"Big brother, thank you for believing in me!"
Once Madam Wang and the others had left, Xiao Lingxi's tears immediately fell as she looked gratefully at Xiao Jingheng.
Xiao Jingheng said nothing, his gaze once again falling upon Su Xiaoyu who stood with her hands respectfully at her sides.
"Mother, this incident shows that Lingxi truly needs someone more alert by her side. If there had been a careful person present today, they might have detected something amiss in advance or provided more clues afterward, preventing her from being so passive."
Liu Shi deeply agreed: "Yes, this girl is surrounded by people as reckless as herself. We should assign someone reliable to her."
Liu Shi was already considering candidates in her mind.
Who should she send to serve her daughter?
They needed to be clever enough to advise her daughter promptly, yet not so rigid as to annoy her; loyal and reliable, yet not the type of old matron who would boss their mistress around based on seniority…
As she pondered, her gaze inadvertently swept over the maids standing below, finally settling on Su Xiaoyu.
She saw Su Xiaoyu with her head bowed, appearing respectful, but those lively eyes were secretly glancing toward the newly served hibiscus cakes on the table, her small nostrils almost imperceptibly twitching, looking like a greedy little cat.
Liu Shi suddenly remembered that this girl was Mama Zhao's daughter, born into servitude in the household – her loyalty was beyond doubt. Though her nature was somewhat lazy and gluttonous, she had the advantage of being simple-minded without any ill intentions. But still…
She heard Lingxi didn't like her…
Just as Liu Shi was about to shift her gaze away from Su Xiaoyu, Xiao Jingheng's voice timely intervened.
"Mother, I think Su Xiaoyu would be quite suitable."
Su Xiaoyu: "…?!"
[What?! Serve the second young miss?! That little ancestor?!]
[Ahhh my good days are over! Young Marquis, this is repaying kindness with enmity!]
[Please don't agree, Madam! I beg you!]
Liu Shi was slightly taken aback, looking at her son.
Xiao Jingheng remained expressionless, providing sufficient reasoning: "Though her nature is flighty and not particularly steady, her observational skills are decent and she's quite alert. Having her serve Lingxi – one straightforward, the other lively – might allow them to complement each other's strengths. This would be better than finding another rigid matron who would only make Lingxi more rebellious."
These words struck a chord with Liu Shi.
What she feared most was sending someone who would clash with her daughter.
"No! I object!" Xiao Lingxi stepped forward, her small face puffed up with anger. "Mother, I don't want her! All she does is laze around eating pastries, she's clumsy! Having her by my side would only cause more trouble!"
Su Xiaoyu immediately shot her an extremely grateful look: [Second young miss! Well said! Quick! Keep objecting, use your talent for being unreasonable!]
However, Xiao Jingheng merely cast a faint glance toward Xiao Lingxi – no reprimand, not even any extra emotion.
Just that calm, unruffled look at Xiao Lingxi.
The rest of Xiao Lingxi's words instantly stuck in her throat.
She feared nothing in heaven or earth, but was somewhat intimidated by this deep-thinking, unsmiling elder brother.
His gaze, though lacking warmth, made her feel as if pricked by icy needles, extinguishing most of her fire in an instant.
"Big brother is right! I have no objections!"
Xiao Lingxi surrendered instantly.
Su Xiaoyu: (ΩДΩ)
What? Second young miss, where's your backbone?
Seeing Xiao Lingxi compromise, the flame of hope that had just ignited in Su Xiaoyu's heart was instantly extinguished.
Finally, she could only cast her pleading, pitiful gaze toward Liu Shi—the only person present who might possibly change the decision!
Liu Shi looked at her son's steady gaze, then at her daughter's reluctant but no longer defiant expression.
Finally, her eyes fell upon Su Xiaoyu's small face, which was etched with utter despair, and she couldn't help but feel somewhat amused.
In the end, she gently twirled her prayer beads and delivered the final verdict:
"Very well! Lingxi, this matter is settled. Xiaoyu is Mama Zhao's child. Though she may be a bit lazy by nature, her character is good and she's clever. Your elder brother is right—having her by your side will put our minds at ease."
Her tone was gentle yet brooked no argument.
"Xiaoyu, why aren't you expressing your gratitude? From now on, you must serve the Second Young Lady with even greater dedication."
It's over!
Everything is over!
Su Xiaoyu inwardly wailed, as if she could hear the shattering sound of her comfortable life crumbling to pieces.
She was clearly just a background character in the book! Not even worthy of having a name mentioned—her only goal was to cling to the future Princess Consort's coattails and continue lounging comfortably in Hou Manor!
Now that she was being assigned to the Second Young Lady, would she have to follow her when she married someday? Become a dowry maid or something?
No way…
She forced a stiff smile uglier than crying, her voice filled with despair:
"Yes! This humble maid… thanks the Madam for her grace, thanks the Young Marquis… This humble maid will… spare no effort…"
…
That evening, when Zhao Yueru returned from her duties in the manor, she saw her daughter hanging her head listlessly, looking completely dejected.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Su Xiaoyu pouted, throwing her arms around Zhao Yueru and lamenting: "Mother, my good days are over! the Young Marquis has banished me to the Second Young Lady's quarters. Will I ever have peace again?"
Zhao Yueru was momentarily stunned, then a subtle, thoughtful glimmer flashed in her eyes. the Young Marquis was an extremely meticulous person—this move of his couldn't possibly be without purpose.
She sat beside her daughter, putting an arm around her shoulders, and said gently:
"Silly girl, don't always assume the worst. Let me ask you—when the Second Young Lady was wrongly accused today, wasn't it the Young Marquis who stepped in to resolve it?"
Su Xiaoyu nodded.
"Then that's it." Zhao Yueru patted her back. "the Young Marquis sending you to the Second Young Lady might not be a bad thing. Though the Second Young Lady is somewhat impatient and spoiled, she isn't ill-intentioned. After this incident, the Madam and the Young Marquis will undoubtedly be even more concerned about her. If you can go there and offer some guidance while establishing your position, that would be a meritorious deed! This is much better than being just an errand girl in the Madam's courtyard!"
"Moreover, for the Young Marquis to personally intervene is unusual in itself. Just stay put for now—observe more, listen more, speak less, and stay alert. Perhaps… this might be a blessing in disguise?"
Listening to her mother's analysis, some of Su Xiaoyu's resentment dissipated.
But when she thought of Xiao Lingxi's picky demeanor, she still felt her future looked bleak.
She sniffled: "Mother, forget about prospects and advancement—I just want a stable life…"
As long as she could endure until Hou Manor survived the crisis a year later. Once the Young Marquis married the female lead from the book, she could go back to lounging comfortably again.
"I know, dear." Zhao Yueru smiled affectionately, understanding that practical comfort meant more than empty words at this moment.
She rose and headed toward the small kitchen, "Wait here. I happened to get a fine lotus-leaf-wrapped chicken today, along with two braised duck feet stewed to fragrant perfection. I originally planned to save them for your snacks tomorrow…"
Before she could finish, Su Xiaoyu shot upright, the glistening tears in her eyes instantly replaced with eager anticipation.
【Lotus-leaf chicken! Braised duck feet! Slurp!】
Moments later, Xiaoyu channeled her sorrow into appetite. Clutching a fall-off-the-bone chicken leg in one hand and a richly sauced duck foot in the other, she devoured them with complete abandon, her mouth glistening with oil.
Watching nearby, Zhao Yueru felt both tenderness and amusement. She gently reminded, "Slow down, no one's competing with you… Ah, child, you mustn't eat like this when you serve the Second Young Lady…"
Mouth stuffed full, Xiaoyu mumbled indistinctly: "Mmph… 'kay… (munch)… got it… (slurp)…"