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  Chapter 16: The Cost

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  Zhu Yuhuan was not in the mood, and he didn't want to play chess either. Chu Ke'er had no choice but to think of a way to tease him. Suddenly, she saw some wild orchids growing on the mountain and hastily said, "Aunt Liu loves orchids! Why don't we dig up a few and plant them in the courtyard?"

  She said, Zhu Yuchen naturally was the first to echo, hurriedly nodding "yes" He stretched out his hand to pat Zhu Yuhuan, who was planting a few orchids along the wall corner, and Liu Niangniang looked at it with certainty and was delighted.

  Zhu Yuhuan's anger turned into joy, and he temporarily put aside that hateful Lan, stood up to take a look at the orchids around him.

  After searching, they found quite a few. Chu Ke ordered the maids to find the nun and bring back the hoe. Several people dug up several trees, and Zhu Yuhuan immediately looked for a suitable place in the courtyard to dig a hole and plant them.

  Also dug several pits on the wall at the entrance of the hut, planning to plant a few more.

  While eating, Chu Ke asked Qing Guo, "What's going on with Wu Ye and Lan?" Qing Guo lowered her head, looking at her toes, and said in a low voice, "Miss, Wu Ye ordered me to say that if I leak out even half a word about today's events, he'll sell me to a place outside where there are many bad people, and also made me take an oath..." Her toes rubbed against the ground back and forth, but she didn't dare to lift her head.

  Chu Xue heard this and couldn't help but laugh, "Is it really that serious? Then forget it, let's just not talk about it."

  Qing Guo hastily thanked the girl and ran out like he was escaping.

  "When eating, Mrs. Liu saw that someone was having ginseng soup again, and still only gave San Gu Niang a small bowl, while giving another person a large bowl. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the ginseng being wasted like this, and thought it would be better to save it for when the young lady returns to the mansion to stew chicken or fish."

  Chu Ke smiled and said, "Since Auntie is something that Fifth Master bought, it's also someone's kind intention. Why don't you just accept this kindness and drink it with a peaceful mind? Yes, in the manor, the kitchen on your side has never sent any bird's nest or ginseng."

  Liu Yiniang sighed and said, "I've wasted these white buns by eating them myself; I should have left them for the young lady to eat."

  "Auntie, don't say such things, it's unbearable to listen to." Chu Ke'er felt very uncomfortable and put down her bowl. Auntie was from a wealthy family, even if she had become a concubine, she shouldn't be saying such things. Being looked down upon and not given these ordinary things, just wanting us to become shallow and ignorant, thinking everything is good, and when we get something slightly better, we have to chant Buddhist scriptures and be grateful to them from the bottom of our hearts."

  Chu Ke's voice was a bit louder, and Liu Niang put down her bowl awkwardly. Jing'er and Qingguo, who were serving on the side, looked at each other in fright and quickly retreated quietly. Men Shi, standing at the door, moved in her heart, but remained standing without leaving.

  "Why should we cater to their wishes? They want us to be shallow, so we become shallow. They want us to be humble and unassuming, so we have to be humble and unassuming in front of them. Can't we stand up straight and be ourselves in front of them?"

  Outside, Jing'er and Qingguo walked to the front of Men Shi, lightly clearing their throats. Men Shi lowered his head but didn't immediately walk away. Jing'er and Qingguo's expressions changed as they exchanged a glance with each other.

  Inside the house, Liu Yiniang felt a bit embarrassed and also a bit sad. In these few months, her niece seemed to have suddenly grown up, becoming very sensible and having her own ideas. Most importantly, she had suddenly become close to her. Of course, Liu Yiniang was delighted, so much so that every night before sleep, she would chant "Amitabha". She too had come from a humble background, so didn't she understand the principles her niece spoke of? However, some things weren't just about having a strong backbone to support them...

  Men raised his head, looking at Jing'er and Qingguo in front of him. He coughed softly, then shouted "Miss, the old slave has something to report."

  Chu Ke'er was momentarily flustered in the room and only said those words, seeing Liu Niang being talked into lowering her head and not speaking, she also regretted a bit, just about to soften her tone, when she heard the sound of Men Shi's voice outside, she hesitated for a moment, saying "Come on in."

  Men Shi walked in with her head down and knelt before the two of them. Madame Liu felt slightly uncomfortable, as Men Shi was a favorite of Old Lady's and had always been treated more respectfully than her in the mansion. Now that she was kneeling at her feet, Madame Liu was shocked and unaccustomed to it. She was still feeling wronged by what the young lady had just said when another shock came.

  "Miss, I overheard what you just said outside. Every word you spoke was reasonable and showed great insight and courage. I truly admire you... However, Madam might feel wronged, but she can't express it. I understand a bit, so I took the liberty of coming in to speak on her behalf."

  "Grandma Liu hastily asked if she wanted to speak for me?"

  Chu Ke thought for a moment and then said, "Let's hear what the gatekeeper has to say." She turned her head to Madame Liu and said, "Auntie, let him speak. Whether it makes sense or not, we'll listen."

  Liu Yiniang hesitated for a moment and nodded reluctantly.

  "Yes, what you said makes sense to you, but to me, it's just reasonable without being proper. You're still young and don't understand the ways of the world. I have to put up with people's attitudes and endure their temperaments every day, which you can't possibly comprehend. Forgive me for my impertinence, but even if you were to make a mistake, the worst that would happen is that your maid would be punished, or at most, you'd be made to kneel or go without food. That's the extent of it. Even in the past when the old mistress was still alive, the Sun family treated you poorly, didn't they? Think about it, all you had to do was kneel before her and that was it."

  Chu Xue didn't. However, that time, Sun Cheng's family did call her to kneel down casually, it can be seen that they often use this trick. She took a glance at Liu Yiniang.

  "Miss, please don't be angry with me for saying this, it's just 'kneeling down' after all. It's because, Miss is still a Miss, and even if punished, not a single hair on your head will be touched. But it's different for the servant girl, even if she didn't do anything wrong, when needed, she can be dragged out to be beaten at any time. Not to mention if she really did something wrong, the stick won't be spared! And in extreme cases, she might even be sold or beaten to death... So Miss, don't get angry for the servant girl's sake, she has no way to fight back, nor dare to fight back due to her status..."

  "It's all right." Chu Ke said, interrupting her, "You can go now."

  Men Shi responded with a grunt, bowed her head and immediately left. As soon as she went out, Jing Er and Qing Guo continued to watch her, Men Shi also understood that this time she did not stubbornly guard the door, but honestly went far away to avoid them, Jing Er and Qing Guo also walked a little further to keep watch.

  Liu Yiniang stared blankly at the place where Men Shi had left, Chu Keqi coughed softly and said in a low voice, "It's mine, it was too hasty, and I didn't realize it until an old woman came to remind me." Madam, don't blame me.

  "Mother Liu hastily shook her head. The girls were all for my own good, I would not blame them... just as Madam Meng had said..."

  Chu Ke nodded slightly, reminding me of my aunt's situation. I was only blaming my aunt, but didn't think that her situation... must be extremely difficult, possibly just like what I thought...

  "Miss Liu hastily said, 'What you said also makes sense. As a person, one must have self-respect and self-strengthening, so that others can look up to them. Being timid and shrinking with one's head down, just for the sake of barely surviving, is really not worth it...'"

  "Chu Ke sighed and said, 'Auntie, you're right. I'm really ashamed of myself. I was only thinking about venting my own dissatisfaction, but I didn't think about how difficult your situation is...'"

  Her hand was gently covered by Liu Yiniang, Chu Keqi raised her head, and Liu Yiniang looked at her with a warm gaze. "Let's not mention the past, from now on, even if it's for your sake, I won't lower my head to be bullied by others. You said so yourself, you've grown up, and if I still let people bully me at will, wouldn't that make you sad? And how could I feel comfortable?"

  Chu Ke sighed and gave up, no longer arguing... Auntie, have you ever thought about leaving the Chu household? She looked at her and her father... separating?

  Liu Yiniang's expression was not very surprising, Chu Keqin had a slight joy in her heart, it seemed that she had expected this? Liu Yiniang asked, "What do you mean by these words, young lady?"

  "Ask Father to return my dowry, whether it's going back to Mother's house or living in a separate residence, it's better than being bullied at the Chu Manor." Chu Ke said "Of course, buying a house and other things outside don't need to be worried about, Brother...Brother will help me, and with Brother protecting me from behind, I won't be afraid of anyone bullying me in the future. This is what it means to see if you're willing to separate from Father."

  Madam Liu's expression remained unsurprised, and she even smiled at these things. "Have the second master and the young lady discussed this?"

  Chu Ke murmured a vague "uh-huh".

  Liu Yiniang sighed and smiled, saying "I've troubled you with my affairs... Let me think about it."

  Chu Ke nodded slightly and said, "Auntie, think carefully about it. There are some things I shouldn't say..."

  "The young lady has something to say, is there anything she can't tell me?" asked Mrs. Liu with a smile.

  Chu Ke hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing her words before speaking. "If Auntie still has feelings for Father and wants to stay by his side, I won't force the issue. However, Auntie needs to think things through clearly. In the future, if anything happens, Father may not be able to help... What I mean is that Grandma will give the new wife a hard time, and Red Xiu is just their pawn. Even if they get rid of Red Xiu this time, there will still be Green Xiu, Blue Xiu, and so on until the new wife gains prestige or... or until there's no one left to bully. The new wife not only wants to establish her authority but also wants to take away Father's attention, which is currently focused on Auntie, until there's nothing left."

  She looked at Liu Niang and thought for a moment, wasting her whole life in such a family, is it worth it?

  Liu Yiniang remained calm throughout, listening until she finished speaking. Without a thoughtful expression, she nodded and said, "I understand, Miss. I will think it over carefully."

  Chu Ke nodded slightly, "But you must think it through carefully."

  Liu Yiniang nodded again.

  Waiting for Aunt Liu, Chu Ke also returned to the house, and muttered to herself, "Has she already thought it through? She looks like she's already made up her mind...... what was she thinking?"

  Liu Yiniang's calmness made Chu Keqi a bit uneasy, fearing that she would think of something wrong. She didn't sleep well after thinking about it for a whole night. The next day, when Liu Yiniang went to the main hall, she called over the two maids who had followed Liu Yiniang and asked them questions.

  Actually, these days, Liu Yiniang and her lived door to door, she was also very clear about Liu Yiniang's every move, the two maids said that it was consistent with hers, Chu Keqi could only be suspicious in her heart, secretly paying attention.

  Two days later, the old lady of the Chu mansion sent someone to visit them.

  People came suddenly, and suddenly stood at the door. Chu Ke was in the house with Jing Er and Qing Guo. The door opened and Liu Rong's family came to the old lady's side with a very bad face."

  Then a woman walked in and smiled at Chu Ke's wife, "How are you doing, young lady?"

  "This old lady, Chu Ke Hui, had also seen her before. She was one of the more useful people by the elderly lady's side. Smiling, she said 'It's alright, please sit down.' Then, in a flurry of orders, she instructed the maids to pour tea and water."

  The old woman looked around and asked where Madame Liu had gone, heard that she was listening to the scriptures in the main hall, and wanted to take a look. Chu Ke instructed Bai Guo to lead her, raised his head to see Jing'er and Menshi, both of their faces were pale.

  Chu Ke thought to herself, the old lady was so suspicious that even if it were her own people around her, she would still send someone to suddenly inspect them. Jing'er wasn't used to it, but what about Men Shi? Didn't he know the old lady well too? Was it just because he felt embarrassed?

  "What is Liu Rong's family doing beside the old lady?" she asked.

  Men Shi originally was the auntie in charge of training new maids outside, but after something happened at Che Gui's house, she was transferred to the inner courtyard and took over Qing Er's job, managing all the servants inside.

  Chu Xue understood that Men Shi was uncomfortable because she felt that the Liu Rong family had taken advantage of her absence to fawn on the old lady, threatening her position as the number one confidante by the old lady's side.

  Her heart also sank. If Mrs. Meng had this feeling, it meant that the hearts around her were not sincere. At least on the side of the old lady, she still wanted to pull and drag...

  She nodded and didn't ask any more questions. With a glance, Liu Rong's family had already left. Smiling, she bid farewell to Chu Ke Hui Fu. Chu Ke simply detained her for a moment before calling Jing Er to send her off. Liu Rong's family didn't show any intention of finding Men Shi alone until they went out. Men Shi was getting anxious, staring at her as she walked away.

  Chu Kei pretended not to know and went back to the house. Mrs. Men was anxious, this was her fault and she had a guilty conscience. The things that happened on this side, Old Lady would absolutely not do it. Sending Liu Rongjia's family here was definitely just to see how people were doing, whether they were obediently staying put. As for ignoring Mrs. Men, it was probably Liu Rongjia's own decision...

  At that time, Men had already figured it out and his expression had also returned to calm. (If you like this work, welcome to subscribe and reward on Starting Point Website (), your support is my greatest motivation.)

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