuan, however, squinted his eyes slightly:
Okay...brother?
He stared intently at Shen Zhiyi, completely unaware that she had this side to her.
——
After the meal, Shen Jingchuan set off for the Wen residence, while Xiao Zhongxuan looked at Shen Zhiyi and asked, "Madam, could you give me some ointment to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis?"
"Are you injured?" Shen Zhiyi looked him over.
There were no external injuries visible.
"It's nothing, just a minor bump."
She knew the intensity of her elder brother's training. She asked Hongrui to get him some ointment. As Xiao Zhongxuan thanked her and was about to leave, he suddenly groaned, as if he had pulled on a sore spot.
With her brows slightly furrowed and her delicate appearance, even the red stamens and green lotus leaves felt sorry for her.
"Madam, could you do me a favor?"
"Hmm?" Shen Zhiyi asked suspiciously.
"Some of the injuries are on my back, which I can't reach. Could you please apply some medicine for me?"
The red stamens and green lotus leaves exchanged a glance.
From the moment their daughter got drunk and harassed someone, to the time she was given traditional Chinese medicine, their relationship was anything but innocent.
Although it goes against common sense for a woman to keep a mistress, it is probably not acceptable to society.
However, the heir apparent and the people in the Marquis's mansion were all wolves and tigers. At that time, the young master had not yet returned to the capital, so Young Master Xiao really helped a lot.
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