Madam Ma assigned two old women to make breakfast, and a maid was sent to wash the family's dirty clothes. The smell of the basin of stinky socks made her bend over and vomit.
A petite and delicate maidservant, only thirteen years old, went to serve Qiaoqing, "Miss, are you getting up?"
"Hmm." Qiaoqing reached out her hand, and the maid stepped forward to help her up, kneeling down to put on her shoes and socks, then helping her stand up and putting on her dress.
Qiaoqing glanced at the maid and said, "Xiaocao, go fetch water so I can wash my face."
"This servant..." The maid hesitated for a moment, wanting to say that her name wasn't Xiaocao, but seeing her mistress's eyes widening, she had no choice but to obediently bow, "Yes, mistress." She accepted this name, which was even simpler than her own name, Yan Gui—Xiaocao.
Xiao Cao fetched water for Qiao Qing to wash up and helped her to the outhouse in the back.
After she finished, Qiaoqing called out loudly, "Xiaocao, come in and clean me up."
The little grass endured the stench and used a piece of scrap paper to wipe Qiaoqing's bottom.
Qiaoqing was very proud and muttered: Lin Yajun used to be the daughter of the head guard of the Prince's mansion, and no servants cleaned up her messes. It can be seen that she is inferior to me in everything!
Xiao Cao tied Miss Qiao Qing's belt and then washed her hands.
Qiaoqing had just gone out and sat by the window of the west wing, letting Xiaocao comb her hair, put flowers in it, apply powder and draw her eyebrows, making her look as beautiful as a flower.
She personally placed the gold hairpin given to her by her fiancé in her hair, looked at herself in the bronze mirror again and again, her face turning red with excitement.
Just then, Qiaoqing heard a noise coming from the east wing across the street. She knew that her brother was taking a concubine. She felt gloating over her cousin, who was not yet her sister-in-law. "She hasn't even married into the family yet, and another woman has already taken her man. She deserves it."
After the Duan family finished breakfast, Madam Ma instructed the servants at home: "Clean the house thoroughly, fold all the quilts and wash them..."
The Duan family of four hurried toward the Lin family's house. Along the way, Madam Ma and Qiaoqing kept whispering to each other.
Mrs. Ma looked worried and asked her daughter softly, "What if the Lin family won't let us in? What should we do?" Her voice revealed a hint of worry and unease.
Qiaoqing thought for a moment, then answered confidently, "Don't worry, Mother, they won't do that. After all, Father and Brother are still working to earn money for the Lin family's shop; they can't possibly disregard even this small favor."
“That’s right. Our family earns so much money for the Lin family every day. We are great contributors to the Lin family.” Thinking of how her family earned money for the Lin family by managing the shop, Madam Ma straightened her back.
“Mother, that’s right.” Qiaoqing nodded and said confidently, “The Lin family wouldn’t dare offend my father and brother.” She believed that the Lin family relied on that glittering shop to make a living, and that her family could use the shop to control the Lin family.
Before long, the Duan family of four arrived at the Lin family's door.
At this time, a group of people had gathered in front of the Lin family's gate. Some of them were Lin Daoyan's colleagues, and others were relatives of the Xu and Lin families.
These people were carrying various gifts. After putting down the gifts, they left in a hurry without even leaving their names.
Seeing the Lin family's door wide open, Madam Ma and Qiaoqing's worries eased slightly. They exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of relief in each other's eyes.
The Duan family members entered the Lin family's gate without incident.
Lin Daoyan and Madam Xu looked at the Duan family, their expressions no different from usual.
Seeing this, Ma and Qiaoqing's last bit of concern completely disappeared.
Madam Ma hurriedly stepped forward, her face beaming with smiles, and said, "Congratulations, Miss! Congratulations, Miss!" With that, she handed a piece of cloth wrapped in red paper to Lin Daoyan and Madam Xu with both hands.
With the thought that one shouldn't refuse a smiling face, Mrs. Xu forced a smile and accepted the gift, saying, "Thank you, you've gone to so much trouble."
Duan Dayi stepped forward and asked with concern, "Guard Lin, is there anything we can help with in the manor? Our whole family is willing to do our part."
Lin Daoyan shook his head and said, "No need, nothing special. You should just focus on guarding the shop."
"Yes." Duan Dayi bowed, then took his son's leave of Lin Daoyan and Madam Xu before turning and leaving the Lin family.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ma and Qiaoqing tiptoed into Lin Yajun's west wing.
After entering the room, Ma casually picked up a wooden basin, preparing to fetch water.
Qiaoqing walked straight into the room, bowed to Lin Yajun, and said softly, "Miss, I'll help you comb your hair and change into new clothes."
Lin Yajun glanced at Qiaoqing expressionlessly, her cold gaze like two icy glints that sent chills down one's spine.
She didn't even respond to Qiaoqing's greeting. She slowly got up, gracefully straightened her clothes, and then walked straight towards the door.
Seeing this, Qiaoqing quickly grabbed a cloak and followed closely behind Lin Yajun.
While carefully accompanying her, she said in a humble voice, "Miss, I was rude yesterday. I only meant well for you. After thinking about it carefully when I got home, I realized that I had done a really bad job. I will never dare to do it again. Please forgive me this time."
Qiaoqing's words reached Zhao Canchen's ears perfectly.
Lin Yajun acted as if she hadn't heard anything and went straight to sit down next to Zhao Canchen.
Upon seeing this, Qiaoqing quickly bowed respectfully, then turned and went inside to fetch tea for them.
Zhao Canchen's gaze followed Lin Yajun closely. After she was settled, he lowered his voice and asked with a hint of doubt, "Why is she back again?"
"What good can come from people who look down on you but come back to flatter you?" Lin Yajun said, a slight sneer appearing on her lips.
A quote she had once seen suddenly flashed through her mind, and she blurted it out: "Some people come back simply because they didn't kill you with the first stab, so they want to find another opportunity to strike."
After saying that, Lin Yajun glanced at Zhao Canchen thoughtfully, and then added, "I think that if someone has ever spoken ill of you, you should never get close to that person again. Such a person is like a mad dog. Once it bites you, it will never let it go and will definitely seize the opportunity to bite you again until it kills you."
After hearing this, Zhao Canchen nodded thoughtfully, his dislike for Qiaoqing growing even stronger.
After driving away the Ma mother and daughter, Lin Yajun truthfully told Zhao Canchen about Qiaoqing's words and actions, and said unhappily, "She disrespects me and you, so I let them go back."
Zhao Canchen agreed, "Slaves who deceive their masters like this should be driven away."
Unexpectedly, the two shamelessly returned to the Lin residence.
"Xiao Jun, send them away." Zhao Canchen said to Qiao Qing with disgust.
Lin Yajun wasn't in a hurry. She said softly, "Since they're here, let's see what they want to do first." In her heart, she was thinking, "If they dare to scheme against me and ruin my wedding, I will make sure they die!"
Qiaoqing brought out the tea, and then diligently poured two cups of water, saying ingratiatingly, "Miss, please have some water. The water temperature is just right."
At this moment, a palace maid came forward, placed a tea tray, moved Qiaoqing's tea aside, and poured tea into a small cup. She drank half a cup in front of everyone, and after a while, she poured two more cups of tea and respectfully handed them to Zhao Canchen and Lin Yajun, saying, "Please have some tea, Master."
Zhao Canchen and Lin Yajun took the tea from the palace maid one after the other, ignoring Qiaoqing.
Qiaoqing stood stiffly to one side, holding a teacup, her face flushed red, as if she had been slapped twice.
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