After Rebirth, the Green Tea Illegitimate Daughter Became a Master of Schemes

Chapter 22 - Yuping

At that moment, two maidservants passed by. Seeing that they were from the main courtyard, Qiu Xiu couldn't help but stop them for a few words of polite conversation.
The two maids couldn't help but glance at the confrontation between the two young ladies in the pavilion and remarked, "Qiu Xiu, Fifth Miss has such a good temper. No matter what Fourth Miss says, she just smiles."
One of them couldn't help but linger a bit longer on the young girl's gentle and impassive profile. She had just heard Qiu Xiu say, "Although Fifth Miss is young, she is very clear-headed and won't let herself be taken advantage of."
The maid named Yuping couldn't resist taking another look at Ruan Yuluan and murmured, "Is that so..."
The other maid said, "We still need to deliver tea and snacks to the Second Young Master," and nudged Yuping's arm, signaling her to follow.
Yuping, however, couldn't help but pause slightly, turning to Qiu Xiu with a smile and saying, "Sister Qiu Xiu, remember to come to the main courtyard to visit me in a few days for my birthday."
Qiu Xiu, being a kind-hearted person, naturally agreed, "Alright."
Yuping left with a heavy heart.
Qiu Xiu turned around and saw that Ruan Yuxi had swung her sleeves and left angrily, having gained nothing in their verbal sparring.
"Fourth Miss is really unreasonable..." Qiu Xiu couldn't help but mutter softly.
"Let her taste her own medicine in the future." Ruan Yuluan had long been aware of Yuxi's difficult nature and wasn't too concerned. She handed the lotus pods to Qiu Xiu, saying, "This should be enough. Let's go back."
A few days later, during the evening, Qiu Xiu went to see Yuping. Yuping closed the door behind her, took Qiu Xiu's hand, and nervously whispered, "There's something... I'd like to ask Fifth Miss to help with."
When Qiu Xiu returned to Guiyue Pavilion, she relayed Yuping's request in detail.
"...Madam said to have Yuping serve the Second Young Master, and after two months, she would be promoted to concubine." Qiu Xiu paused before continuing, "But the Second Young Master is known for mistreating maidservants... she's not willing."
Ruan Yuluan, seated by the window, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"Did she really say that?"
"Yes," Qiu Xiu replied, unwilling to see her friend pushed into such a predicament, "Fifth Miss, can you come up with a plan to ensure she isn't sent to be mistreated by the Second Young Master?"
Ruan Yuluan smiled faintly, "That's not difficult."
It would depend on Yuping's own efforts and resolve.
Ruan Yuluan wasn't inclined to outright refuse. Since Yuping was Liu Momo's biological daughter, helping her out would also be a favor to Liu Momo.
Liu Momo had been serving Madam Ji for many years. Naturally, Madam Ji felt it would be better to assign such duties to someone she knew.
Unfortunately, people weren't fools, and even if they knew they were jumping into a pit of fire, they might still do it.
A couple of days later, summer had officially arrived in Meizhou, with the sun growing increasingly scorching. On such days, no one preferred to walk under the sun.
Taking advantage of the lunch break, Qiu Xiu carried a wooden box and stepped out of Guiyue Pavilion.
As she rounded a corner, she happened to see Liu Momo, hands on her hips, scolding her daughter at the end of the corridor.
Yuping, her only daughter, was holding a fan to shield herself from the sun, showing a hint of impatience.
Seeing them from afar, Qiu Xiu called out, "Liu Momo, Yuping."
Liu Momo smiled upon seeing her and exchanged a few pleasantries with Qiu Xiu. They had a good relationship, with Qiu Xiu even acknowledging her as a godmother.
Yuping seized the opportunity to slip away quickly, saying she wanted to go play with Qiu Xiu and asking Liu Momo not to nag.
"Hey!" Liu Momo called out loudly, "Be careful not to get sunburned! This stubborn girl..."
The two women walked over and entered the First Young Master's Qingzhu Residence. It was nap time, and the First Young Master was holding a book after having his meal.
They exchanged glances, and Qiu Xiu opened the wooden box, taking out the items inside.
"Eldest Brother is reading... among everyone in this household, the Eldest Brother is the most diligent. This is a gift from Fifth Miss, specially sent by me." She presented the item, which was a folding fan with a landscape painting, quite elegant.
"Then I must thank Fifth Sister on my behalf."
Qiu Xiu nodded. If there were a few normal people in this household, she felt the Eldest Brother was one of them.
Yuping walked over and lowered the window, smiling gently, "The sun is too harsh and glaring. Eldest young master should lower the window to avoid straining your eyes. How will you perform in the exams otherwise?"
As she spoke, she turned her face, smiling sweetly with a graceful demeanor.
The Eldest Young Master stared at her, momentarily dazed. After a while, he regained his senses, lowered his lashes, and awkwardly explained.
"If I close the window, the room will need candles. I was just trying to save a little."
Qiu Xiu sighed. The Second Young Master was living extravagantly, while here was someone living frugally... the contrast was clear.
Yuping smiled, "It's not good for your eyes. Eldest Young Master, if you need candles, just let me know. I'll ask Madam for some."
The suggestion sounded somewhat ambiguous. The Eldest Brother's lips twitched as he seemed unsure of what to say.
The two women left. For a long time afterward, the faint fragrance of Yuping lingered in the room, making it hard for him to focus.
He suddenly noticed a hint of light pink and walked over to pick it up, discovering it was a handkerchief that Yuping had accidentally left on the window lock while closing it.
The handkerchief was soft and delicate, embroidered with her name.