Qi Yuan was growing impatient. “No need! I think Lianqiao is just fine. Since you all clearly don’t sincerely wish to serve me, then I’m not interested. Go do whatever you’re supposed to do.”
Zhang Mama was stunned, her expression slightly stiff. “Miss, she’s just a rough servant girl—she doesn’t even know how to comb hair properly. How could you raise her up like this?”
She quickly realized Qi Yuan was trying to draw Lianqiao to her side—trying to build trust and loyalty.
She couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
Did Qi Yuan really think this little trick was clever?
Ridiculous. Elevating Lianqiao like this would only make the other servants more resentful, making it even harder to win their loyalty.
A countryside girl through and through. Even if she looked the part on the surface, she was just an empty shell. All appearance, no substance. Nothing but a straw bag.
How could she possibly compare to the second young lady?
The second young lady merely fainted, and the madam had already completely forgotten this newly returned biological daughter—hadn’t even sent anyone over to check on her.
The difference in their importance was clear as day.
This courtyard was already full of people who had no faith in their mistress. Now Qi Yuan was digging her own grave.
Tsk tsk…
Qi Yuan frowned. “I will raise her up. So what?”
So what?
Zhang Mama suddenly turned and slapped Baizhi across the face. “Useless! You were assigned to serve the young lady, and yet you couldn’t even earn her favor!”
Baizhi clutched her cheek and fell to her knees with a thud.
Baiyin was so startled she quickly knelt too. “Please forgive us, Miss! Please forgive us!”
Zhang Mama looked at Qi Yuan with a false smile. “Miss, they didn’t serve you properly. This old servant has already disciplined them. Are you satisfied now?”
Was this discipline?
No—it was creating enemies for her.
Qi Yuan stared at Zhang Mama in silence for a moment, then said softly, “Zhang Mama, I did warn you.”
She had tried to win Zhang Mama over—had offered her chances.
But Zhang Mama never took them seriously.
And now, she still didn’t.
With an indifferent smile, Zhang Mama replied, “This old servant thanks you for the reminder.”
Qi Yuan said no more, only waved her hand. “Leave.”
Zhang Mama immediately took Baizhi and Baiyin out. Once outside, she stood under the eaves and coldly said to them, “The young lady doesn’t like you two—figure things out yourselves.”
Baizhi and Baiyin looked even more anxious.
Zhang Mama scanned the rest of the servants in the courtyard, shook her head, and walked off.
Qi Yuan turned back to the mirror and quietly said to Lianqiao, “Go see if Zhang Mama has really left. If she has, call Baizhi and Baiyin back in.”
Right now, Lianqiao was following her every word, eyes wide as she slipped outside.
The night was deep, stars scattered across the sky. Just as Zhang Mama stepped out of the courtyard, she saw her daughter Putao approaching with a lantern.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
Putao grinned. “Mama, I figured you’d head to Auntie Liu’s, so I came to wait for you.”
Auntie Liu was the cook in the kitchen and a close friend of Zhang Mama’s. Whenever they had free time, they’d gather in the kitchen, drink wine, eat meat, and relax.
But tonight Zhang Mama really wasn’t in the mood. She smacked her daughter on the back of the head. “You little brat! I’m busy right now—where do I have time for that?”
Then she paused. “Wait… is it you who’s feeling snacky?”
The girl was still growing—naturally she’d be hungry.
Zhang Mama chuckled. “Go on then. Just tell Aunt Liu I sent you. Ask her to make you a bowl of noodles—tell her to put extra meat!”
Putao leapt with joy.
Zhang Mama shook her head and walked off—toward Qi Yunting’s courtyard.
When Qi Jin fainted earlier, Qi Yunting had helped the servants carry her back—he certainly didn’t have to keep kneeling in the ancestral hall.
Even so, his knees still hurt terribly.
Which only deepened his hatred for Qi Yuan.
Why did the family bring her back?!
Even if she was their biological daughter, they could’ve just thrown her on some farm estate.
Or married her off to someone far away—what did that have to do with the family?
Why bring that wench home?
When he heard Zhang Mama was here, he impatiently waved away the servant applying ointment to his knees.
Looking at Zhang Mama, he asked, “Well?”
She immediately knelt. “Young Master, there’s absolutely nothing unusual in her courtyard—just the things our own household sent her. That’s all.”
Qi Yunting scoffed. “A butcher’s daughter—what could she possibly have? They say some noble taught her proper manners—pah!”
What kind of noble would be so bored as to train up a little peasant girl?
Clearly a lie!
Zhang Mama knelt quietly, waiting for him to vent.
After cursing for a bit, Qi Yunting finally calmed down. “I want you to do something for me.”
She wasn’t surprised at all.
She’d worked in this household for years. From the moment Qi Yunting had her placed beside Qi Yuan, she’d known this day would come.
And she welcomed it.
She was getting older, and had to think about her future.
As a middle-ranking housekeeper, she still answered to several high-ranking stewardesses.
If she could get close to the eldest young master, then her children’s future would be secure.
Sure enough, Qi Yunting said, “I heard you have a daughter working in the manor already?”
Zhang Mama’s eyes gleamed. “Yes! Her name’s Putao—she’s a rough servant girl.”
Qi Yunting nodded. “I can tell she’s sensible. Jin’er still needs a second-class maid—have her fill the position.”
Zhang Mama was overjoyed!
A second-class maid to the most favored second miss was basically like a vice-lady of the house!
She kowtowed in gratitude.
Qi Yunting added, “Your son can come work as a pageboy for me in the future, too.”
Zhang Mama was almost dizzy with happiness.
With the benefits promised, it was time to act.
Qi Yunting lowered his voice and whispered a few words to her, then asked coldly, “Got it?”
Zhang Mama was nervous at first, but quickly composed herself. “Yes! Rest assured, Young Master. This old servant will carry it out flawlessly—you won’t be disappointed.”
Qi Yunting gave a satisfied hum. “Good. Just remember—do it well, and I’ll reward you. Fail, and don’t blame me for turning on you.”
Zhang Mama beamed. “Young Master, what does she know about managing servants? She’s favoring a rough maid while the other senior girls can’t even get close. Her courtyard is practically full of holes…”
Messing with her setup would be easy.
