Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 841 Different from Me [Thank you! Thank you again! 6k words owed]

The green grass held the wooden box in both hands.
Although he was being supported by the two men, Fuyi and the others

But she still smiled and gave Chai Zhengzheng a curtsy first.

Then he followed Zi Teng and the others towards the outside of the screen.

Outside the screen,
Before even leaving the house,
Wisteria smiled excitedly and said, "Sister Green Grass, there are several junior managers among the people who came today. We heard about them when we were at the Chai family."

Fu Yi nodded in agreement: "That's right! The housekeepers of the Chai family have praised her to us quite a bit."

Qingcao smiled and said, "Hmm! I suppose the head matrons and the junior managers are related in some way."

"Of course!" Fu Yi said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Green Grass smiled and nodded, saying, "Oh—!"

While nodding, Qingcao glanced meaningfully at the wisteria and Fuyi on either side.

Zi Teng and Fu Yi weren't fools either.
She immediately understood the meaning in Qingcao's eyes: the stewardesses were praising people in front of them because they hoped that their relatives could marry Chai Zhengzheng's personal maid.

These are all pre-selected head mothers.

Inside the screen,
Chai Zhengzheng had already sat back down in her chair.

Hearing the voices outside, Chai Zhengzheng and Yun Mu exchanged a glance, then shook their heads with a somewhat helpless smile.

Seeing that only he and Chai Zhengzheng were in the room, Yunmu said in a low voice, "Miss, is it really a good idea to let Qingcao get married?"

Looking towards the screen, Yunmu continued, "No matter what, Qingcao grew up with the master and served by his side for many years. Their bond is very deep!"

"If you get married like this, I'm afraid people in the capital will talk about you."

Chai Zhengzheng took a deep breath, a slight smile appearing on his face, and looked at his personal maid beside him, saying, "Yunmu, do you remember the question I asked Qingcao just now?"

Yunmu nodded: "I remember."

"Then do you know when the gentleman asked about the green grass?"

Yunmu shook his head: "Miss, I don't know this. I suppose it's because you got married not long ago?"

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and said, "When I returned home from the Xu family on my third wedding anniversary, my husband told me that when he went to the racecourse to train that morning, he noticed that Qingcao seemed hesitant to speak, so he asked her a few questions about what was wrong."

"Huh?" Yunmu looked surprised.

Chai Zhengzheng continued, "The official said that after he finished asking, he heard Qingcao say, 'If possible, she wants to leave the palace.'"

"My lord said that when he heard Qingcao's two sentences, he felt a sudden jolt in his heart."

Yunmu: "Huh? Miss, your heart skipped a beat? Could it be that the Lord has feelings for Qingcao?"

Chai Zhengzheng waved her hand and shook her head: "No, my husband said that his heart skipped a beat because he didn't expect this day to come so soon. He was thinking of letting Qingcao stay in the Prince's Mansion for two more years."

"After all, for more than half of the years, Qingcao has been by your side."

Yunmu hesitated and said, "Miss, since the master is reluctant to part with her, why don't you let Qingcao stay at home for a couple more years?"

"That's what I said at the time, but my husband was afraid of delaying Qingcao's marriage. He didn't want to interfere too much in the affairs of girls and maids, so he asked me to help him look for a suitable match."

"Oh! I remember now, after Miss Feiyan entered the household, Mama Cui brought the wooden box to our room. It contained green grass."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded with a smile.

Yunmu sighed, "Miss, why does Qingcao want to leave the manor so much? This concerns her future, and even how she will live her whole life!"

"Qingcao has dealt with you and your two concubines before. My lord has a bright future ahead of him. Even if he stays in the palace as a concubine, it's still better than living in an ordinary family in the capital."

Looking at Yunmu, Chai Zhengzheng smiled and nodded: "How could Qingcao not know! But what if we think about it more deeply?"

Yunmu frowned in thought, while Chai Zhengzheng did not urge him, but simply gently waved her round fan.

The room was very quiet, with only the sounds of construction work taking place in the palace courtyard.

After a while,
Yunmu said softly, "Miss, could it be that Qingcao is testing the Lord by asking him this question as a feigned retreat?"

Chai Zhengzheng shook her head: "My lord said that he understands Qingcao, and Qingcao's words were definitely not a test."

Glancing at the screen outside, knowing that only the master and servant were inside, Chai Zhengzheng said softly, "What I'm about to say must not be told to anyone."

"Yes, young lady," Yunmu said solemnly.

Chai Zhengzheng nodded: "My lord said that Qingcao had been through life and death with him."

"Huh?" Yunmu looked surprised.

Chai Zhengzheng continued, "Do you remember what happened on Quyuan Street a few years ago, before Baigao was recaptured?"

Yunmu recalled for a moment: "I vaguely remember that the Xu family was robbed, and you took out your change book at the time to offer money to help."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded: "My lord said that it wasn't some bandits from the capital that time, but the Chuihuan Division of Baigao Kingdom, who sent dozens of experts to the Xu family to assassinate the Li brothers."

"Ah!!!" Yunmu exclaimed in surprise, then quickly covered his mouth: "Dozens of experts?"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded: "That's right! But they were wiped out by the official and Qingyun together. Qingcao was there at the time, helping the official put on his armor."

"Having experienced such a relationship, why would Qingcao and her husband still need to test each other or retreat in order to advance?"

Yunmu calmed himself down and said, "Miss, you're right."

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng's expression, Yunmu said, "So, Qingcao is truly a dutiful girl! Her relationship with the master is not just that of an ordinary master and servant."

"In this way, the lord will not ask Qingcao directly whether she wants to stay in the palace. If he does ask, it will make their relationship somewhat different."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and nodded, signaling Yunmu to continue.

"If the lord were to ask Qingcao directly, given Qingcao's intelligence, she would most likely realize that she knows many of the lord's private affairs! If the lord asks her directly, she might feel that the lord is testing her!"

"If you think about it a lot, even if she doesn't want to stay, she will nod and agree, and then she can stay in the mansion as a concubine without worry."

"In that case, the relationship between her and the Lord will be different! And her relationship with you will also be greatly changed because of Sister Qingxue!"

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng's gaze still urging her to continue, Yunmu sighed, "Miss, our lord distinguished himself in the capital at a young age! Considering his many achievements..."

"If Qingcao were truly ambitious and greedy for wealth, with her constant presence by the master's side, she would have countless opportunities! She might have already climbed into the master's bed."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded approvingly: "Yes! That's why your feelings for grass are so different."

"But," Yunmu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

"Hmm?" Chai Zhengzheng looked at him in confusion: "Just say whatever comes to mind."

Yunmu nodded, his eyes full of doubt, and said, "Miss, in the capital, to be a concubine in a high-ranking family, especially with a master like him, and to have gone through so much together, is an opportunity that many maids in the capital dream of. Why is it different for Qingcao?"

"Moreover, in the Duke's Mansion on Quyuan Street, neither the Duke nor the two married men had many concubines in their homes."

"It's said that Qingcao wouldn't have witnessed the intrigues and power struggles within the inner workings of a grand mansion. How did she manage to overcome that mental hurdle?"

After Yunmu finished speaking, Chai Zhengzheng, with some doubt on his face, nodded and said, "That's right!"

After a quick glance, Chai Zhengzheng smiled and said, "Qingcao accompanied the gentleman to study at the Sheng family for many years. His teacher was Scholar Zhuang! This great scholar was highly talented and learned. Perhaps he had unintentionally heard Scholar Zhuang preach in the school before?"

Yunmu nodded repeatedly and said with a pursed mouth, "Miss, you are the mistress of the Prince's Mansion, and you are tolerant! Qingcao is really overthinking it. After all, Miss Wei, Yunxiang and the Huaxiang sisters are all in the backyard."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled without saying a word, thinking to herself: I'll wait for my husband to return and ask him.

The front courtyard of the Prince's Mansion

In the main hall,
A dozen or so young managers, dressed in smart new clothes, sat upright in chairs inside the room.

They clearly knew something beforehand; although no one else was watching in the hall, these young people didn't whisper among themselves, but remained silent as if facing an exam. At this moment...

Footsteps came from behind the screen inside the room, and everyone inside took a deep breath, making themselves sit even more upright.

Some thoughtful young men glanced at the ornate screen inside the room out of the corner of their eyes.

After seeing a few glimpses of clothing through the gap below the screen, someone smiled slightly, displaying their most handsome smile towards the screen.

Unfortunately, the room was very bright, but the light behind the screen was even dimmer. The young, eligible stewards could not see what was behind the screen, but the people behind the screen could clearly see their figures.

"hehe--"

For some reason, a girl's melodious laughter came from behind the screen, and the sound alone made many young men's eyes light up.

But after a long while, no one stepped forward.

suddenly,

More footsteps sounded.
The young people in the hall all turned to look.
Then, their eyes widened as a well-dressed, unfamiliar housekeeper walked out with a smile.

Seeing the slight disappointment on everyone's faces, yet still rising to pay their respects, Xu Zaijing's wet nurse, Cui Mama, smiled and said, "Everyone, today's business is finished. The Princess has spoken and invites you to have dinner in the side hall of the courtyard."

Everyone stood up, bowed, and said, "Yes! Thank you, Your Highness."

Mrs. Cui smiled and nodded: "Someone, take our little stewards over there."

"Yes, Aunt Cui."

As she spoke, several young maids walked out with smiles, and led the group away amidst the amazed and inquisitive gazes of the stewards.

They left the hall.

The maid who led everyone away looked at them and covered her mouth with a smile, saying, "My dear little stewards, don't look at us sisters anymore. Just now, I saw your first-class maid sisters had already returned to the backyard."

The young stewards all looked surprised, because the young maids in front of them were already considered beauties.

They hadn't expected that these people weren't the main characters watching them today.

"Sisters, I don't know..."

Some people didn't finish their sentences, but their meaning was already clear.

The maid laughed and said, "To be a first-class maid, you must be very beautiful. We can't compare!"

The maids following behind nodded in agreement.

They weren't exaggerating. First-class maids like Yunmu Xibu, who were by their young mistresses' side every day, probably had better clothes, makeup, and jewelry than even the poorer families in the capital.

Of course, these young, marriageable managers who were selected from Chai Zhengzheng's businesses are no ordinary people!
These people are shrewd and capable; their ability to handle affairs may even surpass that of some scholars and candidates.

After everyone took their seats in the side hall of the courtyard, the atmosphere lost its previous tension, but the young steward still maintained his composure.

After the meal, as everyone left, each person received a considerable amount of reward money.

evening,

Prince's Mansion
Princess's Courtyard

"The lord has arrived."

As the maid announced his arrival, Xu Zaijing had already entered the room.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng, supported by Yunmu, appear before him after the beaded curtain was lifted, Xu Zaijing smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Zhengzheng, stay away from me."

Before the surprised Chai Zhengzheng could ask a question, Xu Zaijing laughed and said, "In the afternoon, your husband went to the military camp outside the city and trained with the soldiers for a while! It was hot and dusty, so we were covered in sweat and dirt."

Chai Zhengzheng walked up to Xu Zaijing with a smile and said, "My lord, what's the big deal? I'm not afraid of any of this."

Xu Zaijing shook his head helplessly.

Fu Yi, who had followed Chai Zhengzheng over, hurriedly took the light cloak that Xu Zaijing had taken off.

He held the garment in his hands and examined it; indeed, it was covered in dust.

Xu Zaijing glanced at Fuyi's expression, smiled, and then looked at Chai Zhengzheng: "Don't throw this cloak away, I'll need to wear it tomorrow."

Chai Zhengzheng was taken aback upon hearing this.

Seeing Fu Yi's hesitant expression, Chai Zhengzheng smiled and said, "Yes, I will do as you say, my lord. I will send this cloak to Minglan tomorrow."

It's no wonder Chai Zhengzheng was stunned. In all her life, except for those few days when she suddenly encountered a change of events many years ago, she rarely wore a piece of clothing a second time.

If she likes a piece of clothing, she will only ask the family to make a few more, but she has never said that she would wash and wear it again just because she likes it.

Such extravagance,

First, the Chai family has this capability.

Secondly, some clothes, due to certain bleaching, dyeing, or patterns, change drastically after washing and become unwearable.

"I'll accompany you to take a bath, my lord," Chai Zhengzheng said with a smile.

"Okay." Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

After the large bathtub was filled with water, Chai Zhengzheng dismissed the maid.

Fortunately, Xu Zaijing was self-aware and did not indiscriminately get close to her while covered in sweat and dust.

Chai Zhengzheng helped Xu Zaijing take off his clothes with a little shyness.

After immersing himself in the water for a moment, Xu Zaijing leaned back in the bathtub, looked up at Chai Zhengzheng, and asked, "Well, has that girl Qingcao found someone she likes?"

Chai Zhengzheng, who was busy rolling up her sleeves, smiled and shook her head: "No."

"Hmm! This little girl has quite high standards!" Xu Zaijing sighed, "Sigh—"

Chai Zhengzheng asked at the opportune moment, "My lord, what's wrong?"

Xu Zaijing grabbed Chai Zhengzheng's hand, which was about to wash his hair, and said with a sigh, "It's also my fault!"

Xu Zaijing glanced at the bewildered Chai Zhengzheng and said, "It would be wrong for Qingcao to have met such a handsome, talented, and capable person since she was a child! It would be wrong for her to have poor taste!"

A smile flashed across Chai Zhengzheng's eyes, and he nodded sincerely, saying, "What you say is very true, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zaijing turned around and looked at Chai Zhengzheng's serious expression behind him, and said with a smile, "I thought you would laugh at me, Zhengzheng."

“What you are saying is the truth, why should I laugh?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Zaijing smiled smugly and kissed Chai Zhengzheng's little hand.

"By the way, my lord, I also had a conversation with Yunmu today, and I have some questions to ask you."

"Speak," Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

Chai Zhengzheng: "Exactly, all the maids hoped to be promoted to concubines or maidservants."

After recounting his discussion with Yunmu, Chai Zhengzheng asked uncertainly, "My lord, what do you think is the reason for Qingcao's condition?"

Xu Zaijing thought for a moment and said, "Zhengzheng, what you and Yunmu discussed makes some sense, but Qingcao is not blind to the intrigues and power struggles in the inner quarters of the mansion. She has seen a lot and heard a lot from chatting with the other maids."

"When she was young, she accompanied me to Yangzhou, and we went through some things together."

"After returning to the capital, I entered school. For a long time, Qingcao would go to the backyard of the Sheng family to learn embroidery from a young lady, who was also Minglan's birth mother."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded repeatedly as she listened to Xu Zaijing's words: "I see."

(End of this chapter)