The smile on Birui and Birong’s face began to vanish. They were sisters of the same generation, but now she demanded they call her lady. She was deliberately holding them at a distance and also belittling them.

The two girls didn’t have time to hesitate and, receiving the elders’ eyes, answered, “Yes, lady Qianxxue. We see.” And then they followed up.

In a moment, Mo Qianxue and others all left the living room with Butler Mo. There were only Master Mo, the several elders in there. Even the servants were secretly taken away.

Master Mo seemed radiating ice and frost, with resentment on his face, ordering, “Stick to the previous plan.”

The elders weren’t happy either but, confused, didn’t understand what Master Mo was referring to. Master Mo had to grit his teeth and add, “Mo Qianxue is that same as her father, an ungrateful thing. We don’t need to offend the higher power because of her…”

The several elders seemed to understand something, “On your order, Master.”

“Let Birui and Birong be smart and seize this opportunity to know more noble ladies. It’ll be nice if they could befriend with Junzhu Susu. Also, let them be loveable when they meet Master Ning…”

“I’m having the words passed down…”

*

This was the first time Junzhu Susu visited the Founder Mansion, certainly the front gate was fully open to welcome her.

Junzhu Susu had behaved in so abnormal a fashion. Of course, nanny Zhang, who had served her for many years, noticed it and could tell something was wrong.

In order to fulfill her wish, she must persuade the people around her. Therefore, before nanny Zhang asked, Junzhu Susus confided in nanny Zhang what had happened before and her wish now.

Nanny Zhang hadn’t known it until this moment after having served her over the years and sighed.

She found herself in a small dilemma, but as she had been with Junzhu Susu since she was a young girl, she must help her.

To be honest, nanny Zhang didn’t quite like Lord Su Qi given his infamous reputation, but she knew Junzhu Susu wouldn’t listen to her. Yet, she heard that the lady of the Founder Mansion was in contact with Su Qi.

Therefore, she suggested at once, “I heard that ever since Lord Su Qi returned to the capital, except the Su Mansion, there is only one place that he visits, that is the Founder Mansion. The Founder and the Su family are all in charge of military powers, so I guess there is certain relationship between them. You may ask Lady Mo as to what kind of person Lord Su Qi is…”

The Emperor had arranged a marriage for Master Ning and Lady Mo, and on this circumstances, Su Qi still visited her with congratulations, so they seemed on a close term.

No one would associate them with a personal relationship.

What nanny Zhang hoped was Mo Qianxue talking Junzhu Susu out of it. She could see that her Junzhu thought quite highly of this Mo lady, and very likely she would listen to her words.

Junzhu Susu wanted to learn more about Su Qi and had the expectation that she might meet Su Qi in the Founder Mansion. Hence, she was more than anxious to be there and set off early in the morning.

Taking Junzhu Susu into the Mansion, Mo Qianxue led Susu, arm in arm, to hang around.

Junzhu Susu wanted to ask something, but Birui and Birong followed them all the time and interpreted with flattering speech every now and then. Junzhu Susu had no notion of the inside stories of the Mo family and took the two girls as humble distant relatives, seeing that they were surnamed Mo and that Mo Qianxue didn’t reproach them even though she didn’t seem close to them either.

For the sake of Mo Qianxue, she had to hold it in and couldn’t ask about Su Qi.

Finally, they went to Mo Qianxue’s Snow courtyard to chat after a small tour in the mansion, but the two stupid girls still followed behind.

Mo Qianxue didn’t say anything, but Junzhu Susu couldn’t bear it anymore, her tone no longer friendly, scolding to Mo Birui and Mo Birong in a way treating to servants, “You must be tired following around. You may leave and take a rest.”

The two girls were ridiculed by Junzhu Susu for several times during the walk and were very much daunted already. They never met many noble ladies before, and now, being scolded, they had lost their heart long ago.

Mo Qianxue then turned to look at nanny Mo and smiled meaningfully, “Nanny, are their courtyards cleaned up?”

It wasn’t because she could bear with them. Since these two Mo girls wished to stay, she must present the reality to the two social climbers in the face and let them suffer a little embarrassment as a return.

Nanny Mo replied, “Courtyards Jade and Amber are already cleaned.”

Mo Qianxue gave a light smile and ordered, “Well, then take them there.”

Butler Mo was a great manager of the mansion. Those two courtyards were farthest from Snow and the most remote and shabby ones in the Founder Mansion.

Hearing nanny Mo’s reply, Mo Qianxue smirked inwardly but looked indifferent as usual, taking a contemptuous glance at Mo Birui and Mo Birong, “You may go to your own courtyards.” The tone sounded like she was trying to get rid of the humblest servants.

Yet, the two girls couldn’t pick any fault in that and, exchanging a look, had to leave, discouraged, with a nanny and their own servant girls that nanny Mo summoned over after a curtsy.

Now even Junzhu Susu saw something wrong in it and asked with confusion, “Who on earth are they?”

Mo Qianxue answered lightly, “Unimportant people.”

Since Mo Qianxue didn’t want to talk about it, Junzhu Susu didn’t linger on this subject.

It was common to see this kind of annoyance in a big mansion. Junzhu Susu replied with a knowing ‘okay’ and thought to herself that they were probably two unwelcomed distant relatives of the Mo family who showed up to gain some good and that she didn’t need to pay attention to them or do them any good turn. Then, she left them behind.

After all, she was a unmarried girl, and no matter how open-minded she was, she felt somewhat shy to ask about Su Qi in a straightforward manner.

Once they were in Snow, nanny Mo naturally ordered to serve handkerchiefs for Mo Qianxue and Junzhu Susu to clean their faces, as well as tea and refreshment.

Junzhu Susu was a distinguished guest, so the servants daren’t to be sloppy and kept themselves on the go.

When everything was settled, Mo Qianxue remembered the several times that Junzhu Susu had tried to say something today. After a little pondering, she waved her hand and let all the others go.

Only the two nannies were left in the room to serve tea.

Junzhu Susu, with loads of questions and concerns on her mind, had the tea and looked from left to right. Her room was consisted of three parts. On the left a gigantic thousand-treasure shelf separated the room into two parts, and behind the shelf was the bedroom. On the right, there was a screen with a wash painting of multi-peaked mountains, and behind the screen was a small study.

What was particularly tasty was the screen, on which painted mountains, sea of clouds, green pine trees and a red sun. The objects reflected brilliance on one another, creating a elegant refreshing effect to the mind and to the room.

Junzhu Susu was accustomed to treasures and yet couldn’t help taking more glances at the screen, praising, “The layout of your room is so very tasty.”

Mo Qianxue smiled. The former screen was nice too, but less meaningful as this one, which she had discovered a few days ago when she had checked her mother’s dowry. She also liked it very much.

She, a little proud, still gave a modest smile, “Susu, are you laughing at me? If I’m so lucky, I’d like to take a tour in your room too and have a taste of what is real elegance and luxury…”

“You’re flattering me, Qianxue…”

They chatted on some other subjects before Junzhu Susu finally shifted the subject to Su Qi and tested out, “I’d like thank you and Master Ning for having me walked back by him…”

However, she hadn’t finished yet, and the nanny guarding the courtyard came over, taking a glance at inside, whispered to Chuyi who guarded the door and then left.

After the nanny left, Chuyi stood still at the door for a moment and then turned to bow in silence towards Mo Qianxue. It was very rude to interrupt with words when lady was chatting with Junzhu Susu.

Mo Qianxue saw her hesitation, nodded to Junzhu Susu as an apology and said toward the door, “Come in to report if you must.”

Chuyi entered and curtsied to them, “Lady, Lord Su Qi comes. Now, he’s waiting for you in the training field…”

Su Qi was already a frequent visitor to the Mansion, and Butler Mo knew that he was teaching lady to play sword. Therefore, whenever he came, he was taken directly to the training field. Today was no exception.

Regarding the swordsmanship, lady had many questions to ask Su Qi. Recently, lady had made much progress in swordsmanship. Even Guard Yu praised her for how well she played what Su Qi had taught.

Even though that set of swordsmanship didn’t contain many moves, as Mo Qianxue practiced more, she found it increasingly intricate and flexible in changes, which made Mo Qianxue both amazed and puzzled. She had been expecting Su Qi to come to answer her question and give her more instructions, yet Su Qi had been very busy and seldom came recently. Otherwise, Chuyi wouldn’t have interrupted at this point.

Replying, Chuyi took a glance at Junzhu Susu and added tentatively, “Since lady has a distinguished guest and isn’t convenient to practice sword today, should I go and tell Lord Su Qi to come some other time when he’s free?”

Hearing that Su Qi was here, Junzhu Susu’s hand holding the teacup shook momentarily.