Chapter 36: Witness the Delicate Cannon Fodder's Guide to Conquering the Ruthless Crown Prince [1]
Looking at the girl in front of her, Meng knew that despite not feeding and clothing her properly all these years, she still couldn't suppress the girl's stunning beauty!
Just the sight of her with her eyes downcast and brows furrowed is enough to make me feel sorry for her!
Meng gritted her teeth inwardly, determined not to let that wretched woman marry into a good family!
With these thoughts in mind, Madam Meng's expression became even more gentle and loving.
She took Ah Chu's soft, boneless hand and patted it gently: "Okay, think it over. Your aunt would never harm you."
After saying that, Madam Meng got up and left with her personal maid.
Achu sat down at the table with her eyes lowered and instructed her maid, Xiaoliu, "Go and close the door."
Her voice was soft and gentle, carrying a hint of sadness and confusion.
Xiaoliu responded and went over to close the door.
Ah Chu then raised her eyes and looked around.
This is the original owner's boudoir.
The original owner had already reached marriageable age and should have had her own courtyard a few years earlier.
But Aunt Meng was afraid that she would get out of control, so she taught her to tell the Lady of the Marquis that she couldn't live without her and therefore didn't want to live alone.
Lady Hou disliked her timid and cowardly nature and her dependence on her aunt in everything, and she couldn't be bothered to care about her.
So even though the original owner was so old, she still lived in the same courtyard as Aunt Meng.
Her room wasn't very big, and the decoration was simple, with no expensive ornaments.
Achu stood up, walked to the open window, and leaned against the windowsill to look at the blooming crabapple blossoms outside.
A gust of wind blew, wiping away the tears in her eyes.
She was already thin, and now her face was pale, as if a stronger wind could blow her over.
Seeing her like this, Xiaoliu felt very sad.
Miss has such fair skin and a beautiful face; she's so much prettier than the Fifth Miss.
But that young master Wu... is old and ugly!
Xiao Liu couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are you really going to marry Young Master Wu?"
Achu turned his head to look at Xiaoliu.
Xiaoliu is the same age as the original owner. She was sent to the original owner's side when she was six years old, and the two grew up together.
If there's anyone in this world who was kind to the original owner, it's Xiaoliu.
Based on the plot and memories he received before coming here, Achu knew that Xiaoliu's ending was that she was beaten to death by her cousin while protecting the original owner of the body.
Achu felt sorry for the master and servant.
She sighed and frowned, saying, "I can listen to my aunt about other things, but when it comes to matters of the heart... I really don't want to force myself."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoliu first breathed a sigh of relief, but then became confused again: "Then, what should we do?"
Achu looked out the window again, where delicate pink crabapple blossoms swayed gently in the wind.
"Let me think about it..." Her soft voice drifted on the wind.
In fact, Achu had already made up her mind.
She could never be as easily manipulated by Aunt Meng as the original owner of this body.
So the first step is to break away from Aunt Meng.
It's simple; she just needs to expose the truth about Aunt Meng switching her two daughters.
But this is also somewhat difficult.
Because the only people who knew the truth, besides Aunt Meng, were a midwife.
Achu looked at Xiaoliu and took her hand: "Xiaoliu, there's something I need your help with."
Xiao Liu looked at A Chu with her round eyes full of sincerity: "Miss, just say the word! As long as it's something I can do, I'll risk my life to help you!"
Achu smiled gently: "Although you are my maid, in my heart you are closer than my own sister. I would never bear to let you give your life for me."
Xiao Liu's eyes immediately welled up with tears, deeply moved: "Miss..."
Achu: "Alright, listen to me first, tell me what you need to do for me."
She leaned close to Xiaoliu's ear and whispered the instructions.
Xiaoliu's eyes widened in disbelief.
After a long pause, she nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Miss, I will definitely handle this matter for you!"
.
Spring weather is quite changeable.
The weather was fine just two days ago, but it's been drizzling for the past two days.
Chunhui Hall was the courtyard where Lady Rong, the wife of the Marquis, lived.
Rong was in charge of the entire inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion, and she also had to manage the estates and shops, so she rarely had any free time each day.
That afternoon, Rong had just finished reading an account book and felt somewhat exhausted.
Lin, the old nanny who usually served her, glanced outside and said with a smile:
"Madam has been looking at the account books for most of the day, would you like to take a break?"
"It's drizzling outside, the perfect time to watch the rain patter on the crabapple blossoms!"
Rong loved flowers, and his favorite was the crabapple.
Lin Mama was her dowry maid, so she naturally knew her preferences very well.
Upon hearing this, Madam Rong closed the account book, raised her chin, and said, "Let's go take a look."
Before Rong could even stand up from the soft couch, an old woman ran in to announce her arrival.
Seeing her flustered expression, Madam Rong frowned: "Why are you so flustered? What kind of behavior is this!"
The old woman immediately knelt on the ground, stammering, "Madam... there's an old woman outside requesting an audience. She says she's the midwife for the fifth and sixth young ladies. She also said..."
Granny Lin walked over and kicked the old woman, shouting sternly, "What else did you say?"
The old woman answered in one breath: "She also said that she was bribed by Aunt Meng to switch the Fifth Miss and the Sixth Miss!"
Rong's expression changed drastically, and she stood up abruptly.
"What did you say?!"
The rain outside had suddenly intensified, pounding down and making the crabapple blossoms on the trees sway precariously.
Inside Chunhui Hall, Madam Rong looked at the frail, hunched old woman who had lost a leg.
When she gave birth to her daughter, she encountered bandits and had to give birth in a cave.
She was in very bad condition at the time and didn't even see what the midwife looked like.
Madam Rong turned to look at Granny Lin, her eyes questioning her.
Lin Mama carefully examined the old woman before whispering in Rong Shi's ear, "Madam, she is indeed the midwife from back then."
In that critical situation, Lin Mama and the others could only find a midwife from a nearby village to deliver both Rong Shi and Meng Yiniang's babies.
Rong felt a chill run down her spine.
She clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her face remaining completely expressionless.
"You say that back then, you were bribed by Aunt Meng to switch my fifth and sixth young ladies. What evidence do you have?"
Rong's dignified and imposing demeanor frightened the old woman so much that she trembled.
She took out a jade pendant from her bosom and replied in somewhat broken Mandarin, "This jade pendant was given to me by that concubine."
She also said that she would give me another thousand taels of silver when she got back.
"But instead of receiving the silver notes, I was murdered to silence me."
"The woman was lucky to escape, but she lost her leg."
"Over the years, the woman has never dared to return to the capital, for fear of losing her life!"
Lin Mama took the jade pendant and recognized it at a glance as the one Rong Shi had given to Concubine Meng years ago.
She looked at Madam Rong.
Rong's expression grew even colder: "A jade pendant alone doesn't prove anything. What if you found it?"
Hearing that Madam Rong didn't believe her, the midwife quickly raised her head: "And another thing! Madam, your daughter has a red birthmark on her waist that looks like a flower petal! That concubine's daughter doesn't have one!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com