later with a hot water bottle in her arms."My dear granddaughter, you are such a treasure! Your brother won't have to suffer the cold anymore!"Jia Yin was overjoyed, dancing with delight. A good star...The Lord saw Jia Yin enter the room and fixed his gaze on a jade ornament on the bookshelf. He then picked her up and took it down, finally waving his hand casually at the steward, "Tell the kitchen to prepare a good table of noodles, add an extra minced meat and egg custard, and put less salt."

The steward hurried downstairs. As he was leaving, he saw the pink-clothed maidservant still standing outside the door, so he couldn't help but pull her aside and reprimand her: “Miss Yusxue, you are usually quite intelligent. How could you act this way today The old madam and young miss of the Li family are the marquis’s saviors. They are even taking care of him now as he recovers from his injuries. Even if you dislike them, you should bear it. You were simply too disrespectful just now.”

Yuxue seemed very wronged, with tears in her eyes, she said: “Butler, I didn’t mean to. It was just too smelly and I couldn’t bear it for a moment. Besides, I serve the Marquis in his house, now asking me to serve outsiders bathe… I…”

The steward's face darkened, and his tone turned cold. "No matter where you come from, you are all the Marquis' servants. You do whatever the Marquis commands!"

Yuxue bit her lips and went downstairs.

In the inner chamber of the main courtyard, there was a pool paved with jade stones, prepared for the master's bathing on ordinary days.

At this moment, the rough maidservants were busy boiling water and filling the jade pool halfway. They were also preparing wash items, practically running around like their feet never touched the ground.

Yuxue stood to one side, her face very ugly. Even the maids dared not say anything.

Soon, everything was ready. Yu Xue composed herself and smiled as she entered the main hall, "Master Hou, the bath is ready. Please, Madam and Miss, take a bath."

The Marquis nodded and patted Jia Yin's back, saying to the old lady, "Aunt, you usually wash water at the hot springs in the village. Today, I'll have to trouble you to use the bath."

“What kind of outrageous things are you saying, a family shouldn't talk like that. Water can still be used for bathing! Besides, I stink to high heaven, it's more important to wash myself clean than anything else... If I had known this would happen, I would have swapped the rotten eggs for dirt!”

As she spoke, she took Jia Yin's hand and followed Yu Xue out.

The Lord turned and entered his study, beginning to deal with some long-overdue minor matters.

The old woman and Jia Yin walked into the bathroom together. Before they could even take off their clothes, Yu Xue casually asked as if in passing, "Old Madam hasn't seen a jade pool this big before, has she This is our Marquis's personal one, never used by outsiders."

The old woman remained silent, but Jia Yin widened her eyes and asked, "Elder sister, what is an outsider"

Yu Xue didn't think a child would have any bad intentions, and she didn't really put Li Laotai and Li Jia Yin in her eyes. She replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "This For example, you two are outsiders."

"And you Are you the mistress, Lord Hou's mistress" Jia Yin asked innocently.

Yu Xue's face flushed red from Jia Yin's question, but she still lifted her head and answered boldly: "Yes, I am the Houye's wife. I serve in the Houye's bedroom."

The old woman frowned, displeased that Yu Xue had brought up the matter of the bedroom. She coldly spoke to her, "Miss, what's inner and outer household, these matters concerning serving in the bedroom are not suitable for children to discuss. You go out, we will wash ourselves."

Yuxue didn't expect Lao Tai Li to get angry, and she wasn't happy either. She turned around and left.

Two maidservants were originally guarding outside the door. Seeing her angrily rush out, they glanced at each other and pulled her to the window. One of them couldn't hold back and asked, "Sister Yuxue, what's wrong with you Why aren't you serving the honored guests inside Coming out like this, won't you offend people"

Yuxue was holding back her anger and forgot to be polite. She said angrily, "When I served the Marquis before, he never made things difficult for me. As a result, these two bumpkins actually put on airs, saying that I spoke inappropriately and scared their child!"

Another maid smiled and advised, “Jade Snow sister, don't be angry. The Marquis ordered us to take good care of them. I heard that the Marquis values this family very much. They came here once last time, but you were recuperating from illness and didn't meet them. You don't know, the steward was very respectful to Madam Li and Miss Li.”

Yuxue gritted her teeth, "What a bunch of pretentious Mrs. and Miss titles! Don't think I don't know what you are, nothing but country bumpkins guarding the mansion for the Marquis. The Marquis is kindhearted and respects them a little, so they actually think they are superior Last time I was sick, otherwise I would have kicked them out myself, such thick skin!"

“That’s right,” the two maidservants quickly flattered, “We’re just lowly servants, we can’t say anything even if we don’t like it. But Sister Yuxue is different. Sister Yuxue serves by the Lord Hou’s side, and will definitely elevate our Madam. This Hou Mansion will rely on Sister Yuxue as half the mistress of the household. We all depend on Sister to look after us.”

Yu Xue, enjoying the pampering, was even more delighted. After some thought, she couldn't bear to waste this opportunity and decided to take advantage of the fact that the Marquis had returned to get closer to him.

If she could win the Duke's heart, and he brought her to the estate to serve him, then proximity would breed familiarity.

If she could conceive the bloodline of the marquis, even if another wife entered the house later, she wouldn't be afraid. At that time, there would definitely be a place for her in the marquisate!

"You all stay here, I'll go give tea to the Marquis."

"Oh, Sister Yuxue, isn't the distinguished guest inside still getting dressed" A maid stopped Yuxue and asked, "Are you going out to buy two new sets of clothes"

As expected, Yu Xue couldn't bear to hear the words "noble people". She replied directly: "There's no need for so much trouble. Just find two sets of clothes for maids and young maids and have them change."

Having said that, she left, leaving the two maids to exchange knowing glances and smile wickedly at each other.

This jade snow usually takes advantage of serving in the Marquis's bedroom and her father, a deceased war veteran, to think she will be the mistress of the Marquisate in the future. She treats them as if they are at her beck and call. They have long been dissatisfied with this.

Such a good opportunity today, if the Lord gets angry and removes Yuxue, wouldn't these people also have a chance to climb up!

The lord busied himself for a while, just as he felt his throat growing parched, suddenly there appeared a cup of tea beside him. He picked it up and took a sip.

Upon looking up, he saw Jade Snow. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are you doing here Who's attending to you in the bathroom"

"Your Grace, it's Jadexia and Jademei attending to you. I remembered that the little maidservants didn't know your preferences, so I quickly brewed a pot of tea and brought it over." Yuxue replied softly.

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing snowy wrists. She was about to pour more tea when the steward announced at the door, “Master Hou, the meal is ready.”

The Lord put down his writing brush and walked out. Yuxue was furious, but she still lowered her head and followed behind him obediently.

The steward smiled and pointed to the egg custard on the table, saying to the Marquis: "Marquis, there are some fresh river prawns that arrived today in the kitchen. I had someone shell half a bowl and steam an egg custard with shrimp. Let's see if the young miss likes it."

The Lord nodded, just about to speak, when the old lady led Jiayin in from outside. He immediately turned cold.

The steward was astonished. He turned around and nearly dropped the bowl he was holding in fright.

The old woman wore dark grey, and Jia Yin wore earthy yellow. Although both outfits were the right size and clean, they were the garments given to the lowest-ranking servants in the house.

The Marquis had clearly ordered a clean, new robe just now!

After the last visit from the Li family, he specially instructed the sewing room to prepare a few extra sets of clothes for people of all ages and genders. He was thinking that if the Li family came again and needed replacements, they would be ready.

But how did the old woman and young lady dress like this Where did the mistake happen, or was it someone deliberately trying to embarrass the Li family!tically floated on air.And the four houses of the Li brothers were all filled with joy, their pockets bulging.On the thirtieth night of the lunar month, Li Zhensheng bought a pair of gold bangles for...