The Reborn Legitimate Daughter is Frivolous - Chapter 23

Not far away stood a stone table surrounded by four stone stools. If four people sat together, it wouldn’t feel crowded, nor too distant.

As you entered Qingyuan, the first thing that caught your eye was the rockery and the pavilion beside it. From that pavilion, one could see the entire garden clearly.

Walking all the way to Beiyuan, Qinglian said, “You’ll live here. Though it’s not large, it’s still better than sharing a servant’s room with several others.

“Now that you’re injured, it’ll be easier to take care of you here. Qingbi and I can also come over anytime to give you medicine.”

Liuli said nothing along the way, simply following her quietly. Now that they had reached Beiyuan, Qinglian couldn’t help feeling dissatisfied and frowned slightly.

She wasn’t like Qingbi, whose mind was simple and who didn’t care about others’ attitudes toward her.

But since Liuli was personally chosen by Murong Qing, she couldn’t say much. She only hoped Liuli’s stubborn temperament would soften, so she could serve Murong Qing well in the future.

If it weren’t for the jewelry house that needed someone to manage it, Liuli wouldn’t have had the chance to come to Qingyuan and leave that bitter place behind.

Still, Qinglian said, “After all, you’re the young lady’s personal maid. Although she told you to rest in the garden, you’re not bedridden. You should still do something for her.

“The small garden behind the young lady’s courtyard is usually tended only by Qingbi and me. If you feel bored, you can go there to take care of the flowers. That way, you’ll be doing something for her. If it weren’t for the young lady, who knows when your scars would heal?”

Originally, Qinglian hadn’t planned to make Liuli work, since Miss Murong wanted her to rest well. But Liuli’s temperament really made Qinglian dislike her.

Since she was idle anyway, it was better for her to take care of the flowers. It wasn’t hard work, and it would also save her and Qingbi some effort.

“Okay,” Liuli said.

She hadn’t planned to speak, but Qinglian’s last words were true. If it weren’t for Murong Qing, her wounds might never have healed. No master would be willing to use such precious medicine on a slave.

Now that she was Murong Qing’s maid, it was only right for her to serve her.

Qinglian hadn’t expected Liuli to respond. She was momentarily stunned, then said, “Then have a good rest. I’ll bring your lunch later.”

After finishing her task, Qinglian walked out of Beiyuan and let out a long sigh.

Looking up at the bright sky, she stood still for a moment, then turned toward the main garden.

Murong Qing was sitting on a chair, drinking tea and reading a book.

Reborn in this life, she had come to love reading.

In the past, she thought that as a woman, it was enough to be good at embroidery and the arts. As the eldest daughter of the general’s mansion, she naturally couldn’t neglect piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and her temperament had to be gentle so she would be loved.

But things were not as beautiful as she imagined.

Believing that “a woman’s lack of talent is virtue,” she never paid attention to worldly affairs. She stayed in her own Qingyuan, living in her own small world, waiting for someone to lead her into another one.

She believed a woman should be soft and weak, that after marriage, her husband should be her sky. She was obedient and gentle, and because of that, she was repeatedly bullied. After entering the palace, she was constantly schemed against, and in the end, was trampled under Murong Xue’s feet and died with hatred.

In this life, she had decided to change. From the moment she opened her eyes, she had made up her mind.

“Miss, Liuli has already moved into Beiyuan,” Qinglian reported.

Murong Qing put down her book. “Liuli’s temperament is still stubborn?”

At that, even calm Qinglian frowned. “Yes, miss. I don’t understand why you insisted on buying her. The other three maids at Ya Pozi’s place seemed much better.”

Murong Qing smiled lightly. “It’s good that she’s stubborn. I’d be worried if she weren’t.”

Qinglian looked puzzled, wondering why her lady always said such unexpected things.

“The Nine Flowers Jade Dew Paste works well. Have Qingbi apply it again tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take Liuli to the jewelry house.”

“Miss, you’re taking only Liuli?”

After thinking for a while, Murong Qing said, “Qingbi will come with us. You’ll stay here and watch over Qingyuan until I return.”

In the general’s mansion, as in every noble house, there were strict rules. Each master could have only two first-class maids and one senior servant.

The head of a household might have four second-class maids, two first-class maids, and one senior servant. A concubine would have one fewer than a wife. Third-class maids could be more flexible in number, but there were still limits, and no one dared break them. If caught, they could be punished or even reported to the county government.

Only first-class maids were allowed to leave the mansion. Since Liuli needed to go out to handle matters for Murong Qing, she could only go as a first-class maid.

Murong Qing remembered that in the past, Taohua had been jealous of Liuli and often framed her. Because of her stubbornness, Liuli was often punished by Shui Xinting.

Yet Shui Xinting never truly broke her—she only pretended to. Liuli, however, remained loyal to her for reasons even she didn’t understand.

“The servant understands, miss. Please don’t worry.”

What Shui Xinting wanted from her and Qingbi was to report Murong Qing’s every move. But now, they were no longer at her mercy. Still, Shui Xinting wouldn’t easily give up watching Murong Qing.

This was what troubled Murong Qing. She had left the mansion by herself this morning—Shui Xinting must have known. The more often she went out, the more suspicious Shui Xinting would become.

She needed to find a foolproof way to send Liuli to the jewelry house.