In terms of seniority, Cai Die is actually the most senior girl in the North Courtyard.
She first followed Lady Wei, and later Xiao Xin was assigned to the North Courtyard after getting married, so she followed him. At that time, Cui Ting, who had been expelled, had not yet arrived, and she was the only maid serving in the entire North Courtyard.
They can be described as having impeccable political background and having made great contributions.
But somehow, she also managed to become the person with the lowest profile in the North Campus.
Xu Rong didn't deliberately suppress her. Even with Cui Ting, she didn't touch her unless she caused trouble. It's just asking for trouble to have a power struggle in your own courtyard.
Cai Die's situation was entirely her own choice. Xu Rong had previously guessed that she was listless because she was suffering from unrequited love after learning that she had a lover. Now she knew who she was suffering from.
Cai Die had already been called over and was standing there somewhat bewildered, unaware that her secret rendezvous with Xiao Yue had been exposed.
Xu Rong sat in the main room, sizing her up.
She wore a brown vest and a light blue skirt. Her appearance wasn't particularly outstanding; her nose was a little flat and her lips were a bit thick, but she could still be described as pretty.
After reading it, Xu Rong asked her kindly, "How old are you this year?"
Cai Die carefully replied, "Replying to Second Madam, this servant is eighteen years old."
"Don't be nervous, I'm just asking casually," Xu Rong reassured her, then asked, "You've been here so long, and I've never asked before, where do your parents work in the household? Do you have any other siblings?"
Actually, she knew that Hongliu, being the gossip, had already told her, but that was only a short time after she arrived. Over the past six months, things might have changed.
Cai Die relaxed a little. These questions didn't seem like a big deal, and there was nothing wrong with talking about her personal family situation, so she said, "I have an older brother. My father and brother both work in the outer courtyard, and my mother works in the laundry room."
Xu Rong nodded. Her father and brother's positions remained the same, but her mother had changed. She used to be responsible for shifts at the Second Gate, which was relatively easy, even though it involved staying up all night and didn't bring much profit. Now she was transferred to the laundry room, where the workload was much heavier, and there was still no profit to be made.
After all, no master would go there personally; if he ruined any valuable clothes, he might get scolded.
This family is getting worse and worse off.
After asking just two questions, Xu Rong had already learned everything she needed to know. She said, "So, the Yue family doesn't agree to your marriage with Xiao Yue?"
Even among servants, there is a matching system. This is the case in Cai Die's family. Cai Die herself first served Wei Shi and later Xiao Xin. In the past, she was an unwanted servant. On the other hand, Xiao Yue was able to be assigned to Xiao Lun's side because of Xiao Lun's trust in him. There was a huge disparity between them.
Butterfly's eyes widened suddenly, completely stunned. She opened her mouth: "..."
Suddenly, he lost his voice and couldn't speak.
Xu Rong waited patiently for her.
“I, this servant—” Cai Die finally managed to utter the words, but they were incoherent. “This servant doesn’t know. This servant has no relation to Brother Yue. This servant doesn’t know what Second Madam means.”
Xu Rong had expected her denial. Xu Rong smiled and said, "You really don't know?"
Cai Die seemed to lack composure, and said in a trembling voice, "This servant truly does not know."
She clung to the accusation, but her demeanor made it clear to everyone that she wasn't telling the truth.
Xu Rong didn't press her further, saying, "Whether you know or not, you should at least understand what you're doing."
Cai Die was filled with anxiety. Her lips trembled, and after a long while, she managed to stammer out, "Second Madam, I didn't... I didn't say anything to anyone—"
This was her way of confessing her feelings; she hadn't told Xiao Yue what had happened at the North Campus, even though she didn't dare admit to her affair with Xiao Yue.
Xu Rong wasn't worried about that. Apart from Cai Die, everyone in the courtyard was her people. If she still couldn't keep an eye on her and let her find out some secrets that couldn't be told, then it wasn't Cai Die's problem, it was her problem.
She didn't show any reaction to Cai Die's confession, but simply said, "I won't make things difficult for you, but you're not on my side. If anything happens to you in the future, I won't be able to help you. You'd better take care of yourself."
"..."
Cai Die didn't seem relieved; instead, she became even more uneasy. There was a struggle in her expression, but in the end, she didn't say anything, retreated, and shrank back into the side room.
"Second Grandmother, is it really over?" Bai Fu asked worriedly.
“When the Second Young Master returns, she will be an old servant who has served him.” Xu Rong stood up. “The Second Young Master is more familiar with her, so whether or not to deal with her is up to him.”
Bai Fu agreed with the suggestion and nodded silently.
Xu Rong went to his bedroom for a midday rest as usual, and Xiao Xin would return when he woke up.
He returned late, not because he was summoned by the Crown Prince—the Crown Prince was indeed too busy to attend to such matters—but because on his way back he happened to run into some classmates who took him to a teahouse for a literary gathering and lunch, which delayed him until the afternoon.
Seeing that he seemed to have gained something, and that he went into the east side room to spread out paper and write something down as soon as he returned, Xu Rong simply waited a while longer, and only told him after dinner in the evening.
Xiao Xin stopped and paused, taken aback.
Xu Rong said, "I asked her, and she didn't admit it, but Brother Hongliu saw it with his own eyes, so there can't be any mistake. Second Young Master, do you want to talk to her about it?"
Xiao Xin frowned, and after a long while, he finally said, "What should I say to her? Never mind, let her be."
This means he won't take any action. He's still much more tolerant of the elderly woman who's always by his side, even though he's not actually close to Cai Die and doesn't want her to handle many things.
This was similar to Xu Rong's opinion. It wasn't a big deal for a girl to have a private relationship. Cai Die's problem was that her boyfriend wasn't quite right, but his family had always disapproved, so the young couple could only go to the stables, which had a bad smell, to date. Excluding the possibility that she deliberately infiltrated the North Courtyard, there was nothing else to it.
In her opinion, Cai Die wasn't a very clever girl. If the two of them really wanted to be together, she couldn't do much on her own. She could only hope that Xiao Yue truly loved her and could withstand the pressure from all sides.
She nodded and said, "Mm."
Xiao Xin was about to leave, but after taking two steps, he turned back and said, "Have someone keep an eye on her."
Xu Rong would do it even without him saying so; one can never be too careful. She smiled and nodded, "I know."
Having reached a consensus without any arguments, Xu Rong felt relaxed and happy. However, after watching him enter the warm pavilion, she suddenly felt that she seemed to have forgotten something. She thought about it but couldn't remember. Oh well, there were too many things to do today. She would talk about it tomorrow.
...
The next morning, Xu Rong remembered it.
Dr. Xu.
However, he was still busy that morning because he had to go to the Duke of Ying's mansion to visit and thank Madam Zhang. The messenger specifically mentioned Xu Rong, who was also going to accompany him.
Before leaving, Xu Rong glanced at the room where Cai Die was staying and found that she was unusually not hiding, but helping Xin Cheng take out the clothesline to hang the clothes. However, she seemed a little absent-minded. When Xu Rong looked at her, her hand trembled and one end of the clothesline fell to the ground.
She hurriedly picked it up and frantically searched for a handkerchief to wipe herself. In the process, she couldn't help but secretly glance at Xu Rong.
Xu Rong's heart stirred.
She felt that the butterfly's reaction was a bit strange, as if it was avoiding her a little, but not entirely.
She slowed her pace and saw that Cai Die had lowered her head again, haphazardly wiping the bamboo pole with a handkerchief. She should have already cleaned it, but she was still wiping it. Xin Cheng couldn't wait and urged her on. Only then did she hurriedly respond and pick up the pole again.
Xu Rong didn't look at her again and stepped out of the courtyard.
She wasn't in a hurry, because it seemed like Cai Die was the one who was in a more hurry, although she didn't know what she was in a hurry about.
The carriage was waiting inside the side gate. Xu Rong, holding Xiao Xin's hand, was about to walk over when she suddenly felt Xiao Xin reach out, take her hand, and tap her palm.
"..." Xu Rong's instinctive movement to avoid the situation stopped.
She glanced at Xiao Xin out of the corner of her eye, and then followed his gaze to see a servant bowing by the roadside. The servant seemed to be about to go out as well, and when he saw them coming, he paused and asked them to go first.
He was eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a blue robe, cloth shoes, and a blue headscarf. He had a slightly dark complexion, regular features, and a somewhat composed demeanor.
Xu Rong didn't stop walking. After Xiao Xin got into the car, he asked, "Is that Xiao Yue?"
She usually stays at home and doesn't manage the household. There are hundreds of people inside and outside the Changxing Marquis's mansion. She doesn't recognize many of the servants in the outer courtyard, including this Xiao Yue. She has heard the servants mention him in their gossip, but she can't match his face to the person in the picture.
Xiao Xin nodded: "Mm."
It must be said that Butterfly has a good eye.
Xu Rong remembered something, lifted the curtain and said to Bai Fu who was standing beside her, "If you take a fancy to anyone, tell me and I'll put in a good word for you."
Normally, when Xu Rong went out alone, Bai Fu could ride in the car with her. But because she was with Xiao Xin, she was walking. She was walking just fine when she was suddenly told such a thing. Bai Fu almost stumbled and immediately blushed: "What are you saying, Miss! This is the street. I... I didn't even fancy anyone."
She was so embarrassed that she called out her old nickname.
Xu Rong smiled and said, "I'll tell you first."
Lower the curtain.
Upon arriving at the Duke of England's residence, they were summoned for an audience without any trouble. Madam Zhang was very pleased with their arrival, but she scolded them, "Second Brother, the list of successful candidates has just come down. You must be busy these days. If you wanted to come, there was no need to rush."
Xu Rong smiled and said, "Other places are also in a hurry, but no matter how urgent it is, it's not as urgent as the old lady's situation."
Madam Zhang was even happier and beckoned her over: "I love listening to Rong'er talk."
While we were socializing, a slight mishap occurred.
It had nothing to do with Xu Rong and Xiao Xin; it was Zhang Weiling. A maid came in to report that he was making a fuss about going to Annam to find the British Constable. He had packed his little bundles for running away from home, but he managed to fool the maids in his own courtyard, but not the guards who were responsible for watching him. He was caught while climbing the wall, wiggling his hips.
Xu Rong, who was listening in: "..."
He truly deserves to be called Xu Huazhang's good brother.
Madam Zhang was furious: "I thought he had behaved himself, but it turns out he was just trying to fool me. Lock him back in the courtyard! He's not allowed to leave the house for a month!"
The girl suppressed a laugh, agreed, and left.
Since Xu Huazhang and Zhang Weiling had become friends, Old Madam Zhang had nothing to hide from Xu Rong—both families had their share of spoiled brats, so neither could laugh at the other. She complained directly to Xu Rong, "He complains that I'm too strict with him. But look at this mischievous monkey's temper; if I loosen my grip even a little, he'll be out of control!"
Xu Rong smiled and offered a few words of comfort. Gradually, he learned that the Duke of England had suppressed another rebellion in Annam. That region had been unstable since the founding of the country, with many barbarian tribes on the border rebelling and invading the border. As a result, several Dukes of England had led troops there to suppress the rebellion.
After this victory, the Duke of England wrote a memorial to report the triumph and at the same time requested credits for his generals. Among them were the descendants of meritorious officials and those who had risen from humble beginnings to the top. All their merits were clearly and fairly listed. When the Emperor saw it, he was pleased and approved it all with a stroke of his vermilion pen.
The matter should have ended there. The Duke of Ying's mansion had held a banquet for this at the beginning of the year, and they planned to handle it discreetly this time. However, when the news reached Zhang Weiling's ears, it somehow stirred up his martial spirit—after all, he was the son of the Duke of Ying. Of course, it was more likely that he wanted to use this opportunity to escape the control of Old Madam Zhang, so he shouted the slogan of wanting to join the army.
Before he could achieve his goal, he was brutally suppressed by his mother.
Apart from that, nothing else happened. Madam Zhang invited them to have lunch, and after lunch, Madam Zhang wanted to rest, so they went home.
Xu Rong was drowsy on the way. Xiao Xin sat next to her, remaining as taciturn as ever, not saying a word, letting her doze off. He only reached out and pulled her back when she was about to bump into the carriage.
Xu Rong then fell back and landed on his shoulder.
Too sleepy. This car is usually too bumpy to sit in for long periods of time, but now it has a sleep-inducing effect. Xu Rong thought she had fallen from the left side of the carriage wall to the right side. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she continued to doze off.
She woke up suddenly when the carriage entered the Changxing Marquis's residence, having passed the deepest period of sleepiness.
"..."
She subconsciously glanced at Xiao Xin's shoulder first; it was dry, and she didn't see any saliva. Reassured, she quickly turned her head and pretended to jump out of the car as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Xin was a step behind her. After getting out of the car, he didn't say anything, but just followed her inside.
Xu Rong couldn't help but glance at him, feeling that one of his shoulders seemed a little stiff.
...It might have been caused by her pressing down on him.
She coughed lightly: "Second Young Master, shall we go back and ask Hongliu to give you a massage?"
Xiao Xin said, "No need."
If he had said anything more, Xu Rong wouldn't have thought much of it. But since he didn't say anything, Xu Rong couldn't help but take another look and realized that she had been resting her head on his right shoulder the whole way.
"Second Young Master, you should still give it a good thump; you need to use a pen to write."
Xiao Xin said something in a low voice.
Xu Rong didn't hear clearly: "Huh?"
Xiao Xin turned his head, his eyes meeting hers without flinching, and his voice rose: "Are you going to give me a beating?"
"..." Xu Rong regretted it. Too much talk leads to mistakes. He was usually silent, but when he did speak, one sentence was enough to shut her up.
However, since it was her shoulder that had been used as a pillow and she was the one who started the conversation, she could only grit her teeth and say, "Okay."
As they were talking, they returned to the courtyard. Once inside, Xiao Xin sat down on a chair in the main room. Xu Rong glanced at him and thought, "That's all. It's just a shoulder massage, a perfectly normal activity."
She stood behind him, rolled up her sleeves, clenched her fist, and was about to punch him when suddenly someone rushed in and knelt down with a thud: "Second Madam, please, save Brother Yue!"
Xu Rong's fist stopped.
save?
She saw Xiao Yue when she went out in the morning. Wasn't he perfectly fine?
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