Chapter 13: Hot Silver

“Huh? You didn’t know, but you still dared to testify for her?! I said, if you give false testimony, you’ll be treated as accomplices. Aren’t you close? Let’s all go together!”

Bai Jinxi ignored them and skipped to Yun Moyi, grinning with exceptional delight. “Aunt Yun, how did I handle it?”

Yun Moyi was furious at this point. They were all fools! They were so easily taken down by a little girl!

But at this moment, she could only swallow her anger and look down at Bai Jinxi, forcing a smile. “Sister Xi is truly amazing.”

Then, she raised her head fiercely and looked at Mother Liand the others.

“Considering that you’ve worked for the Bai Mansion for many years, we won’t pursue the past. You can pack your things and leave now.” As she spoke, she winked at Mother Li

Mother Li was overjoyed when she heard this and was about to agree. Packing and leaving still gave her room to maneuver. After all, she had saved a lot of money over the years, from the kickbacks she received in the mansion and the gifts from the masters during festivals.

“No! Her things must all be stolen goods. Aunt Yun, look! She’s even smiling because she knows she’s being kicked out!” Bai Jinxi pointed at Mother Li and shouted.

Everyone’s eyes followed her finger and saw the smile that Mother Li had frozen on her lips and hadn’t had time to retract…

“No! Those are this servant’s own things! This servant is taking her own things, it’s only right!” Mother Li’s eyes turned red, and she quickly defended herself.

“Oh? But my mother told me that servants in the mansion sometimes take some of the mansion’s benefits. She thought that servants weren’t easy either, so she turned a blind eye.”

“I won’t stop you from leaving, but if you want to take anything, then call someone to check the accounts. If you’ve embezzled any of the mansion’s money, you’ll have to make up for it!”

Bai Jinxi wouldn’t let her take anything. This old woman ate the Bai Mansion’s food and received gifts from her father and mother, but she turned around and worked for the Bai Mansion’s enemy!

Heh, my Bai Mansion’s money isn’t so easy to take!

I’m not pursuing anything else, letting you leave on your own is already a mercy. After all…

Thinking of this, she subtly glanced at Yun Moyi—Heh, her money is even hotter!

Hearing Bai Jinxi say that she would check the accounts, Mother Li instantly wilted. She stammered for a long time, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Like a frost-bitten eggplant, she slumped down dejectedly and, under Ban Xia’s supervision, only packed a few clothes before leaving the Bai Mansion…

After the matter was settled, before Bai Jinxi and Yun Moyi left, an elderly person from the kitchen, emboldened, stepped forward and asked who would manage the kitchen from now on.

Bai Jinxi thought for a moment and pointed to Sun Po in the corner. “Her. She looks honest.” Then, as if she had just remembered that Yun Moyi was now the steward, she quickly pretended to cover her mouth and peeked at her.

Yun Moyi nodded. She didn’t have anyone of her own anyway. It didn’t matter!

When I manage the mansion in the future, will I be afraid of not having a chance to plant my own people?

A few days later…

“Ah? Really? That’s so scary…”

Banxia and Zhang Ze were huddled together, chatting about something. Then, they exclaimed in surprise.

“What’s wrong? What’s so scary?” Bai Jinxi approached with a smile.

She didn’t want to interrupt when she saw the two of them huddled together, but Banxia’s exclamation made her curious.

“Miss, when I went to get lunch just now, I heard the people in the kitchen say that Mother Li took her son out of the city to burn incense. They encountered bandits and were hacked to death… The nearby people arrived and saw that she used her body to shield her son. That’s how her son escaped, but his arm was cut.”

Zhang Ze quickly replied. Banxia glared at him. “Why are you being so detailed? Don’t scare Miss!”

Bai Jinxi listened to Zhang Ze’s description, a flash of coldness in her eyes.

“Heh! Bandits, huh…”

Yun Moyi’s methods are really monotonous. Every time, it’s either thieves or bandits. If no one had discovered them this time, they probably would have been thrown into a mass grave!

Bai Jinxi’s expression suddenly froze. She suddenly thought of something!

Since she had been reborn, she had been recalling things related to Yun Moyi in her previous life. But there was one thing that was quite important to her, and she had forgotten it!

She had always thought that she had been tricked in her previous life, and Banxia was the only warmth in her life. But she had forgotten someone very important!

The last voice she heard before she died, the voice that preserved the last bit of dignity for her failed life!

Who… was he?!

On the twenty-ninth day of the first lunar month of the twenty-third year of Qingde, she must go and see for herself who gave her that last bit of warmth before her death…

Perhaps because she had been outsmarted a few times, Yun Moyi hadn’t come to see her much lately.

This was a good thing, after all, no one wanted to see their enemy every day and pretend to be close to them.

But…

Bai Jinxi felt even more annoyed!

Lu Yian, for some reason, would radiate the melancholy aura of a poet every day after school. He would sit at the entrance of her Yuxiu Zhai and stay there until dinner time. Sometimes he would recite poetry loudly, sometimes he would look at the sky with a deep, thoughtful expression.

Every time Bai Jinxi wanted to quietly slip away without making a sound, he would suddenly see her and nod politely.

She had no choice but to pretend to be shy and return the greeting, then quickly lower her head and leave.

It was fine once or twice, but these continuous encounters were truly making Bai Jinxi sick!

“Sister Xi!”

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, wearing a moon-white robe with a jade belt around his waist, bowed slightly to Bai Jinxi.

Bai Jinxi paused, a feeling of annoyance instantly welling up in her heart. It was Lu Yian again. Didn’t he have any books to read or lessons to learn?!

She stopped and turned around; her face already adorned with a shy smile. She returned the greeting.

“Brother An.”

Looking at the polite smile on Bai Jinxi’s face, Lu Yian couldn’t help but feel, perhaps it was just his imagination, that the little girl’s attitude towards him was a bit cold, even a bit avoidant.

But thinking about what his mother had said, that if he could get her, he would have the entire Bai Mansion…

Lu Yian forced himself to smile more brightly and said enthusiastically, “Sister Xi, won’t you be bored staying in the mansion all day? The weather is warming up now, and everything is coming back to life. Why don’t I take you out for a walk?”

Banxia stepped forward and stood in front of Bai Jinxi, expressionless as she refused on behalf of her mistress. “Mister Lu, boys and girls shouldn’t sit together when they’re seven years old. Especially now that my Miss is still in mourning, it’s not appropriate to interact with men.”

This direct refusal angered Lu Yian. After all, he was a talented young man with a bit of fame in Liangzhou City. He was only fourteen years old and already a scholar. In addition, he inherited Yun Moyi’s good looks, especially those peach blossom eyes, which had captivated many young ladies.

Seeing that Bai Jinxi only smiled politely, but didn’t refute, the smile on Lu Yian’s face disappeared. He looked like he had been misunderstood and was feeling very hurt.

He bowed again.

“I was presumptuous today. I was just being kind. I thought you might be sad in this environment, so I wanted to take you out for a walk. Alright, if that’s the case, then you can go wherever you want.”

Perhaps he wasn’t used to being rejected, Lu Yian’s face darkened.

“Sister Xi, thank you for your kindness, Brother An. Then I’ll be leaving now.”

Bai Jinxi didn’t give him any face. What? You invite me, so I have to go? Do you really think you’re my future husband and can boss me around?!

Seeing that Bai Jinxi really turned and left, Lu Yian’s face was as dark as ink.

He was used to being fawned over by young ladies. In the past, when he showed a little displeasure, those ladies would quickly comfort him gently. He had never been treated so coldly.

“Hmph, she’s just a naive little girl. Just wait until you need me!”