Dinner was served in the Master Courtyard.

After dinner, Qiu Shi called in a girl. The girl was about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing an indigo dress with a slim figure and a beautiful appearance. When she came in, she immediately knelt on the floor. “Xuntao, pay respects to my Lady. Greeting Fourth Miss.”

While pointing at the girl, Qiu Shi said to Yuxi, “It’s not enough to have only three maids around you. This girl is quite smart. You can take her back and use her first. Then you can pick a few more after the New Year.”

Yuxi didn’t even try to get around the suggestion. She smiled as she nodded instead. “Alright!” It was about time to dismiss a few maids around her anyway.

Qiu Shi kept talking to Yuxi until it was almost dark before letting her go back, while Xuntao walked ahead with a lantern.

Once in Taoran House, Yuxi asked Xuntao to return. “You will come to work here tomorrow.” It was inconvenient to relocate her maids’ work in the middle of the night.

After Xuntao left, Yuxi asked Zisu, “What are the exact details regarding this Xuntao?” Xuntao did not serve directly beside Qiu Shi, as if she had just appeared out of nowhere. Yuxi didn’t know much about her either. Moreover, a master couldn’t keep an eye on the maids in residence at all times.

Zisu answered with a smile, “Miss, Xuntao is Steward Xiang’s tangmei and has been working in the second courtyard before.” Zisu was still familiar with the details of all the maids working in residence.

Yuxi had an idea in her mind. It turned out Xuntao was a relative of Mama Li’s family. Yuxi just didn’t know what Xuntao’s temperament was like, though. She didn’t want another Bingmei, who returned home as soon as Yuxi was in trouble.

Zisu could guess what Yuxi thought as she said, “Miss, with what happened to Bingmei, my Lady must have made a careful selection before she chose Xuntao.”

Yuxi smiled. “Even if she’s going to be another Bingmei, just send her back. By the way, how is Bingmei right now?” When her master was in trouble, Bingmei pretended to be sick. Such a maid really had a big face. It was only because her father was the primary steward in residence. Otherwise, she could have been sold out.

Zisu shook her head. “I heard that she wanted to return to Taoran House after she recovered from her illness, but the First Lady flatly refused, telling her to continue to recuperate well. There has been no news since then, but I think it ought not to be good.” Qiu Shi knew Bingmei’s pretence of illness, which shouldn’t be good for Bingmei.

Yuxi shook her head and said, “A person as capable as the primary steward would raise a daughter with such a temperament, it’s really……” Han Jianming highly valued Han Xing for his capability and loyalty. She just didn’t know how he could raise his daughter to have such manners.

The first time Han Xing knew that Han Jingyan had kicked Yuxi out, he asked his wife to tell Bingmei to go to the hamlet with Yuxi properly. Unfortunately, Bingmei had been delicately brought up and never suffered even for a bit. At the thought of going to the hamlet, it made Bingmei feel that it would be worse than death. So by the time Yuxi was on her way there, Bingmei immediately made herself ill.

Han Xing naturally lost his temper later on. Since the wood had already been turned into a boat, there was no way to remedy the situation. After this incident, Han Xing kept Bingmei at home and forbade her to come out. He was looking for a family to marry her off when she was already old enough. There was no need for him to even consider the people from inside the residence. He could only marry her out.

Early the following day, Xuntao came over. Although she was given to Yuxi by Qiu, she had to settle for a second-class maid position because there were no more vacancies for Yuxi’s first-class maid.

Yuxi also wanted to observe the situation first. If Xuntao were fit for Yuxi to use, she would promote Xuntao once she let Kufu out. If not, she would just pick one from the second-class maids. Although half of them had their minds become unstable regarding her being sent to the hamlet, many were still staying and taking care of the Taoran House.

After freshening herself up, Yuxi greeted the Old Lady and then Qiu Shi before going to Songxiang Courtyard and Xiuchun Courtyard.

Yuxi looked at the powdered and beautiful Qiqi. She picked her up and kissed her white, tender face. The little girl wasn’t shy with strangers as she giggled when Yuxi held her. Her hands weren’t idle either, tugging at the hairpin on Yuxi’s head. Even though she was only one year old, her strength wasn’t small where her act of tugging at Yuxi’s hair made Yuxi feel pain.

Ye Shi took Qiqi over from Yuxi and apologised with a smile, “This girl likes shiny things. Once she sees one, she immediately wants to grab it.”

It was only then that Yuxi understood why Ye Shi had not worn a single piece of jewellery.

After leaving Songxiang Courtyard, Yuxi went to Xiuchun Courtyard next. When she entered the room and did not see any child around, she could not help but ask, “Er Sao, where is Lil Boy Shun?” The name ‘Shun’ was his ‘little name’, and his ‘big name’ would not be given until he was one year old.

Lu Xiu smilingly explained, “The nursemaid is breastfeeding him!” After Lu Xiu gave birth, her body became plumper than before. Since she didn’t have to breastfeed her child, she was currently in the process of trying to lose weight.

In a short while, the nursemaid brought Lil Boy Shun over. He was one month old and was sleeping soundly after eating. Yuxi found it amusing to see him blowing bubbles even though he was asleep that she couldn’t help but poke at him twice. “Er Sao, will he cry if I wake him up?”

Lu Xiu answered with a smile, “The boy is a heavy sleeper. You won’t wake him up even when you tickle him!” For now, her son could only eat, sleep and grow well, but he was already becoming the apple of Qiu Shi’s eye. Moreover, Qiu Shi had a tolerant and generous nature. If it were any other mother-in-law, she would have taken her grandson and personally raised him.

Yuxi smiled and took the golden lock of longevity from Zisu’s hand and placed it in Lil Boy Shun’s swaddling clothes. Seeing that Lu Xiu was about to stop her, she stated, “I was not here when Lil Boy Shun was born. This is my belated gift for him.” When Qiqi was born, Yuxi had also given one to her.

When Lu Xiu heard this, she did not stop Yuxi. However, she also asked Old Woman Jian to bring over a small mahogany box. She told Yuxi, “This is a gift from Er Sao for you. It’s not that expensive. It’s just a token of Er Sao’s appreciation as your sister-in-law, so please accept it.”

Yuxi did not push the gift back and calmly asked Zisu to receive it.

Lu Xiu told everyone to withdraw and spoke to Yuxi in private. “Si Mei, from now on, don’t keep anything bottled up in your heart. If you have a hard time speaking with Mother, you can come over and talk to me.” Lu Xiu also felt that Yuxi was a very strong-minded person, and it was not suitable for a young girl to be too strong-minded.

Yuxi smiled and nodded, “All right, I’ll come and look for Er Ge and Er Sao if something comes up in the future.” This time, she was no longer worried about anyone bothering her in the State Residence. The members of the Main House all doted on her, so no one would dare enough to bring any trouble to her.

As they were talking, Lil Boy Shun cried as soon as he woke up. Yuxi asked strangely, “Er Sao, is Lil Boy Shun hungry again?”

Lu Xiu shook her head. “No, he just finished eating! He’s probably urinated.”

As soon as Yuxi lifted the blanket, she smelled a very foul odour, and her face changed slightly at that moment. She didn’t want to watch her nephew’s poo-poo, so she quickly said, “Er Sao, you seem a bit busy, so I’ll go back first.”

Looking at Yuxi’s unrestrained expression, Luxiu started to laugh. Thinking back in the day, she also fled when she saw her nephew’s poo-poo. Lu Xiu smiled and said, “Then you go back first!” When she finally became a mother herself, she wouldn’t mind this kind of thing when it came to her child.

Zisu naturally saw that something was wrong, and when they left Xiuchun Courtyard, she whispered, “Miss, is it bad for you to be like this?” Yuxi had acted so obviously, and she didn’t know if Er Nainai would be displeased.

Yuxi laughed, “You’re overthinking it.” When did she resent it? She was just uncomfortable with it. It was quite a strange feeling to encounter such a scene for the first time.

A burst of cold air blew in. In the dead of winter, the wind cut through people like a knife, which not many people could stand once it blew. Yuxi shivered and quickened her pace. “The day was fine yesterday, but today it’s cold once more. It looks like it’s going to snow again.”

Zisu laughed. “If it’s going to snow, then just let it snow!” When they returned to their yard, the bedroom and study both had floor dragons, so they didn’t have to worry about getting cold.

When Yuxi reached Taoran House, she saw Kufu before she could enter the courtyard. Kufu informed her, “Miss, the Third Miss has come over and is waiting inside the house.” In the hamlet, Kufu had been in a state of fear about her future and was so anxious every day that she was in no mood to pay attention to Yuxi. But now that she finally came back and realised that The Main House had adopted Yuxi, she no longer had insecurity of her future. As soon as she calmed down, she was keenly aware that Yuxi was treating her very coldly.

With a slight nod, Yuxi crossed the threshold and went to the small parlour. As she entered the parlour, she looked at the person dressed in peach coloured dress, embroidered with twin lotus flowers on one stalk in kesi style on it and called out with a smile, “San Jie, I haven’t seen you for half a year, and you are still as beautiful as ever.”

After hearing so many compliments on her looks, Yuchen was indifferent to them. But Yuxi’s praise was different from the others. Her tone was as casual as if she was talking about how pleasant the weather was today. “I also haven’t seen you for half a year, and your mouth has become much greasier than before.”

Yuxi responded smilingly, “Where’s the greasiness? I’m just being honest.” After saying this, she sat straight down on the first chair on her right. Then she placed the small heater she was holding in her hand on the table next to her in a casual gesture.

Yuchen looked at Yuxi and complimented, “After living in the countryside for six months, you look much better than before. I can see that your hamlet has nourished you well.”

Yuxi laughed. “It’s more comfortable at the hamlet, but it’s too cold to stay in winter. If San Jie is interested, we can go there next summer to escape from the heat.” After saying this, Yu Xi let out an ‘ah’. “I had forgotten that San Jie has to embroider dowry next year and won’t have time to go!” Although the wedding date had not yet been set, the 10th Prince was eager to marry Yuchen. Hence, it was estimated that the wedding would be arranged after the mourning period was over.

Yuchen looked at Yuxi with a somewhat complicated expression. The previous Yuxi seemed to be carrying baggage that made people feel heavy just by looking at her. In contrast, the current Yuxi had put her baggage away, which made her whole body relaxed. Yuchen smiled and said, “I’m not as good at needlework as you are. I’ve been embroidering a quilt top for two months now and still haven’t finished it yet.”

There were only trusted subordinates inside the room. Thus both of them did not have any scruples when speaking. Yuxi smiled as she said, “San Jie, everyone has their own specialities. Just let the embroiderers in the Imperial Household Department embroider the quilts and so on! Just do what you are good at doing.” As Yuchen was marrying the 10th Prince, the wedding dress was embroidered by the embroiderers of the Imperial Household Department. So there was no need for Yuchen to bother about it herself. As for the other small items, if you were willing, then you could do them. If you were unwilling, just let the embroiderers do them, and no one would pick on you for it.

Hearing this suggestion, Yuchen somewhat regretted it. “If my needlework could be as good as Si Mei, I would be able to embroider my own wedding dress.” It wasn’t that she couldn’t embroider the Prince’s Fei’s wedding dress herself. Her skills had to be on par with the Imperial Household Department’s embroiderers for her to do so. Yuchen’s embroidery work was average, so she definitely couldn’t embroider it herself. She felt sorry that she couldn’t wear her own embroidered wedding dress for her wedding.

There was a famous saying that a bride who married in her own wedding dress would be happy for the rest of her life. Yuxi scoffed at this saying. Of course, she hid her disdain in her heart. She would not do it out in the open.

On the way back, Yuchen asked Momo Gui, “Momo, do you feel that Si Mei has changed a lot?” This change in Yuxi was as if she had shed her mortal body and exchanged her bones.

Momo Gui was not surprised at all as she said, “Fourth Miss knows that she is not liked by the Old Lady and the Third Lord. If she did and said something wrong, she would have been chastised by them. This chastisement might be more than she could bear, so she acted with a bit of caution and was careful and discreet in her daily life. Now, the Fourth Miss no longer has this kind of worry.” Qiu Shi and Master Shizi treated the Fourth Miss even better, but they were still just aunts and cousins from the other house and could not control the affairs of the Third House. But now, it was different. The Fourth Miss was a member of the Main House. Even if she did and said something wrong, it was still the Main House’s people who would deal with her. The third house’s people had no right to peck at her. It could be said that now the Fourth Miss could walk around the residence without any problem.

Yuchen smiled bitterly. “Yes, the current Yuxi is no longer the old Yuxi.” In the past, Yuxi always carried a caution whenever she saw her. But now, Yuxi had a casual attitude in front of her. With her status changed, even her attitude had changed. Yuchen didn’t know whether this change was good or bad.

Momo Gui pointed out the truth, “Miss, such a change in Fourth Miss is good for her and the Han family.” When the Fourth Miss was adopted to the Main House, her life would become more comfortable, and her heart’s resentment would naturally dissipate.

Yuchen nodded gently and said, “Let’s hope so!”

When Yuchen reached her house, she took a glance at the fan that was inside her room. She sighed with a smile, “What a pity.” Yuxi’s handicraft was so exquisite that even the embroiderers in the Imperial Household Department could not match it. It was a pity that Yuxi had such good craftsmanship but didn’t use it much. Otherwise, she would have asked her to help embroider a large screen to give Guifei Niangniang as a birthday gift. However, she was only thinking about it and would not ask. She knew that, even if she asked, Yuxi would disagree.

Momo Gui said, “When a thing is rare, it becomes precious. It’s the fewer things like this that make them rare. Besides, embroidery is time and energy-consuming. It also consumes a lot of one’s eyesight. Just like this fan, which cannot be embroidered properly without a month of hard work.” This kind of double-sided embroidery was the most time consuming, and the eyes of the most skilled embroiderers would not be so good after they reached the age of thirty. This was why double-sided embroidery was so sought after. It took talent and perseverance to learn to do double-sided embroidery, and one had to pay the embroiderer’s salary to get one. But within a few years of learning, one’s body would deteriorate, and one would be unable to embroider anymore.

Yuchen slightly sighed. “So, the Heavens have been kind to Yuxi.” For something so hard to find and requiring so much work, Yuxi had learned it so easily. Even if Yuchen had worked so hard, just like how she learned things like the qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, she would not be able to reach the same level as Yuxi.

Momo Gui agreed with this statement. “The Fourth Miss is uniquely gifted in embroidery.”