"Husband, madam, I, I didnât mean that!"
Du Juan was so terrified by Huang Wanâerâs gaze that her whole body trembled. She knew all too well how mad her own madam was. If she were misunderstood as actually having designs on the child inside her belly,
her own life would be over.
Madam would have countless ways to kill her, even including taking both of their lives together.
Du Juan believed if the child in her madamâs belly were really gone,
and if it were her own doing, Madam would very likely go directly to the gang leader, claiming she had been violated and that it was this little maid who had let a strange man in. In that case, she would certainly have no burial place upon her death.
The gang leader would definitely treat her in the most brutal way possible, yes, just as brutally as you would imagine.
"Madam, please donât misunderstand, I, I mean well for you!"
Huang Wanâer said, "I, do not need your goodwill! Tell me, you didnât drug me, did you?"
Du Juan repeatedly shook her head, saying, "No, madam, I wouldnât dare, I wouldnât dare."
Huang Wanâer looked at Du Juan with a scrutinizing gaze, then followed up, "Du Juan, how long have you been with me?"
Du Juan said, "Three years."
Huang Wanâer said, "Yes, three years. Back then you were that little maid bullied to the point of having to eat moldy steamed buns, and there were even people suggesting you be given to Lai Touwu as a bride, who picks up dung. You cried to me, saying you wanted to change, to serve me for a lifetime. I said no need; I said I would give you your freedom after five years."
"Now three years have passed, he-he... two more years. I donât want to break my word, and I hope you donât break yours, betraying me!"
Huang Wanâer looked at Du Juan.
Having heard this, Du Juan knelt down abruptly and said, "Madam, because you saved me from dire straits, I must tell you the truth!"
"Madam, this child cannot be kept. If the gang leader finds out, you will most certainly die; and Grandpa Chen, Grandpa Chen will also be implicated, and this child wonât survive either. So, madam, please think it over!"
Du Juan said to Huang Wanâer.
Huang Wanâer looked at Du Juan, then said next, "Du Juan, you may go."
"Ah?"
Du Juan looked at Huang Wanâer, who said, "Iâm giving you your freedom. There are two thousand taels of silver in that box over there. Take them and leave Mianshui County, find a place where no one can find you and live a good life."
"Ah, madam, please donât drive me away; I want to stay with you!"
Huang Wanâer said, "What you said is very true; this child could be deadly. But I canât be without him, and I can understand your fear. So leave, leave this place of trouble. You want your freedom; Iâm giving it to you!"
"No, no, madam, I donât want freedom, I donât want freedom; I just want to stay with you, I..."
Huang Wanâer looked at her and said, "Listen, staying with me could very well implicate you. You should leave. My pregnancy wonât be concealable in four, no, maybe just three months, and by then you might be implicated because of it. Leave me, live the life you enjoy."
Huang Wanâer said slowly to Du Juan, who then responded, "Madam, no, let me serve you. With the situation you are in, if you change maids, it will definitely be found out sooner. I will serve you; at least for three months, it wonât be discovered. I will arrange everything."
Huang Wanâer remained silent, and Du Juan said, "Madam, please."
Huang Wanâer said, "It could cost your life."
Du Juan said, "Iâm not afraid!"
Huang Wanâer looked at Du Juan, then said, "Two months; you can stay by my side for at most two months. After two months, you must go!"
Huang Wanâer continued, then sat back on the cushion and picked up a volume of Buddhist scripture.
After listening, Du Juan kowtowed and said, "Madam, you want me to go, I will listen to you, but, madam, you still need to tell Mr. Chen about your pregnancy."
"Why tell him?"
Huang Wanâer looked at the Buddhist scripture, without looking up, Du Juan said, "He, he is the father of the child!"
Huang Wanâer said, "Itâs not important. He will have many children in the future, but this child is mine. I must protect him!"
Du Juan wanted to say something else, but Huang Wanâer said, "If you dare tell Mr. Chen about this, you must leave immediately. I wonât need your service anymore."
"Madam, I, I wonât tell."
Du Juan bowed her head.
Huang Wanâer continued reading the scripture, her hand unconsciously resting on her belly, my child, I must protect you myself.
...
Jia Jia Jia...
Chen Jie and his entourage hurried back to White Tiger Hall, only to see Zhou Chu waiting for him as soon as they arrived.
Chen Jie looked at Zhou Chu and said, "Old Zhou, whatâs the matter?"
Zhou Chu said, "Master, look."
Chen Jie looked over and saw an array of colorful glass in Zhou Chuâs hands.
"Why are there so many impurities?"
Chen Jie asked Zhou Chu, looking at the glass; as a transmigrator, werenât salt, glass, and soap all things he was supposed to invent?
Chen Jie had already started marketing purified salt, and the profits were considerable.
Besides salt, there was glass. The simplest method of making glass was to burn sand at high temperatures.
If you wanted to purify it further, soda ash and other materials had to be added.
And this secret workshop was already under construction, currently under the domain of White Tiger Hall, considered as the sixth department.
As mentioned before, White Tiger Hallâs inner courtyard is divided into three rooms and five departments, including the accounting room, logistics room, and guard department.
Additionally, there are five departments: the Kitchen Department, Inner Servant Department, Outer Servant Department, Flower Department, Carriage Department, and now a newly added Craft Department.