Chapter 24: The Foolish Young Master

  "What can I make him do? Your father comes to ask me for those 200,000 dan of rice every day, putting me in a difficult position? That day's incident was the most beneficial to that little cheap woman, it was clearly her who planned and let Clock Shopkeeper betray me, making me suffer like this." Madam Gu's face twisted with some ferocity, "This time I have no other motives, I just want her life, otherwise when she grows more powerful, it won't be just 200,000 dan of rice, she'll make me a prisoner, and possibly the entire Duke's Manor will become her domain. So this time I'll do it once and for all, let your brother-in-law get rid of her over there, and no one will suspect us."

  Hua Ruo Yun was stunned, "She's dead, and the matter of marrying into the Northern Ming..."

  "Now I can no longer care about so much, she won't die, my heart is uneasy. Also, originally I was only planning to arrange for the few women from the second and third houses to make up the numbers, but in order not to arouse that little cheap person's suspicion, this time it's still you who goes, must bring her along. Once she dies, you can play the pitiful master, stir up the Long Princess's mansion, and the Empress Dowager will only think that the Long Princess intentionally harmed her and replaced the medicine, making them fight, I believe the Ming Consort in the deep palace is delighted to see this."

  If Hua Rou didn't frown, and if there wasn't the matter of her being engaged to Bei Ming, then wouldn't the Emperor's promise to find a good marriage for her be all for naught?

  Before, I didn't think much of it, but today I suddenly saw the crown prince's sunny and handsome face, as well as his heroic and masculine demeanor in every word and smile. If she could be betrothed to...

  She shook her head. The crown prince didn't take the Duke of Guo's household seriously at all, and if she relied on Hua Zhe Yu to be betrothed, he would probably look down on her even more.

  She raised her spirits and said: "How about letting Ba Mei go?"

  "What's wrong with you? All day long, all you think about is the Fourth Prince. If you go, it'll only lead to trouble, and if you don't go, that's fine too." Madam Gu's mouth curled into a cold smile as she had more important tasks arranged for her to do, determined to make Huahua Yu, that little prostitute, regret ever offending her.

  Quiet courtyard.

  “…Miss, I have realized my mistake. I will never dare to be disrespectful to you like before. Please give me a chance to make amends.” Chun Tao had been kneeling under the sun for a long time, and Hua Yu seemed unaware of it, until she woke up from her nap and continued to kowtow and beg anxiously.

  The soul that has been through the rain is indeed a transcendent one, and the concept of hierarchy is not very strong. Seeing Chun Tao kneeling on the ground with a pale face, he was truly filled with remorse. He didn't want to make things too difficult for an originally humble servant. Sitting in front of the chessboard where no piece had been moved for half a while, he finally turned to Peony beside him and said, "What do you think we should do?"

  "Miss, Chun Tao was originally an orphan with no one to rely on, so it's not surprising that she tried to curry favor with Shan Hu to get by safely. If you have a broad mind, you can keep her and use her as a helper or something, which is better than finding someone from outside."

  "Alright, I'll do as you say, but try to be more considerate of me."

  Peony nodded and hurried out to pull Spring Peach.

  At this time, Qiner came over and said: "The old master is in the outer study asking the young lady to go over for a visit."

  "Did you say something?" Hua Zhe Yu paused for a moment.

  "No, but judging from Zhang Gui's expression, it's probably not a bad thing."

  When the rain came to the outer study, Huā was sitting at her desk writing a Zen character. Seeing her come in, he put down his pen and pointed to the chair across from him: "Sit."

  Hua Zhe Yu was silent for a moment before sitting down. Hua Bu Xing let out a sigh and said, "It seems that Father has agreed to return the 200,000 dan of rice to your mother, but it will take some time. I hope you can be patient a little longer. It's something your sister left behind for you, and Father won't let anyone else take it. Don't worry."

  I knew Mr. Gu wouldn't be so easy to talk to. Hua Yu didn't want to argue with this cheap father, she just nodded obediently, "Daughter is not in a hurry, since Father has made up his mind, Daughter also has a bottom line. However, the shopkeepers and apprentices at Wan Yuan Rice Shop, I hope they can all be replaced, this matter may still require Father to show his face."

  Replacing someone is a matter of money, from the account book found in the study last time, it can be seen that all three rice shops have been emptied by the Gu family, where is the money for a big change? Just hoping to solve this problem with the father's little guilt.

  The flower nodded heavily, "Indeed, it should be changed. Father will let Zhanggui follow your requirements to handle this matter."

  Huā zháo yǔ máng dào le xiè, huā bù quē yòu dào: "Gāng cái diē yǐ jīng dé dào xiāo xī, běi míng wáng yǐ jìn le wǒmen dà zé dì jiè, gū suàn bù chū yī yuè jiù kě yǐ dào dá jīng chéng, diē xī wàng nǐ xiàn zài yǒu gè xīn lǐ zhǔn bèi."

  Mental preparation? With rain dripping down her eyes, she didn't need any mental preparation because she had never planned to marry the King of North Ming.

  Before that son of a bitch arrived in the capital, she had at least ten ways to make him not dare marry her, let that blood-sucking beast go to hell.

  Hua Buqu smiled and said, "You're always cooped up in the mansion, never going anywhere. As it happens, Princess Dachang is hosting a lotus appreciation banquet tomorrow. Why don't you go with your third sister to broaden your horizons? It's also good for you to socialize with some young ladies from noble families and have some lighthearted conversations."

  "Can I not go?"

  The flower is not lacking in sentiment, it seems to have improved a lot: "It won't be long before you go to Beiming, can you take a look at why you don't want to go? Besides, this is the eldest princess who specially sent someone to invite you to go, and if you don't go, you can't explain it. Your father has already asked your aunt to prepare several new clothes for you, you choose them yourself, and dress up properly tomorrow."

  Why would the Empress Dowager specifically ask her to go, when they didn't even know each other? Hua Zheyu sighed and it seemed like she couldn't refuse. However, if she were to travel with Hua Ruoyun, she would have to make some extra preparations.

  After returning to Jingting Garden, it turned out that Mrs. He had indeed sent someone to deliver several pieces of fabric and new clothes with good styles. It seems that although Mrs. He is sharp-tongued, she is actually much smarter than Mrs. Gu, who has been in a high position for a long time. Although she took charge of the household, at first, she used a gentle policy towards the people in the mansion, which was how she won their hearts.

  The next morning, Hua Yu chose a peach-colored dress with a narrow sleeve and a short jacket, a long skirt that trailed on the ground, with fine plum blossom embroidery along the hem. Although simple, it was even more elegant and understated, after all, she wasn't going to compete with others for attention, so she kept a low profile.

  Peony entrusted the good Qin'er and Chun Tao, and the two masters and servants arrived at the front yard, where Hua Ruo Yun had been waiting.

  She wore a jade-green embroidered lotus leaf skirt, with a light green sash around her waist, and delicate crystal beads hanging from the hem of her skirt in the shape of pink lotus flowers. Over this, she wore a white gauze cloak, with a single piece of jade pendant between her eyebrows. Elegant, refined, yet serene and composed, with a hint of tender beauty. Truly a stunning beauty, and this outfit perfectly matched the scenery of today's lotus appreciation banquet, showing that it was carefully thought out.

  "I originally planned to take Seventh Sister to the Grand Princess's mansion, but unexpectedly, the Grand Princess's side took the initiative to invite us, what a coincidence! Seventh Sister must have fun today."

  Hua Ruo Yun warmly reached out and grasped Hua Zhe Yu's hand, smiling sweetly.

  Hua Zhe smiled as if nothing was wrong: "It's an honor, I'm just glad to have a chance to visit the Grand Princess's mansion before going to Beiming, so that in the future when I go to Beiming, I'll have something to brag about."

  The girls were arranged in the rear carriage, and the two sisters got on the front one peacefully.

  "Has Seventh Sister ever heard about the eldest princess's only son?" asked Hua Ruo Yun casually.

  She spoke in a gentle voice, recounting what she had learned: "I've heard that the Eldest Princess volunteered to marry Xiqi, but was stopped by the Empress Dowager. As a result, our aunt took her place. Not long after, the Eldest Princess married the Crown Prince of Anping. Unfortunately, soon after the marriage, the King of Anping passed away, and the Crown Prince fell gravely ill, bedridden for many years. Even their only son was born with mental disabilities... Am I correct about this?"