Chapter 8: A Hidden Pawn

Yun Moyi had deliberately neglected Bai Jinxi in her previous life, trying to make her useless. The servants of the Bai Mansion were not unaware of this. Even the steward, Zhang Xin, had told his son, Zhang Ze, to remind Bai Jinxi through Banxia

But back then, Bai Jinxi had been completely dependent on Yun Moyi. Any words against her were dismissed as attempts to sow discord. Therefore, she had often scolded Banxia

Thinking of this, Bai Jinxi looked up at Banxia. The little maid was looking at her with determination, as if she would go through fire and water for her.

Seeing her mistress looking at her, the little maid quickly flashed a reassuring smile. She was so silly and adorable.

Banxia was so warm and lovely. Seeing her made Bai Jinxi’s emotions a little incoherent. The sadness and anger on her face almost vanished. She quickly looked away.

“Aunt Yun, since you’ve stepped in for Tiandong, and she likes to serve you, I guess it’s fate. After Tiandong recovers, I’ll assign her to Xilinyuan.”

Bai Jinxi sighed, looking at Tiandong with a hint of reluctance.

“Now that Aunt Yun and Brother An are both staying in Xilinyuan, there’s only Qingdai, a senior maid there. It’s really not appropriate. You can go over and help.”

Tiandong’s face lit up slightly upon hearing this.

She secretly glanced at Yun Moyi. Seeing that Yun Moyi didn’t even give her a single glance, she could only endure the pain and kneel down properly, begging,

“Miss! This servant has truly done wrong. Please don’t abandon this servant! This servant doesn’t want to go anywhere else. This servant just wants to follow you!” As she spoke, she started kowtowing.

Bai Jinxi watched Tiandong kowtow, her eyes reddening, as if she was very reluctant. She bit her lower lip, turning her face away, but she still didn’t change her mind.

“Sister Xi, I shouldn’t interfere with your decision, but I think Tiandong is truly remorseful. After all, she’s been with you for so many years. Keep her.” Yun Moyipretended to be very reluctant and spoke up to persuade her.

“Aunt Yun, Xier is stupid. I’m also responsible for raising Tiandong like this. You know so much. Let Tiandong learn from you. When you’re not in the mansion, she can also help me like you!” Bai Jinxi insisted. This time, she had to use this opportunity to send Tiandong to Xilinyuan.

Didn’t Tiandong want to climb up to Lu Yi An? Then let her experience the jealousy of the Qingyang County Princess!

In her previous life, she had been targeted by the Qingyang County Princess because of Lu Yian.

“Alas, child, if you need anything, Aunt Yun can stay in the mansion with you. After all, we’ll be a family in the future.” Yun Moyi was unhappy when she heard Bai Jinxi say that she wouldn’t be in the mansion in the future.

This Bai Mansion would be hers in the future. If anyone was to leave, it would be Bai Jinxi!

“Aunt Yun, you don’t want her, are you afraid that she’s from Yuxiu Zhai and won’t listen to you? Don’t worry, you’ll be her only mistress from now on. You’re so skilled, she won’t dare to disobey you.”

Bai Jinxi gently pulled Yun Mo Yi’s sleeve, her dark eyes fixed on her, a strange smile playing on her lips.

Yun Moyi frowned, finding the phrase “so skilled” a bit jarring. She opened her mouth to continue refusing, but then suddenly thought of something. Her tone changed, and she agreed.

“Alas, alright. Since it’s Sister Xi’s decision, then Aunt Yun will help you teach Tiandong. But Xilinyuan doesn’t have enough rooms. Why don’t you let Tiandong stay here, and she can just go to Xilinyuan to serve you during the day?”

She wants to… plant a spy in Yuxiu Zhai?

No problem! That’s exactly what Bai Jinxi wanted!

Tiandong staying would actually make her a more controllable pawn. She needed these visible enemies to cover her true intentions.

“Okay, then that’s settled! Aunt Yun has made good arrangements. It was Xi’er who didn’t think things through.”

She nodded; her face full of joy.

The matter was settled. Bai Jinxi had the servants take Tiandong to the servant’s quarters to rest.

Yun Moyi and Bai Jinxi briefly inquired about the rules of the mansion, testing the little girl on how much she knew about the steward’s affairs.

Bai Jinxi answered haphazardly, perfectly portraying the naivety of a ten-year-old girl.

“Alright, Sister Xi, I’ve gotten a good understanding of the situation. I’ll go check on Tiandong and then I’ll leave.” Yun Mo Yi, having obtained the information she wanted, prepared to leave.

“Okay, Aunt Yun, go ahead. Xier won’t accompany you. You can teach Tiandong well!”

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Creak…

Hearing the sound of the door opening and closing, Tiandong, who was lying on the bed, looked up.

Seeing that it was Yun Moyi, she quickly crawled up, enduring the pain, to pay her respects. Yun Moyi, as if she couldn’t see the cold sweat on her face from the pain, looked coldly at Tiandong as she knelt down with difficulty.

“Tiandong, I told you to watch over your Miss, and this is how you do it?! Are you too stupid, or do you have other motives?!”

Yun Moyi spoke, her furrowed brow and the coldness in her words clearly showed her displeasure.

“Madam… This servant was too overjoyed to be favored by Madam, and forgot myself for a moment… Please give this servant a chance to make amends!”

As she spoke, she started kowtowing.

Tiandong knew that her fate was now in Yun Mo Yi’s hands. She wasn’t Bai Jinxi, who would be so kind.

“Miss used to be the fondest of this servant. She treated this servant like a sister. But ever since Miss woke up from her high fever, she’s been like a different person. This servant doesn’t know what’s going on… Could it be that she’s been possessed by a ghost?”

Tiandong spoke randomly, but she didn’t know that her guess was close to the truth.

“And even Ban Xia has become strange. She used to be such a good person. Sometimes I’d bully her, and she’d just laugh it off. But this time, she’s become fierce…”

“Oh? You mean, there’s something wrong with their mistress-servant relationship?”

Yun Moyi keenly sensed that something might be amiss. A flash of sharpness crossed her eyes.

Did they know something?

Or was someone behind them, guiding them?!

“Hmph! Now that you’ve been assigned to me, at least you come back to rest here every night. Take this time to control your temper and be nice to Banxia We need someone who can be close to Bai Jinxi!”

“But Ban Xia is very loyal to Miss and won’t betray her…” Tiandong hesitated. Turning Ban Xia against Bai Jinxi seemed impossible to her.

“You fool! Who said we need to turn her against her?! From now on, when you come back at night, talk to her about what’s happening around Bai Jinxi. Then tell me tomorrow when you come to serve me in Xilinyuan.” Yun Moyi was a bit impatient. She was starting to doubt whether it was even necessary to keep such a stupid pawn.

Alas, let it be. If this Tiandong is useless, then she’ll be discarded later. Someone who can betray the mistress she’s served since childhood can’t be counted on to do anything great…