The courtyard remained unusually quiet after Su Yueqing finished explaining the duties of the so-called assistant maid.

The servants no longer looked confused.

Now they looked concerned.

Even the head maid, who had spent years managing the household and had witnessed countless noble ladies creating troublesome rules, could not help wondering what kind of person would willingly accept such a position.

An assistant maid?

That title sounded pleasant enough on the surface.

But everyone present understood the reality.

The assistant maid would become the lowest-ranked servant in the courtyard.

She would answer to everyone.

She would carry out the unpleasant tasks others did not want to do.

And if something went wrong, she would likely be the first person blamed.

Su Yueqing sat quietly while allowing the silence to stretch.

Unlike before, there was no exaggerated excitement on her face.

Instead, she looked thoughtful as her gaze slowly swept across the gathered servants.

One by one.

Then her gaze finally landed on Li Mei, and a faint smirk slowly appeared on her lips.

The moment she saw the woman standing quietly among the servants, Su Yueqing felt as though she had finally found the perfect target for her plans.

Inside her mind, she practically rubbed her hands together.

[Just like every proper villain, I should make the heroine suffer.]

[Xi Wenzhe, you had better prepare yourself.]

[From today onward, your peaceful days are over.]

A strange grin appeared on her face as she folded her arms across her chest and looked at Li Mei as though she had already begun planning several months’ worth of trouble.

Meanwhile, Li Mei, who had no idea what was happening inside her Young Madam’s head, simply stood calmly in place with her hands folded before her.

Just then, movement appeared from the corridor.

Xi Wenzhe, who had been standing there watching the entire scene unfold, suddenly turned around and began walking toward the courtyard.

The moment he moved, the others immediately noticed.

Xi Yunhao blinked.

"What is Elder Brother going to do now?"

His voice carried a trace of concern.

After everything they had heard from Su Yueqing’s thoughts today, nobody could predict what would happen if the two of them met face-to-face.

On the other hand, Xi Yunchen looked almost excited.

His eyes lit up immediately.

Unlike Xi Yunhao, he looked as though he was secretly hoping for drama.

"There’s only one way to find out."

Before either of them could react, he grabbed Gu Xiang with one hand and Xi Yunhao with the other.

"Come."

Gu Xiang frowned.

"Why are you dragging me?"

"Because if something happens, I want witnesses."

"That doesn’t even make sense."

"It makes perfect sense."

Ignoring their complaints, Xi Yunchen happily followed behind Xi Wenzhe while dragging the other two along.

Back in the courtyard, the system suddenly spoke.

[Incoming, Host.]

Su Yueqing frowned.

"Huh?"

Then she paused.

"Incoming where?"

Before the system could answer, she instinctively turned her head.

The moment she did, she saw Xi Wenzhe walking directly toward her.

Her entire body stiffened.

She immediately stood up from her chair.

Inside her mind, chaos erupted.

[What the hell does he want?]

[Was standing far away and staring at me like a strange person not enough?]

[Now he wants to come closer?]

[What is this man doing?]

Her eyes widened slightly as Xi Wenzhe continued approaching with his usual calm expression.

[Does he have to breathe the same air as me?]

[There is plenty of air in the capital.]

[Why is he specifically choosing mine?]

The system was silent for several seconds.

Then it replied dryly,

[Host, that is generally how married couples work.]

[What married couple? Nine stop spouting nonsense unless I’ll trash you.]

Meanwhile, the servants had already noticed the approaching group.

The moment they saw Xi Wenzhe and the others entering the courtyard, they immediately straightened their backs.

The head maid quickly stepped forward and raised her voice respectfully.

"Young Master has arrived."

The servants immediately bowed.

"This servant greets Young the Masters."

Behind him, Xi Yunchen, Xi Yunhao, and Gu Xiang also entered the courtyard.

The atmosphere instantly became strange.

One side consisted of dozens of confused servants.

The other side consisted of several Xi family members who knew far too much.

And standing directly in the middle was Su Yueqing, whose smile had completely disappeared the moment she saw Xi Wenzhe approaching.

Meanwhile, Xi Wenzhe’s gaze landed directly on her.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

One looked calm.

The other looked as though she was preparing an escape route.

Inside her mind, only one thought remained.

[Please turn around.]

[Please leave.]

[Please suddenly remember something important.]

[Anything.]

Unfortunately for her, Xi Wenzhe continued walking toward her without the slightest intention of leaving.

Xi Wenzhe eventually stopped directly in front of her.

The courtyard, which had been filled with whispers only moments earlier, instantly fell silent.

Every servant lowered their heads.

Even the maids who had been secretly curious no longer dared to look up.

After all, this was the Young Master of the Xi family.

The future head of the household.

The man whose temper was known throughout the residence.

Meanwhile, Su Yueqing stood where she was, looking as though she had just swallowed something bitter.

Her expression clearly said one thing.

She did not want him here.

Not even a little.

Xi Wenzhe naturally noticed.

In fact, it was difficult not to notice.

The moment she had seen him approaching, every trace of the arrogant villainous confidence she had displayed earlier had disappeared.

It was almost as though she had seen a plague walking toward her.

The realization made something strange stir inside him.

Annoyance.

And for some reason...

Amusement.

’Does she really dislike seeing me that much?’

His eyes narrowed slightly.

’Interesting.’

For several moments neither of them spoke.

Then Xi Wenzhe raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her.

His voice was calm, but there was an obvious hint of mockery hidden beneath it.

"Your husband is standing right in front of you, yet you don’t even know the most basic etiquette?"

Su Yueqing immediately stiffened.

Inside her mind—

[Husband?]

[Who is he calling husband?]

[Why does he keep emphasizing that word?]

[Is he trying to remind me of my suffering?]

Xi Wenzhe’s eyebrow twitched.

’His suffering?’

Before she could say anything, he continued.

"You call yourself a noble lady, yet when your husband arrives you simply stand there staring at him as though you’ve seen a ghost."

His gaze swept over her from head to toe.

"Noble lady, my foot."

Several servants nearly stopped breathing.

The Young Master was openly criticizing the Young Madam.

Meanwhile, Xi Yunchen was practically glowing with excitement.

Beside him, Gu Xiang sighed.

"Why do you look happy?"

Xi Yunchen immediately answered.

"Because Elder Brother is finally acting like a human being."

"..."

That wasn’t reassuring.

Back in the courtyard, Xi Wenzhe suddenly turned his head.

"Head Maid."

The middle-aged woman immediately stepped forward.

"This servant is here, Young Master."

Xi Wenzhe pointed toward Su Yueqing without even looking at her.

"Has nobody taught her the proper rules of this residence?"

The head maid almost choked.

How was she supposed to answer that?

On one side stood the Young Master.

On the other stood the Young Madam.

Offending either one would end badly.

For a brief moment, she silently prayed for salvation.

Unfortunately, none arrived.

Su Yueqing immediately narrowed her eyes.

Inside her mind—

[Excuse me?]

[What does he mean nobody taught me?]

[Did he come all the way here just to insult me?]

[How childish.]

Xi Wenzhe folded his arms.

’Childish?’

’The woman who created an assistant maid position to torment people is calling me childish?’

His gaze briefly drifted toward Li Mei.

Li Mei remained standing among the servants.

Unlike the others, she appeared unusually calm.

However, Xi Wenzhe still noticed the subtle tension hidden beneath her composure.

After all, Su Yueqing’s gaze had already landed on her several times.

And each time...

Nothing good followed.

His expression darkened slightly.

Meanwhile, Su Yueqing noticed his gaze.

The moment she realized he was looking at Li Mei, her eyes brightened.

Inside her mind—

[Aha.]

[Look at that.]

[He really is paying attention to her.]

[Perfect.]

The system immediately sounded alarmed.

[Host, why do I suddenly feel worried?]

[Because you’re intelligent.]

[That does not sound reassuring.]

A smile slowly spread across Su Yueqing’s face.

It was the kind of smile that made Xi Yunhao suddenly take a step backward.

"What?"

Gu Xiang looked at him.

"What happened?"

Xi Yunhao rubbed his forehead.

"I don’t know."

"But every time Sister-in-Law smiles like that, somebody suffers."

Meanwhile, Xi Wenzhe was already beginning to have the same suspicion.

Because the moment that smile appeared...

He knew she was plotting something again.

And unfortunately—

His instincts were rarely wrong.