Chapter 9: Testing

“Miss, why did you keep Tiandong in Yuxiu Zhai? You punished her in front of everyone today. She might resent you.”

Banxia looked at her mistress with worry. She understood the saying, “Don’t let the snake live, or it will become a tiger.”

“Banxia, do you think I’m cruel for punishing Tiandong so severely today?”

Bai Jinxi didn’t answer directly. Instead, she stared into Banxia’s eyes, her expression slightly cold as she asked.

Banxiaand Tiandong had grown up together, and their relationship was naturally very close. She clearly still couldn’t let go of her feelings for Tiandong

After Tiandong’s unreasonable fuss and shouting today, Bai Jinxi wanted to see if she would still defend her.

If she couldn’t let go, then Bai Jinxi wouldn’t force her to follow her.

“This servant doesn’t think so!” Banxia, as if sensing something, knelt down in front of Bai Jinxi, saying anxiously.

“Get up.” Bai Jinxi’s expression softened, reaching out to help her.

But Banxiastubbornly knelt down and took two steps back.

“Miss! This servant is just a maid. I don’t have much education, but I know that one servant cannot serve two masters!”

“Actually, ever since Master and Madam passed away, Tiandong has been changing. I was clinging to old feelings and didn’t tell you right away, Miss. This servant was wrong!”

“Today, she took the initiative to curry favor with outsiders, and she even wore flowers and made a fuss during the mourning period. It’s clear that she no longer respects Master and Madam, or Miss!”

Banxiarattled off a string of words, then looked at Bai Jinxi, panting, her eyes slightly red.

“This servant just thinks that Miss should be more ruthless and sell her directly!” Although Banxiaspoke harshly, the pain in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.

“Get up first.” Bai Jinxi was very satisfied with Banxia’s reaction. She said softly.

She didn’t require Banxia to be loyal without any other feelings. It was good to be sentimental, but to be able to control emotions with reason.

Seeing that Banxiadidn’t move, she pretended to have a headache. “You little girl, do you want me to come over and help you up?!”

As she said this, Bai Jinxi pretended to get up and help Banxia. Banxiaquickly stood up and gave her mistress a charming smile.

“Alas… Tiandong has taken care of me for so many years. If I were to sell her directly because of one or two mistakes, it would inevitably chill the hearts of others and give Yun Moyi a chance to buy people’s hearts.”

“Besides, why do you think Yun Mo Yi wants Tiandong to stay in Yuxiu Zhai?”

Seeing that Banxiano longer felt sorry for Tiandong and was a clear-headed person, Bai Jinxi decided to cultivate her well.

“Perhaps… to let Tiandong watch over Miss for her? To pass on messages?!”

“So, since we know this, can’t we just be on guard?” Seeing that Banxiawas starting to think, Bai Jinxi continued to guide her.

“It’s true, but wouldn’t it be safer if we didn’t let Tiandong into Yuxiu Zhai?” Banxiadidn’t understand. Why go through the trouble when there was a way to solve it directly?

Bai Jinxi gently tapped Banxia’s forehead and explained with a smile.

“You’re silly. It’s easy to avoid an open attack, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. Tiandong does everything in the open, so we can guard against her. But if we drive Tiandong away completely, wouldn’t Yun Moyi just plant someone else here? That would be impossible to guard against.”

“Miss, don’t hit me. I’m not as smart as you! If you hit me again, I’ll be even dumber!” Banxiaquickly covered her head, pretending to be scared of pain, making Bai Jinxi burst into laughter.

After laughing and joking for a while, Bai Jinxi sighed slightly in her heart—Banxia’s growth might be the only solace on her lonely path of revenge.

“Miss is so amazing. I feel like I’m the younger one in front of you.”

“…”

Bai Jinxi, lost in her thoughts, paused. She was suddenly alert. Had she been doing too much lately?

Although she wanted to take revenge on Yun Moyi and destroy all her plans, it wouldn’t be good if she was always so strong…

She looked at Banxiawith deep eyes. It seemed like she had just said it casually. Now, she was looking at her with admiration and relief.

Bai Jinxi understood the admiration, but relief? What was this expression of “My mistress has finally grown up and become amazing”?

Alright, she retracted her previous judgment of Banxia. This girl was still silly and needed her to watch over her.

But…

She still needed to be careful. Her actions and behavior should still fit the image of a ten-year-old girl.

After all, Yun Moyi wasn’t someone easy to deal with…

Tiandong had been lying in bed for almost half a month, and the injury from the beating was finally healed.

The first thing she did after getting out of bed was not to curry favor with her new mistress, but to walk up to Bai Jinxi and kneel down respectfully.

“Miss, this servant knows she was wrong. This servant thought she was your personal maid and forgot herself for a moment. You were right to punish me. Now, I’m going to serve you in Xilinyuan during the day, but when I come back at night, I want to serve you with Banxia…”

Her display of loyalty made Bai Jinxi look at her with new eyes. It seemed that Yun Moyi had reminded her when she came here a few days ago.

But if you could hide the curve of your lips when you bow, maybe I’d believe you a little… Bai Jinxi sneered in her heart.

“Tiandong, you don’t need to be like this… Banxia can take care of me here. You can go learn from Aunt Yun. After Aunt Yun leaves the Bai Mansion… We’ve been mistress and servant for so long. I, I still remember the past…”

When Tiandong looked up at Bai Jinxi, she only saw a hint of emotion on her face, a hint of difficulty and reluctance, as if she was regretting her impulsive decision…

“Madam, this servant did exactly as you instructed. I didn’t miss a single word. And then she said this to this servant.”

Tiandong was standing in the main room of Xilinyuan, bowing deeply, respectfully telling Yun Moyi about Bai Jinxi’s reaction.

“So, she just made a scene because she was angry for a moment?” Yun Moyi’s gaze drifted, as if she was deep in thought.

“Definitely. This servant knows her very well. She’s just a straightforward little girl. She doesn’t understand any tricks. This servant was even afraid that she wouldn’t let this servant go because she really cared about me!” Tiandong raised her eyebrows, with a hint of pride.

When Yun Moyi came back that day, she felt a strong sense of incongruity in the whole thing. Bai Jinxi’s actions and words didn’t sound like a ten-year-old girl at all…

So, she took the opportunity to send some snacks to Bai Jinxi in Yuxiu Zhai and told Tiandong that the first thing she should do after getting out of bed was to express her loyalty to Bai Jinxi and then tell her about her reaction.

“Since this is the case, then you’re still somewhat useful. Continue to keep an eye on Bai Jinxi for me.”

After thinking for a while, Yun Moyi decided that she must have been overthinking things. She no longer dwelled on it.