Chapter 006: Making a fuss without reason

Ever since Inhua left the mansion, there was only one senior maid named Baoqin left in the courtyard. Apart from the young master, she had the final say in all matters in the courtyard.

As a result, everyone usually gave in to her, but they didn't expect her to become so ruthless.

The people from the Zhou family were also anxious.

It all started because their daughter wanted to fly a kite, which dragged Ruyi and Tianfu into the situation.

In a hurry, Mrs. Zhou ran up and grabbed Baoqin, saying, "My dear sister-in-law, please show some mercy and forgive them this time!"

"Forgive them?" Baoqin retorted, "Mrs. Zhou, you have been coming to our Xizhao Hall for a long time. You know the rules set by the young master. Anyone who takes things privately will be punished with twenty strokes and expelled from the mansion!"

"But it's just a few pieces of paper..." Mrs. Zhou felt that Baoqin was making a big deal out of it.

"Just a few pieces of paper?" Baoqin raised her eyebrows and pointed to a large basin of pork on the table in the small kitchen, "Can the value of these few pieces of paper compare to that large basin of pork on your table? Can you still say it's just a few pieces of paper?"

Were these papers really that valuable?

Mrs. Zhou instantly felt helpless and looked at Zhao Ruyi, not knowing what to do.

Baoqin then forcefully pushed Ruyi and the girl to the young master's study, and sternly said, "You wait here!"

She then took the kite and went into Song Wujie's study, and began to exaggerate the situation.

While Baoqin was speaking, Song Wujie didn't listen to a word. His full attention was on the kite.

He didn't expect the girl's hands to be so skillful!

The paper was thin, and if not handled carefully during mounting, it could easily tear. But she managed to paste it so smoothly and neatly.

This made him somewhat interested in the girl named Ruyi.

"Bring the two maids outside in," Song Wujie said calmly, as he slowly rubbed the kite's frame with his fingertips.

Baoqin felt a sense of satisfaction and called the two into the study.

"Did you make this?" Instead of asking many questions, Song Wujie lifted the kite in his hand and asked.

Ruyi nodded and was about to explain, but the young master sitting at the head of the table laughed and asked, "What does your family do? How can you paste the kite so skillfully?"

"My mother sometimes helps others paste lanterns to make ends meet, and I often help her, so I learned some skills..." Seeing that the young master didn't inquire about the origin of the paper, Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief.

"But I remember you said you were born in a noble family?" Looking at the simple-looking girl in front of him, Song Wujie asked with curiosity.

Ruyi tugged at her clothes and whispered, "My mother used to be a senior maid in the Lady's chamber, and later she was given to my father as a wife by the Duke of Ningguo. My father is a carter for the mansion and is often away from home, so my mother and I do odd jobs at home to make ends meet."

"Your mother... used to serve in the Duke of Ningguo's Lady's chamber?" Song Wujie narrowed his eyes as he listened.

Hearing the displeasure in the young master's tone, Ruyi quickly explained, "No, my mother's name is Chunhua, and she served the former Lady!"

Chunhua?

Song Wujie searched his memory for the names of the maids around his mother at that time, but he didn't remember such a person. However, he wasn't worried that the girl was lying to him, as he could easily verify the truth.

So he put the matter aside and asked the girl behind Ruyi who had been sobbing, "Do you like this kite?"

"Yes... I like it..." Perhaps feeling that she had caused a huge disaster today, the girl's tears hadn't dried up, and she had already cried herself into a big mess.

"Since you like it, take it back." Song Wujie placed the kite on the desk.

Seeing that the young master didn't mention the matter of the paper, Baoqin became anxious.

Just as she was about to remind him, the young master closed his eyes nonchalantly and said, "I'm a little tired. Ruyi and the girl can leave, but Baoqin, stay."

Ruyi gave Baoqin a meaningful look and quickly took the kite, leading the girl out of the study.

As they left, Mrs. Zhou and the old servant in the small kitchen were in distress.

"If Inhua were still here, at least she could help us persuade Baoqin and even plead with the young master on our behalf," the old servant sighed, "Baoqin used to be so reasonable. Why has she changed so much since Inhua left?"

"What does she know about reason and propriety?" Zhou Ruijia's expression was fierce and stubborn as she held the zither, feeling furious. She couldn't believe that despite all the delicious food she had secretly made for her, she didn't show any consideration just now. "Before, she was under the control of Ru Hua, so she had to restrain herself a bit. Now that Ru Hua is gone, she's eyeing the position of the mistress in this courtyard!"

As soon as Lian Pozzi heard this, she quickly covered Zhou Ruijia's mouth, looked around nervously, and then scolded her, "Are you trying to get us killed? How dare you say such things, aren't you afraid of being overheard?"

Zhou Ruijia rolled her eyes, "What's there to be afraid of? There are only a few of us in this courtyard! If she really causes trouble for my daughter and gets her kicked out, I will make a scene throughout the entire mansion. I want to see if she still has the face to stay here!"

As they were indignantly speaking, they saw Zhao Ruyi returning with her daughter, chatting and laughing along the way.

"What's wrong? Is everything okay now?" Zhou Ruijia hurriedly went up to them, pulling Zhao Ruyi and her daughter to look them over.

"Everything's fine!" Zhao Ruyi smiled and said to Zhou Ruijia, "Not only is everything fine, the young master even returned the kite to my daughter!"

"Thank goodness, the Bodhisattva has blessed us!" Zhou Ruijia clasped her hands together and glanced at Lian Pozzi, "What did you say to the young master to make him stop pursuing the matter?"

This time, it was the excited daughter who eagerly answered, "Ruyi sister said her mother is called Chunhua, a person in Madam's chamber, and the young master didn't ask us anything further!"

"You... you are Chunhua's daughter?" Hearing this, both Zhou Ruijia and Lian Pozzi looked at Zhao Ruyi in astonishment.

Zhao Ruyi nodded.

Zhou Ruijia wiped away tears with excitement and formed a close bond with Zhao Ruyi, while she and Lian Pozzi began to take care of Zhao Ruyi as if she were their own niece.

As for the scolding and punishment that Song Wuji gave to Baoqin, and her growing resentment towards Zhao Ruyi, those are stories for another time.