The little girl tilted her head and reminded me, “Miss, you forgot. You wanted Er Ya to be your maid!”
I then remembered that I had casually suggested this to placate the madam. Looking at her, she was only eleven or twelve years old, still a child by modern standards. How could I let her serve me? I stepped aside and said, “Put the hot water down first.”
The little girl obediently entered and put things down, looking at me carefully, “Miss, shall Er Ya help you get ready?”
I hurriedly shook my head, “No need! I can do it myself!”
…
“Miss? Miss?”
Seeing me lost in thought, the little girl couldn’t help but tug at my clothes.
“What is it?” I came back to my senses and looked down at her.
I thought Qin Jie would come find me early, but until noon, I hadn’t seen her. I was about to go look for her when I saw Xing’er, with red eyes, carrying a water basin.
I couldn’t help but ask, “Xing’er, what’s wrong?”
Xing’er glared at me fiercely, saying in an unfriendly tone: “It’s all because of you!”
“Huh?”
I was stunned, feeling completely bewildered, and asked in confusion: “What happened? Did something happen to your young mistress?”
Xing’er glared at me: “It’s all because of what you told me yesterday, telling her to fight for herself and to tell the Second Young Master her true feelings. Now she’s been turned away without even seeing him, and she’s heartbroken inside!”
“How could this happen?” I couldn’t help but furrow my brow, and turned to walk inside: “I’ll go take a look!”
Xing’er straightened her face and stopped me: “No need. Don’t come up with any more ideas that might embarrass my young mistress!”
“I won’t. I’ll just go in and check on her!”
I smiled apologetically and quickly slipped inside while she was distracted…
The girl saw my behavior and couldn’t stop me, only watching as I entered the room.
Inside the room, Wan Yao stood alone by the window, staring blankly outside, her face still wet with tears.
“Are you okay?” I walked slowly to her back and asked caringly.
