Full Time Servant

"Present. What orders does Cousin Miss have?" Xiaoyao replied respectfully. He didn't want to provoke this "romantic disaster" in front of him.

This was a young woman around seventeen or eighteen years old, full of vitality and youth. However, youth didn't represent beauty, nor could it exclude annoying qualities.

This Cousin Miss was very ugly. Xiaoyao couldn't say exactly how ugly she was. Perhaps her appearance wasn't too bad, but her heart and personality made even a not-too-ugly exterior become even more hideous.

All day long she knew nothing but bullying people with her power, ordering Xiaoyao and others around, constantly speaking hurtfully.

And this Cousin Miss wasn't actually special in a large and wealthy family like the Mo family. There were many, many people with such status—very common. Even some with low status had climbed to this position.

The Cousin Miss before him was the cousin of a concubine of a cousin master of the Mo family.

Her position in the Mo family wasn't as family master or guest, but as a steward—just a bit higher than servants, commanding a group of servants and maids.

It was said that concubine cousin was also a maid who, because she was somewhat attractive, caught the cousin master's eye.

It was also said that the current Cousin Miss could have this steward position because of that concubine cousin's favor.

Though this Cousin Miss had some suspicion of abusing her status, she was still related, so among the servants, not many dared say anything to her. Even the worst imperial relatives were still imperial relatives—perhaps she might even wear yellow robes someday.

"Finally willing to come back? Hurry up and work. If this fighting platform isn't finished before the first of next month, you'll all be in deep trouble." The Cousin Miss said arrogantly. After snorting, she continued to scold the next person.

Xiaoyao nodded, acknowledged that he understood, and ran off to work.

"Xiaoyao, you're really unlucky to be caught by this shrew." A servant beside Xiaoyao said.

"It's fine. What she said was right, though it was nonsense." Xiaoyao replied indifferently. That's how he was—even after being scolded, he could still treat it with equanimity.

"Only you have such a good temper. I can't stand her anymore. Apart from pointing and commenting, she's completely useless. We already know what needs to be done. Who would dare slack off on this fighting platform? This is the Mo family's most important grand event. Each of us is already giving our all. After what happened last time, aren't we afraid of death?" The servant beside him continued complaining, venting.

This fighting platform was for testing Mo family members' strength, held annually. It not only selected who was stronger but also had some accompanying honors and hidden struggles.

This year's event was even more highly valued because the test results would directly affect the Mo family's Dragon Gate Tournament participant selection.

Though this was just an internal Mo family screening, if one couldn't pass this, they needn't think about the next step. This was actually the first step for Mo family members to participate in the Dragon Gate Tournament.

From this aspect, one could see the platform's critical importance. Servants couldn't possibly be careless or lazy with this.

The "last time" the servant mentioned was actually when a young master, dissatisfied with losing due to inferior strength, blamed the platform because it happened to give way and partially collapse at that moment.

After all, the platform was only temporarily constructed, and during martial competitions there were often powerful moves that made the platform precarious...

"Mm, this needs more reinforcement, or it definitely won't hold up." Xiaoyao nodded while reinforcing the platform. He wanted to reinforce every part of it.

With Xiaoyao's work attitude, barring accidents, this would be the most solid platform in history.

And indeed it was. During this martial competition, someone tried to use the platform as a point to deal with opponents. The result left him very depressed—the platform could actually withstand his powerful attacks. Not only did he return empty-handed, but his opponent seized the opportunity to defeat him.

This left the person wondering afterward who had built such a solid platform. It wasn't permanent—why be so serious.

"Xiaoyao, which branch do you think will win this time?" The servant beside him changed from complaining to gossip.

"Which branch? Shouldn't we be asking which person will win?" Xiaoyao was somewhat confused. This seemed unrelated to branches—these were all individual tests.

"Don't you know? This time it's not just individuals but also competition between branches to see which one wins. I heard gambling houses even opened betting on which Mo family branch would win. They seem to have standards for calculation, though I'm not sure of the specifics. But I favor the Great Master's branch." The servant continued, asking Xiaoyao—

"What about you?"

"What? Oh, you mean which branch I favor. I think the second branch is better than the first. Though the Great Master's branch has the Young Miss supporting it, she might not try her best." Xiaoyao replied indifferently, his attention still on his work.

"Even so, there's still the First Young Master, Seventh Young Master, and Third Miss—they're all very strong. As for the second branch, the Third Young Master definitely won't work, the Fourth Miss is okay, but the others don't look promising." The servant expressed a different opinion.

"I favor the Third Young Master." Xiaoyao continued working while speaking casually.

"..."

The servant fell silent. Not just him—even those who had been listening nearby felt speechless, because Xiaoyao's words seemed very absurd to them.

The Third Young Master had become normal, but according to everyone, he was still very, very weak. Even though they'd heard of recent progress, he was still far behind.

After the medicinal bath's success, only a few people were present. Apart from the Second Madam and Young Miss having some right to speak, even if others spoke extravagantly, no one would take it seriously.

And people more or less felt the Second Madam's words had some water in them. As for the Young Miss, she simply had no time to discuss this, nor would anyone discuss such matters with her.

Therefore, almost everyone still didn't know the Third Young Master had actually become stronger—at least capable of putting up a fight, not the type with no resistance at all.

The people present thought the Third Young Master was too weak, so they found Xiaoyao's words somewhat absurd. Some even showed contemptuous smiles, though this contempt was directed at the Third Young Master.

"The Third Young Master... it's not that we look down on him, but his current strength is still far behind. If it were the next time, he might have competitive ability." The servant said after a moment of silence.

"A miracle might happen." Xiaoyao smiled and continued working.

"I also believe miracles happen, but miracles can't continuously favor the same person. Him being struck by lightning was already a miracle."

"Miracles don't necessarily have to wait for heaven's blessing. One's own efforts can also make miracles happen." Xiaoyao said lightly.

"..." The servants looked at Xiaoyao in silence. They felt this statement was very—

Pretentious.

Right, just pretentious. They absolutely wouldn't think Xiaoyao's words were profound, because such things didn't fit a low-ranking servant's status.

"If you think a miracle will happen, then place a bet. The Third Young Master is a huge long shot. If a miracle really happens, you'll definitely win big." A servant nearby said.

"That's fine. I'll bet a little." Xiaoyao nodded and replied.

"..." Several servants fell silent. They were just joking—this was basically a sure loss. How could they let someone jump into a fire pit? At least they wouldn't let their own people do it—they weren't that bad.

"I was just joking earlier. Don't take it seriously."

"I'm not joking. I think the Third Young Master can win. I want to bet on him—this could win quite a lot." Xiaoyao replied.

"..."

"If you really want to, we won't stop you."

If you insist on dying, who would dare stop you.

"Don't you want to join in? There's a great chance of winning." Xiaoyao asked at this moment.

"..."

"You play by yourself. If you want to die, don't drag us down with you."

"You really won't play a little?"

"No."

"That's really too bad."

"..."

At this moment, probably no one would sympathize with Xiaoyao. They'd only want to watch him go to his death. Well, to them, betting on the Third Young Master was going to his death.

Xiaoyao was now unrepentant and still wanted to drag everyone down with him. Such people were often abandoned and despised...

"Finished. Time to go to the gambling house..."

Xiaoyao clapped his hands, preparing to finish and leave. But at this moment, someone wouldn't let him have his way.

"Xiaoyao. You want to leave?" The Cousin Miss appeared, as if she'd been watching Xiaoyao all along.

"..."

Xiaoyao prayed in his heart: Please don't take a fancy to me. Though I'm a little bit handsome, I'm not the type who's dashingly handsome and graceful. Others are much more handsome than me. Look at the guy beside me—mighty and powerful...

"Hehe, Cousin Miss, what else is there?"

"You were late earlier. Now you'll make up that time by staying to continue working for me." The Cousin Miss put her hands on her hips with an air of looking down on the world.

"I wasn't late earlier—it was rest time..." Xiaoyao said. As a dutiful servant, he never slacked off. However, servants also had rest time, and he would very readily rest then.

What was full-time? It meant working according to the employer's regular work hours, with fixed times for starting and ending work. Both work and rest times were fixed.

(End of Chapter)