The Virtuous Concubine

Madam Liu had no idea about these details, so she could only ask. Ma Lu thought about it and decided to help her sister. She asked her family not to make this matter public and to make a deal with Mayanzhu.

The Wuya family gave her money so that she and her husband could live a comfortable life and become wealthy, and they could also train her son to take the imperial examinations and become an official, but she could not recognize her ancestral roots. Neither she nor her children could appear in front of the world as members of the Wuya family.

Madam Liu thought that Concubine De was really kind-hearted, so she quickly went to tell the Uya family. Weiwu had no choice, because he felt that Concubine De's daughter was really too opinionated and wanted to take care of the family affairs! But he didn't dare to disobey, so he could only hold his nose and call Mayanzhu, the rebellious daughter, to tell her about the deal.

Mayanzhu had been locked up for so many days, and she had lost her initial arrogance. Before she came back, she didn't know that Saihe Lishi had passed away. She thought that after she came back, Echan and Saihe Lishi would definitely take her back crying and take care of their family.

Unexpectedly, she only saw Weiwu after she came back, and Weiwu knocked her out and locked her up. Aunt Hongyu remembered their past relationship and told her about her family. Her mother died, and Malu became the Defei, and gave birth to two princes and a princess.

She was really desperate at first, thinking that her father would kill her to protect her sister, Concubine De, but she didn't expect that her luck would change. Although Weiwu's attitude was still bad, it was just cold, not irritable or disgusted with murderous intent.

When Mayanzhu heard that Weiwu could give him money and help raise the child, but only in the name of distant relatives and could not adopt the child back to the Wuya family, she had already accepted this plan in her heart. Anyway, there was no relationship between her and the Wuya family now.

But she seemed to have a flash of inspiration. After all, Aunt Hongyu had not taught her in vain. She asked tentatively, "Is it my sister? Did my sister say that?"

Weiwu looked at her rough face and dirty clothes and sneered, "Yes, thanks to your sister who still cares about you, otherwise I would have beaten your wild man and evil offspring to death and sent you to become a monk!"

After hearing this, Mayanzhu couldn't stop crying. She didn't expect that at this critical moment, it was her sister who she had always envied and hated who lent a helping hand.

A few days later, a distant relative came to stay at the Wuya family's mansion. In the capital, where many big families gather, such a small matter would not attract much attention. Who doesn't have a poor relative who occasionally comes to ask for money? Of course, after a few years, those who are familiar with this family say that the man in this family is honest and dutiful, and the boy is smart, diligent and studious, and may really achieve something in the future and bring a turning point to this small family.

This is a story for later. At least now, Malu was relieved to know that the matter was resolved safely. She stood in front of the window, looking at the night sky outside, thinking about everything that happened in Wuya's house when she first came here. She sighed softly, turning those complicated emotions into a whisper, and said to herself: "It's good like this, it's best for everyone to be well."

These past two days, she would unconsciously pinch the sachet containing the red tassel of the flounder, but she would not be able to do so tomorrow. She had been clamoring to see the soil of the plum blossoms, to see how the plum trees could bloom in the frost, and whether they could be grafted to help other plants become more cold-resistant.

The foreshadowing has been done. She will find an opportunity to throw away the jade pendant to cut off all possible involvement. The box containing the jade pendant has long been ground into sawdust by Bai Fu and Bai Xia with a small file, and then turned into invisible things in the incense burner along with the incense ash. This method of handling is thorough and secretive, ensuring that no clues will be left behind.

The next morning, Malu and Bai Xia set out for the Meixiang Snow Pond with hoes, jars for soil, and scissors for cutting branches.

The sun shone through the thin morning mist, but there was no warmth. Malu had something in her heart, but her face showed no expression. She just chatted with Bai Xia as usual. They walked through the quiet path, bypassed those familiar palaces and pavilions, and finally came to the Meixiangxue Pond.

It was not yet the season for the flowers to bloom, so there were almost no people here. Only the palace maids and eunuchs who were taking care of the gardening came to take care of it occasionally, but not this early. When Malu arrived here, he really began to observe the soil and branches of the plum tree carefully, and Bai Xia assisted him by the side, digging the soil and cutting the branches according to Malu's instructions.

After a while, seeing that no one was around, Malu quietly took out the jade pendant and held it in her palm. The warm touch of the jade pendant made her heart move, but it was soon replaced by determination. She began to dig the soil herself, her movements were natural and unobtrusive.

When no one was paying attention, Malu threw the jade pendant into the jar that was already half filled with soil, without making a sound. The jade still carried the warmth of Malu's palm, and sank into the soil, as if it originally belonged to this soil, isolated from the world, and no longer carrying any emotional weight.

Malu gently patted the dirt on his hands, stood up, and smiled faintly at Bai Xia: "Okay, let's continue."

After filling up a jar of soil, Malu still felt it was not enough, so he dug two more jars. After finally finishing, seeing Bai Xia and himself covered in sweat and mud, Malu personally carried the cut branches for cuttings and prepared to go back.

But just as she returned to the gate of Yonghe Palace, she saw Bai Fu who had gone out to look for her. Seeing the queen and Bai Xia in such a mess, Bai Fu smiled and hurriedly urged them: "Your Majesty, the emperor has come to Yonghe Palace! I have been waiting for you for a while, so I came out to look for you first."

She spoke anxiously. It was obvious that the emperor's sudden visit caught the entire Yonghe Palace off guard. Her own queen had already told them that the emperor might ignore her for the sake of the balance of the harem. She didn't expect the emperor to come so soon?

Ma Lu was shocked when she heard this. This, this, this. Thinking about the jade pendant in her jar, she felt a little guilty. But she didn't have much time to hesitate, so she signaled her to quickly put the flower branches and soil in place, and then she went ahead and quickly returned to Yonghe Palace to tidy up her appearance.

Soon, Malu had changed into clean clothes and combed her hair neatly. She checked herself in the mirror one last time to make sure there was nothing wrong, then she took Bai Fu and walked calmly to the main hall to see the emperor.

When she entered the main hall, the emperor was reading a book. Seeing this, Malu could not help but think of the secret note that Kangxi had kept. However, she still bowed gracefully, then raised her head and looked directly at the emperor with her clear eyes.