"Really?" Huo Mei Shu was skeptical.
Rong Dai noticed her coming to her side, with a smile on her face, "If you want to try it, I can make it for you."
This was indeed her secret recipe, given to her by a martial arts doctor.
Because in her previous life, Upheaval City was so extravagant that almost every household had top-grade Chinese medicines like deer antler, ginseng and lingzhi.
The formula made by that martial arts doctor used simple and common medicines, which those wealthy madams and noble ladies naturally disdained to use.
Huo Mei Shu leaned over and sniffed the small bag on Rong Dai's eyelids. The smell of tea mixed with Chinese medicine was rather strange.
"I'll pass."
She shook her head and went to the kitchen to get some water.
After she came out with the water, Rong Dai took the small bag off her eyelids, wiping the water drops on her hands.
Seeing that the young aunt was still there, she glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already noon.
It seemed that mother-in-law and uncle were not coming back for lunch.
"Mei Shu, what do you want to eat for lunch? I'll make it for you."
Hearing her say this, Huo Mei Shu's eyes lit up at once, "Red oil dumplings! Sister-in-law, can you make them?"
Rong Dai nodded, "I know a little."
In her previous life, the imperial chefs in the palace came from all over the country. Some people only knew how to make one dish, and could not be considered chefs.
However, because that dish was made excellently, they became imperial chefs, specializing in serving the ladies in the harem.
"Thank you, sister-in-law!"
Huo Mei Shu immediately cheered up and followed her into the kitchen.
Rong Dai liked to eat handmade noodle dough she made herself. Seeing her smooth movements of kneading dough and rolling noodles, Huo Mei Shu could hardly believe her eyes.
Her elder brother had married a treasure of a sister-in-law!
Only Rong Dai herself knew clearly that in her previous life, she had spent so much effort and made so many attempts just to please the Emperor and make him happy.
If it hadn't been for the Emperor, how could she, a young lady from a general's mansion, who had never done any housework, know how to make dough?
The sisters-in-law ate dumplings for lunch. Huo Mei Shu sat back contentedly in her chair, completely satisfied.
"Mei Shu, have you heard that it's hard to take back words once they leave your mouth?"
Rong Dai put down her chopsticks, and looked at her with a deep smile.
Huo Mei Shu immediately sat up straight, looking at her woefully, "Sister-in-law, you've been led astray by my elder brother!"
"Your elder brother said that Gu Chengyan would come. Just be at ease and focus on what you should do, don't be absent-minded."
Rong Dai looked at her, still smiling.
Looking at the young aunt now reminded her of her previous self.
She had also been restless for the Emperor like this before, hadn't she?
She just didn't want the young aunt to be as sincere and devoted as she was.
When she heard the three words "Gu Chengyan", Huo Mei Shu tensed up. Hearing the second half of Rong Dai's words, she sighed lightly.
"I want to, but as soon as I think that he won't come, I feel frustrated."
Rong Dai looked at her sincerely, "If he doesn't accept your invitation once, send it two or three more times."
"What if he still doesn't accept it?" Huo Mei Shu asked anxiously.
Rong Dai pursed her lips, was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Then it means he has no feelings for you at all, and you can get over it sooner."
Huo Mei Shu's expression wilted, losing all her vigor.
"Did you learn classical music because of him?" She continued asking the young aunt.
"Kind of, half of it was also because I liked it myself. Because elder brother is the pillar of our family, grandma and mother don't interfere much with what I want to do, as long as I like it."
Huo Mei Shu nodded and shook her head, her tone full of loss.
Rong Dai looked serious and solemn, "Mei Shu, you have your priorities reversed."
Thinking of all that she had experienced in her previous life, although many people and events had become blurred in her memory.
But the Emperor's scheming, utilising and betraying her was still vivid.
What she lost to the Emperor was not her nobility, but her pride and dignity.
She had given too much to the Emperor and loved too humbly.
During this time with Huo Shao Ting, she finally woke up.
It turned out that loving someone was caring and worrying for him.
No matter what you do, it's pointless for someone who doesn't love you.
"You are beautiful, have good family background and talents. Pursuing someone is like fighting a war, you also need strategy."
"I don't mean plotting schemes, but you can't lose your dignity and pride for someone who can't do the same for you."
"Loving too humbly will only lead to anxiety and torment, even if you succeed."
She spoke earnestly, but seeing the young aunt like this, her advice probably wouldn't be very effective.
Huo Mei Shu nodded. She understood all these principles.
But whenever she thought of that person, she would lose her calm and reason.
Rong Dai didn't say any more. Some words, if they could be accepted, would have been already.
After a nap in the afternoon, Rong Dai made some tea while studying the script.
Although she already knew the lines by heart, this was her first attempt in both lives, and she didn't want to make any mistakes.
At least memorizing the lines was the most basic accomplishment for an actor.
"Sister-in-law, look at your phone quickly!"
Rong Dai was engrossed when she suddenly heard Huo Mei Shu's panicked cry.
"What happened?"
Huo Mei Shu came to her anxiously and angrily, handing over her phone, "These people...how unjustifiable! Completely irrational!"
Seeing how she was about to explode, Rong Dai glanced at the news on the phone and couldn't help a flicker of coldness in her eyes.
The Wen Company had gone bankrupt overnight and was acquired by the Huo Company. Wen Shi Lan had also paid the price, being sentenced to five years in prison.
Because of this, she had a falling out with Huo Shao Ting.
She thought this matter had made the Wen family aware of their mistakes, but she didn't expect them to be so stubborn!
Even with Wen Shi Lan in jail, these Wen family members were still making trouble!
She could understand the Wen family making trouble.
After all, falling from heaven to hell overnight, even an ordinary person would complain and vent.
With the advanced internet nowadays, it was normal to be hyped up.
But what was going on with Huo Linjing?
What grudge or resentment did she have against her?
She was so vicious that she went live to denounce her!
"This damned Huo Linjing! She's an ungrateful wretch! With eyes that can see, how could she fancy trash like Wen Runlin!"
Huo Mei Shu was fuming. Watching Huo Linjing crying on the livestream, she was so angry she wanted to strangle the other party!
Rong Dai was also displeased in her heart.
Especially when she first went to the Huo Group Building, the idea of the Second Young Master's side to arrange for someone to seduce Huo Shao Ting made her usual calm mood change.
"Mei Shu, can you help me register an account?"
In her previous life when facing the provocations of the consorts, her first thought was always the royal dignity, so she endured a lot and couldn't defend herself when taking hidden losses countless times.
But the world was different now, she wouldn't endure like that anymore. Sometimes silence was not necessarily a good thing.
