Chen Mianmian hurriedly pulled Hanrong up.
Although Hanrong insisted on kowtowing, Chen Mianmian practiced martial arts every day and was stronger than ordinary women, so Hanrong could not resist.
Looking at the scratch on Hanrong's forehead, Chen Mianmian said helplessly, "I won't make you feel guilty, and you shouldn't make me feel guilty either, okay? A girl's face is too important. Even if you pinch your thigh a couple of times, don't joke around with your face."
"..." Hanrong burst into tears.
Chen Mianmian said, "Are you still going to kowtow? If you still want to, I'll keep holding you like this while I talk to you. If you promise not to kowtow, I'll let you go."
Hanrong cried for a while, then whispered, "No... I won't kowtow anymore."
Shen Mianmian then released her and sat back on the soft couch.
She had barely settled down and hadn't even spoken when Hanrong said urgently, "Auntie, the young mistress wants me to find the right opportunity in a few days and tell everyone that the handkerchief is yours and that you and Lord Huo Rang have an affair!"
Shen Mianmian's lips twitched, and she muttered, "That's it? Sigh, this female lead really disappoints me. She's not even as good as the princess's female lead. Couldn't she come up with some more drastic methods?"
Hanrong was taken aback. "Auntie, what did you say?"
“It’s nothing,” Shen Mianmian stopped complaining. “Listen carefully, the handkerchief incident hasn’t come to light yet, so the young mistress probably doesn’t want you to report me now. I plan to strike first. The day after tomorrow, I’ll have Xiang Ning beat you up and tell everyone that she’s jealous. After that, I’ll talk to the madam and say that I don’t want you anymore. You’re not bound by a contract, so you don’t have to stay in the Marquis’s mansion. Take this opportunity to leave the mansion and go home.”
"What?" Hanrong froze on the spot, her face ashen. "Auntie, you...you really don't want me anymore?"
Tears streamed down her face.
Shen Mianmian was both amused and exasperated. "Wake up! Is it up to me whether I want you or not? You've become her pawn, with nowhere to go and certain death! If you stay, you'll either betray me, and the princess and madam won't let you off the hook. Or you won't betray me, and the young mistress won't let you off the hook. If you don't get out of here immediately, you'll suffer the consequences!"
Hanrong knew, of course, that her aunt was helping her.
How could she possibly bear this?
Hanrong knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. She could say nothing but cry to express her guilt, remorse, and gratitude.
She had previously convinced herself that everything she did was for her family.
But now she can't lie to herself—if time could turn back, she wouldn't want to betray such a kind and generous aunt.
Fortunately, her aunt was extremely clever and managed to turn the situation around. If her aunt had really been killed by the young mistress, how would she... how would she face it? Would she trade her aunt's life for her brother's?
She couldn't bear to part with her younger brother, but did her aunt deserve it?
"Alright, alright, stop crying. And stop blaming yourself. Isn't this a good outcome? The young mistress got the information she wanted, your brother is cured, you even got a lot of money from the young mistress to pay off your debts, and I didn't suffer any real harm. You could say it's a win-win situation."
Listen carefully: after this matter is over, you must never return to the Marquis of Anning's residence! You've reached the appropriate age, so get married now, preferably outside the capital. Don't stay in the capital. Even if you stay, remember, never go near the Marquis of Anning's residence!
What she didn't say was that the Marquis of Anning's mansion is the main storyline of the novel and the center of the storm!
The Marquis of Anning, his wife, and the young phoenix were key cannon fodder who couldn't escape, but minor cannon fodder like Hanrong, who was dispensable, had every opportunity to leave the dangerous place.
If you can be free, why become cannon fodder?
May there be no more cannon fodder in the world, Amitabha.
Hanrong was full of doubt, even ignoring her tears, "This servant... doesn't understand what Auntie means, this servant really... can't stay?"
Chen Mianmian remained unfathomable. "I don't want to explain too much about you having to stay away from the Marquis of Anning's residence. Believe it or not, it's up to you."
If you want to stay... all I can say is, good advice is useless to a damned ghost, and I won't stop you. But don't be so self-righteous as to think you're dying for me, or dying to atone for your guilt.
First, I am safe and do not need anyone to sacrifice for me; second, whether you live or die is your own business and has nothing to do with me.
If you live happily, I'll be happy too, and I might even reminisce about the time we spent together; but if you die for some inexplicable reason, I'll treat it like a trivial fly has died beside me, and I won't remember a single hair on your head.
Hanrong listened to her aunt's words and choked up, "This servant...this servant doesn't know how to repay you, Aunt, but...if this servant truly lives happily, will you...remember this servant?"
"Yes, you've taken good care of me these past few days, and we have many wonderful memories together. I often think about you during my free time," Chen Mianmian said honestly.
Hanrong knelt and cried for a while, and Chen Mianmian also waited for a while.
Then, he said awkwardly, "Um... Hanrong, it's not that I don't want to be with you, but I've been really busy these past two days. I have to arrange for you and Xiangning to fight later, and then I have to go to be with Madam. Or... why don't you cry at another time?"
Hanrong took out her handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face. "...I understand. I will stop crying. I will do whatever you say, Aunt."
Chen Mianmian smiled and nodded, "Wait here, I'll go call Xiang Ning. Try not to show yourself. There are still spies of the young mistress in Mingyue Courtyard, we can't let her find out anything."
"yes."
After settling Hanrong in, Chenmian went to the door.
As soon as I pushed open the door, before I could even call out, I saw Liu Xiangning returning from her stroll around the yard.
The two locked eyes.
Chen Mianmian said, "You're back just in time. Come here."
"Yes, Miss." Liu Xiangning happily skipped over.
Once inside the room, Chen Mianmian closed the door.
Liu Xiangning saw that Hanrong was still kneeling on the ground, but she ignored her—a traitor, after all, should kneel.
Chenmianmian said, "Hanrong, get up."
"Yes, Aunt." Hanrong stood up.
Shen Mianmian quickly told Liu Xiangning about Hanrong's matter, "Tomorrow, I'll have Hanrong show you around the Marquis's mansion so you can get familiar with the maid's work process. The day after tomorrow, the two of you will have a fight, and then you'll beat her up."
Liu Xiangning's eyes lit up immediately. "Really? How badly?" She was itching to punch someone who dared to betray their master.
Shen Mianmian saw through Liu Xiangning's little scheme and rolled her eyes at her. "Try to apply the product to the skin that is exposed outside the clothes, such as the face and hands, to make it look messy, but don't really hurt her or ruin her face."
"Yes, miss!"
Liu Xiangning smiled sinisterly at Hanrong, who felt like a house mouse being watched by a cat, trembling with fear.
Seeing that Hanrong's face was still red and swollen from crying, and to prevent the spies of Mingyue Courtyard from seeing it, Chen Mianmian said, "Hanrong, you should tell Xiangning about the rules of the Marquis's Mansion and your daily work now. Wait until you look better before going out."
"Yes, Aunt."
Hanrong then began to speak earnestly.
...
At the same time, in the Peony Garden.
Jiang Yinjin was restless.
Chu Xue and Chu Yu looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion, because... they had never seen the young mistress so panicked before.
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