Caught eavesdropping and directly pointed out, Su Nansheng felt a bit embarrassed.
But thinking about Chen Mingzhu's future, she still said straightforwardly,
"It's nothing. That Shao Tan has upturned eyes and sticking-out ears. He just doesn't look like a good person."
He Xun raised his eyebrows. "So you've learned to judge people by their appearance?"
Su Nansheng was taken aback. Without any evidence at the moment, all she could do was verbally attack him based on his appearance.
"Anyway, I don't like him. He looks like a sneaky person, so I naturally have to keep an eye on him."
Hearing Su Nansheng's rare willful tone, He Xun gave her a deep look and said,
"What can you notice during a banquet? If you don't like him, just tell me. It's just a piece of cake for me to investigate him. You don't have to eavesdrop."
Why didn't she know to ask him for help?
Su Nansheng felt her heart sink when she saw his meaningful look.
Because he would eventually return to the Northern Border, and she would have to face everything on her own sooner or later.
Rather than getting used to the helplessness of suddenly losing his support later, it was better for her to rely on herself from now on and not be dependent.
"Because I just can't stand him. I can't ask you to investigate my uncle's favorite disciple without any evidence. If it's discovered, my uncle will be unhappy. I'm afraid he'll scold you," Su Nansheng said honestly.
Seeing that she was doing it for his own good, He Xun didn't dwell on the matter. He just said,
"There's no 'what if' with me. In the future, if you want to investigate anyone, just tell me directly. Don't have any concerns."
He didn't need evidence to investigate someone. He could do it whenever he wanted.
Su Nansheng nodded and then asked, "Aren't we going back to the mansion?"
She had just checked, and the road outside wasn't the way back to the mansion.
He Xun fiddled with the sachet on his belt. "It got wet the other day, and the smell has faded. I'm going to choose some new spices."
Hearing this, Su Nansheng lowered her head and smelled it. "I thought you'd prefer a lighter scent."
You could smell the white tea fragrance from it even without getting too close. Was this a light smell?
For some reason, He Xun felt a bit uncomfortable. He suddenly snatched the sachet back from Su Nansheng's hand.
"Let's go to the Western Market and change the scent."
Actually, the sachet had been washed and the spices replaced by the palace servants after it fell into the water, but he didn't like it.
"Okay. I'm quite knowledgeable about spices. I'll choose some for you later."
He Xun lifted the corner of his lips. "Sure."
...
In the front hall of Yurong Courtyard, the casement windows were wide open. The strong soothing incense wafted out from the windows, and the whole yard was filled with its fragrance.
Concubine Li was sitting on a pear-wood armchair, looking relaxed. She sipped her tea slowly and ignored Su Hele, who had been standing there for about an incense stick's time.
Only when the cup of tea was empty did Concubine Li slowly say,
"Didn't the mistress send you some maids before? It was you who didn't want them. Why do you come to me to ask for servants now?"
Concubine Li raised her eyebrows, looking extremely proud.
Now she knew to ask her for people. What was she doing before?
Su Hele kept a straight face and didn't say a word, but she tightened her silk handkerchief in her hand.
She had sent Sumo to ask Concubine Li for people before, and Sumo came back and said that she, the mistress, had to go there in person to pick them up.
She thought she could just pick up the people directly when she came, but she didn't expect to be ridiculed like this.
If it weren't for He Jin's words, she would have left with a flick of her sleeve long ago.
Seeing Su Hele's look of being dissatisfied but forcibly enduring it, Concubine Li almost burst out laughing.
What should she say about Su Hele? If she said she was stupid, she could always handle He Jin well.
But if she said she was smart, she always did stupid and embarrassing things.
Just like now, why did Su Hele think she would easily allocate servants to her?
If she couldn't even figure this out, she was still stupid after all.
"It's not that I won't give you people, but if I give them all to you, who will serve me?"
Concubine Li drawled, her voice full of contempt.
Su Hele bit her lips and said,
"I don't actually need many people to serve me. It's just that my husband is busy with official business and exhausted both physically and mentally. If the servants are not up to the task, my husband might suffer."
Hearing this, Concubine Li gave Su Hele a half-smile look.
"Okay then. I'll allocate two young servants to A Jin."
Don't think she didn't know that none of the maids in Bitao Courtyard could get close to A Jin. Suffer? What a joke.
Su Hele shifted her numb feet, feeling unhappy.
Of course, she wanted maids. She couldn't ask a young servant to accompany her when she painted, could she?
"Maids are more convenient."
"Humph. It's convenient for you, isn't it? But weren't you always simple and plain, willing to do everything yourself and not rely on others?" Concubine Li mocked.
Su Hele's face changed instantly. These were exactly the words she had said when she refused Chen Wanrong's offer of maids before.
She raised her chin and said coldly,
"They're just some servants. If you're reluctant to part with them, forget it."
After saying that, Su Hele turned around and was about to leave. She wouldn't let Concubine Li insult her here.
"Take the Second Young Mistress to choose some people."
Concubine Li glanced at Nanny Wang, who was waiting beside her. Nanny Wang nodded with a smile.
Su Hele stopped. A look of pride flashed in her eyes.
After saying so many sarcastic remarks, she still had to give her people in the end.
As long as He Jin was around, she wasn't afraid.
Nanny Wang took Su Hele to the side yard. There were more than a dozen young maids standing inside, each with a delicate face and a graceful figure.
"Second Young Mistress, these maids were specially selected by the concubine. They're all very smart. Please choose."
Hearing this, Su Hele frowned even deeper.
After thinking for a while, she pointed at the several nannies behind the maids.
"I want those nannies."
Those nannies looked strong and must be more capable of doing work.
Nanny Wang smiled. "Second Young Mistress, you can choose the young maids at will, but for the nannies, it's two hundred taels of silver each."
Su Hele couldn't believe her ears. "I have to pay for them?"
Two hundred taels each. This was clearly a way of not wanting to give them to her.
"Second Young Mistress, you can choose these young maids at will. They're young and quick at their work. They're the best choice."
Nanny Wang pointed at the pretty young maids again.
Su Hele's face changed several times. Finally, she said calmly,
"They're just some servants. It would be vulgar to talk about silver. I'm used to doing everything myself anyway. I don't need these servants."
"The concubine is very worried about you and the Second Young Master. You'd better choose a few more maids."
Nanny Wang still smiled, but there was something meaningful in her smile.
Su Hele gave her a cold look and then turned around and left.
Nanny Wang watched her leave the yard and then returned to the front hall.
"How about it? She didn't take any people, did she?"
Although it was a question, Concubine Li's expression was very confident.
"You're right, Concubine. The Second Young Mistress's face turned a bit ugly when she saw those maids."
Concubine Li snorted.
"She acts so elegant, but she has so many schemes in this regard. She's more defensive than anyone else."
Nanny Wang said in a relaxed tone,
"You're really resourceful, Concubine. If we didn't give the people to the Second Young Mistress, she might complain to the young master. But now, if she goes to complain, she'll have to explain why she didn't choose those pretty young maids."
"Once A Jin knows what kind of person she is, he'll naturally grow cold towards her. Then let's see how she can act so arrogantly."
Concubine Li tilted the corner of her lips, her voice cold.