“Miss, I just made a bowl of calming soup to replenish your energy. You should drink some quickly…”
Huang Xianjing saw Nanny Du walk in carrying a tray, her aged face full of worry.
Her heart warmed, but she also felt a twinge of guilt, so she obediently sat down at the round table.
The medicine had been sitting for a while, so it was just the right temperature to drink.
Nanny Du had always been concerned about her health. Although Huang Xianjing didn’t like taking medicine, she still picked up the bowl and downed it in one go.
Nanny Du moved to feed her some candied fruit, but she shook her head, only drinking a sip of plain water to clear the bitter taste from her mouth.
“Nanny, I’m fine—”
Earlier, at the Begonia Court, Qiu Ju had carried Dong Kui in and “barged in” to beg the county princess and her cousin to seek justice for her…
Later, her uncle, aunt, three older cousins, and the pair of master and apprentice from the Hibiscus Court all went over.
Her aunt asked the county princess to stay and act as a witness, but signaled with her eyes for Huang Xianjing to leave. Knowing something major must be happening, she quietly slipped away.
Not long after she returned, she heard that a young maid had died in the Hibiscus Court. Before dying, the maid left a statement saying Sheng Mingzhu had tricked her into poisoning someone.
Shortly after that, Ji Xue, the senior maid from the Hibiscus Court, also died, confessing to all the crimes before her death.
Two people died in quick succession—one accusing Sheng Mingzhu of murder, the other proving Sheng Mingzhu was innocent…
She didn’t know what Sheng Mingzhu had done, nor did she know if her cousin or aunt had done anything either…
But she could feel the struggles within this household becoming increasingly intense!
When Sheng Mingzhu wasn’t at the residence, things were relatively calm, but now, it could only be described as “deep in hot water.”
Huang Xianjing was truly afraid the household’s conflicts would reach an irreconcilable point, and then… there might even be more deaths.
She was afraid her cousin and aunt might get hurt—
That’s why, after returning, Huang Xianjing had been unable to settle down. She paced back and forth in her room and even sent Hong Dou and Sister Dujuan out with money to gather the latest news…
“Miss, this old servant might say something she shouldn’t, but Seventh Miss is the legitimate daughter of the Sheng family, sharp and capable—
“She also has her mother to protect her, and Master Sheng seems to dote on Seventh Miss as well. Compared to her, you should really think more about your own future…
“You’ve reached the age where you can start considering marriage prospects. You should be making plans for yourself…”
Seeing no one else in the room, Nanny Du finally voiced the words she’d been holding in for a long time.
Huang Xianjing’s face flushed and paled after hearing this. She naturally knew Nanny Du was anxious about her marriage.
Her parents had passed away. Although her maternal grandparents, the Lin family, were still around, her aunt had proactively contacted them several times over the years, yet the Lin family… didn’t dare to get close to her.
She didn’t blame the Lin family either. They were merely merchants. Since ancient times, commoners and merchants had feared officials, so how could the Lin family dare to fight her uncle for custody of her?
She couldn’t rely on the Lin family; the only one she could depend on was her aunt.
Her aunt had truly been wonderful to her these past few years, hiring renowned tutors for her.
She also sent servants to bring her things every month. Her food, clothing, and living expenses were almost identical to her cousin’s, and no servant in the Sheng family dared to slight her anymore.
Every time her aunt went out, she took Huang Xianjing along, allowing her to be seen by the various ladies.
Her cousin was also exceptionally good to her. If it weren’t for her cousin, she wouldn’t have become close friends with the county princess.
Except for not helping her reclaim the Huang family property, her aunt was truly faultless in every other aspect.
And regarding the property, Huang Xianjing felt she shouldn’t blame her aunt either.
A few years ago, when her aunt regained control of her own dowry, it had taken considerable effort.
Because the Sheng family didn’t have much foundation to begin with. The comfortable life the Sheng family enjoyed now was undeniably linked to the Huang family’s money.
To ensure the Sheng family’s current lifestyle, her uncle definitely wouldn’t give up the “meat” he’d already swallowed.
If her aunt had also tried to help her reclaim the Huang property back then, her uncle might have become desperate, right—
When people act impulsively, who knows what they might do.
For her, the situation might have become extremely dangerous.
Over the years, Huang Xianjing’s feelings towards her uncle, Sheng Yong, had been complicated.
If she were to speak of hatred—without Sheng Yong’s protection, she was just a little girl with so much money. She’d probably have met a miserable end, having every last drop of value squeezed out of her.
Even if she’d gone to her maternal grandparents, the Lin family, she couldn’t be sure she’d be better off than she was now.
But to say she held no resentment towards Sheng Yong at all—well, it was her family’s property after all. Having him take it over for so many years naturally made her feel angry sometimes.
But what could she do about it now?
Sheng Yong had said that when she married in the future, he would return the Huang family property in full.
But how many good families in the capital would be willing to marry an orphaned girl?
And if she married one of those greedy families, what kind of life could she expect?
“Miss, please don’t think your old servant is nagging.”
Nanny Du’s eyes reddened as she spoke again, her voice lowered significantly.
“If you reach a certain age and no one comes to propose, Master Sheng will surely take the opportunity to suggest that you… become part of the Sheng family as a daughter-in-law…
“There are five young masters in the Sheng family. The eldest master is out of the question.
“That leaves the third and fifth young masters. One has poor health, the other has a bad temper.
“Besides, their relationship with Madam, Seventh Miss, and you isn’t exactly harmonious.
“If you were to marry either of them, your days… wouldn’t be much better…
“The two young masters from concubines are good-looking and have good character, but… they are, after all, born to concubines. If Madam eventually reconciles with her own children in the future, then… your situation would become awkward—”
“Nanny, I know. Please don’t say anymore—”
Huang Xianjing felt very uncomfortable.
She didn’t particularly like her third or fifth cousins and had never thought about marrying them.
As for her second and fourth cousins, she genuinely liked them, but it was purely sibling affection, with not a hint of romantic feeling—
When Nanny Du mentioned her together with her second and fourth cousins, Huang Xianjing found it extremely awkward.
She quickly changed the subject. “Nanny, I’m still young, but Sister Dujuan really can’t wait any longer. What kind of family are you thinking of finding for her?”
Dujuan was already twenty, well past the usual age for marriage.
“As long as he has a good character and is capable, a family near the capital would be fine—that way, they could help you with things outside the residence,” Nanny Du said after thinking for a moment.
Huang Xianjing felt her eyes and nose stinging with tears.
“Nanny, Sister Dujuan is such a wonderful person. She needs to find someone worthy of her, who likes her and whom she likes as well—
“In a few days, I’ll ask Aunt. Aunt knows many talented young men under employment contracts—
“I’ll have Aunt help look for someone suitable for Sister Dujuan. If there’s a good prospect, Sister Dujuan can secretly go and see him. If she finds someone she likes, then we’ll make it official—
“And when that happens, I’ll definitely prepare a generous dowry for Sister Dujuan…”
Suddenly, Nanny Du knelt down, wiping her tears as she spoke.
“Thank you, Miss. For you to be so thoughtful about her, it’s her blessing to be able to follow you…”
Startled, Huang Xianjing quickly pulled Nanny Du to her feet.
“Nanny, meeting you all is my blessing!”
