Extra: Zhao Ruyu 7
Looking through the rear window of the carriage at the city gate receding into the distance, and at the people standing at the gate, tears blurred Zhao Ruyu's vision.
She spent four days at the Zhao Family and felt the warmth of their meticulous care.
On the day she left the Prince Jingping's Estate, Zhao Ruxi sent Imperial Guards to Gusu. After receiving a reply, he specially came out of the palace yesterday to see her. In addition to encouraging her, he also gave her five hundred taels of silver.
In addition, her father gave her three hundred taels of silver, and her grandmother, uncle, and aunt each gave her two hundred taels.
When she first entered the Prince Jingping's Estate, she only took Fushu, a few sets of clothes, and some jewelry with her; she didn't take any of the dowry prepared for her by the Zhao Family. It was Zhao Rurui who, on the other hand, made a scene and took the dowry back with her.
Now Zhao Jingli has given her the dowry he had prepared for her—two hundred acres of fertile land, a small shop, two hundred taels of silver, and some daily necessities.
My sister-in-law said that they would manage the fields and shops for her, and would send someone to deliver the profits from these fields and shops to her every year. She was also told to keep the money with her for emergencies.
She refused the silver offered by the Consort of Prince of Jingping, but she accepted the gifts and valuables given to her by her relatives.
She knew that they gave her money because they still considered her family. And she would spend her whole life repaying this kindness.
Along the way, not only were she escorted by guards sent by Zhao Yuanxun and Zhao Yuanliang, but Zhao Ruxi also sent two Imperial Guards to accompany her.
The journey was smooth, and a few days later, the group arrived in Gusu.
As the carriages were queuing to enter the city, Zhao Ruyu heard someone outside ask, "Is that Sixth Miss Zhao inside the carriage? This old servant is a maid from the Zhang family of Prefect Zhang in Gusu Prefecture, here to welcome Miss Zhao."
Fushu quickly pulled back the carriage curtain and began to talk to the old woman.
Hearing that Madam Zhang had personally come to the city gate to greet her, Zhao Ruyu wanted to get out of the carriage to say hello.
The old woman quickly stopped her, saying, "Miss Zhao, there's no need to get out of the carriage. Madam said that this place is a mixed bag, and it wouldn't be good if you offended her. Once we get there, there will be plenty of time to talk to Madam. Please sit comfortably in the carriage; we'll go straight to your residence once we enter the city."
Zhao Ruyu said a few polite words, but had no choice but to give up.
Zhao Ruxi had a modern mindset, believing that substance was more important than appearance. Naturally, she wouldn't leave the huge house she had bought in Gusu to gather dust. After Zhao Yuanxun returned to the capital, she rented it out immediately.
Out-of-town merchants come to Jiangnan to do business, but they don't stay here for long. They don't need to spend a lot of money to buy a house, but they don't want to lose the dignity of being wealthy. So they are happy to rent her house temporarily. Therefore, her house is never hard to rent.
When Zhao Ruyu came to Gusu, Zhao Ruxi naturally wouldn't take back the house for her to live in. The place where Zhao Ruyu is currently staying is one that Zhao Ruxi asked Madam Zhang to rent for Zhao Ruyu in a letter.
Upon arriving at the residence, the driver, following Zhao Ruyu's instructions, drove the carriage directly into the outer courtyard.
Zhao Ruyu alighted from the carriage, removed her veil, and bowed to Madam Zhang: "Thank you for your warm welcome, Madam, and for renting such a fine house for me."
She used to take Beauty Pill in order to seduce Xiao Sijie and enter the Prince Jingping's Estate.
Now that she has left the manor and needs to travel the world, she realizes that without the corresponding status and identity, this appearance brings her not convenience and admiration, but burden and danger.
Zhao Ruyu finally understood why Zhao Ruxi had refused the Beauty Pill in the first place.
Only then did Madam Zhang get a clear look at Zhao Ruyu's face. She was so shocked that her mouth dropped open, and after a long while, she stammered, "No, no need to be so polite."
Good heavens, how did this Zhao Family girl grow up to be so beautiful! When she first met Zhao Ruxi, she thought she was one in a million. With her looks and intelligence, she was no ordinary person. It's no wonder she became the Crown Princess.
But this cousin from another branch of the family, whom I heard wasn't even a blood relative, was as beautiful as a fairy, even surpassing the Crown Princess in beauty.
The Zhao Family is incredibly powerful!
Zhao Ruyu didn't take the Beauty Pill to make her features extremely refined; rather, it enhanced her overall aura and the beauty filter. This combination of aura and beauty filter would create a strong visual impact on people meeting her for the first time.
Before meeting Zhao Ruyu, Madam Zhang had some thoughts about her. Zhao Ruxi knew that Zhao Ruyu 'Zhao Ruyu original identity could not be hidden, and she told Madam Zhang about it in her letter.
But now, facing the ridiculously beautiful Zhao Ruyu, the plain-looking Madam Zhang suddenly felt ashamed of herself, her heart filled with trepidation, fearing that she might offend the beauty in some way.
"This house is too simple; Miss Zhao probably won't be comfortable living here. I'll find you a better house tomorrow," Madam Zhang said with an embarrassed smile. "It's just that time was short, which is why I haven't been able to arrange anything for you yet."
The location and size of the house were chosen according to the standards given by Zhao Ruxi. It's close to both the Women's Academy and the government office, making it convenient for Zhao Ruyu to teach, and allowing Madam Zhang to keep an eye on things here. The house also needs to be neither too big nor too small, and the rent needs to be reasonable, not too expensive.
Madam Zhang put in a lot of effort to achieve this standard.
But now she felt that this courtyard was completely unworthy of Zhao Ruyu.
A beauty like Zhao Ruyu should live a life of elegance, surrounded by servants and living in luxury.
Madam Zhang strongly suspects that the heir of the Prince Jingping's Estate's Mansion is blind. Zhao Ruyu is beautiful and has a high social standing, yet he took her as a concubine and is now divorcing her; it's simply incomprehensible.
"Can I take a look at the house first?" Zhao Ruyu asked.
"Please, please," Madam Zhang said hurriedly.
Zhao Ruyu followed Madam Zhang and looked around the house. She found that Madam Zhang had rented a small two-courtyard house for her. The house was not big, but it was more than enough for her to live in.
She lived in the inner courtyard with several maids and servants; the outer courtyard housed two guards and a coachman given to her by the second branch of the Zhao Family. When they weren't going out with her, the guards and coachman could also serve as gatekeepers.
Upon learning that the place was close to both the Women's Academy and the government office, and that the rent was reasonable, Zhao Ruyu was extremely satisfied with the residence.
"There's no need to trouble you any further, Madam. This house is excellent; I like it very much," she said with a smile.
She then asked, "When will I be able to attend classes at the academy?"
"No rush, young lady, you can rest for a few days before you go," Madam Zhang said considerately.
"I don't feel tired. If it's convenient, I can report for duty tomorrow."
Although her family gave her a lot of money, and she also received a dowry, Zhao Ruyu did not want to live off her savings.
She now not only has to support herself, but also a servant. Food, clothing, daily necessities, and monthly allowances all add up to a large sum of money every month. She is eager to earn money.
"In that case, I'll come and call you tomorrow."
Zhao Ruyu smiled and said, "Since Lord Zhang and my uncle are close friends, and Madam is my elder, you can simply call me Ruyu."
Madam Zhang was flattered. "Okay."
Having agreed on a time to go to the academy the next day, and seeing the servants starting to move her luggage into the inner quarters, Madam Zhang tactfully took her leave.