"Young lady, this servant feels that Miss Xiao Qi is not a good person. We should still guard against her."
Li Man'er sat on a chair and sighed, "When you are under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. Who is at fault when we are on their territory!"
This was unlike Li Man'er. How could she utter such disheartening words?
Just as Liu Ya was feeling puzzled, she suddenly remembered the two 'door gods' standing outside the outer room. The two guards, to put it nicely, were to protect Li Shu's safety, but to put it bluntly, they were there to monitor their every move.
Martial arts practitioners had superior senses, so the two of them had likely overheard their conversation.
Seeing that Liu Ya understood, Li Man'er stopped talking. It was much easier to handle matters with an intelligent person by her side.
"Young lady, behind the inner room, there is actually a small screen!" Liu Ya exclaimed with surprise as she tidied the room. Although the screen was not large, it was more than enough for one person to live in.
Li Man'er glanced at it and said, "This place was probably lived in by that Jiao Niang. We cannot use it."
Liu Ya frowned and took a closer look, also noticing something amiss.
The area behind the screen was clean, with a faint scent of powder. At the corner of the bed, there was a set of bedding, neatly arranged with two sets of women's clothes on top.
"Truly..." Shameless! To sleep in the small screen behind the Marquis's sleeping quarters. This was clearly an attempt to latch on, what else could it be?
"I'm not angry, why are you?"
Liu Ya, having been on the battlefield before, was naturally calm and collected. If Green Robe were here, she would probably have started cursing already.
"The screen cannot be used, so only the small couch in the outer room remains. It will be a bit inconvenient for you, young lady."
"What's to fear about a couch? The main thing is that it's clean," Li Man'er said. "Besides, this couch doesn't look small. If we squeeze, we can both sleep on it."
"This servant can sleep on the floor," Liu Ya said. "Before, when we were out... you never knew what kind of environment you'd be in. Sleeping on the floor was common. This room is warm, and if we spread two thick quilts on the floor, it won't be cold at all."
Li Man'er then said, "Then go and ask them for new bedding. I believe the Xiao family wouldn't be so stingy in this regard."
"Not just bedding, this servant will check what else is needed and make a list for the Xiao family."
Liu Ya said this with a slightly louder voice. Li Man'er pursed her lips and smiled, not stopping her. She even instructed, "Don't forget to take the banknotes, this young lady has money."
"Yes, young lady."
The mistress and servant's witty exchange infuriated the guards outside, but being guards, they could only glare.
A moment later, Jiao Niang arrived, holding a basin of warm water. Standing outside the door, she asked, "Young lady, your servant Jiao Niang requests an audience."
Li Man'er gestured for Liu Ya to go and inquire. Liu Ya didn't even open the door, and asked through the door panel, "What is it?"
Jiao Niang was naturally indignant. Before Li Man'er and her arrived, she could freely enter and exit this courtyard, but now she couldn't even get through the door.
"Young lady, this servant is here to prepare the Marquis's wash."
Liu Ya whispered to Li Man'er, "This servant has never seen such shamelessness."
"What is this? Let her in!"
"Young lady?" Liu Ya exclaimed in disbelief, strongly disagreeing.
Li Man'er said, "I know what they are up to. Just let her in, I have my own plans."
The Xiao family did not allow Li Shu's personal guards to attend to him, yet they sent a virgin servant in her twenties to serve him. How could the hidden motives behind this escape Li Man'er's eyes?
Wasn't it just to force Li Shu to take in Jiao Niang? A pure girl, being fed and bathed, had already lost her innocence. If Li Shu refused to take her in, he would be forcing her to her death. Such a bad reputation, once spread, would bring no good to the Li family.
Once Jiao Niang followed Li Shu, even if only as a concubine, she would become the Xiao family's informant and a weapon.
But they had arrived too late. Jiao Niang had already lost her innocence. What was the point of stopping it now? It would be better to let her do the dirty and tiring work, and it would be more justifiable.
"Go ahead!"
Liu Ya had no choice but to open the door.
A flicker of displeasure crossed Jiao Niang's face, but it quickly turned into a娇滴滴 (sweet and charming) demeanor. "Um, this sister, may I come in?"
Liu Ya was only eighteen years old. Hearing Jiao Niang call her 'sister' brought a hint of anger to her eyes, but she didn't say anything harsh, only saying with a cold face, "Come in!"
The first thing Jiao Niang did upon entering was to place the basin of water on the ground and then kneel to kowtow to Li Man'er.
"What are you doing? You are a servant of the Xiao family. Even if you wish to show me respect due to my status, a bow would suffice. There is no reason to kowtow."
Jiao Niang only said, "Please, young lady, accept me. This servant is willing to serve as a beast of burden to repay your kindness."
"Are you trying to betray your master?"
Liu Ya realized that the young lady was feigning ignorance, not wanting to yield to Jiao Niang so easily.
"No. Young lady, this servant implores you, give me a way to survive!"
Li Man'er chuckled, "The path is one you chose yourself, and now you are forcing me? Have you ever seen a proper family where the daughter arranges a concubine for her father?"
Liu Ya feigned great anger and pointed at Jiao Niang, saying, "How utterly shameless you are! You dare to speak of such sordid matters. What do you take our young lady for? And what do you consider yourself to be, constantly trying to get ahead."
Jiao Niang showed no reaction to the insults from Li Man'er and Liu Ya. She seemed indifferent, only continuing to kowtow, "Please, young lady, save my life and accept me!"
Li Man'er knew that the outcome could not be changed unless she killed Jiao Niang. The matter of her following Li Shu was set in stone.
However, this acceptance absolutely could not come from her!
As the legitimate daughter of a Marquis's mansion, if she were to act as a matchmaker for her own father, how could she possibly live with any dignity in the capital?
Even if she were to do so, it wouldn't be with someone of this caliber.
"Have you perhaps forgotten that your life is in my hands? Do your duties properly, and you will be granted the antidote. If you dare to overstep again, I will kill you directly. I doubt the Xiao family will say anything. Anyway, my reputation is already ruined, what's one more life to bear?" Li Man'er looked at Jiao Niang, her eyes exuding a murderous aura, like a galloping wild horse.
Jiao Niang shivered and lowered her head, "Yes, this servant understands. This servant will never dare again."
Li Man'er was satisfied and then told her, "The weather is so cold. Even though the room is warm, you don't need to clean so diligently. Go and massage the Marquis's limbs, then help him turn over and pat his back to promote blood circulation and prevent bedsores."
Jiao Niang could only agree, "This servant will go now."
But Li Man'er's next words almost made her lose her composure...