Luyi’s temperament was not as good as Hong Yu’s. Whatever dissatisfaction she felt had to be displayed on her face immediately.

Song Chuyi looked at her with amusement: “If you continue with this temperament, even I won’t be able to control you.”

She couldn’t indulge them in venting their tempers just because Hong Yu and Luyi were loyal. The tragic circumstances of her previous life were still vivid before her eyes—she didn’t want to and couldn’t repeat those mistakes.

Luyi then remembered that Song Chuyi had repeatedly warned her recently to think three times before acting. Slightly embarrassed, she stuck out her tongue: “I forgot again. It’s just that this Nanny Wang is truly vexing to the extreme. Telling lies with her eyes wide open without fearing she’ll bite her tongue—I really can’t swallow this anger.”

Song Chuyi put the ball of thread in her hand back into the basket, speaking earnestly: “Even if you can’t swallow it, you must. I can’t protect you at every moment or smooth things over for you by your side. Right now this room is not yet an impregnable fortress, and Nanny Wang has long disliked you… Especially after today’s incident, Second Madam probably already hates me like a thorn in her eye and flesh. She’ll inevitably come after you instead. If you’re not more careful and cautious, I’m afraid not even bone fragments will remain!”

Luyi was actually a very clever little maid—otherwise in the previous life she couldn’t have still remained by Song Chuyi’s side until the very end. After thinking through the stakes, she nodded heavily: “I understand, Miss. I’ll definitely change.”

Hong Yu put away all the thread balls and shoe patterns, storing them in the chest, before taking up the conversation: “Miss, what about her?” She pointed with her finger toward the window, clearly referring to Qing Tao.

This maid Qing Tao was quite different from Huang Yao. Before, she had kept her head down and worked. After Song Chuyi fell ill and became different from before, she seemed especially careful and sensitive, and hadn’t even returned to the second household’s main courtyard.

Such a smart and perceptive maid, if she could be won over for one’s own use, would be far more worthwhile than beating her to death with one blow.

Just as they were speaking, Nanny Xu had already entered. She held a winnowing basket in her hands, filled to the brim with fresh, tender spring bamboo shoots. She smiled and handed the basket to Luyi to hold, her face full of joy: “This year Luyi’s father went to the mountain to dig bamboo shoots—it was incredible! He dug several large vats full. I brought some back for the old madam to taste something fresh.”

Song Chuyi also smiled: “That’s wonderful. I imagine the old madam will come looking for you at the latest within a short while, and you can take these over then.”

The relaxed and cheerful smile on Nanny Xu’s face became much more solemn. After standing there for a while, she asked: “Did Miss Yushu truly lodge a complaint with the old madam? But will this work? Won’t the old madam in the end just dock Huang Yao, that wretched girl, a few months’ wages and be done with it? If that’s the case, won’t our situation afterward be even more awkward?”

“Mama, if you do as I say, Huang Yao absolutely won’t get off with just a wage deduction.” Song Chuyi saw that her fists were tightly clenched, still looking somewhat uneasy, and said softly: “Nanny, don’t worry. I have confidence before I’d make this matter public. You only need to do as I say.”

Nanny Xu instinctively felt that what Song Chuyi said was true. She steadied herself and carefully went through what she should say when the old madam questioned her, ensuring there would be no errors or omissions anywhere. The old madam was a shrewd person—if even slightly inconsistent, she might become suspicious.

Sure enough, after a short while, Yulan came in smiling broadly, holding an exquisitely crafted lamp. Seeing Song Chuyi, she smiled: “Sixth Miss, come quickly and see this novel thing!”

As she spoke, she handed the lamp to Song Chuyi with a smile: “See? This lamp is a ram’s horn pearl lamp tributed from Yunnan. When the wax oil inside burns out, it can be replaced. It’s seven or eight parts brighter than ordinary lamps—lighting it at night won’t strain the eyes. The key is how beautifully it’s made. The old madam only received two. She kept one for herself and had me bring the other to you.”

Song Chuyi hurriedly reached out to receive it. After examining it for a while, she smiled: “So Yunnan has such fine things. This truly is my first time seeing one.”

At the same time, she thanked Yulan for making the trip and likewise gave her an embroidered pouch as a New Year gift.

“I’ll accept this New Year gift, but Miss, you must look after me a bit and help me with one more favor. That way it won’t be in vain that I took on this errand and made this trip.” Yulan’s relationship with Song Chuyi had grown increasingly good recently, and she spoke without much reservation: “I need to borrow Nanny Xu from beside you. I heard she makes excellent egg custard. First Madam happens to want to make this dish to send to the old madam today, so we must trouble Nanny Xu to make a trip.”

“Of course.” Song Chuyi hurriedly smiled and waved her hand: “What trouble are you talking about? Mama Xu loves making things to eat most. Besides, I’ll have a share of the delicacy this evening.”

Nanny Xu had already smilingly set down her work and accompanied Yulan out with conversation and laughter along the way.

The main courtyard was utterly quiet. The sun had already set halfway. Looking out from under the eaves, one could only see the red clouds of the sunset glow.

The old madam was leaning on the daybed, leafing through something. Seeing them enter, she first gave the items to Nanny Huang. Pointing to the chair at the lower seat, she said to Nanny Xu: “You may sit.”

Nanny Xu was so startled she retreated several steps, repeatedly saying she dared not.

Old Madam Song didn’t insist further. Instead, she asked: “In Xiaoyi’s room, who is currently managing affairs?”

Nanny Xu bowed and answered carefully and cautiously: “Right now Nanny Wang manages Sixth Miss’s household affairs. I manage the young miss’s clothing, food, and daily living.”

“I remember that when Tingting left behind her things, I had the eldest daughter-in-law store the major items in the storeroom. The remaining jewelry and hairpins, clothing and fabrics, medicine recipes and pastry lists—all prepared for when Xiaoyi grows up and can use them—I left in your care. Where are these things now?”

It’s finally come!

Hearing this, Nanny Xu became even more cautious. Almost without hesitation, she said: “These things were originally kept by me for the young miss, and the inventory lists are also with me. But later Nanny Wang said it was inconvenient for her to manage affairs, so Second Madam transferred all these things to her for safekeeping. As for jewelry and hairpins and such, they’re all locked in chests by the senior maid Huang Yao. She keeps the keys.”

“How can an unranked maid be put in charge of financial matters?!” Old Madam Song’s tone was somewhat displeased: “What does she understand?”

Nanny Xu lowered her head even further, not daring to respond.

Old Madam Song pondered briefly, then instructed Ziyun: “Go bring Nanny Wang and Huang Yao here.”

Nanny Xu opened her mouth with some difficulty: “Nanny Wang has already requested leave to go home… Huang Yao is still at Second Madam’s place and hasn’t returned.”

Only at this moment did Old Madam Song truly become furious to the extreme. During the New Year celebrations, the managing nanny of a room requests leave?! What kind of leave was she requesting, and what kind of master was she serving?!

This group not only engaged in deceit and trickery, concealed their master’s property, but also requested leave whenever they wanted and left whenever they pleased. What did they take the Earl’s household for?

Old Madam Song’s chest heaved violently. After a long while, she finally let out a cold laugh.

Today’s bonus chapter~~~ Many thanks to Xiao Bada, dinachen, and “Might As Well Have No Name” for your rewards.