472, Like a Thief (6 Updates)
Xie Zhinuan shook her head, her words gentle, “There truly isn’t a need, I have almost finished packing. It’s rather unfair to you, Miss Mu, to have to hustle about after me!”
“No, no, no, I’m willing!” Mu Rourou spoke softly, glancing up at Xie Zhinuan.
She dreamed of becoming a person capable of standing strong and independent like Xie Zhinuan.
But as the only daughter in her family, born from a concubine but raised by the principal wife, she only knew her birth mother lived in the same residence but had never met her.
The principal wife wouldn’t allow it, fearing she would grow too close to her birth mother.
This time, everything was arranged by her parents, and she followed their commands.
Having stayed at Xie Mansion for a few days and witnessed Xie Zhinuan’s decisive and orderly conduct, she grew envious, yet she dared not disturb her.
She always felt that if one day she truly captured the heart of the King, Miss Xie would be so heartbroken…
But the maids and servant women by her side were all arranged by her mother, and she didn’t even have the right to resist. If she disobeyed, not only would she suffer, but her birth mother would not fare well either.
Being able to follow Xie Zhinuan to Gaocheng County filled her with joy, yet she dared not show it.
“If you don’t mind, then let’s just consider it a trip outdoors for fun!” Xie Zhinuan laughed lightly.
Originally, she didn’t want to bother with Mu Rourou, but then she thought she would try to find out if every girl was like Yin Suwen, nothing but an ingrate.
Besides, leaving Mu Rourou in Fengping County was not a safe bet.
Lord Mu had long since returned to Yangjiang Prefecture.
Thinking it over, Xie Zhinuan planned to sort out the affairs in Gaocheng County and then send Mu Rourou back to Yangjiang Prefecture; it was rather troublesome to keep such a delicate beauty by her side.
Mu Rourou looked at Xie Zhinuan with a gentle and tender gaze, nodding with a buoyant smile.
In recent years, she hadn’t had many opportunities to step outside, so the chance to move about freely was delightful.
Xie Zhinuan chatted a bit more with Mu Rourou, advising her to rest up so they could set off early the next day.
Upon returning to the guest residence, the servant woman attending to Mu Rourou spoke up, “Miss, you did very well today. Miss Xie is truly astute. In the days to come, if you interact with her with that gentle demeanor, it could catch people off guard!”
Mu Rourou nodded her head.
Her thoughts, however, had already drifted far away.
“Miss, you haven’t played the qin today!” Having said this, the servant woman instructed the maid to set up the qin.
Mu Rourou watched their movements, her lips parting into a faint smile.
She felt like a puppet on strings, with the principal wife pulling them. She had to obey the principal wife’s words; otherwise, life would not be kind to her.
The invisible punishments began when she was very young.
Not one person attending to her would listen to her; even her father wouldn’t believe her because, on the surface, she lived a life of luxury with everything she could wish for.
What she feared most was not these matters; it was the principal wife arranging for her nephew to marry into the family…
The so-called ideal gentleman in the principal wife’s mouth was actually a good-for-nothing loafer with no talent or character, a pit of fire.
As for the principal wife’s intentions, she guessed them all too well; a submissive son-in-law was easy to manipulate, and her… With the command of her parents and the words of the matchmaker, she had no chance to resist.
The qin was set up, and the servant woman invited Mu Rourou to play.
Mu Rourou hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the low stool.
Her hands lightly stroked the strings of the qin.
She had played each piece many times and knew them all by heart.
When the last note had ceased, Mu Rourou’s hands rested on the strings, and she turned her head to look out across the yard.
She felt like a thief, constantly watching Xie Zhinuan, wanting to steal her happiness.
“…”
She didn’t want it to be this way.
She got up and went into the room, only to see the servant woman opening the Brocade Box where she kept her silver notes. She sharply exclaimed, “What are you doing?”