Tianliangyuan

Chapter 420 Another Stupid One

Xu Zhaozhao spoke cryptically, but everyone else understood immediately. Only Haitang blinked a few times in a daze before realizing, "Master made arrangements long ago? You mean that Wang woman can't endure hardship?"

"I didn't say anything. Whether or not I can endure hardship is not up to me. Besides, the ability to endure hardship varies from person to person, don't you agree?"

Haitang was young and had not been with Xu Zhaozhao for long, so she did not quite understand her master's intentions.

Xu Zhaozhao was in a good mood today and said with a smile, "Take you for example, come on, tell me, what do you think constitutes suffering?"

Haitang blinked: "Uh, as long as I can fill my stomach, it's fine."

"Okay, let me rephrase the question. Do you think being sent to do menial tasks, washing clothes and chopping wood every day, counts as hardship?"

Haitang shook her head: "Of course not. If you don't work, you won't get any food."

As a servant, I still have this much self-awareness.

Xu Zhaozhao found chatting with her quite interesting, and then asked, "If you were asked to serve a man in his forties or fifties, but you could live a life of luxury every day, would you consider it hardship?"

Haitang looked confused, and after a while she said, "Master, are you talking about serving a master's daily needs? That's not exactly hardship!"

Phew!

Zisu, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Xu Zhaozhao was also amused.

Forget it, let's give up.

The child is too young to understand many things, and she doesn't want to be too direct, lest she offend the little girl's ears.

"Forget it, you go down first."

"Yes, master."

Peony was having a hard time holding back; she felt that she hadn't been this dull when she was the same age as Begonia!

"Master, do you think there's something wrong with that woman surnamed Wang?"

As expected of someone who has been by Xu Zhaozhao's side for many years, she used to be shielded by Dingxiang, so she didn't stand out. But now, with Shaoyao's reaction, it's clear that she's no less capable than Dingxiang.

"Whether there's a problem or not, we'll only know after we see. I don't believe that it's just out of kindness that an official's family would go to such lengths to get someone out of trouble."

Xu Zhaozhao is absolutely right.

There are so many pitiful and aggrieved people in the capital, why don't they sympathize with them?

Therefore, it's normal for Xu Zhaozhao to be suspicious of Wang Yuhe, but whether there's actually a problem or not remains to be seen.

Xu Zhaozhao didn't tell Madam Yu these words.

Some things don't need to be publicized.

"Master, the Sixth Miss has come to pay her respects. She has brought two sets of little clothes, which I think are quite pretty."

Xu Zhaozhao immediately had someone invite her in; Xie Chan was truly becoming more and more to her liking.

The two women, aunt and sister-in-law, talked for a while while looking at the little clothes, and then Xie Juan came over.

Xie Juan brought a pair of little shoes this time. They looked like the kind worn by little dolls, and they appeared to be specially made tiger-head shoes.

Xu Zhaozhao had someone take a closer look, and praised her a few times with a smile, which made Xie Juan's smile even brighter.

After seeing the two girls off, Haitang was still staring at the tiger-head shoes.

"Master, this Seventh Miss's needlework is truly excellent. These tiger-head shoes are so beautiful and lifelike."

Xu Zhaozhao smiled and said nothing.

After Shaoyao helped her into the inner room and helped her lie down on the couch, she said softly, "Master, this Seventh Miss is clearly not taking it seriously. Everyone in the manor knows that you are pregnant with twins. Even the Sixth Miss has sent you two gifts several times. But this Seventh Miss only sent a pair of shoes. If it were our Madam Xu, she would definitely be furious."

How can I not get angry?!

You knew it was twins, yet you only sent one pair of shoes. Are you cursing the baby in Xu Zhaozhao's womb?

Xu Zhaozhao didn't care, but most people living in this era believed in this kind of saying.

So-called omens of good or bad fortune can truly harm or elevate people.

Xu Zhaozhao sighed: "Seventh Miss is also someone who has no one to teach her. When she gets married, we should arrange a few sensible nannies and head maids around her, so that she won't offend the elders at the Li residence in the future."

Peony pouted, looking unconvinced: "She's so immature, and you still have to consider her feelings? Humph, I really feel sorry for you."

"Alright, I didn't do it for her."

Xu Zhaozhao's initial motivation for taking care of her two half-sisters was not pure, but now she genuinely likes Xie Chan more.

However, Xie Juan is also a young lady of the Duke's mansion, so we can't really ignore her. We still need to teach her what needs to be taught.

Xu Zhaozhao didn't need to make any special arrangements for this. Lin Mama, who had been serving in the room, had seen everything and went to the Seventh Miss's courtyard that very night.

"It was my oversight. I'm so grateful for the reminder from the nanny, otherwise, my sister-in-law would have really grown tired of me."

Xie Juan finally came to her senses. She had truly forgotten about it. At this moment, she couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied with the people around her. She hadn't expected that these servants wouldn't even bother to remind her. They were really useless!

Lin Mama said calmly, "Seventh Miss, I hope you understand that after you marry into the Li family, you will still have to rely on our Young Master's wife to support you. Look at Sixth Miss, not to mention anything else, just since the Young Master's wife entered the mansion, how many times has she paid her respects, how many kinds of needlework has she sent, etc.? She is more diligent than you in everything."

Xie Juan's face was unpleasant. She knew that what Lin Mama said was true, but she was naturally uncomfortable to be exposed like this.

"I'm just here to offer you some advice. You and Sixth Miss are both born out of wedlock, neither of you is more noble than the other. You can tell just by looking at the dowries the Heir Apparent's wife has prepared for you two. You're getting married soon, so you should think it over carefully. Can you rely on Concubine Song to stand up for you in the future? To put it bluntly, I'm afraid Concubine Song will have a hard time even stepping out of the mansion."

Xie Juan's face turned even uglier.

Because what Granny Lin said was true.

Aunt Song was just a concubine in the household; how could she be qualified to go out every day?

Granny Lin didn't say anything more. If she said any more, it would seem like she was deliberately trying to embarrass the Seventh Miss.

In fact, Xie Juan already felt very embarrassed.

It wasn't because of Granny Lin's attitude, but because what she said was all true!

That night, Xie Juan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After she got married, she could be in charge of the Li family, but could she really manage the inner quarters of the household?

Thinking back to the months she had spent grieving and hurting herself because of Liu Bo, instead of learning proper etiquette and household management, she now realized that Xie Chan had unknowingly gone further and stood higher than her.

Two days later, Xie Juan came again with two bibs. This time, the two bibs were embroidered with the same things, both of which were for warding off evil spirits and poisons, and there was nothing wrong with them.

"You've put your heart into this. The bat is so well embroidered, so lifelike. Is this newly embroidered? I see your eyes are a little swollen. Your wedding is coming soon, so you mustn't stay up late anymore. You need to take good care of yourself and be a beautiful bride!"