After Dressing Up As a Little Fulang

Zang Ya always moved very quickly. On the first day, he said he would take An Yun out to play, and by the second day, he had someone prepare An Yun’s luggage early in the morning.

After breakfast and taking his medicine, Zang Ya was ready to leave with An Yun.

Before they left, Xiao Cui tidied An Yun’s clothes and said to him, “Fulang is going out to have fun this time. It doesn’t matter if he comes back late. When Sister Qing Yue asked me to make medicine this morning, she asked me to prepare another dose for the fulang and the young master. Both medicines could be taken at noon without rushing home.”

An Yun was momentarily stunned by this. He hadn’t expected Qing Yue to be so thoughtful and even consider such little things.

“By the way, Xiao Cui, what do you want? I can bring something back for you to enjoy,” he offered.

When Xiao Cui heard this, her smile grew wider, but her hands kept moving as she quickly helped An Yun smooth out some wrinkled clothes. “No need to worry, fulang, I don’t need anything. I have everything I need now. You just need to have fun with the young master outside.”

Xiao Cui’s words were not a lie. Ever since An Yun had asked her to work here from the kitchen, she had been promoted to the position of first-class maid.

Afterward, Xiao Cui spent some time studying with Qing Yue in addition to making medicine. Through her private efforts, she frequently recalled how the maids handled their duties during the day. Soon, she was able to manage many tasks related to serving An Yun.

An Yun had also grown familiar with her. Once, when he had difficulty getting dressed, Xiao Cui was the only one beside him to help. After he ‘accidentally’ discovered that Xiao Cui was quite nimble, he unhesitatingly asked her for help, and soon it became a habit to ask her to assist him.

As a result, Xiao Cui gradually took Lu He’s position and became the person who truly served An Yun closely. Though Lu He had some objections, they were easily resolved by Xiao Cui.

On ordinary days, An Yun treated Xiao Cui very well, and Zang Ya treated An Yun equally well. Anyone with eyes in the house could see the distinct classes among them. Xiao Cui’s status had also risen along with the tide. People used to call her Xiao Cui, but now they added the word “Miss” after her name.

Xiao Cui was extremely satisfied with her current life; she was already very content.

Upon hearing Xiao Cui says there was no need for anything, An Yun thought for a moment and decided not to press further. He planned to eat something delicious outside or encounter something interesting so that he could bring something back for Xiao Cui.

Xiao Cui arranged An Yun’s clothes and finally took out a purse shaped like a green bamboo leaf and hung it around his neck. This marked the completion of the luggage for their outing. “Okay, fulang, here are some broken silver and copper coins. I wish you and the young master a good time playing outside today.”

“Yes.” An Yun nodded, a hint of joy on his face as he thanked Xiao Cui before heading out. Zang Ya was waiting for him outside.

Outside, Zang Ya had already changed into a navy-blue brocade suit and was standing there, waiting for An Yun. As soon as An Yun came out, he reached out his hand and naturally held the person walking toward him.

The two held hands and walked straight outside as usual.

Behind Zang Ya and An Yun were four attendants. One of the attendants carried a bamboo box on his back, which contained some items they might need during their outing.

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Watching An Yun and Zang Ya leave, Xiao Cui instructed the little maid to help her pack up An Yun’s things. After they finished, she went to find Qing Yue to serve her.

As Zang Ya’s sole housekeeper, Qing Yue had a lot to manage. Daily tasks included counting, managing people and work, measuring rewards and punishments, and keeping accounts—each requiring specific knowledge.

When Qing Yue saw Xiao Cui, who looked like a little maid next to her, she blinked her cold eyes but said little, simply leading her to do her tasks as usual.

At the end of the work, all the little maids took their errands and left, leaving only Xiao Cui. Qing Yue turned to her and said, “You are motivated and valued by An Fulang, so naturally, you have to be better. I still have a few notebooks from when I first learned calligraphy. I’ll give them to you tomorrow. You can learn from them to gain more knowledge.”

Xiao Cui followed Qing Yue, wanting only to learn some superficial skills. She hadn’t expected Qing Yue to offer so much at once. Overjoyed, her eyes lit up.

Without hesitation, Xiao Cui knelt down and kowtowed to Qing Yue. “Thank you, Miss Qing Yue!”

Qing Yue supported her, her tone still light but with a hint of a smile. “Thanking me for what? Both of us are servant in this mansion. I teach you this way not only because you and I are both women but because you genuinely want to make progress. If you were someone who didn’t wish to improve or were just trying to make impression, I wouldn’t want to teach you at all.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Cui felt even more grateful.