Su Xiaoqi saw through Madam Fang's malicious intentions at a glance, and chuckled,
"I advise you to go back quickly, don't think about useless things. The relationship between me and him is not something you can break."
She glanced at Shen Yun, her eyes charming and her gaze as tender as water, "He treats you like that because he doesn't like you. He doesn't treat me like that."
Su Xiaoqi disliked Madam Fang's sordid thoughts and spoke with the intention of treating her as she treated others, to be as harsh as possible and anger her to death without consequence.
Shen Yun was also extremely cooperative at this moment, gently embracing her, his eyes deep as the sea, his dark pupils reflecting only her.
Su Xiaoqi looked around, saw no one watching, hooked his neck, and quickly kissed him on the corner of his lips.
Shen Yun's thin lips immediately curved upwards, revealing a smile of pleasure.
Madam Fang felt as if her eyes were being stabbed.
The greatest pain in this world is not that the person you like is how cold-hearted and heartless they are to you, but that they are gentle and affectionate to the person they like right in front of you.
Madam Fang, who had always considered herself a master of romance and often played with others' emotions, was thoroughly struck a blow by the combined efforts of Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi today.
After this "ordeal," Madam Fang did not appear in the capital for a long time.
But a truly hateful person is not hateful because of their character, but because they are like an unkillable cockroach, with extremely tenacious vitality.
No matter how many blows they suffer, as long as they have a breath left, they will get up and continue to cause trouble.
Outside the door, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun acted as a united couple, their love stronger than gold, to anger Madam Fang away.
Once inside the inner courtyard, Su Xiaoqi performed a "face-changing act" in front of Shen Yun, faster than flipping through a book.
Under the covered corridor, Su Xiaoqi shook off Shen Yun's hand and walked forward without looking back.
Shen Yun was stunned.
Seeing Xiao Qi defending him so fiercely outside, holding him, hugging him, and kissing him, he thought their knot had been untied.
However, it seemed that it hadn't...
Even what was originally a loose knot now seemed to be slowly turning into a dead knot.
Because Su Xiaoqi slammed the door shut with a "bang" as soon as she returned to her room, and even bolted it.
"Wife..." Shen Yun followed closely, his nose almost hitting the door.
However, he dared not complain in any way, standing at the door like a wronged little wife, knocking softly.
He also had to coax her gently, "Wife, it's my fault this time. I really won't dare next time."
Su Xiaoqi sat on the daybed by the window and rolled her eyes at him. Damn it, he still wants a next time?
After fussing for a while, Su Xiaoqi found it boring and opened the side door to call in Granny Zhao.
She wanted to ask her what she needed to prepare for the Bathing Buddha Festival.
She desperately wanted to find something to relieve her mood at that moment.
The old wet nurse glanced at the door and, wisely not asking further questions, seriously answered Su Xiaoqi's query:
"There are quite a few things to prepare. But Miss, you don't have to worry. You'll be going with people from the Princess's Mansion, and all your necessities will be provided by them."
Granny Zhao comforted Su Xiaoqi, adding that these items were standardized and there was no fear of errors.
In the worst-case scenario, if the Princess's Mansion people didn't prepare well, there were still the Duke of Yu's mansion and the Du family.
Su Xiaoqi thought so too; she was just looking for something to pass the time.
Thinking of the four maids and nannies Granny Zhao had brought out that day, she couldn't help but ask how their etiquette lessons were going.
"Miss has good taste. These young maids you picked are all quick-witted and learn fast. They can now be considered competent.
I think Ziling is good at cooking, so it would be best to keep her in the kitchen to be responsible for food with her mother."
Su Xiaoqi also felt that Huaihua, oh no, the person now called Ziling, had very good culinary skills.
Although not as good as her, who possessed a golden finger, her cooking was still palatable.
Most importantly, she was smart, just like Shen Xiaomei back then.
Whatever modern food she thought of, she just needed to call Ziling over and give her a few instructions, and Ziling could find a way to make it.
Although the taste might not be authentic at first, after a few tries, it would be quite good.
"Ziyu and Zicao will follow Miss, starting as third-class maids, learning from Xiaoyu and Guo'er, and will be promoted later."
Su Xiaoqi nodded and asked about the other two maids, Ziyi and Ziyan.
"They will serve the master in the front courtyard," Granny Zhao replied.
She had her reasons for this arrangement.
Ziyu was the most beautiful and, after interacting with her, seemed to be someone with some subtle thoughts.
Naturally, she had to be kept close and watched, and absolutely not placed near the men, lest she make a mistake.
Zicao was steady and graceful, and also quite good-looking, suitable for accompanying Su Xiaoqi to social events.
As for Ziyan and Ziyi, their appearances were ordinary, with only decent features, but they were honest and had no frivolous thoughts, so it was safe to have them serve in the outer court.
Listening to Granny Zhao explain each detail, Su Xiaoqi took a deep breath.
"Mammy, oh, managing people involves so much knowledge. Fortunately, I have you to help me, otherwise, I would probably be completely clueless."
Su Xiaoqi trusted Granny Zhao greatly and treated her very familiarly. As she spoke, she leaned on her shoulder, not like a mistress and servant, but like grandmother and grandchild.
Granny Zhao was very pleased with Su Xiaoqi's attitude and smiled kindly, saying that as long as she was there, she would definitely arrange these matters well for her.
She told her not to worry and to learn slowly.
After all, when the Old Madam sent her over, she had told her to accompany Su Xiaoqi first.
When she was older, she could choose whether to stay here or return, and it would all be up to her.
Granny Zhao had already decided. She had now followed Su Xiaoqi.
Although she was only a recognized cousin, none of the masters in the Duke's Mansion treated her as anything less than a true cousin, so she naturally treated them with genuine affection.
She would stay and protect Miss.
Granny Zhao's eyes grew moist, and she inexplicably thought of the third young lady she had nursed from childhood.
They were so alike.
"Miss, since you trust this old servant so much..."
Su Xiaoqi insisted, "Don't say 'this old servant' or anything like that. Let's be more informal. When you speak like that, I feel uncomfortable." Su Xiaoqi had always wanted to remind Granny Zhao.
She was here to help her, and she was grateful.
Granny Zhao agreed, narrowed her eyes, and looked towards the door again, saying with some worry, "Miss, since you trust me, I want to advise you on something.
Regarding the master, I saw what happened earlier. He is truly blameless. It's not very appropriate for you to lock him outside without distinguishing right from wrong."
Su Xiaoqi seriously considered Granny Zhao's words, wondering if the person was still outside.
If she opened the door now, would she lose face by walking out?
"Oh, my dear Miss, between husband and wife, there's no such thing as losing face; what's inside is more important."
Granny Zhao saw that Su Xiaoqi was softening and said this while going to open the door.
Su Xiaoqi pursed her lips, tacitly agreeing to her actions.
She thought that it had been almost half an hour, and Shen Yun would definitely not be outside anymore.
Who knew that as soon as the door opened, a tall figure flashed in, and he loudly cupped his hands in thanks to Granny Zhao.
"Thank you, Mammy, for speaking well of me to my wife. I'll treat you to drinks later."
Listening to that smug tone, it could only be Shen Yun.
Su Xiaoqi gritted her teeth, seeing how well he was doing, she shouldn't have let him in so quickly; she should have made him remember his lesson.