Traveling through time and space to become a lady of a noble family, but she only wants to escape

"Yes, yes, you are right." Lu Jiliang suddenly became energetic, but after a moment he scratched his head a little embarrassedly, "You see, I wanted to tell you a funny story to relieve your boredom, but in the end I let you comfort me..."

"It's nothing. Besides, I don't have anything to worry about."

"Really? Last time we met, when I mentioned your recent situation, you... I thought you were not doing well in the Marquis' Mansion." Lu Jiliang carefully stared at Bai Zhi's face, "How does your husband treat you?"

Bai Zhi almost forgot what happened during their last meeting, but she didn't expect Lu Jiliang to still remember it.

Bai Zhi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm living well in the Marquis' Mansion, and my husband treats me very well."

Lu Jiliang finally relaxed his frown: "That's great."

The meal lasted more than an hour. Bai Zhi didn't expect that the food in this seemingly money-grubbing restaurant was actually really good. It was true that appearance alone could not be judged by appearance, which made her eat a few more servings with her chopsticks.

When they parted, Bai Zhi stuffed all the gifts into Lu Jiliang's carriage, and then returned to Yishuiyuan.

The next morning, Cook Xu knocked on the door of the wing room: "Madam, are you awake?"

Bai Zhi just opened her eyes dazedly, turned over while hugging the quilt, and responded with a slight nasal tone: "I'm awake... I'm not awake... What's wrong..."

"Madam, I have something personal to ask of you."

"Ah..." Bai Zhi propped herself up and saw that the mat next to her had been put away, so she hastily smoothed her hair and shouted, "Come in and talk."

When Chef Xu walked in, her eyes were swollen and bloodshot, and there were even a few white hairs on her head. Her face looked very haggard, as if she had aged ten years in an instant.

Bai Zhi was so shocked by the embarrassing look she had never seen before that she asked hurriedly, "What happened?"

"Madam San, my sister, Chuqi's mother, wants to see you. I hope you can condescend to see her."

Her voice was so hoarse that it was unrecognizable. This time, Bai Zhi was no longer sleepy, and nodded quickly: "Okay. Have we arrived at the Marquis' Mansion yet?"

"Thank you, Madam Third. Thank you, Madam Third. My sister is waiting outside the mansion."

"Please come to the pavilion and talk."

Cook Xu gritted her teeth and said, "I dare to ask Third Madam to see me in the side room."

"Okay, I'll wash up now."

Just as Bai Zhi had gotten herself ready to be presentable, Cook Xu came into the house, supporting a woman who looked to be in her forties.

Compared to the tired look of Cook Xu, this woman was much better. Although her legs and feet were not very agile and she was wearing patched coarse clothes, her eyes were bright and her body was straight. She waved her sleeves and bowed deeply, saying, "Meet the Third Madam. My name is Lin Ruogui. I came here to thank the Third Madam for taking the trouble to teach my son Chuqi."

Bai Zhi invited Lin Ruogui and Xu the cook to sit down and poured tea. "Mrs. Lin, you are too polite. Chuqi is smart and quick to understand. I just gave him some guidance. It's not hard work."

"Third Madam, you are too modest. Chu Qi has been full of praise for you." Lin Ruogui took off the bag on his back and spread it on the table. "This is a small house, not like a marquis's mansion. I hope Third Madam will not despise it as a small gift to show my appreciation."

A whole bag of lotus seeds, red beans, dried meat, etc., was a very particular gift of six gifts. In the middle was a slightly smaller bundle, which Lin Ruogui untied three layers inside and three layers outside, and took out a wooden inkstone from inside.

Bai Zhi took it with both hands. The inkstone looked light, but it felt very heavy in the hand. There were two vivid cranes standing on the inkstone, with their wings spread and their heads bowed. When ink was ground on the center, it became a picture of cranes drinking ink.

Even a half-blind person could see that this was something of considerable value.

"Madam Lin, this is too valuable. I feel ashamed to accept it. Please take it back."

"Madam, Third Madam." Lin Ruogui hesitated for a moment, and then said as if he had made up his mind, "To be honest, it concerns my son, and I have an unreasonable request."

Cook Xu at the side quietly raised her sleeve to wipe away her tears, and Lin Ruogui saw it at a glance: "Sister Qiu, let me talk to the third lady alone."

Bai Zhi said nothing.

Giving a generous gift is probably not a trivial matter.

Sure enough, after Cook Xu left, Lin Ruogui stood up, lifted his skirt, and kowtowed.

"Madam Lin!" Bai Zhi stepped forward to help her, but Lin Ruogui fell to the ground without moving. She said in a deep voice, "Madam, what I am asking for is not polite and is not moral. It is too much. If I don't kneel before you, I will feel embarrassed."

At this point, Bai Zhi would be humiliated if she continued to help her. After thinking it over, she simply half-knelt on the ground and said, "Madam Lin, I live in a deep mansion. Apart from having some knowledge, I am afraid I have no other ability that is worthy of your kneeling."

"Madam, to be honest, I have always been seriously ill and now I am at the end of my rope. I heard that you are talented and kind, so I dared to ask you to take Chuqi as your personal servant and let him serve you." Lin Ruogui took a deep breath.

Bai Zhi understood. This wasn't about her being asked to take in a servant. This was clearly about someone entrusting his son to someone else.

"I've seen that Chef Xu usually takes good care of Chuqi. You and Chef Xu are sworn brothers, and you know each other well. Wouldn't you feel relieved to let her take care of Chuqi? If Chuqi is kept by me, she will have to change her name and become a slave. Madam Lin, why do you have to do this?"

Lin Ruogui gritted her teeth and said, "My sister lost her husband at an early age. She has to take care of her parents and three children. In the past few years, she has to take care of me and Chuqi. It's not easy. As her sister, I can't help, but how can I be a burden everywhere?"

After the words fell, no one in the room spoke for a while. Lin Ruogui could not stand up, and the sweat dripping from his forehead left several deep marks on the hem of his clothes.

After a full incense stick of silence, Bai Zhi finally spoke: "Madam Lin, nothing lasts forever. If one day I leave the mansion, eat coarse food, sleep in the open, and no longer receive any protection, are you willing to suffer with me on the seventh day?"

Lin Ruogui was stunned for a moment, then looked up at her: "What do you mean, Madam Third?"

"A mother's love for her son is always far-sighted. You bet that I have good intentions, so you come here to ask for stability and a future for Chuqi. This is human nature. However, I may not be able to provide you with stability or a future." Bai Zhi said, "Chuqi is a good child. I can take care of him, but I can't promise him anything. You have to think carefully."

Lin Ruogui had tears in her eyes and said in a trembling voice: "Third Madam, this is enough."

Bai Zhi: "What?"

"Chuqi lost his parents when he was young. I feel so sad that he will be alone and helpless after I pass away." Lin Ruogui bowed his head again. "Chuqi is always full of joy when he mentions Third Madam and Miss Qiaoqiao. He always praises Third Madam for being humorous and kind. If Third Madam can really take care of him, I will die with peace of mind."