Just as she was worrying, a flash of inspiration struck Song Zhiyu, and she suddenly remembered the manor she had snatched from Shen Feng.
The hill behind Zhuangzi is covered with medicinal herbs, but it's unknown if any of them are what she's looking for.
“Lu Bai, we’ll head to the estate in the western suburbs tomorrow,” Song Zhiyu decided, making the final decision.
Lu Bai nodded without asking any further questions. Instead, she pointed to several other boxes filled with jewelry and asked, "Okay, Miss, are all these other things being moved to the storeroom?"
"Let's move them all to the storeroom." Song Zhiyu nodded. There was a small storeroom in her yard, which was perfect for storing these things.
"Okay, I'll make the arrangements right away." Lu Bai agreed, stepped towards the door, and began preparing for tomorrow's trip.
*
The next day.
Song Zhiyu boarded a carriage and left the Marquis's residence.
Once the carriage had disappeared into the distance, the maid who had been hiding behind the gate cautiously peeked out.
Only after confirming that Song Zhiyu had completely left did she rush back to her residence to report.
Inside the carriage.
Song Zhiyu's brow twitched violently, and a bad premonition suddenly rose in her heart.
"Miss, what's wrong?" Lu Bai asked, worried when she saw Song Zhiyu's sullen face.
"It's nothing." Song Zhiyu shook her head, but didn't miss the fleeting feeling.
Is the Marquis's mansion up to some trouble again?
Before she could figure it out, the carriage slowly came to a stop at the entrance of the manor.
"Miss, we've arrived."
Song Zhiyu lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, walking into the manor with Lu Bai.
The estate was large and the scenery was quite nice, but the harsh shouts and curses coming from not far away completely ruined Song Zhiyu's good mood.
The two exchanged a glance and followed the sound. There they saw a middle-aged woman with a mean face and triangular eyes, standing with her hands on her hips, scolding several maids.
"You little sluts, get to work properly and don't slack off, or I'll skin you alive."
"The masters are all in the capital. Right now, I'm the boss on the estate. Do you all understand?"
Granny Ji paused, her eyes fierce, her words full of disdain, "You are servants now, and you will always be servants. You will never be masters in your entire lives."
If you were as resourceful as the second young lady who just returned from the countryside, it wouldn't be impossible for you to rise in social standing.
"Yes." The maids trembled like leaves, not daring to object.
Just as she was feeling smug, she heard a clear, cold female voice sound from behind her, "Granny Ji, you really have quite the airs, daring to think you can be the mistress of the Marquis's mansion?"
"Who are you?" Granny Ji glanced at Song Zhiyu, still somewhat wary. Before figuring out the newcomer's background, her arrogant demeanor subsided slightly.
“My young lady is the second young lady of the Marquis’s mansion that you mentioned.” Lu Bai glared at her, clearly displeased with Granny Ji’s words that belittled her young lady, and naturally gave her a cold look.
Upon hearing this, Granny Ji's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered and grinned, "Oh, it's the Second Miss. Why didn't you say you were coming?"
"Second Miss, you are too noble for this small place. You should leave as soon as possible to avoid upsetting this old servant." Granny Ji said with a smirk, her words laced with sarcasm.
Lu Bai crossed her arms and chuckled disdainfully, "Then you're going to be disappointed. From now on, my young lady will be the owner of this manor. It should be you who leaves."
Song Zhiyu's purpose in coming here was not only to find the medicinal materials for making Ningxiang Pills, but also to arrange for his people to enter the manor.
After all, this estate is of great use to her, so of course she wants to kick out the people from the Marquis's mansion one by one.
"This old servant has not received any news." Granny Ji was displeased and did not take Lu Bai's words seriously.
She's the only one who matters in this estate, with no one to control her, so how could she possibly leave so easily?
Besides, what right does a second young lady, who has only recently been found by the Marquis's mansion and is not favored by her father and brothers, have to act arrogantly in front of her?
"Second Miss, this old servant has been on this estate for so long, and even if I haven't made any great contributions, I have certainly put in a lot of hard work. If you really want to send this old servant away, the others won't agree; they'll all have to go with this old servant."
"Then there will be no one left in this manor." Granny Ji's contempt deepened. She was determined not to leave and even threatened Song Zhiyu.
The servants and maids on the estate all obeyed her orders; if she left, they would all have to follow her.
If this matter escalates, it will naturally incur the lord's displeasure.
She'll see how Song Zhiyu handles this situation then.
Granny Ji had heard from her old friends in the Marquis's mansion that this second young lady was uncouth and vulgar, not even remotely comparable to the eldest young lady.
She tried her best to please the Marquis and his wife, as well as the other young masters, but none of them could withstand a single word from the eldest young lady.
Granny Ji couldn't understand why the Marquis would give this estate to Song Zhiyu; perhaps she had used some underhanded means.
"Insolence!" Lu Bai was furious. She never expected that a mere servant would dare to threaten her young lady. He was indeed a good dog raised by the Marquis's mansion.
But Granny Ji's words also suited Song Zhiyu's wishes. She didn't want anyone on this estate, and who knew if they would cause her trouble.
Only by eliminating all potential hidden dangers can she feel at ease.
Just then, a group of maids were seen dragging a woman with tattered clothes and disheveled hair past in the distance.
"Let me go, I didn't steal anything!" The woman struggled and tried desperately to explain, but all she got in return was a loud slap.
"Who else is so dishonest besides you?" The lead green-clad maid was arrogant and domineering, her tantrums mirroring those of Granny Ji.
Song Zhiyu felt that the female voice was somewhat familiar, and her gaze involuntarily fell on the woman who was being held.
At the same time, the woman looked up and met Song Zhiyu's gaze. A glint of survival flashed in her eyes, so bright it was almost blinding.
With all her might, she broke free from the two maids holding her, lunged at Song Zhiyu, and knelt down. "Please, save me! I didn't steal anything! They'll beat me to death!"
Due to the violent movements, the woman's true face was revealed.
Although her face was covered with bruises and welts, her beautiful appearance could still be seen from her exposed fair skin.
Song Zhiyu frowned, looking at the woman in front of her begging for mercy with an inscrutable expression.
"Second Miss, this woman is a repeat offender. You'd better not meddle in her affairs, lest you get yourself into trouble." Seeing that Song Zhiyu remained silent, Granny Ji secretly glared at the green-clad maid.
The woman's heart leaped into her throat, and she looked at Song Zhiyu with pleading eyes, clutching Song Zhiyu's skirt tightly in her hand.
"What if I insist on interfering?" Song Zhiyu chuckled, ignoring Granny Ji's livid face.
She was determined to save this person.
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