The next day, when the sun was high in the sky, the Chunfeng Tower was still filled with the smell of wine and perfume from the previous night.
Yu Luo had just finished cleaning the courtyard when Sun's mother grabbed him by the back of his collar.
"You brat, what are you standing there for!"
Sun's mother dragged her along and rummaged through the storeroom to find a dusty, broken zither with two strings broken and a corner missing from the body.
"Look, your good fortune has arrived!" She shoved the broken zither into Yu Luo's arms and poked her forehead with her nail polished. "Mei'er said you have a good foundation, so from today onwards, you'd better study hard! If you don't, see how I deal with you!"
Yu Luo held the ancient zither, which was almost old enough to be used as firewood, with a blank expression.
Just as Sun's mother was about to unleash a few more curses to show off her power, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the building.
"Madam! The magistrate's wife has arrived!" A servant boy scrambled in, his voice trembling.
The fat on Sun's mother's face twitched violently, and her arrogant demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a fawning yet terrified smile.
She rushed to the door, bowing and scraping, like a mouse seeing a cat.
"Oh my, Madam Cui! What brings you here!"
Sun's mother looked past the county magistrate's wife and desperately peered behind her.
"Don't worry, Madam, I was very careful this time. The magistrate really didn't come! Absolutely not!"
Today, Madam Cui wore an elegant Hangzhou silk dress and no makeup, yet she possessed an imposing presence.
She didn't even bother to glance at Granny Sun, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard and landing on Yu Luo, who was carrying a broken zither.
Seeing that Yu Luo was dressed neatly and had no new injuries, her tense jawline relaxed slightly.
“Grandma Sun.” Cui’s voice was cold and devoid of any warmth.
"Oh, I'm here!" Mother Sun replied quickly, startled.
"I have something to discuss with you," Cui said calmly. "All irrelevant persons, please leave."
How could Madam Sun dare to disobey? She immediately waved her hand, chasing away all the maids and servants who were watching the commotion.
Cui walked gracefully into the main room and sat down in the main seat, where a maidservant served her fragrant tea.
She picked up the teacup, gently blew away the foam, but didn't drink it. Instead, she looked at Mother Sun with her calm and unwavering eyes.
Standing below the hall, Sun's mother was drenched in cold sweat from the stare, and her legs began to tremble.
This is even more terrifying than the county magistrate getting angry!
"Madam, please rest assured, I will definitely, definitely persuade the magistrate to prioritize his official duties and never dare to let him set foot in this filthy place again!" Mama Sun stammered, thinking that she had offended the lady of the house by being unhospitable.
Finally, Cui put down his teacup, the bottom of which collided with the table with a crisp, light sound.
You've misunderstood.
She spoke slowly, each word like a piece of ice, striking Sun's mother's heart.
“A lowly servant in your Chunfeng Pavilion has offended me.”
Mrs. Sun was instantly stunned.
A lowly servant? He offended the magistrate's wife?
She went through all the menial tasks in her mind, but couldn't think of anyone who had this ability.
Looking at her, Cui's lips curled into a mocking smile.
“It’s a little girl. Hand her over to me; I want to deal with her myself.”
"Name your price, how much silver?"
Grandma Sun shook her head like a rattle drum.
"No, no, no, Madam, you're joking. I'm just a servant; how could I dare to accept your money!"
All she wants now is to get rid of this hot potato as soon as possible.
Cui seemed not to hear, and casually took out a silver note from her sleeve and gently placed it on the table.
"One hundred taels."
The silver note floated gently down onto the table, like a light feather, yet it weighed heavily on Mother Sun, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Bring me her indenture and all the related documents."
Cui's voice grew even colder.
"Remember, I want a perfectly intact person. You can't touch a single hair on her body."
She paused, her tone sending chills down your spine.
"That way, the torture feels more real, doesn't it?"
Sun's mother's legs went weak, and she almost lost her balance.
She finally understood that this lady was going to use the cruelest methods to slowly bring down that ignorant girl!
"Yes! Yes! This servant understands!"
She nodded repeatedly, turned and ran, afraid that if she was even a step too slow, she would also be "tortured".
…
Soon, Yu Luo was held up by two strong old women.
A coarse burlap sack fell from the sky and covered her completely from head to toe.
She didn't struggle, and she didn't even make a sound.
As she was being lifted up, she clearly heard the name of the county magistrate's wife.
That's enough.
She was quickly lifted into a carriage.
After an unknown amount of time, the sack was finally untied.
The glaring light made her squint instinctively, and then a familiar, dignified face came into view.
This is no longer Chunfeng Tower, but an elegant and quiet study, with a faint scent of ink in the air.
Madam Cui sat behind her desk, quietly watching her.
"You are very smart and calm."
Madam Cui waved her hand, dismissing all the servants, and personally poured her a cup of warm water.
"Now, I need you to prove it again."
She pushed the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in front of Yu Luo.
"Write me a policy essay on how to settle displaced people."
Yu Luo took the water glass, drank it in small sips, and then walked to the desk.
Without pausing for a moment, she picked up her pen and dipped it in thick ink.
The brush tip moved swiftly across the snow-white Xuan paper, making a soft rustling sound, completing the task in one go.
In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a lengthy and eloquent policy essay was completed.
She presented the paper, still damp with ink, with both hands.
Cui took it and her gaze fell on the paper.
Her pupils contracted sharply after just one glance.
Her fingers, gripping the paper, tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white.
This policy essay, from reclaiming wasteland and providing work relief to establishing temporary household registration and distributing seeds and farm tools, is well-organized, interconnected, and highly practical. It is far superior to the empty talk of those old ministers in the court!
What alarmed her most was the prediction at the end of the article about the banditry and plague that the refugees might cause, as well as the preventive measures proposed, which hit the nail on the head!
Cui suddenly raised her head and looked at the thin girl in front of her.
Those calm eyes seemed to hold a bottomless starry sky.
She took a deep breath, and the pent-up frustration that had been building up in her chest all night finally dissipated completely.
Instead, there was an irrepressible excitement.
She slammed her policy proposal heavily on the table, her eyes gleaming with an unprecedented light.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Cui stood up, walked to Yu Luo, and solemnly announced:
"You knew you weren't lying to me!"
"I agree to your cooperation!"
"From today onwards, you are the legitimate daughter of the Cui family, and you only have me as your family, and that is Cui Ling!"
"And you, your name is Cui Lingyi!"
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