Chapter 41: Mrs. Xu's Internal Injury

  Xu Mingjin rolled her eyes and said, "Are you praising them or mocking them?"

  Yu Zhu smiled sweetly and said, "Sister Chun Xing is right, Yu Zhu has learned from her." After finishing speaking, she asked Xu Ming Jin for instructions again, whether to let her change into night clothes first before continuing the conversation. Xu Ming Jin agreed.

  After Yu Zhu left, Chun Xing said to Xu Mingjin: "Miss, from now on, I'll follow Yu Zhu to learn some martial arts, is that okay?"

  "Hum, who died and made you say that I'm a good girl, why learn anything else, but rather learn to be an undercover agent?" Xu Mingjin teased her.

  Chun Xing's face turned red as she said, "Can't I just admit that I was wrong? Fine, Miss. After I learn martial arts from her, there will be one more person to protect you."

  "Do you think martial arts are that easy to learn? It's something you have to practice from a young age. You'd better give up early, I only need one person who knows martial arts by my side." Xu Mingjin's words were practical, but they couldn't help but be suspected of being a blow to Chun Xiang. As soon as Chun Xiang heard them, she was like a deflated balloon. She didn't speak again for the rest of the night.

  Yu Zhuo changed into good clothes, immediately shedding the murderous aura she had just displayed, and transformed back into that gentle and clever little maid. No one could connect the two together. Xun Mingjin revealed a satisfied expression.

  Jade Bamboo respectfully reported to Xu Mingjin: "Miss, I secretly entered Mrs. Xu's courtyard and took her pulse, and found that she was indeed not pregnant as you said. Moreover, I also heard about one of Mrs. Xu's plans."

  Xu Mingjin was extremely surprised, and Yu Zhu actually brought her an unexpected surprise? She hurriedly gestured to Yu Zhu to continue speaking.

  Jade Bamboo told everyone in the house what she had just heard.

  Xu Mingjin listened and revealed a strange smile.

  Then she sent Yuzhu down to rest.

  The next day, when Madam Xü asked Xu Mingjin to come over again, Xu Mingjin knew that her uncle must have helped her with the matter. Now in the capital city, it was probably all about the rumor spread by Fan Yicheng at her request. She didn't know why Madam Xü had called her over, was she going to interrogate her? For some reason, Xu Mingjin thought of the news that Yuzhu had brought back last night, that Madam Xü's pregnancy was fake, and felt that Madam Xü must have an ulterior motive this time. To be on the safe side, this time she didn't bring Chunxing who never left her side, but instead brought Yuzhu and Qiuyun.

  Chun Xing immediately pouted.

  Xu Mingjin knew she must be unhappy, which is a normal human feeling. Every time she brought Chun Xiang, but this time she didn't bring her and instead brought someone else, so she must feel very disappointed. Xu Mingjin comforted her for a while, then said that this time going to Mrs. Xu's place would be extremely dangerous. Bringing Yu Zhu was because she knew martial arts and was also skilled in medicine, so she could protect herself. If she went, she would still have to divide her attention to take care of her.

  "Miss, in your eyes, am I just a troublemaker?"

  Xu Mingjin immediately said seriously: "Chun Xing, you are the most loyal person by my side, and staying by my side, the most important thing is to have a heart of loyalty."

  Chun Xing immediately burst into laughter. Xu Mingjin looked around and found that several new maids who had just heard her words all showed determination in their eyes, as if they were secretly making up their minds. Yu Zhu was calm and composed, as if she had already done what Xu Mingjin said with loyalty.

  Xu Mingjin said: "Yu Zhu, I know your loyalty, but you must understand one thing. After your previous master sent you to me, you only have one master."

  Yu Zhu's expression changed slightly, and after a brief moment of silence, she said firmly, "I know."

  Xu Mingjin was very satisfied. She also instructed Yu Zhu: "Later, when you go to the Jade Screen Courtyard, you must be extremely careful around Mrs. Xu. If she leans on me or pushes me, you must ensure that Mrs. Xu does not fall to the ground. Also,

  "Madam Xu, if she makes me eat or drink something, and you find out that there's an additive in it, give me a signal. Also, you and Autumn Cloud must be careful too, I'm afraid Madam Xu will target you both as well. If she finds your weaknesses, she can completely say that I instructed you to do so, and then she can punish me!"

  Chun Xiang listened to the side, couldn't help but widen her eyes. No wonder Miss didn't let her go this time, it turned out to be so dangerous! Yu Zhu went, can protect Miss, because she knows martial arts, knows medicine, and if she went, only add chaos, with her violent temper, maybe even bring trouble to Miss. Thinking of this, Chun Xiang's heart balanced, no longer resentful that Miss didn't take her this time, instead grateful to Yu Zhu, Chun Xiang stepped forward, held Yu Zhu's hand, repeatedly instructed, and warned, must bring Miss back safely.

  Jade Bamboo somewhat understood why Xu Mingjin had just condescended to comfort a little maid as if she were a young lady. This little maid was loyal to her master. At the same time, she also felt some envy towards Xu Mingjin and the relationships between masters and servants around her. Under Young Master Ze's command, she had only seen him once, which was this time when she stood out among many bodyguards and was chosen by Young Master Ze, sent to serve Xu Mingjin before he summoned her. She had always known that he was her master, but the first meeting was actually a farewell, with the master telling her to go serve another master. To be honest, Jade Bamboo felt some reluctance in her heart, after all, she had been in the bodyguard organization for many years and had grown accustomed to it. Starting anew in an unfamiliar environment, serving an unfamiliar master... She was somewhat uneasy, not knowing what kind of person she would be serving, whether they would be difficult with her or dislike her.

  Unexpectedly, the new master, after seeing her abilities, actually appreciated her and was willing to reuse her. However, Jade Bamboo knew that if she wanted the new master to trust her like he trusted those two senior maids by his side, it would be impossible for now. She could only slowly gain his trust.

  Xu Mingjin's words, which seemed to comfort Chun Xing, were actually meant for Yu Zhu.

  Yu Zhu is very clever. She immediately understood Xu Mingjin's meaning and expressed her loyalty. The child can be taught, Xu Mingjin was very satisfied.

  Next, Xu Mingjin took Yu Zhu and Qiu Yun to Yeping Academy.

  There was Xu Mingjin's serious entrustment to Yu Zhu in advance, so the first time Chun Xiang didn't follow Xu Mingjin, but stayed in the house waiting for her return. She was anxious like an ant on a hot pot, turning around in circles in the house. The little girl tried to persuade her, but in the end, Chun Xiang couldn't stay in the house anymore. She ran through the courtyard and rushed to the entrance of Feicui Garden, where she stood on tiptoe waiting.

  Xu Mingjin brought Yu Zhu and Qiu Yun, fully prepared, but unexpectedly, Mrs. Xu didn't summon her to interrogate or frame her, but rather to choose the clothes to wear for Princess Pingxi's birthday banquet two days later. When Xu Mingjin arrived, her sisters were already there, selecting from the clothes sent by the needlework room - a dazzling array of silk and satin, accompanied by the occasional tinkling laughter of the women, making the scene quite lively.

  "Jin'er, you go and choose too!" said Mrs. Xu in a soft voice.

  Xu Mingjin didn't go forward, she respectfully said: "Mother, Jin'er is the youngest in age, originally should wait for her sisters to choose first, then go and choose."

  Mrs. Xü heard this and did not agree: "It's not that simple, you've already acknowledged me as the legitimate daughter of the Shangshu household, how can a concubine-born sister be chosen before you?" After Mrs. Xü finished speaking, she didn't wait for Xu Mingjin to respond and immediately called out to the others.

  A group of women who were excitedly picking out clothes, upon hearing this, unhappily put down the clothes in their hands. When they saw Xu Mingjin standing beside Mrs. Xu, they all cast resentful glances at her.

  Mrs. Xu looked at this scene with satisfaction.

  Xu Mingjin stood there calmly and thought: Is Mrs. Xu trying to provoke public anger and kill someone with a borrowed knife?

  "Xia'er, have you made your choice?" asked Mrs. Xu gently to Xu Mingxia.

  Xu Mingxia glanced at Xu Mingying and others standing beside her with a pleased expression, and under their envious or admiring gaze, she reached out to take one of the peony-patterned cheongsam from the bed and said to Mrs. Xu: "I've chosen it, this is the one."

  The clothes in Xu Mingxia's hands are the most beautiful and luxurious among these clothes.

  Which of the women present does not want this dress? The answer is none. So, they all looked at Xu Mingxia with envy and sighed in their hearts: Xu Mingxia is the eldest daughter, she took away this dress, who can say anything, who made herself just a concubine's daughter?

  But Mrs Xu's next words made them no longer calm.

  Mrs. Xü watched as Xü Míngxiá chose the peony-patterned cheongsam that she had especially prepared for her, and nodded in satisfaction. Then she turned to Xü Míngjǐn and said: "Jǐn'ér, go choose one too!"

  Everyone glared at Xu Mingjin, this country girl who had just arrived a few days ago, how dare she pick clothes in front of them? But almost immediately, everyone remembered that Xu Mingjin had already been recognized by her brother as the legitimate daughter under Mrs. Xu's name, so of course she should be picking first.

  Although they seemed to understand, who would be convinced? Everyone secretly resented Xu Mingjin in their hearts. Xu Mingying was the most excessive, directly casting a resentful and poisonous gaze at Xu Mingjin in front of everyone.

  Mrs. Xu was even more satisfied.

  Xu Mingjin knew that if she said she would wait until everyone had chosen, and then pick from what was left, Mrs. Xu would absolutely not allow it. Her purpose was to borrow a knife to kill someone, how could she easily let herself escape? Having figured this out, Xu Mingjin responded with a "yes" towards Mrs. Xu, without looking at the resentful gazes of Xu Mingying and others, and walked to the couch piled high with clothes.

  Xu Mingjin carefully appreciated each piece of clothing, and every time her gaze fell on a particular garment, a cold hum would sound from behind her. When she withdrew her gaze and walked in front of another piece of clothing, a sigh of relief and a cold hum would follow from behind.

  Xu Mingjin stopped in front of each piece of clothing to admire it, and to be honest, she really liked every single one of them because they were all things she had never seen before, and they were extremely beautiful.

  Xu Mingjin finally picked up a Smoke Cloud Butterfly skirt and smiled slightly at Mrs. Xu, saying: "I've made my choice."

  Mrs. Xu suppressed her anger and said: "This dress doesn't match your temperament, choose another one!"

  Xu Mingjin didn't understand: "Why choose again? I like this dress very much!"

  Mrs. Xu wanted to say something else, but Xu Mingying couldn't help saying: "Mother, don't make it difficult for Liu Mei, if she likes it, just let her take that one! We sisters haven't chosen yet!"

  Madam Xü knew that if she insisted on making Xu Mingjin give up the clothes, she would have offended several concubines, so she could only nod her head, but in her heart, she was furious and almost suffocated with rage.