Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

The maid trembled with fear, sinking to her knees in supplication. “I’m so sorry, Madame. Please, find it in your heart to forgive us!”

Instantly, the room’s occupants turned their attention to the sudden commotion.

Qiao Xuan remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Lixia, taken aback by the maid’s distress, instinctively moved to assist her. However, Qiao Xuan halted her with a gesture.

“Just rise, please.”

Qiao Xuan addressed the maid, his voice firm but not unkind.

Relieved that Lixia appeared unharmed, the maid’s anxiety lessened slightly.

“Please, Madame Qiao,” she implored between sobs.

“Stand up now,” Qiao Xuan urged her gently. “Do you require my personal assistance?”

Startled, the maid lifted her gaze, meeting Qiao Xuan’s knowing look. Her trembling subsided, and she rose to her feet instinctively.

Secondary Concubine Shi arrived with her entourage, apologizing to Qiao Xuan. “I apologize, Madame Shao,” she said, her tone contrite. “I’m truly sorry for this incident.”

She then turned her attention to the maid and scolded her sternly. “You must be more cautious! How could you collide with us? It’s disgraceful!”

Secondary Concubine Shi cast a lingering glance at Lixia, as though her disapproval extended to the maid, Lixia, or even Qiao Xuan’s mistress.

Lixia sensed the unspoken tension in the room and felt her cheeks flush.

Qiao Xuan offered a warm smile. “Secondary Concubine Shi, let’s not dwell on this. I don’t believe the girl meant any harm. Please, let’s forgive her.”

Secondary Concubine Shi’s facial expression twitched, and she responded to Qiao Xuan with a forced smile. “If Madame Shao wishes it, then so be it. Madame Shao is known for her kindness and treating her subordinates as sisters. I’m a straightforward person, and it seems I’ve misunderstood the situation. You have a good heart, Madame Shao, and you’re teasing me!”

“Secondary Concubine Shi, you certainly have a great sense of humor!” Qiao Xuan’s smile remained affable. “My treatment of sisters is quite different, and I was merely offering a few words of comfort to this frightened girl. It’s a bit of a stretch to say I treat her like a sister, don’t you think? But if that’s how you treat sisters, that’s quite remarkable, I must say!”

Secondary Concubine Shi’s irritation became palpable, and she responded to Qiao Xuan with a strained half-smile. “Madame Shao, I was simply expressing my observation.”

“No, I wouldn’t want any misunderstandings to linger,” Qiao Xuan explained with a hint of discomfort. “I prefer clarity in our interactions.”

Secondary Concubine Shi chuckled, though her true feelings were thinly veiled.

A crowd had gathered to witness the exchange, both surprised and annoyed by Qiao Xuan’s retorts. They questioned her audacity.

“What gives her the right?”

“She’s quite stingy. Her words are as sharp as a marketplace quarrel, and she seems to relish confrontation. Not very dignified.”

“Etiquette? She clearly has none!”

“…”

Secondary Concubine Shi found solace in the chorus of agreement, casting a triumphant look at Qiao Xuan.

Internally seething, Qiao Xuan sneered. “Do you really think I lack etiquette?”

Secondary Concubine Shi inwardly agreed but dared not vocalize it. Instead, she maintained a polite smile. “Of course not!”

But her politeness did little to soothe Qiao Xuan’s annoyance.

How dare she attempt to steal Elder Miss’ husband! Shao Yunduan had assisted the Crown Prince to such an extent that his own son had suffered greatly. Did it surprise anyone that he mocked her? She felt it was justified!