First, the indenture was returned; then the relationship was severed.

Was it the Second Master clearing her name, or was it the Second Master clearing his own?

…

Su Yujin suddenly recalled her earlier guess about the Second Master returning her indenture…

It was probably right!

The Second Master wanted to bravely pursue his love, so he didn’t even need to hide it anymore and simply made it public!

The Second Master was truly a brave Second Master.

Admirable!

As for her, she had already gotten her indenture back, and now, because the Second Master had severed the relationship, she no longer had to be burdened by the name of a mistress, which was a good thing.

Su Yujin was happy, and at this moment, she was even more amiable towards Lu Shi and Lu Wenjing, who came to apologize, telling them not to worry, and even warmly inviting them to have lunch at her home.

After all, neither of them had done anything wrong in this matter. If one looked at it carefully, this gūzhí pair had actually been kept in the dark by Second Master’s little scheme, leaving them feeling guilty and uneasy for quite some time for no reason.

However, on the other hand, although Lu Wenjing was a bit greedy and had a bit of a spoiled princess attitude, she was still quite polite to her. Although she often came over for food and drinks, she also gave her a valuable bracelet as a reward, not taking anything for granted. Overall, she was very nice.

As for Madam He, she was worried that He Yanxiu wouldn’t dare tell his family about settling down with his mistress, and she was also concerned about his advanced age and unmarried status. So she came to see if he was of good character and if so, she would take him back to relieve He Yanxiu of his troubles. She was an extremely loving mother.

Moreover, after realizing that she seemed to have misjudged her relationship with He Yanxiu, she was willing to swallow her pride and come to express her apology. This action far surpassed that of ordinary people who only knew how to talk about superficial rules; it was genuine, a magnanimity and upbringing that shone from the bottom of their hearts.

With a matriarch of the family like this, the He family must be a rare, prestigious family where warmth outweighs rules, and the family atmosphere is harmonious.

If that was the case, then perhaps the shocking thing Second Master was about to do would be to receive the support and understanding of his family?

Second Master, keep it up!

Su Yujin’s magnanimous and unconcerned demeanor reassured Madam Lu and Lu Wenjing, making them even more impressed with her, as they felt that despite coming from a humble merchant family, Su Yujin possessed such breadth of mind and magnanimity.

After enjoying a spicy hot pot meal prepared by Su Yujin at noon, Madam Lu and Lu Wenjing talked with Su Yujin for quite a while and were reluctant to part with her when it was time to leave.

“Miss Su, you’re all alone in Qinghe. If you feel bored, why not come to the capital for a stroll and visit our home?” Madam Lu extended an invitation. “I get quite bored at home these days. If Miss Su comes, she can keep me company and help me pass the time.”

“Yes, yes,” Lu Wenjing echoed. “I’m quite free these days too. I can take Sister Su around to see the sights.”

“Madam and Miss Lu are so kind. I would be impolite to refuse. I will definitely come to your home to bother you when I have the chance.”

Whether the other party was sincere or just being polite, Su Yujin didn’t hesitate and readily agreed.

Madam Lu and Lu Wenjing were both military officers, and both were generous and easygoing. They were pleased to see Su Yujin accept.

They talked all the way from inside the house to the door. Su Yujin saw Madam Lu and Lu Wenjing get into the carriage and even watched the carriage drive away before turning back.

In the cold, dry winter of the north, the gusts of northwest wind whipped up weathered dust and sand, which blew into her eyes.

Su Yujin felt a sharp pain in her eyes, a sting in her nose, and tears welled up.

The best way to deal with a foreign object in the eye is to rinse it with clean, warm water, without rubbing it, allowing tears to flow freely and wash away the object.

Su Yujin endured the discomfort, letting the tears stream down her face, and even called for Ai Cao to prepare a basin of warm water.

When Ai Cao came out of the kitchen with warm water, she was startled to see Su Yujin with red, swollen eyes and tears streaming down her face. “What happened, Miss?” she exclaimed.

“The wind was strong, and sand got into my eyes.” Su Yujin’s eyes were sore, and she didn’t have the mind to talk to Ai Cao much. She quickly took the basin of water Ai Cao had put down, splashed some warm water with her hands, and slowly washed her eyes.

After washing them several times, she felt less uncomfortable and slowly opened her eyes, rolling her eyeballs around a few times.

She felt much better.

Su Yujin finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the water off her face, went inside to warm up for a while, and asked Ai Cao to bring her a cup of hot tea.

Seeing this, Ai Cao felt a pang of sadness. While pouring the tea, she spoke to Liu Mama.

“Miss cried just now…” Ai Cao bit her lip.

Liu Mama sighed as well. “I’ve served Miss for so long and have never seen her cry before. This time, she must be very heartbroken.”

Indeed, how could she not be heartbroken?

She was bought back from the brothel, hoping to serve the Second Master well, gain a proper status, and have a child, thus securing her future.

But now, the Second Master had first returned the indenture, and now, through Miss Lu and Madam He, he was telling her that she was no longer He Yanxiu’s mistress and had no special relationship with him…

His eagerness to sever ties meant he would never consider taking her into the He family as a concubine.

What would become of her…?

Would she be left all alone, spending her days endlessly dealing with these few businesses, her life consumed by money?

Liu Mama sighed, “Go buy some new cosmetics for Miss later. You’re good at needlework and have a good eye, so help her pick out some new fabrics and make some new winter clothes.”

“By the way, Miss usually dislikes dressing up, so you should persuade her to get some decent jewelry. A young lady should dress up nicely when she goes out.”

“I’m afraid Miss isn’t in the mood,” Ai Cao hesitated.

After all, the Second Master had just experienced such a troublesome event, and Miss was probably still grieving.

“That’s precisely why you need to dress her up more,” Liu Mama said earnestly. “Miss is beautiful, capable, a good cook, and a skilled doctor. Everyone would want to marry her. Although she might not be as powerful as the Second Master, she could at least marry into a wealthy family.”

“If Miss meets someone she likes and develops romantic feelings, her mood will naturally improve.”

“That’s right,” Ai Cao nodded emphatically.

The best way to forget a relationship was to start a new one!

If she didn’t want to be hurt by Second Master, then simply fall for someone else!

Makes perfect sense!

“Achoo!”

A little tea spilled from He Yanxiu’s hand.

(End of Chapter)

---