Zhao Wu was left behind, and he happily hummed a little tune in the room.
"Fifth brother, don't be too happy yet, the Minister's mansion is gone." The stewardess's voice came before she even entered the door.
Zhao Wu was completely bewildered by these inexplicable words.
He then grinned and chuckled, "Aunt, the Second Miss kept me on because she thinks I'm useful. I've finally found someone to rely on."
The housekeeper stepped inside, her face darkening. "Foolish girl, who does she think she is? She can't possibly be your support."
Zhao Wu moved the only creaking chair in the room to the housekeeper. "Aunt, please calm down. I don't quite understand. The Second Miss is from an official family. How can she be considered insignificant?"
The head housekeeper glared at Zhao Wu before sitting down.
She glanced out the window and said, "She's an illegitimate daughter, and a..."
Seeing his aunt's mysterious expression, Zhao Wu stood by the window and glanced outside.
The sound of horses snorting came from the stable next door, and a few sparrows flew by under the eaves.
Zhao Wu withdrew his gaze and turned his head, saying, "There's no one outside. Aunt, please speak frankly. Second Miss or what?"
"What else could she be? Just a used woman. Do you even know why she came to the manor?" The stewardess said with a look of disdain.
Zhao Wu scratched the back of his head and shook his head sheepishly, "I don't know."
Zhao Wu didn't care at all about his aunt's words about "broken shoes." In his mind, even if a daughter of an official was considered a "broken shoe," she was still a beautiful one, one he couldn't afford to wear.
The head housekeeper pursed her lips and gossiped, "At first, I also thought she came to the estate to recuperate, until Caiyan asked me to stew an old hen, and guess what?"
Before Zhao Wu could ask, the head maid paused, a hint of contempt flashing in her eyes, "She's here to recover after giving birth."
"The second young lady is married? Why isn't she staying at her husband's house?"
Zhao Wu had only been at the manor for a short time, and the people there rarely went to the capital to see their master unless there was something important, so they were naturally unaware of what was happening at the Minister's residence.
The head housekeeper shook her head. "I haven't heard anything about her getting married. Caiyan asked me to have someone make chicken soup, so I went to check the dregs of medicine she poured out outside the wall. They look like dregs of abortion medicine."
Zhao Wu is not married yet. In his hometown, many bachelors like him cannot find wives, and even widows are sought after. He is not very clear about what it means for a daughter of an official who has had an abortion.
Seeing her nephew remain silent and expressionless, a calculating glint flashed in the old woman's eyes.
"Fifth brother, you're not getting any younger. Your family is dirt poor. You should know how hard it is to get a wife."
Zhao Wu looked down at his toes. "I've never thought about getting married. I'm not the only bachelor in the village. I'm not afraid of losing face."
The head housekeeper lifted her eyelids and got angry when she saw her nephew's pathetic state.
"Look at you, so useless. You're not shorter than anyone else, and your nose and eyes aren't crooked. How are you any worse than anyone else?"
Zhao Wu raised his head. "But I have no money. Who would respect me?"
Zhao Wu was self-aware; he had to send his monthly allowance home. If it weren't for his aunt's help, he didn't know where he would end up doing hard labor.
The head maid glared at him, then beckoned him over, "Come here and listen to me."
Zhao Wu leaned forward across the table, and the stewardess cupped her hands to her lips as she explained her plan.
Zhao Wu's dark face turned bright red.
After a moment, Zhao Wu straightened up, looked out the window with a shivering expression, and said to the stewardess, "Aunt's idea is good, but I'm timid and afraid of getting into trouble."
"What are you afraid of? Maybe she'll even be willing. Listen to your aunt and act according to the situation. After today, it'll just be the few of us left. Whether the Zhao family line ends or not depends on your own fate. I still have to go to the kitchen to work. Think carefully about what I'm saying." The head housekeeper stood up and glared at Zhao Wu again, her eyes full of disappointment.
After the stewardess left, Zhao Wu sat by the window in a daze, repeatedly pondering the words his aunt had said.
With the Minister's mansion gone, the concubine had no chance of ever recovering. Jiang Jiaojiao was devastated and fell seriously ill.
The woman in charge went to a neighboring village to find a village doctor to come and treat her.
The doctor shook his head after taking his pulse.
Caiyan hurriedly asked, "Is my young lady alright?"
The doctor was only a mediocre practitioner, and he said ambiguously, "It's nothing serious, just a deficiency of qi and blood, it will get better with rest."
Unless it's a cold or cough, it's normal for women to have blood and qi deficiency.
Caiyan thought the doctor was quite capable; he saw through her recent miscarriage but didn't reveal it, simply brushing it off with a mention of blood and qi deficiency.
After seeing the doctor off, the head housekeeper stood under the eaves looking at the empty courtyard and suddenly recalled the scene many years ago when the young lady was sent to the estate.
It's true what they say, fortunes change, and no one escapes the wrath of heaven.
...
The next day, under a clear blue sky, Gao Mu returned to the capital alone.
When Qiuju saw him, she asked, "Is the greenhouse set up yet?"
Gao Mu glanced into the courtyard. "No, I'm busy. I was just worried that Miss would worry, so I had Cangyun stay at the manor. I came back to report the progress to Miss."
When Qiuju noticed a tear in the hem of Gao Mu's robe, she said, "Miss is meeting with the broker. Go back to your room and change your clothes. I'll sew it up for you."
Gao Mu glanced down at the hem of his robe, then looked up and smiled at Qiu Ju. "Okay, I'll listen to you."
The two hadn't seen each other for several days, and Gao Mu wanted to say a few more words to Qiu Ju. Seeing a maid walking towards them, he lowered his head and whispered to Qiu Ju, "I'll wait for you in the side room."
Their expressions were extremely ambiguous, and Qiu Ju's face flushed red. She glared at Gao Mu coquettishly, "Speak properly, or people will misunderstand."
Gao Mu said in a serious tone, "Everyone in the manor knows that we are engaged, so what could they possibly misunderstand?"
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