Chapter 124: The Head Maid

Chu Bing and Li Mohan returned to the manor from the cliff under the cover of night. The estate was silent, everyone deep in slumber.

Li Mohan escorted Chu Bing to her doorway. "Stay here for now and keep a low profile. I will find a way to have you transferred to my own courtyard."

He cast a look of disdain at the cramped, humble quarters, then turned to Chu Bing with a gaze softened by a hint of heartache. However, he knew he could not spirit her away just yet. Chancellor Li was a man of profound and devious schemes; once suspicion took root, he would inevitably launch an investigation into Chu Bing’s origins. Her background was far too shrouded in mystery, and given the Chancellor’s cautious and ruthless nature, he would certainly seek to eliminate any potential threat at the root. Li Mohan was determined not to let Chu Bing become a target.

Chu Bing, however, was unbothered. "I am perfectly fine living here. You need not worry about me."

Although the place was crude, it was where the servants resided, and no one paid it much mind—which suited her perfectly. It made it easier for her to slip away to instruct Li Haoran. If she were moved to Li Mohan’s courtyard, she would likely be under the constant surveillance of a dozen pairs of eyes every night. To complete the mission assigned by the system, she did not mind enduring these conditions for a while.

Fearing that Li Mohan might insist on moving her, she waved her hands dismissively. "It is late. I am going back to rest now, and you should do the same." With that, she turned and hurried away, eventually breaking into a light jog.

Li Mohan watched her retreating figure, which looked remarkably like a child fleeing from something, and raised an eyebrow. She was still so childish.

Back in her room, Chu Bing collapsed onto the bed, clutching the whip in her hand, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, she was jolted awake by a cacophony of noise. She opened her eyes, feeling irritable; the clamor did not fade but instead grew louder.

"Who is that! Can't a person get any sleep?" She was determined to see who was disturbing the peace so early in the morning.

As she stormed out of her courtyard, she found Old Zhao and Xiao Tao locked in a heated standoff, glaring at one another. Hearing Chu Bing’s voice, both turned to look at her.

"What are you two doing?" Chu Bing demanded, hands on her hips, her anger flaring. She had only just fallen asleep after her late-night trip to the secret chamber with Li Mohan.

Before Old Zhao could speak, Xiao Tao pointed a finger at Chu Bing and lashed out, "You are nothing but a lowly maid! It is bad enough that you sleep until this hour, but how dare you bark orders at me?"

Chu Bing paused in surprise as the girl marched up to her, her fingertip nearly touching Chu Bing's nose.

"The young master is kind-hearted enough to tolerate a lazy girl like you, but I certainly won't! Let me tell you, this manor has its own rules. From now on, you will join the others in hauling water!" Xiao Tao commanded, gesturing imperiously toward the group of scullery maids who had just returned from the well.

Chu Bing’s rage hit its peak. She seized Xiao Tao’s wrist with one hand and sneered, "Who gave you the nerve to point your finger at me?"

"Ah!" Xiao Tao, not expecting Chu Bing to retaliate, turned deathly pale from the pain and shrieked for help. "What are you all standing there for? Come over here and pin this贱婢 (lowly wench) down!"

The scullery maids nearby dropped their buckets and rushed forward. Chu Bing raised an eyebrow and, with a swift kick for each, sent them sprawling to the ground.

Xiao Tao’s eyes widened in shock at Chu Bing’s prowess, and her voice grew even more shrill. "Let go of me! The young master said yesterday that I am now the head maid of his courtyard! You cannot touch me! The young master will not let you get away with this!"

"The young master?" Chu Bing gave a cold, twisted smile. "Why don't you bring him here to tell me that himself? And who, exactly, is the lowly wench?" If Li Mohan ever uttered such words, she would write her name backward!

She tightened her grip slightly, and Xiao Tao felt as though her wrist were about to snap, tears and snot streaming down her face in a pathetic display. Chu Bing pushed her to the ground in disgust.

"Get out!"

Xiao Tao scrambled to the ground, glaring at Chu Bing with venomous eyes, but she dared not challenge her further. She gathered the scullery maids and fled in a panic.

Chu Bing dusted off her hands and looked at Old Zhao, who had been standing by. "Old man, it’s early in the morning. Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing here?"

Old Zhao, who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, lowered his arms once Xiao Tao had retreated and walked slowly toward Chu Bing.

"That girl has such an inflated temper. She’s only been in the young master's courtyard for one day, and she’s already practically throwing herself at him. I only offered a few words of advice, and she started mocking me. She has no respect for her elders at all."

Chu Bing rolled her eyes. "If she’s willing to throw herself at him, why do you care? The young master hasn't said a word." Though she spoke dismissively, she felt a sour pang in her heart. *Throwing herself at him?* Li Mohan was certainly a lucky man.

Old Zhao glanced at her, instantly seeing through her pretense. "Enough with the sarcasm. Don't tell me you aren't bothered by this Xiao Tao at all?"

"Why would I be bothered?" Chu Bing scoffed and turned to walk back into her room. She still hadn't had enough sleep!

Old Zhao followed her inside. "In the past, I always suspected you had ulterior motives for getting close to our young master. But after seeing this Xiao Tao, I’ve realized you aren't so bad after all. How about this: you help me drive this girl away, and in return, I’ll help you stay by the young master’s side?"

*Oh?*

Chu Bing spun around, looking at Old Zhao with a strange expression. Seeing that he was entirely serious, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Uncle Zhao, have you lost your mind?"

"Whether I stay by the young master’s side is not for you to decide—it is for him!"

"Besides, if the young master didn't want her there, he wouldn't let her get close to him." Li Mohan already knew that Xiao Tao was a pawn of Li Haoran; how could he possibly trust her? He was likely playing along to catch them in their own trap. Despite the lingering sourness in her heart, Chu Bing chose to trust Li Mohan.

Old Zhao was surprised by her composed demeanor. "I underestimated you. Your vision is clearer than mine."

He sighed and waved his hand, preparing to leave. As he reached the door, he seemed to recall something, turned back, and said to Chu Bing, "By the way, you should go see the young master later. I have a feeling his mood is off today."

"What's wrong?" Chu Bing raised an eyebrow. Wasn't he perfectly fine last night?

Old Zhao shook his head. "If I knew, would I be asking you? Just go over and see for yourself."

With his hands behind his back, he strolled away. Chu Bing watched his retreating figure, her brows knitting together tightly. *What happened to Li Mohan? Could it be that their visit to the secret chamber last night was discovered?*