Xiao Man watched her seemingly innocent and carefree fourth sister, yet every word spoken pricked at her wounds. She would not believe it was due to clumsiness; if she were truly so, how could she so easily win the Old Madam’s favor?
"You are still a child. Eldest Sister is different. Eldest Sister has come of age and cannot run to Father to complain like a little child anymore."
Xiao Man rubbed Xiao Ting's head, her smile not reaching her eyes. She had thought the imperial palace was a dye vat, but she never expected the General's mansion to be one too, dyeing everyone within its walls with various colors.
"I don't want to grow up. Auntie says that when one grows up, they have to get married and leave home. I don't want to leave Father and Grandmother, nor do I want to be separated from Eldest Sister." Xiao Ting clung to Xiao Man's arm, acting spoiled. "Eldest Sister, I'll stay here with you today. I love the pastries in your courtyard the most. Ask Qiu Tong to make some for me."
"Qiu Tong, go make a few kinds of pastries that Third Miss likes."
"Yes, Miss."
Xiao Ting leaned over to watch Xiao Man copy the "Lessons for Women": "Eldest Sister, why are there only a few maids serving in your courtyard? Didn't you have about ten people serving you?"
Xiao Man's expression remained unchanged. "I felt I had too many servants and didn't need them, so I let some go."
"But Eldest Sister is the legitimate daughter. How can you be short of servants? I have more than just a few serving me. Why don't Eldest Sister ask Mother to send some people to serve you?"
Xiao Ting smiled with apparent sincerity, as if genuinely concerned for Xiao Man.
A faint, mocking curve touched Xiao Man's lips, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. Finally, they were getting to the real matter.
As soon as she returned to her courtyard, she had dismissed most of the maids. Such a significant movement must have been known to every courtyard. She had wondered who would be the first to visit and bring it up, but she hadn't expected it to be Xiao Ting. This was quite interesting.
"No need. I don't like too many people serving me."
"Eldest Sister, look, I have at least six maids serving me, and you only have these few left. When Father returns and sees so few servants around Eldest Sister, he will be distressed," Xiao Ting tugged at Xiao Man's sleeve. "Eldest Sister, why don't I go ask Grandmother to buy Eldest Sister some maids?"
"No rush. Let's wait until Grandmother lifts my confinement." Xiao Man pulled her sleeve free. "Stop fussing. I'm still copying the Lessons for Women." Suda Novel Network
"I'll help Eldest Sister write," Xiao Ting's eyes darted around, and she immediately reached for the brush. However, she knocked over the inkstone, spilling ink onto the paper Xiao Man had already written. "Ah, I'm sorry, Eldest Sister! I didn't mean to. I just wanted to help..."
As she spoke, Xiao Ting herself began to cry, looking utterly wronged.
Xiao Man glanced at the ink-stained paper and the marks on her sleeve, her brow furrowing slightly. "Alright, stop crying. It's just a matter of rewriting. It's not a big deal. Why are you crying?"
"But Eldest Sister hates copying books the most. I've made things worse..."
Xiao Ting sobbed, while Yin Zhu helped clean up the messy desk. Xiao Man pulled Xiao Ting to wash her hands and face.
Yin Zhu glanced at the back of Fourth Miss and continued tidying the desk.
Qiu Tong arrived with pastries, which immediately caught Xiao Ting's attention. Xiao Ting happily ate half a plate of pastries and drank a cup of tea before leaving with a cheerful disposition.
Xiao Man looked at the pastries and tea and instructed, "Send a portion of the pastries that Fourth Miss tasted to Grandmother, asking her to try them. Make sure she tastes them before returning. Also, collect this teacup and do not touch it."
"Yes, Miss." Although Qiu Tong didn't understand why Xiao Man was doing this, she still followed her instructions, sending a portion of pastries to the main courtyard and collecting the teacup Fourth Miss had drunk from.
After Xiao Ting left, Yin Zhu resumed copying the Lessons for Women.
As she copied, Yin Zhu remarked, "Fourth Miss always means well but causes trouble whenever she visits. Although she is young, she is always so reckless. I fear she will suffer in the future."
Xiao Man listened and replied indifferently, "A reckless nature can be changed. I only fear..."
Xiao Man left her words unspoken, but Yin Zhu understood. Her young lady saw through Fourth Miss's tactics, dismissing them as the petty games of a child.
"Miss, Mother manages the household. Any good things in the mansion are prioritized for Miss, while other young ladies do not receive much. This is not a good thing," Yin Zhu reminded Xiao Man that their mother was secretly making enemies for her.
"Yin Zhu, if I recall correctly, you were sent by my brother to serve me." Xiao Man suddenly remembered.
This third-rank maid was sent by her full-blooded elder brother. At the time, he had merely said it was to fill the vacancy of a third-rank maid, and she had placed the person in the study.
"Your servant was indeed sent by the Eldest Young Master. However, since I am serving Miss now, I am Miss's servant. Without Miss's orders, even the Eldest Young Master would not learn a single word from me," Yin Zhu quickly replied.
Xiao Man nodded upon hearing this. "Now I understand why my brother sent you to serve me. He has always had a keen eye for people."
"Thank you for your praise, Miss."
Xiao Man continued copying. She had never read the Lessons for Women, in either her past or present life.
In her previous life, she was the only daughter of the Dugu family. From a young age, she had learned not only piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also strategy and military tactics. Books like the Lessons for Women were something she was encountering for the first time.
"Miss, Mama Zhou is here," Qiu Tong entered to report.
Xiao Man nodded. "Please invite Mama Zhou in."
As soon as Mama Zhou entered, she bowed. "Greetings to Eldest Miss. The Old Madam requests Eldest Miss's presence at the main courtyard."
Xiao Man put down her brush, rubbing her slightly sore wrist, and looked at Mama Zhou.
"Does Grandmother have any instructions?"
Qiu Tong quickly slipped a sachet into Mama Zhou's hand.
Mama Zhou discreetly accepted it. "Fourth Miss went to the main courtyard tonight to dine with the Old Madam. However, halfway through the meal, she suddenly suffered severe abdominal pain and lost consciousness. The physician has examined her and stated it was poisoning. The Old Madam is taking this matter very seriously, so everyone who was in the places Fourth Miss visited today and everyone she came into contact with has been summoned to the main courtyard."
"Thank you, Mama." Xiao Man stood up. Qiu Tong quickly fetched a cloak and draped it over her. Xiao Man looked at Yin Zhu. "You stay here and guard the courtyard."
"Yes, Miss."
Qiu Tong held a hand-held lantern to illuminate the path. The group orderly left the courtyard and headed directly for the main courtyard where the Old Madam resided.