The Xie Mansion is very large, and the courtyard arranged for Xie Qingyao is located in the southeast corner of the mansion.
Third aunt took Xie Qingyao and the maids through the garden, passed through the corridors and crossed the bridges, and walked along the winding paths for a while before reaching their destination.
"If you don't know the way, let the maid lead the way." Third aunt curved her eyebrows and said in a gentle voice.
With a creak, the door opened.
Third Aunt said softly, "When Mother heard that you were coming back, she had the place redecorated and is waiting for you to come back."
Here she used "you guys" instead of "you", deliberately including the Marquis of Anguo.
Although no one expected that Marquis Anguo would accompany Xie Qingyao back to Runan, they couldn't say that, lest it be impolite.
"If you can't get used to living here, just tell your third aunt," she continued.
How could I not get used to living here? The courtyard here is so nice.
There is a two-story attic with a tall ginkgo tree planted in the yard. There is also a round table and stone benches underneath where you can enjoy tea and appreciate the scenery.
Xie Qingyao felt warm in her heart, nodded, and said with a curled lip: "Thank you for your help, Third Aunt. I like it very much."
Suddenly, she pointed to the courtyard across the pond not far away and asked curiously, "What's that over there?"
Third Aunt said, "That's where the guests stay."
The implication is that Xie Qingyao is not a guest but a family member, so there is naturally no reason for her to stay in the guest room.
Third aunt's words were very soothing.
Zhitao and the others covered their lips and laughed softly.
On the other side, Gu Qingyuan met the maid Cailu who was going to Fushengju to deliver cakes, and her pace slowed down obviously.
"Cai Lu, leave this to me. I'm going over there."
Cai Lu couldn't help but hesitate, "This isn't good, it should be me who did it, am I being lazy?"
She did not call herself a servant in front of Gu Qingyuan. After all, she was just a cousin living in the mansion, a cousin of Old Madam Xie, not a real lady of the Xie family, so she was different.
In addition, Gu Qingyuan always talked to them in a humble manner, and before they knew it, the maids were willing to be close to her and would tell her everything, big or small.
Everyone knows that this cousin has a soft temper and is easy to talk to.
Gu Qingyuan was the best at observing people's expressions and realized that Cailu was not unwilling, but just wanted to pretend to do it so as to avoid being labeled as lazy.
"Whatever I said was just something that came to my mind. Leave this matter to me and go do your own thing. There must be more important things to do. Aunt Qi won't say anything."
"Okay then, thank you, Miss." Cai Lu said with a smile and handed the plate to Gu Qingyuan.
Gu Qingyuan did not go into Fushengju directly. She stood under the tree for a while and saw Xie Linqian hurriedly get up and leave.
Her eyes lit up before she carried the plate in.
But when he entered the house, he found that the Marquis of Anguo was not the only one in the room.
In the corner, there was a young man in blue clothes standing with a sword, his expression solemn.
Gu Qingyuan lowered her head awkwardly and pursed her lips.
When her eyes met He Zheng, Gu Qingyuan's cheeks turned slightly red.
She gently placed the plate of pastries on the coffee table beside her, took a deep breath, and couldn't help but say, "I have learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting since I was a child, and I am also proficient in brewing tea and arranging flowers. Let me make tea for the Marquis."
"Sorry for the poor presentation."
She has a pretty face and a thin figure, the kind of beautiful girl from a small family.
Now she was wearing a plain silk dress, with her head lowered, revealing her slender neck.
Her voice was even softer, and she looked like an innocent little white rabbit.
Xi Feng, who was standing by, looked shocked and doubtful, "..."
No, what is this woman doing?
Acting and flirting in front of adults.
Even someone as slow-witted as him could sense that this woman had ulterior motives!
Surprisingly, how bold!
Xi Feng's face darkened.
Does she think she is beautiful?
How could anyone be more beautiful than the lady? Why did she think the adults would even give her a second glance?
Xi Feng's heart was boiling with anger, his brows were tightly furrowed, but he didn't say a word.
The adults didn't say anything.
He Zheng really didn't even look at Gu Qingyuan for a second. All the flirtatious glances she threw at him were in vain and a waste of effort.
Only after a while did He Zheng look over with a cold tone.
"If you weren't at the Xie family, you wouldn't be a guest of the Xie family, and you would be a corpse now."
Gu Qingyuan's face suddenly changed and her eyes widened in fear.
He Zheng's gaze alone was enough to send people shuddering.
He wasn't trying to intimidate her, he was just stating the facts.
If this wasn't at the Xie family, he would really kill her.
“Pala——”
The teapot fell and the tea spilled onto her hands.
"Ah!" Gu Qingyuan screamed in pain, tears suddenly falling.
The originally tender white back of the hand was burned red and had many blisters, which was a horrible sight.
The pain in her body was not as great as the pain in her heart.
Seeing He Zheng stand up and leave, Gu Qingyuan said with pain: "I don't understand, why am I not as good as Cousin Qingyao..."
It turned out to be the cousin of the mansion. At first, Xifeng thought she was the daughter of the Xie family.
No wonder, so brainless.
Gu Qingyuan continued to speak to herself, "I am the daughter of the Nanping Gu family. The Gu family is a family of scholars and they take great pains to educate their children. They require their daughters to be proficient in everything, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, tea-making, and burning incense."
"I know that cousin Qingyao's mother is a merchant's daughter. Although cousin Qingyao is the eldest daughter of the Ningyuan Earl's family, she is not well-liked. Her stepmother will definitely not carefully train her in the things a woman should do."
"And a woman of my background can just make up for Cousin Qingyao's shortcomings and help her better manage the Marquis' Mansion."
"The Marquis' Mansion will have someone coming in sooner or later, so why can't it be me?"
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