Chapter 5

Lu Bao'er woke up leisurely, saw Xie Junling approaching, and beamed as she went over: "Husband, you're back?"

Xie Junling's expression eased slightly; he nodded, but didn't speak to Lu Bao'er, instead relentlessly staring at the kneeling Liu Hong and said: "Since you're ambitious, I can't keep you in the Xie household. Go get your wages from the steward and leave at once."

Liu Hong never expected Xie Junling to value his rural wife so much; she was startled.

She was sent away only after angering the master—who would dare employ her now? Moreover, her indenture contract is still with the steward; although Xie Junling's words sound like a request for her to leave the manor, in reality it's up to the steward to decide, meaning she'll be sold! This is absolutely out of the question, utterly impossible!

Liu Hong boldly glanced at Lu Bao'er, seeing her delicately carved features, surprisingly youthful. Naturally soft-hearted as a young woman, if she couldn't win Xie Junling's favor, could she not at least win over such an easily manipulated maid?

Liu Hong devised a plan, shifted her knees, and knelt before Lu Bao'er, wailing: "Madam, save me! I've grown up in the manor since childhood; I can't just leave like this. I beg the madam to let me stay and continue serving here; I will surely observe my duties and never overstep."

Lu Bao'er wasn't foolish; hearing this, she smiled and nodded, saying: "Indeed, she's someone who grew up in the manor."

Liu Hong, hearing her gentle tone, hurriedly echoed: "Yes, yes!"

Lu Bao'er, like a smiling tiger, appraised Liu Hong with interest: "Exposed to the manor's rules since childhood, yet you've turned out like this. Clearly, you're hopeless mud that can't be helped up a wall—so..."

"Madam..." Liu Hong stared for a moment, never expecting Lu Bao'er to have no trace of rustic coarseness in her bearing; unaware, one might think she was a noble lady raised in the capital.

Hearing her measured tone, Liu Hong's heart leapt to her throat; she opened her mouth but could only stammer, unable to say anything.

Thereafter, Lu Bao'er lightly said: "Then let's follow the husband's wish and sell her."

Liu Hong had originally wanted to wail loudly, but someone covered her mouth and dragged her away. Liu Xiang caught her breath, not expecting that the young madam, who appears not yet of age, would have such decisive and forceful methods.

Xie Junling still retained a bit of courtesy, merely saying to ask her to leave the Xie manor, leaving the rest to Steward Zhao's discretion. But Lu Bao'er's words seized Liu Hong's weak point; she twisted Xie Junling's words, sentencing Liu Hong to death! Is this killing a chicken to scare the monkeys? Or using Xie Junling as a shield, feigning tiger's might? It seems neither.

Regardless, Lu Bao'er seems hardly someone to provoke, and certainly not a lowly wife. Henceforth, servants who despise her background and wish to slight the madam had better weigh their actions carefully.

Lu Bao'er saw Liu Hong being dragged away, her expression unchanged. She took out a sachet from her sleeve, containing the silver ingots Xie Junling had made for her to reward the servants. She thrust the sachet into Liu Xiang's hand, saying: "You've been quite quick-witted; this reward is for you."

Liu Xiang hastily kowtowed: "Thank you, Madam, for the reward."

As she lifted the water bucket and left the bedchamber, sweat soaked her entire undershirt. Though the madam looks young, she is actually deep‑minded; this tactic of mixing favor and authority is used to perfection. Liu Xiang must hurry and inform the old wet‑nurse, from now on be smarter, and avoid incurring the madam's displeasure.

However, in Lu Bao'er's presence, she truly didn't know what had happened. She only felt that Xie Junling wouldn't harm her; whatever he said was what would happen—whether to drive someone away or give a reward, listening to him was sure to be right.