"XiaoJie."
YuYing entered the room carrying a bucket of water. She placed it on the table and curtsied.
"En."
XuanRong yawned and stretched her body. She was not able to sleep peacefully last night because she kept thinking about her past life and how to reverse her fate.
YuYing dipped the cloth inside the bucket filled with water and squeezed it carefully. She then gave it to XuanRong who was now sitting at the edge of the bed. Few minutes later, YuLi arrived, carrying different kinds of dishes.
After YuLi curtsied, she placed the food on the table and went beside YuYing who was combing XuanRong's hair.
"YuLi."
"This servant is here."
"Where were you last night? I got anxious when one of the servants informed me that you were not inside the maid's quarter during the hour of the Rat [1]."
Last night, XuanRong ordered the guards to monitor the servants' quarter. One of the guards saw YuLi left the manor using the back exit. He then immediately relayed the information to XuanRong, who was still awake at that time. After confirming that YuLi really left, XuanRong rewarded the guard and told him to continue monitoring everything.
"This servant felt stuffy last night so this servant went to the garden to cool one's self."
YuLi answered without blinking an eye. She never thought that XuanRong ordered the guards to monitor the servants' quarter so, she continued to speak as if nothing was wrong. If people would see her action and hear her words, for sure, they would believe her.
XuanRong did not say anything and just stared at YuLi, without any emotion reflected inside her eyes. Her eyes were as clear as the sky but YuLi felt like her XiaoJie could see inside her heart. YuLi inwardly shivered but her face remained normal, not an ounce of fear could be seen on her face.
XuanRong retracted her gaze and closed her eyes.
"YuYing, YuLi, since childhood, the three of us had been together. I trust both of you and treat you more than servants. I hope, you will continue to serve me loyally in the near future. As long as you devote yourself in serving me, I will never abandon you, but once you betray me, I will not hesitate to send you to King Yama. Do you understand?"
"Yes. This servant understands. This servant will forever be loyal to XiaoJie."
Both YuYing and YuLi answered.
XuanRong smiled and open her eyes. She looked at YuLi and YuYing. She did not say anything but YuLi felt like XuanRong was giving her a warning, saying that if she betrays her once more, XuanRong would definitely not tolerate her betrayal.
YuLi's heart was in chaos. For her ambition, she became Er Furen's mole [2], keeping tabs on XuanRong's movements and actions for the past three years. She was also the one who always instigated XuanRong to act arrogant per Er Furen's order.
'Impossible. XiaoJie won't think that far. Maybe it's because of her struggles here in the manor that made her speak like that.'
Although XuanRong's temperament changed, YuLi believed that XuanRong was still a naive girl, not able to think deeply and would just act based on the current situation.
How could human nature change that fast?
Erasing the doubts in her heart, YuLi felt relieved and at ease.
"YuLi."
"This servant is here."
"Go and tell Zou mama that I want to speak with her later."
"This servant understands."
YuLi curtsied and left.
Once YuYing was done styling XuanRong's hair, XuanRong stood up and went to the table to eat breakfast. After eating, XuanRong whispered something to YuYing's ear. YuYing listened for an incense stick of time before she nodded and left the room.
XuanRong stood up and picked one of the accounting records. She took notes of the anomaly and wrote some corrections. Looking at the manor's past expenditures, XuanRong could tell that housekeeper Wang was able to embezzle a huge amount of money. Throughout the years, XuanRong could roughly estimate the total amount of gold coins he stole from the manor's treasury. Although this manor was only an insignificant property among all the things included in her mother's dowry, it could still stand on its own without any support from the clan because the jewelry store's proceeds were enough to support it.
After half a sichen, Zou mama arrived together with YuLi. XuanRong ordered YuLi to oversee the kitchen, saying that she was afraid that someone might tamper the foods. She cautiously sent YuLi away. When YuLi left, she beckoned Zou mama to come closer, letting her see the accounting records she corrected. After half a sichen, she was able to convey everything she wanted to say and asked for Zou mama's opinion.
"What can you say, Zou mama?"
After disclosing her plan to Zou mama, the old woman was once again thankful that she switched sides. Zou mama immediately saluted and said,
"This servant thinks that Da XiaoJie's plan is brilliant and wise. This servant will immediately follow Da XiaoJie's plan. This servant will leave now."
"En. Go and tell them. Once This Lady is successful in getting ahold of the original accounting records, we will immediately proceed with our plan but for now, inform the workers. Bring This Lady's seal and present it to them. Tell them that it is This Lady's order to stop everything."
Zou mama curtsied and was preparing to leave when XuanRong remembered something.
"Ah, that's right. A week later, This Lady will visit the temple near Gu Shao mountain to pray for my mother's soul. Prepare the necessary things needed for my travel."
When Zou mama left, YuYing arrived and whispered to XuanRong's ears.
"Oh? That's good. Do not let other people see it. Hide it well and move it here later."
YuYing nodded.
"This servant will bring them later."
"YuYing, how's the letter I ordered you to deliver?"
"This servant already hired a courier. The letter will arrive at the capital in fifteen days."
XuanRong could tell that the earliest she could get her grandfather's help would be in forty days or in a month's time.
"Mm. It's seems like I can't wait that long and could only travel with you."
"Eh? Where are we going, XiaoJie?"
"A week later, we will go at the temple in Gu Shao mountain to pray for my mother's soul."
YuYing was puzzled as to why XuanRong wanted to pray for First Madam's soul right away when there were still few months before First Madam's death anniversary.
XuanRong smiled when she saw YuYing's puzzled face.
"I just want to do it early. I have a hunch that in the next few months, I will be very busy and won't be able to visit the temple."
'To avoid the calamity that will tarnish my reputation, I must visit the temple early.'
In her past life, XuanRong was almost humiliated during her travel to the temple on her mother's death anniversary. Luckily, she was able to escape but due to the rumors circling around her, it greatly damaged her reputation.
Unbeknownst to her, there were things that were difficult to escape. On the day she tried to change her destiny, the thread of fate started to weave a new path for her while trying to adapt the changes she created.
XuanRong never thought that her visit in the temple would let her encounter someone she shouldn't have met in her lifetime.
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[1]. 11:00pm to 1:00 am- Modern Time
[2]. Second Madam's spy.
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Edited and Proofread by: Prikkrang and Supremetobs