Chapter 10: A Slender Camel is Bigger than a Horse

Since the master has said so, Mulu didn't ask any more questions. At lunchtime, she took the silver to the kitchen and brought back two dishes and a soup.

"How did Mrs. Zhao react?" Ji Man asked while eating.

"She took the silver and accepted it," Mulu whispered. "She didn't show much expression on her face, so she must be difficult to deal with. Master..."

"Don't worry about me, as long as she accepted it," Ji Man said. After finishing her meal, she put down her chopsticks and went to the wardrobe to find the most magnificent dress that hadn't been sold. "Help me change."

The high-quality fabric, a dignified dark blue long skirt, paired with yellow cuffs, looked generous and noble. This should be the regular attire worn by Niesangyu or the lady of the house. It was not suitable to wear it out now, but it was still acceptable to maintain appearances in front of the servants.

Mulu helped her tie up her hair and put on a golden hairpin, and her eyes couldn't help but turn red.

"What's wrong?" Ji Man asked the person behind her in the bronze mirror.

"It's nothing..." Mulu sniffed. "I just remembered the past. Master, you shouldn't have to endure such suffering..."

The previous Niesangyu was free to do as she pleased, but now she had to worry about having a little more meat to eat every day.

Ji Man smiled indifferently, "What's the point of thinking about the past? We have to live for the future. We may not be able to live in luxury, but at least we can live without worries about food and clothing, right?"

It's not bad to stay in the repentance hall, without having to engage in the power struggles outside. She just wanted to improve the food a little bit.

Mulu nodded and applied rouge and powder to her face. It had been a long time since she had dressed up, and suddenly putting on makeup made Ji Man feel a little surprised.

During the lunch break, Mrs. Zhao secretly came to the repentance hall. She considered herself to be a relative of the money steward and always had a high opinion of herself. She came quickly because she saw that the servant locked in the repentance hall was so generous, thinking that there might be an opportunity to make some money.

However, as soon as she entered, she looked up and saw the person sitting at the table, looking dignified and dressed in luxurious clothes, without any sense of desolation. Mrs. Zhao, who had originally been somewhat arrogant, couldn't help but put down her guard and respectfully stepped forward to greet her, "Madam Sang, what orders do you have for me?"

Ji Man raised her lips and said, "The food from the kitchen was delicious, and it made me happy, so I wanted to thank you, so I asked you to come and collect the reward."

Mrs. Zhao was taken aback, feeling a little uneasy. In the past, she had always taken advantage of the things she gave to Niesangyu, and now she was only adding a meal because of the lady's orders. This Madam Sang actually wanted to reward her...

"I was out of favor and felt sad for a month, but I suddenly realized some things," Ji Man smiled. "I was so foolish to not eat or drink. Although I have lost the favor of the marquis, my Nie family is still a prestigious family, and my aunt's position as a noble consort is secure. When the old lady returns from her Buddhist retreat, I won't be staying in this desolate courtyard for long. Why should I be at odds with myself? Don't you think so, Mrs. Zhao?"

Startled, Mrs. Zhao whispered, "Madam Sang is right."

A camel is still bigger than a horse, not to mention the Nie family's power, even the marquis's mother, the marquis's own mother, is a handkerchief given by the noble consort. Even if the marquis doesn't like Madam Sang, when the old lady returns, she will definitely not let Madam Sang suffer too much.

Thinking of this, she broke out in a cold sweat. She had been foolish, following the group of short-sighted people to seek revenge for the mistreatment they had suffered from Niesangyu in the past, forgetting that the person in front of her could turn the tables at any time. The master was still the master. If she held a grudge, would there still be a place for her in the marquis's residence in the future?

"The meals made in the past two days have been very good," Ji Man said after Mrs. Zhao had figured it out herself. "But my health is weak, so the meals may need more attention. This fifty taels is for you, and thank you for your hard work."

She reached out to help Mrs. Zhao up and personally handed her the silver, smiling gently, "I don't know if you still remember my past mistakes and are willing to help?"

"Madam Sang, how could you say that?" Mrs. Zhao quickly said, "If the master asks me for help, it's a great honor for me. I would not hesitate to do anything."

"Since that's the case, I still have another fifty taels of silver here, and I need you to buy some things for me. Look at my situation, I can't even go out, and I'm bored, so I want to bring back some things. Do you think...?" Ji Man asked.

Mrs. Zhao smiled as she held the silver, "Whatever you want, I'll have someone buy it when they go out to purchase. I may not dare to say anything else, but I can definitely help with this favor."

"Thank you, Mrs. Zhao. I will remember your kindness," Ji Man said as she handed her a written list. "These items, I'll trouble you with. If there's any silver left, don't be polite and buy yourself a few clothes."

Mrs. Zhao's face blossomed with smiles, and she repeatedly agreed before leaving to help Ji Man with her tasks.

"Master, why did you give her so much silver?" Mulu felt a little distressed. "So much silver could buy good food for a year."