Biyu lifted the curtain and entered, rubbing her slightly frostbitten hands. "It's snowing ice pellets outside. It's freezing," she said with a smile.
Fu Zhen put down her book. With a smile in her beautiful eyes, she waved at Biyu. "Come quickly. Sit by the brazier and warm your hands."
It was already winter, and in the past few days, it had gradually started to snow lightly. Looking at the overcast sky outside, it seemed that a heavy snowfall was on the way.
Cuihuan brought a bowl of milk to Biyu and teased, "Drink it quickly. This was specially left for you by the mistress. It seems the mistress favors you more."
"Hey, miss, look. I got a bowl of milk for doing my errand, and it's making Sister Cuihuan so envious! Let me take a look. Are your eyes red? I hope you don't have pink eye!" Biyu said and tried to pry open Cuihuan's eyelids.
Cuihuan quickly dodged, laughing as she did so, but she held the bowl of milk firmly.
Fu Zhen watched them laughing and joking. "Alright, alright. If you keep this up, the milk will get cold. Biyu, drink it quickly to warm yourself up."
The kang was heated in the room, making it as warm as spring.
After all the fun, Biyu felt warm all over. She finished the milk in one gulp and deliberately stuffed the bowl into Cuihuan's hands, which made Cuihuan "spit" at her.
Biyu gave a giggle. After Cuihuan came back from putting away the bowl, she finally got to the point. "That little maid named Hemiao has really become full of herself. She was never a安分 girl. A few days ago, I heard that she caught your eye, miss. Naturally, some ambitious little maids started to flatter her. Now she's so full of herself that she acts as if she's the top - ranked maid. She orders others around all day long."
Fu Zhen lowered her eyes and smiled faintly. "I seem to have heard that she has other ideas?"
Biyu bit her lip, not sure if she should say it. She subconsciously glanced at Cuihuan, obviously knowing that Cuihuan was also aware of it.
Cuihuan didn't look at her. Instead, she focused all her attention on Fu Zhen and helped her adjust the blanket that had slipped.
Biyu immediately understood and didn't hesitate anymore. Looking at Fu Zhen, she said, "Hemiao seems... to want to work in the heir's courtyard."
As soon as these words were said, everyone understood.
Cuihuan let out a sneer, her eyes full of mockery.
Fu Zhen also smiled, saying meaningfully, "She sure has big ambitions."
Seeing that Fu Zhen's tea was almost gone, Cuihuan went to refill it for her. Fu Zhen glanced at her, and saw Cuihuan smiling and saying, "I also heard that Hemiao has befriended an old woman in the big kitchen. Now she's trying every means to get into the heir's courtyard to deliver food and drinks."
Fu Zhen nodded and didn't continue this topic. Instead, she gave Biyu a faint smile. "You've been out and must be tired. Cuihuan will be on duty tonight. You go back and have a good rest."
Biyu hesitated, wanting to say something but feeling unable to open her mouth. Cuihuan gently pushed her and gave her a look, so she finally backed out.
Fu Zhen had never been as close to Biyu as she was to Cuihuan. Just now, Biyu didn't know her place. When it came to the heir's matter, she hesitated and didn't want to speak. Naturally, she was a bit of an eyesore to the mistress.
However, Fu Zhen wasn't a harsh mistress. Although she wouldn't dislike Biyu just like that, she still thought Biyu wasn't very trustworthy.
On the other hand, Cuihuan. Fu Zhen glanced at her again. She was smart and steady, and was indeed a useful person.
Cuihuan caught this look and joked with a smile, "Could it be that there's gold inlaid on my face? The mistress looks at me so much."
Fu Zhen tapped her. "You're so teasing."
After a while, the room gradually fell silent, only the occasional crackling sound of the burning charcoal could be heard.
"Don't you think I'm cruel?" Fu Zhen suddenly said.
Hemiao had offended her, and there was also the hatred from her dream. From the very beginning, Fu Zhen had no intention of letting her go.
So, she deliberately said in the garden that Hemiao was beautiful. Then, taking advantage of her arrogant nature, she secretly let people flatter her. The higher she was flattered, the greater her ambition would be. The greater her ambition, the harder she would fall.
Now, Hemiao was speeding down the road to self - destruction. Once she really tried to get into Chen Tingfeng's courtyard, there would be only one dead end waiting for her.
She could hide these actions from those outside her room, but not from her two closest maids.
Biyu was more naive in dealing with the world and still needed some training. But fortunately, she was timid and wouldn't have the thought of betraying her mistress. Fu Zhen didn't really care about her.
On the contrary, Cuihuan had been with Fu Zhen from the beginning. Fu Zhen didn't want to lose this maid and wondered how much sincerity she had towards her.
Cuihuan shook her head. "Since I've followed the mistress, I'm naturally the mistress's person. Whatever the mistress asks me to do, I'll do it. Even if the mistress asks me to pick up a knife and kill someone the next second, I'll dare to do it."
Fu Zhen's heart skipped a beat. She reached out and stroked Cuihuan's hair, saying seriously, "If you follow me well, I'll surely treat you well."
She would never let down anyone who was kind to her.
It was the same for the widow, the hunter, and now Cuihuan.
In her dream, when she entered the mansion, she was still very panicked and always vigilant towards the unknown environment. Naturally, she didn't trust any maid.
Cuihuan seemed to have only followed her for a few days and then returned to the main courtyard.
Now that she thought about it, Cuihuan must have been placed by Lady Bai beside her. It wasn't to monitor her, but rather to give her a capable maid.
Cuihuan was smart and loyal.
But in her dream, her vigilance made Lady Bai dare not leave this person beside her for fear that she would be suspicious.
Cuihuan also touched the head that had been stroked and showed a smile on her face.
Cuihuan and Fu Zhen were whispering softly to each other. When they turned their heads, they saw Biyu hurriedly lift the curtain and run in. Her expression was a bit tense. "Miss, there's a commotion at the heir's place."
Fu Zhen slowly frowned.
Seeing that Biyu didn't continue, Cuihuan immediately slapped her and said anxiously, "You should explain clearly. How did the commotion break out?"
"It's, it's that Hemiao!"
Fu Zhen immediately raised her eyebrows.
In Baiqu Courtyard.
Chen Tingfeng looked coldly at the messy ground and Hemiao, who was kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.
"Yuanbao!" he shouted.
Yuanbao knew something was wrong as soon as he heard the noise in the room, and his heart had been in his throat.
He pushed open the study door and rushed in. "Your servant is here."
"Clean it up," Chen Tingfeng said coldly, giving Hemiao a glance, then turned and walked out.
"Yes," Yuanbao lowered his head, thinking that this maid couldn't be kept anymore.
He looked at Hemiao pityingly, waved his hand, and immediately someone came in and dragged Hemiao out.
Hemiao struggled and shouted, "Heir! Heir, spare my life! I dare not do it again. I'll never dare again!"
"Gag her mouth," Yuanbao frowned.
Seeing that Hemiao struggled fiercely and a young servant who went to gag her mouth was even bitten hard, Yuanbao took a quick step forward and slapped her hard. He sneered, "If you keep shouting and disturb the heir's peace, you don't have to think about living anymore!"
Hemiao was beaten dizzy. Several handprint immediately appeared on her small face. Her teeth were loosened, and blood oozed from the corner of her mouth.
She didn't dare to shout anymore and just crawled to grab Yuanbao's foot.
"Steward, I'll never dare again. Please spare me this time. I'll surely serve you well in the future!" Hemiao cried and pleaded.
She had originally bribed the cooking old woman and replaced a little maid to deliver tea to the courtyard. Who would have thought that before she even got close to Chen Tingfeng, he pushed her to the ground fiercely!
How could she not know that the heir had seen through her little thoughts!
Hemiao tightly grabbed Yuanbao's trouser leg, crying bitterly, and feeling extremely resentful in her heart.
No, she couldn't be dragged away like this. Otherwise, she would really be finished!