Cold-faced Empress

Even with the subsidies Wei Lanling had received from the Marquis of Wei's mansion, Xiao Li and her family were still not financially secure, and in the end, they could only afford to buy a small house on a plot of land in the outer city.

The yard was spacious, but there was very little furniture, and most of it was old. But no matter how dilapidated it was, it was still a home.

Finally having a stable place to live, sheltered from the wind and rain, and no longer having to live in fear, Little Li was overjoyed. She had never been so happy since arriving in the capital.

Unfortunately, the Marquis of Wei's residence does not allow Wei Lanling to leave the residence, otherwise the mother and daughter could have had a good time.

After buying some ordinary items at the market, on her way home, she noticed passersby gathered around something. Little Li went closer to look and saw two sisters selling themselves to bury their father.

The two girls looked exactly alike. Although they were of average appearance, they were good-natured and obedient.

Unfortunately, this was in the outer city, and there weren't many high-ranking officials and nobles willing to lend a hand. It was much more convenient for people to just watch the spectacle.

Madam Li had just bought a house and didn't have enough money to buy maids. Just as she was about to leave, she heard two maids crying.

"Please, kind souls, give us a few coins so my sister and I can bury our father. We don't need much, just enough money to give him a proper burial. My sister and I will do anything, even serve you as slaves!"

The younger sister added, "No, we won't become prostitutes or servants to men with elderly or young men in the family. My sister and I are daughters of respectable families; we don't have such wicked thoughts, nor do we seek help from people with wicked intentions!"

The two sisters' words instantly silenced Little Li's footsteps.

After much hesitation, he finally stepped forward and took the two girls away.

Madam Li remembered that her daughter had complained more than once about needing a trustworthy maid. Her daughter's life alone in the Marquis of Wei's residence was difficult, and she wanted to send a maid to make her daughter feel more at ease.

Fu Siying sat in a teahouse with a view right by the street, watching as Madam Li led Qingyi and Runyi away. She slowly curled the corners of her lips, her expression mocking.

Qingyin withdrew her gaze and asked curiously, "Young Miss, do you want to buy those two maids? Madam Wei has already taken them far away."

Qingyin was puzzled. How could the young lady, who was drinking tea in this small teahouse, happen to run into Madam Wei buying a maid on the street?

Fu Siying chuckled and shook her head, her focus slightly off-topic, and admonished, "Don't call her 'Madam Wei' anymore."

"Then how should I address you?"

"Just call her Madam Li, since she no longer has a husband's surname."

"Mrs. Li?"

Qingyin was about to ask why when a maidservant of the Luo family hurriedly entered and greeted her: "Miss Fu, my young lady has already left the city with her friends and sent me to invite you."

"understood."

Having reached an agreement with Luo Qiansu, Fu Siying left the teahouse, boarded a carriage, and followed the Luo family's maids out of the city.

Once the group of young men and women walking in formation ahead came into view, Fu Siying instructed the driver to slow down and not to follow too closely.

Seeing that Young Master Rong Chen was among them from afar, Qingyin whispered, "Miss Luo and Young Master Luo invited their companions and friends to go out and practice riding skills in preparation for the upcoming autumn hunt. Didn't you say you weren't interested and let the young master go alone? Why are you following along now?"

Fu Siying smiled faintly: "Hehe, I'm not interested in practicing riding skills, but there are people in that team who interest me."

"people?"

The Luo siblings' procession arrived at a hunting park on the outskirts of the city. The young men and women disembarked from their carriages and entered the hunting park, laughing and chatting amongst themselves.

After speaking with her brother, Luo Qiansu waited outside the hunting grounds with her maid. A short while later, Fu Siying's carriage arrived.

"You really came," Luo Qiansu greeted her, slightly annoyed. "Miss Xia is so hard to invite. I had to beg her to come. But as soon as she arrived and saw your brother there, she immediately became unhappy and put on a bad face in front of everyone. It really put me in an awkward position."

Fu Siying, grateful for Luo Qiansu's help, said, "I've embarrassed you. Just wait, once I've spoken to her properly, I'll have her apologize to you."

"Apologize to me?" Luo Qiansu laughed, then shook her head helplessly. "I can't afford it, let's just forget about it."

Avoiding the crowd, Fu Siying quietly entered the hunting grounds with Luo Qiansu. Luo Qiansu had invited friends to entertain and couldn't spend much time with Fu Siying, so they soon parted ways.