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  Hua Ru sat down in front of the dressing table, picked up a comb to tidy her hair, and said to Qiu Jing, "In one's life, there are some special experiences that if you don't go through them, your life won't be complete. For example, getting married, giving birth... those are the continuation of your life, having children with eyes and eyebrows like yours, with a personality like yours. Can't you imagine? Don't you want that? You two were taught by me, and you've learned something. As long as you don't aim too high, which man can you not handle? I couldn't find my perfect match in this life, but you two have the chance. Besides, once you're married, you won't be able to serve me anymore. I'm a servant girl who was married off, not sold."

  Qiu Jin took the comb from her hand, swallowed hard to choke back the lump in her throat, and said, "I understand, servant girl... please grant me permission."

  "You little girl, which servant doesn't want to beg for the blessing of a free marriage? You're going about it backwards!"

  "The glance of a maidservant."

  She glanced at Qiu Jin in the mirror and nodded slightly. "Then I won't rush, I'll take another close look."

  Qiu Jin's movements paused, "Do you have someone in mind?"

  "You are all about my age, and I am already married. How can I not take care of you? Can't really send you to the bridal chamber in this way to curry favor with Hua Ru."

  "What about Yun Shu? She's already 21 this year, if she doesn't get married soon..."

  Hua Ru was also worried, among the five girls, Yun Shu was the one she had invested the most thought in cultivating, teaching her a wide range of things. Yun Shu did not disappoint, learning everything quickly and accurately, at the very least understanding them clearly.

  If Yun Shu were to be married off to a servant, she would feel that it was beneath her. At home, she had even hit on the idea of marrying her elder brother, but the status of being married to him was too lowly. Even if her parents didn't say anything, Yun Shu's life wouldn't be easy either way.

  Besides, it's hard for someone with your personality to be with one person for a lifetime.

  What she couldn't get, she hoped the people around her could get. Yun Shu, Chun Yu, Xia Yan, Qiu Ren, and Dong Fei were all with her since childhood and followed her to Taiyuan, Jizhou. It can be said that it was because of them by her side that she had such a strong foundation.

  She didn't have such a heavy master-slave concept in her heart. To her, these five maids were not only her trusted subordinates but also half of her family members.

  Making her family happy is her heart's obsession.

  "It's more troublesome for us to get the Cloud Book than it is for you."

  "Except for her humble background, in what way is Yun Shu's sister inferior to those aristocratic families? Do they have someone like Yun Shu who can manage the household? Do they have someone like Yun Shu who can make money? Do they have someone with martial arts skills as high as Yun Shu's? Do they have someone with a good temperament like Yun Shu's? Even in terms of looks, Yun Shu is top-notch. With her status, if she wants to be the legitimate wife, she can only marry someone who is capable, Yun Shu cannot go and become someone else's concubine. Heaven is really unfair."

  "I just realized today that you were thinking of me like this." Yun Shu smiled warmly and stepped across the threshold, hugging the stunned Qiujian who was caught off guard because he had been comparing people's heights behind their backs, "Thank you, Qiujian."

  "No... no need to thank me, sorry Yun Shu sister, I was talking about you behind your back."

  "I like it this way." Yun Shu pushed the person away, took over the comb in her hand, and re-combed her hair. Yesterday, she said her scalp hurt, so she didn't go out and just loosely combed it, just like when she was at the Huas'.

  Qiu Jin felt embarrassed and quickly said, "I'll go to the kitchen to see if breakfast is ready."

  "Go."

  After tying up her hair, Hua Ruochu said, "They were all worried about you."

  "I, however, have already broadened my horizons. Ordinary people can't enter my sights, and those with high status won't possibly grant me the position of legitimate wife. Perhaps my marriage fate hasn't arrived yet. Don't worry about me, when fate arrives, it will arrive. If I really can't get married, then you can reluctantly agree to let me serve you for a lifetime."

  "You want to be with me for the rest of your life, I'd be more than happy... Never mind, never mind, we'll talk about this later, there's no rush, I'm a bit hungry."

  "Porridge is cooked thick and rich, you eat more, nourish your stomach."

  Hua Ru got up and walked out while asking, "Has Master had his breakfast? Who served him?"

  "The maid served it, and the maid steamed some white buns in the kitchen, then made some salty dishes according to what you said and put them inside. The young master seemed to like it very much, eating one more than usual, and also drank a bowl of porridge."

  "Afterwards, mantou was made in this way."

  "Yes, I will instruct the maid."

  After drinking two bowls of porridge, Hua Ru had practiced her handwriting for a while. This handwriting, after so many years of hard practice, was already quite presentable. To blend in with this world, she couldn't afford to reveal her true nature through her handwriting. The people here were either illiterate or highly educated, writing beautiful characters. She didn't want to be an illiterate, so she could only continue practicing her handwriting diligently.

  Xia Yan came in and waited until he had written a whole page with one breath before reporting, "Green Willow Auntie requests an audience."

  Hua Ru raised an eyebrow, "Is there something to say? Can she get out of bed now?"

  "The maid saw her walking unsteadily and knew she had been drinking."

  Hua Ru Chu lost interest in practicing calligraphy, took the hot towel handed over by Qiu Jian and wiped her hands, "Go see him, the sooner the better, don't get stuck here."

  Green willow wiped away the cold sweat on her forehead again, her face was pale, even her lips were bloodless, but the obsession in her eyes made people's hearts tremble, she carefully attended to him, thinking in her heart whether her master could get what he wanted this time.

  Footsteps came from outside, and Qing Liu struggled to get up, pushing away the hand that Zhi Ruo wanted to use to support her. She swayed unsteadily, as if a light breeze could blow her over.

  Hua saw her like that, glanced at Yun Shu, and Yun Shu understood, quickly walked in to support Qing Liu to sit down, "Auntie, you're not feeling well, don't force yourself, our family won't blame you for being rude."

  "It's true, you're not feeling well, so let's skip the formalities." Hua Ru Chusat down in the main seat and looked gently at the person below her, "Green Auntie, why aren't you resting properly at home? You came all the way here? Can't you just have Yingtong convey your message?"

  Green willow thudded to the ground, too lazy and weak, didn't kneel properly, whole body fell to the ground, struggled to kneel up, tears dropping down one by one. "Young master, you have a kind heart, I beg of you, please let my parents come to the mansion to visit me."

  "Are Green Willow's parents still alive? She had always thought that Green Willow was a maid bought by the Qi Manor from a nanny, and Hua Ru helped her up with difficulty, saying "Letting parents enter the manor to visit their sick concubine is not an excessive thing, why are you making it difficult for me, and still coming to ask me?"

  Wiping away tears from her face, she sobbed and said: "Young Master, you've just entered the mansion, so many rules in the mansion may not be clear to you. Concubines can only see their relatives once every three months, and servants have only one chance a year. My parents came to see me just a month ago, so... I can only come to beg you, Young Master, please pity me."

  As she spoke, Green Willow was about to kneel down again, but Hua Ru Chu hastily supported her, "Green Auntie, you should be clear that I don't manage the household affairs in the manor. With a master like this, I won't be able to do it."

  "What you have, I am a person in the main house, and you are qualified to ask about things in the main house. As long as you agree, outsiders can't say anything. Honestly, I just miss my parents too much. You...can help me out."

  I'll help you, but who will help me? Hua Ru's initial heart sank with a cold smile. If the concubines in the mansion were so weak that they needed their parents to boost their confidence and support them just to get by, they would have died in some corner long ago.

  "But refusing is also not an option. After some thought, Hua Ru said, 'Alright, I'll talk to him about it later. Da Xiang has always been kind to you and should agree. You go back to your room and rest for now, prioritize your health above all else, and don't be so impulsive again. If there's really something important, let Zhi Ruo tell me, and I'll take care of it.'"

  Green willow's face was filled with gratitude, and she choked out, "Young master, thank you so much."

  "There's no need for this, Zhi Ruo, why don't you quickly help your master rest?"

  "Yes, I will withdraw."

  This time, Green Willow did not struggle. Her one kneel and one cry had exhausted all her strength. However, Father and Mother were now her last hope for help.

  See off Green Willow, Yun Shu returned to the house, a deep thought flashed in her eyes, "Green Niangniang is probably up to something."

  "Of course, he has ulterior motives, but that's none of our business. When the time comes, I'll tell you the truth."

  "Uncle is a man who values rules and norms, he probably won't agree."

  Hua Ru thought for a moment, "Since Lü Liu has made up her mind to see her parents, if she can't achieve her goal here, she will go ask Qi You. If another illness comes, even if Qi You is annoyed, he will agree to this matter. The internal affairs of the house have disturbed Qi Da, and it's likely that his mother won't let me off easily. Forget it, forget it, let's see how she performs."

  "If you don't agree, I'll think of a way..."

  "No, Yun Shu, put away your claws, this is not the Hu manor, you can't do as you please." After scolding him, Hua Ru Chu muttered with a hint of resentment, "If only things could go according to my wishes, there wouldn't be so many people in this estate. With fewer people, there would be less gossip."

  Yun Shu just smiled and didn't feel embarrassed by the scolding, she always thought far ahead, if it can be said that she was thinking three steps ahead when taking one step, then she was actually thinking ten steps ahead, what she said was always unnecessary.

  It's actually been years since this happened.

  Today, Qi You arrived earlier than usual. When Hua Ru first saw him, the memories of last night flooded her mind, her face flushed instantly, and her eyes wandered without looking at him.

  Qī Yòu's expression remained calm and unruffled, but his eyes were softer than usual, with a warm gaze that made Huá Rú Chū feel even more embarrassed. It would be better if everyone forgot about it afterwards.

  "You're back so early today?"

  "After touring several places, I returned to the mansion directly as it was getting late. Sitting down in the main seat, he gestured for Hua Ruochu to sit beside him and continued, 'The goods you asked for earlier arrived a bit later than expected, which slowed us down. They only arrived today.'"

  He promised to give it? Hua Ruochu's eyes lit up, that wasn't... "Zi Sha Ni?"

  P: Yesterday was Gege's 10th anniversary, I was in a rush to upload the article and forgot to mention it. How many people like Gege as much as Guigu does? (If you like this work, welcome to subscribe and reward, your support is my greatest motivation.)

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