Yan Wan lay listlessly on the recliner. It had been a week since Jing Xi left the capital, and judging by the days, they should have arrived in Jiangnan by now.

I don't know if Jingxi understood my hint that day. The hint should have been quite obvious. I was just short of telling Jingxi that Jiangnan was dangerous.

Sighing, Yan Wan sat up irritably, rubbing her messy hair. She felt uneasy ever since Jing Xi left, wondering if something terrible was about to happen.

"Miss, shall we still go to Yanji Hotpot for inspection today?" Gu Yu asked, noticing her mistress's displeased expression after sitting up. She guessed that she was thinking of Miss Jingxi.

"Okay, let's go later, the sun is too hot now," Yan Wan said, lying down again.

——

Yanji Hot Pot.

"Uncle Li, how's business at the restaurant today?" Yan Wan asked, looking down at the endless stream of customers from the second floor of the hot pot restaurant.

"Miss, everything is fine in the store, but there are too many customers. Do you think we should open a branch to relieve the pressure on the store?" Uncle Li sincerely suggested, standing next to Yan Wan, but whether he truly respected Yan Wan was another matter.

"Yes, it's time to consider opening a branch. Uncle Li, could you please inquire about where to sell the shops in the area? If there's a suitable one, we'll take it over."

"Yes, Miss, I'll send someone to inquire around the neighborhood right away." Uncle Li then turned around, preparing to carry out the tasks assigned by his employer.

"Oh, by the way, Uncle Li, everyone has been working hard lately, so this month's pay will be doubled."

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss. This old servant will go and make the arrangements right away." Uncle Li bowed deeply, his face full of gratitude, as if it were the first time he had ever shown such a sincere smile.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work, Uncle Li."

After saying that, Yan Wan turned around and went back to the private room she had reserved for herself in the hot pot restaurant. Ever since Jing Xi left, she had come to the hot pot restaurant every day to check it in person, just in case Li Guang secretly caused some trouble.

“Miss, look at Li Guang, he doesn’t respect you at all, he…”

"Gu Yu, watch your words." Yan Wan raised her voice to interrupt Gu Yu, then glanced at the door and looked back at Gu Yu.

"I'm sorry, Miss, I misspoke." Gu Yu lowered her head slightly, rubbing her hands together as she spoke softly.

"Guyu, you can't judge a book by its cover. Ever since Uncle Li became the manager of Yanji Hotpot, his suggestions have been unexpected and even quite innovative, taking Yanji Hotpot to a whole new level," Yan Wan advised. In fact, as the maid who had grown up with the original owner since childhood, Guyu's loyalty was beyond question. Now, Yan Wan hoped that Guyu could grow up, stand on her own, and protect herself.

"Yes, Miss, Gu Yu will remember." Gu Yu replied obediently.

"Guyu, from now on you will learn business from Uncle Li. You will live in the shop, and I will arrange everything for you." Yan Wan said coldly, turning her face away.

"Miss, Miss, did I do something wrong and upset you? Please, Miss, don't abandon me. I know I was wrong." Gu Yu's eyes reddened and tears streamed down her face as she knelt at Yan Wan's feet and cried.

"Gu Yu, you did nothing wrong, and I didn't abandon you. You're just keeping me company in a different way." Yan Wan looked at Gu Yu kneeling at her feet crying, and finally couldn't bear it, so she turned around and helped Gu Yu up.

“Silly girl, it’s not easy for women to survive in this world. Many women are trapped in the rule that their husbands are their heaven. I hope that my Guyu can live uprightly on her own, break the rules, and live towards the sun.” Yan Wan said as she looked up to wipe away the tears on Guyu’s cheeks.

"Miss, Gu Yu is just a little maid, all I need to do is serve you," Gu Yu said, still unwilling to give up, hoping to persuade Yan Wan to let her stay and serve her.

"Guyu, don't you want your own property? Your own house? To live by yourself, without relying on anyone else, without having to worry about what others think, and to live as you please?"

"Miss, Gu Yu..." Gu Yu was actually a little tempted, but to get these things she would have to leave her mistress, and she couldn't leave her mistress.

"Guyu, Guyu, I don't want to." Guyu closed her eyes and said it with a hardened heart.

Yan Wan could easily see through Gu Yu's insincerity, and sighed inwardly, thinking, "What a stubborn little girl."

“Guyu, if you follow me, you will only be able to marry a servant and continue to serve me and the young master. You will spend your whole life in the Prime Minister’s mansion and never be able to truly live for yourself.”

“Miss, I am willing to serve you and the young master, and I am also willing to stay in the Prime Minister’s residence for the rest of my life. The madam is kind and the master is generous. It is my great fortune to be able to stay in the Prime Minister’s residence in this life.”

"Silly girl, then you should stay here to learn business so that you can better help your young lady." Yan Wan looked at Gu Yu's determined expression as she vowed to stay in the Prime Minister's mansion to serve him forever. While she was moved, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her foolishness and loyalty.

Gu Yu knows nothing, but Gu Yu will always stay with Miss and protect her.

"Yes, yes, since I can help Miss, then Gu Yu is willing to stay at the hot pot restaurant to learn business." Gu Yu smiled through her tears and said happily, seemingly pleased that she could help Yan Wan.

Silly girl, I will arrange everything for you so that you can live the rest of your life freely.

Yan Wan had actually thought about it for a long time. She wanted to avoid the wrongful death of her family members, wanted to exchange her life for another to protect Ji Mohan, and wanted not to become enemies with Jing Xi. She silently arranged many things, hoping that under the influence of the plot, there would be a good ending.

Only Gu Yu, this silly little girl, was at a loss. Compared to the others, she was of low status and had no ability to protect herself. As a servant, even though she had never mistreated her, in the vast Prime Minister's mansion, there were older matrons to discipline her, so she would inevitably have to be mindful of others' feelings. If she were gone in the future, someone might bully her...

She was foolish, foolish enough to only know how to serve her mistress, protect her mistress, and follow her mistress for life, never leaving her. Even in the book, when Yan Wan recklessly courted death, targeting the female lead Jing Xi, and even after the Yan family was destroyed and she ended up homeless, Gu Yu still foolishly followed Yan Wan. In the end, during a fight with a beggar for food, she was stoned to death. This foolish girl, even in death, was clutching the half-eaten steamed bun that her mistress had managed to snatch for her.

She's foolish; all she has left is loyalty!

So Yan Wan was very conflicted. She was afraid that her daughter would be bullied, that she would suffer injustice, and that she would have to live her whole life at the mercy of others. She didn't know where to place this silly girl so that she wouldn't be implicated.

Until that day, after discussing opening a hot pot restaurant with Jing Xi, Yan Wan saw Li Guang appear, and she suddenly knew what to do with this silly girl.

Grain Rain, your savior has appeared!