Chapter 4: Man or Ghost

“Yes, yes, yes, the position of Empress must belong to our Xue'er, no one else can even dream of it...”

“Alright, Mother, let's go first. Let's not disturb Eldest Sister's rest. Eldest Sister, please rest well; Mother and I will come to see you again tomorrow.”

It looks like they want to escape! Mu Xiaoxue pretended not to hear their words about leaving: “Xiao Zi, I was walking down the stairs just fine, so how could I have fallen? At that moment, I felt as if someone pushed me from behind. You were walking behind me; did you see anything?”

Mu Xiaomin was just about to lift her foot to leave when she suddenly heard Mu Xiaoxue return to the topic of her falling down the stairs. Fearing Xiao Zi might say something wrong, she didn't dare leave. She stared intently at Xiao Zi, as if warning her not to speak recklessly.

“No! Eldest Sister, I was also behind you at the time. I saw that you tripped over your own skirt and fell.” What a case of "guilty conscience revealing itself"! This was exactly what it meant to incriminate oneself without being accused!

“Yes, yes, yes, Eldest Miss, no one pushed you. You simply fell because you weren't careful.”

In truth, Mu Xiaoxue was only asking this to confirm whether Xiao Zi was truly a spy; as for how she fell down the stairs, she no longer cared, because she was not the real Mu Xiaoxue. To ensure a peaceful life in the future, she had to figure out whom she could trust and whom she could not.

“Huan'er, is that so?”

“Eldest Miss, I had gone down first to fetch the groom, so I did not see it.”

“Alright, Xue'er, I see you are tired. Rest well. I will come to see you tomorrow. Min'er, come back with me; do not disturb your Eldest Sister's rest.”

Before leaving, Mu Xiaomin did not forget to remind Xiao Zi, “Xiao Zi, you better serve the Eldest Miss well. If anything happens to her, watch out for your entire family's lives.”

“Yes, please rest assured, Second Miss. This servant will certainly serve the Eldest Miss well. If anything happens, I will immediately notify Concubine Liu.”

It seemed Xiao Zi could not be kept around. After the two left, Mu Xiaoxue claimed she was tired, dismissed everyone, and emphasized that no one was to disturb her without her calling out. Given the former Eldest Miss's temperament, I imagine these people were all unwilling to serve by her side! They might even lose their lives if they stayed.

Once everyone had left, Mu Xiaoxue remembered she should wash her face; she had just smeared saliva all over her face and felt incredibly uncomfortable.

Struggling to get up from the couch, she surveyed the entire room and saw a high-quality rosewood stand with a brass basin on it. She poured some water from a teapot and leaned down to wash. When she saw her reflection in the basin, she was startled. Heavens!!!!!! Was this a person or a ghost? She pinched herself; it still hurt. That's right, this was indeed her!

Her bangs were so long they covered her eyes, the rouge on her face was enough to paint a wall, and her lips were painted like two hot dogs. Looking at her attire... she truly didn't dare look any further. How was this the Eldest Miss! I think if she walked down the street, her "turn-around rate" would definitely be two hundred percent, and she wouldn't dare step out of the house again for fear of encountering such a freak.

Enduring the urge to vomit, she cleaned herself up, but she didn't even know how to describe that water. Walking to the bronze mirror to take a closer look, she realized that the Eldest Miss herself wasn't actually ugly; on the contrary, she was very beautiful.

She had a head of silky black hair, a snow-white oval face, a pair of bright black eyes under willow-leaf eyebrows, a high bridge of the nose, a small cherry mouth, and a developed figure that made her look like a fourteen-year-old girl. If she were properly dressed, she would be even more striking than Mu Xiaomin, who was known as a talented woman. As expected of a legitimate daughter, her temperament was truly innate.

For several consecutive days, Mu Xiaoxue took medicine according to the physician's prescription and applied ointments externally. She was mostly recovered. She had stayed in her own garden for these few days without going out, and neither Concubine Liu nor Mu Xiaomin appeared; they only sent their personal maids to deliver supplements. In fact, this was exactly what Mu Xiaoxue wanted. Firstly, her body wasn't fully recovered, and secondly, she was afraid of exposing her tracks.

The only thing she had done was replace Xiao Zi, who used to serve her closely, with Huan'er. Since she hadn't fully adapted to this identity yet, she still avoided contact with most people.

Mu Xiaoxue thought as she ate. Huan'er served her quietly by her side. Whether it was the former Mu Xiaoxue or the current one, she had a habit: she liked not to be disturbed while eating. But some people just didn't learn their lesson and kept walking straight into the line of fire.

“Eldest Miss, Nanny Ye from Concubine Liu's side has arrived. She says she has something to say to you.”

Good! Just as I was thinking of how to find an excuse to get rid of you, you delivered yourself to my door. Mu Xiaoxue still ignored her and continued her breakfast.

Thinking Mu Xiaoxue hadn't heard, Xiao Zi repeated, “Eldest Miss, Nanny Ye from Concubine Liu's side has arrived. She says she has something to say to you.”

*Clack!* Mu Xiaoxue placed her chopsticks forcefully on the table, stood up, walked over to Xiao Zi, and asked in a low voice, “Xiao Zi, how many years have you been by my side?”

Xiao Zi looked up at Mu Xiaoxue in terror: “Replying to the Eldest Miss, this servant... this servant has been with the Eldest Miss for five years.”

“Oh, five years!” Mu Xiaoxue circled Xiao Zi a few times and suddenly shouted, “Five years! For five years, you haven't known that this lady does not like to be disturbed while eating! For five years, you haven't known how to announce yourself before entering my boudoir at will! For five years, have you not even learned the rules and etiquette of a household maid?”

“Furthermore, I said just yesterday that from now on, Huan'er will be by my side. Without my permission, you are not allowed to step into this room even half a step. Are you treating my words like wind in your ears? Or do you simply not take me, your Eldest Miss, seriously at all?”

She hadn't expected Mu Xiaoxue to suddenly lash out like this. Previously, I was the one serving by her side, and the Eldest Miss would occasionally reward me with things and often praise my skillful hands. But since she woke up, she's become a different person, and she's lecturing me on rules and etiquette?? She should look at herself first. But on the surface, she didn't dare be too insolent and immediately knelt on the ground.

“I... I'm sorry, Eldest Miss, I didn't do it on purpose. I just thought that since it was Nanny Ye from Concubine Liu's side coming personally, you know Nanny Ye's status by Concubine Liu's side...”

“Oh? Then why don't you tell me exactly what Nanny Ye's status is?”

“She is Concubine Liu's most trusted, most valued, most... most...”

Xiao Zi looked at Mu Xiaoxue, feeling more and more terrified and guilty the more she looked. She couldn't believe this was the Eldest Miss she used to fool easily; the current Eldest Miss looked so shrewd, exerting an invisible pressure. In the end, she didn't even dare to look up, keeping her head lowered. *Did I offend some deity today?!*

“Most what? Go on!” Mu Xiaoxue leaned over, staring at the kneeling Xiao Zi. Seeing her terror, she thought, *You think this is it? It's not over yet. Just wait and see how I pay it back for you, our Eldest Miss.*

“Why have you stopped talking?”

“I'm sorry, Eldest Miss, this servant was wrong. Please be magnanimous and forgive this servant this time!”

“Then tell me, where did you go wrong!”

“I... I...”

*Slap!* Xiao Zi covered her face, looking at her with disbelief. Previously, the Eldest Miss would hit or scold other servants at will, but she had never hit me!

Someone must have said bad things about me in front of the Eldest Miss, it must be... Xiao Zi looked at Huan'er beside her with a venomous gaze. It must be her! It must be her saying bad things about me to the Eldest Miss, which is why the Eldest Miss is giving her importance and hitting me. Fine! Huan'er, you better remember this.