"Give her what she wants, that's my way of thanking her. She was only seven when she came to me, and after all these years together, I have more feelings for her than Wu Shi and Duan Shi combined. I often go to her place, and those little tricks she plays on me, as long as they're not overboard, I just pretend I didn't see them. But this time, I didn't expect her to be so ruthless. That little trick of hers can only fool ignorant women, and she's willing to ruin her own body for it, how stupid."

  The two were lying down side by side, with a small distance between them. Hua Ruochu turned her body to prop up her head and looked at the man beside her, "Ignorant woman?"

  "You're not."

  "I wasn't in the first place." Hua Ruochu sat up and leaned against the headboard, "I can understand Lvyao's thoughts of competing for favor, but I'm a bit puzzled, if she wanted to make you take a look at her, did she have to do it so fiercely? You didn't even notice, whether you went or not, she wouldn't know, and she couldn't pretend to be weak to evoke your sympathy. I think this is quite a loss."

  "That year when I was sick, I also had a high fever and lost consciousness."

  Hua Ru's eyes dropped as she looked at him, "Your meaning is... she wants you to recall that period? Recall her kindness to you?"

  Qī Yòu's eyes were full of ridicule, "This can be used by her, how laughable."

  Women in a patriarchal society are pitiful. They go to great lengths for men, but even so, men may not give them a second glance.

  Hua Ru's silence brought Qi You back to his senses, and thinking about what he had just said made his face feel a bit hot. Fortunately, it was dark all around, or else his face would have been completely lost.

  "I'm tired."

  "En." Hua Ru had just slid down and lay down properly, her eyes wide open, without any sleepiness.

  In fact, she admired Green Willow, for someone who could be ruthless to themselves was truly heartless.

  "Am I too heartless?" Qi You suddenly asked after a while, both of them knowing that the other was still awake.

  "You're not a sentimental person, but you should be a long-suffering one."

  Because of her deep affection, she was able to give herself a name due to the good treatment she received from the green willow. In this era, as a personal maid, shouldn't one be expected to take care of their master when they fall ill without rest? This is one's duty.

  After receiving such a comment, the cold air in his heart finally showed signs of warming up. Qi You closed his eyes to rest and it wasn't long before dawn broke. Whether he slept or not made no difference.

  Hua Ru didn't know when she fell asleep, Qi You got up quietly and sat on the edge of the bed to look at her for a while before letting down the curtains to let Qi An come in and serve.

  When she heard the door sound and footsteps moving away, Hua Ruochu just opened her eyes. There was no drowsiness in her eyes at all. The moment Qi You got up, she woke up too. It's just that he pretended not to want to disturb her sleep, so she went along with his wishes.

  There were many things to do today, and I originally could have been lazy and not gone to pay my respects, but because of what happened last night, I had to go and report it to the old lady. What I heard from others and what I heard from her was very different.

  Third Aunt's place also needs to be visited, yesterday's fainting incident has something to do with her, although there was good news, as a junior she still needs to go and ask after her well-being.

  The green willow can't be avoided either, she has to go and take a look. As for the subsequent play, she doesn't care how it's sung, as long as she maintains her weak wife image.

  None of these things were what she wanted to do, yet none of them were things she could avoid doing.

  Hua Ru initially hugged her quilt and rolled around for a while, but finally sat up reluctantly, "Yun Shu."

  The door opened with a creak, and Yun Shu led the servant in with washing utensils, making a bow to greet her: "Miss, you are safe."

  "Alright, no outsiders."

  Yun Shu smiled and said, "Before Master left, he instructed us not to disturb you while you rest. Miss, it seems that Master is very concerned about you."

  "If I were to run away, where would he go to find another wife who is so considerate of him?"

  Qiu Jin brought over the clothes and smiled, "Miss, I remember you said a sentence before, 'Wang Po sells melons', what's the next sentence?"

  "Pride goes before a fall, I remember."

  Looking at the group of people laughing together, Hua Ruochu glared at them with a bad temper, "You've been ganging up on me since morning, haven't you?"

  "The maidservants didn't dare, Miss, you're not Wang Po, you're our beautiful and lovely young mistress."

  "Discuss and fight." Gently patted Yun Shu, Hua Ru Chu couldn't help but laugh too. She got out of bed, opened her hands, and let several people serve her to change clothes.

  "Is there any news from the other courtyard?"

  "As soon as it got light, the steward invited a doctor into the mansion. I heard that the illness is quite serious and he hasn't woken up yet."

  "Where did you hear that?"

  Yun Shu gave the young lady a good waistband and replied, "Don't worry, we didn't get close to that courtyard, it's just that our ears are a bit longer, so we heard what the little girl said."

  "I don't object to you gathering information about the masters of various schools, but don't let anyone discover it. We can't just shut ourselves in and pretend to be deaf."

  "Yes, miss, don't worry, they won't find us even if they look for us."

  Sitting in front of the dressing mirror, Hua Ru looked at several maids through the mirror. "The Qi Manor was founded on military merit, and although it can't be compared to its former glory now, there is still some foundation. Don't underestimate those who guard the house, they have all been to the battlefield. In terms of martial arts, they may not be as good as you, but if we really talk about life and death, it's not easy for you to retreat unscathed."

  "They are so fierce? Miss, don't scare me, their internal strength is much worse."

  "Of course, you win in terms of skill, but their every move is honed on the battlefield, among piles of dead bodies. Their attacks are aimed at vital spots, and they have a strong killing intent. You... lack real combat experience and haven't hovered between life and death before. In short, each has its strengths. Having confidence is good, but overconfidence is arrogance. Be careful."

  "Yes, I remember."

  "By the way, Yun Shu, pass a message to Ma Bo, in a few days I might go out of the mansion with Qi You, let them tidy up what needs to be tidied and hide what needs to be hidden, don't leak any information."

  Yun Shu was overjoyed, "Miss, can you really go out? Did your husband agree?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "Great, I'll post the news right away."

  It was almost time for dinner when she arrived at the main house. The old lady saw her and was very pleased, but pretended to be dissatisfied and scolded her a couple of times, "I told you to stay home and rest for two days, it's not like there's no one here to serve me."

  "Sun's daughter-in-law was also thinking of resting, and since she didn't get enough sleep last night, she's still a bit dizzy from walking. But something happened last night, and Sun's daughter-in-law thought it would be better to tell you in person, so you wouldn't hear some half-true, half-false rumors from someone else and end up worrying even more."

  The old lady saw that she was indeed not in good spirits and didn't let her stand either, pointing to the position below herself, she said to Shuang Ji: "Quickly help Young Lady go sit down, speak slowly."

  Hua Ru's face was slightly apologetic as she smiled, her small white rabbit-like appearance making her look even more adorable. With the support of Shuang Yi, she sat down and recounted everything that had happened last night without leaving out a single detail.

  The old lady and the elderly gentleman who was resting with his eyes closed frowned as they listened, until the old lady slapped the table, "Is there no discipline at all? A concubine who has been promoted gets sick in the middle of the night and disturbs you, that's already undisciplined. How dare she disturb Yu'er? What kind of maid is she?"

  Hua Ruchu hastily stood up and bowed, taking all the blame on herself, "Grandmother, it's the daughter-in-law who didn't do well, couldn't manage the household properly, and disturbed her husband, please punish me."

  After scolding her, the old lady felt a bit better and helped the person up, patted her hand and said: "You're too easy-going, no temper at all, this won't do, you can't keep people in line. Eldest daughter-in-law, you'd best teach her a lesson."

  Qī Wǔ's expression was unsatisfied as he glanced at Huà Rú, saying: "Yes, Mother, I will teach her well."

  P.S: Don't want to always write about the main courtyard, the plot can't develop, hehe, it won't be like this soon.