"Third Sister?" Yin Zhu saw that she hadnt responded for half a day and raised her voice again, saying: "The mistress is calling!"

  Xie Wan remembered that Yin Zhu was also a person by Wangs side, her brother and sister-in-law were all working in the Xie household, and her sister-in-law was even in charge of the small stove in the large kitchen. It seems that the reputation of the Xie family has grown, but this rule hasnt changed, nowadays even slaves can speak to their masters in such a loud tone.

  "She tried to speak up: Now that the funeral is over, what else can I ask of you, madam?"

  The words were spoken in a very slow tone, but the voice was still slightly hoarse, giving people a somewhat discordant feeling of vicissitudes.

  "This slave is unclear."

  As she spoke, Yini lifted her skirt and sat down on the edge of the kang with a plop.

  She looked at Xie Wan, and when she saw her expressionless face, she remembered the words that Fang had whispered to her in the corridor on Tuesday. Her eyebrows and eyes flashed with a hint of mockery. Then she raised her lips, looking down at Xie Wan who was kneeling on the kang, and said: "Perhaps you want to keep Second Master and Third Miss in the mansion? Now that Second Madam is gone, theres no one to take care of you two. The old master and mistress are kind-hearted, they wont hold grudges against you, and will surely bring you back."

  Xie Wans remaining light swept across her, and a faint smile floated onto her cheeks.

  As expected, she was right, whether in past or present life, the wolf-like ambition of Wangs mother and son has never changed!

  "Is it?" She raised her eyelids and stared at the silver bead steadily.

  Her body was slender and elegant, with a smooth and rosy complexion, indicating that she didnt have to worry about food every day. Her hair was styled in two buns on top of her head, adorned with ordinary pearl flowers. She wore a long gown with a smoke-green color embroidered with five-petaled plum blossoms, over a dark green pomegranate-colored skirt, which showed that she was well-matched among the lower-ranking people. Looking at her eyebrows, they were completely shaved off, but redrawn with black lines using eyeliner, showing that even at her age, she had already begun to have romantic feelings.

  No wonder those who are good at flattering and pretending to be obedient in front of their bosses on Tuesdays, people who work hard on dressing up, often have a few tricks up their sleeves.

  Yin Zhu felt a bit uneasy under her gaze. What kind of eyes were these for an eight-year-old child? They were clearly the eyes of a worldly adult!

  She had been by Wangs side for many years, and which of the lower-ranking servants in the mansion didnt show her some respect? Even the senior maids from other rooms couldnt help but be polite to her. Now that Xie Wan was staring at her so brazenly, she felt a few points of displeasure.

  There is no one in the house. The servants brought back by the second lady have all gone out, and only two young men are standing under the corridor.

  Looking at Xie Wans small stature, she gained courage and shouted with a fierce face: "What are you looking at? Dont follow me quickly! Be careful not to make the lady wait!"

  Xie Wan looked her up and down, then gazed at the white figure walking towards them from the main house. She calmly got off the kang and said, "Yin Zhu, is my medicine dry yet? Ill take it before going over."

  Xie Wan stood in a place with her back against the light. Yin Zhu endured her temper and carried over the medicine that had been dried halfway on the table.

  "Drink up!"

  Xie Wan took the bowl over, and tasted a small mouthful. Although it could also be slowly entered, but still some scalding hands. It seems that in the eyes of these people, oneself is not what master. She thought for a moment, holding the bowl back to the bedside, then poured the whole bowl of medicine soup onto Xie Wans body, and coldly stared at her who screamed and jumped up, and slammed the bowl to her feet.

  The silver ball was bounced and jumped up immediately after being smashed.

  Xie Wan herself calmly climbed back onto the bed, then suddenly let out a loud cry and burst into tears, covering her face.

  The little servant Bao Mo and Xie Yi rushed in immediately.

  Yin Zhu stared blankly, while Xie Lang rushed in upon hearing the noise and helped Xie Wan up with a start: "Whats wrong?"

  Xie Wan covered her face and looked at Yin Zhu with a wronged expression, crying straight away.

  Xie Langs face turned red with rage, pointing at Yin Zhu: "You cheap servant! What did you do to Wanwan?!"

  "What did I ever do to San Niang?! It was clearly her who poured the medicine on me!"

  Silver Pearl was both angry and indignant, with a hundred mouths unable to argue.

  "Nonsense!" Xie Lang burst into anger: "Yuanyuan had just woken up from her coma and was lying in bed, how could she have the strength to splash water on you from so far away?!" Even if Yuanyuan did splash medicine on him, its because she had just woken up from a long illness and was feeling unwell! Is this reason enough for you to hit her?!

  Yin Zhu was so anxious she almost cried.

  Bao Mo and Yin Suo were brought from the Zhuangzi by Xie Teng, so they naturally stood on Xie Wans side. Bao Mo said: "The young lady was fine in the house just now, I just heard Yin Zhu shouting." Yin Suo said: "It was Yin Zhu who beat the third sister! Just now I also heard a loud noise!"

  Xie Langs face turned pale with anger, but he still adhered to the gentlemans code of conduct and refused to do something as unseemly as hitting a servant. He pulled Xie Wan along and said, "Lets go see Master!"

  Xie Wan arrived smoothly in front of Xie Qigong. Although she had just woken up, she didnt feel tired running this distance.

  Xie Qigong and Wang were waiting in the flower hall for Yin Zhu to invite Xies siblings over to discuss something, but unexpectedly they ended up waiting for Xie Langs accusation.

  He was less than fifty years old, and like any of the Xie family descendants, he was born with a beautiful appearance, but unfortunately, his frown lines were slightly deep, making him look older.

  Now San Ye Xie Rong in the mansion has also entered Hanlin, and this old masters momentum is even greater.

  Xie Wan had never paid much attention to this grandfather of hers in either her past or present life, but now that she took a look, his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to those of her father.

  Xie Langs face was unsightly, and Xie Wans eyes were red and swollen from crying. Xie Qigong asked, "Wan sister, whats wrong? You just woke up and youre like this?"

  Xie Lang was furious, but still didnt forget to bow to him. Then, holding his sisters hand tightly, he said: "The silver pearl in front of the lady just slapped Xiangxiang!" His face was still iron-gray, but more words couldnt be spoken.

  Wangs expression turned stern as he looked at Yin Zhu standing inside the doorway.

  Yin Zhu was slapped by Xie Wan without warning, her face burning with pain. Seeing Xie Qigong getting angry, she quickly bowed and said: "Its not my fault! I was ordered by the mistress to go invite Third Young Miss over for a discussion. Third Young Miss said her face itched and asked me to see if she had broken out in a rash. Thats when she slapped me!"

  The anger in Wangs eyes grew even stronger.

  Xie Wan was sobbing and crying.

  Xie Qigong said in a low voice: "Nonsense! Still not kneeling down!"

  Pearls before swine.

  Xie Wan hugged Xie Langs arm and cried loudly, while Xie Lang patted her back with one hand and looked up at the sky with tightly pursed lips.

  Wangs expression softened, and she picked up a handful of sugar cookies from the side table, leaning over and speaking warmly: "Xuan sister has finally woken up, come to Grandmas place. Tell me how Silver Pearl hit you, Ill stand up for you!"

  Xie Wan stopped crying and looked at the candy in her hand. Wang Shi smiled even more gently. Xie Liang subconsciously pulled Xie Wan, but she twisted her body and broke free from his grasp, slowly walking to Wang Shis side to take a piece of candy.

  Wangs wife had the maid bring a stool and told her to sit down, saying: "Dont be afraid, speak quickly, how did Yinzhu beat you?"

  Xie Wans eyes reddened again, but her voice was exceptionally clear and pleasant: "Yin Zhu is in my room, saying that the mistress has invited us. I wanted to wait for brother to return before coming over with him together, but Yin Zhu was impatient and urged me repeatedly. I had no choice but to get up, and as soon as I got up, Yin Zhu slapped me, saying Both your parents are dead, do you think youre still the young mistress of the estate? If it werent for trying to coax old master into giving my sister the position of second-in-charge of the large kitchen, I wouldnt have come!".

  Xie Wan remembered that in her previous life, when she was still waiting for her uncle to pick her up at the mansion, the second-in-command of the large kitchen had just been taken over by Yin Zhus sister-in-law.

  Madam Wangs expression changed, and it was true that Zhou Ers family had mentioned this matter to her twice before. Madam Wang considered that the current manager of the large kitchen was the niece-in-law of Peng Fu, a follower of Xie Qigong, so she couldnt avoid him and tactfully brought it up with him. However, Xie Qigong held the Peng family in high esteem and did not agree, so she also rejected Yin Zhu.

  They wouldnt openly tell others about this behind-the-scenes move, but now that its been said word for word from Xie Juans mouth, it must have been leaked by Yin Zhu.

  Yin Zhu knew that even jumping into the Yellow River couldnt wash away her shame, and instantly her face turned as white as snow.

  Xie Qigongs face sank by two points. Although the servant Pang Fu beside him was calm, a discerning person could still detect the anger hidden in his eyes.

  Xie Qigong is the most trusted person in the Pang family, and Pang Fu has been loyal to Xie Qigong for many years. The status of the Pang family in front of Xie Qigong is as stable as the stone lions at the gate of the mansion, and everyone in the mansion knows it.

  Mr. Wang suddenly cursed Yin Zhu in his heart.

  Its a small matter to be wronged, but the people of the Pan family are not ones that Xiangyun can afford to offend. Her legs trembling, she protested: "I didnt say those words, I didnt say them! I didnt hit Third Sister!"

  "Come! Take Silver Pearl out and give her ten slaps!" Shu Qi Gong yelled.

  Pang Fu waved his hand, and two old women came in and dragged Silver Pearl out.

  The sound of slapping and screaming soon followed.

  Wang was unjustly implicated by her and had no mood to plead. She immediately turned away with a sullen face.

  Twenty slaps could be fatal, and ten would be enough to make that Silver Pearl drink a pot. Wang Shi endured this cruel hand in order to win them over. Xie Wan sat contentedly on the stool, chewing on sugarplums, her worries and anger of the past few days swept away, looking serene and elegant. Her eyelashes still held tears, and her simple white mourning clothes set off her delicate features, making her look like a lovely and innocent little porcelain doll.

  Xie Qigong was still fuming and walked out of the flower hall with his hands behind his back.

  "Old Master!"

  Wang hastily stood up and secretly gave him a glance, "Dont you have something else to entrust?"

  Xie Qigong nodded slightly, and a low "hmm" came from his throat. He then turned to face Xie Liang and said: "Youve had it tough too, all alone and struggling. And with your sister being ill for so many days, someone needs to take care of her. From now on, youll live in the mansion. Liang, you can go study at school with Huage."

  Xie Wan looked calmly at Xie Liang.

  Xie Langs face changed dramatically, and he opened his eyes wide, saying: "How can we stay in the mansion? Didnt Master agree with Uncle that day to let us go to the Qi family after Father and Mothers funeral?"

  Wang poured tea and scolded, "Liang, you said this, are you people from the Xie family? You have a home but dont return to it, instead living in anothers house. Dont you fear your grandfathers anger?"

  Xie Qigongs face had indeed fallen.

  Xie Lang pursed her lips, only then realizing she had misspoken. She hastily changed her tone and said: "It was Langer who misspoke, please forgive me, grandfather and grandmother. However, Uncle and Aunt promised to come pick us up to take us to the Qi residence, theyll arrive tomorrow. Moreover, Zhener is timid and cant get used to staying in unfamiliar places, everyone at the Qi residence treats me and Zhener with kindness. If we move there, its still the same when we have time to come pay our respects."