Zhao Min and Zhang Ting then realized that they couldn't compete with each other, and Xu Yuehuai had gotten there first.
But now that everything is set in stone, they have no choice but to stomp their feet in anger. In the end, they can only obediently go and live in that dark, small house.
...
Furthermore, ever since Xu Yuehuai and Zhang Ting went to the Eastern Palace, Tianxiang Tower has been even more short-staffed.
Although Zhou Wan was helping San Niang, the business became even more booming after the Emperor personally bestowed the title of Princess Heyue upon Xu Yuehuai. The food at Tianxianglou was already delicious, and now that it was run by a princess, people naturally flocked to Tianxianglou to curry favor with her. Not to mention that the Duke and his wife of Zhenguo would always choose Tianxianglou for their banquets in order to take care of their goddaughter's business.
Finally, night fell, and Zhou Wan and San Niang were able to rest for a while, so they simply sat in their chairs and didn't get up again.
"Third Sister, this business is booming, but it's also a cause for concern," Zhou Wan said, rubbing her shoulder as she chatted casually with Third Sister.
Third Sister heard the sound, but closed her eyes to rest and didn't say a word.
Zhao Ping originally wanted to persuade them to go back to their room to rest, but when he heard that Third Sister was already snoring, he couldn't bear to disturb them for the time being.
Around midnight, Zhou Wan was awakened by the sound of the night watchman's gong.
She stretched and saw that Third Sister was sleeping soundly, so she couldn't bear to wake her and simply went to the backyard to find something to eat.
Unexpectedly, they saw Cui Rou doing laundry.
Zhou Wan stared in disbelief at the scene before her; her clothes, and those of her third aunt, were draped together by a whole rope.
She rubbed her eyes, but the scene before her was still the same.
"You?" Zhou Wan was so shocked that she didn't know what to say.
Cui Rou was busy chopping wood when she suddenly heard the sound. A little embarrassed, she rubbed her hands together and blushed as she said, "I'm all better now. I thought I shouldn't just eat and drink here for free, so I washed your clothes..."
It turned out that her fainting was just a fluke, and the injury to her head was not serious. She recovered in two or three days. Moreover, she ate and drank well at Tianxiang Restaurant and was in a good mood. With no one pressuring her, she actually became stronger.
She noticed that Tianxianglou was doing brisk business, and she felt a little guilty for staying there and eating and drinking for free.
I might as well do what I can.
Seeing this, Zhou Wan was puzzled and didn't know how to answer. So she simply remained silent and turned back to the main hall.
She quickly shook her awake, her voice filled with anxiety: "Third Sister, wake up! Guess what I just saw?"
"Hmm? Go to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow." Third Sister was still half asleep and answered groggily.
Zhou Wan continued frantically, "I just went to the backyard, and Cui Rou washed both of our clothes and hung them out to dry all over the backyard. When A Yue left, she repeatedly told us to be careful and watch out for her. What should we do now?"
"Really?" Third Sister was shocked upon hearing this and immediately came to her senses.
Zhou Wan nodded immediately.
Third Sister was somewhat puzzled and pondered it carefully in her heart.
Regardless of anything else, Cui Rou is Xu Yuehuai's biological mother. Since they have such a good relationship with Xu Yuehuai, they should naturally treat her with respect.
"Let's not let her do it. Let's go stop her quickly, so that Yue won't blame us when she comes back." She said, and prepared to go to the backyard to check the situation.
Unexpectedly, before she could stand up completely, Cui Rou brought over a bowl of plain noodles.
"Aunt Cui, what's wrong?" Third Sister asked, her eyes filled with confusion.
Unexpectedly, Cui Rou blushed with embarrassment and placed two bowls of plain noodles on the table: "You've been busy all day, you must not have eaten anything yet, hurry up and eat something, otherwise your bodies won't be able to take it."
Upon hearing this, both San Niang and Zhou Wan looked at her, making Cui Rou even more embarrassed, and her face turned red.
“I’ve been a bother to you by eating, drinking and staying at Tianxiang Restaurant, but I have nowhere else to go right now. I saw that you’re busy with your business, so I thought I’d help you with these little things.” Cui Rou’s voice grew softer as she spoke, clearly showing that she was used to being bullied.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wan and San Niang exchanged a glance, both of them gaining a new perspective on Cui Rou.
Zhou Wan hesitated for a moment before continuing, "If that's the case, why are you so mean to A-Yue? If she had parents who loved her, she wouldn't have suffered so much."
She was genuinely indignant on Xu Yuehuai's behalf.
Throughout their journey together, Xu Yuehuai had given her ample care because of the word "Mother," and she naturally hoped that Xu Yuehuai's future would be better.
Cui Rou remained silent.
She remained silent, which only fueled Zhou Wan's anger.
Zhou Wan stood up and shouted angrily, "Do you know how much injustice A-Yue has suffered over the years? It's one thing that you don't help her, but now you even allow your husband and son to come and ask her for money and cause her trouble. Do you know how many times A-Yue has almost died!"
"I can't help it..." Cui Rou's voice trembled with tears as she opened her mouth again.
Zhou Wan knew she was pitiful, but who in this world isn't pitiful?
She didn't say anything more, but turned and went upstairs.
She couldn't understand why, since they were both their biological children, Xu Yuehuai couldn't receive any love or care from the couple, not even a little bit.
However, it was precisely because of this that Zhou Wan finally understood that Xu Yuehuai had treated her that way back then simply because he was afraid that she would be treated the same way in the Jiang family as she was in the Xu family.
Watching Zhou Wan's departing figure, San Niang felt a little worried, so she simply went upstairs.
Seeing Zhou Wan like this, she felt sad too: "Zhou Wan, don't be sad, the hard times you and A Yue have passed."
“Third Sister, I think the actions of the Xu couple don’t seem like those of A-Yue’s biological child at all. Think about it, if they were instructed by Marquis Ningyuan, could it be that Marquis Ningyuan deliberately asked them to deceive the Duke of Zhenguo, and A-Yue is not actually their child, but…” Zhou Wan couldn’t help but start analyzing.
After a long while, Third Sister finally realized what she meant by those words.
She immediately covered Zhou Wan's mouth and carefully reminded her, "Don't talk nonsense. If it's really as you think, then these people are very likely spies sent by Marquis Ningyuan. Be careful, walls have ears."
Zhou Wan nodded quickly.
"As for the truth, we'll figure it out slowly." Third Sister also felt there was something fishy going on, so she decided to keep a close eye on things.
...
Meanwhile, Zhou Wan had been at Tianxiang Tower for some time now. A few days ago, some things that happened at Tianxiang Tower made Tie Xiong a little uneasy.
However, he was busy with official duties and knew that Zhou Wan was busy at Tianxiang Tower.
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