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

"A girl as good as you will definitely not meet someone like Mr. Zhuang."

Hua Sirong chuckled softly without saying a word. All men in the world are pretty much the same; it's just that some know how to restrain themselves and hide their true feelings, while others are more blatant.

Ultimately, what's the difference?

Mrs. Wang was speechless. Her husband was so devoted, how come the girl he raised wasn't a good girl at all...?

Well, it's not that the girl's thinking is bad.

If you want to live a good life, you should think like this girl so you won't suffer.

"The eldest daughter is already married, so it has little to do with us. But the second daughter's cousin, Xiangcao, became a runaway slave, and this whole thing is rather strange."

As expected, Granny Wang was also very interested in this matter. "Indeed, what could have driven the young lady of the Marquis's mansion to become a runaway slave? Could it be that she committed a crime and was secretly..." Granny Wang made a throat-slitting gesture.

Hua Sirong couldn't help but laugh. "Does Mother really think we've entered a den of dragons and tigers? If it were really the manor's doing, they could just report it as a sudden death to the yamen. Why bother to cover it up with the name of a runaway slave?"

When Wang's mother thought about it, she realized that was indeed the case.

If a poor family accidentally kills a servant, all they have to do is bribe the government with a few taels of silver to get it over with.

This is the Marquis's residence. Even if one or two servants were to die, it would be a trivial matter and wouldn't warrant the attention of the authorities.

"Ah, I was overthinking it. These powerful families treat their servants like dirt." She recalled her time as a servant in the Shen family when she was young.

Hua Sirong took Wang Mama's hand and said, "Those are other people, and I can't interfere. But to me, you and Chunyan are my family. I will take care of you in your old age and find Chunyan a good husband."

Wang's mother was so moved that she both cried and laughed, "Okay, I'll listen to my daughter."

"When Xiangcao accompanied the Second Miss to our courtyard, she seemed like a good person. I don't know what she did to offend someone, but she ended up with no trace of her body."

Madam Wang felt a pang of sympathy for her own kind. Although she knew her daughter wasn't the type to forget past grievances, she was now in the Marquis's mansion and sometimes found herself unable to control her own destiny.

"There are many things to do in a big house. You never know what secrets you might hear that could ruin things."

However, from the information you gathered, Mother, it seems the household initially claimed the person was missing, but later announced they were runaway slaves. We don't know the details, so it's really hard to guess what's going on.”

"The rumors circulating in the manor a while ago that my aunt coveted my cousin Huan'er's rare book have disappeared recently. I wonder if there's any connection between them."

"But even if there is a connection, it has nothing to do with us. Just remember, Mom, we've already handed in the book." This matter could be kept from others, but not from Wang's mother.

The book that Granny Zhang took away that day was a copy written by Hua Sirong, but the cover was the one that Xiangcao had sent. Unless He Zhihuan came to read it, others would probably not be able to tell the difference.

“This old servant understands. But if the Second Miss comes looking for it again, should we take out that book? And what about Miss Wenqin…” In fact, Wang Mama did not know the value of the book. She only felt that the book had been ruined by the tea. If the Second Miss found out, it would not be good.

“We only have that one copy, and since we’ve already given it to our aunt, we naturally don’t have any more. As for Miss Qin, I’m sure she won’t tell us on her own. Besides, I can find an opportunity to fill in the missing pages later.”

Hua Sirong said firmly, it wasn't that she was heartless, it was just that Xiangcao had also disappeared, and she didn't know if this book would become a hot potato and bring trouble upon herself.

The best way is to bite them off; their bookshelves are empty.

Madam Wang nodded. To live well in a large, secluded mansion, one must pretend to be ignorant and just get by.

"Miss, the sixth young lady of our household is going to the palace to be a playmate of the princess. What an incredible blessing this is!" Everyone who sees her will look up to her, and her future marriage prospects will also rise accordingly.

“Mother only sees good fortune, but I see the danger behind it. Judging from what my aunt said, the Sixth Miss's future is probably tied to the royal family. But given her status, she can only get the position of a concubine at most. Forget about becoming the principal wife.”

If the old Marquis were still alive and held real power, with a little effort, there might still be a chance.

However, the current Marquis's mansion is neither the best nor the worst, and a concubine's daughter's ambition to become the prince's consort is ultimately too weak.

"A concubine? A concubine in the royal family is something we can only dream of. Seventh Miss is only a few months younger than Sixth Miss. Why don't you try to find a suitable husband for the legitimate daughter?" Wang Mama asked, puzzled. Back in the Shen family, the old lady was always worried that her favorite son-in-law would be snatched away by the illegitimate sons.

Hua Sirong shook her head, "My aunt truly loves her daughter. You think that's a blessing, but my aunt doesn't want my seventh cousin to suffer like that."

“Bitter?” Madam Wang didn’t understand. What Old Madam Shen saw as marrying into a high-class family, how could it be seen as suffering by Shen, the beneficiary of the system?

"There are many rules in the royal family, and the inner quarters are probably not peaceful either. My seventh cousin is simple-minded, and I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it."

However, Madam Wang had a different opinion: "Old Madam Shen is the only one who has the final say in the Shen family. The Lady Hou she trained has surpassed her and is also quite capable."

The Seventh Miss may seem simple-minded because she is loved by her father and brothers. But you must not underestimate the women of the inner quarters. In my opinion, the Seventh Miss is not so simple either. After all, like mother, like daughter.

Hua Sirong seemed thoughtful. “You can’t judge a book by its cover. Mother is right. No matter what happens to Seventh Cousin in the future, it’s not something we outsiders can interfere with. We just need to take care of ourselves and repay her kindness when we’re doing well.”

The Second Sister's Courtyard

"Second brother, what brings you here to see me today?" He Zhihuan hurriedly welcomed his elder brother into the flower hall.

He Zhilang didn't stand on ceremony and followed closely behind. After the maid served tea, he dismissed the extra people in the hall, leaving only the brother and sister to talk privately.

"What books has my second sister been reading lately?" He pondered how to ask without offending the woman, but since this was a serious matter, he came to find his second sister first, hoping to get some advice.

"I was bored all day, so I borrowed a travelogue and a storybook from my cousin Rong at her house. I haven't finished reading them yet." In the past, she often asked her second brother to bring books back from outside, so although the two siblings had different mothers, their relationship was closer than that of ordinary siblings.

"It's a pity that my second sister isn't a boy, otherwise our family would probably have produced a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)." He Zhilang said with some regret. He had also been studying hard, hoping to be able to support the family business of the second branch of the family in the future.

If his younger brothers are capable, the pressure on him as the eldest brother will be lessened, as he will have more people to help him.

Hearing her elder brother's praise, He Zhihuan couldn't help but smile. "Second brother is good at flattering people. I'm just waiting for you to come back as the top scholar so I can be your sister."