Xiao Qingyin sensed something amiss and asked, "Do you know this Lord Bai?"

Qin Wenjun quickly shook her head: "No, I don't know her."

They don't sound like strangers.

Xiao Qingyin thought to herself.

But since the other party wanted to hide it, she pretended not to know.

Fearing that Eunuch Wang would retaliate against her and her son because of Wang Zhirong's matter, Xiao Qingyin invited her to stay at the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence for a while.

Qin Wenjun quickly waved her hand: "How can this be? You've already troubled me enough these past few days, how can I add to your troubles?"

Xiao Qingyin smiled and said, "My maternal grandmother has been looking forward to seeing you ever since she received your embroidery. She rarely has anyone to chat with, so you can keep her company. Besides, if you stay at the mansion, it will save me from having to run to the courtyard every day to treat you."

Qin Wenjun then remembered that she still needed to receive treatment, so she quickly apologized a few times and agreed.

"Then I'll shamelessly bother you."

Xiao Qingyin accompanied her home to retrieve her clothes, embroidery shed, and other items, and they returned to the Marquis's residence together.

When Tianci heard that his mother had arrived, he was so happy that he ran out of the room without even putting on his shoes and bumped into Qin Wenjun's arms.

She kept calling out, "Mother! Mother!"

Qin Wenjun responded with many "Eh".

Xiao Qingyin had the cook prepare a table of food and wine, and they had a lively dinner together, celebrating Qin Wenjun's turn of fortune.

Qin Wenjun was deeply moved.

He toasted Xiao Qingyin several times.

I cuddled my child in the guest room at night, listening to the insects chirping outside the window. After thinking for a while, I made a decision.

The next day, after breakfast, she said to Xiao Qingyin, "If you don't mind, I'll stay and be your maid."

Xiao Qingyin was quite surprised.

Qin Wenjun was poised and elegant, literate, and possessed a lost art of embroidery, clearly indicating she came from a wealthy family.

Although I don't know why she has fallen to such a state, with her skills alone, she could be a respected embroiderer. Why should she work as a servant?

"I invited you here simply so you can focus on recovering; I have no intention of seeking anything in return."

She explained.

"I have never used maids or old women."

Qin Wenjun said shyly, "I did this not only to repay your kindness, but also because I wanted to ask for your protection..."

She was all alone, without even a man, and drifted around the capital with Tianci. She had met more than one person like Ma Laosan.

To avoid these people, she had to frequently change her residence.

When Tianci was younger, it didn't matter if they moved around easily, but now that he's almost of school age, if she keeps moving, he won't be able to concentrate on his studies.

If they had someone to protect them, they could settle down without having to go through all that trouble.

She doesn't plan to get married; she just wants to spend her life taking care of her children, so being a housewife is a good option for her.

However, the maids serving young ladies in wealthy families are usually trusted confidantes, and they would never be randomly chosen from outside.

Moreover, she possessed a certain beauty and elegance, making her seem unlike a servant.

She wanted to be a housewife, but nobody wanted her.

Xiao Qingyin, however, was different.

She observed that she had no one to serve her and always ordered her guards to do things for her.

While it's convenient to have a bodyguard, there are times when a young woman needs someone she can rely on.

Having one or two trusted confidants is better than having none.

Xiao Qingyin is a kind person, and by following her, she doesn't have to worry about being sold off one day.

Such a master is so rare that you couldn't find one even with a lantern.

Qin Wenjun had finally met him, so naturally she didn't want to let him go.

"If you have someone by your side, it will be convenient to drink water if you are thirsty at night. You might as well try it out. If you find it useful, then you can leave. If you don't find it useful, you don't need to say anything, I will leave on my own."

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

They're even referring to themselves as "slave maids" now?

"You don't necessarily have to become a slave to seek refuge."

Xiao Qingyin smiled.

“We’re both women, I understand your difficulties. If you’re willing, you can stay and be a partner.”

"Partner?"

“Don’t you know how to do double-sided embroidery? I can be your agent. You can focus on creating, and I’ll sell it to the outside world. We’ll then split the profits.”

Qin Wenjun looked astonished.

"Miss, do you even know how to do the math? If I become your servant, all the money from selling the embroidery will be yours, and I won't have to give you a single penny."

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

I've seen people who are exploited, but I've never seen anyone who eagerly seeks to be exploited.

Does she look like a heartless capitalist?

She put on a stern face and said, "The works created by the enslaved have no soul. The difference between what you earn from commissioned creation and what you earn from free creation is probably several times. Even if I took it all, I wouldn't get as much as I would get from the share."

This time, it was Qin Wenjun's turn to be stunned.

Is this how it can be calculated?

“But whether I create freely or by hiring someone, the works are all the same.”

She never felt that the things she embroidered had a soul or anything like that.

They are not sentient beings.

She glanced down at her hands, a sudden thought flashing through her mind, and added, "I was tortured with finger-crushing, and my hands are not as nimble as before. I'm afraid I can't do double-sided embroidery anymore. I don't have any other skills to make a living. Please have pity on my daughter and me and let me serve you tea and water."

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

Should I rack my brains to be her nanny?

Those who don't know the situation would probably think she has ulterior motives.

That idiot clearly misunderstood.

He had been listening for an unknown amount of time when Qin Wenjun pleaded to stay, and he jumped out and said, "I am the one who belongs to my wife, and you can't take my wife away from me!"

Qin Wenjun: "..."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!