Early the next morning, the day after Tushan Jingci's birthday.
Xiao Mo had just woken up when a maid arrived at the Kitchen courtyard and led him to a new courtyard.
"From now on, you'll live here. It's less than half an hour's walk from the young lady's courtyard. In a few days, the young lady will be going to Hanshan Academy, and you'll accompany her as her page."
"Over the next few days, you'll learn some of Hanshan Academy's etiquette and general knowledge."
"At Hanshan Academy, you'll meet many students from prestigious families. Don't break the rules, and, above all, don't embarrass the young lady. Understood?"
The maid gave Xiao Mo these instructions, a trace of disdain in her expression.
In truth, she couldn't understand why Madam Tushan would appoint a lowly human as the young lady's page.
The young lady had such an exalted status. What right did this man have to accompany her?
"Don't worry, miss. I understand." Xiao Mo bowed in salute and answered.
"Good. See that you do."
The maid gave Xiao Mo one last look, then turned and left without another word.
Standing in the courtyard, Xiao Mo looked around at the place where he would be living from now on.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it wasn't too small, either.
A faint fragrance lingered in the air.
Xiao Mo thought it must have belonged to a maid who had once lived here; now it had been given to him.
And a maid who had lived in a courtyard like this must have held a fairly high position among the servants.
"Has Madam Tushan really been too good to me?"
The longer Xiao Mo looked around, the more suspicious it all seemed.
*Forget it. There's no use thinking about things like that. I should