Huan Yu brewed some tea and placed it next to her, then poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of her.
Qiao Qiu gave her a meaningful look.
Huan Yu trembled, lowered her head even further, and looked somewhat uneasy.
Qiao Qiu withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Go down, don't disturb me."
"Yes." Huan Yu breathed a sigh of relief and practically fled.
Huanyu was only thirteen years old. She was too young to hide her emotions. If Qiao Qiu had paid more attention and seen through things earlier, she wouldn't have ended up like that.
Thinking of this, Qiao Qiu's lips twitched, revealing a sarcastic smile. Her bright eyes turned cold, and her cute chubby face revealed a sharp edge.
At the end of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), Huanyu and another maid entered. Both of them were dressed neatly. The maid following behind them was somewhat timid, carrying a basin of water and keeping her head down.
"Third Miss".
Qiao Qiu put down her book, looked past Huan Yu at the timid maid, and said, "Hong Lan, from today onwards, you no longer need to serve me."
Honglan knelt down, tears welling up in her eyes. "Third Miss, please punish me for what I have done wrong. Please don't send me away. I have a blind mother who depends on my monthly salary to support her. If I lose this job, my mother will not survive. Please have mercy on me, Third Miss."
Huan Yu watched with schadenfreude; she had long disliked this girl, and it was good that she was kicked out.
"When did I say I didn't want you?" Qiao Qiu rubbed her temples.
"Third Miss?" Honglan looked up at her, her eyes as red as a rabbit's.
Huan Yu was taken aback and looked at Qiao Qiu, wondering what she meant.
“I don’t want a maid who can’t command respect in my room. From today onwards, you will go and learn from Granny Zhuang. You can come back when you can act like a proper maid.”
"Yes." So they weren't going to send her away after all. Honglan was overjoyed and cried tears of happiness. "Thank you, Third Miss, for not sending me away."
"Get up."
"Yes." Honglan got up, curtsied to Qiao Qiu, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Third Miss, I will definitely come back as soon as possible."
"Go."
"Yes... Third Miss, let me help you wash up first before you go." Honglan had already taken a step outside, but remembering this, she turned back to ask Qiao Qiu.
Qiao Qiu nodded and stood up. "Huanyu, go get me that light blue one."
"Yes." Huanyu replied, while secretly glaring at Honglan. She thought the Third Miss would drive her away, but she didn't expect her to be cultivated instead.
After washing her face and rinsing her mouth with tea, Qiao Qiu sat in front of the dressing mirror. Hong Lan was the only loyal maidservant by the original owner's side, taking care of her until her death.
Honglan and Huanyu are about the same age, but because she is timid, she is bullied by everyone. The original Qiao Qiu seemed unable to see who was kind to her, letting Huanyu bully Honglan. Such stupidity, no wonder she was taken advantage of.
Soon, Qiao Qiu styled her hair into two flat buns, which drooped slightly on both sides, becoming hanging buns. She chose a crystal head ornament the size of a fingernail, shaped like a teardrop and resembling a necklace, and wore it on her head. Although simple, it accentuated Qiao Qiu's cuteness.
She hadn't reached the age of marriage and couldn't have other hairstyles, but Qiao Qiu didn't care. It wasn't the first time she'd experienced this, and she was used to it.
Honglan withdrew, leaving only Huanyu to serve her.
Qiao Qiu went out as if nothing had happened and walked towards the restaurant. According to the Qiao family's ancestral rules, no master should miss a meal unless there are special circumstances.
This ancestral instruction is quite novel, but it's good this way; she doesn't need to go looking for Qiao Dong anymore.
Inside the restaurant, Old Madam Qiao was talking to Prime Minister Qiao, with Madam Qiao sitting on her other side, also engaged in conversation. Aunt Liu, dressed in her finest attire, sat next to Madam Qiao, listening to their conversation and occasionally interjecting. Qiao Yang and Qiao Dong, the siblings, remained silent, only exchanging glances now and then. Qiao Liu looked around, and seeing Qiao Qiu approaching, she smiled indulgently and waved to her.
Qiao Qiu smiled and quickened her pace as she walked over and sat down next to him.
"Grandma, Dad, Mom, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Aunt."
"Third Sister."
Qiao Qiu followed the sound and raised an eyebrow slightly when she saw Qiao Dong. As expected of the female lead, she was naturally blessed with exceptional features. An oval face, delicate eyebrows, peach blossom eyes, a fine nose, and red lips—her features were deep and beautiful; just sitting there, she was impossible to ignore.
Such a face paired with double buns looks somewhat ridiculous, but Qiao Qiu knew that after Qiao Dong came of age, it would be the time for her to shine.
In contrast, Qiao Qiu, who was cute with her double buns, was overshadowed later on.
"Let's eat, Qiu'er. Don't come so late next time. Your father has to go to court, you know?"
Grandma Qiao's doting tone in her reprimand was a clear indication of a grandmother's affection for her granddaughter. Qiao Dong and Qiao Yang's eyes both darkened, and they lowered their heads to eat, pretending nothing had happened.
Qiao Qiu saw everything, turned to meet the loving gaze of the old lady Qiao, and smiled sweetly, "Yes, Grandma, Qiu'er understands."
After breakfast, Prime Minister Qiao put on his official robes and went to court. Qiao Liu and Qiao Yang went to the study to listen to lectures. Madam Qiao helped Old Madam Qiao back to her room. Aunt Liu vented her anger on Qiao Dong and left.
In the corridor, Qiao Qiu leaned against a pillar and watched the whole thing.
Qiao Dong turned around with a grim expression and saw Qiao Qiu.
Qiao Qiu responded with a provocative smile, "A concubine is just a concubine, something that can't be brought to the table."
Qiao Dong's face turned even uglier, but Qiao Qiu didn't care. "Huanyu, take good care of the Fourth Miss and send her back to Zhuxi Courtyard."
"Yes, Third Miss."
Qiao Qiu turned and left. Huan Yu walked to Qiao Dong's side, who was furious, and said in a low voice, "Fourth Miss, let's talk as we walk."
"Hmph." Qiao Dong flicked his sleeves and left, with Huan Yu following behind.
The two walked to a secluded spot. Qiao Dong had calmed down, but her beautiful face was now covered with a layer of frost. "What's going on with her?"
"The Third Miss is acting strangely today. She got up very early this morning. When we went to help her wash up, she complained that Honglan didn't know how to be a head maid and almost went to learn from Granny Zhuang."
Qiao Dong sneered, "That's typical of her. She doesn't want to be around anyone she doesn't like. Granny Zhuang is known for her strictness in the mansion. How can Hong Lan have a good life there? Huan Yu, find an opportunity to win Hong Lan over."
"Why bother trying to win her over? That girl is utterly incompetent, what good can she possibly do?" Huan Yu said dismissively.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If I win over another person, will Qiao Qiu still have anyone she can trust?" Qiao Dong smiled, her eyes sinister, like a beautiful snake flicking its tongue. She wanted Qiao Qiu to taste the bitterness of being betrayed and abandoned by everyone.
Huanyu then understood her plan and laughed, "Fourth Miss is so farsighted. I'll go find Honglan after she's been through enough trouble in a couple of days."
Qiao Dong smiled and said, "You are a promising young man."
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