Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 424 - 426: Cannon Fodder (3)

Xiqiu subtly raised an eyebrow. Xiao Yanyi had called him out this morning and now had left the mansion again. She wondered what it was for.

After pondering for a moment, she said, "Let’s go and see!"

Treasure Bead threw aside the flower hoe and, with her head held high, said to the woman beside her, "We’ve run out of flower fertilizer. Go get some more."

The two women, their eyes lowered, exchanged a furtive eye-roll. Who does she think she is? The Grand Dowager had sent her and Ziyang to Fourth Master’s quarters; now Ziyang was a steward, and she had been sent back. No one in this mansion is a fool; everyone knows what’s going on. A maid dreaming of becoming the mistress isn’t unthinkable, but she should consider whether she has the fortune for it!

Though grumbling internally, the woman maintained a smile on her face, nodding and bowing, saying, "Miss Treasure Bead, please rest for a while. I will get the flower fertilizer at once."

Treasure Bead snorted coldly, turned, and sat on a nearby Taihu Stone, rubbing her frostbitten hands. Thinking back to her formerly pampered life, she grew increasingly resentful. She abruptly stood up, saying, "I’m going out for a walk," and left through the rear gate of the courtyard without looking back.

Xiuyun was basking in the sun at the front of the courtyard, holding an embroidery frame. When she saw Treasure Bead enter, she set down the frame and smiled, saying, "Sister Treasure Bead is here, come sit down."

Treasure Bead, with a sullen expression and visible displeasure, sat down beside Xiuyun. Xiuyun had a young maid brew some tea and then knitted her brows, saying, "I’ve heard about your situation and have been thinking of you all morning. But you’re in the Grand Dowager’s quarters now; it’s not as free as before. I dared not visit you, but it’s fortunate you came. Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Treasure Bead angrily cracked some melon seeds, spitting the shells on the ground, saying, "What could it be? When the master doesn’t want to keep you, even if you’ve done nothing wrong, they’ll find fault to cast you out!"

Xiuyun was stunned to hear this and asked, "Is it because the Fourth Madam can’t keep you?"

"Isn’t it?" Treasure Bead snorted, "The cup of tea was so far away, yet she acted like she got burned... They’re newlyweds, and of course, the Fourth Master dotes on her now..." Her face was full of discontent.

Xiuyun knitted her brows, understanding dawning on her face. She said in a lowered voice, "So that’s what happened." She sighed and said, "I thought the Fourth Madam was gentle, but it turns out she is like this." Taking Treasure Bead’s hand, she said, "You’ve really suffered. It’s not our fault when the masters have problems. It’s just our misfortune that we weren’t born into a good family and have to live a life serving others, being at the mercy of others." She continued, her eyes turning red.

Treasure Bead turned to comfort her, saying, "Look at you, I didn’t cry, yet you’ve started to!" Then she took out a handkerchief to wipe Xiuhong’s tears.

After crying for a while, Xiuhong choked back her sobs and asked Treasure Bead, "You’ve been tasked with tending the gardens, but with your delicate skin, how can you do such coarse work? What do you plan to do?"

Treasure Bead sighed, her brows knitted, "What can I plan? The Grand Dowager arranged this. Can I really disregard her dignity? And going to another master, coming from the Fourth Madam’s room, who would dare take me in?"

Xiuyun nodded thoughtfully, "You’re right." Looking around cautiously, she said, "Why not ask the Second Madam for help? Her words carry the most weight with the Grand Dowager."

Treasure Bead shook her head quickly, replying, "Why would the Second Madam offend the Fourth Madam for my sake? Never mind, I’m just unlucky. Let’s drop the subject." Looking defeated, she checked the time and stood up, saying to Xiuyun, "I should get back. I haven’t finished the work at hand."

With that, she turned and left the room.

As Treasure Bead left the courtyard, she saw Biwu with three or four women carrying laundry, chatting and laughing on their way to the washroom. "Once we’ve delivered the clothes, let’s go and see. The Madam said they are planting Panax notoginseng. I’ve never seen what it looks like."

One of the women said, "I wonder if it’ll grow well." Then paused and added, "Is the Fourth Master at home?"

Biwu replied, "He’s said to be in the outer court discussing matters with the Marquis." They chatted as they walked away.

Hearing this, Treasure Bead paused under a banana tree, her eyes narrowing. Remembering Xiuyun’s words, she wondered if she would indeed spend her days in the Grand Dowager’s garden, waiting to be dismissed when she reached the age and married off just like that.

Yesterday’s incident had angered the Fourth Master greatly. He thought the Fourth Madam had been harmed, but she was clearly fine. Shouldn’t she explain herself?

Thinking this, Treasure Bead lifted her skirt and hurried to the outer court. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Tong Minzhi dismounted from the carriage at a side gate after both men addressed the gatekeeper woman, "Please announce that I have business with the Fourth Madam."

The woman saw that Tong Minzhi wore exquisite attire befitting a gentle young master, and dared not neglect him, asking, "May I ask who you are?"

"I am the Fourth Madam’s brother."

Hearing this, the woman immediately showed respect, saying, "Please wait a moment, uncle. I’ll report to her right away." With that, she invited Tong Minzhi to sit in the gatehouse, served tea, and went inside to relay the message.

Tong Minzhi nodded with a smile, looked at the painting scroll in his hand, and said to the woman, "Thank you!" then cheerfully sat and waited inside.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, Tong Quanzi suddenly arrived on horseback, dismounted from a distance, and entered the gatehouse excitedly saying, "Seventh brother, everyone is waiting for you. Mr. Qian even brought some of the provincial exam papers from the past few years to pass around. You’ve been wanting to see them, haven’t you?"

"Really?" Tong Minzhi’s eyes lit up, "Mr. Qian is here too?" Tong Quanzi nodded, "Yes, we’re all waiting for you. I’m not planning on taking the provincial exam, so it doesn’t matter to me, which is why I rushed to fetch you."

"But," Tong Minzhi hesitated with the painting scroll in his hand, "wait while I deliver this painting to my sister. I promised to bring it to her these past two days."

"It’s just a painting. You can have someone deliver it. You can visit our Sixth Sister here another day." With that, Tong Quanzi snatched the painting scroll from Tong Minzhi’s hand, positioned himself in the gatehouse doorway, and scanned the courtyard. Spotting a familiar-looking maid from afar, Tong Quanzi waved the scroll and called her over, smiling, "Aren’t you a maid from the Fourth Madam’s room?"

The maid’s eyes flickered as she recognized the two young masters of the Tong Mansion, replying, "I am Treasure Bead, greetings to both young masters."

Tong Quanzi, impatient, shoved the scroll into Treasure Bead’s hand, "I trouble you to deliver this to your Fourth Madam! Many thanks!"

Before Treasure Bead could respond, Tong Quanzi had already pulled Tong Minzhi along, leaving the mansion on horseback. Treasure Bead holding the painting scroll, pursed her lips, and swaggered toward the inner courtyard. She overheard Biwu saying the Fourth Master was in the outer court, but after checking, found he wasn’t in the mansion. Full of anger, she’d just encountered Tong Quanzi and Tong Minzhi. Frustrated, she unraveled the painting scroll Tong Minzhi sent, and was momentarily stunned upon seeing what it depicted: the woman’s jade-like features, rosy complexion, and elegant grace were as beautiful as a fairy... Furrowing her brows, she mumbled, "So it’s a portrait of the Fourth Madam."