A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Time passed slowly, and although Li Mama's face remained expressionless, her palms were slightly sweaty.

Finally, the doorman hurried back, his face now showing a respectful expression, and bowed, saying, "Miss Chen, the master requests your presence."

"It's done," Chen Wanxing thought with certainty, her face remaining calm as she nodded slightly. "Thank you for leading the way."

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and, with Granny Li by her side, calmly stepped over the high threshold.

The flower hall is decorated in an elegant and grand style, with rosewood furniture that exudes a sense of stability and maturity.

Seated at the head of the table was a middle-aged man of about forty years old with a serious face. He was the head of the old house, the eldest son of the family.

He was stroking the jade pendant in his hand, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

When Chen Wanxing came in, he did not get up, but simply raised his hand slightly to gesture for her to sit down. His gaze fell on her with a scrutinizing and probing look.

"Miss Chen?" His voice was deep and authoritative. "This jade pendant is of superior quality in both material and craftsmanship; it is no ordinary item. You say it concerns the Marquis of Kyoto's residence; what exactly is it about?"

Chen Wanxing removed her veil, her posture respectful yet not servile, and gave a proper bow before sitting down as instructed. She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and honest, carrying a touch of just the right amount of worry.

"I have no choice but to ask to see you, sir. I am Chen Wanxing. I was originally Linglong, a maid who managed the accounts for the Lady of the Marquis of Kyoto. I was granted permission by the Lady to return home."

She first revealed her background, then got to the point, "Accompanying me back is a younger sister named Amber. She served the young master closely for several years."

She deliberately paused slightly during her personal service, leaving enough room for imagination, and observed that the master's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

"The young master is about to marry a noble lady, and the madam, to show her respect, wishes to properly settle the old servants around the young master."

Amber was originally supposed to be sent to the family temple to cultivate herself, but the young master, out of old affection, couldn't bear to let her go to the family temple for quiet cultivation.

It just so happens that her ancestral home is in Kaifeng, and her old house is also here, so we arranged for her to stay in Kaifeng first, thinking that we could entrust her to the care of our relatives, which would also fulfill our family ties.

The lady couldn't refuse the eldest young master's request, so she ordered me to come along and keep a closer look.

Her statement elevated Amber's status to that of a "concubine" arranged by the young master and tacitly approved by the madam, making it seem reasonable.

"Oh?" The old man remained unmoved, his fingertips still caressing the jade pendant. "In that case, it's only right that her relatives take care of her. What brings you here today, young lady?"

"Sir, you may not know this, but her ancestors also worked at the old house; they were from the Zhou family, who worked in the stables."

Chen Wanxing's face immediately showed a solemn expression and a hint of indignation, and his voice was lowered: "My lord, if the Zhou family were only providing ordinary care, Linglong would be extremely grateful. But now the Zhou family is acting improperly, and I'm afraid it will tarnish the reputation of the Marquis's mansion."

She looked directly at the master, her tone filled with heartache: "I wonder if the Zhou family is unaware of Amber's past, that they actually intend to offer Amber to the Third Master."

My lord, Amber was arranged by the young master. How can she be humiliated like this? If this matter gets out or is known in the capital, what will people say?

"Wouldn't you think that the old mansion can't even tolerate people who come from the young master's side, or even, those who covet the young master? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the Marquis of Kyoto's mansion and damage the Third Master's reputation?"

Chen Wanxing's every word revolved around the reputation of the Marquis's mansion, the young master's people, and the Third Master's good name; every word precisely struck at the point that the First Master cared about most.

The phrase "people who covet the young master of the main family" in particular elevates the nature of the matter to the level of violating family ethics and challenging the authority of the main family.

The patriarch's face darkened completely. As the head of the old mansion, he valued rules and regulations above all else and was most wary of any conflict with the main family in Kyoto.

He knew that his third brother was lecherous and dissolute, but if such a scandal were to happen and the news were to reach the capital, he, as the head of the old family mansion, would be the first to be held accountable.

He paused for a moment, his gaze sharp as a knife, and asked again, "Miss Linglong, is what you say true? Miss Amber is indeed..."

"Absolutely true!" Chen Wanxing's attitude was resolute. "Young Master cherished Amber and specially bestowed this jade pendant upon her as a keepsake before his departure."

If it weren't for this relationship, why would Madam have specially arranged for me, her head maid who was in charge of her private accounts, to accompany her? Master, Amber is now in critical condition, and the Zhou family and the Third Master are probably already on the verge of taking action.

Linglong, being of lowly status and powerless to stop it, could only risk her life to plead with the lord, begging him to uphold justice and maintain the dignity of the Marquis's mansion.

She pushed all her chips and moral high ground in front of the lord.

The old man looked at the jade pendant in his hand, then at the woman in front of him, and was already seven or eight parts convinced.

He only needed to send someone to inquire, and he could easily find out whether the lady had these two maids by her side before.

The woman in front of me was dressed elegantly and spoke with clear logic. She didn't seem to come from a humble background, so she probably wouldn't tell such an easily exposed lie.

Besides, news of the young master's marriage proposal hadn't spread yet; he had only just received the news. It hadn't even reached the capital, let alone Kaifeng. This girl spoke of the young master's marriage proposal to a noblewoman, so she must really know the inside story.

He slowly placed the jade pendant on the table, making a soft sound.

"I understand about this matter." His voice was not loud. "You may go back now. The people of the Marquis's mansion are not for them to treat like this."

He didn't say much, but Chen Wanxing knew she had succeeded. The patriarch would never allow the people of the old mansion to do such a foolish thing, giving others a handle against them, much less allow them to offend the main family in Kyoto because of a woman.

"Linglong thanks the master on behalf of Sister Amber."

Chen Wanxing bowed deeply, a huge weight finally lifted from her heart. Now, all she had to do was wait and see how the master would deal with her.

The flower hall returned to silence, with only the lingering scent of sandalwood incense.

The master remained seated in the main seat, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

Chen Wanxing's words still echoed in his ears: the reputation of the Marquis's mansion, the young master's people, the reputation of the Third Master. Every word was like a needle, pricking his most sensitive nerves.

His third brother has been a lecherous and depraved man for a long time. He usually embezzles money and takes in a few concubines. As long as it's not excessive, he usually turns a blind eye.

But this time, they actually set their sights on the young master of the main family in Kyoto, which is utterly foolish.

That Zhou Laosan deserves to die even more. In order to curry favor and rise in rank, he would even do something that confuses the hierarchy and is tantamount to slapping his own family in the face.

If he succeeds, when the news reaches Kyoto, he, as the head of the old family mansion, will be the first to be held accountable for failing to manage his household properly and for allowing his brother to commit violence.

At that time, what prestige will he have left in the clan?

His mother will likely seize the opportunity to criticize him for not being able to control his younger brother.