Chapter 209: Going out to relax? This inn is not simple!
Chu Ruohan calmed herself down, a faint smile returned to her face, and she asked softly, "I wonder which girl the Marquis is going to marry?"
"He's just an old cow eating tender grass," Aunt Zhao sighed. "The second daughter of the Minister of Works, Su Wanniang! I heard she's a woman of both talent and beauty, two years younger than you."
"Once the mistress arrives, I'll have to hand over my stewardship...
Chu Ruohan didn't want to listen to what she said next.
The second daughter of the Minister of Works?
Didn’t Marquis Anyang insist on Gu Cheng’an marrying her just before?
Gu Cheng'an was expelled from the house by Marquis Anyang just because he refused the marriage.
Speaking of which, she hasn't heard from Gu Cheng'an for a long time. According to the time in her previous life, he could hardly stand Du Ruoling anymore.
Chu Ruohan took a deep breath. Now was not the time to think about this.
In the previous life, Marquis Anyang had colluded with the Ministry of Works. Now that he has lost his mine, they are still entangled with each other.
She always felt that something was not right...
"When I think about serving tea to a little girl, I feel uncomfortable..."
Aunt Zhao sat on the chair and complained at the top of her voice.
She looked up, but saw that Chu Ruohan's eyes were blank, her gaze was fixed on the distance, and she was not listening to her at all.
He coughed heavily and raised his voice, "Young Madam, please say something!"
Chu Ruohan came back to her senses and asked without thinking, "Have you ever thought about leaving the Marquis' Mansion?"
Aunt Zhao was stunned, with an expression of disbelief on her face.
"Leave the Marquis' Mansion?" she repeated in a shrill voice, as if she had heard a huge joke. "Young Madam, what are you talking about?"
"I've endured so many years in this mansion, and finally had a decent life like this. How can you just leave like that?"
Chu Ruohan smiled lightly, but a hint of deep meaning flashed in her eyes: "Aunt Zhao, think about it, is life in this mansion really what you want?"
"I'm afraid you'll have a hard time after the new mistress comes in. Instead of having to look at other people's faces and being restricted everywhere, it's better to find a place where you can be free."
Aunt Zhao's face turned a little ugly. She frowned tightly and thought for a long time.
After a long moment, she slowly spoke, her voice filled with helplessness, "You're right, but if I leave the Marquis' Mansion, where can I go? I don't have my parents to return to, and I don't have the ability to make a living. If I leave, won't I starve to death?"
She sighed heavily, a bitter, self-deprecating smile appearing on her face. "Since I'm so fat now, I can't compete with them for favor. I can just live out my life peacefully in this mansion. Isn't that good?"
"I'm still waiting for you and the prince to take care of me in my old age!"
Allen Chu looked at Aunt Zhao, her eyes full of gentleness, and smiled gently, "Okay, I will take care of you in your old age."
Only then did Zhao Niang feel satisfied. She picked up the teacup and took a sip. Then she heard Chu Ruohan say, "It's really boring to be stuck in the Marquis' Mansion all day. Want to go out and relax?"
Aunt Zhao was stunned. "Where are you going?"
"I'll treat you to some wine..."
The carriage slowly stopped at the door of Yuanlai Inn.
Chu Ruohan looked up at the inn's sign, a thoughtful look flashed across her eyes, and then she walked straight into the inn.
Aunt Zhao followed behind, her plump body swaying from side to side with each step, and she kept muttering, "This place looks quite unique. The young lady really knows how to choose a place."
The two walked into the inn, and the waiter immediately came up to greet them with a smile on his face.
"My two guests, please come in. Would you like to have a quick meal or stay the night?"
Chu Ruohan said softly, "Let's go up to the second floor and ask for a private room by the window."
The waiter quickly responded, "Okay, this way, please."
After saying this, he led the way.
After going up to the second floor, Chu Ruohan walked straight to the window, reached out and pushed it open. A breeze blew on her face, bringing a hint of coolness.
From here, you can just see the back door of the inn. The deep alley is now empty.
Only a few rays of sunlight filtered through the mottled leaves and fell on the ground.
Chu Ruohan's gaze lingered on the back door for a long time. Yang Zhaozhao said that it was in this inn that she jumped out of the window and got on to Marquis Anyang's carriage.
How could it be such a coincidence?
Aunt Zhao sat down on the chair and breathed a sigh of relief. "I haven't left the house for several years."
She looked at Allen Chu with a smile on her face, "Young Madam is treating me, so I won't be polite."
Chu Ruohan withdrew her thoughts, turned her head to look at Aunt Zhao, and raised the corner of her mouth, "Order whatever you want, there is plenty of silver."
"Okay?"
Aunt Zhao's eyes suddenly lit up. She was in the Marquis's Mansion, where she had plenty of food and drink and lived a life of luxury.
But she was still very happy to be able to go out and relax and have someone treat her.
The most important thing is to be able to blackmail Chu Ruohan.
She reached out and took the menu from the table, her eyes quickly scanning the dishes on it, muttering to herself: "This one looks good, and this one, um, and a soup..."
After a while, she ordered a table full of dishes.
"Oh, right, here's the delicious daughter's red wine from Lai Tan."
Aunt Zhao waved her hand, her voice revealing an unconcealable joy.
The waiter nodded hurriedly, replied, "I'll get it ready right away," and then left quickly.
Chu Ruohan couldn't help but smile when she saw Aunt Zhao was so excited.
In a short while, the table was filled with wine and food.
Aunt Zhao picked up the wine glass, took a gulp, and sighed contentedly: "This wine is really fragrant. I haven't felt so refreshed in a long time."
Chu Ruohan looked at Yuling and said, "Yuling, Chunju, please sit down. You have worked hard in the Hou Mansion every day."
Aunt Zhao nodded, "Young Madam is treating us today, so don't stand around, sit down and eat together!"
Yuling was used to it. The Chu family didn't have so many rules. Before the young lady got married, she was allowed to eat with them.
Chunju, Zhao's personal maid, was a little embarrassed. "Thank you, Madam, and thank you, Auntie."
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the room became more lively.
Chu Ruohan's eyes were fixed on the window. Several carriages had already been parked at the back door of the inn. Most of the people getting off the carriages were officials from the court.
This inn is not simple!
Aunt Zhao was eating happily when she caught a glimpse of Chu Ruohan staring out the window, and she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
She put down the chopsticks in her hand, wiped the greasy corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and asked, "Young Madam, you have been staring outside. What's so interesting?"
Chu Ruohan retracted her gaze, picked up the wine glass and took a sip, "The back door of the inn is even more lively than the front."
Aunt Zhao looked out the window and saw the carriages pulling up one after another.
"What's so strange about that? Ministers in the court always have a few close friends in private, and they're afraid that the emperor might suspect them of forming a clique, so of course they need to find a place to hide away."
Allen Chu raised an eyebrow, "How do you know?"
"The Marquis used to dote on me, and we would talk about other things in the boudoir..."
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