After six full days of recovery, Qingyun’s injuries had mostly healed.
Unable to continue lying around while being cared for, she now spent her days helping with whatever small tasks she could manage. She felt far too embarrassed to let the mistress continue taking care of her.
That afternoon, the weather was especially pleasant. The sun shone warmly overhead while a gentle breeze drifted through the courtyard.
After finishing lunch, Mu Yuqing slowly set down her chopsticks. She looked toward Qingyun, concern and curiosity flickering in her eyes.
“Now that your injuries are almost healed,” she asked softly, “have you thought about what you plan to do afterward?”
The moment Qingyun heard this, her heart skipped violently.
Her face instantly turned pale.
She mistakenly believed Mu Yuqing was politely asking her to leave.
Startled, Qingyun hurriedly stood up and tightly gripped her sleeve. Her voice trembled with panic.
“Madam, please don’t send Qingyun away! I truly have nowhere else to go. I have no family, no relatives, and no home to return to. I beg you to show mercy and let me stay. Even if I can only serve as a common maid, I’m willing!”
As she spoke, tears immediately gathered in her eyes.
Afraid Mu Yuqing would still refuse, Qingyun hurriedly continued,
“Madam, please rest assured, I won’t eat your food for nothing. Although I’m only a woman, I’ve practiced martial arts since childhood. I can protect you and your family. I can also go hunting in the mountains and help support the household. I definitely won’t become a burden!”
She looked at Mu Yuqing desperately, like someone clinging to their final lifeline.
Mu Yuqing stared at the anxious girl before her, hesitation and sympathy flashing through her eyes.
After biting her lip lightly, she finally sighed.
“You misunderstood. I never intended to drive you away.”
Qingyun froze slightly.
“If you truly wish to stay, then it’s certainly possible,” Mu Yuqing continued honestly. “It’s just that our current circumstances aren’t very good. Life here is humble, and I can’t provide comfort or luxury. Staying with us means enduring hardship together. Are you really willing to live like that?”
As she spoke, Mu Yuqing carefully observed Qingyun’s reaction.
To be honest, having another capable person around would certainly ease her burden. Still, part of her felt guilty at the thought of dragging the girl into a difficult life.
However, Qingyun answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Madam, please don’t worry. Qingyun willingly chooses to follow you. You saved my life, and I will never forget such kindness. Being able to serve Madam is already Qingyun’s greatest blessing.”
Her gaze became firm and unwavering.
“No matter how difficult the future becomes, Qingyun will follow Madam faithfully until death and never betray you.”
In truth, Qingyun’s gratitude toward Mu Yuqing came entirely from the kindness she had received during these past days.
Despite Qingyun’s identity as a servant, Mu Yuqing had never once looked down on her or treated her poorly.
Qingyun had long since decided to repay this kindness wholeheartedly.
Still, she currently faced one major problem.
Before her former master’s supposed “death,” he had secretly entrusted her with ten thousand taels in banknotes and ordered her to deliver them to the mistress.
But now Qingyun had no idea how to explain such an enormous sum naturally.
If she suddenly handed over the money, it would seem extremely suspicious.
Yet she also did not want to fail her master’s final instructions.
The more she thought about it, the more troubled she became.
Just as Qingyun was sinking into deep thought, Mu Yuqing suddenly spoke again.
“I’m planning to walk around the village for a bit. Would you like to come with me?”
Qingyun immediately snapped back to attention.
“Yes! Qingyun will accompany Madam and protect you.”
Mu Yuqing laughed softly.
“This is just a small countryside village. Nobody here is going to harm me.”
Even so, she did not refuse Qingyun’s company.
After all, her real purpose for visiting the village today was to quietly investigate whether there were any pregnant women nearby.
She was still eagerly thinking about her future supermarket upgrade.
The two women slowly walked along the winding dirt paths through the village.
It was a beautiful autumn day.
The oppressive summer heat had finally faded away, replaced by cool refreshing breezes that brushed gently against their faces like soft hands.
Mu Yuqing’s estate sat at the far edge of the village, quite a distance from the center.
After walking for roughly fifteen minutes along the winding paths, they finally arrived beneath the giant pagoda tree standing at the heart of the village.
Several village women had gathered beneath the shade, chatting noisily together while bursts of laughter occasionally rang through the air.
The moment they noticed Mu Yuqing approaching, everyone immediately stopped talking and stood up enthusiastically.
“Oh my, isn’t this Miss Mu from the estate at the edge of the village?”
Faced with such warm greetings, Mu Yuqing smiled brightly and nodded politely.
“Yes, I’m the Mu girl you’re referring to.”
The moment the women confirmed her identity, their smiles became even more welcoming.
Several hurriedly moved aside to clear space for her while inviting her over warmly.
One middle aged woman spoke emotionally, her voice filled with gratitude.
“Miss Mu, you’re truly our family’s benefactor! If not for your kindness toward poor villagers like us, our lives would still be unbearably difficult. How could we possibly live such peaceful days otherwise?”
Hearing this, Mu Yuqing immediately understood their meaning.
In this era, most landlords were notoriously greedy.
Some demanded sixty percent of the harvest, leaving struggling farmers with barely enough to survive. Others directly charged heavy rent in silver, forcing families into endless debt no matter how hard they worked.
Compared to them, Mu Yuqing’s arrangement was unbelievably generous.
She only collected twenty percent of the harvest.
Because of this, the villagers deeply respected and appreciated her, almost treating her like a living benefactor.
The village itself was not large, containing only around twenty households.
However, the people were simple, united, and warmhearted.
Mu Yuqing found herself genuinely fond of this peaceful atmosphere.