He Yanxiu, “…”

He Yanxiu coughed lightly and said, “Some things can be done by the servants.”

In other words, it can be done.

Su Yujin smiled so hard that her eyebrows curled up, “Thank you, Second Master!” She helped He Yanxiu open the curtain and watched him get on the carriage. Su Yujin was still smiling, “Second Master, take your time.”

“Yes.” He Yanxiu nodded.

After a moment, he picked up the small curtain on the carriage window and said, “If you really encounter difficulties, you can write a letter and send it to the house. You don’t have to hold on.”

“Thank you, Master.” Su Yujin courtesied again.

Hearing this, Xing’an couldn’t help but glance sideways. Even after the carriage had gone far away, he looked back again and again.

After the carriage had gone some distance, Su Yujin disappeared. At this moment, he could only see people coming and going at the entrance of the alley.

Why does it feel like this Miss Su had no nostalgia for the Second Master?

Maybe he felt wrong…

After all, she was an outside room, and her fortune, life, and future all depended on the Second Master. She needed to climb the big tree that was the Second Master. Miss Su didn’t seem to be stupid. She should know this.

He Yanxiu raised one side of his face in the carriage.

The Su Yujin just now had a slightly different temperament than when they met half a year ago.

It seemed much more dignified and generous.

The look in her eyes was less greedy and more respectful and distant.

But then again, time has changed, and people will always change. What was more, he only met Su Yujin a few times in the beginning, and his temperament towards her was only superficial.

And this Su Yujin…

Initially, the reason for purchasing Su Yujin was because, despite his age, he remained a bachelor. There were scandalous rumors about his being a cut-sleeve¹, and he was unwilling to hastily marry just to clear his name. When he heard about a remarkably beautiful and talented young woman at the Wan Hua Pavilion in Yong’an City, he made a special trip and arranged this matter to silence the gossip and ease his grandmother’s worries.

He originally planned to raise Su Yujin for a few years. After that, he would return the deed of sale, give her some silver as compensation, and help her change her name. Then he could get married to an ordinary girl and live a prosperous life and have a good home.

Now that Su Yujin was willing to be self-reliant, she was a little more distant from him, which was also helpful for him.

He Yanxiu thought this and nodded slightly.

“The carriage can go faster.”

“Yes.” Xing’an agreed.

“After returning to the capital, tell my servants that if there is a letter sent from Qinghe, they should send it directly to Wangzhuxuan without letting others know.”

“Yes…”

Xing’an scratched the back of his head.

Why did he have the illusion that the Second Master cared about Miss Su very much?

——

When Su Yujin returned to the yard, Mother Liu was “scolding” the Ai Cao.

“You have such a powerful mouth. You dare to say anything.”

This was obviously talking about Ai Cao trying to bully others, but in fact, she was reprimanding the Second Master in disguise.

Ai Cao curled her lips and said, “As a maid, you have to be more powerful. In the past, Aunt Guo praised me for being as sharp-tongued as a knife and as easy to use.”

“So, Aunt Guo was constantly punished by the mistress, and even the master didn’t want to see her in the end?” Mother Liu’s eyes almost rolled up to the sky. “Aunt Guo came from the courtesan’s house, apart from her good looks, she didn’t have any other talents. If you’re learning cunning from her, you’re really learning from the wrong source!”

Being poked in the painful spot, Ai Cao curled her lips this time and couldn’t say another word.

“Little ancestor, even if this old servant begs you, next time you must watch your tongue. Don’t blurt out anything. You should be grateful that Second Master has a kind nature and doesn’t want to argue with you. If this happened in another household, you might have already been reprimanded,” Mother Liu advised.

“If next time you meet an outsider instead of the Second Master, and the others get angry and argue, isn’t this causing trouble for the girl?”

“Furthermore, if the Second Master doesn’t confront you openly today but harbors resentment in private, blaming Miss for not properly supervising the servants, it could lead to a rift between him and Miss. How will that be good for the future?”

Hearing these words, Ai Cao suddenly panicked, “I… this…”

She was at a loss and bit her lower lip tightly. Her eye circles were completely red, and her originally watery eyes instantly swelled into apricots.

Mother Liu looked at Ai Cao like this and sighed, “I understand that you’re thinking of Miss being alone here, fearing she might be bullied for no reason. You want to be strong to make others cautious. However, next time, you should also consider the context and know your limits. Not everything should be laced with barbs.”

“Yeah.” Ai Cao nodded heavily, “I’ve written it down.”

“Remember that, and you really can’t do this again in the future,” Lao Liu admonished. “When Miss returns, you should apologize to her as well…”

Su Yujin, who stepped in the door, heard all these words clearly.

Don’t tell me, this Mother Liu was indeed mature and steady in what she did.

Ai Cao was sometimes a bit impatient when doing things, but she was outspoken and did not lose her temper. The most important thing was to be loyal to her.

These two people were really good.

Su Yujin made a plan to get the two persons’ contract of sale into her hands.

In order to prevent the two of them from being embarrassed, Su Yujin deliberately pushed the courtyard door, causing the door knocker to hit the nose of the door hard, making a crisp “ding-dong” sound.

“Miss is back.”

Mother Liu and Ai Cao hurried over to welcome her.

Ai Cao poked his head in and asked uneasily, “Second Master just left like that?”

He didn’t even stay for the meal. Could it be that, as Mother Liu said, due to her sharp-tongued words, she caused a rift between Second Master and Miss?

“He just finished his business outside, and the Second Master has to rush back to Beijing to resume his duties. He really can’t stay longer, so he left first.” Su Yujin said with a smile, “But before the Second Master left, he gave me some silver coins to use for my daily expenses.”

“Second Master came here and didn’t blame me for setting up a stall selling wontons and fried noodles. That’s a great blessing. Let’s celebrate today. Mother Liu, go to Fuyun Pavilion and get some dishes to go, and also bring some wine. We’ll have a good meal at noon.”

“Yes, I’ll go right now.” Mother Liu took the money and went out happily.

The Second Master came, he didn’t blame Miss and gave her money.

What did that mean?

It showed that the Second Master had Miss in his heart!

She was not afraid that Qinghe was far from the capital, nor was she afraid that the Second master didn’t come frequently. As long as he had her in his heart, Miss’s future will be bright.

This was indeed what the girl said, it was a great joy!

The wrinkles on Mother Liu’s face almost turned into goldenrods when she smiled. She also walked with a spring in her step. When she went to the Fuyun Restaurant to order food, she was even more bold and ordered several expensive dishes.

Miss had been wronged for so many days and needed to have a good meal!

Ai Cao set up the table, chairs, and dishes, preparing for when Mother Liu returned with the food. After finishing her chores, she approached Su Yujin, lowered her head, and hesitated, saying, “Miss, this maid…”

---

Footnote

1. Someone who was attracted to same sex i.e. Gay.