Not Your Typical Villianess

The Duke's mansion 

Meanwhile back at the Lu family's residence, Rong Rong greeted a few of the kitchen servants as she walked past the kitchen. She had some free time since Su Liya was having a nap and decided to visit her mother, Aunt Yu who worked as a matron at Madam Lu's courtyard.

She had just walked into the courtyard when she saw her mother rush out of the courtyard while firing orders at the maids. Rong Rong paused her steps and called out "mother!".

Matron Yu looked to the entrance and saw her daughter standing steps away from the gates. "Xiao Rong! How come you are here", matron Yu dissed the maids surrounding her. Rong Rong rushed closer. 

The tension in the air was very thick, you could cut it with a knife, even her mother's face was a little dull. Rong Rong rushed to her mother's side and said "you look worried mother, did something major happen".

Matron Yu sighed as she looked at her daughter calm expression. It seemed like she wasn't yet informed, "something big went down a short time ago. Xiao Rong, You are now an adult, you have to start paying attention to political issues. Especially now that you will be out of the capital"

"Out of the capital? How do you mean mother?" 

"We just got word from the palace, Second young master has been appointed the Military Governor of Ningzhuo"

"Ningzhuo? As in the barren lands. Oh no no no, I need to tell her highness" Rong Rong said, she tried to run out but was held back by her mother.

"Not so fast, you can't go running to the highness without getting a full rundown of this"

"Oh that's right" Rong Rong replied. She started back a little longer before running to Mingxi Pavilion.

Rong Rong looked into Su Liya's room as soon as she got back to Mingxi pavilion and it was just as she left it. Su Liya was still asleep, while Baozhai sat by the window and sewed her a new gown. Madam Lu sent over a new batch of materials from the storeroom, Su Liya just got married and needed more clothes to show her status.

Although Su Liya came with a few years of clothes from the palace, it was still necessary that madam Lu sent her a few balls of clothes. Out of her two maids, Baozhai was the most proficient in sewing and took charge of the task.

Rong Rong glanced at the beautiful young lady on the bed as she walked in, she seemed deep in sleep. She tiptoed to where Baozhai was seated, she looked left and right before squatting next to Baozhai.

Baozhai glanced down at the gossipy younger maid and smirked. She had seen a lot of maids during her time in the palace but Rong Rong took the cake. One would think that since Rong Rong grew up in old madam's courtyard, she would be loyal to her but that wasn't the case.

All the other maids in the courtyard from the duke's mansion were all loyal to madam Lu except this young girl, who sometimes seemed rather dense and gossipy. Baozhai had been initially wary of her, when she first came from the palace, she had assumed Rong Rong was a spy and was careful around her.

However, after spending some time with her, Baozhai discovered that there was a lot more to this young maid than meets the eye. While Rong Rong seemed to be loyal to old madam, she always had Su Liya's best interest at heart. Rong Rong was also the best person to send out and gather information because she seemed so good-natured and got along with everyone.

The Rong Rong squatting at her side kept glaring and their mistress with a rather complicated expression. Whenever Rong Rong acted this way, she always had juicy gossip to share and couldn't sear still.

"you look like you are carrying a belly full of gossip to share. What is it", Baozhai said steadily repeating her seams along the edges of the light cloak.

Rong Rong didn't respond, she just felt the cloak and sighed. This was a light coat, which was meant to be used in the summer. It won't be of much use in Ningzhuo, she looked at the fully concentrating Baozhai. "Baozhai jei jei, please make this coat a lot thicker, it is too light for the weather we will be facing soon"

Baozhai paused her needlework and gazed down at her "just what nonsense are you rambling on about, why would our mistress need ticker coats in the summer!"

"Maybe because we won"t be in tge capital for long", she moved closer and whispered choose to Baozhai's ear "second young master has been appointed as military governor of Ningzhuo".

Baozhai dropped the clothes "WHAT!"

"Hey be quiet, you will wake her" Rong Rong brought her hands up to her lips and gestured with her chin to the petite woman lying on the bed.

Baozhai immediately covered her mouth eyes wide and looked at the bed, Su Liya turned to face the wall and continued sleeping. When she had ensured that Su Liya was still asleep, she whispered to Rong Rong "is this true?"

Rong Rong immediately felt offended "would I joke about something like that. I went to visit my mother in the old courtyard and it was very active there. She was the one that informed me, the Imperial edict would be sent over soon".

"oh no, what do we do? How are we going to tell her?", Baozhai whispered.

"We need to start preparing for the move, will take care of that. Since you are older, I will leave the rest in your care. You tell her" Rong Rong said quickly.

"I tell her? How come you only remember I am older when you don't want to take any risks?" Baozhai said.

"Why do I have to take any risks when I have you. I am the youngest among us and hence has to rely on you the senior for guidance. Don't tell me you intend to slack in your basic responsibility".

"what basic responsibility, you little" Baozhai glared at the naughty younger girl next to her. "You better stay put because I do know the particulars of everything. You have to be here to relay the news to her"

"What kind of senior are you"

"The smart type, so don't try to play smart with me. We are in this together, so stay back and wait for her to wake up. We will both tell her together" 

"Tell me what?" Su Liya said 

"Huh?, Baozhai and Rong Rong looked to their right and found themselves face to face with the now awake Su Liya who stood at the other side of Baozhai

"Ahh"

"Oh my, we didn't see you there". 

"How could you, when you are too focused on your argument" Su Liya picked up the fallen gown and placed it on the table and sat down opposite Baozhai. The two maids flapped their mouths a few times like fishes while looking at her in shock.

"Stop looking at me like goldfishes and tell me what is the big news, you are too scared to tell me. Your noisy whispers have already woke me up, I can't sleep so might as well hear what the first is about", Su Liya leaned her elbow on the table and rested her face on her hands 

Baozhai snapped out of the initial shock and jabbed Rong Rong on her ribs "Highness, it is like this.... Second young master was just appointed the military governor of Ningzhuo", she said and sat back expecting an explosive response from her but she never received any.

"oh, isn't the general due for a promotion. That is okay, why were you both arguing?"

"madam, aren't you being too calm. You are allowed to shout, even old madam is worried. I just came from her courtyard and it is a madhouse there" said Rong Rong.

Su Liya chucked, "what is wrong with getting promoted, it is not like he was sent to some remote end of the kingdom where life was hard," Su Liya said when she saw their expression she sat back and flexed her neck "you have got to be kidding! If Ningzhuo some place of deep suffering?"

Baozhai and Rong Rong both nodded.

"Oh no, should have seen this coming. Would the Emperor ever do something nice for Lu Yaozhu"

"Shush, mistress be careful. Someone might hear you" Baozhai brought her index hand to Su Liya's lips and stood. She looked around to check if there was anyone close. She brought her hand away from Su Liya's lips when she ensures they were alone.

Su Liya wiped her lips with the back of her hand, "was that necessary?"

"Yes, you don't know if there is a spy among us" Rong Rong replied.

"Of course there is a spy among us, my money is on matron Gu or even the both of you"

Rong Rong and Baozhai shrunk back as she poured them a cup of hot water. "You think we are spies?" Rong Rong asked.

"Yes, since you are born here. You must be old madam's fixture" she said to Rong Rong then to Baozhai "you must be either the Empress's snitch, Imperial consort Shi's or maybe both", she tilted her neck to the side.

Baozhai seeing her expressed, burst into laughter. "Wow you were a little close but your highness, I am not the Empress's or Imperial consort Shi's spy but the second young master's fixture" 

"What? Lu Yaozhu put you in here to spy on me?"

"No, he put me in here to keep you safe. Treat Me as your secret guard"

"Me too, Yu Tao is my elder brother," Rong Rong said.

"I didn't expect this. So you aren't working for anyone else?"

"Yes, we aren't but I think matron Gu is the Empress's spy so be careful what you say around her" Baozhai picked up the forgotten gown and resumed her sewing.

"Oh, guessed as much" Su Liya looked to Rong Rong "about Ningzhuo, could you tell me everything about it?"

"Yes," Rong Rong replied happily. She couldn't let an opportunity to gossip pass.