Chapter 27 You might as well put on the mask of doing business
The person in the kitchen bowed and said expressionlessly, "Aunt and Madam, please have your meal in this courtyard. Don't ask too many questions."
The people in the Zhou residence were used to being disrespectful to the people in this courtyard, so they spoke very rudely and left after answering.
In a trance, Liu Mingyue was still the adopted daughter of the mansion, being looked down upon by others. Aunt Liu had dim eyes and looked at her daughter worriedly. When she was about to speak to comfort her, she saw her daughter already helping her serve the rice.
"We won't be able to see each other every day in the future. Today we're going to go back to our parents' house. How about we eat by ourselves in peace? Don't worry about those stupid rules."
Liu Mingyue placed the bowl of rice in front of Aunt Liu before serving herself. The mother and daughter sat opposite each other, their gloomy moods swept away by the wind. They smiled at each other and started to eat quietly.
After dinner, Liu Mingyue helped Aunt Liu take care of the flowers and plants in the yard. They were tired and sweating, so they sat under the eaves and drank ice yogurt together. It was so refreshing. This kind of relaxation was much better than pretending to be nice in front of Zhou Fu and others.
"Mother, take these banknotes. Money makes the world go round. In a big house, without money, nothing can be done."
After finishing the ice yogurt, Liu Mingyue remembered another purpose of her trip and handed her the banknotes she had prepared early in the morning.
Aunt Liu took the banknotes and looked at them. They were all for three hundred taels of silver. There were five of them in total, which meant one thousand five hundred taels of silver.
"You stay in the mansion and take good care of yourself. Once I have dealt with the affairs at the Marquis' Mansion, I will try to get you out of here."
Liu Mingyue had already made plans. She herself was not afraid, but she was extremely worried about Aunt Liu.
The Zhou Mansion was a place of trouble. She could be on guard against Zhou Baili and her daughter, but how could Aunt Liu have anticipated their plans?
When her daughter took out so many banknotes at once, Aunt Liu was shocked: "Mother, why would you need to do anything in this mansion? Even if you want to do something, you won't need so much money. It's most important for you to keep it for the Marquis' Mansion."
Aunt Liu knew that her daughter had her own business in Beijing, but she had never asked about the revenue. She was afraid that the 1,500 taels was what her daughter had saved for a long time. In addition, Liu Mingyue was in a difficult situation in the Marquis' Mansion, so she didn't want so much.
"Mother, the silver I have saved is enough for me to spend. Please accept these. Otherwise, I will not feel at ease with you." Liu Mingyue knew that her mother was worried about her, but she still kept some money as a reserve. Fifteen thousand taels of silver was indeed a lot, but it was not much for her.
She repeatedly said that she had enough money to support herself and asked Aunt Liu not to worry, and only then did Aunt Liu accept the money.
The mother and daughter were doing housework in the yard or pruning potted plants as usual, and the day passed quickly.
When the sun set, the bright yellow sunset glow shone into the house. The mother and daughter lowered their heads to wind the embroidery thread, neither speaking a word.
"Madam, it's getting late. We should go back." Peanut saw that it was getting late, so he went into the house to pass on the message.
Liu Mingyue paused as she was winding the thread. Aunt Liu raised her eyes and saw her daughter with her head down and not moving. She sighed secretly.
"You go back late. The Marquis and his wife are bound to have something to say. It's better to go back quickly and come to see your mother again when you have time." Aunt Liu stood up first and waved to the maid to bring up the pastries she had made herself.
"This is what mother made yesterday. Take it back." Aunt Liu handed the snack to Huasheng.
Liu Mingyue knew that no matter how reluctant she was, she had to leave for the Marquis' Mansion and she had to be back there before dark.
"My daughter is going back. You must remember to be careful and treat others as you did before." Liu Mingyue did not forget to remind me before leaving.
If Aunt Liu were to be discovered and her enemy was alerted, she would have to start all over again with her plan.
"Mother knows what to do. Go ahead." Aunt Liu patted the back of Liu Mingyue's hand and sent her to the gate of the courtyard.
As a concubine, she didn't even have the right to escort her daughter to the mansion gate and could only see her off from a distance.
Liu Mingyue left Aunt Liu's residence and walked back to the front yard from the corridor in the backyard. No one saw her off the whole way, and even the servants who came and went were few. It was obvious that someone had given instructions in advance.
Before getting on the carriage to return to the Marquis' Mansion, Liu Mingyue only said a few words to the housekeeper. The people in the Zhou Mansion didn't care when she would return to the Mansion, and she didn't care about their attitudes either. She just said a few words to the housekeeper out of courtesy.
The two mansions were not far apart, and in just half an incense stick of time the carriage stopped at the gate of the marquis' mansion.
The gate of the mansion was deserted. The Crown Prince's wife did not receive the proper greetings and attention when she returned to visit her parents. Everyone in the mansion was doing their own things, and none of these things had anything to do with Liu Mingyue.
"Go prepare some water for bathing." Liu Mingyue sat on the couch, leaning against a low table, looking a little dazed.
Returning to this house is like a bird that has been flying freely outside for a day being forced back into a cage.
Guihua saw that her master was in a bad mood, so she agreed and told the servants to prepare the things her master needed for bathing.
"Madam, you are still the Crown Prince's Consort. No one in the Marquis's Mansion cares about you or pays any attention to you after you return. The Marquis and his men are too mean to you." Peanut complained distressedly as he helped his master undress.
Liu Mingyue didn't say anything. She stood in front of the dressing mirror and let Peanut fiddle with her. Her eyes were heavy and no one knew what she was thinking.
"It's not just the Marquis' Mansion. The Zhou Mansion seems to have communicated with this place. Their attitude towards you, Madam, is chillingly cold."
Huasheng felt depressed after staying in the Marquis' Mansion for a few days. He went back to Zhou Mansion to visit his relatives, but he didn't expect that their attitude towards their master was even colder. He felt sorry for his master in his heart.
"After all, they are looking at the birthmark on your face, Master. In fact, Master, you put on the human skin mask to cover up the birthmark. You look handsome and elegant. You will definitely look good as a girl."
Peanut was talking to himself when he suddenly thought of something and his eyes lit up: "Madam! Why don't you put on the mask of doing business? Maybe the prince's attitude towards you will change."
In the past, Liu Mingyue was weak and obedient, and she never strictly disciplined her personal maids. Huasheng and Guihua had different personalities from the other maids. Guihua was more calm, while Huasheng was lively and direct.
She was only thinking about how to make Liu Mingyue's life in the Marquis' Mansion easier, and she didn't think about the inappropriate words.
In her previous life, Liu Mingyue was plotted against and was scared. Peanut was kind-hearted, which made her feel at ease.
"Peanut, I know you have good intentions and are thinking about me, but you can see clearly from his attitude these days that he is not a good person. Why should I bother lowering myself to please him?"
Liu Mingyue laughed at herself. In her previous life, she lowered her status and tried to please the entire Marquis' Mansion for three years. What benefit did she get?
"I have already planned to divorce the prince. Don't think about how to please them. One day, we will leave here. It's not worth worrying about such people."
She said this calmly, and judging from her expression, she really didn't take the prince to heart.
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