The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 275 - 279: The Struggle in the Inner Courtyard (Part 5)

Chapter 275: Chapter 279: The Struggle in the Inner Courtyard (Part 5)

With her most pressing worries about the child no longer burdening her heart, Gai Yinyin finally had the mind to think about other matters.

Upon seeing Miss Hehua, she immediately took the initiative to speak out, "I am sorry to have kept my mother waiting before, it was my fault, Miss Hehua. Please wait a moment, I will tidy up and then return with you to see my mother...."

Miss Hehua’s face showed pity, and she quickly interrupted, "Hold on."

Facing the puzzled and naive look of the former mistress, Miss Hehua also felt very reluctant in her heart.

Despite this, she still struggled to relay the Old Madam’s message verbatim.

Gai Yinyin was naive and simple because of the environment she once lived in, but she wasn’t foolish.

As she listened to Miss Hehua’s words, her eyes swept over the wooden box held in the hands of the servant behind her, filling her heart with bitterness and fearful uncertainty about what the future held.

The conviction that had always supported her crumbled rapidly, as her face revealed a wretchedness she had never shown even when she was abandoned by her husband.

She understood the Old Madam’s choice and accepted it.

No matter how much the Old Madam pitied her, compared to her biological son, she was still an outsider.

Miss Hehua was pondering how to comfort the former mistress with her words; after all, since her marriage into the Duke Mansion, she had always been generous and kind to the servants, and not a few of them had been graced by her benevolence.

However, before Miss Hehua could speak again, Gai Yinyin seemed to have already come to a realization on her own.

Her gaze collided with the glossy eyes of the child on the bed.

For a moment, she felt as if the child on the bed wasn’t just a small infant, but a mountain that could support her and bring her joy.

It was like the carefree times she played around the estate when her father was still alive, the same way her father used to look at her.

Gai Yinyin’s nose tingled, and in the blink of an eye, when she looked again, where was there any supportive gaze? It was clearly just an unintentional glance from a small infant.

But it was enough to bolster all of her courage.

She wasn’t alone anymore; she was still a mother, with a tiny child dependent on her.

Just as she once adoringly looked up to her own father.

"Then thank you, Miss Hehua, for making the trip for me. After you return, please convey my thanks to the Old Madam."

Having said that, Gai Yinyin ungraciously accepted the items sent by the Old Madam.

Once they had left, the resilient Gai Yinyin who had seemed strong at first once again fell into a melancholic state, looking at the pile of Silver Coin and replenishments, she felt an increasing urge to cry.

However, looking at Little Treasure’s grinning smile, she sniffed back her tears and, with red eyes, forced a big smile.

"Ah Lee, from now on it will be just the two of us depending on each other."

Su Li’s tiny mouth was about to stiffen from smiling, managing to cheer Gai Yinyin out of her constant look of sorrow and distress.

Watching his mother stumbling and bumbling through life, learning to live and plan for the sake of him, Su Li pinched his own plump white arm, filled with dismay.

He really wished he could grow up faster; his small body was incapable of doing much of anything.

Even with the hardships, Gai Yinyin still learned to darken her beautiful features and, in the safer part of the city to the east, managed to purchase a small courtyard with one entrance, spending money to have someone help arrange the furniture and household items.

Through this whole process, she was cheated out of a great deal of Silver Coin; a courtyard that should have been over 100 taels was wrung out of her for over 400 taels.

Adding to the one thousand taels previously sent by the Old Madam, after Gai Yinyin settled down with Su Li, the Silver Coin they had was almost all spent.

Fortunately, there was still a small amount left. By being frugal, the lives of the two of them was still somewhat manageable.

The seasons changed, and in the blink of an eye, fifteen years had passed.

Su Li had grown from an infant who could only lie down and eat liquid food into a graceful young lady.

At this moment, she was dressed in Liu Sha, lounging on a small couch placed beneath tree shade.

The glass cup at hand was filled with crystal-clear, juicy fruits with delicate skin, while the sound of cicadas in the afternoon provided a leisurely backdrop as if time was just right.

In the years before Su Li had grown up, Gai Yinyin had truly suffered a lot.

Without a servant at home, she had to do all sorts of chores herself.

Chopping wood and lighting fires in winter, cooking and preparing meals in summer, laundering clothes...

However, such days disappeared after Su Li turned three.

By the age of three, Su Li quickly began to display a talent for martial arts.

At this time, not only was there the court, but also the worldly society.

After Su Li learned to speak, Gai Yinyin developed the habit of following Su Li’s instructions in everything.

Gai Yinyin regained the innocence and vivaciousness of a girl secluded in a boudoir, even more so than before.

Su Li squinted, basking in the warmth of the sunlight that shone on her, as Gai Yinyin emerged from the room with a smile, holding a stack of papers.

The small courtyard they had once purchased had, over the years, been expanded into a garden with the scenic beauty of Jiangnan.

Pavilions, terraces, towers, and the elegance of buildings.

In the back garden, a hot spring that had yet to be discovered was also integrated.

"Ah Lee, come over and take a look at these ink and wash paintings I’ve made."

Gai Yinyin was over thirty, approaching forty, yet she still had the demeanor of a young girl, with a face that was smooth and fine, with not a wrinkle in sight.

Who would believe that the woman in front of them, wearing her hair in a youthful style, already had a fifteen-year-old daughter?

"Let’s have a look," Su Li said, opening her eyes slightly with a languid expression.

At this moment, the status between the two seemed to have been reversed.

Gai Yinyin spread out the papers, looking eagerly at Su Li and hoping for her praise.

Su Li smiled and said, "Not bad, your painting skills have improved again."

Like a child praised by a parent, Gai Yinyin’s eyes narrowed in delight.

"Then I’ll go back to the room and roll up these paintings," Gai Yinyin said, before running off lightly.

Once she entered the room, a dark shadow suddenly appeared behind Su Li.

"Master, we’ve discovered that a First-class Shadow is planning to break away from the Dark Pavilion tomorrow."

Without moving, Su Li responded indifferently, eyes still closed, "If that’s the case, then discard it."

"As you command."

"Wait..." Su Li suddenly took an interest and added a question, "Who convinced the First-class Shadow to make this decision?"

"The legitimate Miss Su Ying from Duke Ying Mansion."

Su Li felt the name was vaguely familiar, searching her memories before recalling who it was from Duke Ying Mansion.

No wonder it sounded familiar; that was the family of her original owner’s biological father.

"To make me lose one of the First-class Shadows I’ve diligently trained, this Su Ying must not be underestimated."

This incident made Su Li, who had almost forgotten the memories of the original owner, take notice of Duke Ying Mansion again.

Previously, Old Madam, who had said that they would bring Gai Yinyin back into the mansion after Zhu Liusha had given birth, had lost contact with them ever since that time.

In the meantime, they heard of great celebrations at Duke Ying Mansion, where the Madam had given birth to dragon and phoenix twins, symbols of great auspice.

Gai Yinyin returned from the street and cried all over again.