Xiao Jingheng strode in, his expression calm and unruffled, as if he had long anticipated this scene.
His gaze swept indifferently over his younger brother kneeling on the floor, completely ignoring him.
Seeing her eldest son arrive, Liu Shi seemed to have found her pillar of support and hurriedly said, "Heng'er, you've come at the right time. Your younger brother has already realized his mistake. He was just momentarily confused, and besides, that Li Mo truly went too far…"
Xiao Jingheng listened quietly as his mother finished speaking without immediately refuting her. Instead, he turned his sharp, blade-like gaze toward his younger brother.
"So, according to you, going to the gambling den wasn't a mistake but rather a righteous act to defend the honor of Hou Manor?"
Xiao Jingheng no longer looked at him, turning instead to Liu Shi and systematically dismantling his brother's lies with clear logic:
"Mother, please consider this carefully. First, if he hadn't been lacking in self-control and easily agitated, he wouldn't have been provoked by Li Mo's few taunts. Ultimately, his own improper conduct gave others an opportunity to exploit."
"Second, as a young master of Hou Manor, he disguised a maid in men's clothing to frequent gambling dens and taverns. Regardless of the reason, this alone has already jeopardized the reputation of Hou Manor. If not for sheer luck, what would have been lost today wouldn't just be silver, but the face of the entire Marquis of Yongning's Mansion."
"Third," he paused, emphasizing his tone.
"When faced with trouble, he doesn't reflect on his own faults but instead attempts to evade responsibility and deceive you, Mother. This mistake is even greater!"
Listening to her eldest son's meticulous analysis that cut straight to the core, and then looking at her younger son's guilty, shifty eyes, Liu Shi suddenly saw the truth clearly.
The slight pity she felt earlier instantly vanished, replaced by anger at having been fooled.
"Your eldest brother is right!"
Liu Shi's face darkened. "You child, you almost deceived me! Your eldest brother is right—we must cure you of this lawless, reckless behavior and your habit of speaking nonsense!"
Turning away, she no longer looked at her younger son and said to Xiao Jingheng, "You handle this matter. I won't interfere."
Xiao Jingxuan was completely dumbfounded, collapsing weakly to the floor.
He had originally intended to drag Su Xiaoyu into this to share the blame, but his eldest brother had directly dismantled his entire act! The punishment remained unchanged, and he had additionally gained a bad impression of "deception" in his mother's eyes!
What was this called?
Attempting to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.
Lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot!
Xiao Jingheng said no more, bowing to his mother and stating, "Mother, I will take him away now to carry out the punishment."
Liu Shi waved her hand wearily. "Go ahead, but be sure to discipline him strictly."
Fortunately, the eldest son in the family was reliable. Otherwise, with the Hou Lord often away from the mansion, she, as a woman confined to the inner quarters, would truly not know how to manage the troublemaking pair of Xiao Jingxuan and Xiao Lingxi.
After dealing with Xiao Jingxuan, Xiao Jingheng did not leave immediately.
With a composed expression, he brought up the matter of punishing Su Xiaoyu.
"Mother, regarding that maid Su Xiaoyu, I have some thoughts as well."
Liu Shi, already troubled by her younger son's incompetence, rubbed her temples and said, "That audacious girl—just send her to the estate to do hard labor for a while. That should teach her a lesson."
In truth, Liu Shi's punishment was relatively lenient.
If it were a servant from another family who had taken their master out to fool around, they would likely have been sold off regardless of the circumstances.
"Mother, that's not quite right," Xiao Jingheng spoke up. "Sending her to the estate for hard labor would be a waste."
"A waste?" Liu Shi was somewhat puzzled.
"Mm." Xiao Jingheng nodded and began to present the reasons he had long prepared.
"I have observed her carefully. Though she has a lively disposition, she does possess some unusual qualities."
"Today at the gambling den, Li Mo colluded with the dealer to cheat. Their methods were subtle—even Jingxuan and the others failed to notice—yet Su Xiaoyu was the first to detect the flaw. She cleverly exposed their scheme, preserving the dignity of Hou Manor and preventing Jingxuan from suffering a hidden loss."
Liu Shi was indeed drawn in by this account: "Is that so?"
"Indeed. It shows her nature is simple and she understands propriety. When Jingxuan tested her with gold and jewels, she remained unmoved and refused outright. This proves that while her love for food is genuine, she maintains integrity in matters of right and wrong. She is not the type to cling to vanity or harbor deceitful intentions."
"This girl has her shortcomings, but also her strengths. Placing her beside Lingxi, given her lively nature, might lead to future troubles for your daughter. It is not a sustainable arrangement."
"Yet to relegate her to menial tasks or punish her severely would be a waste of her rare quick-wittedness and fundamentally upright character."
Liu Shi found this reasoning quite sound after hearing it.
"What do you suggest we do, then?"
"After much consideration, I believe we should transfer her to 'Moyun Residence.'"
"Moyun Residence? That is your study. How can an imprudent girl like her serve in your study?" Liu Shi instinctively disagreed.
Xiao Jingheng offered a 'plausible' explanation: "The study is a place of importance with strict rules, which would serve to temper her character and impose discipline—this is the 'punishment.'"
"Moreover, keeping her under my watch might allow us to utilize her talents fully. We can observe whether she truly has useful qualities and guide her accordingly. In time, she may become a capable and trusted aide in the manor—this is the 'utilization.'"
After hearing his analysis, Liu Shi fell silent.
His reasoning appeared flawless, perfectly sound.
Yet she couldn't shake a strange feeling.
Her son had always been steady, more astute and "colder" than his peers. He never interfered when servants in the manor made mistakes.
Even when Jingxuan and Lingxi brought their disputes to him, he would typically respond with a calm "punish according to the rules." When had he ever gone to such lengths to plead on behalf of a maid with whom he usually had no interaction?
Recalling what Xiao Lingxi had previously told her, Liu Shi grew suspicious.
Could it be…
She picked up her teacup, gently stirring the floating leaves with the lid, her tone tentative:
"Heng'er, you've never involved yourself in household matters. Yet now, for the sake of a young maid, you've deliberated so thoroughly."
Xiao Jingheng's expression remained unchanged, not even a flicker of his eyelids.
"Mother, you flatter me. It is not for her sake, but for the sake of Hou Manor."
"At present, the court is at a critical juncture with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince vying for power. Our manor has many servants of varying quality. If we can identify and refine them early, guiding each to their proper use, we will solidify our foundation. This is the essence of managing a household and governing subordinates. As the Young Marquis, it is my duty."
Hearing this, most of Liu Shi's doubts dissipated.
It made sense—Jingheng had always prioritized his duties. His study was where he handled official documents, so it was natural he would want a "suitable" person there.
Liu Shi smiled and shook her head, "It seems I overthought things. Your considerations are more meticulous than mine. In that case, we'll proceed as you suggest. I'll speak to Lingxi to prevent her from making a fuss."
Xiao Jingheng stood and bowed. "Thank you for your understanding, Mother."
However, Liu Shi then abruptly changed the subject: "But come to think of it, Su Xiaoyu is quite good-looking. Lingxi also told me that you seem to treat her differently. If you're willing…"
These words were already very straightforward, almost tearing through that thin layer of window paper.