Favoring the concubine and killing the wife? She divorced the concubine and lived with her concubine

Xiao Lan didn't sleep very well that night; it was her first time with a child. She worried about crushing her and about her kicking the covers off. She finally fell asleep near dawn. If Moli hadn't brought in some hot water and realized Xin'er couldn't lie still any longer in her arms, she might have been able to sleep a little longer.

She looked at Xin'er with tenderness in her eyes, and Xin'er looked at her with her round eyes.

"Xin'er woke up really early."

"Your eyes are still moving even when you are asleep." Xin'er grinned happily when she saw Xiao Lan wake up.

Jasmine brought clothes for Xiao Lan to wear, tidied them up, and then helped Xin'er put them on.

"This Haitang is really annoying. She took so long to get breakfast. I should have gone earlier."

Xiao Lan knew Jasmine's temper, so she didn't say anything. After washing up, she waited for a while before she saw Haitang come back with a tray of food, pouting. She took the food out of the tray: two bowls of porridge, two plates of pickles, and nothing else.

Xin'er climbed onto the stool, stretched out her little arms, and pushed a bowl of porridge to Xiao Lan, and moved a bowl for herself, and drank it by herself, as if it was normal.

Xiao Lan didn't move and cast a puzzled look at Haitang.

"Madam, I haven't forgotten what you told me." Haitang explained.

"Can't you have two eggs and a few buns?" Xiao Lan understood.

"Not only could I not come, but I was also scolded by the old cook. She said, Madam... Madam..." Haitang hesitated and didn't dare to say anything.

"What did you say?" Jasmine was anxious. "Are you saying that Madam is weak and can't eat?"

"The Madam is going to die, so eating eggs is a waste!" Haitang finally said it, lowering her head and frowning, feeling depressed. She felt that her life was miserable and she had to suffer this pain following the Madam!

There was a crisp "bang" sound, and Xin'er's spoon fell to the ground. Her big red eyes stared at Xiao Lan in fear, her mouth opened and closed but no sound came out, and she was about to burst into tears.

Even though Xiao Lan had already prepared herself for a rough time here, being scolded so early in the morning was unbearable. Turning around, she saw Xin'er's pitiful expression, frightened by the harsh words. If she could still endure it, then her journey through time would be in vain.

She patted Xin'er's little hand and clenched her fist to show Xin'er.

"Don't worry, Xin'er. Look, my fists are stronger now that you're here with me."

Xin'er clasped her fists with both hands, but her eyes were still looking at Xiao Lan, tears falling down her face, and she nodded again.

Haitang felt guilty when she saw that her words made the young lady cry like this. Adding to the grievance she had just felt, she lost her temper and started crying with Xiner.

"That old woman, she really thinks she's nothing!" Jasmine cursed.

The room suddenly became noisy. It was cloudy outside and it felt like it was going to rain but it didn't. A gust of wind didn't make me feel cooler, but only made me feel hotter.

"Where's Mother Xu?" Xiao Lan changed the subject, and everyone began to wonder. Mother Xu had indeed not been seen that morning.

"Madam!" Mother Xu responded from outside the door.

Xiao Lan held his forehead and looked at the person who came and the people following behind.

"Madam, Miss Fang is here to greet you." It was hard to tell whether Mrs. Xu's expression was good or bad, but Fang Qingqing, who followed behind her, was smiling and thought she was very dignified.

The people in the room hadn't finished crying yet, and Xiao Lan didn't want to abandon her daughter.

She held Xin'er's red, tearful face in her hands, and said softly but firmly, "Xin'er, mother will not die. I will never abandon you. So, you have to believe me. For you, I will definitely live well. Remember?"

Xin'er's face was held by Xiao Lan, her chubby facial features were crumpled into a ball, and she nodded as if she understood.

"Okay, miss, eat the porridge quickly before it gets cold." Jasmine took the spoon again and went to feed Xin'er.

When Haitang saw Fang Qingqing and Xu's mother coming together, she quickly wiped away her tears and went to pick up the broken spoon.

Mother Xu sensed something was amiss in the room from a distance, so she asked Fang Qingqing to wait in the yard instead of inviting anyone in. Xiao Lan was pleased with Mother Xu's discernment.

A teapot sat on the stone table in the yard, and two cups were half-filled with pale yellow tea. Xiao Lan and Fang Qingqing sat across from each other, speechless for a moment.

"Are you feeling better?" Xiao Lan spoke first.

Fang Xiaoniang had been acting crazy before, and Fang Qingqing's memory was patchy, so she couldn't quite remember the proper etiquette for greeting someone. She had only given a brief bow when she entered, and wasn't sure if there were any other formalities. She hesitated and pondered, remaining silent.

She had heard crying from the house just now, evidently, that the people in the courtyard hadn't had a good morning. She was worried about being impolite and offending the lady, which was why she hesitated. Fortunately, Xiao Lan didn't seem to be in a bad mood; at least her expression didn't show it.

"I'm feeling better now, thanks to Madam Xu who came to see me last night and gave me some advice." Fang Qingqing said this, then stood up and bowed again. "Thank you, Madam, for saving my life."

Xiao Lan nodded, knowing that Mother Xu must have felt sympathy, otherwise she wouldn't have visited again this morning. She began to have a better impression of Mother Xu, and her previous thoughts of sending her back to the Xiao residence because she was too pedantic were somewhat erased.

"You're welcome. It's not easy for anyone." Xiao Lan drank the cold tea in the cup and sighed deeply. After all, she was unhappy but had no place to vent.

As if thinking of something, Xiao Lan asked, "What did you eat this morning?"

"Uh..." Fang Qingqing thought the question was strange. She secretly glanced into the room. There were still some dishes and chopsticks on the table that had not been collected. There were only a few small bowls. She understood what Xiao Lan meant and replied, "Vegetable porridge."

"It's cooked with leftovers." Mother Xu took over and added some tea to Xiao Lan's cup.

"Oh, not as good as me." Xiao Lan laughed at himself, "Are those two girls still useful?"

Fang Qingqing looked at Mother Xu and said nothing...she didn't know how to answer.

"Don't mention it! She was called away by housekeeper Wang last night, and was assigned to empty the chamber pots in each courtyard this morning. When I saw her just now, the girl named Xiaoqing's eyes were swollen from crying." Mother Xu said angrily. She felt anxious when she thought of the look in Xiaoqing's eyes. It was not her who asked her to empty the chamber pots.

Fang Qingqing looked at Mother Xu, and sure enough, what she said was better.

"Butler Wang..." Xiao Lan muttered to himself as he reached into his pocket, only to find that he had no tobacco in his current situation.

She sighed deeply again, which made Mother Xu frown, and Fang Qingqing feel that she should come up with a plan quickly.

"Madam, is there anything I can help you with?" Fang Qingqing felt that Xiao Lan was like the company leader, looking worried in front of her. As an employee, she should take the initiative to step forward and express her determination to help her solve her problems.

This little workplace guide was from the married man who'd deceived her, trying to show off his maturity. Thinking of his appearance back then, Fang Qingqing couldn't help but shudder. He looked so greasy, how could she have thought he was handsome?!

Xiao Lan didn't know what she was thinking, and just stared at her blankly. How could this zombie-like woman, who had been crazy for several years, help him?

Out of sheer curiosity, Xiao Lan asked, "How do you think you can help me?"

Fang Qingqing also looked at Xiao Lan blankly, thinking of what the HR asked her during the interview: What do you think you can do for the company?

Fang Qingqing's response at the time was to complete all tasks assigned by leadership and give them 150% to the best of her ability. At the same time, she would improve herself based on the company's development, meet its expectations, and offer constructive suggestions. Even if my suggestions weren't adopted, it wouldn't stop me from thinking; it simply meant that my suggestions hadn't met the company's acceptance criteria.

After all that nonsense, she actually passed the interview. But she knew she couldn't answer like that now. Unless she wanted to go back and be imprisoned.

"I don't know." She answered confidently.

Given her current situation, it's hard to say what she can do.

Xiao Lan lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, then picked up the cup to drink tea. But she seemed to find it too funny, and her laughter became louder and louder. The hand holding the cup trembled so much that she had to put it down.

Fang Qingqing felt uneasy because of her smile. She didn't dare to stare at her. She pulled her sleeves and glanced at her from time to time.

"Hey! You've helped me, I feel better now." Xiao Lan wiped away the tears from her eyes and looked at Fang Qingqing again. Fang Qingqing had combed her hair carefully today. Perhaps because there was no rouge in the house, she hadn't put on any makeup. Fortunately, her face looked a little more presentable. She must have been wearing the new clothes that Xu's mother had brought today. Although they didn't fit her well, they were clean.

Xiao Lan looked at Fang Qingqing's profile. She hadn't noticed her dark complexion yesterday, with her disheveled hair, but she did today. This Fang Qingqing looked exactly like the girl she'd met at the hotel, the one who'd clutched the blanket so nervously, not daring to look at her.

"Are you here just to say thank you? Now that you've expressed your gratitude, please go back." However, because the idea was too weird, Xiao Lan didn't delve into it.

"No...no." Fang Qingqing waved her hands quickly when she saw someone trying to send her away. She remembered her determination yesterday and made up her mind.

"I have come to ask for your protection. If you hadn't saved me yesterday, I would have died. I don't want to die. I want to be used by you and follow your lead."

"Oh? Follow your lead?" Xiao Lan wanted to laugh again, thinking that this girl Fang was quite humorous.

Mother Xu coughed lightly, and Xiao Lan naturally knew what she meant.

"You've seen my own situation. I can't do that for your two girls."

"I wouldn't dare to entertain any wishful thoughts or covet anything. I only wish to stay by my wife's side and find a safe place to live." Fang Qingqing lowered her eyes, a look of sorrow on her face. "Otherwise... I'm afraid I can't survive in the Sun family..."

"Just for a way to survive?" Xiao Lan turned to look at Mother Xu and told her to buy some delicious food. She still felt uncomfortable after getting up early without eating.

Seeing Mother Xu leave, Fang Qingqing guessed that Xiao Lanping sent the servants away so that she could have a private conversation with her, and quickly met Xiao Lan's gaze. "Yes, just for a way to survive." She said in a firm tone.

"Someone led me to the pond yesterday, but I was not thinking clearly at that time and didn't know who it was." This was the fragment Fang Qingqing remembered yesterday. As for who it was, she hadn't figured it out yet.

"I am just hanging on to life on the leftovers from the Sun residence. This is intolerable. I was crazy before and didn't know whether to live or die, but now I am sober and know clearly that I don't want to die."

Xiao Lan nodded but said nothing. Since someone wanted to harm her and she couldn't find out the reason, she couldn't guarantee anything.

Seeing that Xiao Lan didn't respond, Fang Qingqing didn't dare to say anything else.

They were quiet for a while...

"I promised to help you within my ability. However, the people who hurt you will probably take action after seeing that you are not only alive but can come to me." Xiao Lan folded Fang Qingqing's oversized collar inward to cover the exposed inner garment. "Given my current situation, I can't bring myself to suffer. I can only watch from the sidelines. So you need to make an effort to keep yourself alive."