Chapter 69: Xue Qi’s Lustful Heart

Xue Rui seemed not to have expected the little maid to ask him such a question.

In his memory, she had never been talkative or troublesome, which was precisely why he found her most agreeable.

However, today, he didn’t mind her asking such a question.

But he was still too lazy to answer, so he replied very briefly to Yao Zuizui: “Lazy.”

Yao Zuizui nodded. “Getting married is indeed exhausting. After marriage, there are even more tiring and annoying things to deal with.”

“…” Xue Rui was too lazy to respond further, but he felt the little maid’s words had struck a chord in his heart. That was exactly why he didn’t want to get married.

But Xue Rui didn’t say it.

He hated the way Chen Jiao looked at his little maid.

The sentence was too long and sounded overly sentimental, so he decided not to bother saying it.

—

Spring arrived, and Lady Xue indeed came to Xue Rui’s quarters.

This time, Lady Xue came after lunch, saving Yao Zuizui the trouble of waking Xue Rui up early.

Lady Xue entered Xue Rui’s room, first glanced at Yao Zuizui, then turned her smiling gaze to Xue Rui.

“Rui’er, do you remember what we discussed before? Now that spring is here, it’s time to arrange a marriage for you.” Lady Xue reached out and held Xue Rui’s hand, trying to make their interaction appear affectionate.

Xue Rui didn’t like this, but he was too lazy to pull away, so he let her hold his hand.

Languidly lifting his eyelids, he said, “No.”

Lady Xue’s smile didn’t waver. She knew persuading Xue Rui wouldn’t be easy.

But she… had plenty of time.

Lady Xue continued patting the back of Xue Rui’s hand gently. “Rui’er, your mother has found a girl from your great-grandmother’s family—the one she pointed out to you during the Lantern Festival banquet. Do you remember?”

Chen Jiao was as graceful as jade. She was certain her Rui’er would remember her.

Xue Rui gave a faint acknowledgment. Of course, he remembered.

That obstructive Chen Jiao… Just thinking about her was annoying.

Lady Xue didn’t miss the flicker of disgust in Xue Rui’s expression. She didn’t know where this aversion came from but didn’t press further.

Instead, she cautiously asked in a roundabout way, “Rui’er, what do you think of that girl?”

Xue Rui remained concise and firm. “No.”

Lady Xue wasn’t discouraged in the slightest. She patted Xue Rui’s hand soothingly. “Well, you two haven’t interacted much, so it’s natural you don’t know each other’s temperament. In a few days, the old madam is hosting a moon-viewing banquet. You must attend.”

Xue Rui didn’t react—neither agreeing nor refusing.

Suddenly, he wondered: *Does that little maid want to see flowers?*

Seeing his silence, Lady Xue took it as tacit agreement and grew even more pleased.

Perhaps Rui’er was just too shy to admit he liked Jiao’niang. A few more meetings would help them confirm their feelings.

Lady Xue wasn’t a rigid person. Xue Rui was her precious son, and she wanted to find a girl he truly liked to spend his life with.

After discussing this matter with Xue Rui, Lady Xue seemed to relax slightly before turning her attention to Yao Zuizui.

Yao Zuizui felt extremely uncomfortable.

Since Lady Xue began speaking with Xue Rui, she had already noticed the lady’s gaze lingering on her at least four or five times.

Her head drooped lower and lower, her demeanor meek and obedient.

Xue Rui also noticed Lady Xue’s gaze but remained silent—too lazy to speak.

If there was something important, they would say it eventually. Xue Rui never initiated conversations.

Sure enough, after a few seconds of hesitation, Lady Xue spoke.

“Rui’er, last time Jiao’niang visited our mansion, she took a liking to this maid of yours—finding her clever, well-behaved, and sensible. She asked the old madam for this maid. The old madam didn’t know who it was and casually agreed.” Lady Xue knew this request was unreasonable, but since the old madam had spoken, she had no choice but to comply.

Yao Zuizui nearly laughed out loud when she heard this.

What kind of logic was this? Chen Jiao, a young lady from another household, was asking for a maid from her future husband’s courtyard before even marrying him?

It was downright shameful.

Chen Jiao must have been spoiled since childhood and favored by the old madam to make such an impudent request.

Lady Xue also felt this was inappropriate, but to please the old madam, she still brought it up.

After all, since childhood, as long as it didn’t interfere with Xue Rui’s sleep or rest, he had never objected to anything.

As for maids and servants, he cared even less, never uttering a single word about them.

There were plenty of clever and capable maids in the mansion. She could always assign him a more competent and prettier one.

Apart from feeling slightly embarrassed about the request, Lady Xue didn’t see any real difficulty in this matter.

To her surprise, Xue Rui bluntly replied with a single word: “No.”

Lady Xue knew Xue Rui had many ways of refusing people—the fewer words he used, the firmer his stance.

If he only said one word, it meant he was unlikely to change his mind.

Thinking about Xue Rui’s upcoming attendance at the moon-viewing banquet, Lady Xue decided not to push him further on this matter.

She adjusted Xue Rui’s collar gently and said kindly, “Well, that’s understandable. This maid has been with you for a long time. Suddenly losing her would be inconvenient. You can keep her for now. As for Jiao’niang, I’ll send her a more sensible maid.”

Though her words subtly implied Yao Zuizui wasn’t sensible, Lady Xue didn’t have much else to say.

She knew Jiao’niang wanted this maid gone because she feared the girl would steal Xue Rui’s affection before she even entered the household.

Though she thought Jiao’niang was acting too hastily, Lady Xue didn’t comment. She understood the struggles of being a mistress.

She was already exhausted dealing with the concubines in the household and didn’t want to meddle too much in the younger generation’s affairs.

After reminding Xue Rui once more about the moon-viewing banquet, Lady Xue left.

Xue Rui listened with one ear and let the words slip out the other. Only after she left did he speak leisurely.

“Want to go?” Xue Rui was brief, but Yao Zuizui understood.

She nodded. “Want to go.”

It wasn’t the moon she was interested in—it was Jiao’niang.

Since that Jiao’niang disliked her so much and wanted to eliminate her before even entering the household…

Then she might as well… infuriate Jiao’niang?

For the first time in this dull and tedious place, Yao Zuizui felt a flicker of anticipation and amusement.

Pressing her lips together, she began clearing the teacups and dessert plates Lady Xue had used.

Suddenly, Xue Rui said, “You’re very sensible.”

His voice was clear and warm, wrapped in the sunlight streaming through the window, seeping into her ears—pleasant and moving.

She froze for a moment, unsure why Xue Rui was praising her out of the blue, before realizing—

He was comforting her for Lady Xue’s earlier insinuation that she wasn’t sensible.

She smiled faintly. “Thank you for the praise, young master.”

Bending down, she faced Xue Rui directly, her youthful skin flawless, with fine peach fuzz visible under the light. Her bright, expressive eyes were filled with gentle amusement, like the spring breeze that greened the tender willows by the river—

And also reddened the tips of Xue Rui’s ears.

Sunlight sparkled in her eyes, soft and mesmerizing, making Xue Rui close his eyes as if to feign sleep.

But his slightly reddened ears, translucent under the sunlight, betrayed the turbulence in his heart.

*What a naive little maid.*

*Praising her once makes her this happy.*

…

Xue Rui’s face felt warm, but his heart was inexplicably sweet—sweeter than the lotus seed cake he had just eaten.

*This little maid’s smile is much prettier than that Jiao’niang’s.*

—

Shortly after dusk, Xue Rui went to bed.

Yao Zuizui rubbed her sore hands and walked out of Xue Rui’s room.

Just as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Guigui standing under a pear tree, smiling at her.

Guigui hadn’t smiled at her like this in a long time.

Yao Zuizui couldn’t help but marvel—*Are people in this world really this simple? They don’t even bother pretending before harming someone?*

Without pausing, Yao Zuizui walked straight toward her.

“Little sister, not on duty today?” Guigui clasped her hands behind her back, smiling.

Ever since the incident with Guigui, Xue Rui had forbidden her from night shifts, replacing her with another second-rank maid.

Guigui had been furious at the time, cursing Yao Zuizui and blaming her for scheming to make the young master issue such an order.

Their relationship had soured, and Yao Zuizui had no intention of engaging with her further.

But if Guigui wanted to harm her, then she shouldn’t blame Yao Zuizui for retaliating.

Sure enough, Guigui smiled and grabbed her arm. “Little sister, I know I was wrong before and misunderstood you. Today, I sent someone to buy some wine and snacks. Come to my room and have a drink with me?”

“Sure.” Yao Zuizui chuckled, as if completely unaware of any ulterior motives, and followed Guigui.

Guigui walked ahead, her smile growing increasingly eerie.

Since Guigui and Yao Zuizui were the only first-rank maids in the courtyard, their rooms were both on the west side, while the other maids and servants lived on the east side.

In the middle were Xue Rui’s bedroom, study, and reception hall, arranged in a row.

The moment Yao Zuizui stepped into the room, Guigui closed the door and bolted it.

Yao Zuizui didn’t panic at all. Smiling, she asked, “What’s the meaning of this, sister?”

“Meaning? Hah, of course, it’s to fulfill the young master’s desires!” Xue Qi emerged from the shadows of the room, his lecherous grin looking even more disgusting under the dim oil lamp.

Yao Zuizui chuckled lightly. “I didn’t know Second Young Master Xue and sister had gotten so close.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, Huahua, what do you mean by ‘gotten close’? I warn you! Guigui and I are willing partners, deeply in love. How can you describe us so crudely?” Xue Qi rubbed his hands excitedly as he approached Yao Zuizui.

The two first-rank maids in Xue Rui’s courtyard were both beauties, and he had been coveting them for a long time.

Guigui was sweet and delicate, while Huahua was gentle and charming—both made his heart race with envy at Xue Rui’s good fortune in having them.

Unlike him, who was constantly nagged by the shrew in his own quarters, unable to even visit a brothel without being scolded.

Unfortunately, Xue Rui’s maids had never paid him any attention.

Guigui had always been aloof, never deigning to acknowledge him, while Huahua fled at the sight of him like a startled rabbit—later even infuriating him to no end.

But who would have thought that, in the end, both beauties would fall into his lap?

Guigui had come to him willingly, agreeing to be his concubine and even giving him her purity. He had been floating on cloud nine for days.

And to his surprise, after their tryst, Guigui had even offered—

To deliver Huahua to his bed, fulfilling his long-held fantasy.

Xue Qi’s lips curled into a wicked grin as his eyes fixated on Huahua’s full chest.

*No time like the present—today’s the day!*