Chapter 007: There is no danger, there is no danger

The woman said, "Wang Mama, you just go ahead. But I ask you to take care of the matter I entrusted to you."

Wang Mama waved her hand, "Based on my relationship with Qian Dashu, it's not a big deal. You just need to put your mind at ease."

The woman expressed her gratitude and smiled, her eyes full of charm. Wang Mama slapped her thigh, "With your good looks, I can't let you suffer with that scoundrel Lai Wu. Once this matter is settled, you will definitely find a good husband!"

Apparently, neither of them noticed that there were people in the corridor, and their voices were not particularly low. As Wang Mama left, Lüli turned from behind the pillar and saw the woman blushing, playing with a rose in her hand.

Thinking about how Lai Wu would be cuckolded and kept in the dark, he couldn't have imagined that he would soon lose his wife as well.

Cuiying came over, "Miss, we should go to the Buddhist hall."

Lüli looked at the woman, "She's really pretty."

Cuiying snorted, "She's Lai Wu's wife from the outer courtyard, named Feng Chuner. She just arrived this year. There are plenty of good-looking women in the mansion, what's so special about her!"

Lüli nodded and picked up the scripture to go to the Buddhist hall.

She arrived early, with only the people from the third and fourth houses accompanying the old master. After paying respects to the elders, she felt it was inappropriate to sit here and decided to stand in the corridor. Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out, she met a group of people, led by Madam Yu, who entered from the gate with Yu Hua. Cuiying didn't expect it to be so coincidental and stood there in shock. Lüli reluctantly paid her respects and prepared to step aside, but someone behind her said, "Miss Xu, why are you so rude? You should pay your respects to Madam."

Madam Liang stepped over the threshold and stood beside Madam Yu.

Lüli bowed, and Madam Yu stepped aside. Yu Hua frowned, "Auntie, what's going on? Why is there a stranger kneeling here blocking the way for no reason?"

Madam Liang sighed, "I didn't mean that. Third Miss, you've misunderstood me."

He Congli walked over and scolded Cuiying, "You didn't even know to make way when Madam came in. How dare you be so bold!"

Cuiying hurriedly knelt down. Madam Yu sneered and walked away with Nie Hua. He Congli pretended not to see and said to Lüli, "Get up. Next time, don't dare to offend Madam again." Then he pointed to Yu Hua, "You haven't met Third Miss yet."

Lüli bowed to Third Miss and, unable to avoid it in front of her father, had to bite her lip and endure it, but her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Madam Liang intervened, "Third Miss is tired from walking over, let her rest for a while." After bidding farewell to He Congli, they left together.

Lüli turned to He Congli and thanked him, and he nodded in response, "Go on."

The encounter was settled in a casual manner, but it's hard to say how many people were disappointed. Lüli had died once, and her thick skin had grown, so she ignored the whispers and gossip around her.

The subsequent scripture recitation was uneventful, and Huanhua didn't take the initiative to talk to her. However, she followed their table for lunch.

Apparently, after the encounter with Madam Yu, everyone had a clearer understanding of Lüli's status. Shuhua became more dignified, Zhenhua became more silent, Suhua never forgot to eat, and Yanhua became closer to Lüli.

But because Lüli was still concerned about finding a way to break the contract of selling herself, she chose to endure and not attack. Yanhua's provocations didn't cause much of a stir.

However, Lüli also noticed that Shuhua's attention to her had increased today, such as how much she took of each dish, or whether she rinsed her mouth or wiped her lips first after eating.

Fourth Miss was Madam Liang's legitimate daughter, and Madam Liang, who was able to see through everything at a glance, had given birth to a daughter who was subtle and reserved. Shuhua was proficient in all the arts, just like Yu Hua, but she was more reserved. At least, Lüli could understand Yu Hua, but sometimes she couldn't figure out Shuhua.

Faced with this attention, Lüli was no longer afraid. In the end, she had become accustomed to it.

The evening scripture recitation began as scheduled. In the middle of it, the servants came to invite Old Master He and He Congli out for a walk, and everything else was calm.

Lüli was also thinking about He Congli. Originally, he had insisted on bringing her into the mansion and restoring her status as a member of the He family, and as the eldest son of the He family, and now a vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, even if Old Master He and Madam Yu were unwilling, they should have had some concerns. At the very least, they wouldn't have let her become a slave. But later, he didn't do that.

According to the original development, he would have come to see her after dinner, and they would have chatted for a while. But now the situation had changed, and it was hard to say whether he would come after she had moved to the more remote small courtyard.

But no matter what, this biological father was now her only hope, and she had to seize this opportunity to try.

As the sun set, the meeting ended, and everyone returned to their respective courtyards.

Lüli sent Cuiying to light incense in front of the Buddha, then caught up with He Congli under the veranda, "Grandfather, there are disciples of yours in Sichuan who recently brought some tea. If you have time, I hope you can come to the small courtyard after the lights are out."

He Congli nodded and said, "I haven't asked about you since you entered the mansion. I was planning to go and see. After dinner, I have some things to take care of, and then I'll come over."

Lüli got the answer she wanted and felt relieved.

Dinner consisted of three vegetarian dishes and two steamed cakes, and it was delivered by a different maid. Lüli asked, "Where is the maid who was here this morning?" The maid pursed her lips and said, "She made a mistake and spilled Second Miss's medicine. She's being punished."

Lüli asked, "Is Second Miss not feeling well?"

The maid pressed down and said, "I'm not sure."

No one in this mansion has an easy life, and Lüli doesn't ask either. Cuiying hasn't come in to collect the clothes yet, so the old lady is temporarily serving. Seeing that Lüli has a fair complexion and a slender figure, which doesn't seem like someone from a wealthy family, she asks, "What's your surname, ma'am?" The old lady wipes the chopsticks with a silk handkerchief and answers, "This old servant's surname is Cheng, and people call me Yingniang."

Lüli is in her growing stage, so she eats a few extra bowls of rice. Yingniang doesn't speak but is meticulous in her work. After Lüli wipes her lips and rinses her mouth, she takes out a purse from her waist and says, "Thank you for your trouble. I don't know if you have a granddaughter. This is something I embroidered myself, for her to play with."

Yingniang quickly waves her hand and says, "I can't accept this. When I entered the mansion the other day, the money manager specifically instructed not to covet the master's belongings. Besides, my granddaughter is just a servant girl, and she shouldn't be allowed to use the precious items of the young lady."

Lüli says, "It's a coincidence. I also just entered the mansion the other day and I'm not the young lady of this house. I made the purse myself, and it's not worth much. Please take it without worry."

Only then does Yingniang accept it. When she sees the lifelike peony embroidered on it, she genuinely admires it and then carefully tucks it into her bosom. After clearing the dishes, she doesn't know if Lüli has anything else to say, but she doesn't dare to move for a moment.