"Miss, it's snowing so heavily. Do you really want to go out now?"
After Yun Xi buried the little bird, she ordered Yu Zhu to prepare the carriage and said she was going outside the city gate. Yu Zhu followed behind her anxiously.
"Master has repeatedly told you to stay in the mansion these days. If he knows you've gone out again, he'll surely be angry!"
Yun Xi held an umbrella and walked out in a hurry. Hearing Yu Zhu's words, she stopped, turned her eyes and looked at her seriously.
"Yu Zhu, this matter can't be delayed. For every moment of delay, another life might be lost! As for Father, I'll explain it to him later."
The death of the little bird just now inspired her greatly. Maybe it was a sign from heaven. She couldn't continue to waste time staying at home!
After saying that, Yun Xi didn't delay any longer and continued walking out of the courtyard. Seeing that Yun Xi was determined, Yu Zhu quickly caught up.
"Miss, but they all say there's a strange disease prevailing among the refugees. What if you get infected when you go there?"
Yun Xi didn't stop walking and gave Yu Zhu a bright smile.
"It won't happen. I already have a general idea about the cause of the sudden death of the refugees. I just need to find someone from the Imperial Hospital to verify it."
If things were really as she guessed, the cases of sudden death among the refugees would surely decrease a lot in the future!
Yun Xi walked out of the courtyard excitedly. However, she had just walked a short distance when she ran into Mama Qian from the old lady's courtyard head - on.
"On such a snowy day, where is the eldest miss going?"
As soon as she opened her mouth, Mama Qian's tone was sharp, almost the same as the old lady's attitude towards Yun Xi.
Yun Xi glanced at Mama Qian indifferently. She didn't have a good impression of Mama Qian who always threw her weight around. Besides, she was busy with important matters at the moment and didn't even have the heart to reply.
As if she didn't see Mama Qian, Yun Xi didn't say a word and walked straight past her, which made Mama Qian's face turn green with anger.
"Eldest miss, it's okay that you don't put this old servant in your eyes. But now the old lady is ill and needs you to serve by her bedside. Do you also want to postpone this?"
Hearing that her grandmother was ill, Yun Xi stopped. She thought Mama Qian was really putting a hat of filial impiety on her.
But there were so many maids and women - servants serving around her grandmother. When would it be her turn to take care of her?
Moreover, her grandmother didn't like her in the first place. Going there would only make herself unhappy!
"What have you maids and women - servants been doing on a daily basis? How did you let Grandmother get ill again! You can't even do your duty well, and you still want to shift the responsibility to the master. Who gave you the nerve? If you don't want to do it, just say so earlier. The Prime Minister's Mansion does not keep useless people!"
Yun Xi's eyes turned cold. She came up with a sharp scolding. In less than two months, she already had the momentum and bearing of managing the household.
With just a few words, she easily reversed the situation, leaving Mama Qian's face ashen and speechless. The two maids who followed also blushed and hung their heads, not daring to look into Yun Xi's eyes.
"Miss, what shall we do?"
Yu Zhu quietly tugged at Yun Xi, afraid that her miss would be too straightforward and go straight to the city gate, leaving others an excuse to blame her.
Yun Xi pondered for a moment and sighed in her heart.
"Let's go. Let's go and see Grandmother."
After being stopped by Mama Qian like this, she had to go to her grandmother's courtyard. She just hoped it would be quick and she wouldn't be delayed for too long!
Not long after, Yun Xi arrived at the old lady's courtyard. As soon as she entered the door, she heard a sarcastic voice mocking her.
"Humph! You've finally come! Since you started managing the household, you've become so arrogant that you don't even know to come and see your sick grandmother!"
Yun Xi put away her umbrella and stepped in. She saw Yun Ni sitting on the cushioned couch, eating melon seeds while looking at her mockingly.
Yun Xi glanced at her indifferently and ignored her, but Yun Ni didn't let it go. She stood up and walked towards her.
"Are you deaf? Can't you hear me talking to you?"
The noise in her ear was really annoying. Yun Xi untied her fox - fur cloak and threw it behind her. The cold snow - water and unmelted snowflakes all splashed on Yun Ni's face.
"Yun Xi! What do you want to do?!"
Yun Ni got a mouthful of snow - water. She spat it out and glared at Yun Xi with a flushed face.
"Sorry, I didn't see there was someone here! I thought there was another wild cat that came from nowhere in Grandmother's courtyard. Its meowing was so annoying that I was just about to order someone to drive it out!"
Yun Xi smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Yun Ni was speechless for a moment and immediately remembered the incident during the old lady's birthday. She immediately gritted her teeth with hatred for Yun Xi.
"Don't be too complacent. You won't hold the power of managing the household for long!"
If you asked why Yun Ni had always been hostile to Yun Xi, in the past it was because Yun Xi was the only legitimate eldest miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion. She not only got her father's exclusive favor, but also in the eyes of outsiders, they only saw Yun Xi and ignored her and her younger brother Yun Qi.
And now, there was another reason, which was that Yun Xi had got the power to manage the Prime Minister's Mansion while she didn't.
Moreover, some time ago, her mother, Mrs. Jiang, had such a scandal, which made her depressed for a long time. But her younger brother was promising. He not only saved the second prince, but also their mother was granted the title of a third - rank gentlewoman.
Only then did Yun Ni gain confidence and resume her former arrogant and domineering attitude.
"Yun Ni, don't talk nonsense. You'll disturb your grandmother's rest!"
Before Yun Xi could speak, Mrs. Jiang walked out of the inner room with a medicine bowl in her hand. At the moment, her makeup was plain, her face was tired, and her clothes were simple, not as gorgeous as before.
Since being granted the title, Mrs. Jiang had become much more low - key. She was also more respectful to the old lady and paid her respects every day.
As time passed, the old lady almost forgot about Mrs. Jiang's former scandal and gradually got closer to her.
Yun Xi raised her eyebrows and looked at Mrs. Jiang. She saw the other woman walking towards her with a smiling face and saying,
"Yun Xi, your grandmother is ill and needs someone to accompany her by the bedside at all times. I think Yun Ni is too noisy. I'm afraid she'll disturb your grandmother, so I asked someone to call you here. Don't be angry!"
Mrs. Jiang said it carefully, but Yun Xi couldn't help laughing.
"Auntie, what are you saying? Taking care of Grandmother is the responsibility of a grand - daughter. How could I be angry? As long as you don't dislike me for being clumsy."
After saying that, Yun Xi walked directly into the inner room.
As soon as she entered the door, a fragrance of medicine filled her nose. The old lady was leaning on the bed at the moment, looking at her gloomily.
"You still know to come? You've got quite a lot of power since you started managing the household. You even dare to boss around my people!"
Yun Xi glanced at Mama Qian beside the old lady and immediately understood. She sat down on the chair beside the old lady's bed with a smile.
"I heard that Grandmother was ill. I was so worried that I couldn't help scolding them a few words."
Then, Yun Xi raised her eyes and glanced coldly at Mama Qian.
"I didn't expect that these servants not only failed to take good care of Grandmother, but were also so talkative. They even added to your annoyance when you were ill!"
Yun Xi emphasized the word "servants" very heavily, which made Mama Qian's back stiffen. Her hands wringing the handkerchief tightened unconsciously.