The bright summer day was not suitable for someone nursing a hangover to appreciate.

In front of Xiao Er, Mo Zi shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand, frowning and rubbing her forehead, feeling somewhat dizzy and dazzled by the heat.

“Second Master, either have me escorted to the gate, or send me back, but say something—it’s better than standing here in this blazing sun getting heated up, ready to catch fire even without flames.”

Xiao Er looked at this young woman in blue robes, so disrespectful in her manner, truly not knowing whether to applaud her courage or be angry. Did she not understand her own status? Even if past matters were written off, she was merely a maid—how could she speak to him this way?

“Could it be you think this is on your boat, where you can order me to get off?” Mo Ge was her, and she was Mo Ge? No, she was just Mo Zi now. From the moment her mistress Qiu Sanniang stepped into Prince Jing’s mansion, she was no longer a merchant who could act freely, but Xiao Third Madam who stayed home to manage the household for her husband. As for her, what else could she do besides fulfill her duties as a maid?

Qiu Sanniang feigned illness to leave the mansion, and Mo Zi disguised herself as a man to manage Wangqiu Tower for her mistress. This was Xiao Er’s understanding. However, he would not let this mistress-servant pair run wild anymore. As women, they should stay home properly. Outside business, even if it was Qiu Sanniang’s dowry property, was not something for a mere maid under her to manage. That man called Cen Er who used to manage Wangqiu Tower—that was the proper arrangement. Both his grandmother and mother had abundant dowry properties with numerous stewards outside who came monthly to the mansion to report and submit accounts, requiring no personal supervision at all.

“Mo Zi wouldn’t dare.” Speaking of this Xiao Second Master, he was indeed the man she had interacted with most since following Qiu Sanniang—absolutely carrying that northern aristocratic arrogance. When he couldn’t win an argument, he would use that upper-class superiority to pressure others. No matter, she could bend and adapt, let him play the big man.

“Indeed you shouldn’t. Remember your status. As you said, I’ll keep my word and not pursue past matters. However, you and your mistress are now Xiao family members and must follow Xiao family rules. Things like feigning illness and leaving the mansion privately cannot happen again. You’re quite clever—surely you know what’s good for your mistress? If the elders learned of this, your mistress’s favored position in the mansion would be gone forever. Don’t forget, you and your mistress share both loss and glory—” As Xiao Er lectured with these superior-to-subordinate words of instruction, he suddenly discovered that Mo Zi’s expression grew increasingly cold and indifferent, and he found himself unable to continue.

“Second Master speaks truly, Mo Zi will advise Madam more in the future.” Lowering her head again, resuming that respectful fifteen-degree bow, Mo Zi said softly, “Before Second Master departs, Mo Zi will see Second Master to the door.”

Xiao Wei didn’t know what was wrong with himself. When Mo Zi assumed such a humble posture that he couldn’t find fault with, he felt even more irritated.

He hadn’t figured out that when he spoke using his status, Mo Zi had already lumped him together with that lofty upper class, employing her indifferent attitude of lowered eyes and obedient demeanor.

“You—” Xiao Wei wanted to say more, but facing that submissive bowed head, he found himself unable to continue wielding his master’s authority. Because he couldn’t find fault with her. She had acknowledged everything so readily, bowed her head so humbly, even softening her tone.

“Second Master, if there are more instructions, please feel free to give them.” At times like this, she was grateful for her lowly status. Actually, since she was already a maid, she absolutely must not push forward to become some outstanding head maid—neither high nor low, still having to bow and serve those so-called masters.

What else did Xiao Er have to instruct? He couldn’t utter a single word.

You should know, one of Mo Zi’s skills was assuming the perfect posture for each person, flawlessly. If you called her obsequious, she’d say she was adapting to harsh survival conditions.

Xiao Wei was so angry he flung his sleeve. Accidentally, the sleeve’s edge swept across Mo Zi’s face, startling him and making him want to ask after her. But seeing her head unbowed and body unstraightened, acting as if nothing had happened, he said nothing more and strode toward the front courtyard. In his ears, her footsteps followed, neither hurried nor slow, neither far nor near. To him, it was extremely vexing.

At the main gate, his dark expression made his good friend Xiao Min start to ask what was wrong. He had wanted to deflect when he heard that crisp voice say “Safe travels, Second Master.” Turning back to see that obedient black-haired head still bowed, he was so angry he mounted his horse and whipped it forward, ignoring even Xiao Min.

As the hoofbeats faded, Mo Zi slowly raised her head, bright eyes sparkling, smiling faintly before turning to go back inside.

Xiao Min merely thought Mo Zi effeminate in manner. Having been instructed to wait outside only, he assumed she was one of Steward Tian’s subordinates and paid no attention.

Mo Zi walked back but didn’t go to where Qiu Sanniang was to join the commotion. Instead, she circled to the other side of the garden, returned to her own room, and collapsed into bed fully clothed to sleep deeply. There were four senior maids there—if they couldn’t handle Third Master Xiao, Qiu Sanniang might as well not return to the Prince’s mansion, as she’d be devoured alive.

She woke again because people were talking in her room. At first they didn’t disturb her, but later the buzzing grew frequent. When she turned over, they took it as her waking and started pushing her with their hands.

“Mo Zi, such a big incident happened, how could you run back here to sleep?” Among the four maids, the one who loved gossip most was none other than Lu Ju.

“Lu Ju, such a big incident happened, how could you run back here to disturb my sleep?” Honestly, all this was within expectations—she just hadn’t anticipated the timing would be so tight.

Qiu Sanniang had only feigned illness for two days before Third Master Xiao caught on. Seeing Xiao Er’s aggressive manner, she suspected it was highly likely that Xiao Er had discovered she and Mo Ge were the same person, which was why he brought his younger brother along to verify—otherwise this Second Uncle Master couldn’t come calling alone. She really didn’t know how he had exposed her. They didn’t meet in the mansion, so it must have been outside—at Wangqiu Tower, probably. She now went about barefaced, so the probability of him seeing her wasn’t low.

Opening her eyes to see Lu Ju with hands on hips, wearing an expression that she wouldn’t give up until Mo Zi got up, Mo Zi rose and carelessly splashed cold water on her face, straightening her long robe.

“Since you could run here, the matter should be resolved.” She walked outside to check the sun’s position—it was exactly noon. “I’m going out for a bit. Tell Madam for me I’ll be back after dinner.”

Hearing this, Lu Ju grew anxious and quickly pulled her back into the room, stretching her head to peek outside before closing the door. “My dear ancestor, things being as they are, you still dare go out?”

“How are things?” From her perspective, Xiao Er wouldn’t reveal Qiu Sanniang’s secrets to Xiao San, so to Xiao San, it was just a matter of feigning illness to leave the mansion—at most Jin Si’s godmother would be exposed.

Once Lu Ju got going, she immediately recounted everything that happened after Mo Zi left.

This maid loved making mountains out of molehills and turning simple matters complex. Mo Zi greatly condensed it, and the events were as follows—

Xiao San asked Qiu Sanniang why she feigned illness.

Qiu Sanniang said if she didn’t feign illness, someone would continue trying to harm her. She had Xiao Yi bring the medicine packet and gave Xiao San some to take to a pharmacy to verify.

Xiao San was somewhat angry, asking why Qiu Sanniang hadn’t told him the full story earlier.

Qiu Sanniang said that under those circumstances, even with witnesses and evidence, at most they could only point to a certain bird’s godmother. If things went wrong, she herself might be accused in return of framing others with a self-inflicted injury scheme. Unable to provoke them, she could only hide, having no choice but to pretend to be poisoned and come out to take refuge.

Xiao San not only took the physical evidence but also heard the witness testimony, and actually said he would go back and question Jin Si.

Qiu Sanniang had the maids block him, saying if he was so direct, how would the other party admit it? They’d just throw mud at her instead, or at worst sacrifice the godmother and harbor even deeper resentment toward her afterward.

Qiu Sanniang finally said she didn’t want to pursue this matter—she’d just feign illness and recuperate here for a month or two before returning to the mansion. By then, if he treated her coldly and distantly, the certain bird naturally wouldn’t trouble her anymore. If he thought she was playing tricks to deliberately frame Jin Si, that was fine too. In any case, she wouldn’t return to the mansion. If he had the ability, he could write a divorce letter and cast her out.

Lu Ju said at that moment, the young master’s face turned red with anger, pointing at Madam and saying she was being unreasonable—he had never suspected her of scheming to frame anyone, so how did it get to divorce letters and being cast out?

Xiao San said that previously, he had divorced two wives, and the real circumstances were not what was rumored in the mansion or outside. Rather, the legitimate wives had been too vicious in their attacks on Jin Si and the child first, which was why he favored Jin Si. It wasn’t that he couldn’t see the truth clearly—it was others who only knew one side without knowing the other, assuming that those from prestigious families or who seemed weak wouldn’t employ underhanded or cruel methods.

Lu Ju also said that the young master usually only liked writing and reading, at most throwing young master tantrums, but because Madam mentioned divorce papers, he was provoked to anger. He actually pushed aside the several protective maids, grabbed Madam, and pulled her into the room, saying he wanted to talk privately and wouldn’t let anyone in. After a quarter-hour, when the two emerged, the young master had Hong Mei return to the mansion to fetch his things, saying however long Sanniang stayed here, he would stay that long. Hong Mei and Bai He tried to persuade him, saying if he did this, the Old Madam and Princess Consort definitely wouldn’t allow it. The young master simply wouldn’t listen. Madam had no way to deal with him either.

Summary complete.

Four-character essence: Xiao San playing stubborn.

“Before Hong Mei returned to the mansion, she whispered to us to be careful in case the Old Madam and Princess Consort personally stormed over. Look, the whole morning has passed and she still hasn’t come back. Bai He was waiting anxiously, and not seeing you, sent me to find you. Who’d have thought you were sleeping so soundly—you really have the nerve to let us take the heat. Still want to go out? Don’t even think about it. Come with me right now.” Just as Bai He said, without Mo Zi present for such a major incident, their hearts were all aflutter. Lu Ju was determined to have Mo Zi hold down the fort.

But Mo Zi refused. These past days, accidents had come one after another, and because of her injury for over half a month, though construction had already begun at the shipyard, there wasn’t a single shipwright, not a single contract. The one-year deadline was approaching—if she delayed further, she’d be working for Qiu Sanniang her whole life.

“Lu Ju, go back and tell Bai He that if anything happens at the Prince’s mansion, naturally the young master will handle it.” If Xiao San didn’t have this capability, it would be fine for Qiu Sanniang to be cast out.

Lu Ju tilted her head—her mind was simple, so naturally she couldn’t understand. “Mo Zi, you’ve become lazy.”

Not lazy, but wild. When Qiu Sanniang granted her the authority to manage affairs and sent her to the bamboo grove courtyard, it was equivalent to giving her wings. Not flying for even one day made her feel stifled.

“Dear Lu Ju, I really have business—important business related to our Madam’s ancestral enterprise. This is more urgent than guarding against the Prince’s mansion. Think about it, if Madam really received divorce papers, having one more source of income would make us even less afraid of living alone.” Mo Zi knew Lu Ju was timid and deliberately made it sound very serious.

Hearing this, Lu Ju spat twice. “Mo Zi, don’t say such things. How is our Madam inferior to anyone? Why should she receive divorce papers? If anyone’s getting divorced, it should be that Jin Si canary. You have Madam’s orders—I can’t boss you around. I’m going to complain to Bai He.”

Jin Si was a concubine, not a wife—she wasn’t qualified to receive divorce papers. Mo Zi feared that continuing this way would be endless, so she just smiled.

Lu Ju gave a little twist of her waist, and at the door suddenly turned her face back, stuck her tongue out at Mo Zi, and walked away with a playful smile.

Such a cute, innocent maid.