"XiaoJie, Zou mama is here."
YuYing, who was outside announced Zou mama's arrival.
XuanRong stopped combing her hair and glanced at the door before she continued what she was doing previously.
The door opened, and an old woman arrogantly entered the room. Her brows were knitted together, and her chin was pointing upward, making her look snobbish and scornful.
"Da XiaoJie, please forgive this servant but the physician is busy. He cannot come here and treat your wound."
XuanRong acted like she did not hear a single thing. She never once uttered a word nor paid any attention to the old woman.
Zou mama who was standing beside the door felt irritated. She wanted to return to her room and go back to sleep. She inwardly cursed XuanRong but no matter how unfavored XuanRong was, she was still the Di daughter of XiangFu in the capital and she was only an insignificant servant in the suburbs. In front of this arrogant and idiotic Young Miss, she had to be respectful on the surface.
Zou mama could only grit her teeth and endure her grievance. She was standing for almost half a sichen [1] already and her feet were starting to feel numb.
When XuanRong was done combing her hair, she turned around and saw Zou mama standing near at the door. XuanRong showed a startled expression but immediately recovered, she then smiled apologetically at Zou mama.
"Zou mama, you are here? I didn't notice you since you just stood there without announcing your presence properly. I hope you will not blame this one for neglecting you."
XuanRong's voice was full of self-blame but Zou mama felt like something was wrong, as if XuanRong was indirectly rebuking her for not properly announcing her arrival...
Or was she being too paranoid?
Zou mama inwardly shook her head. That would be impossible.
Since XuanRong already pointed it out, without having any choice, Zou mama immediately kneeled and curtsied properly.
"This servant greets Da XiaoJie [2]. It was this servant's fault. This servant is asking for forgiveness for not paying respect immediately. This servant hopes Da XiaoJie would be magnanimous and forgive this servant."
Zou mama clenched her teeth as she kowtowed. She didn't believe that XuanRong did not notice her. The idiotic miss was lying through her teeth and Zou mama's hate for XuanRong intensified. She hated arrogant people especially those nobles who were stupid but acted like they were above everyone else.
XuanRong was very famous in the capital. She was stupid, unruly and arrogant. She acted high and mighty every day. Her arrogance reached the heavens and she did not act like a proper noble lady. She always screamed like a shrew when she was angry, threw tantrums like a child and speak coarse words like a mountain girl.
The reason why she was thrown in the suburbs was because she angered Prime Minister Xuan. XuanRong was punished severely and was sent away to avoid humiliating Xuan Family's face.
So, no matter how Er Furen pleaded for her sake, their Master immediately ordered XuanRong to be transferred in a desolate courtyard in the suburbs.
In Lu Shan, XuanRong was like a paper tiger [3], without being under the shade of Er Furen [4], she could only act haughtily and arrogantly but she was weaker than a kitten and had no real authority inside the manor.
When she arrived, she immediately berated the servants for having poor hospitality towards her. Since then, all the servants here in the manor hated XuanRong. That was also the main reason why Zou mama hated her.
The clothes XuanRong wore were the lowest quality while her food expenses were reduced by half and was pocketed by the kitchen servants, making her eat tasteless and bland foods. Although Zou mama was aware of everything, she decided to turn a blind eye to indirectly punish XuanRong for being arrogant.
After a week of constant oppression, the arrogant XuanRong could only grit her teeth and swallow her anger. XuanRong's arrogance toned down greatly, fearing that she would offend both Zou mama and Housekeeper Wang. XuanRong was afraid that the bullying would intensify so she could only swallow the bitterness and hatred.
When XuanRong saw the old woman kneeling on the ground, she immediately stood up from sitting and hastily pulled Zou mama upward from kneeling on the floor.
"Zou mama, why are you kneeling? How can I allow you to kneel in front of me? You are already old and few years later, King Yama will knock on your door. It won't be good to continue kneeling on this cold floor, it might hasten his arrival."
When Zou mama heard XuanRong's words, she swayed and almost fell on the ground.
XuanRong's voice was full of worry but Zou mama felt that XuanRong was cursing her to die early and follow King Yama to the netherworld.
"T-this servant is alright. This servant thanks Da XiaoJie for being magnanimous."
Zou mama immediately pulled her arm that was held by XuanRong and took a step back to create distance between them.
"What are you saying, Zou mama? You are my elder. I should take care of you! After all, you and housekeeper Wang are the ones who control the entire manor. How can I afford to slight you? Are you feeling dizzy after standing for a while? Do you want to lay down on my humble bed?"
Zou mama felt horrified and shook her head a couple of times. No matter how much she hated XuanRong's arrogance, she was still their master in name and they had to be respectful towards her. If other people heard that their master, XuanRong, was treating a mere servant like her as an elder in fear of offending her, Zou mama would be labeled as a servant without any sense of propriety.
Aside from that, if outsiders heard that a mere servant was in control of the entire manor, leaving the master powerless, Zou mama's head would definitely fly off. It had never occurred in the history of Qian Zou [5] that the servant had a higher authority than the master.
Zou mama laughed nervously.
"Da XiaoJie is very humorous. How can this servant be treated like an elder and be in control of the entire manor? This servant is nothing but a servant in this family and Da XiaoJie is the master. Da XiaoJie has the highest authority here."
XuanRong smiled and straightened herself. Her aura changed from being a weak-kneed girl into a sharp and dominant woman. She suppressed the mocking laughter that was trying to escape from her mouth.
"Oh. So Zou mama is aware that This Lady [6] is the master of this manor? Then tell me Zou mama, how should servants behave?"
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[1]. One Sichen is two hours and half a Sichen is one hour.
[2]. Eldest Young Miss/ Big Miss
[3]. A person that appears threatening but is ineffectual.
[4]. Second Wife/Madam
[5]. One of the four countries- Qin, Xian, Qian Zou and Jing.
[6]. 'Ben XiaoJie'- XuanRong addressed herself in more authoritative way.
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Edited and Proofread by: Prikkrang and Supremetobs