Grace was just about to speak when Ruby pointed at her nose and burst out laughing. "Oh my, what's happened to you? Did someone hit you?"
"Are you really that happy to see me get beaten up?" Grace shot her a sideways glance.
"Of course I'm happy!" Ruby's face lit up. "Someone like you deserves to be beaten to death! If you really died, I'd buy five taels' worth of firecrackers and set them off for a whole half day!"
Grace just stared at her, saying nothing.
Ruby felt a chill run down her spine under Grace's gaze, but she still tried to sound tough. "What are you staring at? Get out of the way! I need to deliver clothes to the General!"
Grace stepped aside, and Ruby strutted off with a basket of clothes, swaying her hips.
"You tattled to Steward Qin and nearly got me killed, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet. How dare you act so smug?" Grace propped her chin on her finger. "Just you wait!"
After fixing up her nose in her room, Grace saw Ruby return and immediately gathered all the maids for a meeting to redistribute the work.
Anna was still in charge of meals.
Lily remained responsible for cleaning the rooms.
Grace was now in charge of making tea... and handling Evan Xiao's clothes.
In other words, she had taken over Ruby's job.
Naturally, Ruby was unhappy about it. "Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Ruby, you've been with the General for ages. Even though I'm the head maid now, the three of us still need your guidance." Grace said sincerely. "So, from now on, you'll be our supervisor."
"What?" Ruby was a little dazed by Grace's quick maneuver.
"Basically, you'll supervise and guide our work. If something's not right, just say so!" Grace said. "Honestly, it's not much different from before."
Ruby felt a bit better after hearing that.
That Lily Bai only knows a bit about medicine—what else could she possibly understand?
Even if she's the head maid, she still has to rely on Ruby for guidance, right?
Hmph! Just wait and see how I deal with her! I bet she won't last half a month as head maid!
But Ruby didn't have to wait half a month. Just two days later, she realized Lily Bai had totally played her!
Guide them?
Guide my foot!
Anna and Lily had both been at Cold Moon Pavilion for a while. They were already skilled at their work—no guidance needed.
She wasn't interested in guiding them anyway.
She just wanted to catch Lily Bai making mistakes so the General would punish her.
So, on her second day as supervisor, Ruby did what she always did—she went into the General's room early in the morning to help him with breakfast.
But breakfast was already being served by Anna and a few young servants. Grace stood nearby, pouring tea and handing out towels—the job Ruby used to do. With nothing to do, Ruby just stood there, feeling awkward.
In her embarrassment, Ruby didn't notice the General had finished his meal and was about to leave. But she... was blocking his way.
"Ruby!" Anna, always kind and thoughtful, nervously tugged at her sleeve.
Ruby quickly stepped aside.
Evan Xiao didn't say a word and left straight away.
That afternoon, the General was in his study, and Ruby went there again.
The study was quiet. Lily Bai was grinding ink for the General—that used to be Ruby's job!
Ruby figured, what would a country bumpkin like Lily Bai know about grinding ink? So she went over to the desk, ready to 'guide' her.
But before she could say anything, the General asked, "Do you know how to write?"
"Yes, General. I know a little. I've memorized the entire Thousand Character Classic," Ruby replied proudly.
Evan Xiao glanced at her, frowned, and said, "I was asking Lily Bai."