Chapter 60 A Fool's Dream Shen Qinglu smelled the bamboo fragrance and smiled slightly…
*
"...When I was five years old, the Divine Messenger came home for the first time and gave me a jumping frog. I found it extremely interesting, and from then on I fell in love with these mechanical arts. Any everyday object, if improved with mechanical arts, can have its own wonderful use, for example, this hairpin."
As Shen Changting spoke, he took out a hairpin. The hairpin was made of gold-plated copper, and its design and workmanship were quite exquisite. One end could be used as a sharp weapon, while the other end could be used to hide some medicine powder or pills.
He mentioned that he had also made bracelets used as concealed weapons, and his mother, Gu Ruxu, wore one. After saying this, he handed the hairpin to Shen Qinglu, saying, "If Sister Ali doesn't mind, please take it."
This is a great item for self-defense; you might as well take it.
Shen Qinglu smiled and immediately inserted the hairpin into her hair bun.
Xia Chan, who had been guarding outside, had been gone for a while. After returning, she glanced inside, met her gaze, and then continued to stand in her original spot.
Her eyes darkened slightly as she asked, "Cousin Ting'er, is that jumping frog you mentioned still around?"
"Yes, I am." Shen Changting's expression lit up. He had finally found someone to share with, and his interest was soaring. "Sister Ali, do you want to see it? Should I send someone to get it... or should I go get it myself? It's the first gift that the Divine Strategist gave me, so it can't be damaged. You wait for me, I'll be there soon."
He was still young and very lively; he disappeared in a flash.
Xia Chan quickly came in and whispered in Shen Qinglu's ear.
As Shen Qinglu listened, her expression darkened slightly, and a mocking smile appeared on her face. "They really do have a deep bond between siblings."
“Miss, Ma Er didn’t hear what they said, but the eldest young master went to Da Xuan Kong Temple afterwards and asked a high monk for some talismans. The more I think about it, the more I feel that something is wrong.”
The Ma Er that Xia Chan mentioned was the same coachman from before.
If it were someone else, they might not have connected Yu Zhiheng's conversation with Yu Liuzhu with his going to the temple to ask for a talisman, but Shen Qinglu almost instantly guessed what Yu Liuzhu had said and what his purpose was.
She twitched the corners of her mouth, feeling utterly ironic.
Shen Changting soon returned, bringing back a lifelike jumping frog with an ingenious mechanism that rivals toys from later generations.
The cousins had only played for a few rounds when Gu Ruxu sent someone to invite them.
The one who came was Gu Ruxu's head maid, named Yingning.
Yingning is petite and delicate, with almond-shaped eyes, cherry lips, and a pair of endearing dimples. She always has a smile on her face, making her look like a harmless and innocent little white rabbit.
Shen Changting whispered to Shen Qinglu, "Sister Ali, don't be fooled by Yingning's appearance. She's incredibly strong and skilled. Even my second cousin isn't afraid of her."
Shen Qinglu seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.
Inside the large flower hall of the main courtyard, dozens of teenage girls lined up in a row. They varied in height, weight, and appearance, but their clothes were similar and all ordinary.
Amidst the wafting fragrance of orchids, Gu Ruxu elegantly sipped her tea, watching Shen Qinglu and Shen Changting enter together, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Mother, are you going to hire more servants for the manor again?" Shen Changting asked casually, as if he was used to it.
Shen Qinglu was puzzled, wondering why Gu Ruxu had summoned her when the General's Mansion was selecting servants. She guessed in her heart, but showed no sign of it on her face.
Gu Ruxu glared at Shen Changting, "This isn't for the family, it's for your sister Ali."
At this point, fearing that Shen Qinglu might misunderstand, she explained, "Your mother has been too busy lately and hasn't been able to attend to some things. It's obviously not enough for you to have just one person serving you. Your mother will arrange for your personal maids. You can choose two people today to serve as second or third-class servants."
"Thank you, Aunt."
Shen Qinglu did not refuse at all, which made her very gratified.
"The person you choose to work with must be suitable for you, and you must also be someone you can get along with." After she finished speaking, she gestured for Shen Qinglu to choose the person herself.
Shen Qinglu walked up to the girls and looked them over carefully. After examining each one, she asked them questions, such as what they were best at and what their hobbies were.
It's perfectly reasonable for masters to ask about a servant's best skills when choosing a maid; few people care about a servant's preferences.
Gu Ruxu raised an eyebrow, exchanged a glance with Xu Mama, and whispered, "Listen to this, doesn't this child look like me?"
Xu Mama also smiled. As Gu Ruxu's confidante, she naturally knew Gu Ruxu's rules for choosing servants: first, she looked at their strengths, and second, their character.
The art of judging people lies in their likes and dislikes. If you want to understand a person's character, besides asking questions and having conversations, you can also learn from what others say, and their likes and dislikes are the most revealing indicator.
About an hour later, Shen Qinglu pointed out two of them.
"Aunt, what do you think of these two?"
One of the two men was quite handsome, while the other was of average appearance. Both were skilled in martial arts; the handsome man enjoyed chopping wood, while the ordinary-looking man was adept at mimicking human speech. Judging from their appearance and interests, they were quite contrasting individuals.
Gu Ruxu was very satisfied, her eyes showing approval. "You have good taste. These two are excellent. Our Shen family has always kept female servants. They can serve you personally and also protect you."
The Shen family had a tradition of keeping female servants, such as Granny Yu who served Shen Linlang.
Yinping, Baokui, and others were all added later. Shen Linlang was afraid that the Yu family would not like it, so she chose not to select any more female servants and instead selected ordinary house servants.
Thinking of this, Gu Ruxu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"From now on they will follow you. You can use their original names or give them new names."
Shen Qinglu accepted the indenture she handed over and readily took the people in, without changing their names; one was named Renchun and the other Hanxiao.
Hanxiao and Renchun immediately stood beside her, behind Xiachan.
A servant came in to report, and Gu Ruxu did not ask her to avoid suspicion, but listened to the news together.
The old woman was right about the Yu family's affairs: "After the eldest aunt and Commander Mu had their drinks, they rode out of the city together and disappeared. No one knows where they went. The old lady Yu suddenly fainted and probably won't be able to leave for a while."
"That old hag, she must have done it on purpose, she's really annoying." Gu Ruxu snorted coldly and stood up with an unhappy expression. "Looks like I have to go there again."
“Aunt,” Shen Qinglu called out to her, “Even though my mother and father are divorced, she is still our grandmother. As an elder, there are many rules and etiquette that cannot be avoided. I will go instead.”
Gu Ruxu thought for a moment and said, "Alright."
*
Inside the Jingxin Courtyard, there was a chaotic yet eerily quiet atmosphere.
The older doctor came out carrying his medicine box and shook his head at Granny Yu, "Your old lady has been worrying too much lately, and her heart fire is too strong. The torment of the two is probably not good."
This is not a good idea; the meaning is self-evident.
From the right wing, Yu Qingxue's cries could be heard, "Mother, you must not be hurt. What will we do if anything happens to you?"
Yu Liuzhu stood to the side, head down, and no one knew what she was thinking.
The woman on the bed had her eyes closed, her face visibly ashen, no longer possessing the good complexion she had enjoyed in the past few days. Her face was more wrinkled, and the white hair between her hair could no longer be concealed.
Her fainting spell did indeed postpone her departure from the manor.
Granny Li stood guard closely by the bedside, as if she were watching out for Yu Qingxue.
Yu Qingxue cried out, but no tears came out.
"Mother, please wake up! This house can no longer accommodate us. Some people even think we're trying to stay..."
She had already decided where to go and really didn't want to stay any longer.
"Say less," Yu Liuzhu interrupted her, her gaze filled with extreme displeasure, secretly cursing herself for being born of this fool. "The most urgent matter is to take good care of Grandmother and help her recover quickly."
She stopped crying and turned her eyes to look outside the door. Seeing that Granny Yu was still talking to the doctor, she lowered her voice and said, "Tang'er, what should we do if something happens to your grandmother?"
These words sounded like expressions of concern, but they sent shivers down Li Mama's spine.
Shen Linlang and Yu Zhiheng haven't officially divorced yet. If Xie Shi dies at this critical juncture, everyone will have to observe mourning. Out of respect for the dead, some things are best left unsaid.
If that's the case, the current stalemate will be broken, and we can either advance, defend, or retreat.
“Eldest Aunt, the Old Madam probably hasn’t explained many things clearly. If something bad really happens to her, there might be no turning back.” Granny Li’s voice trembled with anxiety as she turned to Yu Liuzhu, “Miss Tang’er, don’t you think so?”
Yu Liuzhu glanced at her but did not answer.
The people in the room each had their own thoughts.
Apart from the completely ignorant Xie family, they were like meat on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
When Shen Qinglu's voice rang out from outside, Granny Li was so excited that she almost burst into tears. If she didn't have to stay by Xie Shi's side at all times, she would definitely have gone out to greet her.
"How is Grandmother?" Shen Qinglu asked Granny Yu.
Following the doctor's explanation, Granny Yu recounted Xie's condition in detail. "Young lady, the old lady is still unconscious, and the madam is not in the mansion. We need you to make a decision."
She was a little disappointed and a little worried about Shen Qinglu's arrival.
She had sent someone to the General's Mansion to inform him, thinking that Gu Ruxu would come. Gu Ruxu's status was undeniable, and he was extremely experienced in handling affairs. If it were Gu Ruxu who came, she wouldn't need to worry at all.
But Shen Qinglu was still young and had only recently recovered, so she couldn't help but worry.
Shen Qinglu knew exactly what she was thinking, so she said nothing and went straight into the right wing. She first stood quietly by the bed for a while and looked at Xie Shi, then asked Li Mama a few questions.
Granny Li wiped away her tears, "Young lady, the old lady's appearance is likely to put you in a difficult position. I know there are some things I shouldn't say as a servant, but I've served the old lady for many years, and she has treated me very well. I really can't bear to..."
"It's rare to see someone so loyal." Shen Qinglu glanced at the others and said, "Since Grandmother is still unconscious, we certainly can't carry her out of the mansion. We can make arrangements after she wakes up."
Granny Li expressed her gratitude profusely, tears streaming down her face.
Granny Yu frowned, about to whisper a reminder, when she heard her say again, "Grandmother is Grandmother, and others are others. Some people have been staying here for many years and say they have their own places to go. I don't think they'll stay here forever. Sister Tang'er, don't you think so?"
Yu Liuzhu was called out by name and finally looked up.
"My grandmother can't be left alone..."
"Sister Tang'er, have you forgotten that even if my mother and father don't divorce, and even if my grandmother can't be separated from her, it's not your place to worry about it. Your things should be packed by now. Take advantage of the time before it gets too late and leave the manor."
Granny Yu's brows slowly relaxed, and she gave Dengzhi a wink.
Dengzhi quickly came over and knelt in front of Shen Qinglu. "Eldest Miss, I am a servant born into the Shen family. I wish to stay in the manor. Please, Eldest Miss, grant me this request."
She was not only a servant born into the Shen family, but her parents were also quite respectable people.
When Shen Linlang chose a trusted maid for Yu Liuzhu, she was extremely meticulous, selecting only her own confidantes' children. And Yu Liuzhu's biological mother, like Granny Yu, was originally Shen Linlang's head maid.
"Young lady, this happened suddenly. Madam did not give any instructions regarding Dengzhi," Granny Yu whispered to Shen Qinglu.
Shen Qinglu was a very shrewd person. She didn't need to ask in detail to know the intricacies of things and the unavoidable social dynamics. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I don't know much about the people in the mansion, so I can't make decisions for my mother. How about letting her serve here with my grandmother for now, and we'll decide whether to let her go or stay when my mother comes back."
This is a situation where it's neither quite staying nor quite staying, but rather a situation where one can choose to leave or stay.
Granny Yu sighed inwardly, realizing she had been overthinking things.
She reminded Dengzhi, "Hurry up and thank the young lady."
Dengzhi quickly expressed his gratitude and stepped aside.
As a result, Yu Liuzhu was left without anyone to serve her.
Shen Qinglu glanced at Qiu Lu, who was some distance away, without making a sound.
Qiu Lu didn't know why, but she was now very afraid of her. However, she inexplicably understood the meaning in her eyes. After thinking it over again and again, she raised her heart and rushed to Yu Liuzhu's side.
"Miss Tang'er, this servant is willing to serve you."
"Qiu Lu, you belong to Grandmother." Her dark eyes were cold and unwavering. "Your indenture is still in Grandmother's hands. How could you change your allegiance?"
“Young Miss, I’m not changing masters. I just came to help out temporarily because I saw that Miss Tang’er was without servants. I think the Old Madam wouldn’t object if she knew…”
Yu Qingxue, who had been holding back for so long, finally spoke up, "Tang'er can't be left without someone to serve her. Qiu Lu is someone who serves my mother. I'll talk about this later."
Shen Qinglu seemed to dislike seeing her, turning her face away and letting out a soft snort, "Whatever."
Throughout the entire process, whether it was climbing a branch to leave or the autumn dew to arrive, Yu Liuzhu did not utter a single word.
She had only been out of Liufang Xiaozhu for a short time and hadn't brought much with her, while Yu Qingxue had packed several times more things than her.
Large bags, small bags, and trunks were carried out one by one, with people arranged by Granny Yu watching over them the whole time.
Today, the Jingxin Courtyard is unusually lively, a restlessness unlike anything seen before, breaking the tranquility of this corner that has lasted for many years. Only the pine and cypress trees, like umbrellas, remain silent.
Yu Liuzhu stood in her room, looking out at the green bamboo through the window.
Suddenly, she felt a chill down her spine and turned to look at the person who had entered.
Shen Qinglu looked around as if she were on a tour. "I've lived here for many years, and this house feels like a cage to me."
“Now that you’ve left, you’ve achieved your goal and must be quite pleased with yourself,” Yu Liuzhu thought. But for her, this place was also a trap.
“You’re wrong. I’m not proud at all. If it were you, having your identity taken over by someone else for sixteen years, you wouldn’t be proud when you finally get it back, but rather resentful.”
Shen Qinglu approached step by step, her dark eyes as black as night, shrouding Yu Liuzhu's gaze. "I can't help but ask, why am I the one who suffers, and why are you the one who enjoys fine clothes and delicacies?"
"I really want to know too, why me?" Yu Liuzhu clenched her fists, trying not to flinch under her intense gaze. "I've never understood why the child in my dream from the womb, who clearly resembled me, now says it's you. What did you do, and what did you say to her?"
“I’ve said it before, I don’t need to do anything. The bond between mother and daughter is natural, so why should I do anything?”
"impossible!"
This doubt, like a mystery, lingered in Yu Liuzhu's heart. She had an indescribable feeling that if she could know the reason behind it, she could find a way to deal with Shen Qinglu.
Her gaze was enigmatic, her pupils suddenly contracting. "Did you also have some kind of dream?"
What is called a dream is, of course, not a dream.
A breeze came in through the window, bringing with it the fresh scent of bamboo leaves.
Even if someone is reborn, the so-called pattern of their past life has been changed from the moment they are reborn, so how can they be explained away as a dream?
Shen Qinglu smelled the fragrance of bamboo and smiled slightly, "Cousin Tang'er is really joking. In broad daylight, what dreams could there be? To take dreams as reality is just wishful thinking."
"Sister Ali doesn't believe in dreams, but I'm a little curious. How can someone who has been mentally challenged for many years suddenly say that things will get better?"
"I'm standing right here. Can't Sister Tang'er tell whether it's good or bad? If you have to say why, then it's because Heaven has eyes and can't stand seeing someone take someone else's identity and still live a life of wealth and honor. I wonder if that reason is enough?"
The words "Heaven has eyes" were incredibly painful to Yu Liuzhu, because she had once thought that such a blessing belonged only to her.
She was in pain, yet unwilling to accept it.
"Sister Ali said something wrong. Whether it's wishful thinking or not, we'll find out in the future."
That's true, life is still long.
Shen Qinglu was still smiling, "Then let's walk and see as we go."
In her past life, she dared not say that life was long, because she was born with an illness and could not look forward to the future or dream about tomorrow like a normal person. She tried her best to pray for a miracle, but she did not survive.
Now that she has a healthy body, this life is both a blessing and a compensation for her. They are just a few spoils of the scenery along her journey; she really has nothing to fear.
The smile vanished the moment she turned away.
Qiu Lu was standing outside. When she saw her come out, she subconsciously lowered her head. In her lowered gaze, something suddenly flashed by, and her heart tightened abruptly.
That looks like... my own contract of indenture!
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