Seeing that Afeng ignored her, Xu Ma pushed her, and with a clatter, the teacup fell to the ground and shattered.
"Oh dear, how could you be so careless? This tea set is a complete set."
Xu Ma's shrill voice drew a sound, "What's wrong?"
Xu Ma turned around and saw a figure at the door of the reception room exuding an aura of coldness so intense it could freeze people in the heat of summer.
"Little, little miss, A, Afeng broke a teacup."
Tian Jing's gaze fell on the fragments on the ground. "If it's broken, it's broken. Is it worth you shouting like this?"
Xu Ma explained, "No, little miss, these tea sets are all part of a set. Once they're incomplete, they have to be discarded."
Tian Jing waved her hand. "Don't put on this act for me. I'll ask you, is your master very rich?"
Xu Ma shook her head.
"How many people in the Xiao family are qualified to sit and drink water?"
"Four."
"Then remove one. Tomorrow, only serve four teacups."
"But..."
Seeing that Xu Ma still wanted to say something, Tian Jing became impatient. "Is it that this entire household is under your control, and you get to make all the decisions? Are you satisfied?"
"I dare not."
"Dare not?"
Tian Jing pointed to the broken cup on the ground. "The fragments are over a meter in front and to the right of Afeng, while the push was on Afeng's left arm. There's only one possibility."
"That is, you pushed Afeng's left arm, which would create such an arc."
"This is not ancient times, nor is it a large estate. Don't bring out your disgusting scheming."
"I intend to minimize this, and you intend to escalate it. What do you want?"
"If you don't want to work anymore, get out immediately. Go back and find your master."
With a plop.
Xu Ma knelt down before Tian Jing. "Little miss... ah—"
Before Xu Ma could finish her plea, Tian Jing flung her out the door.
Can't shake off Xiao Wei, shaking off this toad who still wants to jump around isn't bad.
"Sister Feng, clean this up quickly and then go to the dining room to eat."
"Oh, alright."
Tian Jing stepped out of the reception room and looked down at Xu Ma, who was lying on the stone path in the courtyard, unable to move.
"I told you not to kneel. You always turn a deaf ear to my words."
"You want to be involved in all my decisions, don't you think you have leverage over me and can do as you please? Heh heh, you can go and report me."
"How much does the tea set cost? I'll deduct it from your wages. If it's deducted again, it'll be from your September wages."
"How many months of your wages would it take to buy a tea set? Do you feel wronged? You can resign, and I'll approve it."
Lying on the ground, Xu Ma looked at the feet of the little miss as she walked towards the dining room. She was still wearing handmade cloth shoes from the countryside.
And before her eyes, she saw the little miss's icy, cold face.
The little miss's thoughts were always hard to guess.
Afeng came out with the tea set on a tray, bypassed Xu Ma, and headed for the dining room.
A Guang, entering the inner courtyard to eat, saw his godmother lying on the ground and wanted to help her up.
Xiao Shuyuan, who was supporting the master out, stopped his adopted son. "A Guang, don't bother with her."
"Oh."
Everyone went to the dining room to eat, and no one paid attention to her, nor to the young lady in the east wing.
Laughter and merriment emanated from the dining room, forming a stark contrast with her and the young lady.
...
After the meal, Tian Jing waited for Afeng, who was tidying up the kitchen, and waited for her to speak.
Everything was wiped clean, and Afeng had nowhere to hide, so she could only sit opposite Tian Jing.
"Xu Ma said there was medicine in the tea, and you arranged it."
Tian Jing raised an eyebrow. "And then?"
"Then she asked if Zhengguo hadn't allowed me to return to the San Jin, and I ignored her. While I was tidying the tea set, she pushed me."
Tian Jing stared intently into her eyes. "Don't you have any questions for me?"
Afeng's gaze did not waver, and she met Tian Jing's eyes. "I believe you wouldn't do such a thing without reason, and you don't need to explain your actions to us."
Tian Jing nodded. "You are completely right. I, at most, retaliate in kind. Xu Ma has always been the intermediary, so be careful of her."
"Yes."
"Alright, you've been busy all morning. Go back and rest."
"Mhm." Seeing Books La
After Afeng left, Tian Jing went to the reception room, and after a short while, came out and went directly to Xiao Wei's bedroom.
Xiao Wei had already woken up and was talking to Xu Ma. Upon seeing Tian Jing, the smile on her face disappeared immediately.
"Don't you know to knock before coming in?"
"I don't know," Tian Jing shook her head. "I was born but not raised. Besides, this is all mine. If you're not satisfied, you can move out."
"You?"
Seeing Xiao Wei about to get angry, Tian Jing waved her hand. "You've fainted twice already. Don't you understand?" Kan Shu Wu. Xia
Xiao Wei was bewildered. "Understand what?"
"I asked Xu Ma to find a doctor to examine you. After I sent Master Xiao and the others away, Xu Ma told me you were pregnant."
"Whether it's true or false, I don't know. I didn't see the doctor, it's all Xu Ma saying things."
"So, if you have any problems, you can discuss them with Xu Ma. After all, it was her suggestion that you divorced in haste. As for what to do with this child, you two can discuss it."
Tian Jing left the east wing, leaving a surprised Xiao Wei to question Xu Ma.
"Is what she said true?"
Xu Ma nodded. "The doctor said so after feeling my pulse. I, I told the little miss when she said she wanted to abort it, and I didn't agree. This matter still needs the young lady to decide."
Xiao Wei, who was already annoyed by her pregnancy, was immediately unhappy upon hearing Xu Ma's words.
"Why should she tell me to abort it? I refuse to abort it. I'll give her a brother or sister to infuriate her."
Xu Ma nodded. "Then keep it. She told you, it must be because the master persuaded her. Should we tell the master? We haven't even had lunch yet."
"Right, go tell Father. She's mistreating me, and indirectly mistreating her brother or sister."
...
Xiao Laoye sighed helplessly as he looked at his daughter who kept badmouthing her own daughter.
"Weiwei, the bet agreement, have you forgotten?"
Xiao Wei was startled. "What does it have to do with the bet agreement?"
"You didn't raise her when she was young, so she won't look after you when you're old. And my twilight years, which you were supposed to be responsible for, she has taken over."
"These two points have already made me and her draw a line with you. If you're not satisfied, you can move out, and Xu Ma can go with you."
Xu Ma quickly waved her hands. "No, no, Master, don't drive me away."
Xiao Laoye's expression turned cold. "Xu Ma, am I driving you away? I'm kindly letting you leave because it seems you don't want to stay. I didn't expect you to bite back."
"Master, I absolutely have no ulterior motives."
"Whether you do or not, you know," Xiao Laoye impatiently waved them away. "Alright, go to the kitchen and make something for yourself and the young lady to eat. I'm going to take my nap."
After dismissing the two, Xiao Laoye asked Xiao Shuyuan, "A Yuan, has she made any unusual moves these past two days?"
"Your subordinate has not found any. These past two days, she has always been by the young lady's side."
"She, is probably going to leave."
"It's good that she's leaving."
"I just don't know what she'll use to make amends."
"Should your subordinate go and investigate?"
"No need. Remind the little miss."
"Yes."
...
Tian Jing waved her hand. "Uncle Xiao doesn't need to concern himself with these things. Just take good care of Grandfather."
The little miss's words put Xiao Shuyuan at ease. It seemed his wife's actions had not escaped the little miss's notice.
...
When the night was deep and quiet, two figures climbed over the wall of the courtyard.
More than two hours later, the two figures climbed back over the courtyard wall and jumped into the yard.
In the courtyard, snoring was accompanied by the chirping of insects, quiet and peaceful.