Chapter 4 The good days are over, and kindness is repaid with enmity.
"Big brother, thank you for believing in me!"
As soon as Wang and the others left, Xiao Lingxi's tears fell instantly as she looked at Xiao Jingheng with gratitude.
Xiao Jingheng didn't say anything, and his gaze fell on Su Xiaoyu, who was standing with her hands at her sides.
“Mother, this incident shows that Lingxi really needs a more alert person by her side. If there had been a careful person by her side today, perhaps they could have noticed something amiss beforehand, or provided more clues afterward, so that she wouldn’t have been in such a passive position.”
Madam Liu wholeheartedly agreed: "Yes, this girl is surrounded by people as reckless as her. It's time to place a more reliable person around her."
Lady Liu was already considering candidates in her mind.
Who should be sent to serve the daughter?
She needs to be quick-witted enough to give her daughter timely advice, but not too rigid to annoy her; she needs to be loyal and reliable, but not the kind of old nanny who uses her seniority to boss her master around...
As she pondered, her gaze inadvertently swept over the maids standing below, eventually landing on Su Xiaoyu.
Su Xiaoyu was looking down respectfully, but her bright eyes were secretly glancing at the plate of freshly served hibiscus cake on the table. Her small nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly, making her look like a greedy cat.
Suddenly, Madam Liu remembered that this girl was Zhao Mama's daughter, a servant girl whose loyalty was beyond question. She was a bit lazy and gluttonous, but her strength lay in her simple heart and lack of ill intent. But...
I heard that Lingxi doesn't like her...
Just as Madam Liu was about to shift her gaze away from Su Xiaoyu, Xiao Jingheng's voice rang out at the opportune moment.
"Mother, I think Su Xiaoyu is quite good."
Su Xiaoyu: "...?!"
What?! Go to the Second Miss's side?! That little devil?!
【Oh no, my good days are over! Your Highness, you're repaying kindness with enmity!】
【Please, my lady, don't agree! I beg you!】
Madam Liu was slightly taken aback and looked at her son.
Xiao Jingheng remained unfazed, offering a compelling reason: "Although she is impulsive and not very composed, she has decent observation skills and is quite quick-witted. Sending her to Lingxi's side—one straightforward, the other lively—might allow them to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. It's better than finding another rigid nanny who might only make Lingxi more rebellious."
These words struck a chord with Lady Liu.
What she feared most was that the person she sent would be at odds with her daughter.
"No! I protest!" Xiao Lingxi stood up, her little face puffed up with anger. "Mother, I don't want her! All she does is laze around and eat snacks all day. She's clumsy and inefficient. If she comes to my side, won't she just cause me more trouble?"
Su Xiaoyu immediately gave her a look of immense gratitude; [Second Miss! Well said! Quick! Continue to object, unleash your talent for sophistry!]
However, Xiao Jingheng only glanced at Xiao Lingxi with a faint look, without reprimanding her or showing any other emotion.
He simply looked at Xiao Lingxi with a calm and unwavering expression.
Xiao Lingxi's next words caught in her throat.
She was fearless, but she was a little intimidated by her deep-thinking and taciturn older brother.
His gaze, though devoid of warmth, felt like a sharp, cold needle pricking her, instantly extinguishing most of her arrogance.
"Big brother is right! I have no objection!"
Xiao Lingxi immediately backed down.
Su Xiaoyu: (ΩДΩ)
No? Second Miss, where is your backbone?
Seeing Xiao Lingxi compromise, the flame of hope that had just ignited in Su Xiaoyu's heart was extinguished in an instant.
Finally, they could only cast their pleading, pitiful gazes at Liu, the only person present who might change the decision!
Looking at her son's steady gaze, and then at her daughter's unwilling but not daring to make a fuss anymore, Madam Liu looked at her.
Finally, the gaze fell upon Su Xiaoyu's face, which was etched with "life is meaningless," and the writer found it somewhat amusing.
Finally, she gently twirled the prayer beads, making the final decision:
"Alright! Lingxi, it's settled then. Xiaoyu is Zhao Mama's child. She's a bit lazy, but she's good at heart and clever. Your older brother is right. We'll feel more at ease having her by your side."
Her tone was gentle, yet brooked no argument.
"Little Fish, why don't you quickly express your gratitude? You must be even more diligent in serving the Second Miss from now on."
It’s over!
It's all over!
Su Xiaoyu let out a wail in her heart, as if she could hear the sound of her beautiful life shattering.
She's clearly just a minor character in the book! She doesn't even deserve a name; her only goal is to cling to the future heir's wife and continue to lie low in the Marquis's mansion!
Now that I'm serving the second young lady, will I have to accompany her when she gets married in the future? Will I become her dowry maid or something similar?
No!
She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, her voice filled with despair:
"Yes! This servant... thanks Madam for her kindness, thanks Young Master... this servant will certainly... do her utmost..."
...
That evening, Zhao Yueru had just returned home after finishing her work at the manor when she saw her daughter with her head drooping, looking listless and utterly dejected.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Su Xiaoyu pouted, hugged Zhao Yueru tightly, and lamented, "Mother, my good days are over! The young master has banished me to the second young lady's room. Will I ever have a peaceful life again?"
Zhao Yueru was stunned for a moment, then a subtle, profound meaning flashed in her eyes.
What a meticulous person the young master is! His actions could not possibly be without purpose.
She sat down next to her daughter, put her arm around her shoulder, and spoke gently:
"Silly girl, don't always think the worst. Let me ask you, when the Second Miss was wronged today, did the Young Master step in to resolve it?"
Su Xiaoyu nodded.
"That's it then." Zhao Yueru patted her back: "It's not necessarily a bad thing that the young master wants you to go to the second young lady's side. The second young lady is a bit impatient and spoiled, but she's not a bad person. After this incident, the madam and the young master will definitely be even more worried about her. If you can help her get some pointers and establish herself, that will be a great achievement. That's much better than being just a errand girl in the madam's courtyard!"
"Furthermore, it's unusual that the young master himself spoke up. You should stay put, observe more, listen more, speak less, and be quick-witted. Perhaps... it's a blessing in disguise?"
Listening to her mother's analysis, Su Xiaoyu felt some of her grievances subside.
But the thought of Xiao Lingxi's picky attitude still made her feel gloomy about the future.
She sniffed: "Mom, what's all this talk about future prospects? I just want a peaceful and stable life..."
As long as she can weather the crisis that will occur a year from now, and once the heir apparent marquis marries the heroine from the book, she can continue to live a carefree life.
"Mother knows." Zhao Yueru smiled lovingly, knowing that no amount of words could offer more comfort at this moment.
She got up and walked towards the small kitchen. "Wait here, Mom just got a really good lotus leaf chicken and two fragrant braised duck feet today. I was thinking of saving them for you as a snack tomorrow..."
Before she could finish speaking, Su Xiaoyu sat up straight with a "whoosh," her eyes instantly filled with longing.
[Lotus leaf chicken! Braised duck feet! Slurp!]
A moment later, Su Xiaoyu turned her grief and anger into appetite. She grabbed a tender chicken leg in one hand and a richly flavored duck foot in the other, and began to gnaw on it without any regard for appearances, her mouth dripping with oil.
Zhao Yueru watched from the side, feeling both sorry for her and amused. She reminded her, "Eat slowly, no one will take it from you... Sigh, you child, you can't eat like this anymore when you go to the Second Miss's place..."
With her mouth stuffed full, Su Xiaoyu mumbled, "Mmm... I know (nibbling)... I know... (slurping)..."
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