Not Going Back (continued)

After all, the future matriarch is directly related to the quality of life of everyone in the entire backyard.

"Hua Ying," Gu Wanning said after thinking for a moment, "If you want to leave and rely on yourself, I can help you."

The First Concubine had Qin Lie to protect her, the Second Concubine had her maternal family, Fourth Concubine had her loyal senior brother. Only the Third Concubine was truly alone, with no one to lend her a hand.

But she has medical skills and can rely on herself.

"I've thought about it, but if I go out, I'm an orphan girl, and in the end I'll still have to rely on the young lady. How can I say I can rely on myself?" the Third Concubine said self-deprecatingly.

No matter how good your medical skills are, the outside world is a dog-eat-dog world.

As she stepped out of the gate of the Marquis's Residence's mansion, countless gaping maws awaited, ready to tear her apart and devour her.

Even after she leaves, she still relies on Gu Wanning's kindness and care to prevent her business from being sabotaged.

She didn't want to cause Gu Wanning any trouble.

As long as she can continue to live a life of ignominy in the Marquis's Residence, she'll just live one day at a time.

"What's that? Aren't we helping each other?" Gu Wanning said. "Look, when I have something going on at home and I ask you for help, when have I ever hesitated? That's what good friends should do."

She doesn't need to contact someone just for the sake of contacting them, but if the other person needs help, she will definitely be the first to rush over.

"And what kind of care can they possibly provide? It's nothing more than using the Chief Grand Secretary's office as a shield to intimidate people when petty thieves cause trouble. Not only you, but if any innocent person were bullied, my father and brothers wouldn't stand idly by."

The Gu family's greatest role for the Third Concubine was to maintain order and keep the household in check.

"The Marquis also said that he would let you go as long as you were willing. But Hua Ying, you must know that a man's heart is very fickle. If Xie Yun wins his heart in the future, he may no longer interfere in matters of the inner court. Moreover, there is no news of the marriage yet, so it's fine for you to leave now. But if the marriage is settled and you leave, in order to protect Xie Yun's reputation, the Grand Princess probably won't let you leave so easily."

--The future mistress was chosen, and then the concubine ran away. Doesn't this imply that the future mistress is not virtuous and intolerant?

"I understand everything you're saying," the Third Concubine said softly, her voice slightly unsteady. "If Xie Yun really enters the manor, I won't Marquis's Residence. But, but..."

"But what? Don't hold back, no one else will know about our conversation today."

From the outer room came Er Ya's deafening snoring.

Gu Wanning couldn't help but chuckle.

Er Ya helped her sister-in-law turn over the vegetable garden today, and she's exhausted.

"But what if it's you who returns to the manor in the future?" the Third Concubine said quietly. "Wouldn't I regret it then?"

Gu Wanning: "... What are you thinking about?"

"You and the Marquis are doing well now."

"We're fine because I've never had feelings for him. Hua Ying, you've had feelings for others before, and true love is exclusive. You'd feel bad if you saw him being close to any other woman, but look at me, have I ever had any possessive thoughts towards the Marquis?"

"You haven't shown any interest in the Marquis before or now. But what about the future...? I don't think the Marquis's devotion to you is something that happened overnight. He shouldn't give up."

If Xu Weibei hadn't been so stubborn, he wouldn't have been able to conquer cities and territories and achieve such unparalleled feats.

Such a man is equally successful in love.

His previous foolish and clueless behavior in front of Gu Wanning was simply because he was new to romance and not yet familiar with it.

"So you were still hoping I'd go back!" Gu Wanning said, both amused and exasperated. "Hua Ying, let me tell you, that's impossible. Haven't I told you? I have absolutely no desire to get married. And if I were to marry, my requirements would be quite demanding..."

"Whatever you want, the Marquis will give you." Third Concubine never doubted Xu Weibei's sincerity towards Gu Wanning.

She realized long before the two people involved did, that there was an unbreakable bond between them.

This is a good person, and another good person, a mutually beneficial journey that is gratifying.

The process may be winding, but the ending will surely be beautiful.

"I don't want a difficult mother-in-law."

What can Xu Weibei do about the Grand Princess?

This great-grandmother's power is equivalent to an exponential increase in the severity of an evil mother-in-law.

"I don't want any other woman. I want him to stay with only me, and even if I get old and lose my beauty, even if I can't bear a son, he can't take a concubine."

"I want him to treat me as an equal, not as his appendage, to respect me, to put himself in my shoes, and not to put me in a difficult position. To put it more bluntly, I hope he won't stand against my father and brothers, putting me in a dilemma. Do you think that's difficult?"

"Difficult, every single one is very difficult," the Third Concubine said truthfully.

"I think so too. I ask myself, if I were in his shoes, I couldn't keep those promises. If I can't even do them, why should I expect others to?"

Gu Wanning actually likes Xu Weibei very much now.

That kind of liking is from an outsider's perspective, without making unwarranted comments about his private life, but based on his ability and character.

"I don't want to become repulsive in the future, losing myself in the wear and tear of marriage, and also losing my appreciation for the Marquis."

Let's take a step back, be friends, and maintain just the right distance.

"So Hua Ying, if you're thinking about your future, never assume 'I'll go back to the Marquis's Residence's mansion,' because that won't happen."

She can go out to farm, Third Concubine can go out to open a clinic.

They could even live together, each busy with their own things during the day, becoming casual buddies and eventually life partners in old age.

Women in this world don't necessarily need men.

"Well... I'll think about it carefully." The Third Concubine still didn't give in immediately.

Gu Wanning understood; after all, it involved her future life direction, and everyone should be cautious.