I was a queen in ancient times, no, a maid!

After buying things, I went straight back.

As soon as I entered the Orchid Garden, I saw several familiar maids. Taozi and Zhuer were there. When they saw the things Cheng Yu brought, they came forward to help take them.

"Yu'er, you bought so many things."

Zhu'er took the basket in her hand, and Taozi took the bag of cotton. The cotton was all fluffed and could be made into a quilt directly, so it was fluffy and looked bulging.

"I bought some cotton."

"The food in this basket is what we're going to eat tonight. There's a lot of meat," said Cheng Yu.

This made Zhuer happy.

"Yu'er, you are so kind to us. We are here to help you."

Taozi also hurriedly said, "I'll help too. Yu'er, if you have any problems in the future, just call me. I, I don't have much money, but I'm very strong."

I know that Taozi is a fire-making maid in the small kitchen and her monthly salary is the lowest, only two hundred coins per month.

This is the lowest monthly salary given to the Madam after she entered the Lan Garden. If it were the Lu family, it would be considered good to give her eighty cents a month.

Even with the two hundred coins, Taozi had to give some to the nanny in charge. She also had to buy some daily necessities, such as women's underwear and menstrual belts, all of which cost money.

Therefore, Cheng Yu didn't ask Taozi to pay more money or anything.

Although Cheng Yu didn't say anything, Taozi remembered it in her heart and was very grateful.

She had thought of treating everyone to a meal today. She had received rewards recently, and if she didn't spend some money to feed the little sisters in Lanyuan, if she really got into trouble in the future, who would take care of her since she has no relatives or friends?

Besides, the food we treat everyone to is not expensive. We can save a lot of money by cooking it ourselves.

Cheng Yu didn't care much about this point.

She and Xiangling went to the market after breakfast and strolled around for a while.

At this hour she should go to the small kitchen to prepare lunch for the lady in advance.

Zhu'er and Taozi helped Cheng Yu put down his things and then followed him to help.

Zhu'er went to the sewing room and Taozi went to the small kitchen.

Seeing Cheng Yu preparing the ingredients for lunch, she knew that during the few days she went to the palace, the eldest lady's meals were all prepared by Madam Li and Mother Wang, who were both good at cooking meat and pasta.

The lady was very generous in her food.

It was so rich that the lady couldn't eat any more.

For now, cook less fish, shrimp and meat. It’s not that you shouldn’t cook them, but just cook less.

She wanted to make some nutritious vegetarian dishes.

Therefore, more dishes are needed for lunch today.

In the morning, the vegetable delivery man delivered fewer vegetables, only cabbage and spinach.

Now that the weather is cold, the vegetables can be stored for a long time. Cabbage is delivered every three to five days, and spinach is delivered every day. There will be no stale vegetables in the small kitchen.

Some vegetables are also delivered to the farm every day.

Today there are winter bamboo shoots, lettuce, and some bean sprouts. Cheng Yu prepared the ingredients and started cooking according to the time.

As soon as the fire started, Xiangling came.

"Yu'er, you don't need to prepare too much for lunch today. Madam doesn't have a good appetite."

Cheng Yu asked, "Is it because of pregnancy reaction?"

Xiangling shook her head. "I don't know. I went to the street with you this morning. But the lady told me to tell you that you don't need to prepare too much. Just do it as you see fit."

Cheng Yu nodded.

Zhao Rulan has a light taste and occasionally eats spicy food.

Cheng Yu used bean sprouts, vermicelli and eggs and added some leeks as a side dish to make a stir-fried dish.

I also used winter bamboo shoots to make a dish of fresh bamboo shoots and mushrooms. The mushrooms were delivered from the farm today and were very fresh.

I also prepared two stir-fried dishes, stir-fried cabbage with dried shrimps and celery with dried tofu.

The lady had a stomachache, so she didn't prepare any cold dishes, but only steamed red date buns and seven-color rice.

Cook brown rice, black rice and japonica rice together.

After Cheng Yu finished making it, he brought it to Zhao Rulan. He saw that she was playing with a hairpin in her hand, but her expression was indifferent and she seemed to be in a bad mood.

"Lady."

Cheng Yu stepped forward and put the food down.

Zhao Rulan sighed and put down the hairpin. Dingxiang immediately put it away but said nothing.

Cheng Yu brought out the food and placed it in front of Zhao Rulan.

"Madam, please have your meal."

Cheng Yu picked up the chopsticks and handed them over. Zhao Rulan took it and took a bite of the winter bamboo shoots.

"Well, the food you cook is delicious and suits my taste. A few days ago, when you were not in the Orchid Garden, the old lady sent someone to ask, saying that she wanted you to go to the big kitchen to teach you how to cook a few dishes. It's a good idea."

"You are my favorite, I can't bear to send you away."

Cheng Yu also smiled.

But in my heart I was thinking, how could such a good lady end up like that?

No, she had to remind him.

"Madam, I see that you are in a bad mood these days. When I went to the palace, I went shopping. I passed by a bookstall and saw the pitiful gentleman, so I bought a few books. I am illiterate and I couldn't understand them after flipping through them. The gentleman said that they were some treasures. I don't know what they are, but I will bring them to you. You can read them when you are free. It will help you relieve your boredom."

Ding Xiang said immediately, "Yu'er, the Madam has a lot of worries, and she also has to check the account books, so how can she have time to read miscellaneous books?"

The women in this cabinet only read the Book of Conduct for Women and the Book of Training for Women. They have never read any miscellaneous books.

Zhao Rulan chuckled and said, "Dingxiang, Yu'er also wants me to help her out."

"Then I will fetch it for you now, Madam."

Zhao Rulan smiled, and Dingxiang served her food.

"Lilac, don't be so sullen all the time. You are so young, but you look like an old woman. When you are old enough, I will find you a good husband. If you keep having such a sullen face, how can you get married?"

"It would be better if this servant could not get married, so that she could serve you for the rest of her life."

"Let's not talk about that. This winter bamboo shoot stew with mushrooms is pretty good."

Cheng Yu was wondering at first what Zhao Rulan was worried about just now, but later he realized that the jade hairpin was the eldest lady's favorite and was given to her by the second master before the marriage. It could be said to be a token of love.

I thought that the eldest lady’s worries were related to the second master.

Cheng Yu naturally didn't want Zhao Rulan to be so obsessed with her feelings that she couldn't extricate herself.

Her store with a useless system is still useful at critical moments.

There are many books in the store, all of which are modern novels and chicken soup literature. It is similar to a reader, but the books in this store can be updated by the host himself, and you can search for any book you want.

But these books cost money.

When Cheng Yu returned to his residence, Zhu'er must have gone to the kitchen to find something to eat.

She had time to search for a few books.

【House Fighting Survival Guide】

[Mrs. Li beats her unfaithful lover with a stick]

【My Years in the Back House】

【Be a woman with independent characteristics】

【Women should be self-reliant】

Cheng Yu picked up some books that looked very good and sent them to the lady first, regardless of whether they were useful or not. Then she would go to the lady from time to time to brainwash her.

Under the current circumstances, Zhao Rulan must know that Lu Zhaowen has a mistress outside and that they have a child.

Dingxiang told her about this privately, and the lady sent someone out to inquire about it.

That street is easy to find out about.

The people who were sent to stake out for three days saw with their own eyes that the Second Master entered the house, went off duty in the afternoon, and came back in the evening. He stayed in the yard for half a day.

Zhao Rulan probably doesn't know what to do now.

Cheng Yu took the opportunity to flip through the book. In the book, before Zhao Rulan came to her senses, she was still looking forward to Lu Zhaowen's return, and she was still thinking about living a harmonious life with Lu Zhaowen.

But this will obviously lead to her tragic end.

It doesn’t matter if Cheng Yu doesn’t know, but now that she knows, Zhao Rulan is nice to her.

Moreover, she also accepted the money given by the prince, who said that he would protect the lady, so she could not go back on her word.

Cheng Yu held the book and brought it to Zhao Rulan.

"You're not tired from running around."

"Open them quickly and let me see what kind of books they are."

Cheng Yu put the book in her arms on the table. "I can't read, so I don't know. I see that the old man is also illiterate. He just gave me a few copper coins for a pile of books and gave them all to me."

Dingxiang followed Zhao Rulan and was naturally literate.

Looking at the title of the book, her eyes widened and she quietly pulled Cheng Yu's clothes.

"What kind of book are you getting for the lady? It doesn't look serious."

However, Zhao Rulan reached out and picked up the book [Mrs. Li Beats the Unfaithful Man with a Stick] and flipped through it for a few times.

The more I watched, the more fascinated I became.

I started wiping away tears as I read on, and then I continued to flip through the pages, feeling refreshed.

"Well done, this man deserves to be beaten. He has such a virtuous wife at home who bears children for him, but he married someone else and came back with a divorce letter to Lady Li."

"It's really pitiful for Madam Li and her two children."

"Yes, unfaithful men should be beaten." Cheng Yu also echoed.

Zhao Rulan looked at Ding Xiang and asked with a smile, "Aren't you illiterate? But have you read this book?"

"I feel refreshed when I hear you say these words."

"Madam, I'm going to say something that's beyond the rules. You're beautiful, wealthy, your family is a royal palace, and you have a brother who is a prince. The prince is doing very well in the army now. In my opinion, you've been wronged by marrying into the Lu family."

Cheng Yu's words seemed to suddenly remind Zhao Rulan of something.

"I am willing to get married, no one forced me."

Cheng Yu knew that Lu Zhaowen just had a mistress and had not done anything unforgivable to harm Zhao Rulan.

In ancient times, it was normal for men to have three wives and four concubines. Although keeping mistresses outside was detestable, it was not a big deal.

It is unlikely to get Zhao Rulan to leave Lu Zhaowen, the scumbag, now.

But at least let Zhao Rulan become independent and strong.

A young lady who is rich, pretty and has a good family background cannot be a love-brained person.

"Madam, it's my fault for talking too much. Please punish me."

Zhao Rulan: "Why should I punish you? What you said was for my own good, wasn't it? Yu'er, you are still young and don't understand. I am getting married now for the sake of my family, so I can't be impulsive."

There are some things she knows and how to do them, as her nanny had taught her a long time ago.

But she couldn't be cruel.

Only then can I endure it.

But that mistress has been becoming more and more arrogant recently, monopolizing Lu Zhaowen and not letting him come back.

She had already cut off Lu Zhaowen's pocket money. She was just waiting for Lu Zhaowen to come to her so that she could find a way to control him.

She is pregnant now and has just married into the Lu family. She absolutely cannot bear the stigma of being a shrew.

Even if she and Lu Zhaowen could not live together, Lu Zhaowen would have to be ruined.

Zhao Rulan asked Cheng Yu how much he spent on these books.

Cheng Yu said, it’s just a few copper coins.

These books were really not expensive. She also discovered that the money she had in ancient times, such as the gold leaves, small change, and jewelry given by the Madam and the Prince, could be exchanged for modern banknotes in the system store.

Cheng Yu exchanged a gold leaf for tens of thousands of RMB.

This system is a little perverted. As long as it detects that she has money, it will ask her to upgrade the system.

After the warehouse was upgraded, it expanded twice as much. She clicked on the automatic decoration function, so she spent all her money on the system, except for the small change and a few pieces of jewelry left outside, and the gold leaves and gold beans rewarded by her master.

Of course, the system saw that she clicked on the decoration function and gave her a lazy sofa for free.

She renovated the warehouse, using half of it as a storage room and the other half as her house.

You can also rest in it in the future, especially take a shower.

In ancient times, it was inconvenient to take a bath all year round.

If she had this house, she could take a nice and comfortable bath.

As a northerner, if I don't scrub my body after taking a bath, it would be disrespectful to bathing.

Zhao Rulan asked Dingxiang to take out one or two taels of silver and give it to Cheng Yu.

She also said that if Cheng Yu was willing, he could come to her for an hour every day and she could teach him to read.

Cheng Yu was naturally happy.

Zhao Rulan was also happy. She liked Cheng Yu's liveliness and cleverness.

"It's better for Yu'er to be more lively. A young girl should be lively."

Zhao Rulan had just finished lunch and was thinking about going out for a walk.

The old lady sent someone to invite her.

He said that a relative, an elder in the family, had come to visit, and asked Zhao Rulan to go over to avoid losing her manners and upbringing.

Cheng Yu happened to be nearby, so he went with him.

The old lady lives in Nian'an Hall. The courtyard is not big, but it is elegantly renovated, exuding a sense of wealth.

Many of the furnishings in the house were dowry items that Zhao Rulan brought when she married into the Lu family.

The old lady had hosted a banquet before, and said that the furnishings in the house were a bit worn out, so Zhao Rulan, the head of the household, replaced them with better ones.

When she married into the Lu family, she thought that this was the Lu family, so she gave her mother-in-law some things as a sign of filial piety.

She took the maid into the house.

It was the old lady and a woman about the same age as the old lady who were sitting on the couch by the window. Zhao Rulan didn't know who that person was.

The eldest wife, Mrs. Sun, had already arrived and sat down next to the old lady.

She nodded slightly at Sun and called out in a neutral voice, "Sister-in-law."

Madam Lu looked at Zhao Rulan with a smile and said, "Lady Lan, this is your cousin, my cousin's sister. She has lived in Jiangnan for many years. Her husband's family is engaged in business and they live well. Now, they have brought their business to the capital."

"We're going to settle down in Kyoto from now on."

"You should call me aunt."

"Hello, auntie."

There was a curiosity in Zhao Rulan's eyes. My mother-in-law's cousin's sister?

Could it be related to the Second Master's mistress, Miss Song?

"I don't know what my cousin's last name is, and how to address her. I'm pregnant now, and my memory isn't very good, so I always ask the people below to remember it, and we can't forget it during festivals."

"My last name is Song, and my husband's last name is Li. You can just call me Aunt Song."