Chapter 9 There Are Many Wonders and Oddities in the World, Even If…

On the other side, Xu Rong leisurely returned to the mansion with Bai Fu in tow.

“Go see if your brother has returned and bring him to me.”

Bai Fu hesitated slightly: “My brother is from the Outer Courtyard. If others find out, it might be inconvenient. If you have any instructions, miss, it’s better for me to relay them.”

Xu Rong raised an eyebrow: “Is there anyone who cares about me now?”

Bai Fu: “Uh…”

There wasn’t. Madam Xu was entirely preoccupied with her son. Even if Xu Rong summoned a servant from the mansion or brought in a man from outside, she wouldn’t have the time to interfere.

Bai Fu obediently turned and left.

A short while later, she returned with a young man who had changed his attire.

Xu Rong had already dismissed everyone else in the courtyard. Bai Fu, feeling uneasy, was still somewhat hesitant, but the lanky young man was completely at ease. He knelt on the blue bricks in the main hall: “This humble servant, Bai Quan, greets the young mistress.”

Xu Rong, seated at the head of the room, spoke kindly: “No need for formalities. Rise and speak.”

Bai Quan stood up.

Xu Rong finally got a clear look at his face. He bore a slight resemblance to Bai Fu, but the similar features appeared more subdued on him, making him seem ordinary yet clean-cut—just as Bai Fu often described, her brother’s face truly looked “honest” at first glance.

“You’ve done well with today’s task. I appreciate your efforts,” Xu Rong praised him first.

Bai Quan’s gaze flickered over her face before quickly darting away as he lowered his head to reply: “This humble servant idles in the Outer Courtyard every day, with little talent to speak of. It’s an honor that the young mistress values me enough to use me even once.”

Reading between the lines, there was something intriguing about his words.

Xu Rong’s heart stirred slightly.

The number of people she could truly rely on was indeed limited.

“Still, it was your merit, and I should reward you. If you don’t wish to idle in the Outer Courtyard, what kind of position would you like? Feel free to tell me, and I’ll speak to Madam on your behalf.”

—A reward, not a mere handout.

Bai Quan’s heart skipped a beat. He licked his lips and smiled: “Then this humble servant will speak boldly. If the young mistress has more tasks like today’s and can still make use of me, I’d be more than willing.”

Xu Rong understood: though he repeatedly referred to himself as a “humble servant,” he was no ordinary lackey. Assigning him any routine position in the mansion would only constrain him—like using fine timber as mere firewood.

Bai Fu, standing to the side, grew anxious and couldn’t help but glare at her brother. She wanted the best for him—this was a rare opportunity. Whether it was a gatekeeper’s post or a future position serving the young marquis, both were good prospects. Why couldn’t he just say so?

Bai Quan caught her look and responded with a teasing wink. With Xu Rong present, Bai Fu couldn’t speak up and had no choice but to lower her head in silent frustration.

While the siblings exchanged silent signals, Xu Rong had already made up her mind.

“I do have another task, but this one isn’t in the capital—it’s far away. Would you be willing?”

Bai Quan’s expression instantly returned to normal: “This humble servant only has one sister, who serves the young mistress. I have no other attachments. Whether it’s the ends of the earth or the corners of the sea, wherever the young mistress commands, I’ll go.”

Xu Rong nodded: “Good. Wait here for a moment.”

She stood and motioned for Bai Fu to follow her into the inner bedroom.

Bai Fu trailed behind her in confusion, watching as Xu Rong entered and noisily emptied the five-tiered Cosmetic Box on the dressing table, spilling all kinds of jewelry onto the huanghuali surface, forming a small mountain of glittering treasures. “Miss, you—what are you doing?”

Xu Rong called out without turning her head, “Find me a sturdy piece of cloth to wrap things in.”

“Oh, right away.”

The wrapping cloth was quickly brought over.

Xu Rong began picking through her jewelry, selecting pieces to place on the cloth, and beckoned Bai Fu to help. “I can’t quite remember, lend me a hand and pick out the pieces I don’t use much anymore.”

Bai Fu hesitated before reaching out. “Miss, what are you picking them out for?”

“To give to your brother.”

The gold hairpin Bai Fu had just picked up instantly slipped from her fingers. “What?!”

“Hurry up, your brother is waiting. If you won’t pick, I’ll do it myself.”

Xu Rong couldn’t distinguish between frequently used and unused items herself, so she simply chose the larger, more gem-encrusted pieces that looked valuable. As she placed them in the bundle, Bai Fu, sweating nervously, kept snatching them back. “Miss, not this one! This necklace is part of the ruby set—it’ll ruin the whole collection if it’s missing! And this one too, it’s for major festivals—that one’s also no good—oh, Miss, please stop! Let me do it!”

To prevent her mistress from giving away the entire family fortune, Bai Fu had no choice but to surrender and take over the task herself.

“Miss, is this enough?”

Xu Rong frowned. “Add more.”

Bai Fu reluctantly added two more pieces.

After a few rounds of back-and-forth, Xu Rong was finally satisfied. Her gaze then fell on the jade bracelet Madam Xiao had given her the other day. She picked it up and added it to the pile. Bai Fu tried to stop her, but Xu Rong said, “Do you think I care for her gifts?”

Bai Fu shut her mouth. She didn’t like Madam Xiao either, so if Xu Rong wanted to get rid of it, so be it.

The final bundle wasn’t large, but it was heavy. Bai Fu carried it out with trembling hands.

Helping her mistress sneak out so many valuables—she wasn’t sure if this made her a thief…

Bai Quan stood in the center of the main hall, exactly where he had been, unmoving.

Xu Rong sat back in her seat, straightened her clothes, and looked up at him. “I have some unused items here that I’d like to entrust to you. When you go to Jiangnan—whether it’s Nanjing or Suzhou—find a peaceful, well-populated area in the city center and purchase a residence for me. If the funds I’ve given you aren’t enough, figure it out yourself. If there’s any leftover, you may use it as you see fit—I won’t ask.”

Bai Fu’s mind reeled as her jaw dropped in shock. “…”

Bai Quan’s eyes gleamed. “Does the young mistress truly trust this humble servant?”

Xu Rong smiled. “That’s up to you, not me.”

The young mistress seated above was slender and delicate, with refined features and snow-white skin—every inch the sheltered maiden. Yet the faint smile on her lips carried a steadiness and precision that spoke of worldly experience.

Bai Quan lowered his gaze and bowed deeply. “This servant will not fail the young mistress’s trust.”

**

Bai Fu carried the bundle as she followed Bai Quan toward the Outer Courtyard.

Bai Quan teased her, “Why not hand it over? Isn’t it heavy? You’re even more possessive than the young mistress.”

“Possessive?” Bai Fu pouted, unsure where her brother had picked up such rustic slang but roughly grasping the meaning. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Miss. One moment she’s so sharp I hardly recognize her, the next she’s acting foolish—why on earth would she want to buy property in Jiangnan? And to entrust such a fortune to you without a second thought!”

“You silly girl, the young mistress is ten times smarter than you. How dare you call her foolish?” Bai Quan flicked her forehead lightly. “By the time the young mistress has taken four or five steps forward, you’re still spinning in place.”

Bai Fu blinked. “Huh?”

Bai Quan rapped her on the head again. “Consider yourself lucky to be serving our young mistress now. No matter how chaotic the household gets, she’ll always protect you.”

“What chaos?” Bai Fu retorted. “Once you complete the task for her, the Marquis will return soon. She won’t have to marry that Second Master Xiao, and Madam Xu will find her a suitable match. Everything will get better.”

“Better?” Bai Quan scoffed, clasping his hands behind his back. “With our current mistress and our young Marquis, there’s plenty of ‘fun’ ahead.”

Bai Fu fell silent, wanting to argue but recalling Madam Xu and Xu Huazhang’s actions, she had nothing to say.

“The Marquis left too soon,” Bai Quan said, his expression turning serious. “Had our young mistress stayed a couple more years, she could have guided the young Marquis and steadied the household. But our mistress can’t tell right from wrong, letting outsiders manipulate her and breaking our young mistress’s heart.”

He paused, gesturing around them. “Look at these grand carvings and paintings, sister. Such splendor. But it can all crumble fast. Who knows if it’ll belong to the Xus, Zhangs, or Wangs in the future?”

Bai Fu stood frozen as a gust of wind made her shiver, clutching her bundle. “Brother, you’re scaring me.”

Bai Quan pointed at her bundle. “Then why do you think our young mistress had you prepare this?” His tone softened. “Don’t be afraid or overthink it. Just serve her as usual. This escape route is for her—and for us. Trust me, I’ll handle things well.”

Biting her lip, Bai Fu hesitated before whispering, “Brother, I think our mistress has changed…”

“Since she hit her head?”

Bai Fu looked up in surprise. “You know too?”

“I don’t,” Bai Quan shook his head. “And I don’t want to. The world is full of strange things—what’s one more? All I know is, if she hadn’t changed, I’d still be dozing off and feeding mosquitoes in the Outer Courtyard.”

A spark of ambition flashed in his calm eyes as he snatched the bundle from her arms. “Enough. I’ve got work to do. Don’t strain that simple mind of yours—just follow our mistress. You won’t go wrong.”

With that, he straightened his back and strode off.

“…”

Bai Fu watched him disappear, then sighed and turned back, walking slowly empty-handed.

She hadn’t gone far from the inner gate when a young servant came running. “Sister! Please, wait—help me pass a message!”

Bai Fu turned, puzzled. “What message?”

The servant caught up, wiping sweat. “Master Luo, who used to visit often, is here to see Madam Xu. Says it’s a matter of life and death! He’s frantic—almost barged in if we hadn’t stopped him. Look, he even left a mark on my arm—”

As a senior maid, Bai Fu rarely interacted with outer courtyard servants, so the boy babbled eagerly, more to curry favor than deliver the message. She frowned, looking away. “I’ll inform Madam. Go wait outside.”

She quickened her steps and headed back inside. But not toward the main courtyard—first, she needed to report to Xu Rong.  

Having just schemed against someone’s son, only for the father to show up at their doorstep, Bai Fu felt uneasy. She needed to seek her young lady’s instructions.  

Xu Rong was in her bedroom, carefully putting away the jewelry she had previously taken out, taking the opportunity to admire each piece. Hearing the news, she looked up with interest. “He came quite fast.”  

Bai Fu’s heart was in her throat. “Young Lady, is this alright? If Master Luo finds out—”  

“If he knew, he’d be kneeling to his death in front of the Duke of Ying’s Mansion by now,” Xu Rong cut her off. “Would he still have the time to come here and plead for mercy?”  

Her words instantly cleared Bai Fu’s confusion. “You’re right, Young Lady. At most, he knows Second Master Luo was captured by Young Master Zhang, but he doesn’t know what Second Master Luo actually did—much less anything about our involvement.”  

Her mind settled. Her brother was right—just follow the young lady’s lead in everything. “Young Lady, I’ll go inform Madam now.”  

Xu Rong tossed aside the pearl bracelet in her hand. “I’ll go with you.”  

She had been itching for a chance to see the commotion at the Duke of Ying’s Mansion—now, a perfect opportunity had landed right in her lap.