Chapter 591 - 597: Miss Zhou’s Cousin

Having entered Peicheng, Su Wenyue had familiarized herself with the local conditions and collected quite a bit of information to interact with the official families’ female relatives, which was indispensable for backyard socializing. Particularly for the situation at the City Lord Mansion, Su Wenyue had done her homework and gained a basic understanding, and so had Xiao Xi, who shadowed her.

Observing the pair of master and servant, Xiao Xi became even more convinced of her guess, and thus her tone grew less polite. If this master and servant had been more courteous, she naturally would have upheld a servant girl’s duty and not have readily offended anyone, after all, they were now on someone else’s turf. But it was clear that the pair had come looking for trouble. A passive response would only invite others to think they could bully our lady and take even more liberties.

Seeing Xiao Xi act this way, Miss Zhou and her maid knew they had to reveal their status or they would end up wasting time at the main entrance. Miss Zhou gave the servant girl a meaningful look, and the maid understood her young lady’s intent.

“How audacious! As everyone knows, your lady was merely a merchant’s daughter before marrying. What airs she puts on! Our Miss happens to be the City Lord Mansion’s Miss Cousin. Here in Peicheng, if you don’t even know to show respect to the master of the house, call your lady out to greet us at once. If my Miss creates a scene, we’ll ensure you can’t stay in Peicheng!” The servant girl, probably accustomed to intimidating others using the City Lord Mansion’s name, did not mince words and assumed the airs of her masters.

However, Xiao Xi just snickered. “So, it turns out to be the City Lord Mansion’s ‘Miss Cousin.’ I truly did not realize.”

Xiao Xi deliberately stressed the word ‘Miss Cousin’ in her tone; although she didn’t say much more, the sarcasm was clear. She had only been guessing before, but now that she confirmed the master and servant’s identity, she no longer had those reservations. Since they were rude to our lady, why should she be polite to them?

Those outside unaware might not know, but she learned the truth from the information provided by our lady: this so-called Miss Cousin’s position in the City Lord Mansion wasn’t particularly esteemed, and she wasn’t much regarded by the City Lord’s wife. In the presence of the true Misses of the City Lord Mansion, she was quite insignificant. Where she got the confidence to seek displeasure with their lady, Xiao Xi couldn’t fathom.

“You have some nerve, servant girl, to mock our Miss; aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to stay in Peicheng!” The maid, seeing Xiao Xi like this, spoke indignantly.

“Letting our lady struggle in Peicheng? Miss Zhou probably doesn’t have that capability. No matter what, our lady is still the General’s Wife. Miss Cousin, please be more polite. If you continue to demean our family’s lady, I will have no choice but to report to the General and ask him to take our lady’s side and speak with the City Lord. Let’s see when Peicheng came under the rule of a so-called Miss Cousin!”

Xiao Xi said with a sneer, not giving Miss Zhou and her maid any face and taking a very firm stance, causing them to look both shocked and angry, with a tinge of fear. The anger that had been simmering inside her dissipated somewhat. Xiao Xi understood that Miss Zhou, a Miss Cousin who was not highly esteemed and lived as a guest in the City Lord Mansion, wasn’t significant enough to affect the relationship between the two families, especially since Miss Zhou had come to their doorstep looking for trouble so aggressively. If she didn’t push back hard, that would be the real joke.

“What do you mean by that?” The maid clearly sensed the threat in Xiao Xi’s words; it sounded like she knew quite well about their situation in the City Lord Mansion. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have spoken so. However, they had only just arrived in Peicheng and couldn’t possibly know the affairs of the City Lord Mansion.

“What I mean should be quite clear to Miss Zhou. There’s no need for a servant girl like me to spell it out, as the loss of face wouldn’t be mine. To speak frankly, one should know their place, otherwise, when the truth comes out someday, one might lose both substance and face.”

Now Miss Zhou and her maid were certain that Xiao Xi was well informed about the City Lord Mansion; such blatant sarcasm was understandable even to a fool.

“How dare you, a lowly servant girl who can’t be seen in decent company, have the audacity to mock me. This is completely outrageous!” Miss Zhou, who had been maintaining a dignified silence and allowing her servant girl to speak on her behalf, couldn’t bear it any longer. Pointing at Xiao Xi and speaking vehemently, she revealed her true natures. “Although just a servant girl, I cannot tolerate any disrespect towards our lady. If you wish to meet the lady, then adjust your attitude. Don’t think you can fool or intimidate us like those naive ones outside; our lady won’t be taken in by such tricks!”

Miss Zhou didn’t expect a mere maid not only to be unaffected by her efforts to intimidate but to threaten her in return. Her ire rose rapidly, yet with a reminder from the maid beside her, she barely managed to retain her composure. She was here today to find Su Wenyue, and storming off in a huff over an argument with a servant girl would be unprofitable.

“I won’t stoop to quarrel with a little servant girl like you. Take me to your lady,” Miss Zhou said, swallowing her pride but still unable to mask the arrogance in her tone as she imperiously addressed Xiao Xi.

Xiao Xi pursed her lips. She was reluctant to let these guests in and spoil our lady’s mood, but as a maid, she knew her place. Since our lady wanted to meet them, she led them inside.

The scene at the gate had already been reported back to Su Wenyue, who was informed that the visitor was the City Lord Mansion’s Miss Cousin. Although Su Wenyue was a bit surprised, she did not take it to heart, for from Miss Zhou’s behavior, she was clearly not a smart person. Her lowly status coupled with such arrogance was quite telling.

Following Xiao Xi into the inner courtyard, Miss Zhou and her maid’s contempt grew upon seeing Su Wenyue’s humble living quarters. The smug satisfaction nearly oozed from their faces; this place was so much poorer than the City Lord Mansion, it resembled a beggar’s dwelling. To think that Su Wenyue, now the General’s Wife, would live in such a shabby place suggested that she was not valued by Han Yu. Moreover, being a merchant’s daughter, how could she be worthy of someone as outstanding as General Han? The rumors about Su Wenyue outside must have been exaggerations. Thinking this, Miss Zhou grew even more confident that she would achieve her objective!@@novelbin@@

Miss Zhou arrived at the living room with her head held high, eager to confront Su Wenyue, but she did not find Su Wenyue there.

“The lady is currently busy and does not have time right now. She has instructed that Miss Zhou should wait here for a moment. Once our lady is finished with her urgent matters, she will come to meet Miss Zhou,” Shu Xiang said politely and coolly, conveying Su Wenyue’s message.

“What did you say? Su Wenyue is making me wait here? Does she know who I am? I am…”

Before Miss Zhou could finish, Shu Xiang interrupted, “Please rest assured, Miss Zhou, you are the City Lord Mansion’s ‘Miss Cousin;’ our lady is well aware of that. It is precisely for this reason that our lady has agreed to take time out of her busy schedule to see you. Our lady cannot be met by just anyone; please patiently wait just a moment longer!”

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