The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

"Well, it's all up to people. How can I be so easily led astray by them, actually wanting to become someone's concubine?"

Being a concubine is no easy task. Just look at the women in the inner quarters of this Marquis's mansion; not only do they live a difficult life, but their children are also treated as inferior, controlled by their stepmothers in everything.

Madam Wang was shocked. "Girl, who would lie to you and make you a concubine?"

Could it be the Lady of the Marquis? Is she going to offer you to the young master as a concubine?

Hua Sirong was unaware that Wang Mama was about to say something so surprising; she only heard her continue muttering to herself.

"Young Master, although I have never met him, I have often heard the servants in the manor mention him. He is an exceptionally talented young man, and the young lady would be a good match for him."

Although she is to be a concubine, the Lady of the Marquis is, after all, the young lady's own aunt. With this relationship, the young lady's days in the young master's harem should not be difficult..."

After careful consideration, Wang's mother didn't think there was anything wrong with the marriage, since the girl would be twenty by the time the mourning period ended.

"Mother, I do not want to be a concubine."

Besides, my aunt and the others weren't talking about my cousin." Hua Sirong quickly chimed in. The old lady's thoughts were easy to guess, but they weren't what she wanted.

"Not the young master? Then who is it?" We can't have another old geezer like a county magistrate.

Madam Wang thought of Madam Shen's past behavior, how she always used her concubine's daughter to pave the way for her, could it be that Madam Hou had also inherited her true skills?

Wouldn't our young lady be completely taken advantage of then?

Suddenly, sorrow welled up within me again.

"The Lady of the Marquis is a respectable lady now. How could she invite her own niece to come and say such things as arranging a marriage? Does she have no respect for the Marquis's family?" she said, turning her back to wipe away her tears.

Hua Sirong recounted what she had seen and heard at noon that day, leaving Wang's mother dumbfounded and somewhat puzzled.

"Judging from what Lady Hou said, she doesn't mean she wants to ruin Seventh Miss's idea of ​​marrying into the royal family. What does that have to do with sending her to be a concubine?"

"Besides, the one the Marquis's mansion wants to send as a concubine is the Sixth Miss, which has nothing to do with our Miss."

The Lady of the Marquis had conflicts with the concubines, and used marriage to manipulate the illegitimate sons and daughters, which was a common occurrence in large mansions.

Hua Sirong said helplessly, "These women who have been immersed in the inner quarters for many years can twist a single sentence into a whole new meaning."

Today, my aunt seemed to be interrogating that old woman Xin, but she specially sent someone to invite me. Clearly, her real intentions were elsewhere.

"Every word they uttered was about preferring to be a poor man's wife rather than a rich man's concubine."

But as the daughter of a marquis, the sixth young lady is destined to be a concubine. How can I, a merchant's daughter without parents, compare to the sixth young lady?

It's just telling me to face reality and accept my fate early on.

"Girl!" Wang's mother knelt before Hua Sirong, hugged her legs, and wept bitterly.

"My fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of heaven. As long as I don't accept my fate, I can still make things difficult."

"I'm observing mourning now, and they can't do anything to me for the time being. We still have time to plan slowly." Hua Sirong gently patted Wang Mama's hand to comfort her.

"Don't tell Chunyan about this. She can't keep things to herself and she can't help. It'll only make one more person sad."

"Yes, I'll listen to you, young lady." Wang's mother wiped away her tears and stood up shakily.

--

Meanwhile, in Yimei Garden, He Zhizhu, the seventh daughter who had just finished school, found Shen Shi.

"Mother, if you need anything, just ask me. Mother Xin isn't well, why are you scaring her?" The little girl, who was always smiling, was now shrouded in unhappiness.

Ms. Shen felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this, but she still had to force a smile on her face. "My little darling, did you come straight here after school? Look at all that sweat. What if you catch a cold?"

She didn't reprimand Zhu Jie for breaking the rules and etiquette, but simply instructed the maids to bring her water to wash her face and change her clothes.

After all that commotion, He Zhizhu's desire to cause trouble subsided.

After changing her clothes, she respectfully bowed to Madam Shen. Madam Shen smiled as she sat down and asked her what she had learned at school that day, creating an atmosphere of maternal love and filial piety.

Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Madam Shen dismissed all the servants around her, leaving none behind.

Then she took He Zhizhu's hand and began to complain, "Do you remember when I first married into the Marquis's mansion, I had a good relationship with your father?"

But that good fortune didn't last long. Your eldest sister's aunt, relying on the old lady's influence, started to make things difficult for me. Just when I finally managed to suppress those women in the backyard, your father brought in Aunt Shui.

Shui was not only beautiful, but also a famous talented woman in the capital.

Although she bore the title of an official prostitute, seemingly posing no threat to me, from the very first moment I saw her, I knew I was no match for her.

"It's not that I'm trying to boost others' morale and diminish my own, it's just that you haven't seen how outstanding the Shui family was back then."

At that time, her family underwent a major change, but instead of being defeated by the difficulties, she developed something even more precious, such as the resilience that shines through her fragility.

Men will only become more and more infatuated with her, especially since your father and she had feelings for each other in their early years.

Come to think of it, I, his lawfully wedded wife, am actually the third party who interfered in someone else's relationship. Isn't that ridiculous?

“Mother.” He Zhizhu stepped forward and held her mother’s hand, as if trying to give her strength. “You have never told me these things before.”

"Why should I tell you all this? You are my child, and you deserve to live a happy life. Why do you need to know so many secrets?"

My mother hoped that her own daughter wouldn't miss out on the blessings she hadn't enjoyed.

"So, Mother doesn't want me to marry into a wealthy family?"

Under Shen's slightly nodding gaze, He Zhizhu's expression changed. "Mother has suffered a lot of mistreatment from Aunt Shui in her life. If Sixth Sister really goes there in the future..."

She pointed in the direction of the palace, and the mother and son both understood.

"If I marry someone worse off than her, won't Mother have to suffer from Aunt Shui's temper again?"

She didn't understand. Wouldn't marrying someone better benefit her mother and give her more face in front of everyone in the Marquis's mansion?

“I am her legal mother. No matter how great her future fortune may be, the word ‘filial piety’ will weigh on her head, and she will not dare to treat you badly in any way.”

On the contrary, because of her aunt and brothers, she has to help you in everything and take care of me in every way.

"Besides, your own brother will be in charge of this mansion from now on. Her good fortune is inseparable from the support of her family. How could she dare to offend the three of us?"

He Zhizhu seemed to understand something, and felt that what her mother said made sense.

"I called Granny Xin over today for questioning, not to question her loyalty, but because you are still young and easily misled."

When I called her here, it was just to give her a warning.

"Look at you! You've abandoned all pretense of being a lady of a noble family and come here to argue with me. It's clear how much Granny Xin means to you. Even I, your own mother who gave birth to you, am incredibly envious."

After saying that, she pretended to be jealous and acted coy.