Qi Mingzhu accompanied Qin Junwangfei for some more snacks. Seeing that she was showing signs of fatigue, she finally got up to take her leave.
Qin Junwangfei could not help but give more instructions, telling Qi Mingzhu not to fear Lu Jingning, to maintain the proper courtesies, and not to give Lu Jingning any handle to grasp.
Qi Mingzhu agreed to everything.
As she reached the doorway, she paused, turned, and knelt before Qin Junwangfei.
With her belly prominent, the act of kneeling appeared somewhat precarious to onlookers.
Qin Junwangfei's heart leaped into her throat. She hurried down from the couch and rushed to Qi Mingzhu's side, personally helping her up.
Qi Mingzhu remained kneeling steadily, not rising.
"You child, if you have something to say, just say it. Why are you kneeling for no reason? Don't you know you are with child? What if you accidentally hurt your belly or yourself? Do you want your grandmother to worry herself to death?" Qin Junwangfei said, annoyed.
"Grandmother, please don't be angry. Mingzhu just wants to ask you for one thing," Qi Mingzhu said hesitantly.
"Whatever it is, just say it. Will your grandmother not agree? We are family, why use the word 'ask'? Get up first. If you don't get up, your grandmother will ignore you."
This time, Qi Mingzhu obediently used Qin Junwangfei's strength to stand up.
Qin Junwangfei carefully examined her and was relieved to see that Qi Mingzhu was unharmed.
"Speak, what is it?" Qin Junwangfei asked.
"There are many beautiful maids in the manor. If Madam picks any of them for my cousin, Mingzhu has no objections. Mingzhu knows that with my current condition, my cousin should have someone to attend to his needs. But Mingzhu wants to ask Grandmother to tell Madam not to assign Fusú to my cousin. Fusú and I grew up together since childhood; our bond is no less than that between sisters. If Fusú had this intention, it would be one thing, and I wouldn't stop it. But Fusú doesn't have this intention. To assign her to my cousin so rashly, wouldn't that be..." Qi Mingzhu appeared troubled.
Lu Jingning wanted to assign Mingzhu's maid to Xuan'er?
This was truly preposterous.
Earlier, she had appeared so determined to urge Xuan'er to improve, and now she was arranging a bed warmer for him? If she was arranging one, why choose Mingzhu's maid? What was this supposed to mean? Not to mention that this was the only capable maid Mingzhu had, even if she wasn't capable, assigning someone who attended to Mingzhu to Xuan'er was like adding to Mingzhu's troubles. To take it a step further, if she really had to assign someone, she could assign her own maids, and no one could say anything.
"Don't worry, your maid. Without your consent, no one can force her. Mingzhu, did Lu Jingning discuss this with you?" Qin Junwangfei asked.
Qi Mingzhu shook her head. "Madam didn't speak to me about it. It was Fusú, that girl, who took the initiative to tell me. Madam called her over and said..."
Qi Mingzhu faltered at this point, as if organizing her thoughts and trying to find the right words.
"What did Lu Jingning say?" Qin Junwangfei asked.
Qi Mingzhu seemed a little anxious, but the more anxious she became, the less she could think of suitable words.
"Fusú." Qin Junwangfei decided to stop asking Qi Mingzhu and instead called out towards the outside.
Fusú, who had been waiting outside, heard the commotion, lifted the curtain, and walked in.
"Fusú, I'm asking you, what did the young madam say to you?" Qin Junwangfei asked.
Fusú's expression changed instantly. She knelt fearfully before Qin Junwangfei. "The young madam sought out this servant and said, said..."
Fusú was so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead, and tears welled up in her eyes, yet she couldn't utter a coherent word.
Qin Junwangfei glanced at her. "If you're told to speak, then speak. What are you hesitating for?"