The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 308

Since the main study had been allocated to Jincheng and the others, Zong Zhao now handled official business and reading at the small desk in his own room. He didn’t mind the cramped space, focusing intently as he wrote on a memorial.

Outside the door, the maidservant Ruyi entered with a tray of tea.

She carefully set the tray down, glancing around the desk before asking, "Young Marquis, would you like me to grind more ink for you?"

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"No need." Zong Zhao’s voice was cool, his head still lowered in refusal.

Ruyi lifted the lid of the teacup and said softly, "I’m not skilled at brewing tea. The maids who served you for years, Hong Shao and Lu Ru, were sent away by Madam to the estate villa and haven’t returned. Without them here, I worry I won’t serve you well."

Zong Zhao set down his brush and finally looked up.

Seizing the opportunity, Ruyi quickly added, "Young Marquis, Madam was a new bride at the time and might not have realized how important Hong Shao and Lu Ru were to you. It’s been two years now, and they are, after all, long-time servants of the household. Do you think it’s time to bring them back?"

Xu Wan had just returned from the main study when she spotted Buyan hurrying over. She waved at him cheerfully. "Buyan, do you need the Young Marquis for something?"

Buyan nodded.

"Then come with me. I was just thinking of replacing his desk with a bigger one. He insists on staying in his room, but that tiny desk is something I use for casual sketching—it’s too small for official work."

Buyan perked up immediately. "I can help the Young Marquis move the desk!"

Xu Wan chuckled. "Perfect, we’ve got ourselves a laborer."

The two walked back together, but before they could enter, they overheard Ruyi’s complaint.

Buyan froze. They had terrible timing.

Please don’t let Madam get angry… If she got upset, she might cancel the desk replacement, and then he’d lose his chance to prove himself. Would his wish to return to the Young Marquis’s side ever come true?

Xu Wan paused at the door for two seconds, caught between entering or turning away.

Hong Shao and Lu Ru had been Zong Zhao’s maidservants. Back when Xu Wan first entered the household, Zong Jincheng had stirred up trouble by sending them to provoke her. Worried that these arrogant maids would take advantage of their seniority and undermine her authority in raising the children, Xu Wan had ordered them sent to the old madam’s villa.

The old madam, being of one mind with her, had never brought the two maids back even after returning to the main residence.

After learning that Zong Zhao was still alive, Xu Wan had briefly considered whether to recall them. But then she thought—why bother? She wasn’t some saint who repaid malice with kindness. As long as Zong Zhao didn’t mention it, she’d pretend it never happened.

Now, it seemed there were still "old-timers" in the courtyard who missed Hong Shao and Lu Ru, already scheming to bring them back.

"Buyan." Zong Zhao’s voice rang out from inside.

Xu Wan blinked. Was this the legendary martial artist’s ability to recognize people by their footsteps?

Did that mean Zong Zhao had heard her too?

Buyan rushed in eagerly. "Young Marquis, Buyan is here. What are your orders?"

Ruyi’s heart leaped with joy. She knew it—the Young Marquis still cherished old ties. He would surely bring Hong Shao and Lu Ru back. The entire household had become Madam’s people, leaving her isolated. She had been counting on their return.

Hong Shao was the prettiest of them all. If she came back, she might even rise to become a concubine. And then…

Zong Zhao’s icy voice shattered her delusions. "Spreading dissent about the mistress and sowing discord in the household. Sell all three of them."

Ruyi: "!!!"

"Young Marquis!" Ruyi fell to her knees, kowtowing frantically. "This servant was wrong! This servant deserves death! Please spare me, Young Marquis! I only spoke out of turn—I don’t deserve such punishment!"

Buyan, summoning all the tact he possessed in his lifetime, clamped a hand over Ruyi’s mouth and dragged her out, declaring loudly, "Rest assured, Young Marquis, I’ll handle this perfectly!"

Xu Wan: "…"

Buyan, your eagerness is painfully obvious.

But thanks to this incident, Xu Wan realized Zong Zhao still lacked personal attendants. After giving Cui Zhi a few instructions, she went to make new arrangements.

Approaching the desk, Xu Wan hesitated before saying, "I thought you might want Hong Shao and Lu Ru back. After all, they were your maids and would serve you more comfortably." Those were the very words the little devil had once used to intimidate her.

Zong Zhao frowned. "I never had concubines."

"Ah? No, I meant maidservants. Regular maidservants." Xu Wan scratched her head, feeling like she’d lost the thread of the conversation.

Zong Zhao replied, "No memory of them. Don’t recall."

"…"

Xu Wan rubbed her nose. Hong Shao and Lu Ru had truly wasted their devotion. Their former arrogance was still fresh in her memory.

She had assumed they held some special place in his heart, but Zong Zhao didn’t even remember them. Just as Cui Zhi had said—the Young Marquis cared only for books and martial arts, paying them no mind.

"Hu—husband, how much longer will your official work take? This desk seems too cramped for you. I was thinking of having Buyan replace it with a larger one."

Xu Wan attempted the affectionate address again, but the awkwardness seeped from her heart to her tongue, nearly turning her into a stuttering mess.

"I’ve finished for now. I’m heading out and might return late. Go ahead with the replacement. Don’t wait for me at dinner." Zong Zhao stood and walked toward the door, pausing after a few steps to add, "Just call me by my name from now on. No need to stand on ceremony."

"Oh, alright." Xu Wan smiled and waved goodbye.

Inwardly, she marveled: Cui Zhi never lied. No wonder everyone adored Zong Zhao. She had never met anyone who could blend restraint and boldness, aloofness and attentiveness so seamlessly.

Zong Zhao was truly extraordinary.

Without a word to assert himself, Buyan handed Ruyi over to Nanny Zhao for punishment. But upon returning, he found the room empty—except for Madam Xu Wan.

Xu Wan noticed him glancing around in search of Zong Zhao and kindly reminded him, "He’s left the estate. Come, let’s move the large desk first."

Buyan: ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍"…" Fine. Very well.

He’d just have to find the young marquis another time!