Xu's worry secretly forms an alliance

  Luo Qingyi looked at Gu Yunxi, who was walking towards her, with some incredulity. The person who had been on the verge of death just a moment ago was now standing up? Her complexion was still pale as snow, and her figure was still slender and weak, but she wasn't dead!

  Luo Qingyi burst out laughing with a "heh heh", her eyes streaming with tears.

  "Mother."

  Gu Yunxi's voice was cool and calm, she glanced coldly at the two maids who were suppressing Luo Qingyi, and they unconsciously let go of their hands. She took a step forward to help Luo Qingyi up, raised her hand to wipe away the dirt on her face, "Mother, Yunxi is fine."

  Luo Qingyi looked at her with a mixture of surprise and skepticism, "Really?"

  Gu Yunxi nodded, then turned to look at Jinse standing by the door. "It's late and windy tonight, Miss Jinse doesn't need to go to the chaotic burial mound. The night is deep, my mother and I still need to rest, please go back."

  Jin Se was shocked and stared at Gu Yun Xie, a pair of big eyes flashing with an unusual panic.

  Gu Yunxi's mouth curved up, "What, Miss Jinse now sees me restored to normal and yet can't believe it?"

  Jin Se's body trembled slightly, and she looked at Gu Yunxi's eyes that seemed to be dodging. Her mouth stiffened into a sneer, "Hmph, it's good that we can save on one more seat. If you're feeling better, just behave yourself quietly. You two freeloaders don't have to care about anything, but I don't have time to waste here with you! Leave!"

  At this moment, only Luo Qingyi and Gu Yunxi were left in the humble room. Luo Qingyi saw that Gu Yunxi was staring at Jin Se's back without moving, and her heart panicked, "Xi'er?"

  Gu Yunxi turned around, carefully looking at the middle-aged woman in front of her. She slowly raised her hand to smooth out the wrinkles on Luo Qingyi's rough clothes, and gently wiped away the dirt on her forehead, cradling her injured palm in her own hand, slowly cleaning the deep wound.

  "Xier, it's all because of me being no good. If I hadn't been useless in this mansion for so many years, you wouldn't have suffered so much this time. You really scared me to death! It was just a minor cold, yet it almost took you away from me!" Luo Qingyi's words were laced with self-blame, one hand gently stroking her forehead, her eyes filled with tenderness and concern.

  Gu Yunxi shook her head, and the weakness that had been present in her eyes for sixteen years was slightly reduced. At this moment, looking at Luo Qingyi, she was clear and bright. "Mother, these sixteen years you have not dared to let me out of this courtyard easily. Now, my illness is a good thing, you also saw it. If we continue to be content with our peaceful life in this corner without asking about external affairs, people outside will think we are easy to bully. This time if I die, I will be thrown into the chaotic burial mound. What about next time? Next time, if there is anything improper, I'm afraid we two won't even have a straw mat to wrap our corpses!"

  Lu Qingyi's hand trembled slightly as she held Gu Yunxi's, seemingly startled by her cold words. She looked at Gu Yunxi carefully, somewhat uneasy, "Xi'er..."

  "Mother." Gu Yunxi spoke up first, "From now on, I will never let you suffer the humiliation of today again. Whoever dares to bully us three points, we will retaliate tenfold. I will never let Mother beg anyone for my sake again, because I, Yunxi, will become a strong person!"

  Luo Qingyi stared blankly at Gu Yunxi, seemingly unable to believe it. She carefully examined her eyebrows and eyes, and gradually tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. "Xi'er!"

  She held her in her arms, her voice trembling with emotion. "I really can't believe it, I've always regretted not teaching you well enough. Now that I hear you say such things, I'm truly delighted. One day, my Xi'er will become the most noble person in this world and will never be bullied by others like today!"

  Gu Yunxi didn't hear Luo Qingyi's last sentence, she just stiffly wrapped her arms around Luo Qingyi's waist and said with an unspeakable heaviness, "Xier has already died once, there won't be a second time!"

  Gu Yunxi's eyes, which were sunken deep into her eye sockets, stared motionlessly at the desolate night outside. The starless and moonless sky was filled with a chilling cold that seemed to suffocate people. Her eyes flickered several times before suddenly sinking coldly, and just then, the first snow of winter in the capital of Yan Kingdom began to fall.

  ——

  On the seventh day of October, before dawn broke, Xu Dama had just rubbed her hands and came out of the west wing when she saw a slender figure standing under the eaves. On this cold winter snowy day, she was only wearing a single layer of clothing, shivering with fear in the cold wind.

  "Which servant's quarters are you from? What brings you here so early in the morning?"

  Xu Dàniáng, over forty years old in appearance, was one of the managers of the inner courtyard and also a personal attendant of Concubine Liu. At this moment, looking at Gu Yunxi's simple dress, she actually took her for a lowly servant girl.

  Gu Yunxi bowed and took out a sandalwood box from behind her back, "To wish Madam Xu a happy birthday, Yunxi knew that today is Madam Xu's birthday, so she specially came to give her a gift."

  It's actually her!

  Xu Danniang was an old hand in the mansion, although she rarely saw this second young lady appear, but she was a clever person. At this time, she thought for a moment and knew the identity of the visitor, her heart moved and couldn't help but feel some surprise.

  Gu Yunxi took a few steps forward and placed the sandalwood box in front of her, "Yunxi was seriously ill before, thanks to Dama's kindness for giving some charcoal fire to Meiyuan, which helped Yunxi pass this disaster. Yunxi is grateful for Dama's kindness and specially came to celebrate Dama's birthday."

  Today is the 46th birthday of Xu Dama, she had a daughter who died during an escape, now she has some status in this mansion but is still just a servant, she thought about making something to eat and getting by for the rest of her life, but didn't expect Second Miss to come so early to wish her a happy birthday!

  As for the charcoal matter, Mei Garden should have gotten five dou of charcoal originally. Usually, Xia Ru, who was also in charge of managing the household, would embezzle some, and there wouldn't be enough every time. This time, she simply allocated according to the usual amount, but didn't expect this maid to feel grateful and indebted.

  Madam Xü looked at the thin face in front of her, and thinking of her own daughter who was not doing well, she felt a little sympathy. "Forget it, after all, it's just my birthday, Mei Garden is not wealthy anyway, no need to give me anything else."

  Gu Yunxi didn't move, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Xu Damao, "Please accept it, Damao. There aren't many valuable items in my and mother's possession. I only hope this item can help you avoid disaster!"

  Xu's eyes changed in an instant, "What does Second Miss mean by this?"

  Gu Yunxi looked around and seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

  Xu sidestepped and said, "Let's go inside and talk."

  There was a warm stove with flickering flames in the room, Gu Yunxi took a deep breath and said coldly, "Auntie Xu got the key to the inner courtyard warehouse from Auntie Xia at the beginning of this year, right? Managing the warehouse is a symbol of status within the inner courtyard. Auntie Xia was the head housekeeper before the death of the wife of the Minister, and she was always the most respected person in the inner courtyard. And you..."

  Gu Yunxi didn't say it out loud, but Xu Dama, you're just a widow who was taken in by the madam halfway and brought into the manor, so naturally you can't compare to others.

  "She was naturally unwilling, the night before last, Jin Se went to Mei Garden, Yun Xi inadvertently saw that under her jacket, she was actually wearing a piece of Hetian jade. I thought to myself that Jin Se herself would definitely not be able to afford it, and even if Eldest Miss wanted to reward her, she wouldn't give her something as valuable as that. So Yun Xi thought, in this household, the only one who could give Jin Se such a good thing was naturally only Xia Dama."

  Xu's eyes narrowed, and Xiaoru had been making things difficult for her every day. How could she not know this? But when the girl in front of her said it out loud, she felt a chill all over her body. Xiaoru wouldn't have spent money to buy good jade to give to her niece anyway. So, where did the jade come from? It's easy to guess!

  "How dare you, Xiaoru, stealing from the treasury!"

  Gu Yunxi sighed, "Yunxi also thinks so. With the end of the year approaching, once Master Xiang orders De Shu to investigate the treasury, when things are found missing, it will be hard for you to avoid being held accountable, no matter how many excuses you come up with."

  Xu's fists clenched tightly, her eyes flashing with even greater anger. If there was a problem with the treasury, she would be lucky to just be expelled from the manor; in severe cases, she could lose her life. After all these years of hard work and drudgery, it couldn't end like this!

  "How could this be? I'll go and inform Concubine Xi right away. No matter how virtuous and respected Xia Rou is, would Concubine Xi be afraid of her?"

  "Stop right there, Madam Xue!"

  Gu Yunxi hastily stopped Xu Shi, who furrowed her brow. "Madam said it right, Concubine Xiao doesn't dare to move against Xia Dama. Have you forgotten that Concubine Xiao used to be the maid of the Prime Minister's wife? At that time, Xia Dama was Concubine Xiao's etiquette teacher. Concubine Xiao is kind-hearted and wouldn't do anything to Xia Ru even if she knew about it. How can you convince her now without any evidence?"

  Xu's face sank slightly, "What are you saying, Second Miss? Times have changed, and now Concubine Xi is the mistress of this household. Can't she even control Xia Rou?"

  Gu Yunxi sighed, "Of course not, Yunxi is just afraid that Ce Furen will be unbearable in her heart, and when the time comes, Xiaoru will be even more resentful of Dama, won't you put yourself at a disadvantage?"

  "Shall I not tell Madame Xi? Am I supposed to let them harm me for nothing?"

  "Of course not." Gu Yunxue raised her hand and opened the sandalwood box in her hand, "This nine-turns Linglong jade was obtained by my mother more than ten years ago. It has been treasured for so many years without being taken away by the petty people in the mansion. This time, I hope it can help the madam a little bit. Madam may first make up for the deficit in the treasury, and then discuss it further——"

  Madam Xü was taken aback, gazing at the radiant jade stone, and let out a long sigh. "All these years, I thought I had some discerning eyes in this household, but now it seems I've been blind. The saying 'no reward without labor' is indeed true. You think I really believed you came here just for those few loads of charcoal?"

  Gu Yunxi placed the sandalwood box back in Madam Xu's hands, saying softly, "Madam has been in the manor for over twenty years, from a lowly servant to the current housekeeper. You probably didn't think that when you got old, you wouldn't even have a place to retire to. In the manor, people over fifty are sent out of the manor. You don't have any relatives outside, and once you leave, you'll be all alone with no one to rely on. Moreover, how long can the money in your hands guarantee your comfortable life? It's better to secure a position for yourself while you still have a few years left, so you can spend your later years in peace."

  Xu's eyes widened slightly, her dull and dark pupils brightening for a moment. Then, the wrinkled corners of her eyes froze, "But why should I believe you, Second Miss?"

  Gu Yunxi smiled and nodded, "If Madam Xu believes me like this, then I wouldn't have to come here in the cold weather to wish you a happy birthday. Within three days, Madam will naturally believe me."

  ——

  Gu Yunxue returned to Mei Garden when Luo Qingyi was embroidering a double-sided butterfly loves flower handkerchief. As soon as she saw Gu Yunxue return, Luo Qingyi immediately put down the things in her hands and stood up, "Xuer, how is it?"

  Gu Yunxue rubbed her frozen red hands and wrapped them around the warm stove, the white mist from her mouth disappearing without a trace as it passed over the stove. "Mother didn't misjudge, Xu Dama has accepted."

  Luo Qingyi looked at the sky outside and let out a sigh of relief, "In all these years, although I haven't gone out much, I still know what's going on in this mansion. Xu Shi has been so cautious for many years without making any big mistakes, she must be a shrewd person. And now that she's old and has no one to rely on, she might have had this idea long ago. The only thing is, I don't know if what you're doing now is right or not."

  A chilly breeze seeped in through the worn window frame, and Gu Yunxi naturally knew Luo Qingyi's concern. She moved a flower pot over to block it and sighed, "Mother, don't worry, I was just thinking that by next winter, we definitely won't be living in this broken house anymore."

  She paused slightly and looked at Luo Qingyi's embroidery pattern again, "Mother, how is it?"

  Lu Qingyi picked up the cloth, "It's almost done. In recent years, there haven't been many opportunities to use good materials to make clothes for you, and my embroidery skills have also regressed."

  Gu Yunxue took out another old handkerchief from the basket and compared it, nodding involuntarily. "Mother said she had regressed, taking this handkerchief out, who can say it's not made by Jinse?"

  "Jin Man can receive the favor of the eldest miss, one of which is that her needlework is extremely good. Her own handkerchief uses the 'Dié Huā' embroidery from Suzhou, a technique rarely seen in everyday life, and only she has it in the manor." After a slight pause, Luo Qingyi looked puzzled, "Why do you want me to embroider this handkerchief?"

  Gu Yunxi's mouth twitched slightly, a flash of murderous intent flickered in her eyes, "Mother will know when the time comes."

  ——

  Digression

  It seems like this chapter has a lot of words! I'll try to update more frequently from now on! As I always say,