Lin Yun tidied her slightly disheveled clothes and sighed. "It's okay that I fell today. But if some important guests come to our mansion in the future, and these maids are still so reckless, it won't do."
Du Lingxuan nodded in agreement. "Yes, our Pei Mansion is not a small family. The people who come here must be either rich or noble. If word gets out, our Pei Mansion's reputation..."
As she said this, she looked at Song Ruotang with a troubled expression. Just as Song Ruotang was about to speak, Lin Yun interrupted her and said slowly, "I have an old maid who came with me from the Marquis's Mansion. Let her teach these people some manners."
Du Lingxuan seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "I remember that Third Sister's dressing maid used to be a cleaning maid, right?"
As soon as she said this, Lin Yun also looked over. Xiao Xi knelt on the ground, tightly pursing her lips. She had indeed been a cleaning maid in the Pei Mansion before. Because Pei Zhiyan happened to see her being bullied by others and thought she was efficient in doing things, he arranged for her to take care of Song Ruotang in the private residence outside.
"Really?" Lin Yun's eyebrows twitched slightly, as if she was a bit suspicious. But Yan'er, the maid beside her, said, "Madam, Xiao Xi was indeed a cleaning maid in the mansion before."
"Since she was a cleaning maid, she should know how to clean. Now that she's by the master's side, she seems to have forgotten her previous duties and can't even manage the people under her properly." Du Lingxuan sneered, with a strong hint of sarcasm in her tone.
Xiao Xi bowed her head and kowtowed, saying humbly, "It's this maid's fault. I hope the madam will forgive me..."
Song Ruotang clenched her fingers. She stepped forward and stood beside Xiao Xi. "I just entered the mansion, and there are still many things that haven't been properly arranged. Xiao Xi has been really busy these days and has been a bit negligent. Sister, I'm here to apologize to you. I hope you can be magnanimous."
After she finished speaking, she curtsied to Lin Yun. Du Lingxuan smiled. "We can understand that Third Sister is eager to protect her servants, but it's also a fact that Sister fell and got injured because of their negligence. You..."
She looked at Song Ruotang with a troubled expression. Lin Yun also nodded. "There are many maids in the mansion who are good at serving. Since she can't even do the cleaning well, she still has to learn more from the old maid."
Song Ruotang's heart sank. Didn't Lin Yun's words mean that Xiao Xi would have to go back to be a cleaning maid and work under her people? Then Xiao Xi might not have a good time...
She curled her fingers slightly and lowered her eyes to look at Xiao Xi. The latter gently shook her head at her, indicating that she shouldn't say any more. Song Ruotang also understood that Lin Yun and Du Lingxuan were targeting her. The more she protected Xiao Xi, the harder Xiao Xi's days would be in the future.
She had to find another way.
Seeing that Song Ruotang didn't say anything else and knowing that her wound needed further treatment, Lin Yun gave her an apologetic smile. "I just simply treated the wound earlier. I still need to find a doctor to take a look. I can't accompany you to get familiar with the place today. Let Second Sister take you around."
Song Ruotang nodded. After watching Lin Yun leave, Du Lingxuan had achieved her goal. Xiao Xi and the other maids were taken away. So she didn't cause any trouble for Song Ruotang for the time being. She just casually showed Song Ruotang around a few places and then left.
When Song Ruotang returned to the courtyard, there was a maid in a cyan short blouse standing at the door. She had her head down, and there was no expression on her face when she saw Song Ruotang. She bowed politely. "Third Madam, this maid's name is Liu'er. I was sent by Second Madam to serve you."
Song Ruotang nodded. She knew that they removed Xiao Xi just to make her lose her helper and plant their own people beside her.
"Okay, I see." Song Ruotang walked into the courtyard. After looking around, she pointed at the beauty couch where she had been basking in the sun before. "Move this chair back to the room. I don't need it now."
Liu'er was stunned for a moment, and a hint of dissatisfaction flashed across her eyebrows. "Third Madam, this maid came here to serve you, not to do these kinds of jobs."
As she said this, she seemed to feel insulted.
Song Ruotang was a bit surprised. "You said you came to serve me, but you don't listen to my orders." She walked to the beauty couch and touched the armrest with her hand. "What? As a servant, do you still pick and choose the master's orders?"
Liu'er opened her mouth but couldn't say a word of refutation in the end. She could only reluctantly curtsy. "Yes, this maid understands."
After she finished speaking, she walked to the beauty couch and tried to move it. But the couch just shook a bit and showed no sign of being moved by her. Obviously, she couldn't move it by herself.
This beauty couch was moved out by Xiao Xi alone. But Liu'er was delicate and fair, not like a maid at all. She was more like a young lady from a small family. After only exerting a little force with her delicate fingers, they all turned red.
Song Ruotang watched from the side. Liu'er straightened up and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Just then, some maids came in. She said, "You two, come and help carry this couch back quickly."
The two maids recognized that Liu'er was Du Lingxuan's person and didn't dare to disobey. They were about to come over and carry it when Song Ruotang interrupted their actions. "Don't you two have other things to do?"
The two maids stopped in their tracks. Song Ruotang then walked up to Liu'er. "You move this beauty couch into the room."
Liu'er stopped in her tracks. She clenched her fists, frowned, and said angrily, "Don't be too presumptuous. I was sent by Second Madam to serve you, not to do hard labor!"
"Well, it's a pity. My previous maid did these things. If you can't do them, then go back. I'll just change another maid." Song Ruotang said calmly, but her words left Liu'er speechless.
She was sent here by Du Lingxuan to monitor Song Ruotang. How could she go back just after arriving?
Liu'er stood there, her chest rising and falling greatly. But after taking a few deep breaths, she still lowered her stance. "Third Madam, please calm your anger. This maid will move the things in right away."
After saying that, she gritted her teeth and struggled to drag the beauty couch into the room. Song Ruotang watched her strenuous movements calmly. "This was given to me by the master. Be careful not to scratch it when you move it."
Liu'er pursed her lips. Although she was full of anger, she still resignedly became more careful in her actions.
Song Ruotang watched her enter the room. By this time, it was already getting late, and she hadn't eaten yet. So she waited for Liu'er to finish moving the beauty couch. After Liu'er finally managed to put the couch in place and was about to sit down and rest while massaging her waist, Song Ruotang walked in.
"Go to the kitchen and order dinner." Song Ruotang sat at the table and calmly gave the order.
Liu'er hadn't even caught her breath yet. She stared with wide eyes and frowned. "This maid just carried such a heavy thing. Won't you even let this maid take a break? Just let the servants do the job of ordering dinner!"
Song Ruotang raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I must have misunderstood. I thought you came from Second Sister to take care of me. It turns out you're not a servant who takes care of me..."