Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard Xie Yutang’s voice outside.

“Feng Jiu, are you still up? I’m coming in.”

As he talked, Xie Yutang attempted to open the door by pushing it, but the door would not budge, leaving him with little choice but to glare with anger. “How come you locked the door? When you sleep in the same courtyard as me, you lock the door? Are you on the lookout for thieves?”

Feng Jiu, who was lying on the bed, paid no attention to him. Regardless, the door was locked, and he couldn’t get in through the window. After all, with Xie Yutang’s nature, he couldn’t do something so dishonourable as climbing in.

‘Did you lock the door because you knew I was coming? I know you’re awake, but what have you been doing all night? I haven’t seen you since the evening, and I didn’t know you were leaving until the steward told me.”

Outside, Xie Yutang asked with resentment. He became increasingly irritated when he didn’t see Feng Jiu appear. “You went back to the courtyard without me after all the time I waited in the front courtyard for you? I wouldn’t have known you returned if it hadn’t been for the servant in the mansion saying so. Are there any other servant boys like you?”

Hearing him keep on griping, Feng Jiu erected a soundproof barrier and went to sleep. Xie Yutang continued talking to himself until his lips were parched and then he returned to his room indignantly.

The following day, when Feng Jiu exited the room, she spotted Xie Yutang standing in front of the door glaring at her, so she asked, “So early? Is there anything you’d like me to do?”

As soon as she spoke, Xie Yutang was surprised and pointed at him with a startled look. “You, you can speak?”

“Yes! I went to town yesterday. I went out and bought some throat medicine, and I feel much better today.” With a pensive expression, she touched her throat.

Hearing this, Xie Yutang, who was still upset, stopped staring at him fiercely and instead appeared perplexed. “Why is your voice sounding so peculiar? It is different from mine.”

“Is it strange? I feel fine.”

At this time, Xie Yutang recalled that he had stood outside his room for an extended period of time the night before, but received no response. He said indignantly, “Why didn’t you say something last night? I spoke outside for so long that you did not even respond.”

“Ah? Did you talk outside my room last night? I had no idea!” She stated, with an innocent expression on her face. “After taking the medicine, I fell asleep. I did not hear anything.”

Xie Yutang only felt his breath bottled up in his heart after hearing her reply and he had no way of venting it. He flourished his sleeves angrily and walked away after glaring at her.

Feng Jiu looked at him with bewilderment, patted her belly, and then entered the kitchen.

She was free here. She didn’t have to spend much time in front of the Xie family and could instead do whatever she wanted. Even though she was in charge of the manor’s servants, she spent her idle days happily as long as they did nothing wrong and followed the rules.

That day, she had nothing to do in the manor other than wandering about. She occasionally interacted with the two Xie Yutang siblings in the front yard until the day of the Ruan family’s banquet, when she became rather preoccupied.

She had the carriage ready early in the morning. She was serving as a coachman today. She packed the luggage before driving the carriage to the front door and waiting for them.

“Little Jiu, do you think my dress looks nice today? This is a brand-new set.” Xie Shisi ran over to Feng Jiu as soon as she spotted her and asked her cheerfully.

“Very nice.” Feng Jiu remarked. She saw the beautiful woman approaching from behind.