GBP Chapter 60 Being Soft-Hearted is a Disease
Chapter 60 Being Soft-Hearted is a Disease
The day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Meng Shu did not go to Muyunzhai with the second young lady because she was on night duty. She got up around noon and was about to go to the small kitchen to find Donggua when she accidentally ran into Lvliu talking to Fuzi at the side gate.
Green Willow gently comforted her, "Meng Shu is the best person. Any misunderstandings can be resolved by talking them out. How could she be angry with you? Also, this ointment is something I got from Steward Cui. Remember to use it."
Meng Shu was puzzled. These two people had nothing in common and didn't even work in the same place. When did they get involved?
"Green willows".
Meng Shu walked up to the two of them, her tone displeased: "What's going on?"
Green Willow was completely unaware that Meng Shu had been intentionally distancing herself from her these past few days. Holding Meng Shu's hand, she said, "I met Sister Fuzi last night when we were getting food from the main kitchen. It's quite a coincidence that she said she also knows you. You two had some misunderstandings and she wanted me to help mediate between you."
Green Willow was always soft-spoken, making it impossible for anyone to get angry with her. Meng Shu had no choice but to turn to Fu Zi and say:
"Since there's a misunderstanding, just tell me. Was it a misunderstanding that you said you'd pretend you didn't know her back then, or... or was it a misunderstanding that you, as a fellow villager and friend, refused to see Chun Ya one last time when she died?"
Meng Shu's tone was somewhat aggressive, leaving Lvliu momentarily at a loss.
Fu Zi's cheeks were slightly swollen, and she was clutching the porcelain bottle tightly in her hand.
With red eyes, she said, "Meng Shu, I was wrong back then. I was also very sad about Chun Ya's death, but at that time I was just a lowly servant in Lanting Courtyard, unlike you. My master never treated me well and would not usually allow me to ask for leave."
"Are you trying to speak ill of the Master of Lanting Courtyard behind my back in front of me and Green Willow at the entrance of Yunyi Courtyard?"
Fukuko felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively touched her cheek. "I didn't... I didn't mean that."
"So what do you want? Just say it."
After a while, Fu Zi gritted her teeth and pleaded, "Meng Shu, I beg you, could you talk to the Second Miss and ask her to take me from Lanting Courtyard? I'd be willing to do even a menial job."
So that's what they were planning? They couldn't get close to me, so they wanted to befriend Donggua, and now they've turned to Lvliu.
If it were only for her own future, Meng Shu might not have treated her coldly.
But things were clearly not like that. The rules of the manor clearly stipulated that if a maidservant needed to leave, she could ask for leave from the first-class maidservant or the steward in the courtyard. She did not need to go through her master at all. When Green Willow went home, she was able to leave the manor after speaking to Steward Cui.
Moreover, given Fu Zi's own aptitude, how could she possibly be promoted to the second rank in such a short time? When the Fourth Miss was injured yesterday, wasn't it Fu Zi, as her personal maid, who kept her distance?
Therefore, no matter what Fu Zi's motives are, Meng Shu cannot help her.
"Go away, I can't help you. Not to mention I don't have that kind of ability, even if I did, I wouldn't help you."
Meng Shu's intuition told her that Fu Zi was a big problem. She already had a feeling that Aunt Wen and the Fourth Miss were troublesome, and who knew if it wasn't some kind of scheme by the master and servant?
"Meng Shu... if you don't save me, I really won't survive." Fu Zi trembled as she rolled up her sleeves, revealing the bruises on her arms to Meng Shu and Lü Liu.
Green Willow cried out "Oh dear!" and turned her head away, not daring to look again. Meng Shu then walked past Fu Zi and went out through the side gate. "There are certain rules in the manor. The old lady and Madam Yun are known throughout Lin'an for their benevolence. If you have truly been punished undeservedly, you can report it to Steward Cui. Steward Cui will naturally find Wei Mama to uphold justice for you."
Meng Shu took two steps, but fearing that Lvliu would be bewitched, she had no choice but to beckon Lvliu to follow her away.
After the two left, Fu Zi squatted on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Her heart sank to the bottom. Thinking of Aunt Wen's words and the Fourth Miss's ruthlessness, she felt that being in the Tang Mansion was worse than being in the Chunfeng Pavilion.
Green Willow, though roughly the same size as Meng Shu, was intimidated by Meng Shu's few words and ruthless manner, and felt herself shrinking in comparison. "You...you really won't help her? Her injuries are real. Last night, no one in the main kitchen or the Orchid Pavilion courtyard spoke to her. She's so pitiful..."
Meng Shu interrupted her bluntly: "Green Willow, you must remember, being soft-hearted is a disease, and it can be fatal."
"Being soft-hearted may seem kind, but it is actually the most cowardly thing. Don't easily get involved in other people's affairs. We are just insignificant little girls now. No matter what, taking care of ourselves first is the right thing to do."
In fact, Meng Shu knew that saying these words was a waste of breath. After getting to know her for so long, she found that Green Willow was not only soft-hearted but also stubborn. She wouldn't realize that she was already in the abyss until she actually jumped into the pit.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the most important event for the Tang family is the betrothal ceremony for their eldest daughter.
This was the second thing Madam Yun did after regaining control of the household affairs. In addition, since the eldest daughter was the eldest daughter of the Tang family by a concubine, Madam Yun attached great importance to it.
In the past few days, the head steward Tang Shi has been sending servants to wait at the dock for the betrothal procession from the Song family of Jinnan. Inside, the entire Tang family has also begun to make preparations. The stewards of the front and back courtyards carefully checked the invitations and, after confirming with Madam Yun, began to send invitations to friendly residences to attend the ceremony, at which time a banquet will be held in the front and back courtyards.
The moment the eldest daughter's marriage was settled, Aunt Liu's mind suddenly cleared. Not only did she go to Yun Gui Courtyard to pay her respects every day, but she also managed the estates, shops, and jewelry in Fu Liu Courtyard to add to her daughter's dowry. She also had to carefully select the maids to accompany her in the dowry. Too shrewd would not do, and too honest would not do either. Aunt Liu was so worried that she lost her appetite.
That day, when Aunt Liu paid her respects at Yun Gui Courtyard, she mentioned again that she would accompany the servants of both families to take care of the estate and shops that would be part of the eldest daughter's dowry. She asked Madam Yun for advice with trepidation.
The Tang family has never married off a daughter, so there is no established precedent.
After considering for a moment, Madam Yun realized that as the legal mother, it was not appropriate for her to get involved in such matters. If she were to be too close to someone, outsiders would inevitably gossip. So she told the old lady to make the decision.
Actually, there's no rush. After all, the wedding is set for April next year. When paying respects at Fu'an Residence, the old lady will directly present the rules and regulations. If there are no set rules, then we can just follow the usual practice for legitimate and illegitimate children in aristocratic families.
When a concubine's daughter from an ordinary noble family gets married, let alone a manor or a shop, her dowry is at most sixteen loads, which is not as grand as that of a daughter from a moderately wealthy family.
Aunt Liu was dissatisfied but dared not say anything. After leaving Fu'an Residence, she wanted to find Tang Xian to make a scene, but in the end, the eldest young lady stopped her.
“Aunt, you must also consider your daughter’s situation. The Song County Magistrate of Jinan has two sons. Although we are a wealthy family, we cannot overstep the boundaries of the Song family’s eldest branch. If we make a big fuss, it will displease the eldest brother and sister-in-law. How will your daughter then gain a foothold in the Song family?”
These words quickly reached Madam Yun's ears, and Madam Yun said to Wei Mama:
"It's surprising that Shuang'er has become so perceptive. The upbringing she received from Granny Yuan of the Marquis's mansion has not been in vain."
Madam Wei smiled and said, "What you say is true, Madam. People don't grow up unless they have no other choice. Miss must feel anxious and helpless after marrying far away."
Madam Yun had also married far away. Thinking of herself, she murmured, "A woman who marries far away is indeed like a lone boat. The happiness of a couple is hard to come by, and in the end, she has to face it on her own."