Xiao Baoxin did not have much confidence in persuading her father, but this was not a big deal to her. If she could not convince him, she would think of something else. She was not the one who would back out because of an obstacle.
Furthermore…
She still remembered what she heard from Xiao Jingai. In the end, she would be able to break off the engagement.
However, it seemed like the Yuan family would only break off the engagement after her reputation was damaged.
Although breaking off the engagement was the most important thing, it did not mean that she had to sacrifice her reputation for it.
So, in her previous life, she married… Yang Shao under such circumstances?
Xiao Baoxin couldn't help but think of Yang Shao when they first met. He was indeed righteous, but following them all the way to the Xiao Residence was somewhat creepy.
Xiao Baoxin couldn't sit still when she thought of Xiao Jingai.
The information given by Xiao Jingai was so shocking that she didn't have time to react in time. Moreover, the Yuan family came to visit, so she didn't have time to know much about it.
Now, she was going to meet this person who had been reborn and was determined to snatch her cousin's man. She was going to figure out what was going on.
She had no doubt that Xiao Jingai had really been reborn and was not a lunatic.
Even she could hear other people's inner thoughts, so it was not so shocking to be able to live again. Besides, the people of ancient times had already dreamt of it. It was not surprising that Xiao Jingai gained this opportunity.
Xiao Baoxin made up her mind to meet Xiao Jingai. After sending Madam Xie off, she went to the second branch with Tang Li and Cai Wei.
Before announcing her arrival, they saw Xiao Jingai's most capable maid Biyu and another one named Zhenzhu kneeling in the yard. The rest of the servants held their breaths and only dared to look at them secretly.
It was the hottest time of the day, and it was also during June. Biyu and the other maid's faces were flushed red, and they were already sweating profusely. Even their breathing was unstable.
"What happened?" Tang Li asked.
"It's our negligence. Second Young Miss was suffering from a high fever and we didn't report it to Madam in time. It's our fault for letting Second Madam suffer." Biyu knew Tang Li's status - telling her was equivalent to directly telling Xiao Baoxin.
"How is Jingai now?" Xiao Baoxin asked with concern.
"Eldest Young Miss, Madam had invited a doctor to prescribe some medicine for her. She's sleeping after taking it."
Xiao Baoxin nodded. "In that case, I'll visit her when she's better. Serve her carefully. If you lack anything, go find Second Madam directly." Then, she turned and left.
The mistress of the second branch was Second Madam. Even if Xiao Baoxin and Xiao Jingai didn't become distant because of her bit of scheming, she wouldn't be able to override the Second Madam and directly interfere in the affairs of the second branch. That wasn't because they were close sisters, but because it would be deliberately stirring up trouble, hoping that outsiders would laugh at the second branch.
Xiao Baoxin's conscience was clear. She had no idea that Biyu had already recorded it down for future revenge.
Three days after Xiao Jingai woke up, Biyu passed Xiao Baoxin's message to her.
"Eldest Young Miss is too cold-hearted. I thought that she was concerned about Miss and knew about Miss' situation in the second branch. It turns out that she actually wanted us to look for Madam— is there a need for her to tell us to look for Madam? To think that Miss had a good relationship with her."
Biyu's face turned red.
"Back then, when Eldest Young Miss entered the capital, she was mocked by all the noble ladies in Jiankang City. It was all because of Miss' kindness that didn't mind her native accent and brought her around. Now that she has gained a firm foothold, she completely disregarded her relationship with you from back then. I feel bad for Miss. If it wasn't for Miss, who in Jiankang City would care about her?"
"That's enough." Xiao Jingai lowered her eyes and smiled coldly. "It's enough that you know what's going on in your heart. Do you want everyone to know?"
After closing the door, the master and servant duo would be the only ones left. Otherwise, Biyu would not have said these words from the bottom of her heart.
"I've implicated you this time. Does your knee still hurt?" Xiao Jingai asked softly. The paleness due to her illness made her look even more delicate. Her big eyes were watery and misty. Even Biyu couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
"Miss is already like this, yet you still care about me." Biyu couldn't help but tear up. "I am not in pain. As long as Miss is well, this servant will be fine."
Xiao Jingai looked at Biyu and sighed.
In her previous life, there were four dowry girls. Zhenzhu had taken the initiative to climb into the master's bed at the He family, while Feicui and Manao developed an ulterior motive one after another. Only Biyu had always treated her the same. In this life, Xiao Jingai didn't trust anyone but Biyu.
"Biyu, you're the only one I have left. You should take care of your own body. If your legs are not feeling well, send other subordinates to do it. You don't have to do everything yourself. The subordinates that Madam sent are supposed to clean up the place. You just need to delegate work to them."
Biyu hesitated. "This servant wants to take good care of Miss."
The maids and senior servants by Miss' side had been serving her since she was young, and in her opinion, most of them were doing their best. However, since Miss had arranged for them to wait outside, she would have her own reason. Perhaps she had heard some rumors outside or inside.
Biyu muttered in her heart, but she was still very happy that she had gained her Miss' trust.
"If the servants are not meticulous enough, you can just send them back to Madam. Madam looks cold on the outside but is warm on the inside. How can she tolerate those servants who are slacking off?"
In her previous life, because she didn't have a good relationship with her family, she was often criticized by the people in the palace. Even Yang Shao had tried to persuade her on more than one occasion. It seemed that he cared a lot about his reputation.
So, in this life, she must build a good relationship with her stepmother. At least, she could not be dragged down by her.
She was someone who had lived a lifetime longer than others. If she could not settle this family matter, she would have wasted her time being involved in the imperial harem in her past life.
However, at the mention of Yang Shao, she couldn't help but recall Xiao Baoxin's words.
Was Yang Shao reborn like her?
Right now, she was anxious to see Xiao Baoxin again. At the very least, she wanted to hear the full story of what she knew so that she could have some idea.
"Biyu, make a trip to the main house later. Tell her that I'm awake and know that Eldest Young Miss had come here to see me. And ask her if she has something to tell me," Xiao Jingai said after pondering for a while.
"Just tell her that I am awake and want to meet her. When she's free, she can come over to have a talk. It's quite lonely for me to be alone."
Biyu didn't want to do it, but she had always been loyal. If Xiao Jingai wanted her to head east, she would never head west. If she wanted her to catch ducks, she would not kill chickens. She was such a loyal girl who did not have her own thoughts. She immediately ran to the main branch to deliver the message to Xiao Baoxin.
Xiao Baoxin had been waiting for a long time. As time dragged on, the doubts in her heart grew bigger and bigger. The moment Biyu arrived, she ordered Tang Li to carry a box of nourishing fish maw to the second branch.
As soon as they met, Xiao Jingai went up and grabbed Xiao Baoxin's hand. It was as if the two of them had no grudges against each other. Her eyes were filled with tears as if she had met her relative.
"Sister, you have finally come. Before I fainted, I thought I was dead and would never see you again."
Xiao Baoxin felt goosebumps from her words.
After all, she had been reborn once and she was no longer young. Who gave her the courage to act coquettishly with her? Others might not know, but wouldn't she herself feel disgusted?