"You probably don't know yet—I was brought into this house by Miss Lu."Housekeeper Xu explained on her own, then suddenly smiled smugly as if she'd thought of something."I advise you to restore this place to how it was and replant the orchids.""Otherwise, when Miss Lu comes back and questions you, even if I say nothing, Mr. Huo will still kick you out."
Mu Beiyin's eyes narrowed slightly, and she suddenly asked, "Do you know who I am?"Housekeeper Xu was caught off guard. "You…""I'm Huo Shiqing's legitimate wife, the mistress of Yujing Garden."Mu Beiyin said slowly and clearly, "I'm planting a few flowers in my own home, and now some outsider is here to interrogate me about it?"
This mother and daughter duo were being sarcastic and passive-aggressive, doing everything to imply she wasn't worthy of Huo Shiqing—but so what?At the very least, she and Huo Shiqing had a marriage certificate.And that Miss Lu? What did she count for? Was she going to control the skies, the earth, and even how Mu Beiyin lived her life?
Housekeeper Xu's expression shifted. She raised her voice."That's not how it works. If you want to be Mrs. Huo, you better be able to hold on to that position! Miss Lu is always respectful to me when she sees me. And you? You show no regard for your elders. You're simply not worthy of Mr. Huo!"
Housekeeper Xu then lifted her foot, intending to kick Mu Beiyin in the waist—but before she could, Mu Beiyin turned and, with a loud bang, easily pushed her to the ground.
Mu Beiyin looked down at the utterly helpless woman and feigned surprise."You call yourself an elder? With one foot already in the grave, and you still don't know your place?"
"You—you—"Housekeeper Xu was furious and about to launch into a tirade, but suddenly her eyes widened and she burst into tears."Madam, please forgive me! It's all my fault!"
Mu Beiyin was just wondering what kind of stunt she was pulling when a cold male voice suddenly came from behind.
"What's going on?"
Mu Beiyin froze and turned instinctively.Huo Shiqing was wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene before settling on the kneeling Housekeeper Xu.
Housekeeper Xu quickly lowered her head, adopting a pitiful expression."It's nothing, sir. I offended Miss Mu by accident. It's all my fault."
Xu Lingling, sobbing, ran to Huo Shiqing and complained:"Sir, please help us! Mom saw Miss Mu pulling out the flowers Miss Lu had planted and gently tried to advise her, but Miss Mu went crazy and attacked us! Look at the wound on my hand—that's from her!""Poor Mom is so old and still has to kneel to Miss Mu. She's worked at Yujing Garden for so many years. Even if she hasn't made great contributions, she's worked hard! How can she be treated like this…"
Mu Beiyin glanced at the injury Xu Lingling had just gotten from falling and then looked at Housekeeper Xu, who was kneeling perfectly on cue. She clicked her tongue.Yeah… this didn't look easy to explain.
Housekeeper Xu stopped Xu Lingling from saying more and bowed her head with humility."Lingling, Miss Mu is the mistress of the house. Whatever she does to us is justified. It's just that my health isn't good, and I keep getting punished. I really can't take it anymore. If Miss Mu won't tolerate us, I'll just return to the old house."
Mu Beiyin hadn't expected that at her age, Housekeeper Xu could still put on such an act. She deeply regretted not recording the whole scene just now.
She was about to speak when Huo Shiqing suddenly raised his eyes and said in a hoarse voice:"You want to leave, Housekeeper Xu?"
Housekeeper Xu suddenly sensed something was wrong. A chill spread through her.She was just about to speak—But Huo Shiqing cut her off.
"Since that's the case, I'll grant your wish. At your age, you really should be enjoying your retirement."
Mu Beiyin was momentarily stunned and stole a glance at Huo Shiqing.
He actually didn't blame her! In the past, as long as someone cried, the Mu family would immediately hold her accountable. But Huo Shiqing didn't even question the situation before telling the housekeeper to leave.
A sudden warmth welled up in her chest.
Seeing that Huo Shiqing was serious, Housekeeper Xu panicked and stammered, "Sir, that's not what I meant, I just…"
"Not what you meant?" Huo Shiqing narrowed his eyes, his tone casual.
"Since you don't want to leave, why pretend you do? Or are you trying to tell me that Mrs. Huo bullied you and you want me to stand up for you?"
Housekeeper Xu was caught red-handed and could only swallow her words in a stammer.
"I… I was only thinking of your best interests. Miss Mu is too arrogant, I… I…"
Huo Shiqing leaned forward slightly, his voice even huskier, "It's the first time I've heard that the servants of Yujing Garden have such power—to accuse the lady of the house of arrogance."
Though his lips were curved in a smile, it didn't reach his eyes, making him all the more terrifying.
The housekeeper grew increasingly frightened, but thinking of Miss Lu gave her some confidence.
"Sir, I was personally appointed by Miss Lu. If she comes back and doesn't see me…"
"You're a senior member of the Huo household, Housekeeper Xu."
Huo Shiqing cut her off calmly, his tone gentle but carrying immense pressure. "You should know the consequences of offending me. Bai Ji, take her away."
Housekeeper Xu's body went limp, and her last shred of hope vanished. She dropped to her knees with a pale face.
"I was wrong, it was all my fault! Please, sir, have mercy!"
Mu Beiyin choked. That was fast—how did she switch faces so quickly?
After begging Huo Shiqing in vain, Housekeeper Xu realized it was pointless and quickly crawled on her knees to Mu Beiyin's feet.
"Madam, please show mercy and spare me. I know I was wrong…"
"Please, consider my age and let me off this once… sob sob…"
Huo Shiqing narrowed his eyes and looked at Mu Beiyin, suddenly curious—how would Mrs. Huo handle this?
Mu Beiyin blinked. "Spare you? That's not impossible."
Housekeeper Xu instantly felt hopeful. But Xu Lingling snorted coldly, "Mom, why are you kneeling to her?"
She had been confident they wouldn't be punished. Sure enough, after a few words, this easily manipulated fool Mu Beiyin wouldn't dare make things hard for them.
Xu Lingling turned to leave, ready to report everything to Miss Lu—
But in the next moment, Mu Beiyin chuckled lightly and looked at Housekeeper Xu with a calm expression.
"Your daughter just insulted me and even tried to lay hands on me. How about this: slap Xu Lingling a few times right here in front of me, and I'll let you both off."
As soon as the words fell, the room went dead silent.
Huo Shiqing let out a soft laugh—Not bad, Mrs. Huo is quite clever.
Xu Lingling looked at Housekeeper Xu and suddenly realized things were going south. She backed away in fear. "Mom, don't listen to this bitch, she's just taking revenge… ah!"
Housekeeper Xu gritted her teeth and slapped Xu Lingling hard across the face!
A couple of slaps were nothing—really angering the master would be a disaster!
Not hearing Mu Beiyin tell her to stop, Housekeeper Xu had to deliver a second slap.
Before long, Xu Lingling's whole face was swollen.
Finally, Mu Beiyin said, "Alright, that's enough."
Huo Shiqing waved his hand, signaling Bai Ji to take the mother and daughter away. Then he looked at Mu Beiyin, his expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk:
"I didn't expect Mrs. Huo to be such a fierce little leopard—one swipe and blood is drawn."
Mu Beiyin's throat caught—what kind of metaphor was that?
Before she could reply, Huo Shiqing leisurely added:
"But… just a few slaps and you're satisfied, Mrs. Huo?"