Would You Be Content to Live Like This for the Rest of Your Life?

People outside are saying that Madam Shangguan has captured General Shangguan's heart and is extremely cruel to his children from his first marriage.

But that's not actually the case at all.

Shangguan Wan'er loves to put on an act, and Shangguan Family of the Shangguan Wan'er family.

Even if Madam Shangguan wanted to buy a piece of jewelry, she needed her stepdaughter's approval; how could anyone dare to do anything to her?

Zhou Wanwan looked at Madam Shangguan and said:

Are you content with living like this for the rest of your life? You've given birth to three children for the Shangguan Family.

Logically, you should be the housekeeper, but now you have to put up with your stepdaughter's attitude. Are you willing to accept that?

And then there's Shangguan Yun'er Shangguan Yun'er; her reputation in the capital isn't good these days.

Even if she were exceptionally beautiful, who would want to marry her if she had a bad reputation?

"At that time, I'll only be able to become someone else's concubine."

Madam Shangguan's expression changed several times, and suddenly, she knelt down and said:

"Zhou Wanwan, you're quite capable, I'll tell you the truth."

I was just a Yangzhou courtesan, and I suffered a lot in my early years. If you ask me to take charge, I really can't do it.

But I don't want Yun'er follow in my footsteps and become someone's concubine. Please, I beg you, help my daughter and me.

I know you have that ability.

Even if Madam Shangguan were foolish, she could understand Zhou Wanwan's intentions.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:

"You're quite clever; these things are just for show."

I know you don't want to go out right now because you simply don't have any money.

What difference does it make who you serve? You served that General of the Cavalry, did he give you and your daughter even a single tael of silver?

And what about your two sons? Has he ever cared for them?"

Madam Shangguan's tears slowly fell, she was so beautiful. Even Zhou Wanwan, a woman, felt a pang of heartache seeing her cry.

Madam Shangguan nodded and said, "I understand. I will grant you whatever you desire, as long as you ensure that my daughter and I have enough to eat and wear."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "Alright, that's more like it. I've replaced a few of your trusted maids and mothers-in-law. Are you willing?"

Madam Shangguan nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, all the maids and servants around us are Shangguan Wan'er's subordinates."

We're completely under her thumb. We've wanted to switch places for a long time, but we don't have a single penny to our name.

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said:

"Yes, we'll have money from now on. We're only in our early twenties, so we should dress up nicely!"

The girls around you all know how to dress well; today you're going to that flower-viewing banquet.

If anyone asks where your clothes and jewelry are from, just tell them the name of my shop, and then tell them that if they mention your shop, they can get a 20% discount.

If you can get them to mention your name and make a sale, you'll get a share of the profits.

Madam Shangguan was taken aback for a moment and said, "Really?"

Zhou Wanwan had someone bring over ten silver ingots, saying, "Of course it's real. This is the deposit. With your figure and your daughter, you'll look good in anything."

Madam Shangguan said with concern, "I'm afraid Shangguan Wan'er will cause trouble."

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said, "Her? Don't worry! My people will help you secretly."

Madam Shangguan nodded, and after Zhou Wanwan left, Shangguan Yun'er looked at her and said:

"Mother, how could you so easily trust a little girl of unknown origin?"

Are you really going to help her deal with Shangguan Wan'er?

Madam Shangguan smiled faintly and said:

"I've experienced more; I can tell what kind of person someone is just by looking at them."

But I can't see through this little girl. Look at the things she brought today; they're worth almost 100,000 taels of silver.

If she dares to give it to me, I dare to accept her as my boss. Just think of your deadbeat father, who made me have three children but didn't give me a single penny.

It would be better to cling to Zhou Wanwan's coattails.

When Shangguan Wan'er got home today, she felt that the atmosphere at home was very strange.

She looked at the housekeeper and asked, "What happened today?"

The butler looked at her and said, "Nothing special happened. A young girl with blond hair came to see Madam today."

Shangguan Wan'er frowned and asked, "How old are you?"

"She looked about six or seven years old, and was quite good-looking."

Shangguan Wan'er gritted her teeth and said, "It's that damned old hag Zhou Wanwan! What does she want? Does she think she can interfere with our Shangguan Family?"

The person in charge lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Shangguan Wan'er looked at him and asked, "What were they saying inside?"

The steward shook his head and said, "At the time, Madam had all her servants come out, but I don't know exactly what they said inside."

Shangguan Wan'er sneered:

"What exactly is Zhou Wanwan, this busybody, trying to do?"

However, I'm not afraid. That woman and her daughter are both spineless and penniless; they can't cause any trouble.

The steward asked, "That's true, Madam is rather ignorant."

Shangguan Wan'er scoffed and said:

"Now I'm even embarrassed to go to banquets, but whether I go out or not doesn't really matter."

I'm going to a flower viewing party tomorrow. Have the clothes I requested been made?

The maidservant beside her nodded and said, "Everything is prepared, including the jewelry you requested. You'll definitely look radiant tomorrow."

Shangguan Wan'er smiled slightly and said, "If Zhou Lang saw me like this, he would definitely like it."

Her fiancé, Zhou Mingyang, was a talented man from Beijing.

The two families had previously agreed to a marriage, and Zhou Mingyang had also passed the imperial examinations, so the marriage was put on the agenda.

In the past few days, the Zhou Family has been preparing to give betrothal gifts to their family.

Zhou Mingyang didn't really like her, but what could he do if he didn't?

Is he really going to marry that good-for-nothing Shangguan Yun'er?

Like her mother, Shangguan Yun'er was beautiful, but a complete fool.

Moreover, she didn't even have a decent dowry. All the Shangguan Family's money was in her hands, and Madam Shangguan and Shangguan Yun'er were just servants in the house.

Zhou Mingyang was in love with Shangguan Yun'er, but Madam Zhou wasn't stupid; how could she possibly marry a woman who was penniless?

She was definitely going to the flower-viewing banquet; it was originally intended for unmarried men and women to meet and get to know each other.

The next day, she got dressed early in the morning. Today she wore a light pink brocade narrow-sleeved long dress with a light apricot ribbon tied around her waist. The hem of the dress was embroidered with tiny white flowers, understated yet exceptionally exquisite.

She wore only two small, round pearl hairpins in her hair, and her earrings were delicate freshwater pearls. Her makeup was light, with only a touch of rouge and lipstick.

Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she said, "Isn't this outfit too plain?"

The maid beside her said:

"Probably not. I've heard that Mr. Zhou prefers elegant and graceful girls, and you do look very beautiful dressed like this."

She's at least much prettier than the second young lady!

Shangguan Wan'er sneered, "Her? What is she? Does she even dare to compare herself to me?"

The maidservant beside her quickly nodded and said:

"That's true, she was dressed very inappropriately."

Last time, she dressed like that at the banquet, and many noble ladies laughed at her!

Shangguan Wan'er thought for a moment and said, "Tell my mother to come to the banquet as well. Without them, how can my elegant and refined beauty be highlighted?"