Chapter 11: The Cold Food Fiasco

“Madam, I did as you instructed and had Zhang Ze bring the cold food back to young lady. But she went straight to the kitchen and slapped me. Look, the mark is still there…”

At this moment, a middle-aged woman, about forty years old, her face full of wrinkles, and her clothes stained with oil, stood in front of Yun Moyi, bowing and scraping.

“Well, you did well. You may leave. Tiandong, get a small string of copper coins and give it to Mother Li to calm her nerves.” Yun Moyi gestured for Tiandong to get a string of copper coins for her, about a hundred or so.

“Oh, thank you, Madam! Thank you for the reward, Madam!” The woman flattered, taking the copper coins with both hands, her old face almost blooming with joy.

She bowed and turned to leave, but then she heard Bai Jinxi’s shout from outside.

“Aunt Yun! Aunt Yun!”

She trembled in fear and looked around, trying to find somewhere to hide.

Seeing this, Yun Moyi frowned slightly, pointing to the screen behind her. “Go hide behind there for a moment.”

As soon as the woman scurried behind the screen, Bai Jinxi, with Ban Xia and Zhang Ze, pushed the door open and stormed in…

“What’s wrong, Sister Xi?” Yun Moyi’s lips curled downwards, pretending to be gentle, but a hint of impatience flashed in her eyes. The subtle change in her expression didn’t escape Bai Jinxi’s eyes.

“Aunt Yun! The kitchen’s Mother Li stole money!” Bai Jinxi said, both angry and aggrieved, her eyes wide.

“How is that possible? Don’t say such things without evidence.” Yun Moyi’s expression turned serious.

“It’s true! When my father and mother were still alive, the kitchen could always serve meals whenever needed… But my breakfast today was cold! This means that Mother Li stole the kitchen’s money and couldn’t afford to start a fire!”

Bai Jinxi spoke seriously, making the gentleness on Yun Moyi’s face almost crack…

This girl is truly ruthless! Just because Mother Li offended her this morning, she dared to make up such lies. You know, stealing money from a servant is a serious crime…

Mother Li, behind the screen, heard Bai Jinxi’s words and was both angry and anxious. She reached out to touch the screen, wanting to come out and defend herself!

But realizing that she was hiding from her, she could only clench her fist and retract her hand.

Shhh…

A rustling sound of clothes came from the side. Bai Jinxi looked in that direction.

Someone behind the screen?

She glanced at the bottom of the screen and saw a pair of dark blue coarse cotton shoes faintly visible, covered in dust and oil.

Heh! These shoes look familiar. Aren’t they the ones Mother Li was wearing? This little person is really quick to report. She just “bullied” me, and she’s already running to her new mistress to curry favor!

Bai Jinxi sneered in her heart, but she pretended not to notice anything. Looking up at Yun Moyi, she seemed determined not to give up.

“This… Sister Xi, don’t be silly. You said Mother Li stole money, did you see it with your own eyes?” Yun Moyi asked carefully.

If the little brat really discovered something, then Mother Li couldn’t be kept. But if she was just making assumptions…

Yun Moyi looked at Bai Jinxi. This kind of mischievous mistress would surely alienate her servants.

“I didn’t, but…” Bai Jinxi pouted, looking unconvinced.

Hearing that she didn’t see it, Yun Moyi’s lips curled slightly, and a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes. She was still thinking about how to find an opportunity to mention the steward’s position. She was even worried that someone was guiding her behind the scenes. Now, she was sending the opportunity to her doorstep!

Heh, it seems she really is a fool!

Yun Moyi seemed to hesitate for a moment, then finally made up her mind. Her expression turned serious, and she said, “Sister Xi, I just arrived at the mansion not long ago, so I didn’t want to make any big moves. But now it seems, we can’t go without a steward.”

Yun Moyi put on a persuasive demeanor, continuing to coax Bai Jinxi.

“Sister Xi, you’re still young and have no experience in managing the mansion. It’s inevitable that some wicked servants will take advantage of the situation. I came to the Bai Mansion to take care of you to prevent you from being bullied by wicked people. If you trust me, I’ll be the steward until you come of age, okay?”

Bai Jinxi didn’t even think before nodding. “Okay! Aunt Yun, you’re right! My father and mother have only been gone for a little over a month, and the troublesome servants are already bullying me. You help me manage the mansion, help me discipline those troublesome servants!”

She was full of anger, looking up at Yun Moyi, pulling on her sleeve and swinging it back and forth.

Actually, Bai Jinxi had already planned to let Yun Moyi manage the mansion. She was still young, and even though she was the rightful mistress of the mansion, there were many things she couldn’t manage.

Instead of clinging to the empty title of steward and managing a group of servants bought by Yun Moyi, who would cover for her, it was better to hand over the steward’s position directly. That way, if anything happened in the future, it wouldn’t be traced back to her…

Yun Moyi was a little dizzy from being shaken. She secretly sneered in her heart, “She’s just a little girl after all. Even if she pretends to be strong, when things happen, she still has to come to me for help!”

Bai Jinxi looked at Yun Moyi with a matter-of-fact expression. “Aunt Yun, then kick Mother Li out of the mansion now!”

Yun Moyi’s face showed surprise when she heard this. She hesitated for a moment, not immediately agreeing.

“Sister Xi, it’s not too late to deal with it after I ask her about the situation.” Yun Moyi said with a faint smile.

Mother Li was her person. How could she be dismissed as Bai Jinxi wished?

“Why? But she clearly stole money from the mansion!” Bai Jinxi refused to let go.

“Sister Xi, after all, we’re not people from the kitchen. We don’t understand the ins and outs of things. What if she has her own reasons?” Yun Moyi took her hand, looked into her eyes gently, and explained.

“Well… okay…” Bai Jinxi pouted, looking unhappy.

Yun Moyi was about to change the subject and send her away, but she suddenly lit up and said loudly to Banxia, “Banxia, go to the kitchen now and call Mother Li! I want to hear her explanation now!”

Yun Moyi was stunned when she heard this. She knew that Mother Li was behind the screen in her room right now. How could Ban Xia find her if she went out now?

“Oh! No need for Banxia to go…” Yun Moyi quickly stopped Banxia.

“I’ll have Tiandong go later. I’ll tell you after I’ve finished asking her.” She quickly suppressed the urgency on her face and slowed her speech.

“No, I can’t stand this. Banxia, go quickly!” Bai Jinxi urged, looking indignant.

Seeing that Banxia was really about to turn and leave, Yun Moyi became a little anxious. She quickly changed her tune…

“Alas, look at me, I’m not as perceptive as Sister Xi. Mother Li is just a cook in the mansion. No matter what the reason, it’s wrong to make the mistress eat cold food.”

“Let’s go, Aunt Yun will accompany you. Let them know that the mistress cannot be disrespected!”

Yun Moyi’s words were firm and impassioned.

Then she took Bai Jinxi’s hand and was about to go out.

Shhh…

A rustling sound of clothes came from behind the screen again, louder than before. In fact, Mother Li was already a little unsteady on her feet after hearing this.

Could Madam Yun really kick her out? If she’s branded as a thief who stole from the mansion, who would dare to employ her in the future? Isn’t this cutting off her livelihood?

“Tiandong, go behind the screen and take a look. Maybe the fabric I brought back wasn’t placed properly and is about to fall. Secure it.”

Yun Moyi instructed calmly, hinting to Tiandong to go behind the screen and stabilize Mother Li.

Tiandong understood and nodded, quickly walking towards the screen…