"I'm not going." Qiu Sanniang sat down on the stone chair, languidly, her body as if boneless, leaning against the red pillar of the stone pavilion.

  "Miss!" The one who shouted was not Mozi, but Baihe.

  Green Chrysanthemum also urged, "Miss, this is a good opportunity."

  Xiao Yi stood outside the red pillar, when she was on duty, she was only responsible for Qiu San Niang's safety, and rarely made decisions or expressed her opinions.

  If Mozi hadn't explained, Qiang Sanniang would have said no, and Baihe and Lüjing might not have thought much of it. But she mentioned that the Wei family would be staying at Ciniang An this month because they were afraid of being disturbed. Not even Zhangshi knew about it, let alone Liu Niang and Qi Niang. This news was leaked out by the gatekeeper Tian Dasuo, who told only them in private.

  If used well, it might turn out to be a good thing, but Qiu San Niang didn't want to.

  Why aren't the two of you in a hurry?

  "Miss, we have the old master's special jade token for going out. I think what Mozi said is good. Many filial daughters enter a Buddhist temple to bathe and purify themselves for three or seven days. Miss has also stayed at Ciniang Temple before, and it's still for the sake of the old master, so Madame will not suspect anything either." Baihe thought that Qiu San Niang was afraid that Zhang Shi would not agree.

  "I don't care if she's suspicious or not. If it's really for Father's safety, I'll go even if she stops me." Qiu San Niang hummed and lightly plucked the zither strings, "But, using the excuse of going to a quiet place to comfort people, yet choosing me as their daughter-in-law, my face isn't that thick."

  The white lotus's words were a comeback, revealing her own daughter's arrogant air, which had finally surfaced at this critical moment.

  "Mozi, since your mother slapped you, you haven't left the house for two days. How did Tian Da manage to get a message to you?" asked Ju Sanniang curiously.

  "Please ask Xiao Yi to take a trip for me." Mu Zi had always been suspicious of the relationship between Wei Shi and Ci Nian An's mother, so she specially asked Tian Da to pay attention.

  "How could you think that I would go to Ci Nian An to stay for a few days and win the favor of the Wei family? You just said you understand me, but now it seems like I have to slap myself in the face. Since ancient times, marriage has been decided by parents. If my mother had chosen an unsuitable match for me, I could argue with her using reason. But running behind my parents' backs and asking someone to marry me is something I cannot do." Qiu San Niang felt embarrassed.

  "Miss, forgive me for speaking bluntly," Mozi said in a straightforward yet somewhat antiquated manner. "The mistress fainted and has been bedridden these past two days; have you visited her at all?"

  "I went to pay my respects, but she refused to see me." Qiu San Niang wasn't so unreasonable either.

  "Madam won't see you, which means she won't forgive you. Miss, if Madam treats you like this now, if you don't plan for yourself, I'm afraid that by the time she casually marries you off to someone, you won't even have the chance to argue reasonably." In front of so many people, not giving Zhang a way out. Before, at least they could pretend to be mother and daughter, but now it's likely that Zhang will thoroughly tear off her mask with her fainting spell.

  Qiu San Niang furrowed her brow.

  "Miss, the mistress has taken everything from the Qiu family, all the shops and fields are in her hands. Master - I don't speak ill of you, but Miss, you know what's going on in your heart. The mistress probably won't believe that you didn't leave any private property for yourself, after being trapped for half a year, she thinks this amount is not big. That night, just because I told a story and people praised me a few times, she used the family law to beat Baihe and Lüjing. Miss is clever, and just said that it was borrowing our hands to slap your face. But Miss, have you thought about why the mistress is like this?" Mozi asked.

  "You're saying I've lost my use value for her?" Qiu San Niang's eyes were sharp and cold.

  "My point is, the young lady isn't one to be bound by rules and conventions, why let others make decisions for her when she can clearly take a stand. Compared to Qiu San Niang's cold demeanor, Mo Zi's eyes were calm and peaceful. "It's not about making the young lady fawn all over them either. Wei Shi is an intelligent person. If we're overly enthusiastic, who knows if our cleverness will backfire. It's best to be ordinary and not say or do too much, just let Wei Shi understand the real young lady. Later on, if she doesn't choose the young lady, at least we gave her the opportunity. Otherwise, can you really tell a good daughter-in-law from just two meals?"

  Qiu Sanniang remained silent for a while after listening, then made a gesture as if she was about to tear Muzi's mouth apart. "Look at this, you've turned things upside down and given us an opportunity instead."

  "Opportunities are mutual." Mozi thought it was time to speak up, "The Wei family looks at whether the girl can be married or not, and the girl also needs to consider whether she wants to go to the Jingwang Fu or not. Besides, I'm afraid I've become a thorn in the eye of the madam now, and going out is not as convenient as before. Entering and exiting the Ciniang An is much easier than entering the Qiufu, which would be good for investigating that third son of the Wang Fu. If it's a problem with his character, even if the girl were to be chosen, I'd still advise her not to marry him."

  Mozi's words were echoed by Baihe and Lvgui, who repeatedly agreed with him.

  "You should know that even if Father is gone, Zhang's intention to harm me, I'm not afraid. At worst, I'll just leave the house and live alone. Although I am a daughter, I have never felt inferior to a good son. In terms of business, my two younger brothers are far less capable than me. Even if there were only 100 taels of silver left in hand, as long as you all follow me, I can make it multiply several times."

  Jiang San Niang's tone suddenly changed at this time, "But this world, I understand, is unfair to women. If I don't get married, I'll be separated from the family and who knows what people will say about me in the future. I'm not doing it for myself, but also for my deceased mother. She was a virtuous woman all her life, how can I let this daughter ruin our reputation? Alright, since there's still a way out, Mozi, I'll listen to you."

  A faint smile of purple ink.

  Bai He was overjoyed, "Miss, you're thinking correctly. A woman should get married when she's of age. It's easy to say this, but it's not simple to actually do it. I think Wei Shi is elegant and refined, her manners are different from ordinary madams, and her heart is as kind as a Bodhisattva's. I'm sure her family won't be too bad either. If you marry a good husband, isn't that much better than being on your own?"

  Qiao San Niang stretched out her arm, covering Bai He's mouth with her palm. "What Mo Zi said makes me feel that I would be wronging myself if I don't go, but what you said, Bai He, makes me not want to go either? Where is this 'Mr. Right'? After following Father all these years to so many places, I still haven't seen any 'Mr. Right', but I've seen plenty of 'Mr. Wrongs'."

  Qiu San Niang is similar to Mo Zi in this regard. She never had any expectations for the love that transcended life and death.

  Bai He wanted to argue back, but was afraid that Qiu San Niang would really leave, so she had no choice but to hold her tongue.

  "The girl has already made up her mind, so let's go see the old master first. If the old master agrees, then the mistress can't disagree." The inner house is managed by Zhang Shi, but Qiu San Niang is seeking peace for her father. Mozi offers another small plan.

  "Mozi, I'm going to marry into the dragon's lair and tiger's den, and the first one I'll look for is you to settle accounts." However, Qiu Sanniang admired Mozi's clever thoughts.

  "At least it's better than being in a stagnant pool of water." What Mozi meant was that Qiu San Niang's situation had already deteriorated to the point where it was difficult to improve.

  "It's better than being dead, only able to occasionally stretch one's limbs in a stagnant pool of water." And Qiu San Niang was a straightforward person who understood things at once.

  "Besides, treating this matter as a common business for young ladies, if it goes well, it will be a new career with a profit of ten thousand." Mozi said.

  "Good girl, you know what I like best." Chou San Niang was generous with her praise. Indeed, now that she looked at it, she felt much better. If one wanted to sell goods, of course one had to put in some thought.

  Qiu San Niang got up and took Bai He and Xiao Yi to Qiu Lao Ye's house to visit him and discuss some matters.