On New Year's Eve, before dusk, Xiao Mo visited Jingwu Courtyard again. He had already been there in the morning to present a white jade Guanyin statue to Consort Dowager Fang. He had also brought New Year's gifts for all the maids and nannies in Jingwu Courtyard.
Xiao Mo was always generous, whether to the masters or the servants in his household.
Of course, he didn't cater to the individual preferences of each servant by preparing a special gift for everyone. Instead, he would present a large chest of items and let them choose for themselves.
This was why, despite his reserved nature, he was well-liked by the servants of the Xiao family.
When he arrived again this time, a young maid, beaming with joy, went to announce his arrival. As he walked in, the maids called out, "Second Young Master, Second Young Master!" creating a lively atmosphere.
Yun Zhu parted the curtains and emerged, smiling. "Does Second Young Master seek Her Majesty? Her Majesty is copying Buddhist scriptures for tonight's use, but she will be finished soon. Second Young Master, please wait..."
Xiao Mo interrupted her. "I'm here for you."
Yun Zhu froze, her cheeks quickly flushing. Even her tone softened as she shyly asked, "What business does Second Young Master have with this servant?"
Yun Zhu was not only the head maid in Jingwu Courtyard and Consort Dowager Fang's most trusted attendant, but she was also Consort Dowager Fang's savior.
Therefore, Xiao Mo did not want to embarrass her. He found a secluded spot and calmly told her, "Please refrain from speaking carelessly in front of the Little Princess in the future. If there is a next time, you will be punished according to household rules."
Xiao Mo had specifically sought a private place to speak with Yun Zhu, which made her heart flutter with anticipation.
The outcome was this sentence.
Her eyes immediately reddened, and she asked indignantly, "Did the Little Princess complain to you? This servant did not speak carelessly..."
Xiao Mo interrupted her without hesitation. "I am the master, and you are the servant. You only need to listen when I speak."
Yun Zhu bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, filled with humiliation.
"Yes," she choked out.
Xiao Mo flicked his sleeve and left.
Yun Zhu couldn't help but burst into tears.
When Consort Dowager Fang finished copying the scriptures and came out, she saw Yun Zhu's swollen eyes and wronged expression. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Who upset you?"
In Jingwu Courtyard, Yun Zhu was practically a half-master. Everyone fawned over her; who would dare bully her?
When Consort Dowager Fang asked, Yun Zhu's tears flowed again. "It's my fault; it has nothing to do with anyone else."
The more she said this, the more curious Consort Dowager Fang became. Under her repeated questioning, Yun Zhu finally stammered out the story.
"It's all my fault. This morning, I was ordered by Her Majesty to deliver pastries to the Little Princess. We were talking about Second Young Master, and I said he was kind-hearted and considerate of the servants, that he gave gifts to us maids every year. The Little Princess was unhappy then. It was my foolishness to have excitedly said so much. And just now, Second Young Master came to warn me, saying I slandered him and the maids by implying an improper relationship..."
Yun Zhu cried as she spoke, her wronged demeanor incredibly pitiable.
Consort Dowager Fang disliked Feng Jiang Duo, so she didn't genuinely send her pastries. She merely wanted Yun Zhu to use the delivery as an excuse to see how far Xiao Mo and Feng Jiang Duo had progressed, and whether he had gone to Nuanshang Pavilion to curry favor today...
After hearing Yun Zhu's words, she immediately knitted her brows in anger and said, "I only thought she lacked proper etiquette, but I didn't expect her to be so petty. Such a person can never enter our Xiao family!"
Yun Zhu sighed. "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. She is a Princess, after all, and the eldest granddaughter of the Prince of Dingnan. It's natural for her temper to be a bit strong."
"Ah Mo is also absurd to scold you without understanding the situation!"
This was also what displeased Consort Dowager Fang the most. Even if Yun Zhu had truly made a mistake, she was the head maid of Jingwu Courtyard, Consort Dowager Fang's person. Xiao Mo had scolded her so harshly, without considering his mother's reputation at all.
If he was like this before marriage, what would happen after he married Feng Jiang Duo?
Consort Dowager Fang thought of Xiao Yun, who also seemed to forget his mother after marrying, and she couldn't help but sigh heavily.
Yun Zhu comforted her. "It's the New Year, Your Majesty. Don't let anger harm your health. Second Young Master is currently infatuated with the Little Princess; he only sees her good qualities. As time passes, he will realize that the Little Princess is not suitable for him at all. Men are drawn to novelty. The Little Princess is cold and distant, neither knowing warmth nor cold, worse than the Princess Consort. In time, Second Young Master will understand."
Wang Qingyao: Thank you very much.
Yun Zhu genuinely thought this. She believed that men preferred gentle and virtuous women. Someone like Feng Jiang Duo, who wielded swords and was so taciturn that she couldn't even elicit a word with three sticks, was only suitable for guarding the house!
Xiao Mo was experiencing his first love, so naturally, he found Feng Jiang Duo perfect in every way right now.
But that might not be the case after some time!
Consort Dowager Fang felt that Yun Zhu's words made a lot of sense. Her first thought was to find Xiao Mo and explain the matter of sending pastries.
Yun Zhu quickly stopped her. "Second Young Master just reprimanded me, and now Your Majesty is going to defend me. Second Young Master will surely think I am instigating discord. Your Majesty, it doesn't matter if I suffer some grievances. The crucial thing is that your mother-son relationship with Second Young Master should not be affected. Let this matter end here. Second Young Master is a reasonable person; he will understand in time that I am not that kind of person."
Consort Dowager Fang held Yun Zhu's hand and patted it with relief. "You are indeed sensible."