Inside the room, Qiu Qing was talking to Mei Yu.
"Miss, who do you think Mom will look for?"
"I don't know."
"Could it work?"
"Don't doubt her methods. The fact that Yimanlou has been able to remain safe and sound all these years shows that she is much more capable than you think."
"Then..." Qiu Qing said with some unease, "Will we be affected?"
“Well,” Meiyu smiled knowingly, “how could it not be affected!”
Otherwise, why would she go to such lengths to stir up trouble?
"Really," Qiu Qing said impatiently, "Wu Yuan's matter hasn't been resolved yet, and now this has happened. It's really bad luck."
They thought that after their young mistress was elected the top courtesan, their lives would get better and better, but they found that more and more troubles were happening.
"Don't worry, things will get better, I promise."
"It was my impatience," Qiu Qing said with some guilt. "Talking about these trivial things will only upset you, Miss. Never mind, I'll help you wash up and rest for a while so you can be more refreshed to deal with these things."
"Um!"
When the madam came looking for her, Meiyu was already lying on the couch with her eyes closed.
Hearing the voice, she immediately sat up. "Has Mom already resolved the Jin family matter?"
"Of course it's resolved," the madam said, downing a glass of water without any ceremony. "So what if it's the Jin family? Just wait, I'll teach them a lesson in a few days!"
If I didn't have so many concerns, I should have beaten him up and thrown him out today.
I've made concessions time and time again, and not only do they not appreciate it, they're becoming increasingly demanding. It's simply outrageous!
"How did Mom resolve it?" Qiu Qing asked, puzzled. "The Jin family, mother and son, are not easy to deal with."
He also had a clerk as a backer.
Honestly, having met many important people, Qiu Qing's standards have risen, and she no longer looks down on the lowly advisor.
However, a local official is more powerful than a county magistrate. In Ping'an County, the words of the clerk carry more weight than those of the county magistrate. If someone is really looking for trouble, they will definitely have to be careful.
“I have my own way of doing things,” the madam waved her hand, scolding with a stern face, “Little girl, don’t ask so many questions, it’s none of your business.”
As she spoke, she turned to look at Meiyu, her face beaming like a chrysanthemum. "I have some fine dried flowers in my room. You can put some in your bath later; it will smell wonderful."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Qing looked at the madam warily, "Mama, what are you planning to do now?"
Every time I try to curry favor, nothing good comes of it!
“You silly girl,” the madam said guiltily, touching her nose, “what could I possibly do? It was all for Meiyu’s own good.”
Meiyu ignored their conversation and asked softly, "Who did Mom ask for help this time?"
“A person no one dares to mess with,” the madam said smugly. “Not to mention the Jin family, even the county magistrate wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.”
"So, you offered me up?"
Upon hearing this, the madam's smile vanished abruptly, and she froze, "How did you know?"
Was it that obvious?
"What?" Qiu Qing exclaimed indignantly, "Mom, you really offered my young lady to someone else?"
"Don't say such unpleasant things. I'm just trying to find a good home for Meiyu."
The young master of a prominent family in the prefectural city, who had already risen to a high position at a young age, had not yet remarried even three years after the death of his first wife, leaving behind only a legitimate daughter.
Such excellent conditions are hard to find even with a lantern. As long as you give birth to a grandson, with your good looks, how could you not have a stable position?
"Bullshit!" Qiu Qing said, her face flushed with anger, and she cursed, "Why didn't you keep such a good person for yourself?"
"You think I didn't want to?" the madam scolded, hands on her hips. "If I were twenty years younger, what would your young lady have to do with this? You were so kind back then, but you were completely ungrateful!"
Although he always treated Meiyu as a cash cow, after spending a long time together, he eventually developed some affection for her.
The madam had a wide network of connections and could ask several people for favors, but she chose this newly established connection because she felt he was suitable for her daughter.
Deyilou couldn't protect Meiyu, and neither could ordinary families. They could only turn to powerful and wealthy families, but the inner quarters of such families were far from simple. The madam had to investigate for a long time to confirm these details.
Of course, the more important reason is that this person offered many benefits. Not only did he resolve today's matter, but he also promised to be the backer of Deyilou and give them an additional 20,000 taels of silver.
The last condition is the most important.
She didn't care about having powerful connections or not, but the prospect of 20,000 taels of silver was irresistible.
Logically speaking, Meiyu should have earned just as much, but the madam thought she was a femme fatale and just wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible.
"You believe that yourself?" Qiu Qing stared intently at the madam. "You have no right to offer up my young lady. My young lady is not like those sisters who are sold into servitude by you!"
"What does this have to do with a contract of servitude? It's just attending a banquet."
"Mom," Meiyu said with some curiosity, "aren't you afraid that I'll retaliate after I gain power, since you treat me like this?"
To be honest, Meiyu's feelings for the madam were complicated; there was resentment, gratitude, and a few inexplicable feelings of reluctance to part with her.
Meiyu lived a life similar to that of an ordinary young lady in Deyilou, except for the first two years when she suffered.
Everything they eat, drink, wear, live in, and use is the best. If anyone has a headache or fever, the madam will immediately call a doctor, and in serious cases, she will stay up all night to watch over them.
Humans are not plants or trees!
Even knowing that the madam only saw her as a commodity to make money, Meiyu was still grateful for the protection she had received over the years.
She had thought that if she had the chance in the future, she would take care of the madam in her old age so that she could enjoy her later years and thank her for protecting her all these years.
"Revenge?" The madam was taken aback, her dark eyes darting around. "Good daughter, you can't be so heartless, can you? I raised you all these years, I've done my part, and how could I possibly seek revenge?"
"Just kidding," Meiyu covered her mouth and laughed, "Look how nervous Mom is."
"Really?" The madam asked doubtfully. "You're not lying to Mom?"
“Really,” Meiyu nodded earnestly, “No matter what, it was Yimanlou who raised me. Don’t worry, Mother, Meiyu will not forget your kindness.”
Upon hearing this, the madam immediately beamed with joy, "I knew it! I didn't raise you for nothing. From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were different from those flashy, cheap girls."
As he spoke, he glanced cautiously at Meiyu, then asked, "What about tonight's banquet?"
"Meiyu will keep her appointment on time."
"Very good, very good," the madam said earnestly after laughing, "My dear daughter, out of all the men in Yimanlou, only you have reformed. Just for that reason, I hope you will find a good home. This man tonight is really a good catch. You must make the most of him tonight."
I know you have high aspirations, but as a person, you have to accept your fate! If you think you're a courtesan who can be chosen at will, then you're wrong. In the eyes of outsiders, we're just playthings that can't be presented to the public for the rest of our lives.
Years ago, Mom didn't want to be a concubine and suffer such a fate, and you've seen the result..."
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