Chapter 70: offense is the best defense 1 (1/2)

The Duke's mansion.

Lu Yaozhu left after the servants were introduced, leaving the rest to Su Liya. Su Liya had little experience with these things and didn't understand how to handle the servants. Luckily, Lu Yaozhu already instructed Baozhai on everything because she carefully explained things to Su Liya.

Baozhai and Rong Rong looked capable so she just put them in charge of the choosing of servants. She was just in charge of making the final decision, a few hours later everything was set. She discovered that Baozhai and Rong Rong were very efficient maids trained by the Empress and the Lu family respectively.

Lu Yaozhu was given seven days leave from court by the Emperor so apart from eating breakfast and dinner with her, he spent the rest of his time in his study. Apart from the wedding night, they slept separately but he still stopped by at her place to maintain appearances.

Two days after the wedding, Su Liya recurved an invitation to a house party held at Qianzhu military commander's house in the capital. This was the first invitation she had received after her marriage. After having her breakfast, Su Liya went to find Zhu Fengyin at the main Courtyard.

As she walked through the familiar path leading to the main courtyard, she couldn't help but reminisce on the times she had taken this path as a maid. Now she walked through them as a master, she ran into a few filar faces as she walked to the main courtyard.

The maid greeted her, as she walked to the main Courtyard. Even if they were familiar with her, her stations has changed. She was no longer a maid like them but a princess and now the second young madam. However, even with that, she received a lot of cold gazes from the maids.

Who in the capital hasn't heard of how she got married to the second master, most of the maids found her an eyesore. The older matrons at the main Courtyard greeted her with undisguised hatred. Su Liya ignored their gaze, she had expected this from them.

Most of the older matrons were selected by madam Lu, they never liked her even when she was still a maid. Su Liya was left to stand just outside the door, while they went in to inform Zhu Fengyin of her presence.

Su Liya ignored their actions, she just got married and didn't have any standing yet. There was no need to blow it out of proportion, standing for a few minutes was nothing. Although cage wasn't in a favourable position right now, there was still more chances to deal with them.

Zhu Fengyin sat by the square table practising her embroidery when she walked in. Su Liya didn't bother with formalities, she sat opposite Zhu Fengyin. She placed her elbow on the table and played with the threads.

”Yin Yin!” She called in a cute voice.

”yes” Zhu Fengyin didn't look up from her work, she understood that Su Liya was just acting cute.

”Yin Yin, I am bored,” She said pouting.

”If you are bored pick up some materials and practice some embroidery. It might be because you are too idle”.

Su Liya flinched like she hurt her and placed her hands on her chest ”no! Please. I will leave the industrious wife stuff to you, okay!”

Zhu Fengyin chuckled softly ”why is your reaction this bad? I was just making a suggestion. It is not my fault if you don't have the talent”.

”Even if I lacked the talent, I fear that it would be wasted on me cause sewing isn't my thing” Su Liya shivered.

”You don't like to see or paint, what exactly do you like to do.... eat?”

Su Liya moved in closer and whispered ”how did you know that”.

Zhu Fengyin didn't respond, she just flicked Su Liya's forehead and said ”silly”.

Su Liya leaned to the side as she laughed softly. After some seconds she said ”thanks, I needed that, I haven't had a good laugh in some time. I got an invitation from the Yuan family, this morning”

Zhu Fengyin paused her sewing and looked up ”Really, I guess they have decided to make their move”.

”Their move? Is there anything I should be aware of?”

Zhu Fengyin set down the work and sighed ”Yes, the Yuàn family is Su Liya's... ” She glanced at the maids a few steps away ”Well your relatives”.

”Relatives? Isn't Su Liya's mother a maid?”