When Shen Miao got out of the academy and returned to the Shen Residence, the skies were becoming dark.
Shen Yue and Shen Qing did not return together with her and Shen Miao could not be bothered to care about them. Old Shen Fūrén had already gone to rest so she went back to the Western Courtyard.
Just as she reached the Western Courtyard, a warm voice called out, "Xiǎojiě has finally returned. This old servant heard that Xiǎojiě had fallen into the water and was very worried. Seeing that Xiǎojiě is well, this one's heart can finally be at ease."
Turning her head to the side, Shen Miao saw a middle-aged woman walking over with a smile. This woman was about forty years of age, with a somewhat fat stature, slightly darker skin and wearing a green dress and a thick silver bracelet on her wrist. Even though it looked ordinary, the material used was good.
"Gui Māmā," Shen Miao faintly replied.
That woman did not think she had done anything wrong and continued preaching, "This old servant wanted to come over earlier but Ran-er was ill. After much tossing and turning and seeing there was no other choice, one could only pass Ran-er to his mother and come back to the residence first. Seeing that Xiǎojiě is alright, this one's heart can settle."
The main point of these words was to say that Shen Miao's position in her heart was more important than her own grandson. If it was as usual, after listening to these words, Shen Miao would be greatly moved and give Gui Māmā some taels to get a physician for her grandson.
But after her rebirth, Shen Miao almost laughed at her own naivety when she saw the woman in front of her. In the beginning, how blind was she to think that such a person was a loyal servant?
Not long after Shen Fūrén gave birth to Shen Miao, she set off with Shen Xin. Since Shen Miao was too young and could not bear the difficulty of travelling, Shen Fūrén could only reluctantly leave her in Shen Residence. Shen Fūrén hired a wet nurse for her, who was the current Gui Māmā. Gui Māmā was born on a farm on their estate and at the beginning Shen Fūrén saw that she was diligent and honest. Afterwards, when she saw Gui Māmā treating Shen Miao very well, she then felt assured to leave her at Shen Miao's side as a training Māmā.
But, in this world, people will change.
There were already very few people in Western Courtyard and the ones calling the shots were the two other households and Old Shen Fūrén in the Eastern Courtyard. Gui Māmā initially took care of Shen Miao honestly, but after some time passed, she saw the power situation clearly and did not hesitate to defect to Old Shen Fūrén's side. When Shen Miao was initially bent on marrying Fu Xiu Yi, Gui Māmā fanned the flames with her flattering words.
But the most detestable thing was that, in the beginning, when Old Shen Fūrén brought her grandniece from far away to seek refuge with the Shen family, that grandniece accused Dàgē Shen Qiu of ruining her innocence and insisted on getting him to take responsibility. She finally became her sister-in-law and created a mess out of Dàgē's inner courtyard. And Gui Māmā was supposedly the witness to the insult Shen Qiu inflicted upon this grandniece.
To think about it now, it was nothing but a bad show.
Once disloyal, one cannot be used for a hundred times. Moreover, with such a person as Gui Māmā, who was a hundred times disloyal, Shen Miao naturally had to tidy things up. When dealing with a dog that ran to others, might as well kill it rather than continuing to rear it.
After Gui Māmā waited for a long time without hearing Shen Miao giving out a reward, the loving look on her face stiffened. She could not help but look up at Shen Miao, but only saw looking indifferent, as if it was nothing special.
Her heart suddenly made a 'kwang dang' sound. She did not know why, but she suddenly felt guilty.
In the next moment, she heard a short and bland answer from Shen Miao, "Oh. It is really hard for Māmā."
Gu Yu snorted softly and looked at Gui Māmā with a sneer. She had always looked down on Gui Māmā for being a flattering, vile person who relied on her identity as Xiǎojiě's wet nurse to throw her weight around in the Western Courtyard. But her own Xiǎojiě was previously coaxed by this Gui Māmā so well that she listened too much of what Gui Māmā said and strained her relationship with many of the people in the Western Courtyard.
It was good now. After Xiǎojiě had woken up from falling into the water, it seemed that she saw many things clearly and her lukewarm attitude towards Gui Māmā brought a great sense of comfort to Gu Yu.
Gui Māmā continued to smile stiffly as she was unable to figure out why Shen Miao was treating her with such coldness today. Thinking that Shen Miao was not happy due to the matter of falling in the water, she consoled, "This servant will say a word of advice to Xiǎojiě. One must not be overly sad, protecting one's health is the important thing. Xiǎojiě is as pretty as a flower and Ding Wángzǐ Diànxià will definitely like you. There will always be a day…" She would often say such pleasing words and would usually pick up on Shen Miao's likes to achieve her favour. But when these words were spoken today, she saw Shen Miao's face change.
"For Māmā to say such words, is it to put a strain on my innocence?" Shen Miao coldly said, "Although Fùqīn and Mǔqīn are currently not in the General's residence, I am the Di Young Lady of the General's residence and the mistress of the Western Courtyard. For the reputation of one's innocence, with what Māmā had said, is it to deliberately trap me in the pits of fire and water?"
Gui Māmā was surprised for a moment before she subconsciously said, "How can Xiǎojiě say it that way? This old servant said it for your sake…"
"So this is saying it is my fault?" Shen Miao coldly laughed, "This is also good. Why not ask Old Fūrén if the innocence of a daughter from the General's residence is as valuable as a cabbage? Even a cabbage is worth a few coins. Gui Māmā, for you to be so honest, I want to ask if I was overly shameless."
Perhaps she did not expect that Shen Miao would seize the momentum and take her bad mood out on her. Gui Māmā was already used to being a tyrant in the Western Courtyard and normally she could control Shen Miao very well, but today, to be brought down a peg in front of Gu Yu and Jing Zhe, she was somewhat angry and could not help saying, "Xiǎojiě's words are making this slave look evil. This old slave has followed by Xiǎojiě's side for more than ten years. Why would Xiǎojiě think that this old servant would deliberately harm others?"
"Insolent!" Jing Zhe loudly shouted. "Xiǎojiě is the Zhǔzi, how dare Gui Māmā speaks to Xiǎojiě like that?"
Gui Māmā was so surprised and upset that she became too agitated just now. But words were like water that was poured out and could not be retrieved, and there were so many servants around watching the commotion. She could only treat Shen Miao as an easily coaxed young girl and quickly said in a soft voice, "Xiǎojiě, this old servant truly does feel distressed for Xiǎojiě. This old servant has followed Xiǎojiě for so many years and has already taken Xiǎojiě as one's own child. What this old servant said was not correct. Xiǎojiě mustn't get angry and cause harm to the body."
Taken her as her own child? Shen Miao sneered in her heart. She felt that this Gui Māmā was a genius. Usually, she would receive a lot of gold from the Western Courtyard but treated the Eastern Courtyard as the official master. In the end, she made her Eldest Brother eat up such a huge disadvantage. If it was her previous life in the Palace, she would have gotten someone to beat up and kill a servant like this... But now… Since Gui Māmā had the heart to join the Eastern Courtyard, how about using her hands to let them suffer a huge loss?
She raised her eyebrows as she spoke in a light tone, "Since Gui Māmā knows, then one will only punish with three months of salary."
Gui Māmā facial expression stiffened as a smile appeared on Shen Miao's lips.
What would Gui Māmā do when there was no more money?
Naturally, pledge her loyalty to the Eastern Courtyard.