Both of them ate a whole bowl of porridge with sparkling eyes and even had a big steamed bun each.

Even after cultivating for more than twenty years, Hui Jing’s heart was not calm. Eating the seemingly ordinary porridge made her body immediately warm, and her internal strength even seemed to increase slightly.

After Xiao Yuling ate, her body felt much lighter, and her spirits improved. Because she had been poisoned for a long time, her health had been poor, but now she felt much better.

This couldn’t help but astonish her, and it also made her curious about what secrets her son and daughter-in-law possessed. At her age, she cared most about her health. She didn’t want to be sickly as before, finding even walking difficult. Her good days had just begun.

Gu Qingli and Xiao Yunjing finished tending to the three little ones and handed them over to the nanny and two other servants. The weather outside had turned colder, and the three babies stayed indoors.

Xiao Yuling eagerly followed, looking at her three adorable grandchildren, but she was unable to hold them.

Xiao Yunjing saw this and pretended not to notice. He wouldn’t let her get close to the children until Xiao Yuling’s foul temper was worn away.

Not long after the couple finished eating, Gu Qingmei came over again. Xiao Yunjing asked doubtfully, “What is she doing here?”

“Her? Weren’t you the one who brought this on?”

“Me? When did I ask her to come?”

“Isn’t it because you helped Chen Erlang that she came to help out?”

Xiao Yunjing frowned. “Tell her not to come anymore. What kind of situation is this? People who don’t know better might think there’s something wrong with her.”

Gu Qingli nodded.

Just then, Gu Qingmei entered. Seeing Xiao Yuling and her two companions, she glanced their way repeatedly.

“Sit down,” Gu Qingli greeted her.

Gu Qingmei nodded and sat down. “Xiaoli, is there any work to do today?”

Gu Qingli waved her hand. “Cousin, you don’t have to do this. We have plenty of people to do the work in our household. Just now, Yunjing was even telling me that this isn’t appropriate.”

Gu Qingmei looked a little dejected but forced a smile. “I understand. If there’s anything you need help with in the future, just let me know.”

“Alright. Actually, if you have free time, you can go up the mountain to dig up some medicinal materials to sell. You can make a bit of money that way,” Gu Qingli kindly suggested. “Since medicinal materials are now cultivated in the village, the wild ones on the mountain are largely ignored. They’ll just rot if left there. Someone like you, Gu Qingmei, who has the time now, could go dig some up to sell before the snow gets too heavy. That would be good.”

With enough hands, one could easily earn over ten silver taels from the medicinal materials. Over ten taels could cover a scholar’s expenses for a year. For instance, Ms. Qiao’s family had been digging on the mountain these days. They had many family members, so they could easily earn over thirty taels this winter.

Gu Qingmei nodded. Actually, she had considered this herself. It was Ms. Liu who had suggested she visit Gu Qingli’s home more often, and even Chen Erlang supported the idea. Chen Erlang had no ulterior motives; he purely wanted to repay their kindness.

“Then you should go back and get your tools. Dashuang and the others will be going up the mountain later, so you can go with them.”

“Alright, I’ll go back and get them.” After saying this, Gu Qingmei got up and left.

After Gu Qingmei departed, Gu Qingli found herself with nothing to do and decided to follow Xiao Yunjing and the others up the mountain.

Seeing that Xiao Yunjing and the others were ready, Gu Qingli instructed Wuqing and Wuyou to look after the three little ones, informed Hui Jing, and then followed them up the mountain.

Not long after they ascended the mountain, Gu Qingmei arrived as expected.

The group headed straight into the depths of the forest. With Da Bai on the mountain, they weren’t worried about encountering large wild beasts.

Seeing Xiao Yunjing and his wife leave, Xiao Yuling walked over to the nanny and asked with a smile, “Can I hold one for a moment?”

The nanny shook her head. “Old Madam, without instructions from the Young Master and Mistress, this servant wouldn’t dare.”

“They’re not here. I just want to hold one for a little while, alright?”

The nanny still shook her head and simply walked away.

Xiao Yuling’s expression changed. She shot Yueniang a look. Yueniang dared not disobey her master’s intent and prepared to snatch a child by force.

Suddenly, an expressionless Wuqing flashed out, blocking Yueniang’s path.

“How audacious! You wretched servant girl, daring to ignore your master?” Xiao Yuling was furious. When had she ever been so deferential? She had adopted such an attitude, yet these servants still dared to make things difficult for her. She couldn’t handle Xiao Yunjing and his wife, but could she not handle these servants? It wouldn’t be going too far even if she ordered Yueniang to kill or cripple them.

Wuqing folded her arms and said coldly, “Old Madam, my master is the Mistress, and I am also following the orders of the Young Master and the Mistress.”

“Hmph! So you follow the Mistress’s orders, do you? Yueniang, beat her! I don’t care if she’s crippled or killed.”

“Wait!” Hui Jing, who had been meditating in her room, heard the commotion outside and immediately came out to intervene.

“Xin’er, look! Even a servant is this insolent. If I don’t teach her a lesson today, how will these servants ever show me respect?” Xiao Yuling went up to Hui Jing, took her hand, and complained.

Hui Jing sighed. She truly regretted coming with her to find Xiao Yunjing. They hadn’t even acknowledged her, yet she was already putting on airs as the mistress of the house. All her previous advice had been in vain. How had she not realized this was her temperament back in the temple? Putting on airs in the Imperial Palace would have been somewhat understandable, given her status there.

She waved her hand, signaling Yueniang to step down.

Yueniang hadn’t wanted to fight Wuqing in the first place. Xiao Yuling wanted her to cripple or kill the girl—did she even consider Wuqing’s skills? Such shameless boasting! If they really fought, she wouldn’t last two moves against Wuqing; she would be the one to die or be crippled.

Yueniang retreated, moving behind Hui Jing.

“Xin’er, you?” Xiao Yuling stared in astonishment as Yueniang retreated.

Yueniang had been given to her by Hui Jing for protection. Since that day, Hui Jing had never given Yueniang a single order. She had never imagined Hui Jing would one day directly command Yueniang. What did this mean? It meant Yueniang’s true master had always been Hui Jing, from start to finish! Then what did that make her?

Hui Jing’s face was solemn. She truly didn’t want to meddle in Xiao Yuling’s affairs any longer; Xiao Yuling’s conduct these past few days had chilled her heart. Years ago, Xiao Yuling had saved her and her brother. Later, she had saved Xiao Yuling’s life, detoxified her, cared for her for over twenty years, and even found her son. All things considered, the debt was repaid.

“Yuling, regardless of who is right or wrong today, you must understand one thing: Xiao Yunjing and his wife are merely letting you stay here; they haven’t acknowledged you. Yet, here you are, wanting to beat and kill their servants. Besides, a servant’s life is still a life. Is human life so worthless in your eyes?”

Hui Jing was also furious. Xiao Yuling had practiced Buddhism in the temple; where had all that devotion gone? Over twenty years of spiritual cultivation hadn’t changed her disregard for life.

“Xin’er, is that what you think? Is that how you see me?” Xiao Yuling was stunned. Hui Jing had always let her have her way in everything. Since arriving here, not only had Hui Jing not helped her, but she had also constantly criticized her, saying she couldn’t face reality. Xiao Yunjing was her son—the son whose life she had risked everything to save! What reason could he possibly have not to acknowledge her? Besides, what was so precious about a servant’s life? If they were disobedient, just kill them. Why keep them around to cause trouble for herself?

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