The next morning at dawn, Captain Qian had his soldiers wake everyone up in Marquis Mansion.
After a simple meal of dry food, they began their new day’s "journey." Fresh chapters posted on novel-fire.net
"Zhongliang, you must not repeat yesterday’s mistake today; make sure you are prepared!"
Before departure, Nanny Zhao pulled Feng Zhongliang aside, her face stern, and whispered a reprimand.
"..." Feng Zhongliang’s lips twitched as he tried to explain, "Mom, I didn’t make a mistake yesterday, I did it for Eldest Miss."
But, accustomed to bowing and scraping before his domineering mother, he dared not speak up in front of Nanny Zhao’s stern face.
He simply nodded silently, though a tinge of resentment lingered in his heart despite acknowledging his mother’s scolding.
"By the way, where is your daughter-in-law? Have her bring Eldest Miss here quickly!"
Nanny Zhao rubbed her shoulders, her muscles sore, causing her to grimace in pain.
Despite being a slave in the Marquis Mansion, Nanny Zhao had not done any hard labor for many years.
To put it bluntly, her life in the Marquis Mansion was actually more comfortable than that of some officials’ wives.
She didn’t have to do any manual labor, just needed to attend to Mrs. Zhang.
When there were no instructions, she would rest, with Xiaoya serving by her side.
Back at home, the Feng Family also had servants and maids, along with Gu Xiuniang, the daughter-in-law.
It can be said that Nanny Zhao bore the name of a slave, but she had always lived a life of privilege.
Over the years, she was reluctant to leave Marquis Mansion, partly because she couldn’t let go of Mrs. Zhang, but also because the luxurious life at the mansion was indeed too good to leave.
After the Marquis Mansion fell into trouble and the whole family was escorted into the capital, Nanny Zhao truly endured some hardships.
Take Wei Yuanniang, a four or five-year-old child who couldn’t walk by herself, she was primarily carried by her parents or by maids and nursemaids.
At the beginning, Mrs. Zhang was surrounded by a group of maids and nursemaids.
However, during the journey, either due to the officers’ abuse leading to suicide, or succumbing to exhaustion and hunger, becoming ill and dying, or even being sold off by Mrs. Zhang and a few other masters...
In less than a month’s time and having only completed a small part of the journey, only Nanny Zhao, one senior maid, and two or three concubines who had borne children were left by Mrs. Zhang’s side.
Without sufficient manpower and since Mrs. Zhang would not personally take care of Wei Yuanniang, Nanny Zhao, the actual grandmother, had no choice but to take up the heavy responsibility of caring for "Eldest Miss."
Her actual grandmother?
Ha, even if Nanny Zhao was Wei Yuanniang’s blood relative, what of it?
She was just a servant girl; surely she wasn’t expected to be worshipped like an ancestor.
It was only because being too harsh on Wei Yuanniang might arouse suspicions of others and ultimately ruin her own mistress’s affairs, otherwise—
Nanny Zhao was a loyal servant, for her beloved mistress’s sake, let alone a disposable granddaughter, even her husband and her son, she could painfully let go.
Indeed, Nanny Zhao’s husband actually died while saving his mistress.
Nanny Zhao was Mrs. Zhang’s wet nurse, and after Mrs. Zhang married into Marquis Pingnan’s Mansion, Nanny Zhao’s family became her accompanying household.
Nanny Zhao’s husband helped manage Mrs. Zhang’s dowry estates, very capable and much valued by Mrs. Zhang.
Years prior, when Marquis Pingnan led his troops to purge the barbarians, South City was left vulnerable, ending up being besieged by mountain villagers.
Seeing the situation as critical, Mrs. Zhang decided to take Grand Madam, Second Madam, Third Madam, and other female family members to seek refuge outside the city.
They ended up encountering rebels along the way.
It was Nanny Zhao’s husband who led the farmhands and local militia from their estates to come to the rescue.
However, during the chaotic battle, in an effort to protect Mrs. Zhang, Nanny Zhao’s husband was stabbed through the chest by the rebels and died on the spot.
After her husband died, Nanny Zhao cried bitterly but after wiping away her tears, she continued to serve by Mrs. Zhang’s side.
Her husband’s death was not entirely in vain, as it had at least earned Nanny Zhao even greater trust from Mrs. Zhang.
Thus, whenever Mrs. Zhang encountered difficulties, she wouldn’t even inform her own parents or husband, she only secretly consulted with Nanny Zhao.
Mrs. Zhang maintained clear class boundaries deep inside her, but undeniably, Nanny Zhao was the person she trusted most in this world.
Mrs. Zhang trusted Nanny Zhao, and Nanny Zhao in turn regarded Mrs. Zhang as her everything.
For Mrs. Zhang, Nanny Zhao could even sacrifice her own life.
Suffering a bit now didn’t really count for much, right?
Nanny Zhao rubbed her shoulders again, sighing, "That darned girl doesn’t even look heavy, but why is she so dreadfully heavy?"
Just carrying for half of yesterday, Nanny Zhao was already exhausted, her back ached, and her shoulders felt as heavy as stone.