Chapter 036: Cinderella

The maid who came to deliver the message was initially very aggressive, knowing that the mistress was angry and guessing that Jiang Xuening would not have a good outcome, so she spoke to her quite rudely. But when she left, her face was pale, and she was trembling all over, frightened by Jiang Xuening’s undisguised threat and even more terrified of how to relay this message to Meng Shi.

Lian’er and Tang’er both thought that their Second Miss had become more reasonable and gentle recently.

Who would have expected her to say something like this suddenly?

Both of them were startled and couldn’t help but be more cautious when serving her, with a bit of worry: “Second Miss, after all, the mistress is the head of the household. Wouldn’t this…”

Jiang Xuening pulled the towel off her face and casually threw it into the copper basin in front of her. Her makeup-free face was slightly flushed from the steam, making her skin look as smooth as a freshly peeled egg. Without the cover and embellishment of makeup, her delicate and outstanding features were even more apparent.

She said, “Isn’t this my home too?”

Moreover, she had to stay in the palace for half a year. As the companion reader to the princess, even though she didn’t like this identity or her current situation, what could Meng Shi do to her even if she was furious?

Meng Shi loved Jiang Xuehui and would naturally be cautious.

After washing up, she asked Lian’er to brew a pot of tea and instructed Tang’er, “Miss You from the Earl’s Mansion will come over later. Find someone smart and discreet to keep an eye on the gatehouse and make sure she isn’t stopped at the door.”

This time, she could only stay at home for two days after leaving the palace.

She needed to guide You Fangyin again and tidy up the loose ends from the last time she advised her. Jiang Xuening didn’t have much time left.

Not to mention the matters with Yan Lin.

Although the incident at the Yongyi Marquis Mansion was gradually approaching, there was still some time. She could use it to prepare Yan Lin adequately and explain everything to him. Maybe he could accept it better this way, and it wouldn’t end up with him hating her like in the previous life.

But the plan was disrupted by the matter of entering the palace as a companion reader.

Once in the palace, it would be inconvenient to act, and not everything could be said there. Leaving the palace again would be ten days later. If she didn’t take this opportunity to explain, she might not have the chance to speak out later.

*

Early in the morning, You Fangyin quietly slipped a small piece of silver to the gatekeeper she was familiar with. Because her dress and hairpins were simple, she didn’t need much disguise, looking just like a maid from the mansion.

And not a very respectable one at that.

She sneaked out of the mansion, carefully looking around as she walked out the door, as if afraid someone was following her.

But this kind of vigilance was meaningless.

If someone were really following, how could they be so easily discovered?

For example…

The moment she walked out of the Qingyuan Earl’s Mansion, a plain-looking young man in blue, sitting by a wonton stall not far away, gently put down his chopsticks. He took a few copper coins from his waist, placed them on the greasy table, and got up to follow her from a distance.

Dao Qin had been cursing in his heart for a while: That Lu guy, unable to command the master, just orders the master’s subordinates around all day, not letting them idle. He actually gave him the task of following someone!

What was so important about a mere illegitimate daughter of an earl’s mansion?

If the brothers found out, wouldn’t they think that Young Master Dao was some lowly, despicable person from the slums?

You Fangyin crossed two streets and entered a silk shop.

Dao Qin watched from a nearby building and soon saw her come out with a piece of fine Hangzhou silk.

At this point, he still didn’t feel anything unusual.

But after a while, You Fangyin went into a stationery shop and bought two fine brushes and a good inkstone; next, she went into a cosmetics shop and bought some rouge and powder, coming out with the shopkeeper smiling as he saw her off; then she bought some jewelry and other small items…

Finally, she even went to a temple to get a peace charm?!

Dao Qin couldn’t help but twitch his mouth.

This illegitimate daughter of the Earl’s Mansion had always lived a poor and hard life. Suddenly, because of the raw silk business, she got a large sum of money and must have wanted to reward herself well. And looking at these things she bought, they were all for a young lady’s use.

That Lu guy said she would definitely go to see her employer.

Did this look like she was going to see her employer?

For a moment, he wanted to abandon the task and go back to the mansion to complain to the master: just say that Lu guy talks nonsense all day, and none of his predictions ever come true.

But the next moment, he realized something was wrong!

You Fangyin had already hired a carriage halfway, and after coming out of the temple, she got on the carriage and said something to the driver. Normally, she should be going back to the mansion. But Dao Qin, with his excellent archery skills and sharp eyesight, could see the shape of her lips clearly from a distance of ten zhang (about 33 meters) –

And those words were definitely not “Qingyuan Earl’s Mansion.”

Dao Qin’s heart tightened, and he immediately took the task more seriously, silently observing the direction of the carriage. Sometimes he walked quickly, sometimes he took shortcuts, and soon he saw the carriage bypass a mansion and stop at the side door of a house to the east.

You Fangyin got off the carriage.

Dao Qin looked up at the plaque hanging above the mansion gate and almost bit his tongue in shock: “Oh my…”

The master’s head was probably going to get a lot bigger.

*

“Miss You, please come in.”

Having received Jiang Xuening’s instructions earlier, the gatekeeper was prepared. So when Tang’er got the news of You Fangyin’s visit, she quickly went to receive her, brought her to Jiang Xuening’s room, lifted the curtain, and reported inside.

“Second Miss, the guest has arrived.”

The place where Jiang Xuening lived was much more beautiful than You Fangyin’s shabby room. After some tidying and adjustments since her return, she had removed some unsuitable decorations and added more appropriate items, making it feel even more like a fragrant and soft boudoir.

The incense burner on the desk was still emitting a faint and distant fragrance.

When You Fangyin walked in, she almost stared in amazement.

Jiang Xuening was barefoot in her room, her hair uncombed, sitting cross-legged on the kang by the window in a casual and lazy posture, drinking tea and reading a book.

She was thinking about meeting Yan Lin in the evening and couldn’t turn a page for half a day.

Hearing someone come in, she looked up.

As expected, You Fangyin was dressed inconspicuously and had bought a lot of things, just as Jiang Xuening had advised her yesterday. Jiang Xuening nodded and smiled, saying, “You came early, have a seat.”

You Fangyin first saluted her but refused to sit opposite Jiang Xuening.

Tang’er had no choice but to bring a small embroidered stool for her.

Only then did You Fangyin sit down below Jiang Xuening, saying, “Second Miss is my savior, I’ll sit here.”

Jiang Xuening wanted to persuade her, but seeing how uncomfortable she was, she thought if You Fangyin sat opposite her, she might be too nervous to speak. So she let it go.

She asked, “How was it on your way here?”

You Fangyin replied, “I did everything as you said. I looked around when I left, but I didn’t see anyone following me.”

“If you could spot them, the person following would be too stupid,” Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but laugh. She gestured for Tang’er to bring tea and continued, “As long as you did as I said, we’ll see what happens next. I called you here today because you seemed very ambitious yesterday. Since you want to make more money, you need ways to make money grow. So I prepared a few methods to tell you.”

You Fangyin’s eyes widened in surprise.

At this moment, Tang’er brought the tea.

As she thought about how to respond, she reached out to take the tea but forgot about the injury on her hand. When she accidentally touched it, the sudden pain made her hand tremble, and she almost cried out!

“Crash!”

The teacup wasn’t held steady and fell to the ground, shattering.

Tea splashed everywhere, wetting her clothes.

Tang’er was startled and looked at You Fangyin with a surprised expression, “Miss You, are you okay?”

“No, no, I’m fine.” You Fangyin clutched her fingers with her other hand, full of panic and embarrassment. She hadn’t expected to break the host’s teacup due to her carelessness, feeling extremely ashamed, “It’s all my fault, I got distracted just now.”

Distracted?

She didn’t look distracted just now.

When she reached for the tea from Tang’er, it was clear she touched something painful, like she got burned.

Jiang Xuening was not easily fooled these days. She stared at her for a moment and said, “Come here.” You Fangyin was a bit scared and didn’t dare to move.

Jiang Xuening extended her hand to her again, saying, “Come here.”

You Fangyin finally walked over.

Jiang Xuening lowered her eyes and, without looking at her, directly took the hand she had been clutching. She immediately saw a split cut on her fingertip, with the outer skin peeled back, exposing the flesh underneath. The wound wasn’t large, but it looked painful.

You Fangyin instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

She was already in a sorry state and didn’t want the Second Miss, who had helped her so much, to see her like this. She stammered, “I was too happy when I got back yesterday and accidentally fell on the steps in the mansion, cutting my hand. It’s no big deal.”

Jiang Xuening, however, held her hand firmly, not letting her pull it back.

Fell on the steps?

You Fangyin did seem clumsy, and it wasn’t impossible for her to trip while walking.

But…

Jiang Xuening didn’t respond. She just rolled up You Fangyin’s long sleeve, which had been covering her arm tightly. Her arm, already marked with many scars, had old wounds that hadn’t healed yet, and now there were new bruises and cuts, blue, purple, and red.

Tang’er and Lian’er, standing nearby, gasped, feeling a pang of sympathy.

You Fangyin lowered her head deeply.

Jiang Xuening finally looked up at her slowly and asked, “Yesterday, your second sister You Yue also returned from the palace, didn’t she?”