“How could the items be wrong? I rely on these eyes of mine to make a living—even if a needle went missing, I could find it.” An Shun’s wife didn’t forget to praise herself before stating her purpose. “Fourth Madam said she has Wushan snow lotus seeds there and was planning to give a portion to Third Miss anyway. Since you two maids have come to collect items, there’s no need for her to specially find someone to send them over. She told me to wait here to carry the trunk while one of you goes to Fourth Madam’s courtyard.”

Mo Zi waited for Bai He to speak. In front of others, hierarchy still needed to be distinguished.

“In that case, Mo Zi, you go retrieve them. Don’t forget to thank Fourth Madam.” With Lu Ju and Xiao Yi waiting for her to assign tasks, Bai He could only instruct Mo Zi.

Mo Zi saw those two servant women easily lift the trunk—she and Bai He didn’t need to serve as laborers, and Fourth Madam’s courtyard wasn’t far from here. This was quite a good arrangement, so naturally she had no objections.

Qiu Si and Fourth Madam’s courtyard was called Spring Return Garden. The name was lovely, and its location was also extremely excellent, taking in the mansion’s most beautiful lake, bridge, hills, and woods. There was even a horse path built in front of the gate, which Qiu Sanniang had once criticized as absurdly extravagant. Qiu Si could ride all the way from outside the mansion to his own courtyard entrance—this showed how much Zhang Shi valued his position as the eldest son of the family, and also the legitimate son.

Mo Zi heard horses snorting and exhaling, and her originally light steps became heavy. Holding onto a thread of hope, she thought perhaps it was just a messenger, or perhaps one of Fourth Madam’s subordinates.

The reason she disliked facing male masters of the house like Qiu Si and Qiu Wu was that they were excessively lustful. Toward maids and servant women of low status, Qiu Wu could casually toy with and play around with them. Qiu Si didn’t eat grass near his own burrow, but he kept four or five prostitutes outside the mansion. Who knew if one day he might change his taste and love nibbling on those at home.

For a woman who kept herself pure, like her, how could she not avoid them?

Turning a corner, Mo Zi saw the tall horse with spots all over its body in front of the gate and inwardly groaned. Seeing Qiu Si’s personal attendant Qi Shu and a rather pretty young maid laughing and giggling together made it even worse. Just two days ago she had provoked Qiu Si’s mother—she was truly afraid this couple might remember today and want to settle accounts with her. Could Fourth Madam have deliberately sent her here? But An Shun’s wife hadn’t specified anyone by name.

Turning back and leaving now was impossible. Though her footsteps’ direction didn’t change, Mo Zi appeared hesitant and dawdling.

“Who are you?” The young maid who had been talking with Qi Shu saw her.

“Fourth Madam asked me to come retrieve the Wushan snow lotus seeds.” Mo Zi only answered the purpose of this trip.

“I asked your name, not what you came to do.” The young maid’s uniform skirt had a rank of—no rank—and her speech was quite domineering.

“My name is Mo Zi, from Third Miss’s quarters.” Clear enough now?

The young maid’s round eyes blinked. “Are you that Mo Zi who was beaten by Madam a few days ago?”

Mo Zi felt the nerves at the back of her head twitch. Even for her own sake, she needed to quickly get Qiu Sanniang married, because she had already become a celebrity in this mansion, much like her mistress, standing at the peak of the waves and about to receive much attention.

“Follow me. Madam has already given instructions.” The young maid waved at Qi Shu and entered the gate with her head high and chest out.

Mo Zi watched the young maid’s proud manner as she pretended to be an adult, and her troubled mood lightened a bit—she couldn’t help but find it amusing. After all, she was still a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl—why should she bother arguing with her?

Qiu Si’s courtyard had a small garden, pavilion and fish pond, with side buildings on the east, south, and west containing over ten rooms—three or four times larger than Qiu Sanniang’s small courtyard.

The young maid led her to the door of a large room in the south wing, where a second-rank maid was just coming out.

“Sister Jin Zhu, Sister Mo Zi from Third Miss’s quarters has come to retrieve the snow lotus seeds.” The young maid spoke sweetly.

Hearing this, Mo Zi realized she had underestimated this maid—she was actually quite clever, not superficially domineering. The one called Jin Zhu’s expression remained normal when she heard her name, her gaze steady. Unconsciously, she attributed this credit for training understanding maids to Fourth Madam.

“Cai Zhu’er, I’ll go inform Madam. You—” Jin Zhu was about to send the young maid back to the gate house.

“Cai Zhu, the master wants tea and refreshments. Take Qiao Shu to sit in the gate house and bring him some cakes and pastries.” Fourth Madam’s voice came from inside the room.

Cai Zhu seemed to be on very good terms with Qiao Shu. She happily responded and skipped away.

“Madam, Mo Zi has arrived.” Jin Zhu announced, although Cai Zhu had just spoken quite loudly.

“Come in.” Fourth Madam instructed.

Why did she need to let her come in? Just to give her something—having Cai Zhu, Jin Zhu, or these other little pearls hand it to her would be fine. Mo Zi, ignoring Jin Zhu standing beside her, stopped her feet outside the threshold and hesitated again.

Jin Zhu didn’t urge her either, quietly waiting.

Mo Zi hadn’t avoided it earlier, and now it was even more impossible to avoid—with no choice, she could only go in.

The room was very bright. Looking at the furnishings, they reflected Fourth Madam’s preferences, with particularly meticulous and delicate arrangements. On the pear wood table sat two cups of tea, their color jade-green, their extremely fragrant aroma reaching her with each breath. There were also several small dishes holding different pastries of exquisite design.

Qiu Si and Fourth Madam sat on opposite sides of the table.

Mo Zi stepped forward and bowed. “Fourth Master, Fourth Madam, greetings.”

Qiu Si didn’t even glance at her but said she could dispense with formalities, only focusing on drinking his tea.

Fourth Madam smiled. “My maids are clumsy—they don’t even know where they stored the snow lotus seeds. They’re looking for them now.”

Mo Zi could only smile along. The more she said, the more mistakes she might make, so she maintained a silent state with her smile not showing her teeth.

“Earlier there were too many people and too much talk, so I couldn’t properly ask. Does your face still hurt? I have excellent ointment here for promoting blood circulation and removing bruises. I’ll have a maid get you a small bottle.” Fourth Madam didn’t let this silence continue too long, taking in completely Qiu Si’s gaze that suddenly glanced toward Mo Zi.

“Thank you for Madam’s concern, but it’s already completely healed.” Mo Zi hurriedly declined. Regardless of whether Fourth Madam’s heart was good or bad, accepting things from others created obligations. What she took for Qiu Sanniang had nothing to do with herself.

“I heard from the master that you’re from Yuling and both your parents are gone.” Fourth Madam asked again, “Do you have any other siblings or relatives?”

“No.” Mo Zi answered with lowered brows and obedient eyes. Because she usually had so little contact with the mansion’s high-level leadership, today her head had been lowered for so long it was tired, her neck muscles somewhat sore.

“How pitiful.” Fourth Madam shook her head.

At this moment, Bao Zhu came out from the inner room, holding a wooden box in her hands.

“You found it?” Fourth Madam took it, opened it to look, her expression quite satisfied. She handed it to Bao Zhu, indicating she should give it to Mo Zi.

Mo Zi carefully held it with both hands. “I thank Fourth Master and Fourth Madam on behalf of my mistress.” Her steps slightly retreated—she should be able to leave now?

“We’re all family—what’s there to be formal about? Hurry back. I know Third Miss’s place must be frantically busy.” Fourth Madam finally relented and let her go.

Mo Zi, holding the box, bowed very much like a bow, but couldn’t worry about all that. Her feet made a circle in place and she walked out. Unexpectedly, at the doorway she nearly collided with someone trying to enter.

She immediately apologized, but the other person was unforgiving. “Are you trying to die? Rushing to reincarnate, charging around headfirst!”

“Ai Lian, don’t say such inauspicious words. Don’t you see the master is also here?” Fourth Madam’s words contained no anger, her movements composed as she poured tea for Qiu Si.

“She’s just a maid—can’t I even discipline her?” Ai Lian wore a peach-red skirt, her brows and eyes full of flirtation. “My lord, I rarely see you return during the day. As soon as you return, you sit at elder sister’s place without coming to see me.”

“If I don’t go see you, didn’t you come here yourself?” Qiu Si ate the cloud cake slice Fourth Madam handed him, his tone unenthusiastic.

“…” Fourth Madam said something in persuasion.

Mo Zi had already walked out, so she didn’t hear clearly, nor was she curious. In any case, it was just the usual drama of rivals competing for a man’s favor. Thinking about it, Fourth Madam was somewhat better off than Fifth Madam—she only had one to manage indoors, and as long as the several outside weren’t brought in, there would be peace. Ai Lian seemed not as favored as mansion rumors suggested, and as for that matter between her and Qiu Wu—

Her footsteps hurried.

The magnificent gardens and splendid buildings made her increasingly unable to breathe.