The Reborn Legitimate Daughter is Frivolous - Chapter 24
After lunch, Murong Qing was about to rest when someone came to report that Shui Xinting had arrived.
She frowned. Hadn’t she just been here two days ago? Why was she back again?
Then she sneered.
So impatient already? No wonder her past self kept falling for her schemes!
She ordered Qingbi to go to the North Garden and told Liuli not to come to the front garden, leaving Qinglian by her side.
“I’ve seen the eldest lady,” Shui Xinting greeted.
“The second aunt is very diligent in visiting my Qingyuan,” Murong Qing said coldly.
Shui Xinting didn’t mind at first, but when she saw Qinglian standing beside Murong Qing, her expression darkened.
Qinglian was a maid she had bought with her own money!
If she had known it would turn out like this, she would have kept her. Even if Qinglian wasn’t especially useful, it was better to have her by her side than to see her serving Murong Qing.
Forcing a stiff smile, Shui Xinting said, “What is the eldest lady saying? Madam is gone, and the eldest lady now oversees the entire inner courtyard. As a concubine, I should be visiting you daily to pay my respects. But there are many household matters to manage, and I’ve been particularly busy today, so I came now to greet the eldest lady. Please don’t blame me.”
Murong Qing looked at Shui Xinting, wondering how she ever thought this woman was so clever and dangerous in her past life.
Now she just seemed foolish.
She couldn’t even hide her temper, and after twisting her foot, she still insisted on stepping on it again.
Was she so unwilling just because she saw Qinglian serving her?
Well, Shui Xinting had always been petty and vengeful. It wasn’t surprising.
But what was she even trying to show off?
With a faint smile, Murong Qing said, “It’s still my doing. If I hadn’t insisted in front of Father to hand over the kitchen management to Second Aunt, she wouldn’t be so tired now. In that case, I’ve really made you suffer for my sake.”
She said it lightly, but every word hit its mark.
The kitchen duties Shui Xinting was so proud of were, after all, something Murong Qing had discarded. Without Murong Qing’s “charity,” she never would have gotten them in the first place.
In other words, the management she flaunted was something Murong Qing didn’t even want.
Truly, a slap in her own face.
Though Shui Xinting knew Murong Qing was telling the truth, jealousy still burned in her heart.
Her stiff smile returned. “The eldest lady jests. It’s no hardship at all. It’s my blessing to share the eldest lady’s burdens.”
She spoke the flattering words through gritted teeth, furious inside.
She had even checked the almanac before coming today—it said the day was good for visits and travel—so she had eagerly come to Qingyuan, hoping to learn why Murong Qing had gone out recently and maybe make her a little uncomfortable.
Yet before she could even get two sentences out, she was forced to flatter her instead.
How could she not be angry?
“It’s good you understand,” Murong Qing said casually, sipping her tea.
Seeing Murong Qing sitting so calmly, Shui Xinting felt a wave of irritation.
It was the same as last time—she had been exhausted and thirsty, but Murong Qing hadn’t even offered her a seat or tea. She’d had to leave humiliated and angry.
“I didn’t expect Qinglian to become a first-class maid by the eldest lady’s side,” Shui Xinting said. “It seems the maid I picked for you really suits your taste.”
Murong Qing smiled faintly. “A maid sent by the second aunt should of course be well used by me.”
At this time, Murong Qing was seated while Shui Xinting stood. Though she didn’t have to look up, standing for so long was uncomfortable. Murong Qing said, “Qinglian, bring a chair for the second aunt and serve her some tea. The Heart Pavilion is quite far from here—she must be tired from the walk.”
Qinglian obeyed, instructing two maids to bring a chair while she went to the small kitchen in the back garden to fetch tea.
That small kitchen was close to the South Garden—one of the reasons Murong Qing had arranged for Qinglian and Qingbi to live there.
Seeing Murong Qing suddenly showing some consideration, Shui Xinting thought she was trying to curry favor.
She smiled to herself. So Murong Qing had returned to her old self so quickly—less than a few days after Yun Wan’s death.
Her smile became more genuine as she said, “It’s rare for the eldest lady to be so generous. In a few days, why don’t I select some good maids to send here to help with chores in your garden?”
Murong Qing’s eyes turned cold.
So she still wanted to plant her own people in the garden to spy on her?
Her schemes were clever, but her patience was far too thin.
Had she learned nothing from last time?
“It’s enough to have Qinglian and Qingbi,” Murong Qing replied calmly. “If there are too many servants, it might break the household rules. But if the second aunt insists, I can’t refuse your kindness.”
Shui Xinting was just about to speak when Murong Qing continued, “Just like with Qinglian and Qingbi, give me the deeds of sale for the new maids—and for their family members, if they have any. Last time, when Qinglian and Qingbi came to me, I only asked for their own deeds and forgot about their families. Luckily, they’re both orphans. Otherwise, I’d have had to trouble Second Aunt again.”
Shui Xinting fell silent, pretending to drink her tea.
When did Murong Qing’s mind become so sharp?
Every thought she had, Murong Qing seemed to think of first.
When she sent those first maids, she’d purposely withheld their deeds of sale to keep control. The second time, she planned to send maids with families so she could hold their relatives hostage. That way, they’d have no choice but to obey her.
But Murong Qing’s words had ruined that plan before it even began.
“The concubine only meant to ask,” Shui Xinting said quickly. “Since there are already enough maids in your garden, there’s no need to break the rules. Last time with Qinglian and Qingbi, it was my own oversight.”
“It’s fine,” Murong Qing said coolly. “I’m not one to hold grudges. Just remember next time.”