“Oh my, I’ve arrived late.”

Yuanxi turned her head and saw a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old, with rosy cheeks, almond-shaped eyes, and a graceful figure. She was lifting her pale yellow gold-sprinkled pleated skirt as she ran all the way. When she gasped for breath and entered the room, discovering that all eyes in the room were fixed on her, she stuck out her tongue embarrassedly and quietly shuffled behind the Old Marquis with her head lowered.

The Old Marquis shook his head and said, “Xuan’er, you’re almost of age for the hairpin ceremony, yet you still shout and yell all day long. What kind of behavior is this?” Though his words were reproachful, his eyes were full of indulgence. Yuanxi immediately understood that this was her young sister-in-law, the youngest daughter Xiao Zhixuan who had grown up beside the Old Marquis since childhood.

Xiao Zhixuan quickly smiled and curtsied in apology, still muttering, “It’s all because I went to bed late last night. I was afraid that if I came late, I wouldn’t be able to meet sister-in-law.” As she spoke, she kept stealing glances at Yuanxi with her bright, rolling eyes. Seeing that those eyes were full of curiosity and kindness, Yuanxi smiled back at her slightly.

At this moment, another woman of distinguished appearance and dress walked in from outside, bowing and saying, “The meal over there has been prepared. We can have breakfast now.” The Old Marquis nodded and said, “Since everyone has arrived, let’s all go have a meal together as a family.” He stood up, and when he passed by the woman, he paused slightly and said to Yuanxi, “This is your Concubine Wang.” Yuanxi quickly curtsied to her. Concubine Wang smiled and held her hands, saying, “We’re all family from now on. If you find any of the servants lacking in their service, just come find me, and I’ll definitely arrange everything properly for you.” At this moment, Xiao Zhixuan bounced over again, smiling cheerfully, “If big brother bullies you, you can come find me too.” Before she finished speaking, a voice drifted leisurely from behind her: “Find you for what? You’re already late and still not being proper. Aren’t you afraid of being confined again?” Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhixuan immediately drooped her little face, turned back to make a face at Xiao Du, and properly retreated to the back. Seeing that she was born charming and lovely with an innocent and romantic personality, Yuanxi couldn’t help but develop much fondness for this young sister-in-law.

The group left the room and walked through the corridors to reach the main courtyard dining hall, where many maids and older servants were already standing in attendance. The Old Marquis and Madam Zhao sat together at the head table, looked back, and said, “Today is Du’er’s new bride’s first day in the house. Let’s not be too formal and all sit down to eat together.”

Concubine Wang and another woman beside her responded affirmatively and found seats to sit down. Yuanxi noticed that the other woman was dressed expensively but behaved with careful gentleness, and surmised this must be Concubine Cai, the one who was born a maid. She saw Concubine Cai sit down next to Xiao Zhixuan, secretly observing her with a loving expression, moisture faintly glistening in her eyes.

Yuanxi suddenly thought of Seventh Concubine, and her heart inexplicably turned sour. According to Nanny Li, the Old Marquis had raised Xiao Zhixuan by his side since childhood and even found special tutors for her, probably because he disdained Concubine Cai’s lowly birth and feared she would corrupt their daughter. She thought again that although she wasn’t favored by her father, at least she could see her most beloved concubine from time to time. While Xiao Zhixuan was thoroughly spoiled, she couldn’t be close to her own mother, which must also be difficult for her.

As she thought about this, she couldn’t help but sigh: Born in deep mansions and marquis estates, how many could truly have their hearts’ desires fulfilled? Among the fortunes and misfortunes encountered, who could truly see through it all?

She became so lost in thought that when she came back to her senses, she found many small dishes had appeared on the plate before her. Turning her head, she met Xiao Du’s meaningful gaze. Concubine Wang glanced in their direction and covered her mouth with a light laugh, saying, “Look at this loving young couple—after just one night, they’re already so affectionate.” Yuanxi’s face suddenly flushed, and since she couldn’t explain, the others joined in teasing and joking, gradually warming the atmosphere at the table.

Seeing Yuanxi bashfully silent, Concubine Wang laughed again, “I’m not just praising our Du’er, but with his background and appearance, there have been countless maids over the years trying to climb up the social ladder through him. He’s never given those people a proper look. Just a few days ago, there was a newly arrived maid who tried to seduce him with her looks, but wasn’t she just sent away from the estate? I say those bed-climbing sluts shouldn’t have good endings—they just ruin the estate’s reputation.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Concubine Cai’s face turned pale, but she still said nothing, only silently serving food to Xiao Zhixuan’s bowl, as if everything at this table had nothing to do with her except for her daughter.

“Enough.” Madam Zhao, who had been silent, swept her gaze toward Concubine Wang and said softly, “Let’s eat properly. My son doesn’t need others to praise him.” Concubine Wang’s expression changed, and she quickly smiled apologetically and fell silent. For a moment, the table was so quiet that only the sound of bowls and plates clinking could be heard.

Having seen many such inner household struggles in her own home, Yuanxi had long learned to stay out of such matters, so she just picked up the porridge in front of her and drank it earnestly. At this moment, Xiao Du spoke up: “Xi’er, you should learn more from Concubine Wang in the future and properly learn how to manage this household with distinction.” Yuanxi’s heart lurched in shock. That mouthful of porridge got stuck in her throat—she couldn’t swallow it but didn’t dare spit it out, so she covered her mouth and began coughing violently. An’he, standing behind her, quickly handed over a handkerchief. Yuanxi awkwardly wiped her mouth before finally catching her breath. Looking up again, she saw that Concubine Wang’s expression hadn’t changed and she was still smiling very warmly, saying, “That’s natural. Previously, because elder sister was weak, I had no choice but to overstep and manage things. Now that the new madam has entered the house, being able to hand things over quickly couldn’t be better. It’s just that the household accounts are complex and there are many outside businesses, so I’ll need to teach you bit by bit.” Yuanxi reluctantly forced a smile and agreed, not understanding why Xiao Du wanted to push her into this storm center on the very first day.

The meal was eaten with everyone harboring their own thoughts. Ever since Xiao Du mentioned having her learn to manage the household, Yuanxi felt various gazes fixed on her, making her feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles. When the meal finally ended, maids brought tea cups to serve the masters for rinsing their mouths. An’he was carrying tea and about to step forward when she was suddenly bumped by a maid beside her, causing all the tea to spill on Yuanxi.

The maid who had done the bumping was so frightened her face went white, and she immediately knelt down begging for mercy: “This servant didn’t do it on purpose! I somehow stumbled just now. Please forgive me, Madam!”

Yuanxi took out her handkerchief to wipe the water droplets from her face. She was about to say a few words to smooth things over when she heard Xiao Du coldly say beside her, “Making Madam lose face in public, and you think saying ‘it wasn’t on purpose’ is enough?” Yuanxi’s heart sank. The maid cried even more pitifully like pear blossoms in rain, and could only timidly reply, “It’s this servant’s fault. Please punish me, My Lord.” Only then did Xiao Du stand up satisfied, sweeping his gaze around the maids and older servants in the room, saying, “You all stay here to be punished together with her, otherwise it would seem our Marquis estate has lost its rules!”

At these words, everyone in the room was shocked. Then a lazy voice came from the side: “Big brother dotes on his new wife, but there’s no need to take it out on all the servants in the room.” Yuanxi turned her head and saw that the speaker was Xiao Du’s half-brother, the estate’s Second Young Master Xiao Qing. He wore green satin calamus-patterned straight robes in a scholarly and elegant manner, but his eyes were faintly bruised underneath, inexplicably emanating a cold aura. Sitting beside him, Second Madam Wang Shiqin quickly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to interfere. But Xiao Qing glared fiercely at her, and Wang Shiqin could only timidly withdraw her hand and sit to the side with lowered brows.

Xiao Du smiled but before he could speak, Concubine Wang had already rushed over to glare at Xiao Qing fiercely: “Your big brother is the one in charge of this estate now. If he wants to punish a few servants, he can punish them. What business is it of yours to interfere?” A flash of defiance crossed Xiao Qing’s brow, but he didn’t continue to argue back, only snorting lightly and turning his head away.

Xiao Du seemed unwilling to argue with him either, and bowed to the Old Marquis again: “Father, Mother, please go rest. How about leaving these people for me to deal with?” The Old Marquis looked at him intently, then nodded and walked out with his hands behind his back. Seeing this, the others also followed out one after another, leaving only a room full of maids and older servants looking at each other in bewilderment. These maids and grannies usually served personally in various quarters and casually ordered around the junior maids and servants, but today they were inexplicably assigned punishment, leaving them all somewhat at a loss.

Meanwhile, Yuanxi hurried back to her room to change clothes. Seeing her worried expression, An’he curiously asked, “Although His Lordship is rather fierce toward outsiders, he’s quite caring and considerate toward Miss. He didn’t blame us for last night’s incident either. Miss should be happy—why are you still troubled?”

Yuanxi sighed, not knowing how to explain to this innocent little maid. She had seen clearly that it was Xiao Du who deliberately stuck out his leg to trip that maid, causing her to bump into An’he and spill tea on her.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Xiao Du did this to find out who owned that broken nail fragment. The rough servant women in the estate couldn’t possibly have the opportunity to keep such long and delicate nails—only the relatively pampered senior maids and grannies in various quarters remained. Only by using this method could he quietly investigate the truth without alarming too many people.

But if he wanted to investigate, that was his business. Why did he have to put her on the spot? The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. In just one meal, Xiao Du had offended all the concubines and maids on her behalf. While he gained a reputation for loving and protecting his wife, she would probably find it even more difficult to navigate this estate in the future.

While she was full of worries, the dining hall was tense and silent. The maids and grannies each trembled with fear as they stared at Xiao Du, who sat calmly in his chair holding a tea cup, not knowing what this young marquis, known for his eccentric behavior, intended to do.

Xiao Du leisurely finished the tea before him and said, “Let’s just use the paddle then! Everyone stick out your hands!”

The others found this somewhat strange but dared not disobey. They stood in a row and obediently stretched out their hands. Xiao Du stood up and paced along, examining each one until he stopped in front of one pair of hands. A smile appeared on his face as he looked up and asked, “What’s your name? Which quarters do you serve in?” The maid was nearly frightened to tears by his stare and trembled as she replied, “I’m the personal maid in Concubine Wang’s quarters, called Zhuyun.”

Xiao Du stared at her fingernails, which were trimmed neat and flat, and said, “Why did you cut your nails?”

Zhuyun shrank her head and replied somewhat guiltily, “When I was working, I accidentally broke one, so I trimmed them all.”

Xiao Du’s smile grew wider: “Oh, I didn’t know that personal maids in Concubine Wang’s quarters still needed to do rough work.” His expression suddenly changed as he called out, “Take her away and interrogate her thoroughly!” Upon hearing this, Zhuyun immediately went weak in the knees, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

The next day, rumors began spreading among the servants in the Marquis estate. It was said that Ping’er, Madam Zhao’s most beloved maid, was raped and murdered on the night of His Lordship’s wedding, and the perpetrator was actually Zhuyun, a maid from Concubine Wang’s quarters.

Some people were curious: How could Zhuyun, being a woman, rape and murder Ping’er? Then it spread that not only did Zhuyun cruelly kill Ping’er, she was also bold enough to try to frame General Zheng, who had attended the wedding banquet. Fortunately, His Lordship was wise in discerning right from wrong and uncovered the truth in just one day, catching her.

A day later, more rumors emerged: After General Zheng saw Zhuyun, he had developed suspicions. It was said that although General Zheng was too drunk to recognize people clearly, he had always been very sensitive to scents and claimed that Zhuyun’s fragrance was wrong. However, His Lordship held crucial evidence, confirmed that Zhuyun was the real murderer, and had already handed her over to the authorities for imminent legal proceedings.

In just two days, various rumors escalated. The servants were extremely interested in this strange case that occurred around them, gathering together during leisure time each day to discuss it, spreading various pieces of information as if they had personally experienced it all.

##

The fourth watch drum sounded—it was the middle of the night when no one was about. Moonlight, obscured and revealed by clouds, illuminated a black shadow quietly passing through a side gate and arriving in the long alley outside the Marquis estate. She carefully surveyed her surroundings, and seeing no one following, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She threw a wrapped bundle to the ground in the alley, then feeling uneasy, lit it on fire.

At this moment, her spine suddenly stiffened. Turning back to look, she couldn’t help but scream in fright and collapse heavily to the ground!