One moment Xiao Jin was immersed in a dream from which she seemed unable to wake up, and the next moment she heard a soft, gentle child's voice in her ear.
She suddenly opened her eyes and saw a pair of large, bright eyes, like purple grapes, staring at her. It was her five-year-old brother, Xiao Ye. The sky-blue curtains hung quietly, and Xiao Ye was right beside her.
I had that dream again...
Xiao Jin let out a long sigh of relief, stood up and patted Xiao Ye, "Ye'er, you woke up so early."
She personally helped Xiao Ye put on his undergarments, then lifted the curtain and said, "Huanyue, come in." She then called for a maid to help the two siblings with their washing and grooming.
Two maids dressed in white mourning clothes came in carrying basins and other items. One carried Xiao Ye to wash up, while the other served Xiao Jin with soap and handkerchiefs.
"Miss, did you not sleep well again last night?" The dark circles under Xiao Jin's eyes were clearly visible, and the maid serving Xiao Jin asked with some concern.
Looking at her reflection in the somewhat blurry bronze mirror, Xiao Jin was indeed in a bad mood. She curled her lips into a slight smile. "It's nothing, just a dream. By the way, did you get the inventory list for the main room?"
“Unfortunately, Mama Lu isn’t here! As you always know, Mama Su is indeed somewhat incompetent. When I went to check the things that Madam usually uses, they no longer match the list.” Huan Yue replied while deftly combing Xiao Jin’s hair, “The list is already available, would you like to take a look, Miss?”
Xiao Jin thought for a moment and said, "It's good that you know. I'll check it again when I get back tonight. Today is Mother's 49th day memorial, so I'll be busy all day."
"Yes, Miss."
"Huanyue," Xiao Jin suddenly lowered his voice, "have you remembered everything I told you?"
“What Miss is saying is…” Huan Yue didn’t finish her sentence, but simply nodded. “This servant knows what to do.”
Xiao Jin hummed in response and then fell silent.
Huan Yue looked at her young mistress, who seemed preoccupied, and felt equally conflicted.
Ever since Miss fainted from crying at Madam's seventh-day memorial service, she seems to have changed. Although she still maintains her usual docile demeanor, there seems to be something different in those clear eyes...
After the lady's passing, the main house was naturally in chaos. Some servants took the opportunity to steal the lady's belongings, and the concubines were also restless. She was worried for her young mistress. However, after waking up this time, the young mistress, who had previously ignored household affairs, became concerned about these matters.
Moreover, the young lady assigned herself such an unusual task...
This is for the best. With the eldest master gone, and the fourth master still young and inexperienced, they will have to rely entirely on the young lady for support from now on. The previously timid and weak young lady has finally grown up after experiencing the pain of losing her brother and mother.
Xiao Jin was naturally unaware of Huan Yue's thoughts. She was preoccupied with the recent events, a thousand and one things she needed to sort out one by one.
A moment later, another maid led over Xiao Ye, who had finished washing and dressing. Upon seeing Xiao Ye with his hair in a bun, Xiao Jin finally smiled, beckoned him to her side, and softly asked, "Ye'er, what would you like to eat for breakfast?"
"Ye'er wants to eat steamed egg custard." Xiao Ye tilted his head and thought for a moment, then looked at Xiao Jin expectantly.
Xiao Jin chuckled, patted his head, and nodded. "Zisu, tell the kitchen to make Ye'er a bowl of steamed egg custard. It's not good to eat something greasy so early in the morning. It should be stewed tenderly with less oil."
Zisu had just agreed to go when she heard a somewhat sharp voice say, "I say, Sister Jin, you'd better stay out of trouble."
Upon hearing this, the maids in the room changed their expressions, and Xiao Ye also seemed to be frightened, clinging tightly to Xiao Jin's side. Xiao Jin's face hardened, and a woman in her forties wearing an indigo vest swaggered in without waiting for Xiao Jin's instructions, lifting the curtain herself.
A flicker of displeasure crossed Xiao Jin's mind, but she didn't move. Instead, she called out, "Mother Zhou."
"Jin'er, I'm not gossiping." The woman known as Zhou Mama was the maternal grandmother of Xiao Yingniang, the third young lady of the Xiao family, and a capable assistant to Aunt Chen. She didn't even respect Xiao Jin's mother, the legitimate wife of the scholar's mansion, let alone the two lonely siblings who were left now.
"The whole household is busy with the Madam's 49th-day memorial service. How can we have time to make a bowl of steamed egg custard? If we delay the Madam's affairs, it will be embarrassing for you, Miss. Please make do with whatever you have!"
No matter how important Mom is this week, she's still just a servant. How dare she even object to her master eating steamed egg custard? She's really too arrogant!
Huan Yue was furious and was about to say something when she felt someone tug at her sleeve. It was her mistress.
Seeing this, Madam Zhou felt smug. She thought that she had accumulated enough power over time, and Xiao Jin was still terribly afraid of her. Even if she said something to her, Xiao Jin would not dare to make a sound. So she became even more domineering.
Little did she know that Xiao Jin was no longer the gentle and kind-hearted young lady she once was.
"Oh?" Xiao Jin raised her eyes, looked at Zhou's mother, and slowly said, "Does Zhou's mother mean that asking for a bowl of steamed egg custard is a great act of filial impiety?"
“I didn’t say that.” Madam Zhou frowned. She hadn’t expected Xiao Jin to ask such a question. “Young lady is the second young lady of the scholar’s mansion. She is usually very polite. Why would she say such a thing today?”
Knowing manners? That's clearly saying she's weak and incompetent!
Xiao Jin was furious inside, but a smile appeared on her face. Her expression was calm, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned. "Mother has served in the household for a long time, so naturally she knows proper etiquette. I have a question for Mother!"
Mrs. Zhou felt that Xiao Jin was acting strangely today. Usually, Xiao Jin would have timidly agreed repeatedly. Thinking of this, Mrs. Zhou's face showed some displeasure. "Sister, just say it."
"Doesn't the etiquette of the Imperial Academy emphasize respect for hierarchy?" Xiao Jin asked calmly, looking at Mama Zhou.
"Yes," Zhou's mother replied reluctantly. Today was truly strange; the second young lady glanced at her indifferently, and for no apparent reason, she felt a trace of fear!
"Your master wants to eat something, and this servant just rejects it with a single word? Is this the rule of the Scholar's Mansion?" Seeing that Zhou Mama was sticking her neck out as if she was about to say something, Xiao Jin didn't give her the chance. "Don't talk about how things were when you were with Concubine Chen or serving Yingniang. Here, you have to abide by my rules!"
Madam Zhou hadn't expected Xiao Jin to be so assertive. After all, Xiao Jin was the legitimate daughter of the scholar's family, and she didn't dare to openly argue with her. She just muttered, "I only said a few words for the sake of my daughter, but she has ten sentences to rebuke me."
A disobedient servant is deceiving his master!
Just as Xiao Jin was about to frown, she suddenly seemed to remember something and forced a smile, making Zhou Mama's heart pound. "I remember now, Zhou Mama was originally from Aunt Chen's household. It seems that Aunt Chen meant well and specially sent you to take care of my brother and me."
When Xiao Jin mentioned Aunt Chen, Mama Zhou thought she had come back to her senses. Xiao Jin had always been terrified of Aunt Chen, so Mama Zhou assumed that she had softened her stance and felt relieved, so she smiled smugly and said, "Of course."
But Xiao Jin's seemingly ambiguous words caught her off guard the next moment: "Oh, so you're saying that Auntie instructed Mama to reject everything we ask for here? That wouldn't sound good if word got out. What would outsiders say about Auntie Chen?"
"The mistress of the scholar's mansion has just died, and the concubine has already sent people to humiliate the legitimate daughter?"
Upon hearing Xiao Jin's words, Zhou Mama's face instantly turned purplish-red. She had originally been sent by Consort Chen under the guise of looking after Xiao Jin and her brother, but actually to monitor the affairs of the main house. Consort Chen had given birth to an eldest son and a third young lady, and was also the daughter of a clerk in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. With Luo Shi's death, Consort Chen had the best chance of being promoted to the position of principal wife. Therefore, Zhou Mama couldn't afford to make a mistake at this time and give others cause for gossip.
She had no choice but to swallow her pride and say in a humble tone, "Miss, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean it that way. I spoke carelessly and offended you. Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart."
Xiao Jin simply ignored her and continued to have Huan Yue comb her hair.
Only after Huanyue finished combing her hair did she slowly glance at Zhou Mama, a smile playing on her lips. "Since Mama thinks what I said makes sense, I'll apologize to Mama first. Please go to the kitchen and bring me this bowl of steamed egg custard, so as not to disappoint Auntie's kindness to us."