The birthday of the legitimate miss of the Qi manor, by rights should have had some sort of celebration even if she wasn't favored, but the coldness of the Qi manor was completely beyond Hua Ruojian's expectations.

  The old master has gone out early on duty, and the mistress has not returned yet.

  The old gentleman and his wife stayed in the main courtyard as usual without taking a single step out.

  Even the housekeeper in the mansion seemed unaware that today was the master's birthday.

  A glimpse of indifference can be seen.

  It's been almost a month since they got married, and it was only now that Hua Ruochu felt a bit too arrogant.

  This governor, she underestimated him.

  The calm after the storm is just an appearance.

  Always felt that something was off about Qi Fu.

  She held onto the idea of not getting too deeply involved in the Qi manor's affairs, and although she had doubts, she didn't investigate.

  Yesterday, Xiao Hua inadvertently said a sentence that made her suddenly enlightened.

  It's true that the Qi Manor isn't a family without foundation, on the contrary, the Qi Manor was once extremely glorious.

  Passed down for a hundred years, how could there not be several old people among the servants of the entire mansion? The oldest was only around thirty years old. If you say old, only the steward Qi Fu has reached his twilight years.

  What about the old people in the Qi mansion? Are they all dead?

  Or does the Qi manor not need experienced elderly people, but only young servants are enough?

  This reason is probably unable to convince even a child.

  Recalling what San Shu had said before, Hua Ru narrowed her eyes and continued to ponder.

  It's likely that something happened in the Qi manor that couldn't be made public.

  So, it's been washed.

  Whether it's the traces of things or people who know them.

  Big families can be scary.

  Hua Ru Chu thought it was better for her to continue keeping silent, and just be weak if she had to.

  "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law..."

  The person was still in the courtyard, and this voice had already been transmitted first. Hua Ru Chu put away those miscellaneous thoughts and looked towards the door.

  Qī Zhēn hurried in with a small run, and only then did she realize that she had lost her composure under the seemingly smiling but actually not smiling gaze of Shang Shu, so she quickly slowed down her pace.

  "You don't have to restrain yourself here, just be as you are, I won't restrict you."

  Qī Zhēn's eyes lit up, and she hastened her pace to arrive in front of her sister-in-law, making a polite curtsy.

  "All right, all right. Today you're the little longevity star, hurry up and skip these formalities. Yun Shu, call over all the young maids in the courtyard to pay their respects to Zhen Niang."

  "Yes."

  "It's useless, sister-in-law, it's useless." Qi Zhen waved her hand repeatedly, even the people in her own courtyard didn't take it so seriously.

  Unexpectedly, her sister-in-law, who had only become close in the past two days, was so good to her.

  Yun Shu smiled and nodded, then left after a slight bow.

  The little girl poured tea and quietly retreated to one side.

  Qī Zhēn felt a bit restless "Sister-in-law, really don't need to."

  Hua Ru Chu looked at her and took a sip of his already lukewarm flower tea, the bland taste was really unpleasant, but Xiao Ri had arrived, so she didn't dare to drink green tea either.

  "I let them come to pay their respects to you, this is the etiquette they should follow, it's their duty. And as for you, in terms of status, you are worthy of their respect, they don't need your protection, but you can reward them, even if it's just a few copper coins, that's your intention."

  Looking at her seemingly understanding yet not quite understanding expression, Hua Ru sighed and shook her head. "Jen sister, as the mistress, you have to protect those who are truly good to you. As the lady of the house, you need to grasp the right people tightly. Whether it's being a young mistress in the boudoir or managing the household in the future, you must draw a line clearly. As a servant, one cannot overstep their bounds; as the mistress, one cannot be so incompetent that they can't even protect their own people and just watch helplessly. There are rules to follow, only then can things be done properly. If you protect them well, they will stand by your side with one heart. No servant would offer loyalty to a mistress who can't even keep them safe."

  This was taught by her sister-in-law, Qi Zhen knew that although she didn't fully understand it, she still firmly remembered these words in her heart.

  Compared with her mother's teachings which she didn't want to learn at all, she could accept her sister-in-law's straightforward approach and thought this was the right way.

  "I will try to understand the meaning of it."

  "Don't try to show your loyalty to me, I'm just entrusted by your brother." Listening to the footsteps outside, Hua Ru Chu leaned back "Your brother is afraid that you will be bullied by your husband's family after marriage, and doesn't care if I have anything to teach you, so he handed you over to me."

  "I... I thought sister-in-law liked me, that's why she was willing to teach me."

  Looking at the young girl's sad face, Hua Ruochu couldn't help but laugh again. She was so innocent! What kind of mother-in-law could have taught her to be like this? How did she manage to raise a white lotus that emerged from the mud yet remained unsoiled? Is it a case of things going to extremes and then reversing?

  "If I didn't like you, why would I bother teaching you all this? Originally, I only planned to give you a few general principles and be done with it."

  Qī Zhēn still wanted to say something, but Yún Shū led Xià Yán and Dōng Fēi in.

  Others were waiting outside the flower hall.

  Three people kneel down and kowtow, saying "Your humble servants Xia Yan and Dong Fei wish Miss Zhen a healthy body."

  Qī Zhēn hastily turned over her own bundle, inside which were some loose silver coins, but not many. If it was just a matter of rewarding the few people in front of her, that would be fine, but Sister had said that everyone in the entire courtyard would come to pay their respects to her.

  It would be great if Ah Feng were here.

  She just can't get out of bed today.

  Seeing her embarrassment, Hua Rujun took out a purse from the drawer of the table and handed it over to her. It was bulging with money, and just by looking at it, you could tell that there was quite a lot.

  "First take it and use it, they're just small pieces of silver."

  "Well, I'll borrow it for now."

  Hua Ru didn't say yes or no at first, but as for money, heaven had never been stingy to her in two lifetimes.

  Looking at the last batch of people coming in, Hua Ru Chu blinked her eyes, so unfamiliar, they must be from Qi Manor.

  When she first married into the family and was arranged to live in this courtyard, there were probably informants from various rooms. Fortunately, her maids were capable and had been keeping them at a distance since the very beginning, making it impossible for them to even get close.

  It's even more absurd to spread the message out.

  She needs to find an excuse to openly and fairly get rid of these people.

  "Alright, everyone go and get busy. Xia Yan, you go and keep an eye on the kitchen, make a few more dishes that Zhen Niang loves to eat."

  "Yes, I understand."

  Everyone has retreated, leaving only Yun Shu attending to her. Hua Ruochu said, "At noon, your brother won't be back, and the two of us can't eat much. Let's just have a few bites for now, and I'll make some more dishes tonight."

  "Whatever sister-in-law says is right."

  "It wasn't me who had a narrow escape today."

  For the first time being valued so much, Qi Zhen was excited and everyone felt a little fluttered. Originally, he had some affection for Hua Ruochu, now even more so.

  She was almost dragging her sleeves and making a scene.

  At this time, Xiaoyao lifted the curtain and came in to report: "Miss, Liang Gongzi and Zhen Gongzi are requesting an audience."

  The two of them? After scanning Qi Zhen with a glance, Hua Ru Chu nodded "Please let the two of them in."

  "Yes."

  Qī Zhēn leaned in and asked strangely, "What did they come for? Sister-in-law, do they often come to find you too?"

  Hua Ru gave her a knock on the head "Don't talk nonsense, uncle and aunt are different."

  Qī Zhēn stuck out her tongue "I just think it's weird."

  She saw Hua Ruochu shaking her head at her, and Qi Zhen also came to her senses, immediately shutting her mouth and saying no more.

  The curtain is drawn.

  Qī Liáng walked ahead, Qī Zhèn followed closely behind.

  "Long time no see, sister-in-law."

  "Quickly pay your respects, how did you two come together?"

  "Today is Zhen's birthday, we went to her courtyard but didn't see her, the maid said she came to your place, so we came over."

  Hua Ru initially looked at Qi Zhen and thought that she would rather believe this illegitimate son who was acting as a substitute for her brother.

  Qī Zhèn was used to being careless outside, and even in the mansion, he didn't pay attention to rules like others did. Huà Rú smiled brightly as she looked at him, her eyes disappearing into a crescent shape, and pulled out a small box from her sleeve: "Sister-in-law, I'm actually here looking for Zhēn Mèi, you're just an added bonus."

  This guy... Hua Ru was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

  "Is this a gift for sister Zhen?"

  "Heh heh, I don't have much money left, so I bought a few pastries to win over my sister."

  "Thank you, Town brother." Qi Zhen took it over, her eyes smiled into a curved moon, didn't expect that this year someone still remembered her birthday and even bought her a gift, so happy.

  Qī Liáng gritted his teeth in anger, it was clearly him who came first, it was clearly him who spoke first, it was clearly him who stood in front, but even so, Qī Zhèn could still steal the spotlight, how detestable.

  Enduring for a moment, Qi Liang's smile grew even brighter as he opened the cloth package in his hand, revealing a delicate abacus inside. "I heard your mother is teaching you household management, so I thought you might need this thing. I don't know if dear sister likes it or not."

  Qī Zhēn nodded heavily, with a sincerely dazzling smile.

  Qiliang's eyes also flickered with calculation before quickly returning to normal.

  "Please sit down, Zhen Di, it seems like you haven't been in the mansion for a while?"

  Qizhen smiled and took over the tea handed by Yunshu, looking a bit frivolous but not annoying.

  "Yes, I originally planned to stay at home for a while longer, but friends invited me out to play and have fun, so I went. Just yesterday I returned, just in time for my sister Zhen's birthday."

  "No wonder I haven't seen you for days."

  Compared to the elegance of He Qi Town, Qi Liang is not just a little bit different. The hustle and bustle in the Qi Mansion, yet unaware of how vast the outside sky is.

  Compared again, among her peers as far as she knows, Qi Zhen is probably the most comfortable.

  He is an intelligent person.

  Qī Zhèn suddenly leaned forward, smiling obsequiously "Sister-in-law, I heard you have several houses of embroidered goods. You won't be using that many anyway, how about giving some to your little brother?"

  "What are you going to use this embroidery for? To take it to which girl's house to win her heart?"

  "Don't ask about this, just say whether you'll give it or not."

  "You've been saying I have several houses, and you only want a little bit. As your sister-in-law, how can I not satisfy you? Yunshu, go prepare two portions, lest your younger brother says I'm biased."

  Qī Liáng smiled brightly in the dazzling sunlight "I'm just basking in Second Brother's glory, thank you so much, Second Brother!"

  "You're welcome." Qi Zhen gave Qi Liang a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling glance, and after uttering this sentence, he ignored him completely, leaving Qi Liang seething with anger.

  It seems that not going out of the house is right, brothers and sisters are openly competing and secretly fighting each other, and it's unknown what kind of ugliness has been born between different families. On the surface, they can pretend to be peaceful to such an extent, no wonder it's a century-old family.

  Hua Ru had just drunk tea and was watching the two of them with a cold eye as they came and went.

  Looking at Qi Zhen who was enthusiastically playing with the abacus, Hua Ruochu felt that she had misjudged her. Qi Zhen was simple-minded but not stupidly naive, she understood what she should understand, and Qi Wushi's teachings were not a failure.

  PS: My son's cold isn't getting better, and his mother is sick again. Who can save my nose? I'm sneezing so hard it's about to fly off!!!

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