Xie Mansion
Xie Yuyan was lying happily on the chaise longue, groping her slender hands. If one didn't know the situation, one would really think that this beauty was kind-hearted.
"Xiao Cui, have you been keeping watch at Jinxiu Tower lately? Have you seen that bitch or anyone around her?" Xie Yuyan asked in a cold voice.
Although she has now been betrothed to the Prince of Zhennan, the Prince's residence is located in Zhangzhou Prefecture, which is 800 li away from Jiangzhou. If she wants to come back for revenge, it will probably not be so easy.
Xie Yuyan was quite happy to be able to marry the Prince of Zhennan, and she secretly showed off to her sisters a few times. However, her sisters all looked at her with disdain, which Xie Yuyan took as envy and jealousy.
In the past few days, she learned that her pampered elder sister was frequently attending various poetry and tea parties under the arrangement of her stepmother. Coupled with her boastful younger sister from another branch of the family, who not only scorned her but also said that the Prince of Zhennan was over fifty years old, and that she had been a concubine in the past—or, to put it nicely, a secondary consort, but to put it bluntly, just a mistress—nothing more! How could she compare to her pampered elder sister?
Xie Yuyan wasn't stupid; upon careful consideration, it seemed to be true. Her stepmother and grandmother had first coaxed her into practicing various court etiquettes, and then, quite naturally, sent her to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion—all to find a substitute for their daughter/granddaughter!
Ironically, I had been so grateful to them before, mistaking their wolfish ambitions for kindness! They even said they wanted to bring my aunt and brother over, but they were actually using them as leverage to threaten me, afraid that I would change my mind and cause further trouble.
Pshaw, she really underestimated herself! In fact, she had long known that her stepmother might not have good intentions, and she also knew that the old woman must have other ideas, but so what?
These high-and-mighty sisters all thought the Zhennan Prince's Mansion was a den of iniquity, and that men from noble families were the proper match. But which legitimate son of a noble family would even look at the Xie family, a nouveau riche? They were so arrogant that even if someone were to marry a princess, it would depend on whether the person was willing! Her elder sister was not only not good-looking, but also simple-minded. Even if she went to great lengths to get into that high-class family, what good would it do? It would be much easier for her to win over the Zhennan Prince. She, Xie Yuyan, was young, beautiful, and had fair skin. She refused to believe she couldn't win over that fifty-year-old Zhennan Prince!
When she is showered with love and affection, all those like Third Sister Qin, the Xie family, her stepmother and stepsisters will be her defeated opponents. Don't blame her for turning ruthless then!
Therefore, the thing her stepmother was worried about would not happen at all! But before that, if she could torture Qin San Niang a bit and then kill her, she would feel even more relieved. If there was anyone she could hate to the bone, it would be Qin San Niang. That woman made her lose face! And she even extorted eight hundred taels of silver from her!
Now, Xiao Cui has also risen in status, and regardless of what the people below think—whether they envy her, pity her, or just want to see her suffer—they dare not neglect the food, clothing, and daily necessities in her courtyard. Moreover, following the instructions of the mistress, everything is done according to the standards of a legitimate daughter, so Xiao Cui's attire is as beautiful as her recent mood.
Of course, she still felt like she was walking on thin ice in front of her master, whose temper was becoming increasingly unpredictable these days!
"Miss, that vile woman didn't appear at Jinxiu Pavilion. However, the two women who followed her did appear several times. Each time, I sent people to follow them, but they seemed to be on guard. Our people were always spotted, and they were lost once we left the city!" Xiao Cui said cautiously, afraid of being reprimanded for her poor performance!
They had little influence in the manor, so Xiao Cui had to hire street thugs to do her bidding, and their skills were naturally not very good. Besides, Fatty was very vigilant these days. To avoid being followed, she would always take a detour through the streets and alleys, change the tarpaulin on the carriage before leaving the city, so it was no wonder that people couldn't follow her.
Xie Yuyan clenched her fist tightly, almost breaking her delicate nails. "Xiao Cui, you've been with me for many years now, haven't you? I'm about to marry into the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. Although the Prince is older, he's still a member of the royal family. If you hadn't been with me, you'd never have seen the Prince in your life! You might even see the Emperor, since they're relatives. If you could see the Emperor's face, your life wouldn't have been in vain!"
“Miss is right! The luckiest thing in my life is being able to serve you. Without you, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I am grateful to you and would do anything for you, even die for you.” Xiao Cui hurriedly knelt down to express her loyalty.
She was secretly delighted to be able to follow her master into the Prince's mansion. She never expected that her future son-in-law would be a prince! What did it matter if he was a little older? If she could get into the prince's bed, even if she became a concubine, she would still be the prince's concubine, which was incomparable to an ordinary concubine.
"Yes, I know your loyalty, otherwise I wouldn't have insisted on bringing you along. But we're about to leave, and this bastard surnamed Qin has caused us, master and servant, a great loss! No matter what, we must deal with her before we go to Zhangzhou!" Xie Yuyan's sinister voice rang out.
Xiao Cui could not forget the humiliation she suffered at the hands of Qin San Niang and the others, and her fighting spirit was ignited within her.
Xie Yuyan had a fairly accurate grasp of this servant's psychology. She was just as insidious, vicious, and vindictive. The two were not only mistress and servant but also allies. She would use Xiao Cui to do things that she couldn't do herself, and then she could easily sever ties with her in the future.
As for Xiao Cui? She wasn't unaware of her master's thoughts, but what could she do? After all, she was the master! Unless she could one day climb to the master's position herself, then she would not only have the ability to resist, but also have servants to command!
At the same time, Xiao Cui also knew that if this matter could not be handled to Xie Yuyan's satisfaction, she might not take her to Zhangzhou. The First Madam had already selected dozens of maids for her, saying that she should learn the rules first, and then make a selection later.
"I understand. I will definitely keep a close eye on the city gate and Jinxiu Tower these days, and I will definitely find them!" Xiao Cui said firmly.
"Yes, that's right. Find a few tough guys in the underworld. The ones you found before were useless, so don't use them anymore. As for money, don't worry. I have quite a bit more savings in my account now, and I can withdraw it later." Although she didn't have any private money now, her hypocritical stepmother had given her some financial support in order to keep her in check, saying that it would all be used as her dowry.
What a joke! So what if she spends more? Would it make her disgrace the Xie family at the Zhennan Prince's Mansion? Of course not, they still want to win over this old son-in-law!
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