"Yuanniang, I know your worries, but you really shouldn’t feel this way."
He Tiantian wrapped her arms around Wei Yuanniang’s petite body, leaning close to her ear, and whispered softly, "At first, it was indeed because I wanted to repay a kindness that I took special care of you."
"But, Yuanniang, do you know? You are really very sensible and intelligent. Living with you over time makes one involuntarily grow fond of you!"
"In fact, our Feng Family’s debt of gratitude to Mrs. Zhang and the Marquis Mansion was already repaid when we spent our entire fortune to redeem Mrs. Zhang and the others."
"But I still want to take care of you, and it’s no longer because of any kindness, but because I like you!"
"It’s strange to say, but I actually prefer sons. Because a son can carry on the family lineage and allows me to stand tall in my in-laws’ house!"
"However, Yuanniang, you are really very lovable. My fondness for you is solely related to you, and you shouldn’t feel any guilt because of others."
He Tiantian didn’t directly mention Mrs. Zhang. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the NovєlFіre.net
But the clever Wei Yuanniang still understood whom He Tiantian referred to by "others."
"You just do what you like. Although it’s a bit hard for me, I truly relish it."
He Tiantian was loving and gentle, her eyes full of bright sparks as she looked at Wei Yuanniang.
Drowning in such a gaze, Wei Yuanniang felt an illusion that "Auntie indeed loves me the most" and "I am the only one for Auntie."
"I, I like gardening, Auntie, am I inept in some way?"
Feeling the intense favoritism and indulgence, Wei Yuanniang no longer held back.
She openly shared her innermost thoughts with He Tiantian.
As she spoke, a blush crept across Wei Yuanniang’s face, and she seemed a bit embarrassed.
Wei Yuanniang felt somewhat inferior as her concubine sisters and cousins from the second and third branches seemed to have more elegant hobbies.
Playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting truly seemed more respectable than tending to flowers and plants.
"Who says so? Liking flowers and plants is also a refined pastime. Besides, gardening can also be profitable."
He Tiantian smiled and said to Wei Yuanniang, "Nowadays, everyone loves peonies. If you can cultivate a unique colored peony, just one pot could match the income of a month’s hard work for me."
Wei Yuanniang’s eyes lit up: "Really?"
She didn’t feel that Auntie’s frequent mention of money insulted her hobby, but rather felt a sense of delightful surprise.
"Of course, it’s true. Let’s do this, in a couple of days when Auntie goes out to deliver embroidery, I’ll take you out too. The gardeners outside the city also make a good living by nurturing flowers."
He Tiantian discovered Wei Yuanniang’s interests and began to actively encourage and support her.
Initially, He Tiantian didn’t buy her particularly expensive seedlings but chose some very common varieties.
Wei Yuanniang was not disappointed; on the contrary, she was eager and enthusiastic.
Every day, she and Feng Yanting studied together under He Tiantian.
Of course, this was at the beginning. Later, as He Tiantian made money from her embroidery, she sent Feng Yanting to a private tutor.
On Wei Yuanniang’s side, He Tiantian continued to coach her alone.
Studying, practicing calligraphy, when they grew tired, they would head to the courtyard to tend to the myriad pots, plants, and flowers.
Starting from the most common plants, propagating, grafting, fertilizing, watering - in just three years, the small courtyard of the Feng Family had transformed into a burst of blooms.
Even Mrs. Zhang, who had once sneered and scorned Wei Yuanniang as a lowly person unsuited for royal garments, came to appreciate this little garden.
In the eyes of this distinguished Marchioness, gardening would indeed seem like a task for the lower class.
But for a noble, appreciating flowers was also a refined pursuit.
"Yuanniang, let’s also add some flowers and plants to our own courtyard!"
Initially, Mrs. Zhang didn’t have much affection towards Wei Yuanniang, even letting "Gu Xiuniang" take her next door to care for her.
Over these three or four years, Mrs. Zhang became more distanced from Wei Yuanniang.
Often, Mrs. Zhang seemed closer to her three concubine daughters than to Wei Yuanniang.
Moreover, Mrs. Zhang also realized that "Gu Xiuniang" taking Wei Yuanniang away was not to belittle her but to genuinely care for her as if she were a precious Eldest Miss.
The neighboring people, having heard the stories of the Feng Family and the Marquis Mansion and witnessing "Gu Xiuniang’s" various actions, all gave thumbs up in praise — indeed a loyal servant!
"Gu Xiuniang’s" reputation even surpassed that of Nanny Zhao.
Nanny Zhao was indeed loyal, but her services were exclusively centred around Mrs. Zhang.