Fifty thousand taels of silver are worth a glimmer of hope, and Zheng Huiyin must make a final decision before midnight tonight.
It was a desperate gamble, throwing away the remaining 150,000 taels of silver;
Or should we give up and accept the fate of potentially falling into the abyss?
When Chunying saw that her mistress did not punish her, the huge weight in her heart was finally lifted, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Having grown up alongside the young lady since childhood, I know firsthand how strong her inherent pride is.
She often sighed in her heart, thinking that if the young lady were a man, with her talent and the status of the eldest son, she would probably have already made a name for herself in the court.
He is the rightful heir to the Duke of Zheng's mansion, and it is highly likely that he will inherit the title in the future.
Even now that women's examinations have been introduced, how can the Duke's mansion so easily break free from its heavy legacy?
"Miss, please eat something first. Your mind won't be clear if your stomach is empty."
Zheng Huiyin slowly shifted her gaze to the cold food on the table and nodded very lightly: "Okay."
Just as Chunying was about to turn around to prepare the hot dishes, her wrist was tightly gripped.
"Stop bothering..."
Zheng Huiyin's gaze fell on the glaring crimson on her forehead. She raised her hand and gently touched the gauze at the edge of the wound with her fingertips.
This injury is clearly from hitting his head!
The head maidservant by her side represented Zheng Huiyin's reputation.
The fact that Chunying suffered such humiliation shows how intense the anger that had been building up in the Sixth Princess's heart was.
However, at this moment, a glimmer of hope appeared in Zheng Huiyin's eyes.
The fact that the Sixth Princess was willing to humiliate her in this way shows that she still cares and is still angry.
That would mean she might actually do something for money.
To completely ignore her would be truly hopeless.
"Does it hurt?" The voice was as soft as a feather, carrying an indescribable emotion.
Chunying forced a strong smile. "It hurts, but it's nothing. I'm very healthy, and I'll be back to my old self in a few days. I can still protect you, Miss."
Zheng Huiyin smiled sadly, took Chunying's hand, and led her to sit down on the embroidered stool next to her.
"Have some with me."
Zheng Huiyin managed to swallow a few mouthfuls of warm rice porridge. With a little warmth in her stomach, she could no longer eat anything else.
My chest felt like it was being crushed by a huge rock, a terrible blockage.
The servants and maids in the courtyard assumed that she was depressed because she hadn't passed the imperial examination, and no one knew the truth.
I sat down at my desk again, the window lattice wide open.
The cool breeze of early autumn swept in, ruffling her loose black hair, with a few stray strands clinging to her pale cheeks.
She was waiting, waiting for her parents to come, even if it was just a nanny bringing a few words of explanation or comfort.
However, time, like grains of sand, slips away bit by bit in the dead silence.
There were no footsteps, no announcements.
The plain white silk handkerchief in her hand was twisted and wrung repeatedly, almost crushed in her palm.
"Bang...bang..."
The clapper of the second watch of the night penetrated the layers of deep courtyards of the Duke's mansion, faintly seeping into the boudoirs.
"Miss, there are only two quarters left."
The oriole approached silently, its voice barely audible.
She had already found an excuse to send all the maids and night watchwomen in the courtyard back home.
The last glimmer of hope in Zheng Huiyin's eyes was completely extinguished, replaced by a resolute determination to burn her bridges.
Her grandfather viewed her as a commodity to be sold at a high price, and would discard her without hesitation if she might threaten the reputation of the Duke's mansion.
Ultimately, the mother cared more about the legitimate son who could inherit the title; her daughter was merely an embellishment.
And the father's silence at this moment is the clearest answer.
She was completely abandoned by the entire Duke Zheng's mansion!
"Huff... huff..."
Zheng Huiyin suddenly closed her eyes, as if she wanted to exhale all the resentment, anger, and coldness that had accumulated in her heart.
When she opened her eyes again, those beautiful eyes that were once empty were now narrowed, flashing with a sharp glint.
Since no one cared about her, she had no choice but to fight for her own survival.
He turned around abruptly, his composure terrifying. "Chunying, do me a favor."
A quarter of an hour later, two slender figures quietly slipped out of the courtyard.
Spring Oriole led the way, carrying a faint lantern whose light could only illuminate the small patch of ground beneath her feet.
A person followed closely behind, dressed in the plain-colored cloth skirt of an ordinary maid, with a thick veil covering their face.
The two deliberately chose secluded paths with few people, walking quickly but trying their best to keep their steps light, heading straight for the remote corner gate in the northwest corner of the mansion.
"stop!"
A deep, sharp shout suddenly rang out, and a burly figure emerged from around the corner of the path ahead.
The newcomer, with a sword at his waist, was none other than Zhao Feng, the captain of the guards in the mansion.
Chunying's heart sank suddenly. She forced herself to remain calm and took a step forward, her voice filled with anxiety:
"Captain Zhao, it's me, Chunying."
A maid in the young lady's courtyard suddenly fell ill, vomiting and having diarrhea; the situation looked dire.
Not daring to disturb the royal physician, I planned to quietly take her out to find a clinic for a checkup.
Zhao Feng's gaze passed over Chunying and landed precisely on the masked "maid" behind her, his brows furrowing.
“Miss,” he said, bowing with his hands clasped, “it is late at night and the dew is heavy. It may be dangerous for you to leave the manor rashly. Please return.”
With her identity exposed, Zheng Huiyin simply raised her hand and ripped off the veil covering her face, revealing her undeniably beautiful features.
His gaze was cold as he looked directly at Zhao Feng: "I have urgent business to attend to and must leave the mansion. It's just a hundred paces east of the gate. I'll be back in a moment."
"Miss……"
"No need for further words!" Zheng Huiyin's tone was resolute, carrying a do-or-die determination.
"Either you pretend you didn't see me right now;"
"Or you can shout it out loud and let the whole mansion know, so I can remain confined to this tiny place!"
Zhao Feng fell silent.
The young lady may have long forgotten, but he clearly remembers that winter day many years ago.
He was homeless at that time and couldn't even afford a thick cotton coat in the dead of winter.
In Fengjing's winter, every day a few people die silently in some corner.
Just as he was huddled in the snowdrift waiting to die, a young lady who happened to be passing by ordered someone to give him a half-new, thick cloak.
He will always remember this kindness.
Having heard the news that the young lady had failed the exam, he was worried that she might do something rash, so he made a special patrol in the vicinity, only to unexpectedly witness this scene.
“Since Miss insists on doing so, please allow me to escort you out of the manor.”
Protecting your safety is also my duty.
Moreover, Miss, your appearance is so cunning that it's impossible for those seasoned veterans at the side gate to fool you.
Time is of the essence; midnight is fast approaching.
Zheng Huiyin gave Zhao Feng a deep look, then nodded gently without further hesitation:
"In that case, thank you Captain Zhao for your trouble. You will be richly rewarded after this."
Zhao Feng respectfully clasped his hands in a fist salute, "Miss, you flatter me. I dare not accept such praise. Please follow me..."
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