The wheels of the carriage rolled over the country road, kicking up fine dust. Inside the carriage, Mrs. Huang leaned on a soft cushion, her face still carrying a trace of the paleness from just waking up. She stared blankly at the trees swiftly retreating outside the window, muttering intermittently to herself.

"I don’t agree... Chun Shu can’t marry... that poor Scholar..."

"Why, why can her daughter marry well, why can’t my daughter marry well..."

The elderly woman sitting opposite was specially chosen by Chun Nuan from the mansion, with a steady personality and patience.

Seeing Mrs. Huang start to mutter again, she sighed inwardly.

Why?

Because the daughter of the eldest matriarch has good fortune.

Although the eldest young lady was wronged in her first marriage, after being mistreated by that family, she had the capability to fight back, turning the situation around beautifully, eventually winning the favor of General Xia, with the Holy Emperor personally bestowing the marriage.

The eldest young lady is the foundation of the main household.

What’s more, the eldest matriarch has always been the head madam, a person with great character, and the Zhu family is an in-law, well-connected, naturally able to marry well.

And Miss Shu’er’s tragedy lies in having an unreliable mother like you.

After being troubled repeatedly, she has already lost her spirit.

If it weren’t for the help of the eldest matriarch, Miss Chun Shu would likely have become a pile of yellow earth by now.

Really, being able to marry and get by alive is already a blessing.

"Mrs. Xu, I have seen through it, adept at maintaining appearances..."

"Third Madam, have a sip of water to moisten your throat first. Look, we’re almost at the manor. The air here is good and quiet, just right for recuperating. Once you’re well, it’s just a word if you want to see anyone." Granny Zhong quickly handed over a cup of warm water, softly advising.

Mrs. Huang didn’t take the cup, just turned her head to glare at the woman, her tone still carrying a few degrees of rudeness.

"Recuperating at the manor, they are ruthless, pretending it’s for recovery, but truly wishing for my death! Then they can marry a new wife once I’m dead."

Granny Zhong didn’t believe these words.

To be honest, with what she’s done, in other families, she would indeed have been ’died of illness’.

The Xiao family didn’t use such disgraceful means to eliminate her.

One could only say, it’s her fortune, perhaps.

"They just find me troublesome! Sending me off to this rundown place, a family without conscience, back then going to Shu City...?"

Back when they went to Shu City, how bitter and exhausting it was, she persisted through it all.

Only to come this far, back to the Capital, yet insist on acting up herself, causing her biological daughter unrest even on her wedding day. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Granny Zhong listened silently, neither opposing nor agreeing.

Seeing Granny Zhong ignore her, Mrs. Huang got quite upset.

She started cursing her again.

Granny Zhong... if it weren’t for her son serving at Young Master Chun’an’s side, she wouldn’t be able to endure such treatment.

Who isn’t carrying burdens for their children?

Mrs. Huang, cursing, finally lowered her voice a lot.

She actually knew that without the Xiao Mansion, the Huang family couldn’t be relied upon.

In a big family, if there’s an abandoned or estranged girl, they would rather wish you dead.

So, everyone indeed hopes she dies.

But she doesn’t intend to, she wants to live well.

She started cursing again.

All the way cursing and grumbling, they finally arrived at the manor.

The manor was purchased by Chunyu before returning to the Xiao family, specially given as a gift to her natal family.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Huang would be the first to enjoy it.

The carriage traveled for about an hour, finally stopping at the entrance of the manor.

The elderly woman got off first, supporting Mrs. Huang to slowly alight. Mrs. Huang looked up, seeing the manor before her, blue bricks and black tiles, with two red lanterns hanging at the entrance, plants and flowers in the courtyard neatly arranged, not as ’dilapidated’ as she imagined.

"This is the residence arranged for you. Please come in with me to have a look. If there’s anything you are dissatisfied with, we can change it." The woman said with a smile, supporting Mrs. Huang as they walked inside.

The manor head had been notified in advance and had tidied up the main courtyard.

Seeing the master arrive, he immediately brought his wife and children to pay respects.

Mrs. Huang glanced at them, ignored them, and turned to enter the inner room.

Entering the inner room, the furnishings were simple yet elegant; the tables and chairs were made of fine wood, the bed covered with a soft brocade quilt, and a blooming plum blossom pot in the corner, the air filled with a faint floral scent. Mrs. Huang walked to the window, looking at the small garden outside, and her anger subsided a bit more.

"The Third Madam is here to recuperate; just mind her diet daily, and make sure the children don’t disturb her."

What could Granny Zhong say?

All she could say was, Mrs. Huang really isn’t up to it.

Ah, forget it, she’s a patient, just let her be.

"Each of them disregards me."

Yet as soon as she entered the inner room, Mrs. Huang started complaining again.

Granny Zhong also didn’t argue, just placed the cup on the small table by her hand.

"What you’re saying, if the Third Master didn’t care about you, why would he specially choose such a good manor for you? This manor has a garden, a warm pavilion, fresh vegetables can be picked from the back garden, it’s more carefree than in the mansion. Moreover, before Miss Chun Shu got married, she specifically instructed us to serve you well. If you have any needs, just tell me, and I’ll take care of it right away."

Mrs. Huang snorted, saying nothing more, but her eyes drifted out the window again.

She knew at heart that this time she was truly out of cards; never thinking she would be in such a position after a misstep by Chun Nuan.

When she woke up, Chun Shu had already married into the Lin family, and no matter how much she stirred up, there was no turning back.

Now sent to this manor, though far from the mansion’s people, she at least didn’t have to see Mrs. Xu’s face, nor argue with those people; it felt rather peaceful.

Granny Zhong instructed Nanny Yu, who traveled with them, to prepare the medicine.

"It’s me tending to the Third Madam; you just handle the medicine, send it three times a day on schedule."

"Alright."

Nanny Yu was, of course, unwilling to attend to Mrs. Huang closely.

Mrs. Huang was the hardest to serve in the mansion.

Capricious, either hitting or scolding, everyone wanted to stay far away from her.

Anyone assigned to attend her was bound to be regarded as unlucky.

Finding out she and Granny Zhong were going to the manor to serve, she silently wailed in her heart several times.

Now that Granny Zhong had her focus solely on the medicine, it felt like a stroke of good luck.

After preparing the medicine, Nanny Yu took a bowl to the inner room, respectfully saying to Mrs. Huang: "Third Madam, this is the medicine Miss Chun Nuan prepared for you. It’s said to calm the mind and boost energy, good for your health. You should drink it while it’s hot."

Mrs. Huang looked at the bowl of black medicine, frowned, just about to decline, when Granny Zhong said: "Third Madam, Miss Chun Nuan specifically instructed that you must drink this medicine on time. She also said that in a few days, she will come to see you herself and give you another check-up, wishing you to recover soon."

Hearing that Chun Nuan was going to visit her, Mrs. Huang paused, ultimately taking the bowl, pinching her nose, and downing it in one gulp.