Enter Chang Xiangsi and help Jingzhai fight

Chapter 163 Keeping a Low Profile

I smiled at her and said, "Sister Jingye, you've worked hard. During the time I was down, you must have been very busy."

Jingye smiled bitterly and said, "It's not so bad. Ruofeng and Ruiyang are also helping out. It's just that you are missing, and the young master doesn't let newcomers get close to him, so sometimes they can't handle it. Speaking of this, I just want to discuss it with you. I want to ask Jingui or Mansheng to help in the study so that I can be free. Who do you think is appropriate to send?"

I pondered for a moment and asked, "Can both of them read?"

Jingye replied: "Mansheng knows a few words, but Jingui doesn't."

I replied: "Then let's go with Jingui."

Jingye smiled and said, "Okay, then it's Jingui." After that, she put down the food box in her hand and said, "I asked the kitchen to make some food for you, you can eat later. I still have some errands to take care of, so I'll leave first and come to see you after I'm done."

I bowed on the bed and asked Xiaowei to see her off.

Xiao Hui opened the food box, placed plates of exquisite dishes on the small table on the couch, and placed them on my bed.

I looked down and saw crab roe tofu soup, steamed mandarin fish, braised winter melon, sweet osmanthus and jujube yam, and a bowl of steaming hot three-fresh dumplings. They were all light but nutritious, and there was not a single dish I disliked.

I couldn’t finish it all by myself, so I asked Xiaowei and Xiaohui to eat it with me.

After dinner, Xiaowei helped me up and wanted to wash me up. She said that the young master came to see me every night and the time was almost up, so I should get ready early and not be seen looking sick.

After hearing this, Xiao Hui was about to go out to help me fetch water. I called him and said, "Xiao Hui, remember to help me call Man Sheng over after you fetch the water. I have something to ask her."

Xiao Hui agreed and went out.

After Xiaowei helped me comb my hair, Xiaohui brought me the hot water.

By the time I finished washing my face, Man Sheng arrived.

I asked her to sit at the table outside behind the curtain, saying that I was afraid she might be infected with my illness by accident.

Man Sheng laughed and said, "Miss, you are too polite. How can you dislike me?"

I replied from behind the curtain: "Alas, once you've been sick, you know how uncomfortable it is. It's better to be safe than sorry. But Xiaowei and Xiaohui have been with me for the past few days, and they haven't been in any trouble, so I feel relieved."

Man Sheng picked up the tea and took a sip without answering.

I said, "Sister Jingye came to me just now and said that you have been tired recently."

Mansheng took another sip of tea and then replied, "It's OK. I'm just worried that my position is too low, so Miss Jingye has to do some things herself, and I can't share her worries. But I saw that she went to Jingui's room when she left. Jingui just told me that she should go to the study to learn how to serve in the future."

I nodded and said, "Our courtyard was in turmoil before, and there were too many people who wanted to plant spies in our courtyard. Thanks to your vigilance and hard work, otherwise we would not be able to cope with it. I will talk to the young master and increase your monthly salary."

Man Sheng hurriedly thanked him.

I added, "No need to be polite. This is what you deserve. If you do a good job in the future, you will be rewarded. I came to you today to ask you something."

Mansheng replied: "Miss, if you have any questions, just ask me. I will tell you everything I know."

I asked, "On the night of the first day of the new year, which was the day when Lili ate the carp used for sacrifice, I asked someone to send you a letter. Did you receive it?"

Mansheng thought for a moment and asked, "But what about the time when Miss Jingye and Master Chunming went to look for her?"

I replied, "Yes."

Man Sheng slapped her thigh and said, "I remembered it now! Girl, I received it, but I was too busy that day. I thought you were going to talk about the carp, but when I saw that I had received the carp, I was busy packing and preparing. I thought about reading it later, and I forgot about the flying letter. Girl... did it say something else? Was there any big mistake?" As she spoke, her voice began to tremble.

I sighed and said, "I understand. It's nothing, no big mistake, just a coincidence. Go back and burn the flying book, and pretend that it never happened."

Mansheng stood up and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your forgiveness, young lady! Mansheng will definitely work harder in the future and stop being so hasty!"

I coughed lightly and said, "That's good. I feel a little tired after talking for a while. You should go back first and don't stay in my room for too long. In case the disease is over, I will be too busy in the mansion."

Man Sheng didn't dare to say more. She bowed and went out.

I felt a little regretful, but then I thought, even if she delivered the letter to Feishu that day, the seed in Senying's heart had already been planted, and it was only a matter of time before it broke through the soil. So I suppressed that trace of regret and was left with only sighs.

Xiaowei was cleaning up the dishes and putting them into the lunch box when someone knocked on the door gently.

Xiaowei hurried to open the door, only to see Tu Shanjing wearing a long gown made of palace satin, with a few branches of wintersweets embroidered on the hem, and a cloud-like green feather cloak, standing at the door with a slender figure.

Turning his head to look at me, he showed a happy expression and said, "You are awake."

Xiaowei hurriedly invited him in. He stood at the door, took off his cloak and handed it to Xiaowei, looking at me and smiling: "I'll stand here for a while. I just came in from outside and I feel cold."

Xiaowei said tactfully, "Young master, please take a seat. I'm going to the kitchen to return the lunch box." She turned around and winked at me, then put down her cloak, put on a small flowered jacket with a red background and gold edges, and went out with the lunch box in her hand.

We stared at each other from a distance, and for a moment we were speechless. I noticed that he looked a little pale, and I thought he must have been tired these days, so I said, "You've lost weight."

"You've lost weight." He blurted out almost at the same time.

We smiled at each other, and he came over and said, "I'm fine. I've been trying to catch Rui Er Niang and her gang these days, and I'm afraid they might destroy the evidence or escape when they have time. How do you feel now?"

I replied, "You've worked hard, sir. I'm fine. I just lay with my eyes closed all day. I'm fine except I feel weak. Sister Jingye brought me some delicious food just now. Xiaowei and Xiaohui ate with me. But sir, you've been working non-stop these days, dealing with things both inside and outside, so you must be tired."

He smiled and sat on the stool beside my bed, straightened his sleeves, looked at me and said, "I listened to you and tried not to worry too much and get angry too much. I'll take care of the big things, and leave the trivial matters to Chunming."

I laughed and said, "Master Chunming is pitiful. He was arrested and investigated during the New Year."

His eyes were bright and he said cunningly: "I am more pitiful. I can go back and give him a big gift, but what about me? Not only do I have to run around during the New Year, but no one takes care of me."

I pulled a strand of his hair and stroked it, saying, "How pitiful! No one washes your hair, right? If I had known this would happen, I would have gotten up even if I had to crawl."

He stared at me, a gleam in his eyes: "You'd better stay down. If you get up, I'm afraid you'll be more pitiful than me."