Fan Meiniang tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. She was worried that her fake pregnancy would be exposed. After sleeping for a while, she called Zhenzhu.
"Pearl, come here."
She took out a bracelet from her makeup box and put it in Zhenzhu's hand. "This is what the Fourth Master just gave me today. It's made of top-quality Hetian jade and is worth a lot of money."
Zhenzhu pushed it away: "Auntie, I can't take it."
"You and I are sisters, so what's mine is yours. Just take it." Fan Meiniang stuffed it into Zhenzhu's hand and continued, "I heard your brother is seriously ill and needs money. Take this Hetian jade and pawn it to pay for his medical treatment."
"My brother's illness is serious."
Pearl paused, her eyes red, and she knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Fan Meiniang helped her up and wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief. "You and I are sisters, why are you so polite?"
Having been with Fan Mei Niang for so long, Zhenzhu knew her all too well. She lowered her head and asked, "Auntie, is there anything you want me to do?"
Fan Mei Niang took Zhenzhu's hand and said earnestly, "My dear sister, I have an important matter that I need your help with."
"You say."
"I'm really worried about that doctor finding out about me." She paused, her eyes suddenly reddened, and she began to cry, "If the old lady knew I faked a pregnancy to deceive her, she would never let me go."
"So, what does my aunt want me to do?" Pearl's heart was shaking with nervousness. She had a bad premonition.
Sure enough, I heard Fan Mei Niang say, "Only the dead can keep secrets."
Zhenzhu was startled. She quickly placed the bracelet on the table and knelt on the ground, begging, "Auntie, I, your servant, have never killed anyone. I dare not..."
Before Zhenzhu could finish her words, Fan Meiniang interrupted her, her face turning cold. "I heard that your brother is dying. This is your only chance to save him."
Pearl blinked her eyes. Her brother just caught a cold and had a high fever. How could he be dying?
But soon, she understood what Fan Meiniang meant.
She lowered her head, pursed her lips and gritted her teeth as she said, "This servant was wrong."
Fan Mei Niang smiled again and took Zhenzhu's hand, helping her get up. "The ground is cold, don't hurt your knees."
She tucked the strands of hair on Pearl's cheek behind her ear and said with a smile, "Good Pearl, I told you that you are my sister. I remember everything you have done for me."
"Don't worry, when I have a place in the Lu Mansion, I will definitely not treat you unfairly. This bracelet is nothing. There will be many good things in the future."
"I dare not."
"What's there to be afraid of?" Fan Meiniang held her in her arms and patted her on the back. "We share honor and disgrace. If I say you're worthy, then you're worthy."
"By the way, I'll find a chance tomorrow and go home with you to visit your brother."
Zhenzhu's body trembled. She wanted to push Fan Meiniang away, but she didn't dare. She could only let her hug her awkwardly.
"Wait until night, then you go." Fan Mei Niang leaned over to whisper in Zhenzhu's ear. She let go of Zhenzhu and took out a black porcelain bottle from the bedside box and pressed it into Zhenzhu's hand. "This medicine is very effective. Just a little bit can make a person lose control of himself. Wait until he becomes drowsy, then you can take action."
"Take it and keep it."
Pearl took the medicine bottle and put it in her pocket, then walked out. She looked dazed, tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn't dare let them fall.
She originally thought that Aunt Fan just didn't know the rules, liked to be jealous, and used some petty tricks, but she didn't expect that she was such a black-hearted person.
In order to get rid of her biggest worry, he actually made her give herself to the old doctor, let her win his trust, and then took the opportunity to drug her and push her into the water to pretend that she drowned.
Although she could clear herself of suspicion by doing so, she actually carried a life on her shoulders. Would she have to live in fear every day?
Pearl clenched the black porcelain bottle in her hand, tears falling silently.
But for her brother, she had no choice.
She sat by the pond, hugged her knees, buried her head in them, and sobbed, but her crying was not very sad.
Taohua had just returned from outside, and curiously walked over, squatted down, and patted her on the back: "Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Pearl's heart tightened, she looked up at Taohua and shook her head: "No, nothing."
Taohua was holding a cake in her hand. She unwrapped the oil paper and took out two pieces of sesame candy. She placed them in her palm and said with a smile, "When I was little, my mother told me that if I was unhappy, I could eat a piece of candy and my heart would be sweet."
"I, don't..." Pearl refused. She was too embarrassed to ask for it.
Taohua wiped the tears from her cheeks with her sleeves and said, "Take it. It's very sweet."
After saying that, she got up and left.
Taohua ate sesame candy, wiped the tears from her face, and walked out with mixed feelings.
Fang Xingyuan.
Gu Yunran was reading a book. When she saw Taohua coming back, she put down the book in her hand and asked, "Is it done?"
"It's done." Taohua took out the banknotes from her bosom and handed them to Gu Yunran. "Prime Minister Gu and Madam Gu didn't want the banknotes. They said they don't need them, so they asked you to keep them with you."
Gu Yunran's eyes were slightly red. She knew that her parents felt sorry for her and were reluctant to use her money. She knew the situation of the Gu family. Her father was an honest official and gave half of his life savings as a dowry to her when she got married. Her mother had a cough for many years and had consulted many famous doctors and spent a lot of money, but there was no improvement.
fortunately······
Fortunately, Mu Qianchen controlled his mother's cough.
But when Gu Yunran thought that Mu Qianchen spent so much time studying medical books for Gu Qingyue, and only cured his mother's cough by the way, he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
"Forget it. Have Chen Mo deposit these banknotes at the bank tomorrow."
"good."
Taohua placed the oil-paper package on the table again, "Madam, this is what Madam Gu asked me to bring to you."
Gu Yunran opened the package and found the sesame candy that was her favorite as a child. She pinched a small piece and put it in her mouth. It was very fragrant and sweet, just like the taste of her childhood.
She took a few more pieces and gave them to Taohua and Zhuye. "What are you two doing standing there? Eat together."
Taohua and Zhuye ate while praising the cooking skills.
"Madam, I saw Zhenzhu sitting by the lake crying on my way back just now." Taohua licked her fingers and said.
Gu Yunran was stunned for a moment, "Pearl?"
"Yes, Pearl was originally serving Madam Lu, but was later assigned to Concubine Fan."
Gu Yunran suddenly understood: "Maybe he's not living happily with Concubine Fan."
"You two entered the Lu Mansion together. If you see her on weekdays, please take good care of her."
Taohua: "I just gave her some sesame candy, and she was very happy eating it."
There were three packets of sesame candy. The three of them finished one packet in a short while. Taohua wanted to eat more, but Gu Yunran slapped her hand away and said, "It's not good to eat too much sweets at night. Let's eat tomorrow."
Taohua stuck out her tongue.
Zhuye put away the remaining two packets of sesame candy.
Gu Yunran looked at the sandalwood in the incense burner, then looked out the window.
"Take the people with you and let's go to the shogunate."
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