Su Ruanruan had been distressed for many days, but her mood had finally improved a bit now.
As they were chatting leisurely, a man’s scolding voice erupted from ahead: "How can you do your work? Even walking can make you stumble. Today is the Young Master Huo’s zhuazhou ceremony. If something ominous happens, I swear I’ll flay you!"
The woman pleaded timidly.
Noble ladies around whispered and pointed, looking pitiful.
Mrs. Zhou smiled and said, "That’s a housekeeper from He Jitang’s dark-hearted household. He just got himself a new concubine. Although she’s quite beautiful, she is a bit old. I heard at first he cherished her every night to warm his bed... But men are all the same, once they have what they want, they lose interest. Look, the Huo Family even brought her to work at the celebration!"
Su Ruanruan initially didn’t pay attention.
But the more she listened, the more she felt this story resembled someone.
Su Ruanruan looked at Mrs. Zhou: "Sister, wait for me a moment."
She wanted to go down and see for herself, and Mrs. Zhou, concerned, followed her too.
That woman was being dragged away by a man.
Su Ruanruan gently said, "Wait a moment!"
The man, who was 190 cm tall, turned around with a sinister look in his eyes.
Indeed, the woman in front of him was beautiful, even more so than the Young Grand Madam Huo in her youth.
Just as he was about to take advantage of her verbally, Mrs. Zhou berated, "Miss Su and Young Master Jitang are here; don’t you dare utter a wrong word!"
The tall and burly man had never encountered Young Master Jitang but had heard of his fame.
The man dared not act recklessly and relented.
Then, Su Ruanruan stepped forward, intending to lift the messy hair from the concubine’s forehead.
The woman was suddenly startled.
She wanted to run.
In her heart, Su Ruanruan guessed who it might be and murmured softly, "Zhou Wan, you have actually fallen to such lows!"
The woman blurted out frantically: "I’m not Zhou Wan, madam, you’ve mistaken me for someone else."
She left in a panic.
The man chased after her and grabbed her hair: "Go do your work! If you mess up, I’ll break your legs!"
Speaking crudely, Mrs. Zhou covered her nose and asked Su Ruanruan, "Do you know this woman?"
Su Ruanruan hummed softly, "She committed a crime, and He Jitang had her brought here!"
Mrs. Zhou then said, "Young Master Jitang is indeed ruthless."
Before Su Ruanruan could respond, Yin Mingzhu arrived.
Today, she was not the main show, but she still dazzled with splendor, clearly showing she was still favored by Old Master Huo.
Yin Mingzhu smiled, saying, "I had her brought here to work."
She fiddled with her fingernails: "Su Ruanruan, this is the consequence of betraying Brother He! Qin Su used to be the esteemed Mrs. Yin, now look at her, wearing tattered clothes, serving others, and even being disciplined by such a rough man at night! Living worse than a dog."
Mrs. Yin was vicious and made many mistakes.
Su Ruanruan felt no sympathy.
She only felt that Yin Mingzhu had truly inherited Mrs. Yin’s ruthlessness, leaving no room for others in her actions and dealings.
She smiled faintly: "Concubine Huo is now in power; naturally, she lives better than a dog! Once Concubine Huo loses her power, she will know what it’s like to be worse than a dog!"
Yin Mingzhu was furious.
Just then, a gentle voice sounded: "This has to be Miss Su, right?"
Su Ruanruan turned her head.
A woman approached with a smile.
She was slim and wore a plain dress.
The woman had an ordinary appearance, but her smile was consistently gentle and pleasing to look at.
Su Ruanruan guessed at once: This must be Chen Xishan!
The Second Young Madam Huo, known as Mrs. Xishan.
Mrs. Zhou whispered to her: "Be careful! This woman is no simple person."
Su Ruanruan took note and also greeted the woman.
She took out a gift, a precious coral bracelet.
The Second Young Madam Huo noticed its uniqueness, but remained unflustered giving Su Ruanruan her first challenge.
She spoke as if basking in the spring breeze: "Young Master Jitang has already given one just now! Why is Miss Su giving another? Could it be that Miss Su is speaking differently behind their backs?"