18C.MICBIZ

Early in the morning, Nan Hua woke up early and departed quietly. Even though the situation was relatively bad for Nan Family because of the swirling rumors, it didn\'t really affect Nan Hua that much.     

She had known that the things would develop this way and thus had long been prepared.     

Unlike other people who were paying close attention to what others were saying outside, Nan Hua personally didn\'t care that much. What they said wouldn\'t harm her in the slightest bit.     

Besides, she knew that it was true that her father was executed and had done many wrong things.     

Perhaps, death was an easy sentence for him.     

But Nan Hua didn\'t really want to see Nan Shu Cheng anymore. It would be better to cut off the source of trouble directly rather than letting him live with the chance to make more trouble in the future.     

Knock! Knock!     

"Miss, we\'re here."     

Nan Hua looked at the small courtyard in front of her before taking the hat that Mu Yan had prepared for her. There were two types of veils that could be used, one that only covered half the face and a hat that could cover the entire body.     

The second one was not that commonly used except when they were out on an outing and it was inconvenient for other people to look at them. After all, noble ladies usually only stayed in their residences with no one who could look at them.     

Thus, this became the method for them to hide their appearance from outsiders.     

"Wait here."     

Nan Hua wore the hat and walked down the carriage. She looked at the small and somewhat dilapidated building in front of her. Her black obsidian eyes flickered slightly as she slowly walked inside.     

There were only three people inside, three women to be exact.     

One of them raised their head when she heard the steps and quickly bowed. "This servant greets First Young Miss Nan."     

The other one quickly followed while the last one curtsied. "Mu Bai Ci greets First Young Miss Nan."     

Mu Bai Ci, who used to be known as Concubine Mu in Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence, could no longer use her previous name. She was released from Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence and used her own private money that she had accumulated to be able to be released and bought a small courtyard on the outskirt of the capital city.     

The houses here were relatively cheaper, but it was still fairly expensive. After all, it was not easy to have a house in the Capital City. Even on the outskirt, the price was quite significant.     

Mu Bai Ci was dressed in plain dress and looked somewhat ordinary. She no longer wore any beautiful accessories like she did back in Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence. Her current appearance made her look like a peasant woman.     

Nan Hua looked at Mu Bai Ci and replied, "Miss Mu."     

Mu Bai Ci smiled faintly at Nan Hua\'s greetings.     

Nan Shu Cheng\'s concubines and the residence\'s servants had various endings. Hers might have been the best because she managed to leave relatively unscathed and then bought her own house in this place.     

It was a good place for her.     

"My apologies I have nothing to serve you, Young Miss Nan." Mu Bai Ci showed an embarrassed look. "I have only moved in and there hasn\'t been anything prepared."     

"It\'s fine." Nan Hua pointed at the table and chair nearby with her chin.         

Mu Bai Ci saw Nan Hua\'s faint movement and chuckled. "Look at me forgetting manners. Please take a seat, Young Miss Nan." She then turned to look at her servants. "Prepare some tea."     

"Yes, Miss."     

Watching the two maidservants walk away, Nan Hua then glanced at the small courtyard Mu Bai Ci had bought. The courtyard was really small and the house she picked could only be called as a hut at best.     

There was no way that a noble woman would be able to live in this place normally.     

But Mu Bai Ci had a commoner background before she entered Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence. For her, it was just like returning to how things should have been before she got married back then.     

There was not much difference for her.     

"The officials wouldn\'t look for you anymore. You don\'t have to mention his name anymore to those whom you meet in the future," Nan Hua said calmly.     

Mu Bai Ci\'s eyes flashed. "Many thanks for your help, Young Miss Nan."     

Nan Hua nodded.     

The two of them didn\'t exactly state directly what they wanted from each other. Perhaps, they had realized that the two of them were not exactly what you would call friends or something like that.     

However, the two of them cooperated tacitly.     

Because they have the same goal.     

"Do you like it here?"     

Does she like it here?     

As she looked around her small dilapidated courtyard, Mu Bai Ci was confused by Nan Hua\'s words. She showed a faint smile. This courtyard truly couldn\'t be compared to the quarter she had in Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence.     

It was far worse than the luxury she had in that residence back then.     

But that luxury was traded with her freedom. She was unable to do anything but to wait upon someone she didn\'t like at all. However, she had to curb her feelings and showed none of it in order to survive.     

Life had never been easy.     

Deceiving others was easy, but could she truly deceive herself into saying that she enjoyed her life in Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence?     

Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence felt more like a cage that trapped her for so many years. It made it so that Mu Bai Ci couldn\'t escape for so many years. And being kicked out as a concubine more often meant death.     

Mu Bai Ci took a deep breath. "Yes. I like it here."     

In this courtyard, Mu Bai Ci would be free.     

With her already being sold to Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence back then, her permanent residence was no longer in her parents\' hands. Now that she had \'bought\' herself out of that residence, she was basically a free person.     

No one would be able to control her life anymore.     

While it was not easy for a woman to live by herself during this period of time, it didn\'t mean that it was impossible. There were still some ways for them to survive. They just had to work harder and endure the words that outsiders might speak out.         

Discrimination existed.     

But how to deal with them depends on the person involved.     

"It wouldn\'t be easy." Nan Hua looked at Mu Bai Ci.     

"I know." Mu Bai Ci laughed lightly. "I have been prepared ever since I got out of that place, so you don\'t have to remind me again, Young Miss Nan. I\'m thankful for everything that you have done for me, so you don\'t have to worry that I wouldn\'t be able to live on my own."     

Nan Hua nodded.     

The two maidservants had already come back with a tray. Looking at their posture, they might have decided to live with Mu Bai Ci in this dilapidated courtyard. While it was far worse than their previous place, they could still live well as long as they worked hard.     

She had inquired and knew that Mu Bai Ci had a small store she obtained from the schemes in Nan Shu Cheng\'s Residence. With that store, it would be fine for Mu Bai Ci to stay in the Capital City and still have enough to eat.     

The amount of money earned each month might not be as much as her previous salary, but she could still live enough.     

At the very least, she wouldn\'t starve to death.     

"I wish you\'ll be happy." Nan Hua looked at the tea and slowly sipped it. The tea was just a common tea that was relatively cheap, but it was brewed well. At the very least, it managed to seep the taste of the tea well.     

Mu Bai Ci smiled. "I will. I wish you success on your path too, Young Miss Nan."     

The two of them no longer spoke as they drank the tea calmly. The atmosphere was calm and comfortable, but the two of them looked more like a stranger than friends. Still, there was no awkwardness between the two of them.     

Despite their age difference, they could know what the other party meant from their gesture.     

The silence lasted for half an incense stick of time before Nan Hua stood up and bid her farewell.     

"Please take care, Young Miss Nan." Mu Bai Ci curtsied as she sent Nan Hua away. She looked at Nan Hua\'s departing back and then sighed slightly.     

Even though Nan Hua didn\'t say it upfront, she was actually here to ask her about her future plan. And Mu Bai Ci herself had known that with her intelligence and way of doing things, there was no way that she wouldn\'t attract other people\'s attention.     

Through their short conversation, she knew that Nan Hua would not force her.     

Thus, the two of them only silently sipped their tea for some time.