Chapter 9 The Servant Deceives His Master
When Ye Wanning returned to Red Leaf Pavilion, it was just dawn. Chun Tao was sleeping there, and when she heard someone come in, she was so frightened that she almost screamed.
"Chuntao, it's me!" Ye Wanning covered her mouth and quickly walked into the inner room. "Don't make a sound."
Chun Tao nodded frantically. After she changed into women's clothes, she asked in a low voice, "Miss, you should have... earned some money last night. Please keep it safe and secure."
Chuntao's eyes widened at the sight of the silver. She found a locked wooden box, hid it under the bed, and asked, "Miss, where did you earn this? There's so much..."
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask," Ye Wanning said. "Life here is probably not going to be peaceful from now on. We'll feel more at ease if we have money in our hands."
Chun Tao had just finished combing her hair when a maid in a light green vest came in. She held her chin high, glanced at Ye Wanning, and said, "Second Miss, our Eldest Miss wants you to go to the main hall to learn etiquette. She said it was arranged by Mother."
Chun Tao recognized this maid; she was Qingzhu, Ye Jingshu's personal maid, who had caused her a lot of trouble in her past life.
"I understand, I'll be leaving right away..." Ye Wanning replied calmly.
Qingzhu, however, persisted, standing at the door with her arms crossed: "Second Miss, you'd better hurry up. Madam and Eldest Miss are waiting. Don't keep us servants waiting; it would make us seem ill-mannered." Her words were clearly mocking, leaving no room for negotiation.
Ye Wanning ignored her, had Chuntao tie her belt, and then slowly walked out. Qingzhu followed behind her, muttering, "Those who come back from the countryside are different, even their walking is so slow..."
Ye Wanning kept walking, but she remembered this insult in her heart.
In the main hall, Madam Zhou sat in the middle, with Ye Jingshu beside her. Each of them had a teacup in front of them. She didn't even lift her eyelids when Ye Wanning entered.
"Mother, my sister is here." Ye Jingshu said softly, but there was a hint of pride in her voice.
Only then did Madam Zhou raise her eyes to look at her, scrutinizing Ye Wanning from head to toe, and frowning: "What are you wearing? The material is so poor, if word gets out, people will think that our Marquis's mansion has mistreated you."
"Replying to Madam, this was bought for me by Young Master Xue when I first returned to the manor. I think it's quite nice." Ye Wanning curtsied, neither humble nor arrogant.
Zhou was momentarily speechless, then snorted coldly: "Now that you're back in the Marquis's mansion, you must act like a young lady of the Marquis's mansion. Starting today, get up at dawn and follow Jing Shu to learn etiquette, including sweeping, flower arranging, and tea ceremony. You can't skip any of them."
"yes."
“Also,” Zhou put down her teacup, “you’ve just returned, and the servants in the manor don’t know you yet. Qingzhu is Jingshu’s most capable servant, so from now on, let her come to Hongyeting to serve you, and also teach you the rules of the manor.”
"Qingzhu?" Ye Wanning looked up at her. Qingzhu, standing at the door, gave her a provocative smile.
This is about trying to get close to her and make a move.
"Thank you, Madam." Ye Wanning smiled. "It's just that Lady is clumsy, so I'm afraid Sister Qingzhu will have to worry about her a lot."
"No, it won't happen." Zhou waved her hand. "Qingzhu, please take better care of her in the future."
"Yes, Madam." Qingzhu curtsied, her eyes full of smugness.
A few days later, Qingzhu indeed caused Ye Wanning no shortage of trouble. When asked to bring a basin of hot water, the water she brought was either too hot or too cold; when asked to make a cup of tea, there was always some sand in the teacup; when asked to fold the sheets and blankets, the blankets she folded were crooked and she even deliberately threw Ye Wanning's old clothes on the ground.
Chun Tao was so angry she was trembling. Several times she saw Qing Zhu bullying Ye Wan Ning and wanted to argue with Qing Zhu, but Ye Wan Ning stopped her each time.
"Girl, she's gone too far!" That day, Qingzhu threw Ye Wanning's book on the ground again, and Chuntao was so angry that she trembled. Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore.
Ye Wanning bent down to pick up the book, dusting it off. "What's the rush? The real show is just beginning." She knew Qingzhu was Ye Jingshu's person, and those little tricks must have been instigated by Ye Jingshu. Since they wanted to cause trouble, she would play along.
That afternoon, Ye Wanning was reading by the window when Qingzhu brought in a basin of hot water, saying it was for her to wash her hands. As Qingzhu reached the window, she slipped, and the entire basin of water splashed towards Ye Wanning.
"Ah!" Chun Tao screamed, but it was too late to stop her.
Ye Wanning had anticipated this, and with a sudden turn of her head, most of the hot water spilled onto the ground, but a small portion still splashed onto her wrist, turning it red in the blink of an eye.
"Oh dear! Second Miss, are you alright?" Qingzhu called out insincerely, but her eyes were gleaming with amusement.
"What are you doing?" Chun Tao lunged at her. "You did this on purpose!"
"I didn't do it on purpose, my foot slipped." Qingzhu stiffened her neck. "Who told you, Second Miss, to be so careless?"
"you……"
"Chuntao." Ye Wanning pressed her down, her voice calm. "It's nothing, just a little burn."
Several small blisters had formed on her wrists, which looked alarming.
Qingzhu seemed somewhat surprised that she didn't get angry, but she still stubbornly said, "Then I'll go fetch another basin of water."
"No need." Ye Wanning looked at her. "You can go now. You don't need to serve me here."
Qingzhu pouted, turned around and left, deliberately bumping into Chuntao as she went out.
"Young lady, you've been burned like this, are you just going to leave it like this?" Chun Tao looked at her wrist with concern. "Quickly find some ointment to apply."
"Why are you wiping it?" Ye Wanning smiled. "This injury, it'll be very useful to keep it."
Chuntao looked at her, puzzled.
"Go and bring me the jade hairpin my father gave me," Ye Wanning said.
Although Chuntao didn't understand, she still did as she was told.
Ye Wanning put the jade hairpin in her hair, then found a handkerchief and gently covered her wrist to hide the blisters, leaving only a little bit of redness and swelling showing.
"Let's go, come with me to see Dad."
Minister Ye was reading official documents in his study when he saw Ye Wanning enter. He put down his pen and said, "Ningning's here? Please have a seat."
"Father, your daughter missed you and came to see you." Ye Wanning walked to his side and took his arm in a seemingly affectionate manner.
Minister Ye was very pleased with her coaxing: "Are you tired from learning etiquette these past few days? If you are, tell your father, don't force yourself."
"I'm not tired. It's good to learn something." Ye Wanning smiled and raised her hand to pour tea for her father, revealing the red marks on her wrist.
"What happened to your hand? Why is it all red?" Minister Ye had sharp eyes and naturally noticed.
Ye Wanning quickly withdrew her hand, pretending to be nonchalant: "It's nothing, Dad, it just burned me a little, it doesn't hurt."
"You got burned? How did you get burned?" Minister Ye pressed, pulling her hand over and lifting the handkerchief to reveal the blisters. He frowned with concern. "You have blisters and you say you're fine? How did this happen?"
"It's really nothing..." Ye Wanning lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance, "It's just... it's just that when Sister Qingzhu brought me hot water, she accidentally spilled it..."
"Qingzhu?" Minister Ye frowned. "The maid Zhou sent to serve you?"
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