Xie Nanjia was worried that Xiu'er's mother would be frightened by this incident, so she went back home before going to find the second steward.
Xiu'er's mother was really frightened. She burst into tears when she saw her and repeatedly told her to stay in the mansion and not go anywhere. She said that the mansion was where the master of the marquis's mansion lived and no matter how brutal the bandits were, they would not dare to offend.
Xie Nanjia agreed to all of their requests and comforted her not to worry too much. The bandits had killed someone, and in order to avoid being caught by the government, they would probably hide well in the near future and would not dare to come out and do evil again.
Xiu'er's mother felt a little relieved and asked about the disappearance of the old woman in the mansion.
Xie Nanjia lied to her and said that it was the old woman who stole the fourth concubine's gold and silver jewelry and ran away.
Xiu'er's mother then asked if the Fourth Aunt was too difficult to serve and the old woman couldn't stand it and ran away.
Xie Nanjia said no, the Fourth Aunt was a very nice person and was very gentle to her and never treated her harshly.
Xiu'er's mother was relieved and asked her to go back early, fearing that if she stayed outside for too long, the Fourth Aunt would blame her.
Xie Nanjia said goodbye to her and went to find the second manager.
The second steward was packing clothes for going to Beijing in the small wooden house in Liantang. When he saw Xie Nanjia coming, he politely invited her to sit in the house.
Xie Nanjia entered the room, calmly sat down on the only chair in the room, and asked, "Have you arranged everything?"
The second steward smiled and replied, "Everything has been arranged. Reliable people have been entrusted to the farm and the fields. People have also been sent to the mansion to take turns to guard. Miss, don't worry."
"Yes." Xie Nanjia nodded. "You are a careful person. I have nothing to worry about. The Fourth Aunt still has some things to tell you. When you are done packing, go and say goodbye to her."
"Okay." The second steward agreed and asked, "Miss, do you have anything to tell me?"
Xie Nanjia had already stood up. After hearing this, he thought for a moment and said, "Nothing else. The only thing is that the Marquis's Mansion is a high-ranking family, and the servants are bound to be arrogant. When you get there, you must act in a proper manner and speak with confidence. If the gatekeeper makes things difficult for you, just give him a slap in the face."
"Ah?" The second steward's eyes widened in shock, "Then will I still be able to come back alive?"
Xie Nanjia didn't explain, but just said: "I'm not asking you to die, just do it."
After saying that, he turned and walked out.
The second steward saw her to the door and watched her slender but tall figure walking slowly away under the scorching sun. He couldn't help but think of the scene when she came here in the morning.
At that time, she walked into the wooden house in the morning light, and told him with a demeanor he had never seen before that there was a great opportunity to turn things around, and asked him if he dared to give it a try.
Although he seldom asked about the affairs of the farm, he was still very familiar with Xiu'er. He couldn't believe that the calm and composed girl in front of him was the same humble and timid little girl in the past. If Xiu'er had not never left the farm all these years, he would almost suspect that it was Xiu'er who had been swapped.
She saw his doubts and hesitations, and took the initiative to say, "You don't have to be surprised. I became like this because I was forced to do so. Juan broke into my house in the middle of the night and tried to do something bad. I saw with my own eyes that his brain was smashed by the beams of the house. The chief steward hated me and wanted to kill me to pay for his son's life. If you were me, would you still be so muddleheaded as before?"
He remained silent, and she continued, "You need to take risks to get rich. Opportunities don't come every day. If you miss this opportunity, you may never get ahead in your life. You have to think clearly."
Of course he understood that opportunities are rare, but he didn't understand why she chose him as her helper.
She said: "After this is done, I will most likely be taken away by the Fourth Aunt. There is nothing to be nostalgic about this manor. The only thing I can't let go of is my mother. I hope you can help me take good care of her."
These words shocked him again.
He liked Xiu'er Niang and once secretly confessed his love to her, but was rejected by her. He did not dare to force her and knew that people's words were scary, so he could only hide his feelings deep in his heart and never let anyone find out. He believed that Xiu'er Niang would not say it out loud.
But how did Xiu'er know that
He was surprised and delighted at the same time. The fact that Xiu'er could tell him so frankly showed that she approved of him in her heart.
Just for this recognition and the future of him and Xiu'er's mother, he would not hesitate to go through fire and water.
*****
Xie Nanjia returned to the mansion and told the fourth aunt that the second steward would be here soon.
The Fourth Aunt was a little impatient and told Xie Nanjia everything she wanted to tell the Second Steward, asking her if there was anything she had missed.
Xie Nanjia pondered and said, "If you ask me, a thousand words are not worth an object. Is there any special token between the aunt and the marquis?"
"A token of love?" The fourth concubine frowned and thought for a moment, "When the Marquis first met me, he gave me his jade pendant. Does this count as a special token of love?"
"Of course I will." Xie Nanjia said, "Auntie, you can give the jade pendant to the second steward to bring to the Marquis. The Marquis is a man of love, and once he sees the jade pendant, he will definitely take you back to the palace."
"Yes, yes, you are absolutely right." The fourth concubine smiled brightly, "I will find it right away."
After a while, the second steward came to take his leave. The fourth concubine handed him the jade pendant and repeatedly reminded him that when he saw the marquis, he must make the situation here sound more serious and her situation sound more pitiful.
The two managers agreed one by one and left.
Fourth Aunt saw him off to the door, and after he had gone far away, she leaned against the door frame and sighed quietly, "Success or failure depends on this one move."
"Yes," Xie Nanjia said, "Success or failure depends on this one move."
(End of this chapter)