The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

The young boy's voice was soft and low, making him sound like someone who could be easily taken advantage of.

"Want to see Xu Wan?" Zong Jincheng said with clear disdain, his hand holding the umbrella growing impatient. "That woman has a heart of stone. Even I have been repeatedly rebuffed by her. You're just wasting your time."

After spending a few days with Xu Wan, Zong Jincheng had a better understanding of her. He felt that Zong Wenxiu might have better luck asking him for help than Xu Wan.

Although he wasn't particularly close to this cousin from a concubine, the thought of Zong Wenxiu seeking help from Xu Wan stirred a bit of sympathy in him. "But go ahead and tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help you."

In the inner courtyard.

After sending Zong Jincheng away, Xu Wan returned to her room, only to sit down when Cui Zhi suddenly knelt on the ground, her voice trembling with anxiety. "Madam... I... I..."

The look Xu Wan had given her earlier had struck fear into her heart.

Xu Wan didn't rush to speak. She slowly sat down, picked up a teacup, and sipped it leisurely. Hmm... this is how it's done in dramas. By staying silent and appearing calm, one can exude an aura of authority without even having to raise one's voice.

She had to learn this!

In truth, Xu Wan understood Cui Zhi's situation. After all, they had only been working together for a few days, so it was normal for them not to be in sync.

But she needed to establish her authority.

Otherwise, if Cui Zhi continued to undermine her, there would be no point in her trying to guide Zong Jincheng.

As expected, the silence from Xu Wan made Cui Zhi even more nervous. She didn't even dare to raise her head.

"Please give me another chance, Madam. I promise I won't disappoint you again!"

Xu Wan said, "Cui Zhi, you're very clever."

Cui Zhi kept her head down, not daring to nod.

"I know you must think I'm making a big deal out of nothing right now. You've watched Jincheng grow up, so you feel free to speak your mind with him. But I think you might not fully understand why the Old Marquis and Old Marchioness left Marquis Manor. It's not just because they were afraid of interfering with my guidance of Jincheng, but also because they were afraid their old habits would make Jincheng as unrestrained as before. The Old Marchioness left you here to assist me, not to hinder me. If you continue as you did before, then perhaps you'd be better suited to taking care of the Old Marchioness."

As soon as Xu Wan finished speaking, Cui Zhi panicked. "Madam, please forgive me! I will never do it again!"

Cui Zhi's position next to the Old Marchioness was second only to the Old Marchioness's personal maid, but it was a gap she could never cross.

The Young Marquis's wife had no close personal maids, so if Cui Zhi could establish herself by Xu Wan's side, her status would be completely different!

Realizing that Xu Wan might dismiss her, Cui Zhi finally understood how grave her mistake had been. She was filled with regret!

Xu Wan stood up and helped her to her feet. "I've never had a close maid since I was young, and I didn't even have a close friend in my chamber. I was very happy to have you here. Now that you've acknowledged your mistake, just do your job well in the future, and I won't treat you unfairly."

Xu Wan's words were simple, but the promise of future benefits was clear.

Cui Zhi immediately understood.

She stood up, her eyes still a bit red. "Yes, thank you, Madam."

If she had previously thought of herself as the Old Marchioness's senior maid, from this day forward, she would focus on how to become Xu Wan's trusted personal maid.

Xu Wan smiled. "It's raining heavily today. Go check if the stove in Jincheng's courtyard is still burning. The early spring weather is still cold. Don't let that boy catch a chill."

"Yes."

Cui Zhi took her leave.

Outside the door, Cui Liu came in to report, "Madam, Master Wenxiu is requesting an audience."

"Hmm? Wenxiu? Why didn't you let him in with such heavy rain?"

Xu Wan hadn't quite gotten used to the reporting customs of Marquis Manor. After all, Zong Wenxiu was still a master of the house.

But then she realized.

In ancient times, distinctions between legitimate and concubine-born children were strict. As a legitimate son, Zong Jincheng could shout and argue with her, but as a concubine-born son, Zong Wenxiu couldn't even enter without permission.

The contrast made her even more eager to discipline Zong Jincheng, that rebellious child.

"Quick, bring him in," Xu Wan said, gesturing as she spoke. "Add another stove to the room to keep him warm."

"Yes."

Outside, Zong Jincheng had been unusually considerate, asking Zong Wenxiu many questions, but his cold and aloof cousin didn't say a word, clearly thinking that Zong Jincheng couldn't solve the problem.

This infuriated Zong Jincheng.

His hand holding the umbrella—tired from the effort—dropped, and the two of them ended up standing in the rain together.

The little troublemaker was tough and thick-skinned, and getting wet in the rain was as common as breathing for him. He even found it refreshing and liberating.

But Zong Wenxiu was different. After just a short while in the rain, he was shivering all over, his cold eyes barely able to stay open under the pounding rain. He looked so weak that it seemed he might faint at any moment.

Zong Jincheng had sympathy, but not much.

He simply sat down on the ground right in front of Zong Wenxiu, who was kneeling, and stared at him with wide eyes in the rain, hoping he would realize his mistake soon.

Zong Wenxiu: "..."

Cui Zhi saw this scene.

One person kneeling, and another sitting in front of the kneeling person. To an outsider, it looked like they were getting married.

"No... Young Master! Master Wenxiu! Why aren't you using an umbrella?"

"Hey, there's a perfectly good umbrella on the ground. Why aren't you using it?"

"Get up, get up! You'll get sick standing in the rain like this. Come with me inside!"

As Cui Zhi shouted, Shunzi finally arrived with the family doctor. Seeing the situation, both of them were so frightened that their legs went weak.

The group hurriedly helped the two drenched young masters into the inner courtyard, holding umbrellas and supporting them.

Xu Wan was tending to the stove in the room, thinking that the heavy rain might have soaked the child outside, so she had someone bring dry towels to dry his hair.

But instead, two little drenched figures were brought in.

Xu Wan: "???"

The first one was Zong Wenxiu. He looked dazed, his eyes half-closed from the rain, and his face pale.

Following behind was the little troublemaker, completely soaked but with bright, wide eyes, looking a bit excited.

Of course, it was the little demon king!

Xu Wan exclaimed in a hurry, "How did they get so wet? Quickly prepare hot water to wash them and warm them up!"

The maids in the room sprang into action, some boiling water, others fetching clean clothes, all in a flurry.

Zong Wenxiu, breaking free from Cui Zhi's support, stumbled over and pleaded, "Madam, please save my mother!"