My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Chapter 8: Illusion Acquired, Humiliation in Old Clothes

After Chu Wen'er fell, she stayed indoors and quietly recuperated.

Her maids and servants were also scolded by Lü Yun, and now they all keep their distance from her, afraid of offending her again, and dare not provoke her for the time being.

Chu Lengyu was happy to have some peace and quiet.

Anyway, she could become stronger by writing in her diary, so she really didn't want to get involved in the power struggles in the backyard.

Just like the rules she set for herself in her diary:

"If you can do something with your hands, don't talk about it."

Why waste time arguing with them when you can solve things with a simple action?

A bunch of self-absorbed individuals who refuse to listen to reason are better off trying to persuade them to do good than figuring out how to ascend to heaven in broad daylight.

Perhaps because her second diary entry was written too perfunctorily, the system gave her a smaller reward, instead awarding her a copy of "The Thousand Illusions Technique," which would make it easier for her to travel by illusion or to change her face to do things that are inconvenient in the future.

For example, if he were to transform into his adoptive father Chu Hanchen's appearance and walk around the mansion at night, he would surely terrify the Chu family.

Chu Lengyu held the white porcelain teacup in her hand, transforming it into a celadon cup with lotus leaf patterns, and admired it for a while.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she heard someone approaching from outside the courtyard.

Now that she has begun cultivating immortality, her sharp hearing and eyesight are astonishing.

Once she reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, her divine sense can extend further, and nothing in the manor can be kept from her.

Granny Liu arrived carrying a stack of winter clothes, only to be blocked at the entrance of the courtyard by Lüyun.

When Lü Yun saw that the clothes in her arms were old and dirty, she knew that they were old clothes that had been gathering dust in the warehouse for many years. How could she bear to accept them?

She clutched the torn sleeve of her winter coat and asked, "How can we give out such tattered clothes for the New Year? Is our Duke Zhenguo's mansion so poor that we can only afford to wear clothes like this?"

Granny Liu glanced at the shabby little courtyard, which didn't even have a proper name. She had no interest in coming to such a place.

On such a cold day, coming here to deliver clothes brings no good result, and I even get scolded by this sharp-tongued girl. What bad luck!

So she replied irritably, "People should wear clothes that suit them. Do you think you live in Jinfangyuan? I don't have any other clothes, just these. Take them or leave them. If you don't want them, I'll take them."

As she spoke, Granny Liu prepared to leave.

Green Bamboo didn't stop her, released her hand, and sneered:

“During festivals, many high-ranking officials and nobles will come to visit the mansion. If they see me and my young lady wearing such clothes, rumors will surely spread that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has lost its virtue and gone bankrupt.”

"You bunch of self-righteous fools, do you really think the Second Miss can protect you if the Second Master gets angry?"

As expected, Granny Liu hesitated and stopped walking.

Green Bamboo snorted again, saying disdainfully, "You can leave now. Whether you sell the clothes or burn them is none of my business. Just pretend you were never here."

Granny Liu hesitated, but then realized that what Lüyun said made sense.

But the second young lady declared that the eldest young lady would not be allowed to have a peaceful New Year this year; she would not be given any money, winter clothes, or charcoal.

Her expression shifted for a moment, then she turned back and gave Lü Yun a fawning smile: "Miss Lü Yun, this is not something an old woman like me can decide, but the Second Miss has given the order, and I cannot disobey it."

"What else did she say?" Green Bamboo asked coldly.

She had already guessed who was behind this, so she wasn't surprised at all.

She's clearly from a respectable family, so why does she resort to such underhanded tactics all the time? She has none of the grace expected of a noblewoman.

Lü Yun still vaguely remembered that Chu Wen'er was also the young lady's sister; otherwise, she would have exposed all the dirty deeds Chu Wen'er had done long ago, making her unable to hold her head up in the capital.

Granny Liu repeated the second young lady's words in a low voice, then added again: "Miss Lüyun, I'm caught in the middle, it's a very difficult situation for me. I don't want to offend anyone, but..."

“I understand that my mother-in-law is in a difficult position.” A clear, cold voice came from inside the courtyard.

Green Bamboo stepped aside and said softly, "Miss."

Upon hearing the sound, Granny Liu looked over and saw a young girl in white gracefully walking out.

She wore a plain white dress with flowing cloud patterns, the hem of which swayed gently like drifting clouds, exuding elegance and refinement.

Her lips were as red as cherry blossoms, naturally so without dye; her eyebrows were as green as crescent moons, naturally so without makeup.

With slender shoulders and a narrow waist, her figure was graceful and charming. Her gaze was captivating, like the goddess of the Luo River, moving with breathtaking beauty.

Granny Liu was taken aback. She remembered that although this young lady was beautiful before, she was never so stunning.

It's only been a short time since I last saw her, yet she has blossomed into such a breathtaking beauty.

With skin as white as ice and bones as white as jade, and an indescribable air of nobility, she was like a person carved from beautiful jade.

Even if she loses her backer, she won't have a hard time in the future, just because of her face.

Granny Liu snapped out of her daze, her face crinkling with laughter, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Miss."

"No need for formalities, Mother-in-law."

Chu Lengyu nodded slightly, her tone calm and polite.

“My second sister is young and unpredictable, and a bit mischievous. We know that, and I don’t want to argue with her.”

"Yes, yes, Miss is right. Second Miss is young and doesn't know any better. Please forgive her, Miss." Granny Liu nodded and bowed.

Green Bamboo almost burst out laughing.

If word got out that she was fickle, unruly, and immature, how could Chu Wen'er ever hold her head up in shame?

Chu Lengyu glanced at the old clothes in her arms.

"Take the clothes back and pretend you weren't here today. I prefer peace and quiet, so there's no need for you to come and bother me if you have nothing to do."

Whether it's money or charcoal, since Second Uncle and Second Aunt have inherited this Duke Zhenguo's mansion, they probably don't lack these things.

If they truly cannot produce the money, I will even offer my own dowry to uphold the dignity of our Duke's mansion.

For high-ranking officials and nobles, the word "decency" is sometimes more important than human life.

Granny Liu was somewhat flustered and nodded repeatedly: "Miss is kind-hearted, and we servants all understand. Then this old woman will take her leave now."

After saying that, she took the clothes and went back as they were.

Green Bamboo closed the door before saying, "Miss, if Second Miss still refuses to let us go and insists on making things difficult for us, how are we going to get through this winter?"

Just a moment ago she was relaxed and calm, but now her little face is all scrunched up in distress, stumped by a few taels of silver.

Chu Lengyu then remembered that in the past, when her charcoal-fired medicine soup was insufficient, Lüyun would use her own allowance to subsidize it, and her meager private savings had long been spent.

However, none of that matters right now.

She handed Lüyun a purse.

It was a bit heavy to hold, so Green Bamboo opened it with a puzzled look. Inside, the purse was full of gold beads!

She gasped, quickly covered the opening of the purse, clutched it tightly in her hand, and asked in a low voice, "Miss, where...where did all this come from?"

Her eyes were filled with disbelief.

Of course, Chu Lengyu wouldn't tell her that it was all an illusion; she had just picked up a stone, cut it into small pieces of roughly the same size, and then transformed it into a golden bead.

She made up an excuse: "My godfather passed away early, leaving me a lot of gold and silver for protection, but I hid it away and it's inconvenient to use it."

Lüyun nodded, then said, "But it's not convenient for us to use it right now."

The second young lady has people watching them all the time, so suddenly taking out so much wealth will definitely arouse her suspicion.

"Don't worry. Even if they dig three feet into the ground, they won't find it." Chu Lengyu patted Lüyun's shoulder. "Take them to the pawn shop and buy more of what you need. Don't be stingy for me."

"Yes." Green Bamboo clutched the purse tightly, deeply moved.

The young lady trusts her so much, she will certainly not let her down.