Chapter 62 What is relied on

  The three of them strolled in the woods for a while, until it was almost noon, before returning to the other courtyard. As soon as they entered through the side door, a maid came over to report that Madame Du was waiting for the three of them to have lunch together. Upon hearing this, they didn't dare to delay and hastily went to Madame Du's place.

  After entering the house, Guo's wife had already brought over two children and was sitting under Du's wife with a smile. One child was leaning against her side, while the other was sitting on Du's wife's lap. The one sitting on Du's wife's lap was Ling Yanqing. Du's wife seemed to like her very much and was stroking her hair, smiling and chatting with her. Although Ling Yanqing was only three years old, she spoke in a childish tone but enunciated clearly, occasionally blurting out childish phrases that made Du's wife laugh so hard she was bent over, and she grew even more fond of her.

  Ling Ting-an sat sullenly beside his mother, his bright and lively eyes occasionally glancing at the door, observing her expression. It was clear that he was very dissatisfied with being kept inside, but since his mother was right next to him, he didn't dare make any rash moves.

  Three people entered the house, each paying their respects. On that side, Mrs. Du smiled and said: "I just sent a servant girl to look for you, didn't expect you to come back so soon!" Then she asked Fang Duan and Lin Daiyu: "How is the scenery of Shuijing?"

  Yan Dai smiled and replied: "The scenery is indeed excellent, living up to its reputation as 'Zhao Shui'!"

  Ling Yuexuan also nodded and said, "Indeed! I've been admiring the plum blossoms for many years, but it wasn't until today that I understood the meaning of 'Shuizhao Mei'!" As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Yuan Dai.

  Madam Du was taken aback and asked in confusion: "What does 'Zhaoshui Mei' mean? What is the meaning of this?"

  At this time, Ling Yuexian happily recited the words that Yuan Dai had said in front of Shui Mei, and then recited the poem that Yuan Dai had chanted. Madame Du listened carefully, and couldn't help but gaze at Yuan Dai with a deep and peculiar expression, smiling and praising: "I didn't expect Ninth Young Lady to be so profound!"

  Yan Dai couldn't help but smile and said, "To be honest with you, Auntie, I've been fond of flowers and plants since I was a child. So, I pay extra attention to things related to them. It's just that one can't be an expert in everything, after all!"

  Madam Du smiled and said, "Alright, alright, I'm not in the imperial palace selecting a scholar, nor am I testing your knowledge of classics or history. Since you like flowers and plants, I'll give you some praise for being knowledgeable." She pointed at Xiao Xian and continued, "Look, my daughter has been studying medicine since she was young, and although she's still not very skilled, she loves to help others with their ailments. Whenever her sisters have a minor illness or injury, she eagerly runs to show off, thinking that others will praise her medical skills."

  As soon as the words came out, everyone burst into laughter. However, Xiao Chengyan's face turned red immediately after hearing this, and she hastily rushed up to cover Du Furen's mouth: "Mother, why did you mention my sore spot again?!" The implication of her coquetry was self-evident.

  Yan Dai stood by, listening, but couldn't help remembering the time at Miao Feng Shan's detached courtyard when Xiao Chengyan had insisted on rushing over to take her pulse. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh, and her gaze at Xiao Chengyan also took on a hint of teasing.

  It was Guo who listened to the side and smiled: "Auntie's words are not quite fair! I remember that last winter, I accidentally caught a cold, and my sister-in-law happened to be in our mansion. When she heard about it, she hurriedly rushed to my place and opened a prescription for me. I let people follow the prescription to grab medicine, and in just three days, I recovered! If I say so, my sister-in-law's prescription is more effective than those imperial doctors!"

  Mrs. Du smiled and tapped Xiaocheng's forehead, saying: "Alright, alright, stop flattering me! If you want others to praise you, your sister-in-law has already spoken up for you, so spare me the flattery!"

  The crowd laughed again, and then Madame Du ordered the meal to be served. After they finished eating, she instructed Xiao Chengyan a few more times, and then turned to smile at Guo Shi: "This time I'm leaving, I'm afraid it will be several days before I can come back. Originally, I was worried about these children, but when I heard you were coming, I felt much more at ease! This time, you won't be able to avoid using up some of your energy!"

  Guo smiled and humbly declined a few times, but still couldn't help but praise Xiao Xian's three people, after all, he didn't want to take on this responsibility.

  Madam Du saw her like this, and it wasn't good to say anything more, so she just smiled and didn't force the issue. By this time, someone had come over from outside to report that the carriage was ready. Madam Du nodded and also ordered Yan Dai and several others not to see them off.

  Only a few people were willing to respond, after all, they had sent her out of the second gate. At the entrance of the second gate, Xiao Chengyan and others also received the news early and hurriedly came to see her off. Madam Du couldn't help but remind Xiao Chengyan again before getting on the carriage.

  After bustling about all morning, and having not slept a wink the previous night, Yu Dai was exhausted. After bidding farewell to Xiao Chengxian and the others, she returned to her western wing alone. When she woke up from her short rest, she looked outside again, only to find that the sky had grown even more overcast, with a heavy rain or snowstorm imminent. As she stood there in a daze, Du Ruo had already quietly appeared beside her, standing silently at her side, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.

  Yan Dai understood her intention, and without making a sound, she found an excuse to send Wen Ping and the others away. Then, with a concentrated gaze, she looked at Du Ruo and said: "Now that they're not here, what is it you want to say?"

  Du Ruo pressed her lips together, but it wasn't until a long time later that she timidly asked: "Tonight..."

  Yuan Dai was reminded by her, and only then did she remember that tonight was indeed the second night after Anqin Wang Baili's arrival. According to Old Lady's plan, today Du Ruo should have gone to the lakeside to play the flute. After a moment of contemplation, Yuan Dai slightly tilted her head towards Du Ruo and said: "Tell me first, do you have the heart to climb this tall branch?"

  After a moment of silence, Du Ruo suddenly softened her knees and knelt to the ground. She bowed her head heavily towards Yan Dai and kowtowed before gritting her teeth and saying: "I refuse!" Although her voice was not loud when she said these three words, her expression was firm and resolute, with a determined glint in her eyes that seemed to say she would rather cut off her own arm than give in.

  Although she had already vaguely guessed Du Ruo's intentions, at this moment when she heard her say these three words so resolutely, Yan Dai's heart couldn't help but feel a few strands of disappointment. After sighing, she said: "Since you don't want to go, then there's no need to!" As she spoke, she turned her head back and glanced outside, saying lightly: "Looking at the sky, I'm afraid it won't be long before heavy snow falls!"

  Leaning on the kang, she was startled again for a while before Far Dai collected her thoughts. Her gaze fell on Du Ruo, who was still kneeling on the ground, with a hint of surprise: "Get up!" She said with a slight frown.

  Du Ruo knelt motionless, only bowing her head and speaking softly: "Du Ruo... just asking Miss for a promise!"

  Yuandai was taken aback for a moment, but couldn't help but burst out laughing. She raised an eyebrow and retorted: "You want me to make a promise? What makes you think you're worthy of that?" After all, Du Ruo was still someone who had been by the old lady's side, even though the old lady had now given her to Yuandai. Although she served Yuandai meticulously, saying everything that needed to be said and doing everything that needed to be done under Yuandai's deliberate guidance, in Yuandai's eyes, these actions were still far from worthy of a promise.

  Nuo, having promised, must make it happen. This is by no means comparable to Nuodai's previous promise to do her best.

  Du Ruo suddenly lifted her head, her apricot eyes fixed on the distant Dai, her pretty face slightly distorted due to her overly stubborn expression: "Just because... Miss and I... are both women..."

  Originally, no matter what she said, Yuandai had already made up her mind and would not have agreed to it. However, at this moment, having suddenly heard this unexpected answer, Yuandai fell silent, staring at Du Ruo for a long time before finally smiling: "Good! Good, just because we are both women! Alright, I'll grant you a promise, just because of these words!"

  One is never worried about having many debts; when one has many lice, even if they bite, it's already become a habit and no longer felt as suffering.

  Actually, as soon as she heard Yuandai's sentence "What makes you think that", Du Ruofei felt that Yuandai would not agree to her. Therefore, those reasons she had originally thought of were not mentioned at all, but instead, she came up with a rather unconvincing excuse on the spot. At this moment, when she heard that Yuandai actually agreed, Du Ruofei was somewhat incredulous, staring blankly at Yuandai, and asked in a daze: "Miss... did you really agree?" The tone of her voice was full of disbelief.

  It was indeed a promise, and Yuandai didn't plan to go back on her word either. With a smile, she said: "Alright! I'll keep my promise to you!" As she spoke, she waved at Du Ruo again and said: "You can get up and talk now!"

  Yu Ruo endured the tears that were about to fall, and after heavily kowtowing to Yuandai, she slowly got up. With her mind calm, she only then felt her whole body stiff, with only her legs feeling so soft they could hardly support her, and her back was wet with sweat. Her current state couldn't escape Yuandai's eyes, and after sighing, Yuandai pointed to a nearby brocade stool: "Sit!"

  Yu Ruo lightly responded, thanked Yuan Dai after, then sat on the brocade couch.

  After a moment of distraction, Yuandai slowly asked: "Is King Rui unwell? Why don't you want to?"

  She bit her lip and said, "Prince Rui... is indeed very good!" As she spoke, she raised her head and glanced at Yuan Dai, saying softly: "The reason I'm unwilling is because I know that in this world, there may be birds that fly up to the branch and become phoenixes, but those birds will never be me, Du Ruo. Rather than being a bird perched on a branch, ridiculed and cold-shouldered by people, I would rather find a bird similar to me, relying on each other, never parting...

  Suddenly hearing these words, Yuan Dai couldn't help but fall silent. For a moment, she thought of Zhou Yiniang who was still in the Ling Mansion, and her heart felt even more uncertain about what to do next. Sighing, Yuan Dai said: "Du Ruo, you really are a clever person!"

  Du Ruo said softly: "Thank you for your praise, Miss! Du Ruo... at most is only considered a clever servant!"

  Hearing her unspoken meaning, Yuandai couldn't help but smile: "Don't worry! In the future I will definitely return your indenture!"

  The two were talking when suddenly they heard Xiao Chengyan's voice outside: "Ninth sister... Ninth sister..."