High-class Spring Joy

"Never mind, it was my fault for making things difficult for you."

Chu Jingxian didn't press for an answer, and left without getting one, showing little emotional fluctuation throughout the process.

After Chu Jingxian left, Qingyuan clutched her chest, panting.

I had just left Chu Jingyu's place when I turned around and bumped into Chu Jingxian, who was even more troublesome.

This could really kill her.

These days are really tough.

-

The bloody whip marks were visible, and the white flesh was curled outwards.

Hongdou was heartbroken and tears streamed down her face: "The medicine I applied this morning hasn't even worn off yet, how come there are more injuries like this? This is too much! She just broke off her engagement with the Third Young Master, and she's already acting so arrogantly and trying to seduce him. If she really enters the manor, how difficult will your life be, sister? Not to mention Miss Jiang, Miss Jiang the Second is enough to torment people to death."

Hongdou originally thought that this was just Qingyuan and the young master arguing and having some fun.

After all, the two had their share of arguments over the past ten years, and each time it ended with the older sister saying "That's enough."

Looking at it day by day, it's not just a fit of pique; it's clearly the two young ladies of the Jiang family trying to drive someone to their death, and the fifth young master trying to make someone feel wronged to death.

"We have to go, sister, we have to go!" Hongdou said resolutely, walked to her bed, found a small locked wooden box, unlocked it, and stuffed it in front of Qingyuan: "Sister, you know I'm greedy and I spend all my money on food and other necessities. I haven't saved much money over the years, so this is all for you, sister."

The small wooden box contained loose silver coins and hairpins, not much, about twenty taels.

Not bad, there's a small piece of silver more than when I gave it to her this morning.

Qingyuan looked at Hongdou's tearful eyes, which were exceptionally sincere, like a blank sheet of paper.

Hongdou was a year or two younger than her, and they were sold into the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion at the same time. Hongdou was a simple girl with no particular thoughts, but she was a bit greedy.

Ever since she decided to redeem herself, this little girl has been trying to stuff all the money she's saved up over the years into her hands. Qingyuan refuses to accept it, so she keeps stuffing it into her hands, three times a day.

Qingyuan felt warm and tender inside. She had never felt this way of being cared for since her sister left.

I wonder where this little girl got her new half-coin of silver from. Maybe she pawned something to get it.

"I don't want to, and you're not allowed to sell your own jewelry for me. Otherwise, don't call me 'sister' anymore."

Qingyuan refused as always.

Startled by Qingyuan, Hongdou didn't dare to continue, but decided to stuff it in her heart tomorrow.

Over the years, she had long regarded Qingyuan as her own sister.

Hongdou's idea was simple: if she stayed in the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, she would receive a monthly allowance and wouldn't have to worry about food or clothing. She might even receive rewards from her master. However, her sister needed a thousand taels to redeem herself, and her livelihood would be difficult after leaving the mansion. Of course, she would do her best to help her.

A younger sister will naturally give her all for her older sister.

For most of the day, Qingyuan's mind was filled with thoughts of her purse. She was determined to go into the water and look for it herself once everyone was gone.

When she was little, her older sister taught her how to swim. The lake looked scary, but it wasn't too deep, and she was confident she could find it.

The two Jiang sisters insisted on having tea and conversation with Chu Jingyu at the lakeside pavilion.

It wasn't until nightfall that Qingyuan got her chance.

Qingyuan soaked in the icy lake water, and a night breeze made her shiver all over.

The purse and the wooden comb inside were the only keepsakes her sister left her.

She must find it.

The purse was originally light, but inside was a thick wooden comb, which had long since sunk to who-knows-where.

Qingyuan searched for a long time but still found nothing. She became a little impatient, and the wound on her back ached from being soaked in the lake water...

Suddenly, a small flame appeared on the right side—

"Hey!! Is that some kind of noise over there?!"

"Yes, yes, there seems to be someone over there?!"

"Help! A thief has broken in!!"

It looked like the servants and maids were discovering them, and they were about to be dragged before the old lady…

Just thinking about that beating sends chills down my spine.

Qingyuan didn't care and climbed up in a few quick movements. But it turned out that the people seemed to have been waiting around all along, and they poured out from several directions.

She immediately frowned. How could it be such a coincidence? She had specifically chosen the time. Usually, the servants and maids would have already retired by this time, leaving only those on night duty.

Qingyuan hid behind the artificial hill, the sound of hurried and chaotic footsteps lingering in her ears.

Then they heard a familiar yet shrill voice: "Have you found them?!"

That sound…

It was Jiang Qingyun!

Sure enough, it was the people that Miss Jiang had deliberately arranged to lie in wait here.

She just wanted to get her purse back, as if she had committed a grave crime and was being targeted by this Miss Jiang.

It's been the same every time for so many years.

As a mere maid, she could only endure the humiliation, for the woman in question was the second young lady of the Dali Temple Minister's family.

She had tried other methods besides endurance. At first, she didn't expect Chu Jingyu to help her, she only hoped that he could stop it. But Chu Jingyu's words, "She's just a child, you've always been sensible," left Qingyuan with a lot of words stuck in her chest.

Later, she tried to scheme and let the old lady accidentally see it, thinking that for the sake of the Marquis's reputation and face, the old lady would at least not just stand by and watch, so it would be good to just put on a show.

Unexpectedly, regardless of who was right or wrong, the old lady would only shift the blame onto Qingyuan. Jiang Qingyun was completely wrong, and it was Qingyuan who held a grudge.

Jiang Qingyun wasn't that wrong; it was Qingyuan who didn't know how to back down.

For a maid to try and cause trouble for the daughter of the Minister of Justice is simply wishful thinking.

It was then that Qingyuan realized that as long as the mouths of the family were kept tightly shut, and the backyard of the mansion was closed, all the dirty things could only happen inside the gate.

Outside the door, it remained an elegant and distinguished household, a place of great wealth and influence.

Later, Qingyuan could only endure it; otherwise, there were many ways to silence her and take her life.

At this moment, Jiang Qingyun became furious upon hearing the servant say that they hadn't found it.

My sister was right after all. That wretched maid is bound to come looking for us. With so many people around, how could she possibly escape?!

"Keep searching. The lakeside, the pavilion in the middle of the lake—and those artificial hills... I don't believe that lowly servant girl could grow wings and fly away!"

Qingyuan clenched her fists, then quickly relaxed them.

If she can't afford to offend them, she'll just avoid them.

If she remembered correctly, behind her was the Third Young Master's Crimson Cloud Garden.

No matter how outrageous Jiang Qingyun was, or how much the old lady protected her, she would never dare to easily enter Chu Jingxian's place.

As soon as Qingyuan entered the artificial hill in Chixia Garden, she heard a noise, like the sound of a hard object rolling on a pebble path.

Immediately, Chen Sha's steady voice came through: "The woman that Master is looking for is already being searched for by the men below. I have also given the order that once she is found, she will be torn to pieces to avenge Young Master."