Chapter 2: Zhaozhao’s Blessing Has Arrived

Chapter 2: Zhaozhao's Blessing Has Arrived

"The Marquis family raised me, so I should repay their kindness."

"Mingchao, bid farewell to Madam."

Yongning Marquis Madam:……

Did Lu Mingchao really give up her obsession with Gu Huai just like that?

Since childhood, Lu Mingchao had been very attached to Gu Huai, the heir of the Duke.

No matter how cold Gu Huai was, he couldn't dampen Lu Mingchao's enthusiasm.

Her obedient and considerate demeanor in Yongning Marquis Madam's eyes seemed like she was silently planning something significant.

Just as she was about to say a few more words of warning, Lu Mingchao spoke again. "Mother, rest assured, I will leave the estate before sunset."

At that moment, Yongning Marquis Madam felt a lump in her throat.

Lu Mingchao's antics made her feel embarrassed and humiliated.

But when Lu Mingchao insisted on leaving, she felt that Lu Mingchao was being ungrateful.

"Actually, you don't have to do this."

"Once you leave the estate, you can no longer cause trouble under the name of the Yongning Marquis family. Otherwise, don't blame me for not sparing any sentiment."

Pausing, seeing that Lu Mingchao had no change of heart, anger surged, and her voice took on a sarcastic tone. "However, since you've made up your mind, I won't force you."

"But the countryside is worlds apart from the Marquis family. Be prepared."

"Minghui told me that your birth father has arranged a marriage for you in the countryside, to an ugly and vulgar widower. If you marry him, you'll become a stepmother."

Lu Mingchao:？？？

For a moment, Lu Mingchao was stunned.

This was something she truly didn't know!

Seeing Lu Mingchao's surprise, a hint of smugness appeared at the corners of Yongning Marquis Madam's eyes and brows.

"Thank you for your advice, Madam."

"I only wish for Madam and Miss Minghui to be safe and happy."

For the sake of some personal funds, she was willing to speak sweetly.

Besides, there wasn't a malicious swap story between the original owner and the true miss, nor did they have to reach a deadly confrontation.

Yongning Marquis Madam caught her breath.

"For the sake of our mother-daughter relationship, I'll send Nanny Wang with one hundred taels of silver."

"After that, it's up to you."

Yongning Marquis Madam swept her sleeve and left, with a hint of embarrassment and anger.

Lu Mingchao dropped the fragile and sorrowful demeanor, lifted the brocade quilt, and stepped out of bed.

"Qiushi, there's no need to stand guard here."

"You're quick and clever; Lady will find you a good position."

"Miss, I can't bear to part with you." Qiushi stepped forward to support Lu Mingchao, her eyes and nose red.

Lu Mingchao furrowed her brow. This wasn’t about whether she could bear to part ways.

As a fake heiress, could she really take one of the mansion’s servants with her?

"Go now." Lu Mingchao raised her hand to rub Qiushi's head and gently pushed her out of the room.

As the door closed, Lu Mingchao let out a long sigh of relief.

In front of those familiar with the original owner, she really felt uneasy and nervous.

The room was beautifully furnished, with elegant decorations. On the dressing table, hairpins, jewelry, rouge, and powder were neatly arranged.

Obviously, the original owner had lived a life of luxury for the past decade or so.

No wonder it felt like falling from heaven to hell.

Lu Mingchao's gaze fixed on the bronze mirror on the dressing table.

In the mirror, the girl's appearance was lovely.

Her pale skin gave her a delicate beauty, adding a fragile charm. However, the thin cloth on her forehead was still stained with blood, which looked alarming. With one glance, Lu Mingchao realized the wound had only been hastily bandaged—just enough to keep her alive. Whether it would leave a scar was of no concern to anyone.

The estate’s doctor didn’t dare to treat her properly, nor could he risk taking the initiative. So, this was the attitude of the Yongning Marquis and his wife.

Lu Mingchao sighed again.

Now that she was here, she couldn’t just throw in the towel.

In the box on the low table beside the dressing table, Lu Mingchao found clean thin cloth and medicinal powder. Gritting her teeth, she decisively peeled off the blood-stained bandage in front of the mirror.

The process made Lu Mingchao hiss in pain.

Just as she was clumsily about to sprinkle the medicinal powder on the wound, her forehead suddenly felt an intense heat. After a brief moment, the gruesome injury vanished without a trace, leaving only a thumb-sized plum blossom mark.

Lu Mingchao almost cried out in surprise.

This had to be some kind of miracle, right?

Curious, Lu Mingchao touched the plum blossom mark. Suddenly, everything spun out of control, and she found herself standing in front of a supermarket she knew all too well.

This was her empire!

"Chaochao Fu"

The name was chosen by a master during the planning stages, after she spent a fortune on the consultation.

At the time, she thought it wasn't catchy enough, but she was persuaded by the master's words that it would bring her prosperity.

Well, she was a woman of principles.

The master was indeed a master. This money was really well spent.

It really does bring her prosperity!

Good fortune is just around the corner for her, Lu Mingchao.

The supermarket wasn’t particularly fancy—just a typical two-story store in a small county.

Why wasn’t it built to be more grand and upscale? Was it because she didn’t want to?

Or maybe because she didn’t have enough money saved up.

But even though it was small, it had all the essentials.

Stepping through the thick glass doors, the supermarket was brightly lit and looked completely normal, except for the lack of a bustling crowd.

To the left of the entrance was a chain pharmacy.

It didn’t claim to cure everything, but it stocked all the basic medicines you’d need.

In a time when even a simple cold could be deadly, the pharmacy made her feel much safer.

She made a smart move by letting the pharmacy set up shop in her supermarket.

Besides the pharmacy, the first floor mainly sold clothes, shoes, and home textiles.

Riding the escalator up, the second floor offered fresh food, produce, and everyday essentials. The merchandise was neatly arranged, with fresh fruits and vegetables vividly colorful, brimming with vitality. The daily necessities section was orderly stocked with various household items, from kitchen utensils to cleaning supplies, everything one could need.

To make sure everything was working, Lu Mingchao tested it multiple times, finally feeling confident.

Her supermarket came with her, and the medium was the plum blossom mark on her forehead.

Not understanding the principle, she decided not to think about it anymore.

The end of science is metaphysics.

People's constitutions are different; what if her name being united with the original owner's was called a miracle?

Lu Mingchao couldn’t help but laugh out loud, the laughter sounding somewhat mischievous.

With this portable supermarket, she could thrive anywhere—even in a remote village or deep in the mountains.

Qiushi, standing guard outside, looked worried. Had she been driven mad by the shock?

Miss is truly pitiful.

Inside the room, Lu Mingchao was unaware of Qiushi's thoughts, nor could she afford to be aware.

Time was tight, and there were many things to be done.

Nope, wrapping her forehead carefully with a thin cloth again, making sure it was tightly wrapped and thoughtfully dabbing some red antiseptic solution.

Then, she put away the hairpins and jewelry on the dressing table.

Gold and silver, after all, were always hard currencies.

She remembered the textbook phrase: Gold and silver are not naturally currency, but currency is naturally gold and silver.

The dignified Yongning Marquis family, with their piles of gold and jade, surrounded by flower clusters, probably wouldn’t use second-hand goods.

"Leaving the marquis' residence."