Zhu Zhu slept soundly until the sky turned dark.
When she was awakened by a rustling of hushed voices, her mind felt much clearer. Not only had she slept well, but after a night, this body had integrated with her soul, and the fusion, nourished by spiritual energy, had improved her condition so remarkably in a short time.
She stretched.
The setting of this world dictated that a Di Kun's body could not be strong and robust. It was rare for her to feel so delicate and weak, and for a moment, she found it hard to adapt.
The murmurs outside grew bolder, and upon listening closely, she realized they were all about her.
"...I've never seen anyone behave like a guest who just barges in. The first day, it was understandable, the First Madam being considerate of her travel fatigue. But today, she slept until this hour? All the young ladies have gone to pay respects to the First Madam, yet she's still under the covers, sleeping. I bet she's never slept on such a fine foreign bed and can't bear to get up. Truly short-sighted."
"Anyway, she won't be staying at the Qin residence for many days. I heard that in a few days, it's Marshal Qin's Sixth Master's birthday, and the Master plans to send her over as a birthday gift to Sixth Master Li."
"Marshal Qin's Sixth Master?" a servant exclaimed. "Isn't that Sixth Master crippled? While he has some abilities, he's already in his thirties, unmarried, no concubines, no children. Who knows what his issues are? This is, after all, a Qin family daughter, won't it be too..."
"She's just from a collateral branch. To be fancied by Sixth Master Li is her good fortune."
The group was discussing fervently, and even people from other young ladies' rooms came to join the gossip. When Zhu Zhu pushed open the door, she nearly sent the person leaning against it, badmouthing her, tumbling to the ground.
The person looked up angrily, about to curse, when they saw her serene, water-like face.
"Qin... Tenth Miss."
The original owner of this body was ranked tenth among the young ladies of the Qin family in this generation. Madam Qin, for the sake of "harmonious coexistence," had no exceptions for any young lady, all addressed by their ranking.
This was also to suppress the children born to other wives.
"Is there anything to eat?"
The maidservant was taken aback, but someone beside her reacted first and quickly replied, "Madam and the young ladies have already eaten. If Tenth Miss wishes to eat, I'll go to the kitchen and get you something. What would you like?"
"Anything light will do." She looked at the others. "There's a tree over there, it's nice and cool under it, and it won't disturb others. You can go talk over there."
The people who had been trembling moments before now had contorted faces.
No matter how much they disliked her, even despised her, it couldn't change the fact that Zhu Zhu bore the title of a Qin family lady, while they were mere servants.
"Yes, thank you, Tenth Miss, for your guidance."
"I don't have that kind of leisure time." She returned to her room, and the murmurs outside vanished.
Not long after, a maidservant entered with a food box, from which she took out three or four small dishes and a bowl of congee. Zhu Zhu glanced at them; the small dishes were delicate but a bit cold, clearly made in the morning. Su Dan Novel Network.
She picked and chose what to eat. This body was truly difficult to manage. With just some cold dishes, she started feeling uncomfortable before she even finished eating.
She initially intended to adjust with spiritual energy but then thought, if she didn't cause a fuss, how would she drive the plot forward?
So, she had the servant send for a doctor.
With this commotion, everyone in the Qin family mansion knew that the newly arrived Tenth Miss was a sickly child. On her first day, she was too tired from travel to get out of bed. She ate a meal and then needed to see a doctor, followed by lying in bed for several days.
Madam Qin was quite frightened. If this person wasn't approved by Master Qin and said to be useful, she would absolutely not have agreed to take her in.
The Qin family's own daughters were not yet settled, and she still had to worry about others' affairs. Not to mention, even if they sent someone away, they'd have to provide a dowry, which she was genuinely unwilling to do.
Now, she was even more worried that the person would die in their home, damaging the Qin family's reputation and causing the clan to gossip...
In short, Madam Qin, who managed all the internal affairs of the household and was initially indifferent to this collateral niece, was forced to worry about her the very next day. At first, she just called for physicians; when that proved ineffective, she even went to the hospital to find a doctor.
After a few doses of medicine, as the person began to recover, she could no longer suppress her inner rage and urged Master Qin to send her away quickly.
However, Sixth Master Li's birthday was still a few days away. Master Qin could only tell her to serve the girl well, promising to take her there directly on that day. Whether the Li family accepted her or not, they would leave her there and wash their hands of the matter afterward.
Sixth Master Li was Marshal Li's full brother, Li Xiao Xian's own uncle. He had been injured by a grenade while saving Marshal Li, resulting in a leg injury and the loss of one eye. Born into the Li family, even with these disabilities, he could have married a beautiful and healthy Di Kun. However, he himself was not interested. He was injured in his teens, and now in his early thirties, he had always been alone.
For a Tian Gan to be so abstinent and cold seemed impossible to others. Thus, many speculated that Sixth Master Li had suffered not only injuries to his eyes and legs but also unspeakable damage to other parts of his body, which explained why he had remained single for so many years.
Marshal Li did not want to see his younger brother live a lonely life, nor could he bear the pressure from the family elders who emphasized filial piety. He had long declared that whoever could send someone who would make his brother nod and stay would become a honored guest of the entire Li family.
Master Qin naturally did not want to miss this opportunity.
Unfortunately, he had five or six daughters of his own, but only one was a Di Kun, and she was just a young girl of thirteen or fourteen. She was the apple of Madam Qin's eye, and if he dared to touch her, Madam Qin would turn the Qin family upside down.
Thus, this niece, several generations removed, also seemed somewhat important.
Especially after seeing her in person, Master Qin's expectations from three to four parts rose to seven or eight parts.
This young girl looked sickly, but she was a budding beauty. Her features were striking, yet her eyes were remarkably clear, her gaze flowing, exuding a cool, alluring charm. She was a rare and exquisite beauty.
He began to waver.
Would it be a waste to send someone like this to Sixth Master Li?
Although Sixth Master had some abilities and was favored by the Marshal, he was not the true head of the family.
The Li family would eventually belong to Li Xiao Xian.
Young Marshal Li was a notorious womanizer. If such a person were sent to him, she might not become the main consort but would surely be favored. Perhaps then, she could gain even more.
Just as Master Qin was agonizing over whom to send the girl to, the Sixth Master of the Li family paid a visit.
Zhu Zhu pretended to be recovering from a severe illness. She paid little attention to the servant's words, continuing to lie on the small couch eating grapes.
This body had a strong craving for sweets. The fruits, precious in this world, sent by Madam Qin, suited her perfectly.
"Tenth Miss!" someone rushed in from outside in a panic. "Tenth Miss, the Li family, Sixth, Sixth Master is here, and he specifically asked to see you. Master has asked you to go over quickly!"