CHAPTER 421: CHAPTER 423: THE SECOND HOUSEHOLD (PART 5)

Who knew that as soon as Xing heard Xiao Yanzheng say to hand it over to the maids, he immediately slid off Xiqiu’s lap and shook his head, saying, "No, I want to do it myself!"

Xiqiu exchanged a glance with Xiao Yanzheng, and both sighed.

However, Xiqiu still enlisted a few more maids to assist on the side.

After a while, it seemed Sheng couldn’t hold back his curiosity and nervously peeked in from outside...

Xiqiu had Chunyan bring him inside, and Xing ran over to hold Sheng’s hand, saying, "I’m not mad at you anymore." Sheng curled his lips and glanced sideways at Min, then said to Xing, "I’m not mad at you either." They squatted together again, whispering secrets.

They reconciled again.

Xiqiu was both amused and exasperated, realizing her efforts were in vain!

Just then, Fourth Master Xiao strode in, momentarily stunned by the scattered items on the ground. Xiqiu greeted him with a smile and explained, "Second sister-in-law assigned me a task to decorate the garden... everyone here is helping."

Everyone present stood up and greeted Fourth Master Xiao.

Fourth Master Xiao just responded with a light "hmm" and said, "Carry on!" Then, with hands behind his back, he turned and went to his study.

Behind Fourth Master Xiao’s back, Sheng stuck out his tongue, and Xiqiu secretly chuckled, instructing Bihuai, "Serve tea to the Fourth Master." Bihuai nodded and left.

As dusk fell, they managed to set up two or three trees, and Xing clamored to have them lit up in the courtyard...

With twinkling lights, each layer had a different color, making the scene both radiant and festive. The children clapped their hands and laughed happily on the side. Xing even held Xiqiu’s hand, smiling as he said, "Auntie, we don’t want to go back tonight, can we sleep here at your place?"

"Ah?" Xiqiu was taken aback, and before she could respond, a cold cough sounded from behind. She turned to see Fourth Master Xiao standing under a distant veranda, his expression somewhat inscrutable. Her smile froze awkwardly, as she replied to Xing, "Well... if you don’t go back, Grandmother will worry. If you want, Auntie can have someone move it to Grand Dowager’s courtyard. How about that?!"

"Okay!" Xing had no objections, nodding quickly.

However, Min seemed to glance thoughtfully at Fourth Master Xiao behind him and then carefully examined Xiqiu’s blushing cheeks.

After seeing everyone off, Xiqiu followed Fourth Master Xiao back to their room. Chunliu started to tidy up and followed to attend to them, but Xiqiu turned to her and said, "You’ve all worked hard today, let Treasure Bead come in to serve."

Chunliu was momentarily surprised, then nodded, "Alright!" and went to call in Treasure Bead.

Treasure Bead hadn’t been in Xiqiu’s room for a long time, now she came in with a face full of smiles and eagerly said, "Fourth Master and Madam, would you like some supper tonight? Nanny Quan in the little kitchen made her signature goose liver bird’s nest pastry, the taste..."

She kept murmuring nonstop, but Fourth Master Xiao’s brows furrowed more and more. Xiqiu, sitting by the kang cleaning up the table for Fourth Master Xiao, turned around and instructed Treasure Bead, "Go make tea for the Fourth Master, we’ll discuss supper later."

Treasure Bead was taken aback for a moment, realizing she hadn’t made tea for Fourth Master Xiao yet, hurriedly agreed and went into the teacup space to brew tea. In no time, she came out with a tea tray, served one cup to Fourth Master Xiao, and another to Xiqiu.

"Fourth Madam, your tea!" She was about to place it on the table.

Xiqiu reached out to take the teacup, but it slipped out of the saucer and the scalding water spilled directly towards her wrist...

At that moment, an arm suddenly reached over and pulled Xiqiu, causing her to spin around in place.

The teacup fell to the floor, shattering with a crisp sound.

Fourth Master Xiao checked Xiqiu’s arm with a frown and, seeing she wasn’t scalded, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Squinting his eyes slightly, he looked at Treasure Bead and said, "You’re new to the household; why are you so careless with your work?"

Treasure Bead was stunned by what had just happened. When she snapped back to reality, she immediately knelt on the ground, pale-faced, and replied, "Mistress... It wasn’t intentional, please forgive me, Fourth Master and Madam!"

This matter was not big, after all, Xiqiu wasn’t injured, but Fourth Master Xiao felt Treasure Bead was clumsy and, with visible displeasure, said, "I remember you were sent over from Grand Dowager’s courtyard?" Treasure Bead listened with a trace of hope, thinking that the Fourth Master would consider the Grand Dowager’s dignity, and she nodded, "Yes, Mistress, I was originally from Grand Dowager’s courtyard."

"From today onwards, return to where you came from!" Fourth Master Xiao said, then turned to take Xiqiu’s hand, still uneasy and asked, "Did you get scalded anywhere?"

Xiqiu shook her head, "I’m fine." Saying so, she caught sight of Treasure Bead staring at Fourth Master Xiao with disbelief.

Treasure Bead thought that both she and Ziyang had served in the Fourth Master’s courtyard for over two years, taking care of him each time he returned, surely the Fourth Master would consider that. Besides, the Fourth Madam wasn’t hurt, so why be so angry!

She was anxious to argue, but Fourth Master Xiao didn’t even want to glance at her, sternly commanded, "Get out!"

Treasure Bead’s face reddened from the scolding, holding up her skirt as she ran out of the main room in tears.

Fourth Master Xiao’s voice was loud, and all the maids and servants in the courtyard heard it and stood in the courtyard. Treasure Bead ran out and saw so many people standing there, she felt even more embarrassed, covered her face, and ran out without looking back.

Ziyang followed and caught up, grabbing Treasure Bead and asked, "What happened?"

Treasure Bead turned back and glared at Ziyang with resentment, then said, "What do you mean, ’what happened’? Now you’re happy, I’ve been kicked out, while you rise higher and higher, hmph! Watch out, the higher you rise, the harder you fall!" Saying so, she shrugged off Ziyang and left the courtyard.

Nanny Wu was standing in the courtyard, instructing some maids to move the silver tree into the room. She saw a young maid rush in, without a word she knelt at her feet, crying, "Nanny Wu!"

Nanny Wu frowned slightly, "What’s the matter? Why are you so unruly and brash?"

Treasure Bead, not caring who else might be watching, cried while recounting the incident in the room, "It was the Fourth Madam who knocked over the teacup herself, and she wasn’t scalded... and yet I was driven out."

Nanny Wu raised her eyebrows slightly, "Go and rest; we’ll discuss this tomorrow."

"Nanny Wu," Treasure Bead cried, "I truly did nothing wrong, please help plead my case with the Grand Dowager, I... I want to return to the Grand Dowager’s side, and I won’t complain no matter what work I do."

Nanny Wu’s gaze flickered, just as Ziwei stood at the door and asked, "Nanny, the Grand Dowager wants to know what’s going on."

"Oh, it’s nothing." Saying so, she called for a maid, "Take Treasure Bead to wash her face." Nanny Wu then stepped into the main room.