Chapter 10

“Ah! None of that is important. You should treat the little girl in the backyard shed as if she were your own flesh and blood, so others don’t use her against us!”

Minister Yan rubbed his forehead and spoke slowly.

“Jinxing, think carefully about your career!”

Minister Yan thought about how, for the first time, the emperor had reprimanded him, and he felt anxious inside!

After all, who would want their daughter and son-in-law to manage things poorly? It was likely that something had leaked from their household.

“Father-in-law is right. I will return and give Qingqing the same treatment as that illegitimate daughter, Narcissus!”

As soon as he heard that his career could be affected, Xia Jinxing broke out in a cold sweat. If political enemies knew what was happening in his backyard, then… his future would be bleak!

He bit his lower lip and cursed under his breath, “Damn it! I’ll go back and find out who let their tongue slip, and I’ll make sure to drag them and their entire family into the mess!”

“Hey!”

Minister Yan glared at Xia Jinxing.

“Why investigate? Are you waiting for your official cap to be taken away? Just do what you need to do, and correct any mistakes immediately! Also, whatever I say, you must never let the beauties know. Otherwise, if the news leaks out, we might lose our heads!”

“Yes, Father-in-law!”

Xia Jinxing nodded in agreement.

In the bamboo grove, Xia Qingqing and Xiao Suo were still busy searching for snakes, insects, and mice.

“Miss, look, there’s a green snake on the bamboo branch!”

Xiao Suo’s head popped up just as she saw a small snake slither along the bamboo, its tongue flicking out.

Startled, she quickly pulled Xia Qingqing’s arm.

“Ha! This thing is a good creature. It’s a bamboo leaf green snake. Although its venom won’t kill immediately, being bitten is excruciating, like being burned. It would be perfect to teach those attacking dogs a lesson!”

Xia Qingqing swiftly caught the seven inch bamboo leaf green snake and tossed it into the sack.

Xiao Suo was shaking with fear, imagining the tragic fate awaiting those guards, warmly clapping and cheering for their downfall.

Xia Qingqing and Xiao Suo also found many various creepy-crawlies while digging through the soil.

Furry, squishy, and stinky…

Fortunately, they caught two crickets.

When they returned to the courtyard with the sack and the cricket cage, they saw Butler Lin waiting there for them.

“Sixth Miss, you are back!”

Butler Lin bent over with a forced smile.

“Xiao Suo, did the sun rise in the west?”

Xia Qingqing looked around and felt that something was off about the atmosphere.

For the first time in a while, she saw the butler bowing to her, looking more pathetic than usual.

Xiao Suo shook her head, “Miss, it’s getting dark; we should make dinner!”

“Oh! Alright! Let’s go back and cook!”

Xia Qingqing completely ignored Butler Lin and the maidservants behind him.

The two entered the courtyard, each busy with their own tasks.

Butler Lin was cursing Xia Qingqing in his heart as he wore a forced smile on his face.

As soon as the master returned to the house, he instructed him to prepare a place for Xia Qingqing, saying that they should treat her as they did with the fourth young lady, Narcissus.

Everyone was shocked.

What spell did this Sixth Miss cast on the master to make his attitude turn one hundred eighty degrees?

These servants all knew that since the master ordered this, they had to follow through.

Butler Lin personally brought Xia Qingqing to the backyard shed to ask her to move.

Seeing that she ignored him, he wore a mournful expression and shouted from outside the dilapidated door, standing on tiptoe:

“Sixth Miss, the master has informed me that you will be moved to the small courtyard next to the garden tonight.”

“Move courtyards?”

Xia Qingqing, who was playing with the crickets, paused when she heard Butler Lin mention the move.

Xiao Suo, who was kneading dough, looked at her in surprise.

“Miss, could it be that they have some kind of scheme?”

“Very likely! They might agree! We’ll stay here; as long as they don’t disturb us, we have the courtyard! Plus, it’s convenient for us to earn money outside.”

Xia Qingqing shook her head.

She walked into the courtyard and waved her hand.

“Move out! Get lost! If anyone dares to disturb us again, don’t blame me for using my axe!”

Xia Qingqing picked up the chopping knife and struck a firewood stick.

“Crack!”

The firewood stick split in two.

Butler Lin stepped back in fright.

What to do now?

If he were to provoke the Miss, he would return with nothing to report. If he stayed here and angered her, his own life wouldn’t be safe.

After thinking it over, he decided that his own life was more important.

“Alright then! I’ll go back and report to the master!”

Butler Lin hurriedly turned and left with the maidservants.

“What did you say? She’s moving?”

Xia Jinxing stood up in surprise. He had wanted her to stay in the small courtyard in the garden, but even Lady Yan hadn’t agreed. He never expected her to be willing to move now!

Butler Lin shook his head. “Sixth Miss even threatened me with the chopping knife, saying that whoever makes her move, she’ll chop off their head!”

Xia Jinxing felt overwhelmed.

“Ah! I initially planned to leave her in the backyard to fend for herself. If she survived, she could marry off later. I never expected that I would have to take care of her now, and she wants to move! Fine, I’ll go personally!”

For the sake of his future, Xia Jinxing had no choice but to lower himself and head to the backyard shed.

When he arrived outside the courtyard, he heard Xia Qingqing and Xiao Suo talking inside.

In the dim light of the kitchen oil lamp, the two small figures sat at a wooden table.

“Miss, I made you some pulled noodles, and I added the chicken soup the master sent last time. It tastes amazing!”

“I know, Xiao Suo, you’re the one who cares about me the most! You should eat more too! Back when Mother was here, she would also make pulled noodles for me. Although life was tough, with Mother by my side, no matter how hard it was, I never felt sad.

Now that Mother is gone, and Father is like a stranger, this Xia residence is even less of a home for me. They bully me, hit me, and spit on me. If I dare to resist, perhaps all those scoundrels have forgotten they have a daughter!”

Xia Qingqing chatted with Xiao Suo, and Xia Jinxing, standing outside the courtyard, saw the figures in the light, as if he were transported back to his days in the countryside with his mother. He remembered the same scenes of hardship. If he had encountered Xia Qingqing’s mother and grandfather, perhaps he…

“Ah!”

Xia Jinxing sighed deeply, turned, and left.

“Master, is Sixth Miss still moving?”

Butler Lin hurriedly followed.

“Let her be! If she wants to move, then let her fix up the house she’s living in. Send her everything that a legitimate daughter should have! Also, spread the word that Sixth Miss is also a daughter of the Xia family. In the future, if any servants dare to offend her, they will be dealt with severely!”

Xia Jinxing ordered sternly.

Perhaps his guilt made it difficult for him to face Xia Qingqing, so he could only use this method to make amends.

Late at night, the Xia residence was quiet. A figure slipped out of the backyard shed, her head covered, revealing only her eyes as she quietly carried a sack to where the guards lived.

When the guards suddenly…..