Free Web NovelChapter 76: Chapter 75: Loyalty (50+ Monthly Votes)
Jin Rui lowered her eyes and didn’t continue the topic; she remembered Jin Ling had gone back home, so why was she back so soon?
The curtain lifted, and Jin Ling stepped inside. Having hurried all the way there and back under the blazing sun, her face was sunburned red, and sweat began to seep from her forehead, which had just been wiped.
Du Yunluo originally wanted to tease her with a few words but seeing that Jin Ling looked serious, she knew Jin Ling had something to say, so she said to Jin Rui, "Go to the kitchen and get me a bowl of sweet soup."
Jin Rui agreed, got up, and walked out. As she passed by Jin Ling, she gave her a cold glance, which sent a chill down Jin Ling’s spine.
"What’s the matter?" Du Yunluo asked while pointing to the stool beside her, gesturing for Jin Ling to sit down.
Jin Ling didn’t sit; instead, she took two or three steps and knelt in front of Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo was startled, but since she had hurt her foot, she couldn’t pull Jin Ling up. She could only ask sternly, "What on earth is going on? Did something happen at your home? Just tell me, and I’ll make the decision for you."
The concern was clear in her words, and upon hearing it, Jin Ling’s eyes reddened.
Her mistress treated her with such deep care, how could she do something that would make her mistress sad?
Those accursed people from the Zhao family made up nonsense about her, not only ruining her reputation but also trying to harm the master-servant relationship between her and the mistress.
Feeling aggrieved and angry, Jin Ling’s nose became sore, and she spoke hoarsely, "Mistress, on the night of the Qixi Festival, you promised this servant that I could serve you for life. I meant it sincerely; I only want to serve you, no other thoughts will arise in me.
These past few days, people have been asking me strange questions that I didn’t understand.
It was only just now, after returning home and hearing it from my mother, that I realized someone in the house is spreading rumors that you plan to elevate me after you get married. They speak as if it’s the truth."
Du Yunluo’s eyes narrowed, "Someone is really saying that?"
Jin Ling nodded solemnly, "They say those who came to ask you for this servant were all refused, and you are keeping me for the future..."
Du Yunluo gritted her teeth and snorted coldly, "I’ve been too kind, and now they think they can bully me? Ha! To fabricate such things behind my back, they are truly bold!"
Jin Ling kowtowed deeply, "It’s not that I want to complain, it’s just that I want you to know that I’m not that kind of person."
"I know what kind of person you are. Get up," Du Yunluo sighed softly.
Having lived two lives, she knew the temperaments of her two maids the best.
Jin Rui is competitive, always comparing with Jin Ling, but she never forgets loyalty;
Jin Ling is naturally talented, meticulous in her work, with a good temper. If Du Yunluo makes a mistake, Jin Ling is the one who would gently advise her.
They are both straightforward people who would never develop such twisted thoughts.
Moreover, if no one had made up such chaotic tales, just idle talk about Jin Ling alone, Jin Ling probably wouldn’t have told Du Yunluo about it.
Just like before.
In the past, when Jin Ling suffered great grievances at the Zhao family, as long as she spoke up, Du Yunluo would definitely have taken care of it.
But Jin Ling just endured, always enduring, until her tragic end.
Recalling those past events, Du Yunluo’s heart ached terribly.
This lovely, vibrant Jin Ling ended up as a skeleton, fated with a tragic end...
Du Yunluo steadied her breathing, held Jin Ling’s hand, and said, "Don’t think too much about it; I will get to the bottom of this matter!"
In the main room, Jin Rui stood quietly with the sweet soup for a moment.
She had heard the gossip, which is why she had tentatively asked Du Yunluo a few questions before, but before getting to the point, Jin Ling had returned.
Though she only heard half the conversation between Du Yunluo and Jin Ling, she understood the gist.
Jin Ling had no such intentions, and Du Yunluo didn’t plan on it; so it was a relief, everyone was satisfied.
Jin Rui was also satisfied.
She didn’t want to become a concubine but feared Jin Ling would become one and overshadow her; now, this was just right.
"Mistress," Jin Rui called out softly, and when Du Yunluo responded, she smiled and lifted the curtain to go inside, handing the sweet soup to Du Yunluo.
Du Yunluo drank it slowly, and after she finished, Jin Rui took the empty bowl to place it on the table, saying, "Mistress, when I went to the small kitchen, I heard people saying that the Zhao family came looking for Mrs. Zhao again, but Mrs. Zhao was busy, so they went back."
"She really runs around diligently!" Du Yunluo snorted, turning to Jin Ling, "If she comes again and talks about her nephews, just ignore her."
Jin Ling shook her head with a bitter smile, "It’s all this gossip outside; Zhao’s family is well-informed and must know about it."
"I bet she’s the one spreading these rumors!" Jin Rui frowned and said, "Last time you refused her, she just made up a bunch of stuff."
Jin Rui and Jin Ling both blamed the rumors on the Zhao family.
Du Yunluo felt the same at first, but after thinking it through, she sensed inconsistency and said to Jin Ling, "Go find Mrs. Zhao and ask her to come by when she’s free."
Jin Ling answered and left.
Jin Rui seized the opportunity to quietly ask Du Yunluo, "Mistress, there’s one thing I don’t understand. Last time, when the Zhao family mentioned their eldest nephew, why did you refuse without even thinking?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Du Yunluo pressed her lips together, her smile tinged with bitterness.
Because she knew that it would have ruined Jin Ling’s entire life.
Du Yunluo didn’t know Manager Zhao’s eldest son, but she knew Manager Zhao’s wife, his younger son, and the Zhao family.
Moreover, the Zhao family was opportunistic; in the past life, they proposed marriage for the younger nephew, but seeing Du Yunluo favored in this life, they switched to the elder nephew,
Such unkind conduct, could the gate of the Zhao family be entered?
Du Yunluo would not let Jin Ling suffer such a loss or endure such hardships again.
No matter how good that eldest nephew might be, Du Yunluo would not favor such a family.
These reasons naturally couldn’t be explained in detail to Jin Rui, so Du Yunluo picked the key points and mentioned a few things briefly.
Jin Rui listened silently, her heart feeling sour.
The mistress was thinking carefully about Jin Ling; she also treated her affectionately, knowing in the future, she would care for her the same way.
Having such a master is indeed a blessing for her.
It wasn’t long before Jin Ling invited Nanny Zhao in.
Nanny Zhao greeted everyone with a broad smile, and after Du Yunluo insisted twice, she finally sat down on the stool.
"I heard that the Zhao family has been frequently looking for you these days? What is it about?" Du Yunluo got straight to the point.
Nanny Zhao didn’t understand why Du Yunluo would ask about the Zhao family, but she replied truthfully, "Mistress, she wants this servant to help find a match for her eldest nephew. She hopes to receive a favor from the madam."
"How odd, if she wanted a favor, she should have gone to the second aunt," Du Yunluo smirked, leaning forward to say to Nanny Zhao, "To be honest, the other day she came to me to ask for Jin Ling, but I refused her. Now, the maids are spreading rumors that I’m keeping Jin Ling to elevate her in the future! I’m not even married yet, Jin Ling is a perfectly innocent maid, and yet people are fabricating these stories. It truly infuriates me."
Nanny Zhao’s face turned pale, her eyes widening, "There’s actually such a thing!"
