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

We must not allow this situation to continue.

A fierce glint flashed in the lord's eyes, and he abruptly stood up. He had to nip this in the bud immediately and crush it with swift and decisive action before the matter spread.

He didn't call for any servants, but went straight out of the flower hall and headed towards the east courtyard.

The Third Master of the East Courtyard was in high spirits, admiring a newly acquired jade piece in his study, pondering when the Zhou family would send their beautiful young lady over.

Suddenly seeing his elder brother with a stern face, arriving uninvited, his heart skipped a beat, but he forced a smile and asked, "Brother, what brings you here today?"

The master ignored his polite words, his attitude cold, and went straight to the point: "You should immediately give up on that girl from the Zhou family who came back from the capital."

The third master's smile froze, then a hint of displeasure flashed across his face. He forced a laugh and said, "Brother, where did you get your anger from, taking it out on your younger brother? And you're even meddling in my backyard! It's just taking a maid as a concubine, what does it have to do with you, brother?"

"Girl?"

The old man sneered, interrupting him, and delivered Chen Wanxing's statement in an even harsher and more unquestionable tone.

"That was someone who served the eldest son of the Marquis of Kyoto. It was out of the young master's pity and with the tacit approval of his wife that he specially sent her back to her hometown to settle down."

You're going to touch her? What are you trying to do? Slap the Kyoto main family in the face?

"Let everyone know that someone from our old manor, even the eldest grandson's branch, dares to forcibly take as a concubine?"

With each word he spoke, the Third Master's face paled a little more.

He was lecherous, but not stupid; he was well aware of the seriousness of coveting the title of the young master's concubine.

Besides, there are plenty of good colors out there, so why bother with this hot potato?

"Brother, I...I don't know! That Zhou Laosan didn't explain it clearly to me." The Third Master hurriedly tried to distance himself, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"I saw that the girl was beautiful, so I sent someone to ask her. He only said that she was a niece who had returned from the capital, but he didn't tell me that she was someone from the young master's household."

"A good color?" The old man took a step closer, his tone chilling. "Are all the good colors in the world dead? You insist on getting this one? That Zhou Laosan is always trying to curry favor with you. When he found out you had your eye on their daughter, he was too busy keeping it a secret to tell you."

"Let me tell you, if even a whisper of this reaches the capital and displeases the Marquis and the Heir Apparent, things will be far more serious than just a sibling rivalry between us. You should think carefully about this."

Having uttered these harsh words, the magistrate said no more and turned to leave.

The third master stood frozen in place, his face turning pale and then red after hearing the scolding. He smashed the jade artifact in his hand to the ground with a loud crash, shattering it into pieces.

All his romantic thoughts were extinguished at that moment, leaving only lingering fear and anger at Zhou Laosan's incompetence.

Chen Wanxing led Yunzhu and Granny Li away from the old house. "Granny Li, don't come back with us. Stay here and keep an eye on things. If anything happens, come back to Baishi Lane and find me."

When she brought Yunzhu back to her home in Baishi Lane, the sun had just risen high in the sky.

Chen Wanxing instructed Yunzhu, "Clean up the study, prepare clean bedding, and go to the kitchen to boil some hot water."

She trusted the patriarch's efficiency and methods. He would never delay on matters concerning the family's reputation and the internal power balance.

Yunzhu asked, somewhat puzzled, "Miss, will Miss Amber come to stay at our house after she comes out?"

"Yes, Amber doesn't know anyone in Kaifeng anymore, so she'll have to stay here with us tonight after she gets back."

"But there's no bed in the study, only a soft couch. How about letting Miss Amber stay in our room, and I and Granny will make a makeshift bed on the floor in the study?"

"No need. Just bring the person out and settle them in temporarily. We'll consider the rest once we see them."

Less than an hour later, Granny Li rushed back from outside, a look of disbelief on her face. She whispered, "Miss, there's been some movement at the old house. They're moving incredibly fast."

It turned out that not long after Chen Wanxing left, the patriarch acted swiftly and decisively.

……

"It is said that the two of them had a fight for some unknown reason. At first, the Third Master was still stubborn and unwilling to accept it, but after the two of them talked on and on for a while, the Third Master immediately softened his attitude, like a punctured balloon."

Immediately afterwards, the master sent someone to summon Zhou Laosan directly from the stable to the outer study. What they discussed remains unknown; all that was seen was that when Zhou Laosan emerged, his face was deathly pale, his steps unsteady, as if his soul had been ripped from his body, and he scrambled home.

The news that the Third Master had offended the First Master by offending the Zhou family, which had caused the First Master to lose his temper, spread like wildfire among the servants in the old mansion. After a little inquiry, Granny Li pieced together the gist of the story.

After listening, Chen Wanxing didn't show much surprise on her face, and simply said, "I understand."

This is the power of authority. She doesn't need to fight or make a fuss herself; she only needs to present the seriousness of the problem to those who can solve it, and the rules and power will take their course.

She stood up: "Granny, come with me to the Zhou family in Osmanthus Lane. Yunzhu can stay at home and wait."

This time, she didn't try to test the waters or beg; she went directly to ask for the person.

When the carriage stopped again in front of the Zhou family's house in Osmanthus Lane, the atmosphere was completely different.

The Zhou family's gate was tightly shut. After Granny Li knocked on the door, the same young maid opened it again. When she saw Chen Wanxing and the other girl, her eyes flickered with fear.

Chen Wanxing ignored her and walked straight in. Zhou Laosan and his wife Liu were already waiting in the hall, their faces no longer showing their usual scheming and arrogance, but only dejection and fear. They had obviously received a thunderous warning from the old house.

"Miss Chen, Miss Chen." Old Zhou's lips trembled as he tried to say something.

Chen Wanxing skipped the pleasantries and calmly instructed the maid standing at the door, "Go and invite Miss Amber out. I will come to fetch her."

I also moved her luggage out. I hope it's still the same as when she came back, otherwise, when I write to the capital, I can't guarantee what she'll mention in her letter.

Madam Liu wanted to say something more: "Miss, this..."

Chen Wanxing swept a glance over them, her gaze as cold as a knife: "Haven't you understood what the Master means yet?"

With just that one sentence, Mr. and Mrs. Zhou fell silent, like ducks being choked, and dejectedly stepped aside.

When the maid helped the pale-faced and emaciated Amber out of the inner room, Chen Wanxing finally felt relieved.

When Amber saw Chen Wanxing, tears welled up instantly, and she choked out, "Sister Wanxing."

Chen Wanxing stepped forward, grasped her icy hand, and squeezed it tightly. His voice was gentle yet firm: "It's alright, let's go home."

She didn't glance at the Zhou family again, but helped Amber and, with Granny Li by her side, calmly went out the door, followed by two maids carrying Amber's luggage.

The carriage drove away from Osmanthus Lane, leaving all the scheming and unbearable things behind.

Inside the carriage, Amber leaned on Chen Wanxing's shoulder, her long-suppressed grievances and lingering fear turning into silent tears that soaked Chen Wanxing's clothes.

Chen Wanxing gently patted her back, his gaze fixed on the lights of countless homes gradually illuminating outside the car window.