Chapter 002: The Little Girl Who Has Her Own Opinion

On the back street of Ningguo Mansion, people were still coming and going.

Zhao Qinshi was staring at her daughter's still somewhat childish face, never expecting her to say such words.

If she could, she would never want to send her precious daughter into the dangerous and treacherous Ningguo Mansion.

Unfortunately, last year, at the end of the year, Zhao's father, Zhao Lao, had an accident while driving a cart to deliver New Year's goods to the ladies of the mansion. The cart overturned, and all the goods crushed his leg.

Zhao Lao's leg was severely injured, but in order to deliver the goods before the New Year, he ignored his own injury and limped to deliver everything. When he returned home in pain, the doctor said that his leg could not be saved and had to be amputated, or else his life would be in danger.

After weighing the options, Zhao Qinshi had to agree to the amputation, but this meant that he could no longer work at the mansion, and their source of livelihood was cut off.

The steward of the mansion, Uncle Yao, took pity on them and arranged for Ruoyi to work in the mansion, and advised Zhao Qinshi with deep concern, "Even if it's not for earning money, it's still good for Ruoyi to secure a position!"

It's worth noting that many families in the capital like to marry women who have worked for high-ranking households, thinking that they understand the rules and etiquette.

Unfortunately, he, as a steward in the front yard, couldn't control the affairs of the back house. Therefore, Zhao Qinshi thought of seeking help from the stewardess, Yan Mama, by the side of the Lady of Ningguo, hoping that they had worked in the same place in the mansion before and might help, but Yan Mama turned a deaf ear to her plea.

But forty taels of silver, if she thought of a way, could be gathered.

Over the years, they had some savings at home, and then they sold off the items given by the masters as rewards, and borrowed some from neighbors. It wasn't too difficult.

What Zhao Qinshi didn't expect was that Ruoyi would offend Yan Mama as soon as she opened her mouth. Even if she managed to gather forty taels, Yan Mama might not be willing to help now.

Thinking of this, Zhao Qinshi sighed, blaming herself for spoiling the child.

"You! How can I talk to you!" Zhao Qinshi, who had never been willing to scold her child, looked at Zhao Ruoyi with a mix of love and hate, "Mother did this to make your life better in the mansion, but now you've made it like this. I'm really worried that Yan Mama will make things difficult for you."

"Mother! Yan Mama is not so free to keep an eye on a newly entered little maid like me." Zhao Ruoyi held Zhao Qinshi's arm and coquettishly said, "Moreover, who knows if a blessing in disguise might come out of this?"

Although Zhao Ruoyi spoke lightly, having been reborn once, she knew well the vengeful nature of Yan Mama.

Having offended Yan Mama today, she would surely not let it go and would arrange a task that no one wanted to do for her.

As expected, after they left, Yan Mama started a fire in her house.

She pointed to the four-color gift box sent by Zhao Qinshi and said, "Take this and feed it to the dogs!"

For so many years, who had not seen her with a pleasing smile? Unexpectedly, today she was confronted by a little maid. If this matter spread, where would she put her face?

At the moment when she was so angry that her liver hurt, her maid Chunyan smiled and said, "Mama, don't be angry. I heard that the maid for the painting hall has reached the age and has been released. It's a good time to send that girl to the painting hall."

Yan Mama clapped her hands lightly and thought to herself, "Wonderful."

How could she forget about this!

The painting hall of the Ningguo Mansion, the residence of the son of the Ningguo Duke, Song Wuji, was the most unwelcome place in the mansion.

Since the death of the former lady, Xu, seven years ago, Song Wuji had also contracted a strange illness. Seeing that he was on the verge of death, his aunt, who is now the current Queen Xu, sent a doctor to treat him, saving his life. Unfortunately, since then, Song Wuji had been weak and sickly, constantly taking medicine, and had almost become a useless person!

Everyone knew that he was just biding his time.

The Duke did not depose him as the heir and appoint another son only out of respect for the Queen, hoping that he would die on his own.

Therefore, going to serve by the side of the heir had become the most hopeless and thankless task in the Ningguo Mansion, and everyone avoided it.

Seeing that someone was assigned to the son's painting hall, everyone looked at Zhao Ruoyi with sympathetic eyes.

With a large twisted braid, Zhao Ruoyi, dressed in a washed-out cotton dress, stood at the end of the crowd with her head down, and no one could see the slight curl of her lips.

It looks like she really got what she wanted!

Zhao Ruoyi thought smugly to herself.

In the previous life, she and this group of people fought hard but still couldn't have a good ending; in this life, she went against the grain, not seeking great wealth and prosperity, only seeking a peaceful life.

Dressed in luxurious attire, the stern Yen Mama stood on the high steps, her gaze sharp as she admonished, "Don't think that just because you've entered the mansion, everything will be smooth sailing. If you perform your duties well, you will live a good life like me. But if anyone fails in their duties, accidentally damages the items in the mansion, angers the master, then it's up to the master's whim whether to punish or sell them!"

After speaking, she gave a meaningful glance at Zhao Ruyi in the crowd, her eyes filled with a mischievous anticipation of the drama to come.

After Yen Mama finished her admonishment, someone led the group of new maidservants around the mansion, warning them that the rules in Ningguo Mansion were strict and they should not wander around without reason.

The new maidservants all looked curious, but Zhao Ruyi, who had served in the mansion in her previous life, was not interested. After all, she was familiar with every corner of the place and had no desire to wander around with them.

Seeing this, the two maidservants leading the way exchanged a glance, thinking of Yen Mama's special instructions earlier. They pointed to a protruding eave in the garden and said, "Zhao Ruyi, that's the Evening Glow Hall. You can go there by yourself!"

Zhao Ruyi raised an eyebrow at the suggestion.

She was supposed to go by herself? Shouldn't they be leading her and then making the handover with the people at the Evening Glow Hall?

But she didn't need any further explanation when she saw the two maidservants' evasive eyes.

So, she thanked the two maidservants and said, "Thank you, sisters," then carried her belongings and headed towards the Evening Glow Hall.