Chapter 120 - Jiang Ying Yue (16)

It was almost midnight when he remembered he was meant to ask Jiang Yue for details about what happened before and during the disowning incident.

The girl was obviously just trying her hardest to stay awake, wanting to finish what she was doing. He didn't stop her. He knew she always wanted to do her best no matter what challenge was thrown at her. He respected that.

Quietly, he turned around and walked out of the room. When he stepped into the doorway, he saw three maids respectfully lowering their heads at him, looking unbearably nervous.

These three were nowhere in sight when he first came in. Even when he was looking around for writing materials and creating noises in the study, he didn't see even their shadows.

"Greetings, Your Highness." They chorused, but not at the same time, and with their voices shaking.

He didn't speak to them at all. He had seen enough.

'Before my takeover, the Original has been away for quite a long time. Now the people manning his lair are changed into unqualified and incompetent people.'

Jiang had decided.

Tomorrow, everyone in the residence were to be inspected. Naturally, he would not let this courtyard go unchecked. In fact, he planned to swap everyone around Jiang Ying Yue with more capable people. 

Tomorrow, he would also make sure to speak seriously with the villainess and inform her of his intention.

With this mind, he silently walked out of the house and let the cold wind and darkness enveloped him. This time though, even though the world outside seemed so cold, he doesn't mind. Or actually, ever since the betrayals and death, he never did. The difference this time though, he could feel that he would have a warm home to look forward to in the future.

...

Jiang Ying Yue woke up in her bed the next morning feeling refreshed. She found this unusual because she remembered staying up late until midnight, finishing a task thrown at her by that prince.

'What time is it?' she asked herself, rubbing her drowsy eyes. When she turned to the window's direction, light could be seen passing through the window pane. Its warm hue still looked orangish so she reckoned it was still early.

"Young Miss." The moment she walked out of the room provided to her, she almost freaked out due to the energetic and synchronized voices of the maids that greeted her. Looking closely, she realized none of the girls before her was familiar. What happened? She was very confident with her memory so she could say with conviction that everyone was new. 

"Where did the others go?" Jiang Ying Yue was looking at the seemingly highest ranked among the new maids.

"Answering the Young Miss. They are transferred to the other courtyards in the main house."

The one asked, Xiao Lu, didn't continue that they were transferred to either the halls belonging to the concubines of the late Chen Wang, or the hard labor departments.

The maids from the place were swapped out due to carelessness and laziness, according to the senior workers of the main house. It was a good thing though, Now they were the envy of all the servants belonging to Lu Clan. Everyone knew the master of this courtyard would be the future princess consort, who wouldn't want to serve her and in turn, receive more favor and good fortune in the near future?

All the seven maids were having this thought in their heads. Happiness was in their hearts ever since Chen Wang's right-hand man chose them to go to this place. Now the smiles they were showing at Jiang Ying Yu were genuine. This calmed the girl down a bit.

At her command, the maids started introducing themselves to her. Their new master easily memorized their names and faces.

After this, when one of the maids asked if she wanted help to change her clothes, she nodded, though quite rigid since she was not used to being surrounded by so many people. In the Jiang household, she only had one maid, and this maid already died for a reason she still couldn't fathom.

Now she suddenly gained these many people. There was only one person who would send them to her.

Why was he treating her this well? Suspicions were in her mind.

Even though last night, they seemed to have gotten a fun time together and she gained some admiration for him in her heart, she still hadn't forgotten that they had almost no interaction with each other. It was very questionable why he brought her back and even suddenly treated her nicely.

"Young Miss, we already went to check the food from the kitchen. Shall we prepare the table now?" The current leader among her maids, Xiao Lu, knocked her out of her dazed state.

She then nodded. As they guided her towards the dining hall, another maid spoke respectfully, "By the way, young miss, we have been asked by His Highness to inform you to dress up after breakfast. His Highness would like you to greet the new master of the Peach Blossom Pavilion."

Jiang Ying Yue's forehead creased. Then puzzlement appeared on her face. She asked, "Who is the person that His Highness wants me to greet?"

The maids looked at each other. None of them knew. Xiao Lu said, "Please forgive this servant for being incompetent. His Highness only told us Young Miss will know once you get there."

The girl exhaled and then gave her thanks to them. When she reached the dining hall, while one pulled a chair for her, the others worked on laying the food on the table. They were so efficient and sensible, unlike the three who attended to her for the past two days.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, the image of that valiant-looking man in red popped up.

She deemed him very terrifying because with only one visit he already guessed that everyone in the house needed to be replaced.

'How wary should I be of that person?' she wondered.

The food in front was completely on another level when compared to the ones she used to have in the Jiang estate. In no time, she had eaten her fill.

Since there were many dishes that were untouched or barely touched, she generously said to the other girls, "Xiao Lu, you and your sisters, sit down and join me in finishing the food." 

They all looked hesitant, but after her repeated persuasion, the young head maid shyly said, "If Young Miss doesn't despise us being at the same table, we lowly servants will impose on your generosity." 

"Help yourself," replied the fl.u.s.tered villainess. 'They're too kind. But I'm nothing more than a freeloader.'

"""Thank you, Young Miss.""" The rest bowed before taking their seats and picking up their chopsticks.

Jiang Ying Yue softly smiled as she received their words of thanks.

Looking at their Young Miss' radiant expression, Xiao Lu and the rest thought, 'The Future Madam is really very beautiful. Not even the rays of the morning sunrise can compare to the warmth her smile can bring. She is also very kind and caring. No wonder the prince is so in love with her.'