The maid's road to success

Wen Niang goes to Fu Shou Tang every day. The elders of the Chen family are kind and do not need her to serve them. However, she is familiar with Fu Shou Tang and is willing to chat with the old ancestors, which can relieve boredom and help her learn a lot.

Because Chen Luoxi had spent too much time pursuing his wife, a lot of things had piled up. Only three days after getting married, he began to be busy and had to stay in the palace for half a day every day.

"You are also married and entering the mansion. I have something to discuss with you."

The old man wiped the cards and looked at Wen Niang who was looking at the account book behind him.

"Our ancestors told us to do that."

Wen Niang put down the account book and walked over to the old ancestor and sat down.

"Yulan and Yumei have been with me for a long time and have suffered a lot. In order to protect me from suffering, they found someone to marry in the exile area. Yulan is straightforward and was married off in a sedan chair carried by eight people. Yumei was carried in a small sedan chair through the side door."

"I've suffered a lot. Although that evil woman has been divorced, Yumei hasn't had it easy after all. I'm thinking about what I can do to support them so that they can have a smoother life in the future."

Yulan and Yumei, with red eyes, took the old ancestor's arm and refused.

"Now our husband's family has been promoted thanks to the Duke's Mansion, and our family respects us, so why would we need support?"

Everyone knows that the old ancestor has been in worse health and less energetic in the past two years. He has been through so many things and the blow was too great.

The body that was once carefully maintained can no longer be restored.

The ancestor was afraid that if she really passed away, Yumei and Yulan would be bullied.

"Don't worry, Grandpa, my mother-in-law and I have already thought of this. There were only a few people who followed us to serve when we were exiled, and even fewer who returned to Kyoto. These people have done us a favor. Apart from anything else, Sister Yulan and Sister Yumei also brought me up, so they can be considered my sisters."

"When we find a good day, we will formally become sworn sisters and invite the husbands of the two sisters to be our guests. We will officially recognize each other as relatives. As long as the Duke and I are here, no one can bully the two sisters."

The old ancestor clapped her hands happily, thinking that this was the best, but he was hesitant because he was afraid that people would mention that a duke's wife was sworn brothers with the maids and would laugh at Wen Niang.

"Don't worry about me, ancestor. I figured it out later. We can't control what others say. It's not worth it to let those gossips affect us. It's better to live a prosperous life to shut up those people."

The old ancestor only understood this truth later. She had delayed Chen Luoxi and Wen Niang for so long in vain. She patted Wen Niang's hand guiltily and pulled Yulan and Yumei to sit down as well.

"I saw that Bihe sent you a lot of gifts when you got married. You and her were best friends before, so why not acknowledge each other as sisters this time?"

Wen Niang nodded.

"I have sent a letter to Bihe. She has now officially opened a charity in Yuzhou. When I got married, many of the children in the charity were infected with smallpox. She was afraid that it would affect me, so she didn't come. Now they are all well, and she can find time to come to Kyoto."

Our ancestors are very satisfied. Doing good deeds and opening charity halls are all ways to accumulate virtue and do good deeds, so we should support them.

"The old marquis was right. He told me to do more good deeds and treat the people around me well so that the Chen family could survive. Now it seems that you are the lucky star of our family. You took Luo Xi away, and the charity hall also helped Luo Xi cover up his whereabouts."

"People should still believe that good deeds will be rewarded and evil deeds will be punished. Bihe did a good thing. From now on, I will give her one thousand taels every year and tell her not to worry about the money."

Wen Niang nodded and explained with a smile.

"Bihe is not short of money now. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law have given me money to support me every year."

Yulan and Yumei also took the opportunity to speak.

"We are not as rich as our ancestors and the first lady, but we also have a share of the family property. We will contribute one hundred taels every year."

Wen Niang did not reject their kindness. Since they had decided to treat each other as sisters, the more social interactions they had, the better.

"That's perfect. The two hundred taels from the two sisters are enough for the children to buy cotton-padded clothes every year."

A few people talked and laughed for a long time before Wen Niang went back to her room to make arrangements.

I never realized that Chen Luoxi was so pretentious before, but since getting married, he has asked Wen Niang to prepare his daily clothes for him. Although Wen Niang doesn't have to cook his meals, she still has to ask her to make a few of Chen Luoxi's favorite dishes.

Otherwise, he would think that Wen Niang didn't like him and it was just his unrequited love.

Wen Niang was so confused that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. When Bai and the old ancestor found out about it, they couldn't stop laughing.

Bai also said.

"Luo Xi looked unruly when he was little, but he actually had a lot of demands. He always asked which of his brothers and sisters we loved the most."

When Wen Niang found out about this, she was even more delighted. When Chen Luoxi and his friends went to Xiaohe Lane, she was still a servant in the Marquis' Mansion.

Chen Luoxi even refused to help make a few purses when asked to do so, which shows that he is also a stingy person.

However, Wen Niang was happy to indulge his temper so that he could feel more at ease.

When everything was almost settled, a letter came from the outer courtyard.

"Madam, it's a letter from Yuzhou."

Wen Niang stood up excitedly and unfolded the letter.

It was Bihe. She had already settled the affairs of the charity hall and set off for Kyoto.

Wen Niang was happy when she saw Bihe writing about many things about the children.

Fortunately, Chen Luoxi had made a lot of arrangements before he left. Now everyone in Yuzhou knows that Bihe is someone that the prefect should treat well, and no one has ever been embarrassed.

Everything went smoothly, but Anya's children missed Wen Niang very much, so they asked Bihe to bring many gifts they had prepared.

Looking at the peach tree outside the window that was sprouting new buds, Wen Niang stood up and couldn't help but recall many things from the past.

It was also this season when she first arrived at the Chen family. The peach trees had just sprouted tender buds, and the mansion was full of vitality.

From the moment she stepped in, she knew that she had welcomed a new life, without harsh criticism or beatings, without endless work and days of hunger.

She has a loving nanny to teach her, kind sisters to support her, a benevolent master to love her, and many companions to take care of her.

This is not the supply of new equipment, but even though she has no relatives of the same blood, she only feels satisfied and never feels any regrets.

It’s been a bumpy road, but it’s also the best experience.

In the past, she hoped to wait until she was old enough, marry an ordinary, honest man, and live an ordinary life.

You don't have to worry about food and drink, you have your own little house, you have some spare money, and you have children at home.

But now, she has deviated from the original plan and has become a duchess.

It was not as easy as she expected, but it seemed that she gained more.

A noble status, a luxurious life, a handsome husband, and an easy-to-get-along-with in-laws.

It seems pretty good. Maybe I have been stubborn about my own arrangements and haven’t realized that I have lived every day by myself.

Marry a commoner or a wealthy man.

It all depends on whether you manage the business with care and whether you support each other.

There were many newly bought servants in the mansion, and many of them were oppressed by their husband's families and forced into slavery.

When getting married, everyone dreams of a loving couple and a harmonious family. However, even ordinary people do not live a happy life.

During the time in the mansion, Wen Niang finally understood that no matter where she married, she needed her husband's love and the kindness of her in-laws.

Otherwise, even if you marry someone of lower status, you may not be able to live a good life.

When Chen Luoxi came back, he saw Wen Niang sitting in front of the window in a daze.

He took off his coat and handed it to the maid behind him, then walked up to Wen Niang and gently hugged her to his chest.

"What are you thinking about?"

Wen Niang was suddenly hugged by someone. She was startled for a moment, but when she smelled a familiar scent, she relaxed and leaned back steadily.

"Thinking back to when I first entered the mansion, I thought having enough food and no one to beat me was the best thing, but now I'm marrying you."

Chen Luoxi also seemed to see the little girl who had always been very quiet and polite, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

"I remember someone backing away from me as if I were the jackal."

Wen Niang turned her head and glanced at Chen Luoxi coquettishly.

"You are a jackal, never satisfied every day."

Chen Luoxi laughed so hard that his chest shook slightly. He picked the person up, sat down, and let Wen Niang sit on his lap.

"According to the love that the old ancestor has shown me, you are the only one who has always disliked me. Although Bihe and the others also follow the rules, they also know how to please me, but you are stubborn and only know how to hide from others."

Wen Niang naturally would not tell Chen Luoxi that the fourth young master at that time did not look like a gentleman, but was simply a dandy boy who loved to eat, drink and have fun.

"When I first entered the mansion, the maids told me about the fate of many maids who tried to marry into a wealthy family. I don't want to end up like that."

Chen Luoxi rested his head on top of Wen Niang's head and said lovingly.

"I felt you were different from the beginning, and thought that whoever was lucky enough to marry you would have a good life, but I never thought that this blessing would be mine."

Chen Luoxi is busier than expected. Wen Niang takes care of him every day and tries to make him feel comfortable when he comes back.

"Agui, go to the main kitchen and see if the Duke's lunch is ready. Ask someone to pack it up and send it to the palace as soon as possible."

A teenager in a grey T-shirt answered at the door.

"It's already been packed, and the Zhushan managers are also ready. Come and report to Madam and then we'll set off."

Wen Niang nodded. She had been feeling a little sleepy and not in a good mood these past two days. She didn't know if it was because of being tired, but she always felt lazy.

Bihe will arrive this afternoon, and Yulan and Yumei will also stay in the mansion for a while. I guess we can hold a small wedding banquet tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

When Bihe came, Wen Niang fell asleep again, so she went to Fushoutang first.

"You look different now. Although you look a little haggard, you are in good spirits."

The old ancestor was happy when he looked at Bihe. The maids around her were all well-behaved. They were sent to that place to suffer because of the burden on the mansion.

Every time she thought about it, she felt heartbroken. Chuncao Chunlv, at least she had her family and the support of the Duke's Mansion, and they found her a wealthy man in the local area to marry into.

At least she had her own life, but Bihe was stubborn and refused to get married, and she had no family members to accompany her.

Everything is fine now. Bihe has found what she likes, running a charity. Although those children are pitiful, as long as they are raised well, they will be filial to Bihe in the future.

"Although there are many children in the charity, they are all good children. I can feel that I have found spiritual support."

Bai nodded.

"Since you have taken in those children, you should treat them well. This is also a good deed. Although we are in Kyoto, we will also win over the women in the harem to help you."

Bihe thanked her with a smile. Wen Niang told her about the decision of the ancestors and the eldest lady. With the support of the noble ladies in Kyoto, both money and life would be much better.

The charity hall will no longer have Xiao Xiao to worry about.

The next day, the Duke's Mansion invited Yulan and Yumei's husband's families and held a wedding banquet with the masters of the mansion.

"Everyone here is a family, so don't be restrained. I invited everyone here today for my granddaughter-in-law."

"My granddaughter-in-law likes Magnolia and Yumei very much. She has been thinking about becoming sworn sisters with them. Although it is not a big event, it is also a formal marriage ceremony, so I would like to trouble everyone to come and witness it."

Yulan's husband's family was fine, but Yumei's mother-in-law and husband were sitting below and looked a little nervous.