Chapter 559 - 565

“Of course, if I didn’t have that ability, how could I be your master? In the future, following me, you’ll get to enjoy all the good things,” Su Wenyue said with a laugh, cracking jokes for a rare change.

Since Han Yu left, Su Wenyue had been feeling quite down these past few days. But with Xiao Xi’s arrival, her mood suddenly lifted, and she truly rallied, filled with the ambition to ‘make a good go of it’.

“Madam is the best. Ever since I followed Madam, I’ve been living the good days. I want to serve Madam for a lifetime, so please don’t despise me!” Xiao Xi, who was quite the chatterbox, said. She knew her mistress’s disposition well; without the master, Madam must be feeling sad, so she tried every way to ingratiate herself with Su Wenyue, hoping to cheer her up a bit.

“You little rascal, I indeed wish you could stay with me forever, but sooner or later you’ll have to marry,”

“Madam, why are you saying these things, are you teasing me?” Being a young lady, although Xiao Xi had become more unrestrained over the years, her innate nature hadn’t changed. Hearing Su Wenyue’s words, she stomped her foot and blushed scarlet, embarrassed.

“I’m being serious, Xiao Xi. You’re my most valued servant girl. To me, you’ve long since been like a sister, not a servant or an outsider. Therefore, I hope even more for you to have your own life, to live well. I can’t, out of selfishness, deprive you of the opportunity to be happy. Speaking of which, at your current age, you could well be married. But given the current situation and all that has happened, I haven’t had the chance to consider it for you. I’ll be frank with you today; if you’ve found someone you fancy, just tell me, no need to hide it.”

“Madam, are you serious?!” Xiao Xi looked at Su Wenyue, who didn’t seem to be joking, her expression becoming more solemn, tinged with uncertainty.

“Of course, I’m serious. What, did you think I was joking? Xiao Xi, you are one of the most important people to me. I want you to be happy in the future, not to continue staying by my side as a servant girl with no prospects,” Su Wenyue said earnestly. Ever since she’d been reborn, she had thought about this issue and made a decision, but she had not told Xiao Xi. In her previous life, Xiao Xi met an unhappy end because of her; this life, she wanted to give Xiao Xi a chance at a happy life and a bright future.

Realizing Su Wenyue was serious, Xiao Xi’s earlier shyness and bashfulness faded away, and she became frantic: “Madam, I don’t want it, I don’t want to get married, nor do I want a man. I only wish to follow Madam all my life, please don’t send me away! Is it because I did something wrong and angered you? I will change, please don’t send me away.”

“Xiao Xi, you’re overthinking it. How could I be unhappy with you? You’ve been by my side for so long, wouldn’t I have shown my displeasure or dissatisfaction by now? I truly want what’s best for you. A woman needs to have her own family and children, otherwise, life is incomplete. Xiao Xi, it’s precisely because I regard you as a sister that I can’t selfishly keep you here. Otherwise, even if you don’t regret it now, you might when you get older.”

“I won’t regret it because I’ve made this choice. From the first day I followed Miss, I decided that I would serve Miss for my whole life. There will never be a second possibility. Please indulge me, Miss; otherwise, I’d rather die.” As Xiao Xi finished speaking, she knelt straight as an arrow, leaving no room for negotiation, a clear sign of her resolve.

Seeing Xiao Xi like this, Su Wenyue did not want to pressure her. Her original intention wasn’t this, she only wanted to wish happiness for Xiao Xi. Since Xiao Xi was unwilling, she let it be.

“Alright, if you don’t wish it, let it be. You’re really a silly girl. Do you really plan never to marry in your life?”

“If Madam truly wishes me to marry, just don’t send me away. Find someone within the Mansion, like a child of the servants, or a bodyguard next to the General, and betroth me to him. That way, I can still follow Madam after getting married. As long as I can stay by Madam’s side, I don’t care about anything else,” Xiao Xi thought for a moment and said. She wasn’t actually opposed to marriage as long as it didn’t mean leaving Madam.

In fact, Xiao Xi’s choice represents the most common destiny for the servants in the Mansion. They are simply servants, with no right to autonomy, including in marriage—arranged by the master upon reaching the appropriate age, given to children of the servants in the Mansion, so that they remain people of the Mansion, with their offspring inheriting the same status. It was only because Su Wenyue valued and showed favor to Xiao Xi that she had such a thought. After all, Su Wenyue had already manumitted Xiao Xi, little did she know this foolish girl would be so unenthusiastic.

“Truly a silly girl. Alright, since this is what you want, I won’t force you. But even if we go by your wish, there are many people in the Mansion, forget about the children of the servants. Look and see if there’s a suitable bodyguard around Han Yu; if you find someone you like, I, your master, will arrange it for you.”

After some thought, Su Wenyue, realizing Xiao Xi was firm in her decision, felt she had no other option. Out of the short, you pick the tall ones; besides, there were indeed a few decent bodyguards around Han Yu with promising futures. If Xiao Xi took a liking to one, it would be a good choice.

Actually, Su Wenyue also didn’t want Xiao Xi to leave her, as she had grown accustomed to using her, and Xiao Xi was the person she trusted most. But it was for the sake of Xiao Xi’s happiness that she had even considered this. It would be good if Xiao Xi could stay by her side.

“Alright, then it’s settled. When you’ve made up your mind about someone, do let me know, and I’ll make the decision for you,” Xiao Xi, having gotten her way, reverted to her usual carefree, laughing demeanor in front of Su Wenyue.

“Choose according to your heart and choose carefully. Since he’ll be with you for a lifetime, you can’t be careless. I’ll screen him for you when the time comes.”

“Understood, Madam, rest assured. I will pick someone I truly like,” Xiao Xi said, yet suddenly a figure flashed through her mind, just a fleeting thought.

If it were him, perhaps it wouldn’t be bad, but his status was different. With her own status, even as Madam’s favorite, she was not his match, and moreover, he might not always stay by the Master’s side. One day, when Master reached a certain position, his duty would be fulfilled, returning to his original status, but she would always have to stay by Madam’s side. From every perspective, it wasn’t appropriate.

“Xiao Xi, could it be that you’ve already taken a fancy to someone?” Su Wenyue noticed Xiao Xi’s reaction, discerning something. That was clearly the demeanor of a young girl with a crush, yet it was merely a fleeting moment. Xiao Xi quickly composed herself. Over the years, despite still being the same Xiao Xi in front of her, she had undergone quite a few changes and matured significantly.

However, Xiao Xi shook her head: “Madam, I haven’t taken a fancy to anyone yet.”