Chapter 290 The New Maid
Bai Youran found it quite dramatic that her biological father, whom she had lost contact with for more than ten years, suddenly reappeared.
"Sister Yue Sha, there is something I must tell you."
Bai Youran dismissed the servants, and seeing that no one was around, she began to recount a scene she had witnessed in the capital a few years ago.
“My father is just a minor official, and I’m never very noticeable at gatherings of young ladies.”
In the capital, there are many factions, so the young ladies also cluster together according to their factions. Bai Youran is a nobody and is almost ignored.
She doesn't like to flatter or fawn over others, and at gatherings she just sits quietly to the side.
Several years ago, when the daughters of officials in the capital were boating on the lake, Bai Youran witnessed Lin Yue'e and several daughters of the Qin family pushing another daughter into the lake.
"Later, that young lady died."
This has been Bai Youran's nightmare all along, because she saw it with her own eyes.
The deceased was a young lady from an imperial censor's family, who seemed to be a political enemy of the Qin family.
That young lady, like her father, was straightforward and honest, with no ill intentions and no suspicion of others. Yet, she never imagined that she would die at the hands of these people.
"I was all alone on the shore at the time."
As Bai Youran recounted the past, she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. She dared not stand up to testify, for even if she did, no one would believe her.
The person who pushed her into the water was Lin Yue'e, who was a few years younger than her.
"At that time, Lin Yue'e was only seven or eight years old."
After Bai Youran finished speaking, fear filled her eyes.
When she got home that night, she developed a high fever and told her mother what had happened. Her mother said that this matter must not be made public, otherwise, Bai Youran herself would be the next one to fall into the water and die.
A little girl of seven or eight years old dared to kill someone and then pretended to be innocent afterwards; her scheming was truly profound.
The young ladies of the Qin family clearly prioritized Lin Yue'e and followed her arrangements in everything.
What Bai Youran couldn't understand was why the conflicts between elders in officialdom had to extend to their children. Was a human life so worthless?
Even now, this matter remains a thorn in her heart. Every year on the anniversary of that young lady's death, Bai Youran goes to the temple to burn incense and beg for forgiveness.
"You Ran, you did the right thing. You have to protect yourself first."
Lin Yuesha steadied herself; this secret was extremely important to her.
If Bai Youran hadn't told her, she probably wouldn't have found out anything even if she asked around, since people can pretend.
A little girl of seven or eight years old, she kills without blinking an eye and shows no remorse afterward; she's a tough character to deal with.
How will Lin Yue'e deal with her half-sister? Lin Yuesha doesn't know.
“You should go to the capital. After all, Lord Lin owes you something. Status and position are things you deserve.”
Some things cannot be resolved simply by backing down. Given Lin Yue'e's ruthlessness, even if Lin Yuesha were in the North, she might not be safe.
Lin Yuesha seemed to be deep in thought. Things were more complicated than she had imagined. She just didn't know why her biological father had suddenly had a change of heart and wanted to take her away.
Once the reason is known, a direction for a solution is found.
"The old woman who came to pick us up seems to be from the Qin family; she won't tell the truth."
Lin Yuesha was a bit troubled by this. How could she bribe someone who knew the inside story? At least that would save time compared to sending someone to the capital and back, and allow her to make preparations as soon as possible.
"Don't worry, if my mother finds out anything, I will definitely tell you."
After Bai Youran finished speaking, she noticed the curtain at the door swaying, and she immediately shut her mouth.
"Sister Bai, didn't you say you wanted to eat hand-shredded meat last time? I made some more, but I was in a hurry today, so I didn't bring it over to you."
Lin Yuesha tactfully changed the subject and brought up food with Bai Youran.
The shop was almost open, but now that my parents have gone out for a walk, we have to postpone the opening.
The shop's opening was delayed by a day, resulting in a significant financial loss for Lin Yuesha, but given the circumstances, there was nothing she could do.
Upon receiving Zhang Qing'er's letter, Lin Yuesha had not yet prepared a gift; her apple crisps had just been made and their shelf life had not yet been tested.
If you seal it in a jar with a desiccant inside, it should be fine for over a month.
In addition, she also wanted to buy some seafood to make grilled fish slices, squid strips, and dried shrimp, so that they could be kept fresh for a longer time.
It was already sunset when I returned home from the Bai residence.
Neither of my parents were home, and only a few servants were working. The house was quiet.
The Bai family invited her to stay for dinner. The dishes they prepared were exquisite and all featured specialties of the capital, but the taste was just average. Lin Yuesha only ate a few bites before losing her appetite.
"Miss, there are two maids outside the door who claim to be your maids and are here to serve you."
The turmoil at home had worried Uncle Liu a lot, and now that someone had come, he hurried over to deliver the message.
"Let them in."
Lin Yuesha was speechless. She knew that old woman Lin Mama was going to cause trouble, but she didn't expect her to come knocking so soon.
As long as it's not Granny Lin who comes, there's a chance for a reversal. Lin Yuesha was worried about how to get close to the people from the capital, and she also wanted to find out some information.
"This servant is Qingxing, and Qi'er greets Miss."
Two maids entered, both around fifteen or sixteen years old. Qingxing seemed more composed, while Qi'er, though looking down, was still secretly observing her.
Lin Yuesha nodded, wondering in her heart who the two were working for. They were sent by Granny Lin to serve, but in reality, they were there to monitor her. They must not be simple people.
"Qingxing, Qi'er, this is my maid Baicha."
Lin Yuesha pointed to the white tea, and the three of them greeted each other.
Unexpectedly, the two new maids were not the type to cause trouble, nor did they show any disdain or contempt for the furnishings of the mansion, which made Lin Yuesha more vigilant.
If someone wears their heart on their sleeve, they are actually quite naive and at least easy to bribe.
The maids of wealthy and powerful families are never easy to deal with; they are all very cunning and scheming, making them even more difficult to handle.
"Miss, I'll be on night duty tonight."
Qingxing, without any hesitation, began to assign the three of them the night shift, one person taking turns for each day.
"No need, I don't have the habit of getting up at night."
Lin Yuesha waved her hand, trying to stop her, but Qingxing remained unmoved. "Miss is now the daughter of the Prefect of the Capital, so she must learn the rules and not follow the old ways."
That's true, but the rigid, overly formal manner and constant use of rules and regulations made Lin Yuesha feel frustrated.
"Yes, Miss. That's why Granny Lin sent me to serve you. My sister Qingxing and I are here to take care of your daily needs."
Qi'er was relatively more lively, chattering away without any hesitation, and began to talk about her experiences traveling from the capital to the north.
Everyone says the North is a wild and desolate place, but the timing of their arrival was just right. It wasn't too cold, and the desolation was much better than she had imagined.
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