Chapter 34 Leave none alive!
Song Yitang frowned. "You're only a little over a month away from joining the family. At this crucial juncture, do you really have to cause trouble?"
Song Jiyun wouldn't listen to anything anymore. "He beat up his own sister for someone who's insignificant!"
"She's the next Aunt Lu! I'm the next mother! My child is the next me!"
Looking at his sister's stubborn expression, Song Yitang sighed softly.
He stepped forward and hugged her. "Don't be afraid, you won't be the next mother."
“Your brother will always be your support. Zhou Congxian is an upright person and will not be like your father.”
"Yun'er, he is a good husband, don't drive him away."
Song Jiyun looked at her brother with teary eyes, "No, brother, I didn't force him!"
"He promised me that himself! He said she was just a concubine who was dispensable!"
Seeing his sister's irrational state, Song Yitang dared not tell her that men's words could not be trusted.
Otherwise, my mother wouldn't have turned out the way she is now.
“Yun’er, I promise you, you will not become like your mother, nor will Zhou Congxian become like your father.”
He is his sister's greatest support. As long as he reaches a high enough position, Zhou Congxian can become whatever his sister desires!
Song Jiyun looked at her brother with hopeful eyes, "Brother, I hate her! I despise her! I don't want her to stay in the Zhou family anymore, please help me!"
Song Yitang pursed his lips, "Yun'er..."
Song Jiyun shoved her brother away and screamed, "You lied to me too, didn't you!"
"You just said it yourself, you promised I wouldn't become like my mother!"
Zisu stood outside the door trembling; she was now the only one left in the entire courtyard.
Once the eldest young master leaves, she'll become the young lady's punching bag.
A short while later, Song Yitang came out.
"Go inside and clean up. I'm going out now. If Miss needs anything later, go find Mama Xu."
"yes."
Zisu bit her lower lip. It'll be soon, it'll be soon. The young master promised her that he would let her go back to her hometown after the young lady got married.
She returned to the young lady's bedroom, and surprisingly, she was not scolded by her.
Song Jiyun sat in front of the dressing table, happily redoing her makeup.
She had always known that her elder brother had placed people in the residences of several court officials.
This includes the British Duke's residence.
As long as my brother is willing to take action, no matter how well that little bitch Jiang Shiyao hides, she can still take her life!
And that wretched girl who's just like her vixen mother!
How dare she seduce someone like that! How dare she dream of riding on her child's head in the future!
snort!
Leave none of them alive!
*
As Mrs. He came in carrying a basket, just as she was about to speak, a voice came from the entrance of the courtyard.
"Is Madam Jiang here?"
Jiang Shiyao and Mother He exchanged a glance, and Mother He placed the basket on the long table under the window.
"My lady, it's Aunt Wu from the kitchen."
"Aunt Wu from the kitchen?" Jiang Shiyao glanced outside and saw a neatly dressed middle-aged woman standing at the door.
"Please come in."
Mrs. Wu is a good cook; I heard she's in charge of the old lady's meals.
Jiang Shiyao recalled that she seemed to have never interacted with her mother in the kitchen.
"Madam Jiang, this old servant is Mama Wu from the kitchen."
Mrs. Wu has a kind and gentle appearance that makes people feel close to her.
Jiang Shiyao nodded. "What is it, Mother?"
"In a few days it will be the Empress Dowager's birthday. All the masters in the mansion will go to the palace to offer their congratulations. The kitchen staff will take a half-day break."
"The remaining half day is for me to keep watch. There are still concubines and young masters in the mansion who cannot go hungry."
"So I've come to ask what you and the young lady would like to eat. I'll prepare it and have the maids in the courtyard fetch it."
Mrs. He and Mrs. Wu had met a few times and knew that Mrs. Wu was a considerate person.
"My lady, even the Duke praises Mama Wu's cooking skills."
In her previous life, Jiang Shiyao ate leftovers, but in this life, she even brought in the old lady's cook.
Zhou Congxian wasn't heartless; he just never cared about her and Fu'er.
If she had remained as law-abiding as she was in her previous life, there would have been no fireworks or cooks.
"Neither Fu'er nor I are picky eaters, so Mom can prepare whatever you want."
Madam Wu smiled and said, "Then this servant will prepare Jade Lotus Soup, Old Duck Stew, and Bok Choy for Madam."
Jiang Shiyao: "Okay, thank you, Mom."
Madam Wu replied, "It's all what a servant should do."
After seeing Mrs. Wu to the door, Mrs. He returned and sighed, "Among all the snobs in the kitchen, Mrs. Wu is the most peaceful."
Jiang Shiyao just smiled and didn't say anything.
The kitchen staff have been so snobbish for so long, why is there only one good person among them?
Otherwise, why would they have been so restless in their previous life?
It was just an order from Zhou Congxian.
On the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday.
The mansion was swept clean and fresh, and all those going to the palace were dressed in new clothes. The mansion was busy from morning onwards.
Only the courtyard remained as quiet as ever.
While Fu'er was still sleeping in, Jiang Shiyao reinforced her clothes and her undergarments, and secretly added many small pockets.
These were the clothes she and her daughter were going to wear on the day they were leaving.
She had already sewed up the travel permit and the book of documents.
After the envoys who came to offer their congratulations left, the grain in the granary could be sold to the Duke's mansion.
After this period of time is over, she will have to find a new way to make money, preferably by having her own caravan, which would make it easier to disguise herself.
Last time, the plans were disrupted by bandits, and I was unable to meet the caravan owner.
She suddenly thought of Madam Wen from Yu Bao Lou. Jade caravans traveled much further, and perhaps Madam Wen had some connections...
Thinking of this, she shook her head again.
She already has one weakness that Wen Niangzi has; she can't afford to give away another one.
What if she were to be exposed on the day she escaped? Wouldn't all her efforts be in vain?
"What are you doing?"
Zhou Congxian suddenly appeared, and Jiang Shiyao didn't have time to put away her remade inner garment. In her haste to put it into her bosom, she accidentally pricked her finger.
"hiss!--"
Zhou Congxian stepped forward and grabbed her fingers. "What's the rush? I didn't see it."
He pulled a piece of cloth from the bamboo basket and held it around her fingers.
Um?
Didn't you see it?
Jiang Shiyao still didn't understand what she meant.
Zhou Congxian said, "Make the collar a little higher. I've been wearing armor a lot lately, and it's chafing my neck."
"Ah? Oh! Okay!" Jiang Shiyao pressed the two undergarments in her hands even closer to her chest.
Zhou Congxian stood up. "Tonight, I'll have Wei Xun come back to set off fireworks. You and Fu'er wait by the lotus pond."
"Mother, where are the fireworks?"
Fu'er woke up, rubbing her eyes as she came out of the inner room.
Zhou Congxian pinched his daughter's little face and took out a still-warm oil paper package from his pocket.
Fu'er immediately recognized the aroma: "Chestnut cake!"
She opened it with great joy, only to find two small pieces inside.
After Fu'er developed indigestion, Zhou Congxian never bought her chestnut cake again.
"After you finish eating, Daddy will buy more for Fu'er tomorrow."
Okay.
Fu'er lay on the table, carefully holding the pastry, and took a small bite as if she were afraid that there would be none left after she ate it.
Jiang Shiyao chuckled and gently patted her bottom. "Wash up first, then eat later."
Zhou Congxian stood up. "I'm leaving."
Fu'er waved without looking up, "Goodbye, Father."
Jiang Shiyao patted her forehead, "Fu'er, you mustn't be rude."
Fu'er sighed, reluctantly put down the pastries, placed her two little hands in front of her belly, and bowed, saying, "Respectfully seeing off Father."
Zhou Congxian chuckled and tapped his daughter's little nose, "She's little but a little devil."
After the grand procession from the British Duke's residence departed, the residence became much quieter.
Fu'er even boldly let the little bones run around several times!
She nestled into her mother's arms, covered in sweat. "Mother! Little Bone is so amazing! Fu'er accidentally ran off to the wrong place, but Little Bone managed to find her way back!"
Jiang Shiyao took out a handkerchief and wiped her sweat. "Don't go too far. There are other aunties in other courtyards."
Concubine Zheng, the wife of the Duke, is not someone to be trifled with, especially the young master in her courtyard.
If he were to grab Little Bone, he would have no chance of survival.
Lunch was brought out by Mrs. He from the kitchen.
"My lady, the dishes today are more beautiful than ever before, not even for a holiday! Mama Wu's cooking skills are truly legendary!"
Jade Complexion Soup, made with scraped fish paste and tofu, is an extremely time-consuming dish, and Mrs. Wu really put in a lot of effort.
Fu'er didn't know if she was tired from playing today or if it was because of Wu Mama's good cooking skills.
After eating two bowls of rice for lunch, Mrs. He was worried that she would have indigestion, so she quickly took away her bowl and chopsticks.
Before Mrs. He could even send the dishes to the kitchen, Mrs. Wu took over the cooking herself.
"Did you eat well, my lady?"
A strange feeling flashed through Jiang Shiyao's mind.
Having lived in the manor for so many years, everyone in the household knows what the people in the kitchen are like.
She's not some proper mistress in the manor, why would she need to fawn over her like this?
Mother He handed her the empty bowl with delight, saying, "Great! Our little girl ate two bowls!"
Mrs. Wu smiled and took the bowl and chopsticks, saying, "I'm glad you like them."
"The old lady said she wanted to eat fish, so I came up with this idea. I haven't had time to make it for her yet, but I thought the child's taste was a bit bland, so I made it for my daughter to try first."
Mother He said, "My daughter is eating very well! If I hadn't stopped her from eating because I was worried about her getting indigestion, she probably would have kept eating!"
"If you like it, then I can make it for the old lady without worry tomorrow."
As Wu's mother left, He's mother was still saying, "It would be great if Wu's mother could also take care of Jiang'er's meals in the future."
Jiang Shiyao looked at Mama He and asked, "How many years has Mama Wu been working here?"
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